Jamón Serrano – Dry-cured Spanish ham by Jardoz

Spain is famous for its Jamón Serrano. You can’t go very far without seeing a cut of this meat hanging in a window, asking to be sliced and sampled. Small plates called tapas are meant to be shared amongst friends who want to keep the energy level up until late in the night. Enough tapas dishes will constitute a meal; enjoy with wine and you’ll immediately see the appeal of the small plate.

Typical dishes serve variations of cheese, fish, vegetable, and pastry delicacies. Spain’s Mediterranean diet features olive oil, fruit, nuts, honey, legumes, and other heart healthy ingredients. You may find you’re able to taste a little of everything you want without feeling that you’ve overdone it. Seek out dishes containing saffron or chorizo for something different. And don’t forget to pair with wine.

The Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) consists of small fishing settlements as well as fancy resort towns, such as Marbella. Yacht charters throughout the Mediterranean make this area a frequent destination. The area is perfect for unwinding on vacation and for seeing a completely different landscape than that of Spain’s northern region and interior. There are popular beaches in Malaga, Cadiz, Santander, Valencia, Huelva, and up to Barcelona or out to Mallorca. The other appeal of being on the coast is getting first dibs on the fresh seafood brought in daily.

Tapas by José Porras

A highly recommended method for learning about Spanish traditions is to go to a festival. Every town has a festival for its patron saint, and there are plenty of other festivals to go around. Foreigners are welcome and expected to have fun! Try the food, grab a drink, and celebrate with the locals. It would be very hard not to get caught up in the excitement. Here are a few to try:

• Tomatina in Valencia
• San Fermin in Pamplona
• Carnival in Cadiz

Once you take in Spain’s gorgeous and varied scenery, experiment with its cuisine (squid or snails, anyone?), and participate in a festival, you will start to understand why Hemingway had to write about his experiences there. An atmosphere of joviality coupled with the harsh realities of history compelled him to contemplate life. You are encouraged to simply come and enjoy it.

This is the land of Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miro, and Salvador Dali. There is earthly beauty in Spain waiting to be discovered. Far from the 24 hour parties on Ibiza, you can still find quiet hillsides and calm waterfronts from which you’ll watch the locals while tasting their specialty dishes. Celebrate the little moments in Spain, one bite at a time.

[Katie Harper has travelled the world over and enjoys sharing your experiences as a guest blogger.]

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Flying to Ireland will necessitate car hire once you get there, but the airports have dealers in convenient locations. You might get a brand of American car you never heard of before. The major manufacturers have different models in European countries that may have a bit more style even if they are basically the same as the American versions.

The Dingle Peninsula, Ireland by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

The Dingle Peninsula is a good example of a driving tour. Starting in Tralee, go west and around the peninsula ending at Castlemaine Harbour. Take in the Gallarus Oratory, a stone chapel built by monks some time after 600 A.D., that still stands in excellent condition.

Another trip that car hire easily accommodates is just south of Dingle in the Ring of Kerry. Starting at Killarney on the Iveragh Peninsula, circle west and around to Killorglin. Muckross House, just over three miles from Killarney, is a 65-room estate with lovely gardens. Queen Elizabeth visited the estate in 1861.

These two peninsulas are some of the most beautiful places on earth, and National Geographic agrees. Driving is the best way to see them because there are so many possibilities for sight-seeing and photography all the way around both areas. Rain or shine, these locales have been photographed extensively by professionals and visitors for decades. Being able to stop and get out of the car any time is invaluable. The right photograph can be framed and enjoyed for years.

Ring of Kerry, Ireland by DI Florian Fuchs

The coastal areas around the entire country are quite photogenic, and car hire touring is the best way to stop and take advantage of the scenery at a whim. Tour buses whiz by fields with ancient stone walls and hillsides of patchwork squares in different shades of green.

There are mountain vistas in various places in Ireland, as well, and seeing them by car is a sure way to enjoy them at leisure. County Wicklow has impressive mountain areas most easily accessed by car. There is no public transportation up into the mountains, so seeing the whole county is easiest by car.

Also in Wicklow is the Powerscourt Estate and Waterfall. It takes time to see all of the gardens, the house and the waterfall, so a car allows for an entire day of sightseeing. Don’t worry about a tour bus leaving without you; go by car and enjoy it fully. This is another site that has been photographed too many times to count.

Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland by DorinRodina

Glendalough, also in Wicklow, is an important historic site in a glacial valley. The name means “glen of two lakes.” Ireland is blessed with unparalleled beauty, and this is one more place in which to witness it in panoramic views from the hills. The remaining chapel and other structures from the seventh century are good reasons to go, and the lakes are unbelievably picturesque.

Many visitors come down to Wicklow from Dublin to hike, but the whole county has attractions that should not be missed. The shoreline is stunning as well. Don’t miss any of it. Hop in the car and see all of Ireland’s majestic views at your own rate.

This has been a guest post from Skedaddle, your best friend when it comes to planning road trips.

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