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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Les Voiles de St. Tropez / Michael Reuter

When considering chartering a yacht for a French Riviera cruise, you should know that azure skies are the limit when it comes to high end luxury.  Upon first setting sight of St. Tropez, you will notice that no yacht is too big, too ostentatious, or too opulent.  St. Tropez is a visual feast, and if you sail in on a modest catamaran, you will get to enjoy it just the same.  Choose the powerboat, sailboat, or super yacht that best suits your group, and bear in mind that you won’t spend all of your time onboard once you’ve reached St. Tropez.

What would the south coast of France be without beautiful beaches?  St. Tropez’s famous beaches, Plage de Pampelonne and Tahiti Beach, are worth visiting, especially if you are interested in people watching.  There are restaurants and cafes here, of course, but it’s actually an outdoor market that comes most highly recommended for typical French provisioning.  Stop by the Place des Lices to shop for delectable picnic food, and then head to Tarte Tropezienne for the area’s outstanding namesake dessert.  Cap off any evening with a drink at Les Caves du Roy, Le Papagayo, or Café Senequier.  By day, take your guests to Maison des Papillons to see a grand collection of butterflies, or challenge them to a match on the courts at Tennis Club de St. Tropez.  The Musee de L’Annonciade is also a terrific option for visitors to the region who want to experience the beauty of St. Tropez as captured by famous artists over the years.

If you manage to time your trip around the 1st of October, then you are in for a treat.  Les Voiles de St. Tropez is a spectacle whether you participate in it or just watch.  This sailing regatta brings about 3500 crew from all over the globe to compete in the fun that is this end-of-summer sailing race.  You may charter a boat to race, or you may opt to watch from the sidelines.  There is much celebrating either way, and it gives visitors a sense of community with the other boating enthusiasts. Perhaps you’ve made the voyage at another time of year and still want to experience St. Tropez from a different angle; try climbing onboard schooner Le Brigantine, which will take you on an unforgettable tour of Baie de St. Tropez.

Despite its popularity, St. Tropez retains much in the way of village charm.  Many people will have come to its shores on their super yachts, but many others will have traversed from inland.  Not everyone can afford to stay for very long, but anyone can come and feel the sand, surf, and sunshine for a short while.  Book a chartered yacht soon, and be one of those lucky enough to have sailed stylishly into port at stunning St. Tropez.

For more Luxury Yacht Charter information, visit International Yacht Charter Group.

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