Spain I and Fried Calamari

Hello after quite a long break, and greetings from the Costa Blanca!

I'm writing to you from a very hot and sunny place. During the afternoon siesta, when the whole area is almost silent and everyone is cooling off indoors behind darkened windows, I decided to show you a little of what I've seen so far. Unfortunately, I can't describe exactly what I see, smell and taste here, because I'm not able to write that colorfully. Maybe just see for yourselves :) I hope you're in the mood for a few photos and a little warming up in the sun :) Please also forgive my chaotic writing, but the siesta is ending soon and it's time for another trip to the beach :)

Our trip to Spain was rather long and eventful because of a few obstacles, but fortunately we arrived safely. Sadly, because of those obstacles we missed St. John's Night (Midsummer's Eve), which is celebrated here with great fanfare. From what I've read and heard, people light bonfires on the beaches, set off firecrackers and fireworks, and folks from the area gather together and party until dawn, and even longer. The only things that still hinted at the celebration were the decorations still hanging in the town streets and the smell of burning wood on the beaches, and even in the streets of the cities. Even now you can still hear firecrackers and sometimes fireworks go off, and in the bigger cities the beach parties go on and on.

In Javea we came across figures set up especially for the celebration. Unfortunately, I haven't yet read up on what exactly they are supposed to mean, and I don't speak Spanish. But the figures were grotesque :)

The sea welcomed us with waves, and there was even quite a strong wind, which suits us just fine and makes spending time in the heat a bit more pleasant.

Of course, we couldn't skip trying the local cuisine. Since we're big fans of seafood, we're enjoying these goodies as much as we can. My Facebook fans have already had a chance to see the "critters" we bought. The picturesque harbors don't just invite you for a stroll, but also to visit the seafood stands, where you can buy whatever your heart desires.

We started with an appetizer: stewed octopus tentacles, served warm with tasty baguette and olive oil. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the name. Right after that, I finally had a chance to try paella. This one was made with saffron, seafood and pieces of meat.

octopus tentacles

As far as I know, it's not a typical Paella Valenciana, but it was delicious :)

Since my kids decided they weren't going to eat paella, but found the shrimp very interesting, they found another use for them :)

In the morning, my favorite place is the local market, where you can buy fresh, delicious fruit and vegetables. Some of them I don't know yet. But we're feasting on watermelons, which are exceptionally sweet, on tomatoes and other goodies. Of course, chorizo and serrano are at the top of the list :)

Of course, there have to be sweets too :)

Some of them I haven't tried, and I probably won't have the courage to (whatever they are :)).

During our visit to Alicante: another paella (or even two). This time I finally got to try paella with black rice (arroz negro).

If you'd like more, I'm leaving you with a few more photos, and I invite you to the next parts of my report from the Costa Blanca.

St. Barbara's Mountain – Alicante

Sunset – Denia

And finally, a recipe for seafood lovers. Very simple and quick:

Fried baby calamari, the way I like them best and fastest

Fried calamari

Clean the calamari: cut off the part with the tentacles, then pull firmly to remove the head and innards, then rinse them thoroughly and dry them.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and add the garlic halves. Add the calamari and fry them, stirring constantly, for 2-4 minutes (depending on size), until they change color. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and serve with lemon wedges and slices of baguette drizzled with olive oil.

Enjoy!

Additional information:

Calamari, like most seafood, shouldn't be fried for too long, because then they turn rubbery. Baby calamari are small enough that you only need to sear them lightly, and they will be tender and delicate.