All posts by chaput@live.com

Oldest restaurant in the world in Madrid

January 2, 2023 chaput@live.com

We were in Madrid and exploring the streets when we came across the restaurant called Casa Botin. It is known as the oldest restaurant in the world and was founded in 1725. This is according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Shelley Kathy and Dan outside of the oldest restaurant in the world Botin in Madrid

It was featured on several documentaries and was listed by Forbes magazine’s as third place of the world’s top 10 classic restaurants. It is renowned for its delicious suckling pig.

We took a look at the outside of the restaurant and noticed a mockup model of the interior of the restaurant in the window. We stopped and checked out the layout of the nearly 300 year old restaurant.

Inside the restaurant was packed with patrons and it was very lively with lots of laughter and chatter..

We decided to ask on the off chance that we could get a table for dinner, even though we did not have a reservation. We were greeted by a friendly waiter who after looking for a few minutes found us a table. We were very fortunate to be able to be accommodated and had a table on the second floor. We walked along the main floor past the kitchen area which as we looked in we could see the wood fired oven and an array of meals being prepared.

Suckling pigs and preparing area inside the kitchen area.

So upstairs we went for a meal at the oldest restaurant. We ordered several different meals including the suckling pig. We had some wine and enjoyed the amazing atmosphere of the restaurant.

Ray and Shelley at the Botin Restaurant in Madrid

Kathy and Dan at the Botin Restaurant in Madrid

After enjoying our very tasty meals we mentioned to the waiter that we had seen a documentary on the Botin Restaurant. He was very friendly and we even were given a quick tour of the lower area of the restaurant which was quite interesting.

Dan walking down the stairs into the lowest level of the Botin restaurant in Madrid

Shelley, Kathy and Dan in the basement level of Botin Restaurant in Madrid

Down in the lowest level of the restaurant we could see the old curved brink walls of an ancient wine cellar. You could almost see the history come out of the walls. Earnest Hemingway was a regular at the Botin restaurant along with many other celebrities over the centuries. It was truly a great experience to see and have a meal at the Botin restaurant.

“Disfruta cada día y la vida”

Spain

Vallodolid

November 5, 2022 chaput@live.com

We stayed for a few days in the city of Valladolid which is located in the autonomous region of Castile and León. This is also in the Riebera del Duero area. The city of 300 thousand is very beautiful with lots to see and do.

Statue in front of the Calvary academy in Valladolid. Spain

There were lots of statues that appeared to be randomly placed throughout the city.

Statue of person wearing a pointed hood which hides the identity. Traditionally this is done on the holy week where their faces are covered in mourning, and also as a sign of shame for the sins they have committed throughout the year. .

Many times we would be walking along a street and come across a bronze statue of some kind.

Bronze statue of a walking man with umbrella, Shelley taking a stroll with him.

It was easy to see where people sat or touched the statues by the polish on the bronze.

Bronze statue of a person with suitcase and umbrella- Note the polish of the suitcase where people have used as a seat

One in particular that we came across was part of a fountain and was a little bit unexpected and surprised us.

As we got closer to this particular statues it was clear that they were naked men. It was not hard to see where the bronze was polished.

There was a beautiful park located in the centre of the city, so we decided to walk through and check it out.

It wasn’t long after we entered the park that we were being followed.

We stopped to take a selfie at one of the fountains located in the park.

We explored some of the many different churches in Valladolid. They were very ornate and quite beautiful.

We explored the streets of Valladolid and worked our way to the Plaza Mayor.

Shelley and Ray in Plaza Mayor in Valladolid Spain

The Pisuerga River flows through the city and has beautiful trails on the shoreline. We walked the trail for a while exploring this area of the city.

The city of Valladolid was a great experience and we enjoyed our time very much. I can see us returning in the future to explore more of this city.

“La vida se trata de las aventuras que tomas y los recuerdos que haces.”

Spain

Bodega Remigio de Salas Jalón experience

October 31, 2022 chaput@live.com

We went to explore the Riebera del Duero wine region of Spain. It is one of the top wine making regions in Spain. The area is located on the extensive, elevated northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. It follows the Duero river and has ideal conditions for wine making.

View of part of the Riebera del Duero region in Spain.

We were excited to visit some of the bodegas and experience some wine tours. We began with a visit to the bodega called Remigio de Salas Jalón located in the highest part of the urban centre of Dueñas. It is located in the side of a mountain and the majority of the bodega is located inside manmade caves and is underground. We did a little exploring in the area before heading to the bodega.

Shelley on the mountain side near the bodega

The road up to the bodega Remigio de Salas Jalón

The entrance to the bodega Remigio de Salas Jalón

This area has a long history of ancient wineries and the Salas family has maintained an authentic age-old wine tradition. The Salas have been making wine since 1738 on this land. This is the fifth generation of the Salas family that has followed in the tradition of wine making on this land.

We were fortunate to have had a private tour of the winery and explored some of the caves that hold the wine. The grapes are transported to the bodega by tractor and then brought into the bodega by a conveyor type system.

Grapes brought to the bodega for processing into wine

Wine grapes being loaded into the bodega through a conveyor type system

We began our tour in the main entrance area and before long we were walking down a corridor that went into the dug caves created in the mountain side. It felt as if we were walking back in time to a different era.

One of the corridors in the cave system of the bodega.

The entire bodega was very impressive but the most unique thing was the Original Roman era wine press that was still inside the bodega.

The wheel section of the Roman wine press.

The lever area where the wine would be pressed.

Once we had toured the bodega of course we had to sample some of their wines. It was a great experience and very memorable.

“El vino es un pasaporte al mundo.” – Thom Elkjer

Italy

Exploring Tuscany, Wine and Pisa

October 23, 2022 chaput@live.com

We went for a day trip into the Tuscany country side. The scenery was amazing and the photos do not give it justice. We took a wine tour at a winery called Casa Emma in the Chianti Classico Wine Region of Tuscany.

Shelley in the grape vines at the winery in Tuscany.

We explored some of the scenic towns in the Tuscany region like Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa. Our first stop was Siena which is a classic medieval town located in Tuscany. The town is known for several interesting facts.. It has a large fan-shaped piazza which is the Piazza del Campo,. It is one of the location where the James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace” was filmed.

The Piazza del Campo is also the location where they hold the bareback horse race for the Palio of Siena. It is one of the most popular and well-known festivals in Italy.

Torre del Mangia in the piazza del Campo, Siena

The oldest operating bank in the world-The Monte dei Paschi di bank in Siera Italy

Siena is also home to the oldest operating bank in the world. It is called the Monte dei Paschi di and was founded in Siena in 1472. The top of the bank’s facade was unique it has different heads carved and looking down on the plaza.

After Siena we went to explore the town of San Gimignano, known as the walled medieval town of Beautiful Towers. The town overlooks the beautiful Tuscany countryside with rolling hills and wineries. San Gimignano is known for the 14 medieval towers that still exist today.

View of the medieval walled town of San Gimignano

Inside the walled section of the town were shops, bars and restaurants. We walked throughout the area exploring the town.

We came to an area that overlooks the countryside and valleys below. We stopped to admire the views of Tuscany.

A view of the Tuscany countryside from San Gimignano

San Gimignano with a view of some of the historic towers in the town.

After visiting San Gimignano we went to the city of Pisa, in northern Tuscany. It is known for the famous leaning tower, of Pisa. We went to the Piazza dei Miracoli which is a walled 8.87-hectare area located in Pisa. Inside the walls are the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistry, the Campanile and the leaning tower of Pisa. We are of course had to do the traditional photo for all tourist.

Shelley doing the traditional tourist photo.

The leaning tower was truly spectacular and we were in awe at just how white and beautiful it was.

Shelley and Ray in front of the tower of Pisa

The Pisa Cathedral with the leaning tower of Pisa in the rear located in Piazza dei Miracoli

A view from the base of the leaning tower of Pisa

This was one of the amazing pinch me moments we experienced during our time in Tuscany.

“La vita stessa è un privilegio, ma vivere la vita al massimo, beh, questa è una scelta.”

Italy

Florence Italy

October 15, 2022 chaput@live.com

We spent a week in Florence exploring this beautiful city. There were so many things to see and do. One of the things we enjoyed was a pasta making class where we made different pastas and then ate our creations along with some nice Tuscany wines.

We stayed close to the Porta Romana in Florence which was walking distance to the main parts of Florence.

The Porta Romano, southern most gate in the 13th century Roman wall in Florence.

The Porta Romana, once known as the Porta San Pier Gattolino was the southernmost gate in the 13th-century walls of Florence. In 1861, Tuscany became part of the Kingdom of Italy, which after 4 years in 1865, Florence became the new capital of Italy, replacing Turin. Florence remained the capital of Italy until Rome became the capital in 1870.

The Ponte Vecchio, which means “Old Bridge”, is an icon of Florence. It was built in 1345. The bridge spans over the River Arno with 3 arches, an innovative design for the time.

The covered passage on the Ponte Vacchio bridge.

Today the bridge is easily recognizable with all the shops that are built on it. We walked the bridge several times exploring the stores and shops. There were many jewelry stores and expensive shops. The bridge has a covered passage above it, which was a private aerial walkway built for the ruling family, the Medici Family.

Ray and Shelley on the Ponte Vacchio bridge in Florence.

We explored the streets of Florence and came across many gelato shops. The delicious frozen dessert was invented in Florence in the 16th century. It was first invented by Cosimo Ruggieri. We of course had to try several gelatos during our time in Florence.

Plastic Gelato cone outside a gelato store in Florence

As we explored Florence it was obvious that the statue of David was a tremendous pride of the city. The white marble statue was created in Florence, by a Florentine, and is displayed at the Galleria dell’Accademia. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known simply as Michelangelo, was born in the Republic of Florence, and created the statue of David in 1504.

There were many copies and variations of the statue of David in stores and for sale throughout Florence. There were several full size copies of the statues of David located in some beautiful locations like the Piazzale Michelangelo. This monument was created in 1869 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi.

Ray in front of the monument with copy of the statue of David in Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence.

The view from the Piazzale Michelangelo were breathtaking and quite beautiful.

Shelley admiring the view of Florence from PIazzale Michelangelo.

While exploring the streets of Florence we came to a bronze statue of a wild boar, located near the main market.

This bronze “Little Pig” as it is referred to by the locals is said to Bring luck when a tourist strokes his nose and puts a coin into his mouth. So how could we resist this opportunity.