theViatrix

Last week, my dear friend Erin over at La Tortuga Viajera invited me to participate in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots, and while I wanted to take her up on it right away, narrowing down my favorite photos to just seven was really tough! If the assignment had been to simply choose the seven shots I consider my best, it would have been much easier, but the images would probably have been very different from the ones presented here (save the last one). But throw me a bone, I’m trying to stick to the categories! For some of the ones I’m truly proudest of, check out my photo page at stephaniedosch.com/photos. While you’re at it, stop by my Flickr stream as well. In the meantime, enjoy these 7 Super Shots. [...]

I’ve been back in the US for a little over a month, and while I’ve enjoyed placing my cookie order with a neighborhood Girl Scout, slurping noodles in Chinatown after the New Year parade, and watching the Super Bowl with a bunch of new friends, I’m really missing some things from Spain. [...]

This week I’ve done another guest post over at PocketVillage, this time for their series on Christmas traditions around the world. Since there are a few really quirky ones here in Spain, I offered to write something up for them. Be prepared for some weird, earthy stuff (which lent itself to some earthy language—sorry Mom!). I came up with four weird Spanish Christmas traditions, so head over to PocketVillage to check it out.

And, in case you’ve forgotten what it’s like here in Madrid, check out my posts on Christmas in the city and welcoming the Three Kings into town. There’s lots going on in Madrid again this year, so check back for more coming soon!

Disenchanted with the way things have gone in the last few years, Spaniards overwhelmingly voted in a new government last week: the conservative People’s Party (PP). While their victory came as no surprise, it will be interesting to watch how things change, for better or for worse, under the new leadership.

But I’m not here to talk about politics. For me, the most fascinating part of the day was the voting process itself. [...]

This week I’ve written a post on Iberian hot chocolate over at my dear friend Erin’s site, La Tortuga Viajera. Make sure to head over there to learn how to tell your suís from your chocolat mousseux, as well as just how crazy Madrileños went for chocolate back in the day. And don’t forget to check out Erin’s fun entries on everything from traveling in Istanbul to obsessing over Spanish grandpas.

But getting back to the sweet stuff, here are my favorite places to sip hot chocolate around Iberia. [...]

The time has come for me to tell you about one of my favorite things in all of Spain: the pintxo bars of San Sebastian. [...]

“Here’s the rowing team, which is how the society began.” Juan Carlos, who goes by Charly, interprets his gastronomic society’s coat of arms for me. “The rings represent friendship, this is music, and here is the seal of the city.” These panels explain everything: compatriots from Irun who used to row and like to sing. And, of course, eat. [...]

Wow. Literally, wow. [...]

What luck! I’m currently helping to lead a group of travelers around Spain for Rick Steves, and our day in Toledo coincided with the Corpus Christi festivals. Corpus Christi isn’t celebrated everywhere in Spain, but boy is it celebrated in Toledo! [...]

What better way to end two weeks leading tours through the Basque Country than with an elegant, relaxing lunch at the Guggenheim? [...]