Dreaming of The Fat One – a Spanish Christmas tradition

There’s a Christmas tradition in Spain, that’s even more popular than Christmas: La Lotería de Navidad.

This national lottery is much more than just a draw of numbers – it is a whole day of festivities, drawing and singing – and it’s always on December 22nd. The climax of the lottery is the moment when El Gordo – the Fat One – is drawn. In 2022 it’s 4 Million Euros! On one single day, prizes of more than 2.5 Billion Euros in total find some happy winners.

Merry Christmas to them!

Basque Country – Where every house has a name

What does it mean to be Basque? Why have the Basque people fought to hard to preserve their language traditions? We spent a month in region trying to find answers to that question.

Euskal Herria means Basque Country, but Herri means more than country. It also means village, region and people. Because that’s how close the Basque people are connected to their land and heritage. The Basque country transcends national and international borders and is full of traditions, tales and tension. 

The Art of Pintxos

From Donostia (Basque for San Sebastián) to Iruña (Basque for Pamplona), in every posh bar or local tavern, they’re lined up in the bar. Some more lavishly decorated than others, but all with the same purpose: to satisfy the small or big appetite. Maybe even in a happy marriage with some local wine.

Pintxos!

In Salamanca: The Castilian cuisine

by Marius Stankiewicz While Madrid is often considered the heart of Spain—or perhaps the geographical middle of the Iberian Peninsula since you could literally stand in Puerta de Sol marking KM 0 of all outward bound roadways—Salamanca, on the other hand, may very well be the ‘golden milestone,’ the crossroads of Spanish history where the…

In Salamanca: The Castilian lisp

by Marius Stankiewicz While Madrid is often considered the heart of Spain – or perhaps the geographical middle of the Iberian Peninsula since you could literally stand in Puerta de Sol marking KM 0 of all outward bound roadways – Salamanca, on the other hand, may very well be the ‘golden milestone’, the crossroads of…

San Sebastian: Cannes, Biarritz and Rio de Janeiro combined

San Sebastián – or Donostia, as it’s called in Basque – is both similar to other beach cities like Cannes, Biarritz and even Rio de Janeiro while maintaining it’s own, personal charm. Like Cannes Like Cannes it has a glamorous feel to it. Whether it’s the fact that they both host a film festival or have…

Santiago de Compostela – Final Destination

There’s a French route, a Pilgrim’s way from Madrid, from the Mediterranean and Catalonia. There’s a Silver Way, a Coastal Way and a Primitive Way. You can hike, bike or horseback ride the way. You can carry your own backpack or choose a service to to that for you. There are thousands of ways to…