“Sandra & you are sure to get along really well.” Such are the reassuring words of introduction made by Caroline Couret, head of the International Creative Tourism Network in Barcelona: Two young ladies, one & the same passion: Travelling in order to experience the local culture. And always with the locals, please: Just over a year ago, Sandra Touza has founded the Creative Tourism Network Galicia in the north of Spain, “Ponle Cara Al Turismo“, ever since opening doors straight into the heart of the local soul: creative backyards, fish factories, pastry chefs or cheese workshops right in the middle of the charming port city Vigo.
“I am just so lucky”, I cannot help thinking while taking yet another bite of that delicious local soft cheese, treating my palate to exclusive Spanish Albarino white wine and promising the owner of the local seafood factory Luis Escuris Batalla a box of “Sonnentor” organic herbs from our very own homeland, the Waldviertel. In return, he wants to ship me a beautiful box of these delightful seafood produce for which Galicia is just so well known. Just LUCKY!
Sandra & Elena: A heart & a soul, especially concerning “creative tourism” such as here in Vigo, Galicia.
On the first day of my visit to Vigo, we are checking out the local (craft) scene finding this beautiful leather manufacturing plant, where with a little help you are able to make your own Galician leather bag in a creative workshop session.
Creativity translates into many areas, such as this perfume store which allows you to mix your very own scent on the basis of well-known, established international brands.
The touchpad helps me to select my aromatic preferences …
… and a little later, I end up buying my very own, self-made perfume in Galicia!
„Put a Face to Tourism“: This is exactly what Sandra’s mission for tourism is about, making these valuable connections between locals and travellers through creative workshops, exceptional tasting events and “behind-the-scenes” visits of the area.
Sweet Cupcakes – from Vigo, Galicia.
Cupcakes from Galicia ??? “Sweet things are big right now, even in a country whose palates are traditionally more used to savoury delights”, creative pastry chef Erika laughs and explains to me a recent local trend for sweet little cupcakes. Off we go making our own: Thanks to Sandra Touza and her organizational talents, we meet with Sandra at 8pm in her own flat with a very well-equipped kitchen, doubling as the cake workshop for the day. 8pm of course is afternoon in Spain, with us going out for dinner not before 10pm and once we have finished making the cupcakes … welcome to the culture & spirit of the south !!
Cupcake workshops are being offered regularly by Erika from the beautiful comfort of her home high above the chimney tops of the Galician port city Vigo.
Butter & sugar are mixed up to create cupcakes: Here, everything that is usually “forbidden” is used! :p
There go two happy girls: Almost done!
Learning how to make cupcake decorations. Simply, delicious!
The results are truly worth looking at.
Two happy souls who for sharing the same passion will manage to stay in touch: Creative travel, and thereby meeting the (real) locals, is in my opinion one of the richest luxury travel treasures ever.
Let’s move on with wine & cheese from Galicia. What else!
Creative travel often also translates into experiencing the creativity of regional products. The variety of cheeses in North-Western Spain even surprises well established cheese gourmets such as myself! New white wine varieties, such as the tasty Albarino white wine, draw my attention to the wine tastings that follow. And the best of it all: Everything is easily accessible and within walking distance in the city of Vigo. As always in life, you just have to know when & where to look. This is where Sandra, of “Ponle Cara Al Turismo” comes in, entertaining close links to the local population and their specific, creative talents. We dig in – all calories are counted later on. 😉
Using local know-how, charming Sandra Touza manages to create a unique and personalised visit for creative culinary travel in the area of Vigo, Galicia.
This cheese is just TOO GOOD: Right in the middle of the pedestrian zone in the heart of Vigo, we meet the local owners of the cheese workshop QUESUM, which has come about as a passion of four business partners in the area.
Typical cheese is stored in these forms called “Tetilla” and served to us with a good glass of wine.
Beautiful: Tasting local Galician cheese with a glass of white wine.
Afterwards, we enjoy a “real” wine tasting at local Bodegas Matias.
“Put A Face To Tourism”: Here, we meet one of those “faces”, local owner and wine lover Matias in Vigo.
Fish Tasting from a Tin: Fancy More Unusual Stuff!?
Seriously: Who would have thought. Tasting these seafood beauties and fish from the local fish factory Luis Escuris Batalla is a succulent visual experience in its own right, let alone all the heartfelt meetings with the owners of this family-run export business: Together, our group of local & international journalists and bloggers from Galicia is being led “behind the scenes” of the fish factory where (almost) everything is still hand-made. Come and have a look at this: A truly unique travel experience!
Visually stimulating: Did I promise you too much? ☺
How to taste “Navajas” as a poor, unexperienced Austrian, I wonder … !? 🙂
At the Fabrica Luis Escuris Batalla, almost everything is still hand-made: Quality that is later tasted in the product.
We watch as the local ladies put “bonito” (tuna) into a box – all by hand, every single fish!
Every little step, from production to quality control, is being explained to us here.
Tasting the fish & seafood produce from Luis Escuris Batalla is definitely a must-do on your visit to Galicia.
Here, we meet the owner of the factory who I have promised local organic herbs from Waldviertel, Lower Austria in return for local seafood from Galicia. A good deal, I would say!
Our group, our travel moments: What a day celebrating creative culinary travel in Galicia !!!
More creative images and the presentation about “Ponle Cara Al Turismo” – Creative Tourism in Galicia …
are available on Flickr as well as on Slideshare. Enjoy watching and I look forward to receiving your feedback!
The presentation of the Creative Tourism Network Galicia, “Ponle Cara Al Turismo“, by Sandra Touza.
Disclaimer: We have been invited by “Ponle Cara Al Turismo – Creative Tourism Galicia” to travel and experience the Creative Tourism Network in Galicia, Spain. All opinions are my own.