Who would have thought a 15-minute conversation in a Madrid bar would change Erin’s life forever? Over five years after the first meeting, Erin Ridley no longer lives in San Francisco, but in Madrid, Spain, with that same Spaniard with whom she had that brief conversation.  And she is living the adventure of a lifetime, exploring new corners of Spain every weekend and writing about it on her blog, La Tortura Viajera.

As an expat in Spain, Erin is now living a life she loves, teaching English and writing about her adopted country for travel magazines and websites. She speaks fluent Spanish, cooks Spanish cuisine and she’s also visited all  the states in Spain, from Andalusia in the south to Galicia at the country’s northern edge.

Adventures in Spain

Erin started her blog as a personal diary for herself to keep track of her time in Spain, but now it’s become a very informative source for readers who are visiting Spain. On her website, you’ll find anecdotes from her adventures all over Spain: from celebrating Las Fallas festival in Valencia to sampling pintxos in San Sebastian and visiting villages in Catalonia. There are also city guides, récipes of typical Spanish dishes and tips and tricks for travelers visiting Spain.

The Best of Spain

As Erin says, Andalusia is her favorite region in Spain, although Galicia comes in at a close second place. “Nothing is more Spanish than the South – the weather, the food, the architecture, even the people . Andalucia is the source of Flamenco, gazpacho, and the very best olive oil.” Indeed, Andalusia epitomizes Spain at its most authentic. Wander through the Moorish palace of the Alhambra in Granada, head on down to the beaches of Marbella, or watch flamenco dancers kick up a storm in Seville – Andalusia is sure to surprise you.

Erin also worships Galicia, the offbeat region located in northwestern Spain. “With the ample supply of rain, and its location so much closer to the more northern countries of Europe, you may not even recognize it as Spain at first.  The landscape is vibrantly green and overflowing with life, while the music you hear will often be filled with bagpipes.  In Galicia they also speak their own language – a hybrid of Spanish and Portuguese called Gallego.  It’s a wonderful world of its own.” We can’t agree more.

Photo | Nellie Huang

When you visit an Iberostar hotel in Andalucía Spain, you will experience the best of  Flamenco, gazpacho, and the very best olive oil.