Ah Spain!

Step into Valencia’s Jardins del Real (aka Viveros) and prepare to look at this peaceful park very differently. In this Ah Spain Podcast: Poco a Poco episode, we dig beneath the orange trees to uncover a forgotten royal palace, Islamic gardens, and a 600-year power center hiding in plain sight. From Moorish orchards and medieval monarchs to Napoleonic destruction and modern archaeology, this episo...

It’s a new year and a brand-new season. Join Tania and Gaetano as we kick off 2026 with Season 2 of Ah… Spain! The Podcast . In this episode, we reflect on the joy of recording Season One, what we learned along the way, and what we’ve been up to over the holidays. From Christmas feasts to New Year’s Eve traditions and superstitions, we share stories about seasonal celebrations and cultural customs...

We hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season! Unfortunately, Tania is a bit under the weather this week, and instead of recording a show full of coughs, sneezes and pauses… we thought it would be fun to re-air our first episode! We have come a long way on this journey. In our very first podcast, we chat about how each of us arrived in Spain with our families in tow. Was it by boat, plane, trai...

Ring in the New Year with us as we chat about Spain’s most beloved Nochevieja traditions. From the frantic grape-gobbling at Puerta del Sol to cava toasts spiked with gold rings, we’re unpacking the superstitions that promise love, luck, and maybe just a mild stomach ache. We also explore why Spaniards insist on red underwear, right-foot entrances, and of course, fireworks. Join us for a cheeky, l...

Get ready to laugh—and rethink everything you thought you knew about Spanish expressions, Part Dos! In this fun and cheeky episode of Ah Spain Podcast, we translate 20 hilarious idioms from Spain, like estar frito , mandar a freír espárragos , and the wonderfully visual partirse el culo . What do cats, asparagus, and coconuts have to do with everyday conversation in Spain? Luckily, we’re here to l...

This episode is all about El Gordo, the world-famous Spanish Christmas Lottery that captivates Europe every December. We break down its 200-year history, the San Ildefonso children’s singing, billion-euro prizes, and why Spaniards rush to buy décimos starting in July. Learn how the Lotería de Navidad became Spain’s biggest holiday tradition, a cultural phenomenon, and the most-watched lottery draw...

Discover how we as expats celebrate Christmas in Spain in this festive episode as we unpack the traditions, food, and celebrations that make the Spanish holidays unforgettable. From Christmas trees to elaborate nativity scenes, the magic of the season goes far beyond December 25. We break down the unique Spanish customs around Three Kings’ Day, Valencian holiday foods, and the traditions that surp...

This week on Ah Spain: Poco a Poco, we explore the surprising journey of the potato from the Andes to the heart of Spanish cooking. From its first encounters with Spanish conquistadors to its rise as an everyday essential, we trace how the humble patata became a staple of the Spanish table. We talk about favorites like tortilla de patatas, patatas bravas, papas arrugadas, and other comforting prep...

This week on the Ah Spain Podcast, we’re serving up the full, unfiltered recap of our potluck-style Thanksgiving—Spain edition. Picture a room filled with expats, curious locals, and a mix of dishes ranging from classic American comfort to unexpected international favorites. If you fantasize about expat life in Spain—or are already living the dream—love holiday potlucks, and enjoy warm, lightheart...

On today’s Poco A Poco episode, join us as we explore some of Barcelona’s best museums—from medieval shipyards and surrealist daydreams to Roman ruins hidden right beneath your feet. We wander through the Picasso Museum, the iconic MNAC, the seafaring Maritime Museum, the ever-energetic FC Barcelona Museum, and a few unexpected gems along the way. Expect art, history, a touch of humor, and a sprin...

  In this episode of the Ah Spain Podcast , we answer listener questions about choosing cities in Spain, adapting to Spanish culture, and navigating real expat life. From climate quirks to lifestyle surprises, we tackle the things people really want to know about moving to Spain—language worries, habits, pets, and all. As always we offer a fun and honest look at life in Valencia and beyond, packed...

Settle in for a crispy, crunchy tour of one of Spain’s most delicious secrets with your two favorite hungry expats Tania and Gaetano, and discover the world of coca, the ancient flatbread locals swear by. In this episode, we nibble our way through sweet and savory cocas, proving that new tastes abroad can be just as surprising as Spanish bureaucracy (but way more delicious). Think pizza’s carefree...

This week on “Ah Spain,” we’re uncovering the wild side of the country — the animals you’ve heard of, the ones you haven’t, and the ones you won’t believe actually live here. From wolves and bears to flamingos, ibex, lizards, and more, we break down Spain’s surprisingly diverse wildlife with our usual mix of curiosity and cheek. It’s a light, lively look at everything roaming the mountains, forest...

This week on Ah Spain Podcast: Poco A Poco , we’re tracing the surprising story of Turkeys in Spain — the original globe-trotting birds! From the Aztecs to Andalusian estates, find out how these strutting newcomers became the toast (and roast) of Europe. We unpack how the Spanish mistook them for peacocks, why the English blamed Turkey, and how Spain accidentally started a culinary revolution. It’...

Gobble gobble, expats — it’s Thanksgiving in Spain! This week on Ah Spain Podcast , we chat about what happens when you try to celebrate one of America’s most iconic holidays… without the parades, pumpkin pie mix, or a single cranberry in sight. From hunting down a turkey that still has its beak (yikes!) to recreating your favorite dishes with Spanish ingredients and tiny European ovens, we’re ser...

Join us as we wander through Granada’s gilded wonder in this playful and heartfelt episode of Ah Spain Podcast: Poco A Poco . The Basilica de San Juan de Dios is part church, part treasure chest, and entirely spectacular. From an orphaned Portuguese shepherd who became a saint to a Baroque masterpiece bursting with marble, mirrors, and miracles, this story blends devotion with dazzling design. You...

Think you know Spain? Think again! In this cheeky episode of Ah Spain Podcast , Tania and Gaetano take on 5 myths about Spanish life — from the famously “laid-back” lifestyle to that so-called all-year-round beach weather. They also wax poetic about train travel across Europe, explore the Mediterranean diet, and try to agree on what actually counts as tapas. Expect laughs, cultural insights, and a...

In this Poco A Poco episode, we get a little nutty exploring Spain’s sweetest tradition — marzipan (mazapán). From Toledo’s convent kitchens to medieval legends born of famine, this almondy classic has quite the backstory. We unwrap its Moorish roots, monastic magic, and why Toledo still reigns as the capital of Spanish marzipan today. From tiny sweets to eel-shaped creations, marzipan comes in ma...

This week on Ah Spain Podcast, we go unscripted and embrace pure, glorious chaos — because who needs an agenda anyway? From the oddities of getting your child’s vaccines to trying to decode how to apply to colleges in the EU (pro tip: every country is different), we’re keeping it real and just a bit unhinged. Add in a never-ending pool cleaning saga, our unfulfilled spa day dreams, and a proud dad...

Bats, football, and royal legends — oh my!  In this Poco a Poco episode, we flutter through Valencia’s skies to uncover why bats are beloved symbols, not spooky creatures. From King Jaume I’s lucky omen to Valencia CF’s epic logo feud with Batman (sorry, Gotham), these winged wonders have quite the backstory. We’ll also peek at the real bats that call the city and countryside home — the unsung her...

Boo! It’s Halloween time — and whether you live in Spain or are just curious how your Halloween traditions translate here, we’ve got the spooky spirit for you. From ancient customs like All Saint’s Day to modern-day trick-or-treating in Valencia’s Ruzafa neighborhood, we uncover how Spain’s ghosts, ghouls, and party-lovers celebrate October 31st their own way. Expect stories of haunted tunnels, li...

Lace up those hiking boots — this week, we’re walking very slowly across Spain. In this Poco a Poco episode, we trace the legendary Camino de Santiago — from ancient miracles and royal pilgrims to today’s mix of blisters, bonding, and “¡Buen Camino!” camaraderie. Once a sacred journey to the tomb of Saint James, it’s now part spiritual quest, part cultural adventure, and part endurance test (with...

Valencia is full of surprises, and we’re uncovering ten of its most unforgettable unique hidden gems. From hunting down the legendary Holy Grail to tackling towers with heart-pumping climbs, this city keeps you on your toes. We visit secret gardens straight out of a fairytale, a thrift store that’s saving the planet one Lladro statue at a time, and the quirkiest cat house you’ll ever see. Then the...

Few holidays combine history, fireworks, civic pride, sweets, and romance quite like October 9th in Valencia. Known both as Día de la Comunitat Valenciana —the city’s founding day—and Sant Dionís , Valencia’s very own Lovers’ Day, it’s a celebration that blends freedom and love in true Mediterranean style. In this episode of Ah Spain Podcast: Poco A Poco , we explore the story of King Jaume I and...

Got pets and dreaming of Spain? In this episode of, Tania and Gaetano spill the kibble on everything from getting your furry friends across the Atlantic (boats, planes, and trains—oh my!) to the quirky realities of everyday pet life in España. Discover the royal treatment pets get aboard the Queen Mary 2, the ins and outs of Spanish pet laws, and why Gaetano’s cats now expect sushi on demand. Also...