35: Valencia: Sun, Paella & the City That Has It All

37. Spain’s Weekly Markets Up Close

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2437537/fan_mail/new] Spain’s weekly markets are not a cute holiday extra, they’re a living timetable that shapes how towns eat, shop, and socialise. We’re Nalini Sharma and Laura Senior Garcia, and we take you right into that rhythm, from the everyday fruit and veg stalls to one of the Costa Blanca’s most famous Saturday traditions: the Jalón flea market in the Jalón Valley. We talk through how market culture evolves from village trading into covered city mercats, and why the market is also a social gathering point where generations mix, gossip flows, and a simple bocadillo can turn into a lifelong memory. We share what Jalón looks like on the ground: the riverbed layout, the competitive parking, the thrill of crystal, china and odd collectibles, and a practical tip for browsing antiques without getting completely lost, using AI on your phone to get a rough benchmark on authenticity and value. Then the mood shifts. We describe an unsettling stall selling Nazi memorabilia and why seeing it among “normal” market finds hits differently, alongside the legal grey areas and the historical backdrop many visitors never hear about. To round out the weekend, we zoom out to nearby Moraira, Benissa and Calpe, and we get into local Moscatel wine and olive oil, plus a genuinely off-the-beaten-path lunch recommendation at Casa del Maco. If you’re planning Costa Blanca travel, love local food culture, or just want to understand Spain beyond the beach, come along. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find Made in Spain.

36. What Does “Made In Spain” Really Mean Today

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2437537/fan_mail/new] What does "Made in Spain" actually mean? In this episode, Nalini and Laura take the podcast name literally and dig into the Spanish brands quietly carrying the country's soul — from a Madrid espadrille shop that's stood on the same corner since 1845, to the secretive leather workshops of Ubrique that craft bags for the world's biggest luxury houses. Inside this episode: * Casa Hernanz, the family-run espadrille maker just off Plaza Mayor, five generations in * Ubrique: the hidden engine behind Loewe, Polène, Strathberry and more * Mint & Rose's quiet luxury out of Valencia, plus Pokihomba's handcrafted boho hats from Barcelona * La Bien Hecha's modern bags made the old-school way * The unspoken language of the Spanish fan (and where to buy a beautiful one in Madrid) * La Chinata's Pimentón de la Vera — Spain's protected smoked paprika, fourth-generation family business * Fun facts on Lladró porcelain, world-leading olive oil, and 1917, an award-winning Cava you can only buy direct * Laura's first Romería de Santa Faz — pilgrims, canes, rosemary, and a few shots of Jäger before 10am * Plus a show-and-tell on Medicube skincare and Netflix's Running Point Sentence of the day: hecho con amor — because something made the way it was five centuries ago still tastes better than anything made at scale. This episode is powered by GoKo Energy — clean, natural energy made with coconut water, natural caffeine, and real fruit. No crash, no jitters. Order at gokoenergy.com. Follow us @madeinspainpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

35: Valencia: Sun, Paella & the City That Has It All

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2437537/fan_mail/new] Valencia keeps topping global “best places to live” lists, but most people still only talk about Madrid and Barcelona. We wanted to change that with a grounded, travel-friendly Valencia guide that mixes practical tips with the kind of history that makes you look at a city differently the moment you arrive. We get into the essentials first: how big Valencia really is, why it feels so liveable, how easy it is to walk the centre, and why parking can test your patience. We talk transport hacks like the multi-day tourist card, plus why Valencia Airport can be a cheaper way to land in Spain. Then we zoom out to the layers beneath the postcard views, from Roman Valentia to Moorish irrigation that still shapes the region today. The Tribunal de las Aguas, a centuries-old water court that meets outside the cathedral, might be the most “only in Valencia” detail we’ve ever found, and yes, we also go down the Holy Grail rabbit hole. From there it’s all about what to do and what to eat. We share our take on the City of Arts and Sciences, Oceanogràfic Valencia as a conservation-focused attraction, and Bioparc Valencia as an immersive habitat-style zoo, with notes for families and anyone who cares about animal welfare. On the food side, we revisit paella Valencia, what the original recipe looks like, and the one rule that helps you blend in: don’t order paella for dinner. We also cover horchata de chufa, where to eat in Valencia, and seasonal highlights like Noche de San Juan and La Tomatina near Buñol. We finish with a slice of life on social media backlash, tourism tensions, and why we still believe hospitality is the soul of Spain. If this helped you plan a Valencia weekend break, subscribe, share the episode with a travel-loving friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show.

34. Valor Adult Pleasure Chocolate and Easter in Spain

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2437537/fan_mail/new] Chocolate shows up everywhere at Easter, but Spain tells a different story once you look past the shop displays. We’re leaning into that contrast by taking you to Villajoyosa in Alicante, home of Valor, the historic Spanish chocolate brand founded in 1881 and still family-owned today. What starts as a “local factory next door” quickly turns into a global business that exports to over 60 countries, and we talk through what that kind of growth looks like when your cocoa has to be sourced abroad. We also get nerdy about Spanish chocolate tradition: cacao arriving in Spain in the 1500s via Seville, the original thick and bitter drink, and why hot chocolate here still feels like a ritual rather than a quick mug of cocoa. If you’ve ever searched for Spanish hot chocolate, chocolate con churros, or the best food experiences in Spain, you’ll recognise the details that matter: texture, timing, and how these treats anchor social moments. We also share what the free Valor factory tour is like, the surprisingly memorable “placer adulto” advertising that helped shape the brand, and why Valor cafés are such a smart extension. Then we shift to Semana Santa and Easter in Spain, including the key 2026 dates, the cities that deliver the most intense Holy Week atmosphere (think Seville, Malaga, Valladolid), and the seasonal sweets and street-level senses that define it all, from torrijas and mona de Pascua to incense and palm braiding. Stick around for our first ever giveaway with the boutique hotel Mansión Iturbe in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, and tell us what your ultimate Easter treat is. Subscribe, share, and leave a review so more curious travellers and food lovers can find us.

33. Part 2: Trinidad Carnival Survival Guide

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2437537/fan_mail/new] Crossing the stage at dawn. Dancing for 12+ hours. Costumes you choose months ahead. Trinidad Carnival sounds like a party, but the lived reality is a full-body, full-logistics adventure, and we’re telling you what we wish we’d known before we landed in Port of Spain. We start with the journey from Spain, including the messy parts: route planning, time zone tactics, and the moment a train strike and an electric Uber nearly made us miss our flight. From there, we get into how Trinidad Carnival actually works on the ground, from picking a band and section to understanding what “playing mas” means. We played with Hearts (Bacchanal In Bloom, Wild Bloom) and talk through costume timing, deposits, delivery, and why hotels and packages need to be booked shockingly early. Then we break down the two-day rhythm: Monday wear vs Tuesday wear, why stockings are basically non-negotiable, and how professional Carnival makeup becomes part of the production. We also share the real survival checklist: shoes, hydration, sunscreen, sleep, safety, and how the parade flow works with music trucks, moving drinks carts, lunch stops, and crowd management. If you’ve ever wondered whether you could do it, we answer honestly and we even debate how we’d do Carnival differently next time. We also share a special giveaway with a boutique “museum hotel” in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, plus our take on Road March controversy, soca culture, and where Carnival lives outside Trinidad. If you enjoy this peek into living Carnival, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review so more travellers find it.