When my friend and fellow travel writer Patricia Harris' new book hit the bookstores this month, it served as a testament to her passion for Spain and its vibrant history and culture.
"100 Places in Spain Every Woman Should Go" is a culmination of three decades spent covering all of the country's diverse regions, and while it is one of the Travelers' Tales series of books geared to the feminine sex, men will benefit just as much from her expertise in all things Spanish.
I once asked Pat why she loved Spain so much, and her answer delighted me. She said it was because she likes the person she becomes there _ the one who stays out late at flamenco clubs, walks windswept beaches, dances the sardana in front of Barcelona's cathedral, and eats a thousand delicacies she probably wouldn't try at home (Cambridge, Mass.).
While I certainly can't claim Pat's knowledge of Spain, reading the book made me think of the places I've visited on my five trips there. I asked her if she would share her reasons for loving these places, and they are followed by my own less expert, but equally heartfelt, feelings.
