Tapas, tapas, tapas. 

It's hot in the States these days. Everyone's eating it. Everyone's paying a lot of money for it. It's a chance to show off how cultured one is, what good taste one has and just how much one <em>loves</em> Spanish food. 

Of course, my friend D. took me out for tapas. Spanish tapas is not American tapas. Spanish tapas is delicious but traditionally served in dirty, slightly gritty hole in the wall spots. People stand at the bar eating tapas with a toothpick, throwing greasy napkins on the floor and smoking. Just for the record, smoke hangs in the air and cigarette butts also find their way to the floor. 

Some places are slightly nicer. Like the one in the pictures below. 

[caption id="attachment_3914" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Tapas and Cider "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-3914" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3914"><img class="size-large wp-image-3914 " title="Tapas and Cider " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6816-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

We cozied up to the bar. D. ordered.  Here's to having a friend in Madrid who speaks Spanish and is willing to put you up for a long weekend!! D. knows his tapas. 

Yum, yum, yum.

[caption id="attachment_3915" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Tapas Bar"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-3915" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3915"><img class="size-large wp-image-3915 " title="Bar of Tapas" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6818-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

The great thing about tapas is that because the dishes are small you get to try a lot of different foods, flavors, textures and combination. 
[caption id="attachment_3916" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Tapas"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-3916" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3916"><img class="size-large wp-image-3916 " title="Tapas" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6819-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]