From Napa, CA to La Rioja, Spain

The first of many posts.... I moved to Logroño, La Rioja in Northern Spain.  It is a lively town centered in the heart of the wine region of Spain. I've moved here as a language assistant for a school in a nearby pueblo where I will be teaching children English.  I chose La Rioja to learn more about Spanish wine, way of life and to practice my Spanish

The terrain is very similiar to Napa, CA wtih rolling hills peppered with vines and it is situated along the Ebro river and there are goregeous bridges to boot.  Here the vino tinto (red wine) varies between 4 varietals: Tempranilllo, Mazuelo (Carignan), Garnacha tinta (Grenache) and Graciano. 

There is siesta where everything pretty much closes so you are "forced" to go home and rest from 1-4pm, a glass of wine is more often than not a €1 ($1.30) and add a tapa (a Spanish snack) it is around  €3.

And finally one of the highlights of the area especially for someone in their mid twenties is that the local people, cafes, restuarants, and clubs stay open into the wee hours of the morning.