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You had every intention to fly to Spain last spring only it didn't work out. Unfortunately, the closest you got to Spain was sipping the sangria on the patio at your favorite restaurant. Don't get discouraged, there is still time to catch that plane to Spain and visit the sights. Autumn is a great time to visit Madrid, Spain. The trees are just starting to change colors and the city is hushed from the activities of the loud summer. The museums aren't crowded with tourists and the weather is much more comfortable than during the overbearing heat of summer. Fall is a fabulous time to take a stroll along the tree-covered path to the Prado Museum in Madrid to gaze upon the lovely works of some of the most important painters of Spain like Velzquez, Goya and El Greco. With a bit of a nip in the air it's the perfect time to sit outside with a caf con leche and a napolitan pastry to watch parents shuttling their kids off to school. Autumn nights can be filled with fun trips to the local bars to try various tapas like tortilla, a delicious potato omelet, or boquerones, a small anchovy marinated in olive oil and garlic.

Are you ready to plan that fall trip to Spain? You might not be able to jump on the plane today, but you can enjoy a bit of Spain in your backyard. It's not quite as adventurous, but you don't have to worry about any time changes either. Why not invite a few friends over and enjoy a bit of relaxationSpain-style?

When thinking of the drinks in Spain, sangria usually comes to mind. Just about every bartender has their own mixture of sangria-many far from the original Spanish version. Even different parts of Spain have their own sangria versions. In the region of La Rioja, for example, they have a sangria version made with peaches that is called zurracapote (or zurra).

Spaniards also like to mix their red wine with different types of soda. In northern Spain, you can order a calimochoit is simply a mixture of cola and red wine. Spaniards frequently mix their red wine with a lemon-lime soda called gaseosa, and adventurous tourists try the mixture of Fanta Naranja (orange soda) with red wine. The latter is an acquired taste and might not be a big hit with your friends.

But here's a suggestion for an intimate cocktail party. Instead of the expected sangria why not try something a bit more elegant? For a more sophisticated cocktail similar to a zurra you can try Cava con Melocotna spin on a Bellini. Cava, originally from Catalonia, the northeastern part of Spain,

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