In my experience, one of the downsides of vacationing overseas is that, with the trip generally being relatively short, you can only scratch at the surface of that countries culture. Especially if you are travelling on a "party" visit, arranged by a travel agent or on some kind of package deal, the company who organizes everything for you tends to decide where you will go and what you will see when you get there.

Absolutely nothing wrong with this, of course, as it takes an awful lot of planning to organize everything yourself before travelling, and having most of the decisions already made before arrival definitely reduces the potential for stressful family disagreements. You know the kind of thing - you want to go to see the ancient castle, whilst junior wants to go to the fun park a nightmare waiting to happen.

But nevertheless, by travelling packaged, you do tend to miss out on having any opportunity of really getting to grips with the culture of the country you are visiting, and interacting with the people. In my experience, the culture and nature of a people is reflected in nothing better than the cuisine of that country, in the food they eat. What people eat literally builds them from the day they are born, it makes them, it is what they are!

So, heres an idea for your next European vacation that will enable you to get to "the heart" of one of Europe's most historically significant cultures in the most enjoyable way imaginable. Think of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and you think of sunshine, maybe bullfighting, red wine, and siesta time. Both countries also have very impressive historical heritages also, having both rules over large chunks of the planet at some time in their past. Ever thought of bacalhau and vino verde? No? Well, now is the time to start.

Bacalhau is dried, salted cod, whose origins date to the 14th century and which is the national dish of Portugal (and absolutely delicious as well!). How about learning to make it and immersing yourself in the true culture of one of the most welcoming and entrancing countries in Europe at the same time, by enrolling for a weeks cooking course at The Refgio da Vila Cooking School? http://www.saranjan.com/portugalcooking.htm/. Situated in a small town outside vora, in the heart of the The Alentejo Region of Portugal, stretching from the Lisbon in the North to the Algarve in the South, the school is located in a beautiful, unspoiled Vila manor house with pool and numerous patios. Guests can relax in elegant rooms between lessons which are conducted in a superb kitchen and take time off to tour the unspoiled countryside. The schools program can accommodate non-cooking guests as well, for those who are just happy to eat Portuguese food, rather than make it! Portuguese cuisine is simple, characterized by a rich variety of regional dishes. Of course, the most famous national dish is bacalhau, but there is so much more. Gathering herbs and produce from the local markets and pairing them to timeless recipes, cooks of all levels can roll up their sleeves in the Vila kitchen and prepare a variety of succulent Mediterranean dishes influenced by this rich region. Running from Sunday to Sunday, the course offers not only the chance to prepare and cook dishes that are probably unlike anything you have ever made or even tasted before, but to totally immerse yourself in the true heart of the culture of traditional Europe. By Steve Cowan. For more hints, ideas and suggestions about travel and vacationing in Europe, visit my Eurotravel site at http://webbiz99.com/.