Blog Archives
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 | Travel |
Spain is the land of romance and amazing oddities. From
bullfights to Gaudi to partying the night away on Ibiza,
travelers could easily spend a year exploring Spain.
Madrid
With a population of over three million, Madrid is a big, modern
city in central Spain. The suburbs of Madrid are very modern and
not particularly interesting. Make it to the center of the city,
however, and you are in for a treat. Small alleys, hidden
squares and odd little shops are the norm. In this center, you
will find ...
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Monday, May 30th, 2011 | Travel |
Denia, on the Costa Blanca of Spain has always been
strategically located on the skirt of the Montgo hills,
dominated by a castle which was once an Arab fortress, right on
the Mediterranean Sea. Dianium was its first name given to it by
the Romans owing to the fact that there was a temple nearby
which had been dedicated to Diana. The Greeks seem to be the
first tourists in 6 B.C. and staying for a while because of its
climate, very similar to that of Greece, giving it the name ...
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Sunday, May 29th, 2011 | Travel |
Spain and especially Valencia is filled with tradition, and Las
Fallas is the most popular and outstanding tradition in this
marvellous city. It is a festival where everyone can participate
whether you are from the local land, a foreigner who has chosen
to spend some time there or an intentional tourist who has
planned to visit the city on purpose to find out what emotions
can be lived. Satire and gaiety are two very important concepts
that you must keep in mind along with good food ...
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Saturday, May 28th, 2011 | Travel |
Stretching nearly to Gibraltar, Algeciras has long been an
important port in Spain. It's a popular crossroads for Moroccan
workers on the way to and from France, Holland, and Belgium.
Partly for this reason, there's a strong Arab flavor to the
city; many signs are in Arabic, and you'll find excellent tea
shops specializing in Moroccan mint teas. It's not a pretty
city, but it's an almost fiercely individual one with a unique
and vibrant personality. The restaurants here tend to be ...
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Friday, May 27th, 2011 | Travel |
Valentia, dating back to 137 B.C., is what we now know as
Valencia, Spain. If there was any confusion as to where Valencia
is or what it is known for, the city's renovation with
breathtaking architecture turned into museums, aquariums and
Imax cinemas plus the hosting of the world famous America's Cup
2007 has definitely put it on the map. Valencia has gone through
all kinds of cultures, taking advantage of each one's
contributions, from the Romans through the Arabs, the Catholic
Kings with ...
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Thursday, May 26th, 2011 | Travel |
The city of Barcelona, Spain, as all the Iberian Peninsula, has
been clearly marked by its long history which dates to the Roman
times. But what really left a deep impression and can still be
fully appreciated today is what the Arabs left behind. Not only
can you awe at the lovely cathedrals, temples and other
buildings but you can feel it in the powerful, brave character
of the people in Catalunya. The cities of Lleida, Girona,
Tarragona and Barcelona make up the region called Catalunya ...
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Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 | Travel |
The mountain of Montjuic juts over Barcelona's port on one face,
and on the other side overhangs the Placa Espanya. With this
location, it is ideal for playing. The mountain became the
central mark of the World Fair of 1929 and the 1992 Olympic
games. It's beautiful and green, still forested and covered in
parks. Montjuic is popular with pedestrians and cyclists of all
kinds because of its extensive and green paths. Barcelona has
recently started working on installing walkways and escalators
to ...
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Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 | Travel |
Despite Castilian (Or Español) being the main language of Spain
there are also a number of other languages spoken throughout
Spain - many are now recognised officially by the government and
regulated by governing bodies to ensure that they remain a part
of Spain's history and diversity.
Euskara Batua (unified Basque)
Definitely the most interesting language in Spain, Euskara is
widely spoken throughout the Basque region of Northern Spain.
The majority of Basque speakers live in Spain with a ...
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Monday, May 23rd, 2011 | Travel |
Copyright 2005 Hugh Griffin
Spain is a country in southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of
Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the
Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France. Spain consists of 19
autonomous communities including the Balearic Islands and the
Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the
coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and
Penon de Velez de la Gomera. The total area of Spain is 504,782
sq km. Spain has borders with ...
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 | Travel |
Due to the important extension of land Spain comprehends and the
different geographical areas it has, this country shows some
different climates at some spots than at in others, although
there are some general guidelines which can be applied to it as
a whole.
In general, all the different areas of Spain show some
similarities at each season, although many times they show
important differences as well. Despite of learning the general
weather conditions of the country at any given time, it ...
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Saturday, May 21st, 2011 | Travel |
Spain, with its myriad of influences and epic history, is a
country with a diverse gamut of sights and sounds to offer its
45 million tourists who visit every year. An area where this can
be seen in particular is in its museums and galleries, a rich
history of art and culture has left Spain a huge legacy in this
department with names such as Dali, Picasso and Miro leading the
list:
Guggenheim, Bilbao:
Now one of the most easily recognised buildings in Europe, the
Guggenheim in Bilbao is a ...
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Friday, May 20th, 2011 | Travel |
Spaniards seem rarely to need much of a reason for a fiesta or
festival of some sort and you can pretty much guarantee that
wherever you are in Spain there will be some merrymaking going
on somewhere in honour of a patron saint - I've decided to look
at some of Spain's quirkier, slightly less known festivals and
enlighten readers as to some of the stranger practices which
take place at various times around the country.
Our journey begins in the east of the country in the town of
Bunol in the ...
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Thursday, May 19th, 2011 | Travel |
These are a few things you should know before you hire a car in
Spain:
* What's included in the price and what ISN'T. You can come
across some amazing looking prices but when you look at the
detail you find that they don't include unlimited mileage, local
taxes or insurances.
You may not be doing much driving in which case unlimited
mileage may be unnecessary but insurances are a must and do add
up. We usually found these cheap looking prices were really not
cheap at all and could be regarded ...
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Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 | Travel |
* What are your expectations? A villa conjures up visions of
luxury but the truth is that many villas are old and in need of
updating. You can go from cheap and cheerful villa hire to a
villa that would cost thousands a week and appeal to pop stars
or movie stars.
* Make sure you view as many photos as possible so you can get a
good idea of what you are going to get. Most importantly you
want to see interior shots, in particular the lounge, kitchen
and master bedroom. If these aren't available ...
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 | Travel |
I first arrived in Rota, Spain in February 1989. I was a Marine
who had been given orders to serve in the Marine Corps Security
Forces in Rota, Spain. I was asleep on our overnight flight when
we began our descent into
Rota. I woke up and looked outside. I was
surprised to see that it was morning and the sun was up. When we
landed and stepped out of the airplane, I couldn't believe what
I saw. I had imagined that Spain was a dusty prairie, kind of
like the old west. I expected to see villagers ...
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Monday, May 16th, 2011 | Travel |
Buying A Bar In Spain
Each year thousands of foreigners buy a bar in Spain, all with
varying degrees of success and the whole process can be a
nightmare if not done properly. Although sometimes it can work
on your own, it is normally a disaster if you buy a bar in Spain
without using a qualified agent to help you. You have to
remember that the laws are very different in Spain and over the
years, especially on the Costa's, a very dangerous breed of
crook has evolved; there are thousands of ...
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Sunday, May 15th, 2011 | Travel |
The History of Spain, and how it all begun.
The Iberian Peninsula was first inhabited around 8000,000 BC and
has long been subject to foreign influences. The history of
Spain starts from 11th century BC, it was colonized by
sophisticated Eastern Mediterranean civilizations, starting with
the Phoenicians then the Greeks and the Carthaginians. The
Romans arrived in Spain in 218BC to fight the Carthaginians,
this sparked off the Second Punic War. They harvested the
peninsulas agricultural and ...
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Saturday, May 14th, 2011 | Travel |
Thousands of people every year dream of going to live in Spain
and a small percentage of them do it, what is the reason for the
dream, and how does the reality live up to it?
I came to Spain in 1991, 14 years ago at the time of writing,
with my husband and three young children then aged 4,7 and 8. To
be honest we had initially intended to go to France, having been
tempted by the promise of beautiful rural property going for a
song, but we went the wrong way when we got off the ferry ...
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Friday, May 13th, 2011 | Travel |
69, 70,71, 72. I am trying to count the Griffon Vulture's as
they glide effortlessly on their 2m. wingspan over the top of
the mountains opposite my home.
Earlier I was checking the damage to our vegetable patch as the
wild boar were here again last night and they seem to have taken
a shine to my husband's carrots!
I glance up as I hear the screech of a Booted Eagle letting his
mate know she has nothing to fear from the carrion eating
vultures as their constant circling takes them further ...
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 | Travel |
Up to 60 million visitors travel to Spain every year to delight
in the country's 315 sunny days and its rich and diverse history
and culture. As a result the Spanish government spend millions
of Euros per year on the travel and transport infrastructure to
service the country's growing population and its ever growing
numbers of visitors.
Therefore Spain has to be one of the easiest and most affordable
of the world's popular destinations in terms of its
accessibility - particularly from the UK ...
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 | Travel |
Spain is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations;
furthermore the attraction of Spain's climate, culture, beauty,
cost and standard of living attracts record numbers of
expatriates to relocate to its shores every year and the country
already has an estimated 1.5 million foreign residents in situ.
But there's a darker side to moving abroad that few people ever
consider ' did you know that last year 191,000 people relocated
overseas from the UK'and 105,000 Britons also returned to the ...
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 | Travel |
Spain is the cultural centre of Europe and the third most
popular tourist destination in the world; furthermore it is home
to an ever growing eclectic mix of expatriates from around the
globe.
Those who choose to visit or relocate to Spain are drawn by the
country's charm, beauty and passionate people: this rough guide
to Spain will give you an introduction to this fascinating, rich
and diverse country.
The Environment and Climate
Mainland Spain is located in South Western Europe. It makes ...
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Monday, May 9th, 2011 | Travel |
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As any European can brag about,
Barcelona in
Spain is no exception with its endless history, much of it
still remaining, but much more of it has been added on in the
20th century. In many people´s opinion, you fully
appreciate what Catalunya ( four regions including Barcelona )
is all about if you concentrate on the newly added culture.
Barcelona has been a busy city and with all the new activities
that it is willing to take on, tourism has become a big part of
its daily life. So, ...
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Sunday, May 8th, 2011 | Travel |
Capital of the Comunidad Valenciana this vibrant city is famous
for being the place where El Cid (Spain´s national hero) fought
against the Moors.
Situated close to the Mediterranean Sea, it possesses two urban
beaches still within the township plus several beaches just a
bus ride away such as Cullera, Gandía and Oliva.
Valencia also has a good, modern shopping center, a pulsating
nightlife and plenty to interest the children ... Gulliver Park
Playground, Botanical Gardens, Zoo and ...
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Saturday, May 7th, 2011 | Travel |
Another lively Andalucian city and capital of the popular Costa
del Sol Málaga has, in its time, been inhabited by Phoenicians,
Greeks, Romans and Moors.
Wide avenues and green spaces abound and, as with other major
Spanish cities, it is truly steeped in history and culture.
The Citadel or La Alcazaba (8th-11th centuries) as well as being
the symbol of Málaga, is one of the largest fortresses in
Andalucia with and Archaelogoical Museum now located there.
Close by is the wonderful Castle of ...
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Friday, May 6th, 2011 | Travel |
Capital of Andalucia and largest southern city of Spain, this
dashing and romantic place is packed full of life, history and
culture.
Nature lovers will also find plenty on offer at the Doñana
Nature Reserve and the Sierra Norte Nature Reserve. Children
will delight in the Isla Mágica Theme Park, Aquópolis Seville
Guadalpark Water Park, and nearby Mundo Park.
Seville is, of course, steeped in history with colorful
districts such as Triana and La Macarena, plus magical monuments
and buildings ...
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Thursday, May 5th, 2011 | Travel |
What more could you want out of life than a tremendous trip to
Barcelona?!
Second city of Spain and major Mediterranean port, bustling
Barcelona incorporates a delightful historic mix of Roman
remains, medieval quarters and 20th century avant-garde art. It
also possesses beautiful beaches nearby!
Nature lovers need not travel far to be able to hike through
hills that are part of the Coastal Mountain Range and Catalonian
Pyrenees.
Not only is Barcelona a tremendous artistic source, there ...
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Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 | Travel |
One thing is for sure, "Madrileños" certainly know how to enjoy
life to the full, and you should too whilst in Madrid, for the
capital of Spain is a charming city, rich in culture and, at
night it really rocks!
For shopoholics, its bustling Gran Via offers some of the finest
stores in Europe.
For the children, there is plenty to keep them amused with the
Zoo-Aquarium, the Faunia Theme Park, the Wax Museum, the
Amusement Park, Warner Bros-Madrid Theme Park ...
And the city comes alive at ...
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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 | Travel |
Situated at the foot of the southerly Sierra Nevada ski resort,
Granada is one of the most splendid cities of eastern Andalucia.
On its southern side is 103 kms of fabulous Mediterranean
coastline, with the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical in close
proximity whilst, in between, lies a fertile plain producing
exotic fruits.
Granada dates back to prehistoric times and was known as Ilbyr.
When the Romans colonized the southern part of Iberia, they
built their own city there, calling it Illibris. ...
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Monday, May 2nd, 2011 | Travel |
Benidorm, which is located just 20 minutes north of the city of
Alicanteon the Costa Blanca coast Spain, is such as
action-packed city. Even thoughit has a beautiful stretch of
soft sandy beaches, we should leave this leisureactivity for the
end because there are so many kinds of tourist parks to
visitaround
Benidorm.
The biggest Attraction around Benidorm: Terra Mitica
This park in English is called ´Mythical Land´,
because it isa theme park which takes us back to the ...
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Sunday, May 1st, 2011 | Travel |
Imagine some of you will come over and spend these summer
holidays around the Costa Blanca in places like Benidorm,
Torrevieja, Denia or Calpe. After two weeks of sunbathing and
party at night, you finally get your act together and do a one
day visit to Alicante ' just to be able to tell the loved once
at home that you have seen some culture and arts as well.
Come and join me for a foot walk around Alicante
Before we start a quick overview. Alicante, with about 310.000
habitants lies about 6 ...
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