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Some Important facts about Spain that You must Know before Going for a Trip

20/07/2010 10:13

Spain has a lot to boast of — insane bull runs, lavish beaches, beautiful country sides, quaint white villages, Flamenco dancers, 365 days sunshine, largest flea market, incomparable cuisines, enthralling nightlife, stunning architecture and an incredible way of life. You can see all moments and pictures of life, be it modern or aesthetic in Spain. The diverse terrain of country includes never ending coasts, high mountain ranges and some beautiful planes too.

Features

With a history that dates back to an ancient Roman origin, Spain is known to have been under occupation of Christians, Moors and Jews. The country is home to some incredible artists and sculptures, flavorful food and tapas that still have their influence.  No matter in which area of the country you are, be it town or village, you can get all flavors of a modern city as well as a quaint village in the vicinity. Spaniards proudly boast of their olive estates and wine and the coasts of Spain do not need any description.

Culture

Since the culture of the country has been influenced by a number of rulers and their reign, the country has been accredited by a number of languages, customs, heritage and food items. The main influence on country is that of ancient Roman because of which Spain is still a Catholic country. Spanish language has also originated from Vulgar Latin. Spain is very well known for bullfighting, Flamenco dancing and splendid ancient architecture.

Food

Cuisine of Spain is a major part of its identity and the kind of recipes that are offered in Spain cannot be found anywhere in the world. These recipes have been passed down within families through generations. The Port of Spain is known for mild flavors, perfect seasoning and use off fresh produce. Spanish people generally use olive oil for food preparation. But most of the Spanish cuisines contain seafood. The most important item in Spanish cuisines is Paella which is a rice dish that is generally paired with Chorizo – an authentic spicy sausage meat, shrimps and other sea foods.

Vegetables and fruits like pomegranates, lemon, avocado and apples come from the fertile land of Spain. Meats and cheese are special products from the Spain’s highland. Another specialty, olive groves can be seen speckle on the hills of country.

Entertainment

Fiestas, festivals, concerts and bullfights can be seen and found through Spain. A number of art galleries like Dali museum and Picasso Museum are also present all over the Spain. The famous running of bulls is held in Pamplona every year between July 7 and July 14.

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Collecting some incredible wines in Spain

20/07/2010 10:10

Spain is known to have a splendid and rich history of producing world-class wines. Experience and novice wine lovers can find a delectable choice in Spain. You may like to carry some back to your home and preserve it for a party or romantic evening.

While you are in Spain you will come across a number of Spanish wine labels. Similar to other European countries, the government of Spain keeps on regulating wines in order to guarantee origin, production methods and class of grapes used for making specific wine. This system has been named as Demominación de Origen, or simply D.O. If you are trying to accumulate the best of wines from spain then first of all, have a look at the label, you will be detailed with the region where this wine was actually produced.

The D.O. is the designation that stands for superior quality and ingredients that are identifiable. Buying a wine that has this designation on it will make sure that you have bought a good quality wine and there is no compromise on its quality. Such a wine that you take your home will be liked by others amongst those who are good wine tasters as well.

You can also choose to purchase Spanish Sherry. Spanish Sherry is a name given to fortified, aged wine — something that is quite favorite throughout Spain. This is the kind of wine is made using Palomino grapes and it is generally prepared towards the southern region of Spain. There are various Spanish Sherry varieties available that range from light and delicate flavors to other flavors that can be sweet or rich. For light flavor you can go for Fino and similarly for sweet choices in Spanish Sherry you can choose Cream Sherry. Cream Sherry is also known to pair very well with a range of deserts.

Gran Reserva or Rioja Tinta Reserva can also be picked for red wine choice. These wines are generally made from Spanish signature Tempranillo grape. The fine is made to age in an American Oak so that it gives a rich and full bodied flavor that can pair well with meats and steak. The Gran Reserva and Reserva designations refer to the length of time for which these wines have been aged.

The sparkling cava of Spain is also famous as a good alternative to Champaign. Cava is generally used in Penedés region and it is essentially a pink or white sparkling wine that is available in dry to medium-sweet varieties. You may also try Verdejo wine, which is yet another white variety of wine.

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Learn How To Order Vegetarian Food in Spain

20/07/2010 10:08

Spain specializes in seafood since it is surrounded by Mediterranean in Atlantic City on three sides and is ideally known as Iberian Peninsula. This does not mean that vegetarians cannot enjoy dining in Spain. Spain is also known for some extra fine delicacies that are made using fresh produce and there is a lot that even vegetarians feel delight in having. A bit knowledge about few words and key phrases will help in navigating Spanish menu and find some great vegetarian delights.

Learning how to order vegetarian food in a Spanish restaurant is not very difficult. First of all you need to search for ‘few words’ or ‘cognate’ that you feel sounds similar in both languages. Words such as ‘ensalada’ and ‘vegetables’ mean the same i.e. vegetarian food. You can look for other similar words such as huevos (meaning eggs), patatas (meaning potatoes), arroz (meaning rice). These are absolutely safe to be eaten by vegetarians. Most of the Spanish restaurants will offer pimientos assados which means grilled green peppers. Tortilla espanola stands for Spanish egg and potato omelet and almost all restaurants in Spain are going to serve you same with butter and bread.

There are a lot of food items that you can easily alter. For example paella Valencia — the famous Spanish rice dish that is generally prepared using shrimps and other seafood items can be made vegetarian by saying “Queria paella sin carne ni mariscos”(meaning that you would prefer to have paella without seafood or meat). Alternatively, you can simply say “pero con verduras solo” which means “with vegetables only”.

There are a lot of servers that may understand a bit of English, even if they are not fluent in English. The word “vegetarian” is understood universally. However, in a restaurant you may ask “Hay comidas vegeteranas?” which means that ‘is the restaurants serving anything that is vegetarian.’

Different regions of Spain may serve you different vegetarian specialties. Alternatively if you are not staying in a hotel and your accommodation happens to be a villa, you have an advantage of cooking yourself, you can always grab something that is fresh in market them yourself. These days, a number of continental and Spanish recipes are available online and you can always check them in order to make sure that you’re having something without fish or meat.

Spanish people generally use olive oil for cooking which makes their dishes even more taste worthy. You can also do the same with Spanish dishes and have a great time in Spain.

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Andalusia: The Best Place For Honeymoon

20/07/2010 10:07

Andalusia is world famous as the best destination to go for relaxing holidays. Andalusia has a very romantic atmosphere and place is exceptionally suited for honeymooners. You may find Andalusia to be densely populated but the area can never run out of nice places that has ample of nature to soothe honeymooners and let them find the joy of their life. Though there are a lot of places in Andalusia which honeymooners can see but a planned visit to these places will make sure that their honeymoon becomes the best time of their lives.

Before you actually trip Andalucía it is important that you were for a virtual trip of the region. There are plenty of online sources which can detail you with interesting sites and activities that could be performed in Andalucía. Create a list off destinations that he would like to visit and also things that you would like to do here.

Andalucía happens to be a big autonomous community in Spain and physically it is impossible to cover every speck of it in a single trip. It is important that you base your list on what you prefer as an activity like diving, snorkeling, swimming, sightseeing, shopping, horseback riding and nature tripping. Make sure that both of you as couples decide that which all activities you would like to cover.

After you have prepared a broad list, sit together and narrow it down so that you can determine the time you can spend on each area and also decide on the kind of budget you would need. It is important that you also focus some time on the available accommodations.

Rather than choosing a hotel, choose a small villa where you will find some privacy and time to know each other better. Honeymoon is meant for just that and a villa in a quaint location in Andalucía will help you do just that. Complete all the formalities that are required with renting of the villa prior to your visit so that you do not burden yourself with unwanted activities. Make sure that the villa that you have booked is not very far of from market.

Andalucía is home to some great flora, fauna and unique plantations. Visiting these serene places where the let you adventure and here you will not have crowds to disturb you. There are numerous gardens that you may visit. You may also participate in paragliding, climbing and ballooning.

Andalucía is a bit conservative and formal area. Make sure that you do not wear a swimming suit the market on everyday clothes to the restaurant or nightclub.

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Gay Travel In Spain

20/07/2010 09:55

Spain has always remained a popular destination amongst gays for spending vacations or otherwise a good time. With presence of a number of gay friendly resorts and cities, a lot of gays arrive in Spain either individually or in groups to enjoy not only the country beaches, weather and culture but an assortment of nightclubs and gay bars.

Attitudes Towards Gays

Spain is known to have quite progressive attitudes towards gay community and people in Europe. In Spain, gay and lesbian couples have same marriage rights like that of heterosexual couples and they can also exercise their rights of adoption similar to that of heterosexual’s. In cities like Barcelona and Madrid, you’ll find no sexual discrimination between gays and other part of communities. It’s a common scene in Spain to see gay couples walking around freely, hand-in-hand without any shame or fear of harassment. The same is the case when it comes to seaside towns like Sitges. Straight couples and gay couples are seen mixing freely without any problems.

Cities and Towns

The main cities of interests for most of the gay tourists had always remained Barcelona, Madrid and Sitges. However, recently a lot of gay tourists have been visiting the Gran Canaria Island also.

It is quite an astonishing fact that just alone in Madrid, there are more than 40 gay bars and clubs and they cater to a number of saunas and other amenities as well. The city of Barcelona also has more than 30 clubs to choose from. The nightlife of Barcelona is also a little more anesthetizing than that of Madrid. A number of the beaches are also present on the coast of Spain and they are quite crowded during the summer months.

In Madrid you’ll find over 40 gay clubs and bars catering to all tastes, plus a number of saunas. Barcelona’s nightlife is a little more sedate than Madrid’s, but it still has over 30 bars to choose from. It is on the coast so you also have a gay beach to visit in the summer months.

Spain is known to host some of the best gay festival that is held throughout the world.  Orgullo is a Gay Pride Event that is held in Madrid each year.  The event attracts a number of tourists that participate in the event. Circuit Festival that is held in Barcelona is known to last for a week. There are many merry time activities that are carried during the festival.

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Montjuic - A Must-Visit Destination In Spain

16/07/2010 10:45

Montjuic – the Jewish Mountain is situated high above the city center of Barcelona. It is a luxuriant, residential enclave which is known for bestowing amazing city views and displaying spectacular art like you would have never seen before.

Plaça Espanya is the transportation hub of Montjuic and is quite accessible by the L1 and L3 metro lines. After reaching Plaça Espanya you can easily reach Montjuic by taking a walk along Gran via. If you do not want to travel by Metro you can avail one of the city bus services that are available from popular spots such as L’Eixample and Plaça Catalunya.

As soon as you will exit from your bus or Metro to the Plaça Espanya, you will be able to see Museu Nacional d’Arte de Catalunya or MNAC. The view of this art center looming from the pinnacle of a large stone staircase will be amazing. The walk away to the museum is also lined with beautiful fountains making the entrance to the museum a grand threshold.

You can also visit the famous Catalonian artist Joan Miro. The artist is quite famous for his imaginative and figurative works that feature abstracts of birds, stars, women and other basic figures. A lot of these consist of thin ink lines and he is charmed because of his descriptive and lengthy titles that he gives to his works.

You must also visit the CaixaForum which is a free museum that is operated by Caixa bank. The museum features a number of art exhibitions that contain paintings, sculptures, photography and digital art. These features keep on changing in order to assure that this museum always remain worth a view. You may also browse the bookshop which is known for some mind blowing collections of books.

The former Olympic diving complex of Barcelona is also a treasure but it is not very famous. You can enjoy swimming here while gazing at a number of landmarks including Sagrada Familia. The pool is never crowded and the setting is known to be quite stunning.

During the late evening, you must visit the Font Magica which was built for the purpose of world exposition in the year 1929. These enormous musical fountains are beautifully choreographed and you can see the fountains dancing after every half-hour during the summer evenings. You’ll be thrilled to watch various combinations of themes that are tacky, entertaining, inspiring and weird as well.

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Enjoy Comfort, Speed and Natural Beauty By Taking A Train From Madrid And Valencia

16/07/2010 10:43

A lot of people take train travel from Madrid to Valencia so that they could visit the beautiful city of Valencia and also to discover the unseen beauty of nature on the way. The modern city of Valencia has evolved through its historical past and today it cherishes deep pride in being a city that people love to spend time in.

Traveling from Madrid to Valencia through train is the best way to reach the city while availing all comforts and also experiencing some beautiful natural sites on the way. It is easy to book your rail Europe tickets online with use of a computer and Internet. Alternatively you can also call your rail Europe Office and book your tickets. Planning for midrange ticket prices can be the best option while you’re booking tickets.

While you book your tickets from Madrid to Valencia to Eurail Spain Pass, you will be able to exercise the flexibility and customize your plans to visit other places of interest around Spain. Valencia has beautiful neighboring cities and mostly all of them are accessible with Eurail select pass.

In case you’re not traveling alone and have a large group along you can avail some special discounts and go for group booking. Group booking plans are quite affordable with Eurail. You can book a one-way ticket from Madrid to Valencia but in round-trip or point-to-point ticket would be a more cost-effective option.

There are a number of train services available from Madrid to Valencia and you can choose the one depending on your personal choice. The Madrid to Valencia Road is connected with different trains that run daily. Alaris high-speed train takes only 31/2 hours to reach Valencia from Madrid.

You can also select the regional train service that stops at more than 20 different points on Madrid — Valencia route. After you have selected the desired train service, you need to choose the class which will decide on your comfort factor. You also need to make reservations so that your seat is guaranteed. At last get the updated schedule and confirm the train timings.

After you have confirmed the schedule, make arrangements so that you reach the train station on time. Note that the departing train closes at least two minutes before the train is going to departure. So make sure that you are not late or else you’ll end up missing your train. Enjoy your Madrid to Valencia journey.

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Visit Guadalajara and Take a Dip in The Province’s History

16/07/2010 10:41

The Guadalajara province of Spain is located towards the north of Alcala de Henares. The province has been the focal point of massive bombings that took place during the Civil War and reduced Guadalajara into ruins. It took centuries to turn Guadalajara into an industrial city but even today, the province reflects its historic past and has become an important area of travel for those who like to take a dip into the past. The province of Guadalajara also offers a number of beautiful attractions that may attract tourists along with and structures and spots that offer a reflection of what Guadalajara has been in the past.

Sightseeing

There are a number of scenic spots are there in Guadalajara and a single day trip from Madrid or any other city in Spain can be truly worthy. A lot of tourists come here to stay for longer period of time not because they want to look for different resorts but for finding refuge in some nice villa and spending a peaceful time in different villages, magnificent castles, historic spots, chateaus and palaces.

Communing with Nature

Guadalajara is full of nature parks and tourists love to relax and experience the beauty of nature here. These nature parks provide a great means to commune with nature and one of these is Parque Natural del Hayedo de Tejera Negra. The park is known for a number of beech trees that have been planted here and thrived in for years. Some botanical Gardens are also there in the province providing pure excerpts from nature.

History

The rich history of Guadalajara province has something fascinating about it. Most of the buildings and structures in the town belong to the past and these buildings present the story of people’s bloodshed, struggle and heroism. One can also visit the old gates, town walls and fortifications that had served as a fortress during the time of province’s struggle.

Cathedrals

Other than the historical and scenic sections of society, the historic cathedrals and churches of the province Guadalajara are something that a lot of people enjoy visiting. Many of the cathedrals are known to have existed throughout history of this town. Some of these cathedrals have also received damages while the Civil War prevailed. Though some of them have gone under restoration but in others the original atmosphere has been kept intact so that the struggle of people of this province could be remembered.

Guadalajara, Spain has a number of elements that can be grouped together to make it into a perfect holiday province.

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Girona: Spanish city swarming with recreation

16/07/2010 10:39

The beautiful city of Girona that is teeming with culture lies towards the eastern tip of Spain. Girona borders with other Spanish cities Lleida and Barcelona and the Mediterranean coast. A lot of people travel Girona in order to experience its museums, lovely cuisines, art galleries and historic sites like cathedrals and ancient stonewalls. Other than long and impressive history, Girona also offers festivals, beaches and other places of interest. Set in the bustling area of Catalonia, there are plentiful travel options to Girona. The easiest way to reach Girona is by taking a flight to the local airport.

Girona has a deep history and Iberians were the first to occupy this area. The reign was captured by the Romans after which they had built a fortification known as Gerunda. Girona remain under the Roman Empire until then Jewish community occupied the area but they were soon driven away by the Catholics. During 17th and 18th century, the area was under the Napoleon rule until the walls that surrounded the city were destroyed in 19 century. The remains of this historical turmoil and ruins are still present in the city but today it adds to the appeal of tourists.

Girona Mediterranean weather makes it tourist hotspots. The summers in area are dry and pleasant. The Mediterranean Sea breezes always keep the weather suitable. Girona is also home to a number of traditions and celebration. The best events include Catholic Easter season holy week and gastronomic week.

Girona is also a fascinating city for people who want to enjoy parks, sports and beaches. Some superfine golfing opportunities are present in Girona which makes it a golfer’s paradise. A number of sport options are also available and you can participate in scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, skydiving, cave exploration and hot air ballooning.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is the best and most exceptional church that is present in Girona. Other important landmarks include the Jewish quarter, the Arab Bath, monasteries and old convents. Museus d’Art which is well known for its modern and medieval collections should not be missed.

A lot of people find the nightlife of Girona to be quite interesting. The city is filled with a number of clubs, bars, restaurants and discos. The best way to enjoy nightlife in Girona is that trying different wines and enjoying tapas bars. While you’re in Girona you must try the Spanish version cannelloni.

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Cadiz: Known For The Best Beaches in Iberian Peninsula

16/07/2010 10:35

Cadiz is known to have some of the best beaches of the Iberian Peninsula that feature miles of uninterrupted stretches and super fine white sand. Cadiz is just perfect if you are looking for a small town that truly enjoys a relaxed pace life. The villas on this piece of land, some being actively situated along the coast add to a super luxurious vacation.

There are a number of ways in which you can arrive in Cadiz and travel around. This small town offers a complete peace of mind and relaxation. Renting a car will add to your comfort and help you to explore the place in better way.

Malaga Airport and Jerez Airport are the two main airports that can help you in arrival and transition. Malaga airport is at a farther distance to Cadiz than that of Jerez Airport but the airport has a number of international connections and a car drive from Malaga airport to the town of Cadiz is filled with breathtaking scenery. Jerez de la Frontera, which is well known for horse exhibitions and sherry is a quaint village just about 40 km from Cadiz.

Cortadura and La Victoria are the best beaches in the city with vast stretches of sand. La Caleta is another beach and you’ll find a lot of historical sections around. You can pick up a free city guide from the tourism office of Cadiz.

Roaming around Cadiz in a car can be a great opportunity. You’re not likely to face direction problems as the routes are generally color-coordinated with the road so that it is easy for you to click around.

Los Caños de Meca is yet another beach which is common with surfers in Costa de la Luz. The beach is surrounded by beautiful area with enough greenery on one side and cliffs on the other sites. These clips also give a way to harbor fresh waterways and a small protecting cove. If you go westwards, you’ll find the lighthouse of Trafalgar which is quite a known spot.

The Marisucia beach is also nearby and here you can avail the opportunity of walking through medicinal mud which is a famous activity. This area has quite a vibrant nightlife and a lot of nudist areas on the beach.

Barbate is a small beachside village that still maintains the authenticity of ancient tuna fishing and even in today’s time, the same techniques of fishing is used in Barnate. You can avail the opportunity of having a fresh catch in a beachside restaurants. ‘Atún encebollado’ is a famous and delicious tapa and a must-have. You may go ahead to enjoy Zahara de los Atunes beach, which is known for providing despite from a hectic life and relax to soothe your soul.

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