Hiking in Spain
Hiking tours in Spain specialize in small groups of up to 14 walkers and will emphasize culture heritage, various landscapes, and flora and fauna within the various regions. These tours can be self-guided or organized by local guides from different companies. The main areas are Galicia, an isolated coastline, Picos De Europa, which includes pastures and mountains, Camino De Santiago, the northern medieval tour, Compostela, from Leon to Galicia, seeing cathedrals, and the Basque country and Pyrenees, starring the oldest European heritage.
These tours are filled with quality trails, less traffic and important and historical points of interest. Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe and the year round temperature is usually moderately warm and dry, making excellent hiking. There is a slight difference between day and night temperatures, but nothing uncomfortable or challenging to prepare for. This makes the climate excellent for walking tours, especially those that are extended in duration. In the northern regions near the coast, there is a mild climate but high rainfall. In the Pyrenees, the Sierra Nevada, the Central and Iberian ranges, and the Cantabrian Mountains the climate is harsher with snow in the winter season. (more…)
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March 27, 2008
Clothing in Spain
As with most developed countries that have strong historic ties to the designers of Europe and the clothing manufacturers worldwide there is a wide range of clothing styles in Spain. In most cases people tend to dress more formally than is often seen in American cities, with typical business dress for men being a suit and tie and for women dresses or suits as the general fashion trend. Casual dress is seen as well, but typically even casual dress in the country is more “dressy” than may be seen in other areas.
Some of the cities and areas of Spain have very formal and traditional dress that is most commonly used for festivals and events that are traditions in the city. One of the costumes most famous in Spain is the Flamenco dance costume. For women this is a dramatic dress that is typically red, black or white and may be a long gown type dress or shorter mid length dress. The skirt has a border of ruffles in several layers up the skirt, providing dramatic movement the bottom of the dress. The dress tends to fit the body very closely providing a streamlined figure when viewed from any angle. (more…)
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March 24, 2008
Shopping in Spain
There is very little chance that you will not be able to find whatever you may be shopping for in the larger centers in Spain. Unlike many areas where shopping is limited to only certain areas in the cities, Spanish cities tend to have plazas scattered throughout the city that provide endless shopping opportunities. Some cities are more known for specific types of handicrafts and items, but generally a larger center will have representations of most Spanish and international items in stores.
One of the many differences in shopping in Spain as compared to other cities is that there is wide variety of different types of stores. Open markets offer fresh produce, meats, cheeses, wines and olive oils, many of which are produced on very small local farms. These same products are likely not available through stores. Side street stalls or individuals stalls on the squares or plazas are often the best place to find real deals, just like in the flea markets and open markets haggling is considered to be appropriate with these types of purchases. It is important to be aware of frauds and replicas however as not all of these merchants will be above board. (more…)
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March 21, 2008
Villas to Rent in Spain
There are several different ways to rent villas in Spain. One of the most common ways is to use a property management website that lists villas that are managed by a company based on region, features or location to attractions. Another way is to rent a villa privately directly from the owner through either recommendations from other travelers or through owner managed villa rental websites. Typically, the major property management companies will not host private owner villa rentals on their sites as they are trying to promote their own properties.
In Spain, a villa is a general term used for a detached type of home that is typically located on a landscaped yard and garden that is representative of a moderate to luxurious type of home. Many of the villas in Spain that are available as rentals will include amenities such as swimming pools, outdoor patios and beautifully landscaped gardens, wireless internet, satellite television, heating and air conditioning in all rooms, gourmet kitchen facilities and exquisite interior decoration and design. (more…)
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March 18, 2008
Toledo
Located very close to the geographical center of the country of Spain, the city of Toledo is a historical treasure to visit. The many different cultures that have lived in and inhibited the city at various times in history have all left their unique mark through architecture, cultural impact as well as art and music in the area. Christian, Moorish and Jewish cultures have all existed within the city and the evidence of their influence is noted in the buildings, artwork and even the decoration and traditions within the historical center of Toledo.
Historically, Toledo was famous for the outstanding swords and knives it produced that were both of the highest quality as well as beautifully made. That tradition still continues with steelwork in knives as one of the major traditional industries. Toledo also has fully modern types of industry as well, although the historical areas tend to remain almost as if time has stood still. For the rich cultural and historical heritage evident through this diverse city, Toledo has been declared a World Heritage site. (more…)
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March 15, 2008
Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca is not a specific town or city but is actually the name of the almost two hundred kilometers of beautiful coastline along the coast of Spain. The Costa Blanca actually encompasses several different beaches and stretches from Denia to Torrevieja and includes the Costa de Valencia. This area is rich with both historic and archeological sites as well as quiet coves and beaches to relax and enjoy a day in the warm sunshine.
The Costa Blanca is a very popular tourist destination for those that enjoy boating, sports fishing and diving. The vast number of small towns, larger cities and villages along the Costa Blanca ensure that visitors can find just the scenery and type of accommodation they are looking for. Renting villas or accommodations along the waterfront is very common along the Costa Blanca and the rates are reasonable given the beautiful year round setting. (more…)
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March 12, 2008
Bus Travel in Spain
If you are planning on travelling economically, then going by bus will meet your needs. The network of roads in Spain allows buses to travel between places efficiently and there are regular and frequent schedules between most areas. The buses are modern and comfortable with the touring buses usually air-conditioned and fully equipped with washroom facilities. The routes will provide rest stops, a chance to stretch your legs and even purchase food and beverages. This is an all round great way to travel as long as you are not in a rush. The bus drivers must allow for road conditions plus stops and starts, which does make the travel a bit more time consuming than by car or train.
The main bus companies are ALSA and Continental Auto. The basic fare is 8 Euros per 100 kilometers, however some rates do vary. There are bus stations in most cities and towns, both large and small. The inner city buses provide a slightly different service, with different fares and type of tickets than the touring buses. As there are many different companies operating bus services throughout Spain, you should check their connections for best service. The private bus lines allow you to buy your ticket on board the bus. The city buses require a pre-purchased ticket that you get from a machine or newsstand and it needs to be stamped on board the bus. Tourist offices have the necessary bus schedules and other important bus travel information. (more…)
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March 9, 2008
Spanish Wine
As with most of the European countries, Spain is known for producing wonderful red and white wines, depending on the area in which you are traveling. Many of the larger vineyards also export wines to other countries and Spanish wines can be found in most countries. The most popular Spanish wines for export are the white wines from the Rueda and Penedes areas, the reds from the Ribera del Duero and the Rioja areas and the famous sherry produced in Jerez. In addition to the wine and sherry produced in Spain, there is also a sparkling wine called Cava that is produced and consumed within the country.
Wines in Spain are controlled by the Instituto Nacional de Denominaciones de Origen or the INDO. The INDO provides a Demominación de Origen for each wine produced that provides quality control as well as provides records of the different types and varieties of wines produced and exported from various areas within the country. (more…)
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March 6, 2008
Family Holidays in Spain
There are literally hundreds of places to go with a family and enjoy a holiday in Spain. The country offers everything from beautiful beaches to mountains to explore and hike along with everything in between. There are also a lot of amusement parks, theme parks, museums and cultural events that families with children of all ages will be sure to enjoy.
Planning a family holiday in Spain depends a lot on the ages of the children and their areas of interest. For example, a family that enjoys the outdoors, fishing and relaxing on the beach would most likely enjoy the area of the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, which also offers shopping, golfing and sightseeing options for the whole family. In addition this area also offers water parks, amusement parks and hundreds of smaller cultural activities such as festivals and parades. These events tend to happen year round but the major festivals are often around Holy Week and Christmas, with cultural events more common in the summer months. (more…)
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March 3, 2008
Self Catering Accommodation in Spain
Self catering accommodation in Spain typically consists of houses, condos, apartments, farmhouses or cottages that are available for rental directly between the owner and the guest. There are several websites that provide pictures and descriptions of properties as well as their general location and offer a managed way of the guest and the owner working together to develop a rental agreement.
Self catering accommodations are different from hotels or bed and breakfasts in that the guest is actually assuming all aspects of the rental, the owner provides the building and contents and nothing else in the way of services except as outlined by the contractual agreement. This means that the guest or renter will be responsible for cleaning the property as required, buying groceries, preparing meals and other tasks and chores as required. This is really a chance to live in a home that is virtually your own for the length of the rental. Since the home owner is not providing any additional services and there is no staff required, the cost of self catering accommodations is often much more reasonable than staying at a hotel, bed and breakfast or a villa where staff is provided. Of course may renters choose to hire cleaning staff while they are at the property, but this is typically done outside of the owner’s contract. (more…)