Spain: Travel Information, News and Opinion
All the latest news views and opinions on travel to Spain and on other Spain-related issues.

Archive for:



August 25, 2010

The Seville Spring Fair Is A Traditional Festival In Spain Subsequent To The Holy Week

Filed under: Cities of Spain - 25 Aug 2010 from Jane Cottman

Every spring, locals and travelers alike gather together to enjoy the colorful and festive spring fair in the city of Seville, located in the Southern part of Spain. Unless you hail from the country, you’ve probably never been informed about the existence of this festive gathering that takes place on a yearly basis.

This glamorous event takes place every spring after the Holy Week. Generally, the event will last for an entire week.

Included in the festivities are carriages that carry the city’s officials, other events include gathering with the breeders and bullfighters and watching them in the arena. This makes for some special viewing if you have the privilege to see it, truly bringing out the best in Spain’s culture.

As you walk along the river bank of the Guadalquivir, you will see it decorated with colorful tents also known as casetas with people celebrating the festival over drinks and sharing food.

The fair is known to be celebrated by the all of the locals and will spend all day dancing through out the whole week.

Tapas, which are snacks and finger foods are brought and shared by all the locals. All kinds of foods are prepared here and there’s something for everyone.

For more over 160 years the locals have kept this sacred festival alive. The festival means just as much them now as it did in 1847 when the queens approval was sought out for the locals livestock to be successful.

One of the greatest and arguably the most beautiful of all of Seville’s traditions for this grand festival is the woman dancing in their vibrant dresses. Surely, it shows the elegance and beauty of the city of Seville Spain.

Aside from Seville, this writer also regularly pens articles about personalized cufflinks and paper mache boxes.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


August 5, 2010

Madrid Is A Great Place To Have A Night Out With Your Friends

Filed under: Cities of Spain - 05 Aug 2010 from Jane Cottman

If you enjoy going out and having drinks and eating, and listening to DJ’s while you dance the night away, consider visiting this historic town and taking part in their lively traditions.

With close to 34,000 bars located in the Madrid, no wonder Madrid is known as Europe’s “Night Life Capital.” Can you believe that there are this many of them inside one city? You could literally spend nearly a century visiting a different establishment per night without seeing all of them - and by that time, there would obviously be many new ones opened so you’ll really never be able to see them all. This doesn’t matter though, as visiting just a few will give you a taste for what this great city is all about.

Many places in Madrid are open and packed until early in the morning and has even been known to cause traffic. Many of the locals call the partying people that do this as cats or “gatos.”

Surprisingly enough, children are allowed in different bar and pub establishments. Be sure to always let someone in the restaurant know that there are children present.

This wild night life tradition started in the 80’s the King Jaun Carlos I brought democracy to Spain. The youth used it as an outlet of emotional expression due to oppression and the tradition continues.

The inspiration for the movement was sparked by movie actors and writers and musicians as well.

Many clubs in Madrid are open until the early morning hours and other places will even have after party locations available. Giving Madrid its unrivaled party city reputation.

Perhaps it is time for you to visit this vibrant town and take part in their prideful traditions. The locals love to eat, drink, and listen to DJ’s and often love to do this in public with groups.

In addition to Spain, this author additionally frequently blogs about engagement photographers and wedding gifts for parents.

categories: destinations,cities,Spain,travel,leisure,lifestyle,happiness,fun,drinks,beverage,wine,party,culture,society

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


July 29, 2010

An Article That Talks About Madrid, Spain And Its Poplar Bars And Restaurants

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 29 Jul 2010 from Jane Cottman

If you are looking for somewhere to go for a great fun filled night out why not take a look at Madrid. Madrid has got such a great night life scene that it is often referred to as Europe’s night life capital.

When you are in Madrid you can take your pick of the many bars and clubs that this city has to offer. There are reportedly over 344,000 bars in Madrid so as you can see there is quite a number to choose from for an exciting night.

Madrid encapsulates the party atmosphere all night long and it is common in this city to see people partying away even at 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning. Such is the popularity of Madrid’s night life that you could find yourself stuck in traffic at these times too if you are not careful.

Children are also free to enter many of the bars and restaurants in Madrid as well as most of the pubs. They are free to do this but it is not really recommended that they do so. Many owners of these bars prefer to be consulted beforehand of any of these occurrences.

The abundance of nightlife in Madrid can be traced back to when King Juan Carlos turned Spain back into a democracy back in the early eighties. As many Spanish people used to be oppressed by the long dictatorial rule in Spain it made the youths congregate on the streets to vent their strong feelings.

This so called Cultural Revolution was sparked by many intellectuals including movie directors as well as writers and musicians.

Many of the bars in Madrid are open throughout the night and from Thursday to Sunday the clubs will open from around midnight to around 6 or 7 o’clock in the morning. If you wish to party on then you may find clubs that open until the following day.

Madrid’s exceptional nightlife has come about because of the Spanish people’s love of music, dancing, and having fun.

Enjoy more of this writer’s work on things including farmhouse kitchen table and backless counter stool.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


June 23, 2010

Why You Should Consider Majorca As Your Next Holiday Destinations

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 23 Jun 2010 from Indianna Geopolissea

Majorca is the largest islands of Spain and is one of the hottest and visited tourist destinations in the world. The beautiful island has a projected 15 million visitors a year. The island of Majorca has such a lot to offer. Most tourists spend their vacation in the hot sun, sand and surf. There’s plenty of fun and excitement in Majorca. The island off the coast of Spain has yet more to supply than the blinding beaches when you get there. The popular tourist destination is well-known for both its nightlife and its historic architecture and beauty.

Tourism has been terribly advantageous to island of Majorca, raising its lifestyle well above the rest of the area. The island has been heaven to every tourist. Majorca has more than 300 hotels from economy to super-luxury class in virtually each town. If you’re searching for a luxury spa resort or for a pleasing room as your home, Majorca is just the place to be. There are lots of hotels on the island that will fit your budget and lifestyle . If you wish not to stay in a hotel, Majorca boasts its beautiful beaches where you can spend some time to enjoy and be free. Whether you like Palma Nova and Magaluf’s active party-all-night-long ambiance or Cala San Vicente’s tranquil loveliness, no problems to you as you’ll surely find the resort atmosphere that may make your vacation perfect.

The island of Majorca gives you an indefinite choice of hotel accommodations from singe rooms, all in one economy suite to luxury accommodations that even include spas and entertainment in one place. The towns of Palma Nova, Magaluf, Santa Ponsa and Paguera are all situated in the district of Calvia on the southwest coast. With neon lit clubs and clear delights twenty four seven, the heavily peopled vacationer resort area is lively and busy. The beaches of Majorca never let the tourists down. The tourists enjoy the semi-tropical holidays hours and the night-life that keeps them animated until dawn that they get from Majorca’s beaches and resorts.

From the southwest we are going to the eastern coast of the island where Sa Coma and Porto Cristo terrifically provide a contrast to the glowing, densely packed beaches of the southwest coast. The east coast of Majorca was planned and built purposely as a resort area. To give way and preserve the historic feel of the east coast, the Majorca hotels and resorts have gone to great pains. In result, the stretches of beach and islands between Porto Cristo and Palma are a mixture of golden sand and the more craggy, rocky beaches.

From south to east, the northwestern coast offers a completely different atmosphere than the rest of regions. Majorca, indeed, is keeping with the promise of anything under the sun. Puerta Pollensa, one of the older tourist areas of the island, and the Majorca hotels still have saved the old skool atmosphere of the British resort hotels way back 1920s, a century removed from the real and modern activity of the other tourist spots of Majorca. With its surprising beaches, lively night-life, and from simple to luxurious hotels and resorts, Majorca is certainly one of the most hectic, if not the busiest, resort destinations in the world. Majorca is happy with their tagline that if something isn’t in Majorca, it doesn’t exist in any way. With everything astonishing and glowing, what else could you ask more from Majorca? Nothing else.

Majorca is one of the most breaktaking holiday destinations in Europe. There is the right balance between hotels in Palma De Mallorca and stunning natural beauty. Plan your next holiday in Palma De Mallorca.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,


April 15, 2010

Holidays In Valencia - A Few Factors Why One Simply Must Visit Valencia

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 15 Apr 2010 from Danny Sol

Everybody knows how essential tourism is for the Spanish economy. Spain is actually number 2 (immediately after the United States) in the tourist source of income position and it is definitely the 3rd most visited country of the planet (right after France and United States), with more than fifty two million foreign travelers per annum.

The particular variety in the Spanish peninsula enables Spain to become an unrivalled candidate to the tourist. There’s a large variety of activities and possibilities for all preferences, ages and budgets. Nonetheless, inside the last couple of years Valencia seems to be the actual favourite destination when tourists come back to Spain. Why is it that this particular city is perfect for a city break, enterprise vacation or romantic getaway? There is certainly much more in Valencia than just the great weather (Valencia averages 300 sun-drenched days a calendar year) and fantastic food (the metropolis is the birth place of paella) that is drawing visitors here.

Now there are an increasing number of low cost flight companies for your holiday in Valencia such as EasyJet and Ryanair that connects the town with several other European cities. There is also now a direct flight between the town of Valencia and also the United States (New York - Valencia) operated by Delta. You also have much more flight choices if you go to Alicante Airport (1 and a half hours drive from Valencia).

It has a magical old quarter along with a very trendy region referred to as Barrio del Carmen where some of the best night life is. It by no means runs out of areas for you to go, between pubs, nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, fashionable stores and innovative dining places.

There has been a great volume of visitors that have visited Valencia in the course of the international yachting occasion of the America’s Cup, held within the port of the city in 2007. But this was not the only important sportive occasion of the town, as every year since August 2008, there are many other visitors who come to enjoy the European Grand Prix that is held on a brand new street circuit around the port (similar to the 1 in Monaco).

The architectural marvels in the futuristic Metropolis of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava, also attract millions of guests each 12 months. This stunning complex, which has a museum, theatre, gardens and an aquarium (largest in Europe), has put Valencia upon the pilgrimage route for modern architecture’s devoted fans.

There is a huge festival in March which you can’t miss; Las Fallas. These are a kind of giant monuments made of painted cardboard and constructed in every quarter within the town which are then burnt following a week of getting exhibited in the streets.

You can find still a lot more factors why Valencia is a favourite destination. Valencia is the name given to the city but is also the name of a large area which includes the city of Alicante.

There are lots of beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean Sea to pick from. But not merely that, this is also a area of vast and stunning mountains where you are able to appreciate an amazing hike in 1 of the numerous national Parks. You are able to also visit the peaceful tiny towns a little inland, and appreciate a rich gastronomy treat, or check out one of the key bodegas regions of Spain.

For a particular factor or another, there are many factors that help make Valencia the right location to spend your holidays.

Check out my Valencia Holidays website for additional info plus accommodation to hire. Your own Valencia Holiday can be just a couple of moments away!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


January 17, 2010

A Guide To Ibiza Town Historic And Gay Areas

Filed under: Vacations Spain - 17 Jan 2010 from Richard Clark

Ibiza Town is the cultural capital of Ibiza, with its many historic buildings it is more than just a party location. There are also many restaurants and bars, and enough boutiques to satisfy even the most avid shopper. At the height of summer it is something of a fashion parade.

Ibiza Town is made up of the New Town to the west of the bay, the new harbor zone on the north side of the bay, and of course Dalt Vila, which is the walled historical area overlooking the harbor. It contains many historical buildings, including a Moorish cathedral and a Catalan cathedral.

La Marina, which sits between the Dalt Vila walls and the harbor is the first area that most visitors explore. If you arrive from the smaller island in the south, Formentera, then as you approach the imposing Dalt Vila it is clear that there are no similar Formentera properties of such imposing stature. La Marina itself has many different bars and restaurants, and in the summer it is packed with erotic parades promoting the nightclubs that Ibiza is famous for.

If you then venture further upwards to Dalt Vila one of the first historic building you will come across is Esglesia de Sant Elm, which was first built during the fifteenth century, but subsequently burned down by pirates on multiple occasions. It is a three storey structure, with a bell tower at the top. The last time it was destroyed was during the Spanish Civil War, after which it went through a rebuild to its current state.

The next area you will come across is the Placa de sa Constitucio is a square of white washed old merchants houses. There is a market there known as Es Mercat Vell, which sells organic vegetables. Fruit and vegetables have been traded at the market since 1873.

Spain’s gypsies have always struggled for rights, and the gypsies on Ibiza are concentrated in a triangle of streets known as Sa Penya. The area is also known as a hub for homosexuals, and the combination of locals can make for some wild and dangerous streets at night.

If you make through Sa Penya you will come to Carrer de la Verge. This is a totally gay street, and is lined with gay bars, restaurants and clubs. If the gay scene is for you then you will not be disappointed by what is on offer. There is certainly nothing quite like it on the quieter island of Formentera.

If you are looking for details on Formentera properties or anything to do with holidays on amazing Formentera then visit http://hubpages.com/hub/Formentera-properties

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,