Spain Holidays 10

Guest Editor:

History, Fun and Culture for Every Pocket in Spain

Spain is a wonderful country. I know I'm partial about it, because it is my country and I was born and raised there, but still I assure you that if you travel to Spain you will love it.

People travel to Spain for three main reasons:
- The first one is because the food is amazing.
- Second, to enjoy the relaxed and fun way of life, the nightlife,
- The third reason is to admire the culture and monuments of the country.


The good thing about traveling to Spain is that we will enjoy the three reasons to visit it in the same places, because it is a country so rich, in culture and history and so diverse that we never will get bored in our vacation.

For the travelers who are searching for a good time and a crazy nightlife in a warm weather, I recommend the South and East of Spain. Andalucia and Levante are two Spanish regions where we can find delicious food specialties as fried fish or paella, and the nightlife is full in clubs and outdoor bars around the beaches.


Cadiz is a city in Andalucia that has plenty of white sand and warm water beaches, although the wind can be a little mean sometimes. I love the beach in Bolonia, Cadiz, a huge white beach, and Tarifa, one of the most popular places to practice windsurf in the whole world.
In Andalucia we can find plenty of hotels belonging to big chains and with very reasonable prices. If we want to backpack travel, there are many cheap hotels we can use, it is important to check out the tourist information offices in each town to figure out about camping's and motels for students.


Marbella, also in the South, is a classic town dedicated to rich tourists coming form all around the world, we can admire the spectacular boats and villas where prosperous Arabians live.

Granada, a beautiful town in Andalucia as well, is a terrific place to go in the winter and practice ski, Sierra Nevada is full of wonderful ski resorts. The town itself is worth a visit, with the Arabian and Jewish streets and La Alhambra, a beautiful Arabian castle surrounded by an incredible park.

Levante, the East part of Spain, is as well full of delicious beaches and wonderful restaurants where enjoy the Mediterranean fish and the Spanish specialty la Paella.
Torrevieja in Alicante, Javea in Valencia or Benicassim in Castellon are examples or typical Spanish towns dedicated to the tourists that go there to enjoy the sun. These places are maybe too much focused in tourists, but they are really affordable.


If we travel more toward the Northeast, we find the Catalan's coast, with more expensive hotels and tourists with more money on their pockets. The beaches are beautiful and less populated, and we have the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, a wonderful town full of culture and modernity.

But if we want to see a different side of Spain, we should travel towards its North; Euskadi, Asturias and Galicia are green beautiful places full of culture and history.
In Galicia we must visit Santiago de Compostela, destiny of pilgrims for centuries, with medieval streets and a wonderful cathedral.
In the North of Spain the food is different that the one we can enjoy in the rest of the country, and must not forget to taste the delicious fish from the Atlantic Ocean, the recipes are based in fresh fist and vegetables, and the wines are good enough to satisfy any gourmet.
Traveling to the North of Spain is cheap because there are less tourist all the year around, we can find very good and affordable hotels. Be aware that the weather is quite instable in the area, with a very frequent presence of rain.


If we are interested in culture, we must visit Madrid, the capital of Spain, an amazing city sited in the middle of the country. Madrid has a delicious mixture of classicism and the most modern way of life.
We can live the Spanish history in the old part of the town, full old streets, squares and churches from the times of the Austria Dynasty, or visit one of the most important museums of the word, El Museo del Prado, to enjoy the masterpieces of Goya or Velazquez. Plenty of museums are located in Madrid, and we can even visit the private art collection Thysen-Bornemitza, another important humanity's treasure. We can find very cheap hotels in Madrid, if we walk around one of the big streets of the town, La Gran Via, we will find plenty of private homes that rent rooms for very little money and in very good condition. We call these places hostales, and they are spread all around the town.


There are much more many places to visit in Spain, but if I continue my relation this will be a book, not an article.




Continue reading in Spain Holidays 10: Malaga Spain Travel Guide

Granada is a Spanish city placed in Andalusia, and it lies next to the Sierra Nevada, what conditions its weather: very cold in winter and very hot during the summer.


There is probably one building that makes it really worth to visit this city. This building is the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex built in 889 by Arabs in Granada. Besides the Alhambra, it is also really advisable to visit the Albaicín and Sacromonte neighbourhoods.
From the Albaicín neighbourhood you will be able to see what it has been considered the best sunset in the world. If you visit the Alhambra in the morning, in the evening you can go to San Nicolás viewpoint in Albaicín, watch the sunset, and then go to visit the Sacromonte neighbourhood, with its typical Arabian music and dances.


Another interesting place in Granada is the Sciences Park, where you will be able to get into sciences in a fun and dynamic way.


As we have said, the Sierra Nevada is near the city, so, if you go to Granada during the winter, you can make the best of it, and go there to ski. However, if you go there in the summer, the visit is also really advisable and impressive.


Another place of interest of Granada is its cathedral. It is a building from the Spanish Renaissance, and perhaps it is not as amazing as other cathedrals in Spain, but it is worth the visit.

Finally, if you travel to Granada you cannot miss its gastronomy. It is formed by Andalusian dishes, mixed with different contributions of the new towns, for example beans with ham. The confectionery is really wide, with huevos moles, sponge cakes and San Jerónimo’s Puff pastry.


Granada is an amazing Spanish capital, with plenty of thing to do and see. Streets, mountain and the sea are really close in this amazing city.


Continue reading in Spain Holidays 10: Malaga Spain Travel Guide

Experience the Beauty of Andalucia

Andalucia is one of the most popular destinations in Spain, due to its amazing beaches, warm climate and relaxed atmosphere. The region is home to many ancient cities, including Seville, Cadiz and Granada. Although the region was first settled thousands of years ago, there are plenty of new attractions to keep you occupied.
There are numerous annual festivals or ferias that are held throughout this region. These festivals are a great way to get a true sample of the culture of Andalucia, from its regional cuisine to the spirit of its people.

Fiesta de Los Reyes - The Festival of the Three Kings. 

In all major cities in Andalucia, this festival is celebrated on the evening of January 5th. It is designed to commemorate the three kings of the Orient who delivered their gifts to the Christ Child. The next day, January 6th is a national holiday throughout Spain, which will give you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the events happening around you.

Cadiz Carnival 

Held in the ancient city of Cadiz, this festival occurs each year on Shrove Tuesday, or the Tuesday before Lent begins. A huge parade is held during the Carnival and the entire city gets in on the action. If you think the carnival in New Orleans is fun, you haven't seen anything until you've visited Cadiz.

Seville Spring Fair - This festival is held two weeks after Easter. 

The entire far bank of the Real de la Feria is taken over by enormous tents and pavilions where you'll find incredible bargains, great food and entertainment. The festivities start on midnight and continue for an entire week. As with the Cardiz Carnival, the dates of Easter change every year, so plan your trip accordingly.

San Lucar Manzanilla (Wine) Fair 

During the third week in May, in San Lucar de Barrameda you'll find the San Lucar Manzanilla Festival which is dedicated entirely to a type of wine that is produced in this region. Prepare for a lot of fun and a lot of celebration of this wine for an entire week.

Summer Fairs 

Every town in Andalucia has its own summer fair, so if you time it just right, you can experience at least one fair each week of your stay. The first fair starts in Seville in April and the last is held at San Pedro de Alcántara in October.The fairs are divided into day and night fairs. For the entire week of the fair, all businesses are shut down and the streets are turned into cafes where you can sample the regions best food and listen to live entertainment. At night, small amusement parks are set up complete with rides and more singing and entertainment.

Bullfighting Fairs 

These fairs are usually set up to coincide with the Summer fairs mentioned above in each city. In Ronda, they hold a very special bullfight where all of the fighters are clothed in costumes found in Goya's 18th century engravings.

The Verdiales Music Festival 

To round out a year filled with festivals and fun, you must visit the Verdiales Music Festival, which is held annually on the 28th of December in "Puerta de la Torre" which is near Almogia. Local musicians compete dressed in traditional costume and the wine is plentiful.



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Malaga is the birthplace of Picasso, which seems right since the historical architecture of this city along with the beautiful landscape would be inspiration for any artist. Malaga is by the Mediterranean Sea and is in the Spanish region of Andalucia. The temperatures stay hot all year through, making Malaga a great getaway for those tourists who are hoping to escape the snow and freezing cold of winter.


Getting to Malaga is not only easy, but can be inexpensive as well. You can take a plane there and land at the airport that is the third largest in all of Spain. This airport also caters to budget airlines, so you don't have to worry about an expensive flight over only to land at some crummy, out of the way airport. The AGP makes sure you can get to Malaga since there are buses, taxis, or trains. If you want to rent a car, don't worry. If you rent a car at the airport, you will find that this a very inexpensive thing to do as well. However, make sure you book a car in advance because even though the rates are cheap, thnking ahead not only ensures that you have a car waiting for you, but you can get discount rates, too.


There are many things to see and do in Malaga. There are the Moorish castles called the Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro. When visiting these castles, you will have a great view of the entire city of Malaga. If you have a health problem, are handicapped or can not walk far distances then it would be best to only visit Alcazaba. It is a long hike up the moutain to get to the Castillo de Gibralfaro.


You can also visit the birthplace of Picasso, called the Plaza de la Merced. There you will find tons of things that Picasso used when he was a child as well as some paintings. After this, check out the Picasso Museum to see more exclusive exhibitions of Picasso's artwork.

If you like to cycle, try going on the Malaga Bike Tour. It is approximately four hours long and will take you down many narrow back streets. While biking through these small streets, you will get to see lots of hidden places that are great to see and that many tourists miss when they don't take this tour.


There are many beaches in or near Malaga where you can spend a quiet day just sunbathing and taking in the beauty of Malaga while getting a tan. There is also an amusement park to be found in Arroyo de la Miel. It is called the Tivoli World Theme Park and is the oldest park on the coast. This park has beautiful gardens and fountains as well as many rides. There is a fee to get in the park that lets you see the gardens, visit the restaurants and bars and see the shows where there are theater performances as well as a comedy and western show. If you want to have unlimited amounts of times riding the 30 plus rides, then you need to purchase the Supertivolino. You can also purchase single tickets.

The food and drink in Malaga is wonderful. The restaurants serve the traditional andalusian dishes like fish, croissants, soups, baguettes and much more. The speciality of Malaga is espetos which is sardines on a stick. These have been grilled over a fire. You can also try pescaito frito. Basically this is a variety of deep-fried fish ranging from squid to anchovies.


There are several chiringuitos, or beach restaurants, in Malaga. El Tintero is a very popular chiringuito. You will find no menus at this restaurant. Instead, the waiters carry dishes through the restaurant, singing about what they are carrying around. If you want what they are offering you signal to them and they will bring you the food. A different way of ordering food to be sure! Another famous restaurant is La posada de Antonio. Why? Because it is owned by Antonio Banderas. Here you can taste some of the dishes from his home town and they are priced at very reasonable prices.

The best drink to try while in Malaga is their wine. Malaga wine is very sweet but be careful not to drink too much as it has a kick to it despite the sweetness of the taste. If you want to find a nice bar where you can try to meet some visiting celebrities then try El Pimpi.


From museums to amusement parks and from restaurants to chiringuitos, you will be sure to have a wonderful experience in Malaga no matter what type of budget you have for your vacation.


Continue reading in SpainHolidays10: Tourism in Córdoba, Andalucía

When people visit the beautiful Canary Islands, they often forget La Palma, the greenest of the Canaries and also the most underrated. La Palma is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, which will clearly suggest to you what you can expect there: unspoiled nature, lush rainforest canopies, volcanic craters. You get the picture. There are no comparable golden beaches in La Palma like many of the other Canary Islands, but if you love adventure and breathtaking natural, unspoiled landscapes, then you won't regret visiting La Palma.


If you enjoy walking tours, there are many lovely marked trails that criss-cross the island. You can start at the sleepy hamlet of Las Tricias and walk through fields, gardens and orchards to old grain windmills and visit caves of ancient cave dwellers. Or you could walk to the waterfalls of Marcos y Cordero, which provide much of the island's water. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, take the seven-hour long volcano route beginning at Refugio El Pilar, past seven volcanoes down to Los Canarios in the south. There are individual tours or group tours you could join, to explore on your own or with a guide. There is always the option to watch spectacular sunsets anywhere on the island's western coast.


La Palma is also home to picturesque towns and villages waiting for you to discover. Enjoy the quiet of Puntagorda with its steep coastal cliffs, old churchyard and quiet farms. It's considered one of the most beautiful parts of the islands. Also enjoy the Mercadillo de Puntagorda market every weekend. For more bustle, visit the busy town of Santa Cruz with its cafes and shops and cobbled shopping streets. Or you could enjoy magnificent views over the island, the erosion crater of Calderdade Taburiente and other (granturalcanarias.com/en/) from the highest point of La Palma, Roques de los Muchachos.


And while you're at La Palma, don't forget to try the local potato specialty papas arudagas with spicy mojo sauce, spicy orange spreading sausages and delicious local bananas that the Palmeroos love, washed down with the local firewater called Aguardiente.

If you need a destination to rest, the island of Palma offers a unique environment, with a good temperature, accurate scenery and good food.
Book your holiday to this destination in the Canary Islands and sure you will not regret it.

Nerja is Only a Small Town, but is One of Southern Spain's Most Popular Tourist Destinations.


Nerja, in Andalucia in southern Spain, is only a small town but is a popular destination for tourists to the Malaga area. Built on a hill, Nerja is a traditional Spanish town with a wonderful atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, 12 kilometers of beaches and some fabulous places for walks. Add in the fun shopping and great restaurants, and it's no wonder Nerja is loved by hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of whom make repeat visits every year.


For a small place too, Nerja has alot to do. But, on any visit to Nerja, there are five must do and see things every visitor to the town should not miss.


Visit Nerja's Market - One of the most fun, must do things in Nerja is to shop at the town's street market. Held every Tuesday and Sunday mornings, it starts up at around 9am and runs through until 2pm.

The Tuesday market is the typical Spanish market, chockfull of fruits, vegetables, fresh bread, nuts, olive oil, pasta, meats and fish, plus some stalls selling clothing and accessories. A great place for bargains, particularly if you're on a self-catering holiday and making your own meals. You'll find the freshest food in all of Nerja here.

The Sunday market in Nerja is more of a flea market style, so this is the place to shop if you're looking for something unique or that's not just food stuffs. Take plenty of money, watch your wallet from pickpockets, and don't forget to bargain.

Browse at Mercadona - Nerja has five supermarkets and Mercadona is one of them. If you don't live in Spain, but want to know about the types of things Spaniards eat and drink, then head to Mercadona and browse. You'll find just about every food and drink item you could want, fresh meat, chicken and fish, cheap wine and beer, excellent cheeses, and don't miss the Mercadona brand chocolate. It's wonderful.

Just remember, it is Spain, so while it's open late into the evenings most days, Mercadona is closed on Sundays.


Cuevas de Nerja are Nerja's limestone caves and are quite phenomal, so a definite must visit. Massive stalagtites and stalagmites appear throughout the caverns and, at more than 5 kilometers long, are one of Spain's major tourist attractions. In fact, they're so big, several times a year there are concerts held here. Don't miss the skeleton near the entrance too.

The Balcón de Europa in the middle of Nerja's old town is the town's main meeting point and is the place to go for some truly spectacular views out over the ocean. Apparently, people who have stood on it and gazed around the magnificent vista have exclaimed "This is the balcony of Europe", thus the name.


Coffee on The Promenade - Nerja's typically Spanish promenade gives you ocean views and lots of superb cafes and restaurants, where you can relax over a cafe con leche and watch all of Nerja walk by. Take a walk, have a sit, grab a coffee. Walk some more, find another restaurant, eat lunch, watch the people. It's absolutely beautiful and one of the most interesting places in Nerja, particularly during the summer when artists, street vendors and musicians line the area.


Continue reading in Spain Holidays 10: Tourism in Córdoba

Nature has a feel that is incomparable to the best we humans can offer each other. The serenity and rest of mind it boasts is second to none. Without wasting words, it would just be wholesome truth to add that Mallorca presents this stunning picture perfectly. Little wonder it ranks as one of the most fashionable holiday destinations in the whole of Europe.


There are lots of lovely holiday apartments, holiday villas, rural homes, cottages and houses on this Mediterranean island which are put up for rent directly by their owners. This island is the largest of the Balearic Islands and this makes for limitless houses available for rent all year round. Couples come to sniff a bit of the blessed environs called Mallorca by putting up in these homes.


Mallorca boasts a good balance between the average summer sun and cool sea breezes. A mild weather graces the winter period characterized by chilly nights. The islands are perfectly placed where weather is concerned as both periods pleasantly allow for habitation.


Asides just looking around and appreciating the natural beauty of Mallorca, hiking in the mountains provides a new and exciting experience for tourists. The north east coast also contains a bay which is popular for the hangouts of Alcudia and Can Picafort. Some tourists chose to pitch their tent here throughout their stay in Mallorca. Birdwatchers and cyclists make the environment around here a lot friendlier.

You can also travel to the interior of the island finding alfalfa for animals, pick fruit and vegetables, enjoy walking trails, all in different farms and rural hostels. We can recommend a good place to find food for animals online: www.grupooses.com/en


Interestingly, all classes of people are accommodated on this island. Depending on your pocket, you can pick up a reasonable and sizable villa to enjoy yourself. Many websites are littered with several of these short term rentals for all categories of people.

Cloistered coves and bays which also characterize Mallorca provide a sort of protection and security which attracts tourists. Suffice to add sun-bathing and other enticing indoor and outdoor activities that combine to make visits memorable. The sun shines averagely for 300 days a year, added to a dry winter. The varied landscape of Mallorca, principally due to its geological formation completes the intriguing puzzle and conundrum that is Mallorca, the home of nature in Europe. The mountain ranges run parallel to the North West coast and end in coastlines which looks like it's being guarded by them.


The number of people that make it across to Mallorca for holidays is a testament to the unbelievable nature of this part of the world. Get yourself to Mallorca today, and consign yourself to an unavoidable routine.

We spent eight nights in Spain recently. From Madrid we had planned to do a day trip to Toledo. I highly recommend this. We took the high speed train to Toledo. This is a train that President Obama wants to see in the United States. It goes 180 miles per hour which feel like 20 and the seats were so comfortable. There were tables (like an airplane), foot rests, and rather than 1 hour and 15 minutes it took us ½ an hour to get to Toledo. The cost was about 16€ (Euros - multiply by 1.3% to $).


We didn't think the walk to the Old City would be hard but we could tell immediately that it was too far so for 1.25€ we caught a tourist bus. The roads are steep and as all the information said, the city is a maze. Plan on getting lost and having fun with the journey. We literally couldn't find things we wanted to see but people were very friendly so eventually we got to where we were going. The streets are so narrow they are called "the donkey and me" streets. Cars zoom by so you will want to be extra careful on these cobblestone roads.


The two items I would suggest buying are marzipan (delicious candy) and Damascene Jewelry. It is reasonably priced, beautiful and you can't get it any other place. Swords and scissors are popular as well because of the steel used.


If you want to go to a Sephardic Synagogue- the Sinagoga de el Transito- do not go to Toledo on a Monday because it was closed. We should have picked up on that but we didn't and were disappointed.

Pick up a map at the tourist information center. You may then want to go to the free museum, Museo de Santa Cruz. You will see a famous Greco painting of the Ascension.

Walk to Mezquita del Christo de la Lux (Mosque of Christ of the Light), which we chose not to go into. You must go into the Catedral, the most elaborate church in which I have been. The many rooms, each with its own personality, the architecture, and the ceilings were worth the 7€.


You may want to see The Toller del Morro, which is the only surviving, non-religious building in Toledo which dates back to the fourteenth century. After going in circles we found the Sinagoga de Maria La Blanca. We paid 2€. At the time there was a special exhibit but it once was a Synagogue.

We found a great place to eat called Los Lopez de Toledo, which we were told was good at the information center. It was hard to find but it was worth it. We had tapas there. I had goat cheese, lettuce, bread, a few chips and prawns with nuts and guacamole and my husband had razor clams and a salmon sandwich. The dining room wasn't open until 4:00p.m. so we sat at a somewhat uncomfortable wood table with benches and low stools.

You will then get on the bus, which runs regularly, and take the train back to Madrid.


Continue reading: travel to Toledo

The Catalan capital, Barcelona, lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Among all the wonders that this city provides us, there is just one of them that can brag about being, as Hemingway said, the most beautiful street in the world: la Rambla.

La Rambla is also known as las Ramblas, because there are some stretches and each one receives its own name. It is the street that runs from Plaza de Cataluña to the statue of Colom in the harbour of Bacelona, and it has more than one kilometre long. However, it is not only a street, a regular crowded street; it is much more than that. It is one of the cultural, architectonical and artistic cores of the city. You can walk along las Ramblas night and day and you will always feel its picturesque and cosmopolitan atmosphere.


The street has many flower stalls, that colour the street, as well as handicraft and souvenir stalls. Besides, we can also find human statues and many kiosks. There are also restaurants and bars, where you will be able to relax and enjoy the ambience. In the past there were also animal stalls, but due to some complains they have been taken off.

Furthermore, along la Rambla we find some places of interest where it is almost compulsory to stop and take a look. On the one hand, we have the Fuente de Canaletas, a fountain, which is famous for being the place where the supporters of Barcelona Football Club celebrate their victories. This fountain is also famous for a legend that tells that those who drink from its water will come back to Barcelona some day.
On the other hand, there is also the market of La Boqueria, a pleasure for the senses, with thousands of smells and colours that come from all the products sold in each stall.
Additionally, a little bit down the street we can see the most important theatre in Barcelona and one of the city landmarks: el Liceo, which is especially famous for its opera plays.


Finally, as we can see, walking along las Ramblas, mainly in summer, is almost compulsory if you travel to Barcelona. A short walk that will make you yearn to come back to this great city.


Continue reading:  What can I visit in Barcelona?