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For many first-time visitors to Spain, images of sangria, sombreros and bullfights fill their heads. While all of these play a part, there is much more that makes modern Spain a progressive, diverse and cosmopolitan society.
The historic cities of Spain are steeped in the atmosphere of the past, but well prepared to meet modern needs as well. The countryside is immeasurably varied and beautiful. The roads across these beautiful open spaces produce a steady stream of surprises, with hidden villages and unexpected castles, shepherds roaming with their flocks and hilltop windmills appearing unexpectedly. It is a great country for touring.
Places to Visit in Spain
Having said all that here are a few favourite places....
- Madrid, the capital..short on famous monuments but rich in culture
- Andalucia... Málaga and the Costa del Sol..last stronghold of the Moors includes the three cities of Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada.
- The Sierra Nevada..only about 25 km from the coast this area gives you the unique opportunity to enjoy winter sports and coastal sunshine...
- Jaén is an ancient town rich in historic buildings and art treasures
- León and La Rioja....The small wine region of La Rioja is tucked away to the northeast of Castile and León
- Avila UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated on a plain overlooking the Sierra de Gredos and is the highest provincial capital.
My favorite things
- Good Flamenco.
- White washed villages with narrow windy streets.
- Vino del Terreno (Local wine) some of it is very potent so be careful.
- La Feria de Abril, Sevilla (February festival in Seville)..amazing ...Flamenco, drinking, dancing, beautifully dressed couples on horse back and of course, “the bullfight”. La Feria attracts top-notch matadors from all over Spain and the these fights are considered to be the best of the season. It all starts each afternoon at 5:30pm at the imposing Plaza de Toros de Maestranza, (known to locally as "the Cathedral") and is considered one of the most beautiful bullrings in the country. Tickets can be purchased at the bullring, and whilst quite expensive, this is a chance to see the highest expression of this Spanish art form.
Driving tips/rules.
Seat belts front and rear are obligatory everywhere.
Speeding and other traffic offenses are subject to on-the-spot fines.
Speed limits are..motorways 120 kph, Open road 90-100, Town 50.
The law operating in Spain regarding the use of indicators on motorways is being strictly enforced.
Glasses (Spectacles): wearers must carry a spare pair in the car at all times.
Third-party insurance is compulsory.
Spain has strict drink driving laws, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood - stricter than the UK where the limit is 0.8. New drivers are effectively forbidden to drink and drive, with a very low 0.1 mg/l limit. You could face anything from a severe fine, withdrawal of your license, up to imprisonment.
Interesting facts- Picasso was born in Málaga..(so was Antonio Banderas..yummmmmm)!!
- Spain produces 44% of all the earth’s olive oil.
- Spain has over 8,000 km of beaches.
- There are over 344.000 bars!
- The tooth fairy is not recognized in Spain. Instead, they have a tooth mouse named Ratoncito Perez!
- Households in Spain buy fresh pan (bread) every day. The long crusty barras or pistolas (baguettes) are sold at Panaderias (bread shops). The word compañero (companion or friend) means “someone you share bread with.”
- The biggest industry in Spain is tourism. Benidorm, a beach town nearby Alicante has got the third most hotel rooms in Europe after London and Paris.
- Flamenco is NOT a dance it is a mixture of 4 ingredients... el cante (the song), el baile (the dance), el toque (the guitar playing) and tocar las palmas (the handclaps). Of the four..if any is going to be left out, it is the dance!
Local food/drink
For Italians, mealtime is meant for family and enjoyment. Many stores close during Italian mealtimes as Italians spend time with their families. It’s not uncommon for stores to close for several hours during lunch. Many school children also go home for lunch to spend time with their families.
Of course, Italy is known for pasta. Pasta is the Italian word for dough. The dough is cut into many different shapes and dried. Then it is boiled until it has reached a certain softness and texture. Pasta is usually mixed with tomato sauce, meat, cheese, vegetables, sauces, and more in many combinations.
Some other Italian favorites are pizza, gelato (ice cream), formaggio (cheese), frutta (fruit), and that’s just the beginning.
Weather
The climate varies tremendously due to its large size. One an usually expect a Mediterranean climate.... hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
The vast central plateau, has a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters, with rain falling in spring and autumn. The mountains surrounding the plateau have a higher rainfall and often experience heavy snowfalls in winter.
North of the Cantabrian mountains, the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia have a maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. The weather is often cloudy with frequent rainfall.
On the Mediterranean coast, the climate is moderate with rain in spring and autumn.
On the Atlantic coast, the summers are cooler and fairly heavy rainfall occurs during winter. Inland, the summers are hot and the rainfall decreases.
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