Whoever thinks of Spain, often thinks of high temperatures, lying on the beach... And of course you are absolutely right, but this is not always the case! Because in winter (and often also in spring!) you can enjoy winter sports in Spain! In Spain you will find many slopes that are a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts among us.

Go winter in Spain and book a winter sports vacation! There are more than 30 winter sports resorts in Spain. It is a pity that many people do not know that Spain is such a good winter sports place. The Spanish slopes are really worth it and in the evening you can eat delicious tapas! They are not inferior to Italy, Austria, Switzerland or other ski resorts. For example, you can go to the Spanish Pyrenees to spend a nice vacation. The Spanish resorts are located on the French border.

During your vacation in the Spanish Pyrenees, you will find 520 meters of ski slopes and usually a lot of sunshine here, too! Things are a little different here than in the ski resorts in Austria, for example. Where in Austria you can apres ski day and night, this is not the case in Spain. Of course there are some entertainment possibilities, but you go to Spain mainly for skiing or snowboarding.

You can also take a different approach. Because did you know that there are ski resorts near Barcelona, Madrid and Salamanca? Take a language course and spend a weekend skiing in between! The most famous Spanish ski resorts are Sierra Nevada, Formigal, Baqueira - Beret - Bonaigua, La Molina, Cerler, Masella, Candanchu and Panticosa.

Feel like skiing in the summer? Then just go to Spain's indoor Snowcenter, located in Madrid! This indoor slope is the only indoor ski facility in Spain, but it is the largest in all of Europe. You can find more information on Madridsnowzone. Note that this website is only available in Spanish, so good to practice!

What you can also do is opt for the best of both worlds! Skiing down the mountains during the day, and in the evening sitting on the terrace 25 degrees warmer and in your summer clothes! It's all possible when you go to Sierra Nevada in the spring. You have views of the sea and Africa from the slopes. The Sierra Nevada, "snowy mountain range" in Spanish, contains 85 km of ski slopes. The mountain range is close to the Costa del Sol, where winter temperatures average 18 degrees! Book now and enjoy a winter sports vacation in Spain in a few months!

In July it was time again, the 2012 Olympics. This time held in London. Among other things, Spain is known for its successes with soccer, tennis and basketball. But how did Spain really do?

Prior to the Olympics, high expectations were placed on the Spanish soccer team. Because Spain won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010, a lot was expected of the team. Three European Championship players were going with the team to London. The team was named the favorite for the gold medal. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of play against Japan. The game after that unfortunately also ended with a loss for Spain, against Honduras. After these two games, Spain no longer had a chance of winning.

After a somewhat difficult start, Spain eventually achieved great results with a total of 17 medals. This is one less than at the 2008 Games in Beijing, and only three less than the Netherlands this year. The highest number of medals ever won by Spain at the Games is 22. This was in 1992 when the Games were held in Barcelona.

Gold Spain won three golds. Sailor Marina Alabau Neira brought in the first gold victory. Spain won both gold and silver on the first day of the Olympic taekwondo tournament. The gold medal went to Joel González against South Korea. Success team Tamara Echehoyen, Sofía Toro and Angela Pumariega won first place sailing against Australia. During this sailing race, both countries sailed bow to bow until the Australian team lost control after which the helmswoman fell overboard into the water. This allowed Spain to sail on easily.

Silver
The Spanish athletes managed to bag a total of 10 silver medals. The Olympic basketball tournament had the same final as four years ago: Spain against the USA. Unfortunately, the men lost this game 100-107. Nevertheless, an achievement to be proud of! Further silver medals were won by Spain with the following sports; canoeing, synchronized swimming, taekwando, traitlon, water polo and swimming.

Bronze
Third place was achieved four times. This was with canoeing, synchro swimming, wrestling and handball.

Some big sports names from Spain unfortunately could not compete in the Games. One example is tennis player Rafael Nadal. The top tennis player who was actually chosen to carry the flag on July 27 did not feel fit enough to compete at the Games. “It's one of the saddest moments of my life,” he revealed. Nadal is still dealing with the effects of an injury to his left knee.

Because of the crisis in Spain, the country was forced to buy tenues as cheaply as possible. The Russian company Bosco made them for free, donating another eight million euros to the Spanish Olympic Committee. Unfortunately, there were many comments about this tenue. According to many, the tenue would resemble a canaval suit. The director of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, defends the choice: “If you measure the difference between paying one and a half million from taxpayers' money and free tenues, there is no discussion.”

Sport is very important in Spain. Therefore, the Spaniards can certainly be proud of the results achieved by the athletes at the 2012 Olympics!

The Royal Spanish Academy or RAE (Real Academia Española), an institution that has been dedicated throughout three solid centuries to maintaining the correct usage of the Spanish language, is making a timid and somewhat belated entrance into the age of text messages, facebook and twitter communication. The RAE is the official authority on the Spanish language; its members literally wrote (and are writing) the book on correct Spanish usage. In the last decade, royal members have watched on in helpless frustration as countless cell phone users and facebook fans around the Spanish speaking world have busied themselves with butchering long standing spelling and grammar standards.

It seems that interest in economizing on time and on button-pushing finger effort has inspired widespread language carelessness. Many internet users also feel that writing on non-traditional supports justifies non-traditional writing habits, in other words invented rules that consider only users’ convenience, and may compromise comprehension or even courtesy and professionalism in certain contexts. The RAE, traditionally reluctant to make royal modifications to proper Castilian, has taken only dainty stabs at addressing the overwhelming spread and influence of communication technologies on the language. It has made a modest smattering of additions to the recent royal dictionary, taking something of an if you can’t beat them, join them attitude with entries such as tableta (referring to an electronic tablet), and tuitear (to correspond on twitter).

The Urgent Spanish Foundation (Fundación del Español Urgente [Fundéu BBVA]), a group that recognizes the urgent need to protect the Spanish language, has produced a new guide on writing in these new technological contexts, confirming many users’ opinions that the new media does indeed require a new set of writing rules. The book, entitled  Escribir en internet. Guía para los nuevos medios y las redes sociales (Writing on the Internet. A Guide to New Media and Social Networks” was presented at the Royal Spanish Academy’s headquarters in Madrid.  

It seems unlikely that many will pick up this manual to consult proper twitter grammar for casual personal communication. It is difficult to imagine the legions of teenage texters out there making an independent effort to analyze the spelling rules outlined in the manual before texting text friends. These forms of communication however are becoming more prevalent on a professional and academic level. The use of facebook and twitter in business to advertise and maintain clients informed on company offers and news has become standard. The guide may serve as an important rule book, for example, for professionals in charge of managing those types of accounts. An endless number of possible situations arise in which this guide could be handy. What if, for example, a client requests a text message? Would you know how to adopt an appropriate tone and writing style called for by the situation? The book also gives important advice on email writing in Spanish. If you have to write an email to a teacher, a supervisor, a client, a potential employer, the list goes on, you may want to consult this new, one of its kind guide. The book should also prove valuable to writing educators responsible for instructing new generations of technology users on standardized writing rules in updated contexts.

Young folks should at least know proper texting grammar before engaging in discourse altogether unintelligible to everyone except each other. This guide fills a need that has been largely ignored up to now, to address the correct use of written Spanish in digital support systems.

It is time again for a spooky atmosphere and to be scared, and absolutely waiting for candies. Spain is also ready to dress up their most terrifying costumes to celebrate Halloween (La Noche de Brujas).

It means “Hallows Eve” which falls on the 31st of October, before the evening of “All Hallows Day” and on this very frightening day people wear costumes to disguise themselves as evil spirits so that they cannot be spotted by the real spirits.

Spanish people also live the time of dead and evil, they love to go outside with costumes but not with the same reason as in the other countries. They love to “disfrazar”, which is a very common thing to do in Spain among young people not only on holidays like Halloween but also just solely to have fun. But on Halloween it becomes more challenging and exciting to have the most terrifying make up and have the best dress. Parents sometimes accompany to their kids to enjoy this moment. They visit other houses and say “Truco o Trato?” which is the same tradition in other countries, asking for some candies or else it might not be good for you to see the trick.

Maybe the most important tradition is missing in Spain which is carved pumpkins used as lanterns in other words "jack-o’-lanterns". These lanterns were designed to keep away the spirits from the house by putting at the door or on the window. It can be a bit difficult to find the pumpkins suitable for Halloween, yes there are pumpkins in Spain but may disappoint you if they are not big, round and orange enough.

Generally, Spaniards celebrate All Saints’ Day (Día de todos los Santos) on the 1st of November and Mexico celebrate Days of the Dead (Días de los Muertos) on the 31st of October instead of Halloween. Everyone dress up like evil creatures and have a parade on the streets. Though it has turned into a commercial holiday, still offers a lot of fun and terror. If you are around in any Spanish speaking country these days, a little bit of vocabulary might be handy to celebrate Halloween in a Spanish way.

Spanish Halloween vocabulary:

Calabaza: Pumpkin
Disfraz: Costume
Caramelo: Candy
Bruja: Witch
Duende (Espritu): Spirit
Fantasma:Ghost
Demonio: Demon
Araña: Spider
Sangre: Blood
Esqueleto: Skeleton
Gato negro: Black cat
Murciélago: Bat
Vampiro: Vampire

Bullfighting in Spain. Some consider it a wonderful Spanish tradition, and others abhor it. Bullfighting is very popular in Spain, and for many Spaniards it is a cultural activity. They see it as a kind of artistic expression and are proud of it.

Bullfighting is one of the oldest Spanish traditions. Centuries ago, the first fight already took place. The bulls are first put in a pasture for 6 to 7 years so they can eat a lot. They have (usually) had a nice life, unlike other animals. This bull meat is therefore considered the best of the best. When they are ready, they are taken from the pasture and have to perform.

A fight takes place between bullfighters, also called toreros, and a bull. This fight is made up of several phases, with each torero having his own phase. It begins with chasing the bull so that it becomes wild. Next, riders on horses enter the arena and stab the bull a few times. What follows is the matador who carries 2 sticks and uses them to poke the bull in the neck.

Then you hear a trumpet and the torero gets a knife. The idea is that he stabs the knife between the shoulders of the bull straight into the heart, otherwise he dies immediately. If this does not happen, he will continue to live and thus suffer for several minutes.

Basically, it's very simple. The one who stays alive wins. It is a matter of life or death where the toreros are given the task of making it a spectacular show. The torero who kills the bull is also called matador. If the audience thinks the matador did a good job, he gets loud applause and "olé!" is shouted. And, if it was really very good, the audience waves white scarves or other items. If the audience is dissatisfied, they stay frosty quiet or they start shouting.

In Seville you will find one of the oldest bullrings built specifically for bullfighting, the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza. The beginning of the construction of this bullring was made in 1758. Therefore, Seville is known as the best place to watch a bullfight.

To learn Spanish by reading comics and improve yourself in such a short time is not a dream and %100 fun guaranteed. Some students are good at recalling what they hear, some what they write, and some of them what they read. The last group is usually better at learning a language with visual aid, and comics might be the perfect material for them to study Spanish.

Although reading comics was seen as a vain pastime activity mostly by parents, now has gained a great importance in every sense.  Hollywood seems to have discovered this golden mine would serve more than it seems. Aside from the classics like Batman or Spiderman other superheroes from Marvel comics are smashing the box-office lists. The worldwide success of The Avengers is a good example of how these fictional characters drag the attention not only of kids but also the adults. On the other side, there are quite good discussions on the value of comic books in academic platforms. The experts have also pointed out the benefits of comics in language learning.

Watching the movies based on comics is full of fun, what about reading them? A lot more fun! I started reading comic strips of Garfield and Dilbert in Spanish,as they are my favorite. The humor style is witty and I love the way how the protagonists react to other people. If you are keen on these kind of short comic strips, you can get used to their Spanish adaptations easily and moreover you will get an insight of Spanish sense of humor. For the fan of thriller stories, try “The Walking Dead” so that you can find blood and action in Spanish that will always keep you on the edge.

If you are looking for something from Spanish culture you can check Mortadelo y Filemón, who were formerly private detectives, now work as special agents chasing after a different adventure in each episode. Another interesting character is  Superlópez. This superhero coming from the planet Chitón (yes Krypton) is the Spanish parody of Superman. Mafalda, who is a concerned Argentine girl, always has questions and a word to say for world peace and social issues. Chilean comic strip Condorito is one of the famous one in Latin America and is a funny representation of the culture.

The next step could be a bit bigger and start reading long series which is all up to your taste. Bear in mind that reading comics will improve your comprehension in Spanish and not to mention increase your vocabulary as well.

Walk the Spanish streets and the first thing you see are the colorful, well-groomed and, of course, busy talking people. Spanish fashion means being groomed and dressed for the occasion. If you are going to a wedding, then as a woman you put on a beautiful dress. In Spain there is still a lot of emphasis on the male and female forms. Spanish fashion is appropriate, but with creative outliers.

People are concerned with their appearance. They want to look good. That's what's great about Spanish fashion; Spaniards like to look well-groomed. Of course, you know Spanish fashion from the big store chains like Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius and Blanco. These stores are all known for their beautiful clothes at reasonable prices. All of them stores that I love to walk into... And also one of the reasons that make living in Spain even more fun.

But Spain has more. Successful and internationally known Spanish designers include Aldolfo Dominguez, Amaya Arzuaga, Antonio Miró and Paco Rabanne.

During fashion week, they and many others show a taste of their latest creations. The biggest fashion spectacle in Spain is Madrid Fashion Week. Or Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, as Mercedes is the main sponsor of this event. Twice a year, designers from all over the world gather here to showcase their designs. The models walk in colorful creations from which the passion radiates. The clothes are draped around their bodies as if each show is their last.

During Madrid Fashion Week, new talent also gets a chance to show their faces! This is possible during the EGO shows. A way of self-expression is shown where there is a continuous search for new styles and innovative trends.

With Madrid being the fashion capital of Spain, this fashion week is among one of the most important in the world. This, of course, includes big sisters New York, London, Paris and Milan. Other major fashion events in Spain are 080 Barcelona Fashion and Valencia Fashion Week.

Spain has many successful brands, but the big Spanish success story is Zara. Originally started in Barcelona, Zara has grown into one of the world's biggest fashion brands. And with 1,659 stores, Zara continues to grow. Today, Zara also sells furniture and other accessories to decorate your home, or Zara Home.

Zara stores are full of the latest fashions. Zara participates in bold trends (like now the gothic influence and many different materials!) and is not afraid to show its creativity. This is one of the many reasons why we love Zara so much. Zara is unique and the clothes can be combined endlessly. The Spanish Zara stores are all equipped with beautiful design which makes for great shopping!

If you really want to keep up with the latest fashion news during your visit to Spain, read the ¡Hola! This magazine will keep you updated weekly on all the news from Spanish fashion land (and practice your Spanish with it!) You will also discover all kinds of lesser known stores during your visit to Spain. After all, Spain is full of such treasures. Walk down a side street or two and you've already found another one. After all, the Spanish do know what is beautiful!

As we all know, one of the things Spain is known for are its famous painters and beautiful art. The most famous Spanish painter is Diego Velázquez. He is one of the greatest painters ever! With his individual style and technique, Diego Velázquez had a huge influence on European art. The young Velázquez once said, "I would rather be the best painter in normal everyday things than the second best in higher art." For those who like a bit of culture, this interesting painter is definitely worth knowing more about!

Diego Velázquez had a pretty impressive life. The painter was born in Seville June 6, 1599. In 1611 he starts painting with Fransico Pacheco. This is not a great painter, but he does teach Diego Velázquez the intricacies of the trade. It is also through this man that he meets the woman he will marry in 1617. This, in fact, is Pacheco's daughter. That same year, Diego Velázquez also became a member of a painters' guild, allowing him to start his own studio.

Philip IV: 5 years later, in 1622 Diego Velázquez leaves for Madrid for the first time. There, in 1623, he receives his first commission to paint a portrait of King Philip IV. This is a great success and he is appointed court painter and the only person allowed to paint the king.

Surrender of Breda: Later in 1634 and 1635, Diego Velázquez collaborated on the decoration of a new palace called Buen Retiro. One of its most important works is ´The Surrender of Breda´. This work of art, which consists of 12 paintings, is considered the best historical work in the history of Western Europe. It was created by several painters. This painting shows battles. After 12 months, the besieged Breda gives up the siege. The 12th painting shows the taking over ceremony in which the keys of the city gates are handed over.

The Pope and ´Las Meninas´: Velázquez also paid occasional visits to Italy. On his second visit, he was allowed to paint a portrait of the Pope. This famous portrait is called ´Pope Innocent X´. However, the Pope himself considered it too ´truthful´. Once back in Spain, Diego Velázquez painted his most important painting: ´Las Meninas´ a portrait featuring members of the royal family and court. The central figure in this portrait is Infanta Margarit with her ladies-in-waiting, and dog. The actual main figures, the royal couple, is depicted only in a mirror.

Style: Diego Velázquez is also called the ´painter of painters´. This is because he paid attention to light, space, lines and color in such a way. He mainly painted landscapes, scenes of ordinary life, religious paintings, genre pieces and portraits of the royal family. He influenced many other painters such as Corot, Manet, Goya, Courbet and Whistler. Spain should be very proud of this piece of history!

In Spain, you can admire his work in Madrid and Seville. Highly recommended viewing!

The landmark of Barcelona... Who doesn't know it? La Sagrada Familia. The gigantic church is the showpiece of Barcelona due to its unique appearance. The church is admired by thousands of tourists every day. La Sagrada Familia literally means "The Holy Family. The church, which has been under construction for 130 years and is still unfinished, is definitely worth seeing if you are in Barcelona!

The church is shaped like a cross and is located in the middle of the city. La Sagrada Familia contains a total of 18 towers. Twelve of these towers represent the appostles, four represent the evangelists, and the other two towers represent the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ. Furthermore, there are three facades, depicting the life of Jesus Christ. To get the best picture of this church, the map of the Sagrada Familia can be viewed. This floor plan shows exactly what the original plans were for this church. But not only the outside is impressive! Inside, the church is at least as special. With its unique shapes and renewed Gothic style, the church is beautiful to see.

The first stone was laid in 1882. La Sagrada Familia was commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church in honor of the Holy Family. At first, Francisco de Paula del Villar was the architect of the church, but he soon called it quits due to religious disagreements. The project was taken over by the architect Antoni Gaudí. For 40 years he worked on this impressive church. Unfortunately, he died in 1926. During the last years of his life, he worked exclusively on the church. Designing this church was the biggest project of his life. Gaudi was very dedicated. In fact, he was so dedicated that at one point he went to live on the construction site! In the crypt inside the church is the tomb in which the world-famous architect Gaudí is buried. After his death, several architects continued Gaudí's work following his original ideas.

Gaudí did not design the church according to a set pattern. He wanted to create a new architecture, with balanced and self-sustaining structures. These innovative ideas can all be seen in the church. While building the church, Gaudí often changed his ideas. This was one of the reasons why the building of the church was delayed. Furthermore, there was also a lack of financial resources. La Sagrada Familia was only allowed to be financed through donations. In fact, the church was originally planned as a "cathedral of the poor.Tegenwoordig wordt er nog steeds aan la Sagrada Familia gewerkt. De verwachting is dat de kerk in 2026, precies 100 jaar na de dood van Gaudi, af zal zijn. Of dit gaat lukken kan niet met zekerheid worden gezegd. Wat we wel zeker weten is dat deze kerk, ondanks dat er nog aan wordt gewerkt, prachtig is om te bezichtigen!

Visits: You can also visit La Sagrada Familia! The address of la Sagrada Familia is Calle Mallorca, 401. Barcelona 08013. During the summer months (April to September), the church is open daily from 9am-8pm. During the other months, the church is open daily from 09.00-18.00h. The normal entrance fee to this admirable church is €13,00. But please note! Students, persons under 18 and pensioners pay €11.00. The church is funded by donations. In the past, those generous enough to donate were promised to enter heaven. The entrance fee is also considered a kind of donation. So who knows, it may also bring you good luck when you visit the church....

Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) is world famous for his novel ´don Quichote de la Mancha´ or "The ingenious nobleman don Quichote of La Mancha. The first part of the book was published in 1605 and the second part in 1615.

By reading many chivalric novels, the ingenious nobleman becomes under the delusion that he is the chosen one to confront evil in the world. He experienced the first failure of his imagined mission after being knighted. After being beaten black and blue at an inn, he was brought back home by a peasant. However, he did not let himself be known and found a farmhand ´Sancho Panza´ willing to go with him, together with his horse ´Rocinant´. Together they experienced many imaginary adventures and became involved in one battle after another, including the fight against windmills. We all know the story of don Quixote mistaking windmills and their sails for soldiers waving weapons in their hands.

Love in a knight's novel cannot be missing, of course, and don Quixote makes the peasant girl ´Dulcinea´ his lover. When the knight and his servant return to their native village after many travels, don Quixote is felled by fever and dies.

This book by Miguel Cervantes is the most widely read book in the world after the Bible. Think before you begin because it has 1117 pages. Not surprisingly, even stamps with the image of don Quijote were issued (1998) and there are many drawings, posters, figurines, etc.

Like many other artists, Miguel Cervantes became famous and loved for his work after his death and you can find his image on the Euro coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents, for example.