Upon arrival early in the morning at Valencia airport, I can't wait to start my day with a freshly pressed zumo de naranja á la Valencia.

First we dropped our suitcases at our hostal Venecia, which is located in the city center, and then we quickly went into town. From the airport you can easily take the subway to the center of Valencia. So we do the same. The subway takes us straight to our hostal. This hostal is located at Plaza Ayuntamiento from where you can easily walk to the other two squares of Valencia (Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen). In the square, the pole with the temperature gauge indicates 34 degrees Celsius. Fortunately, there is a constant wind blowing through Valencia, so it is perfectly bearable. Valencia is the 3rd largest city in Spain, but this doesn't feel like it at all. It is a quiet center with not too much traffic, where you can enjoy wandering through the many narrow streets.

With such a vitamin C bomb comes a nice breakfast. As we walk towards the first square we see that you can sit on the terrace of Horchatería El Siglo in the sun. This is definitely the place where we want to have breakfast and catch the first rays of the Spanish sun. On the menu is horchata de chufa (almond drink). According to the camarero, this is something typically Valencian you must have tried. You drink this local thirst quencher ice cold and eat fartons (stems of croissant dough) with it. The waiter manages to seduce me anyway so, in addition to the zumo de naranja, I order the horchata with fartons. The horchata tastes like a slightly sweet milky drink and is wonderfully refreshing. The combination with the fartons completes it! In short, the first step to a good and especially healthy day has been taken.

To get a good idea of Valencia, we are going to explore the city “all Dutch” by bike. You can rent bikes everywhere, but we rent them at Solution bike rental at a competitive price on the recommendation of our hostal. Very nice is to cycle through the 10 kilometer(!) long city park Jardines del Turia in the old river bed of the Turia. This park runs right through the city like a green strip. I have never seen such a versatile park with various playgrounds, work-out machines, playing fields and beautiful picnic areas! If only we had such a park in the Netherlands. After an active bike ride through the city and the park, our stomachs start to growling again and we look for a restaurant where locals enjoy the almuerzo. We plop down at restaurant Taberna Española Pasodoble. Like the Valencianos do, we order the daily menu.

This is a complete 3-course menu for about 10.00 euros. Very tasty and a cheap solution that can fill you up well. What you must have tasted when you are in Valencia is the paella! This cocina tipica de Valencia, you can eat it everywhere in Valencia. Just outside Valencia, in Albufera, you can visit the rice fields. We decide to eat paella on the beach of Valencia in the evening. It is also easy to reach by metro from the center. We were told that restaurant La Pepica is the most famous paella restaurant, but that L´estimat serves the most delicious paella and where you sit among the Valencianos. So that is the very best tip: eat where the locals are sitting. We end the evening at the Café de las Horas with Valencia's most famous cocktail “Agua de Valencia”. The alcoholic version of Valencian oranges;) mixed with cava (Spanish champagne) and cointreau.

Before we return home, I quickly buy something for the home front at Mercado Central in the morning. This market with its food stalls of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and meat makes your mouth water. This is also where all the restaurants in Valencia get their fresh produce. On the side of the Mercado Central I quickly buy paella rice and a paella pan so I can try to make the real paella a la Valencia at home.

Valencia, with some 1,500 restaurants, is a delight for culinary lovers. It is a versatile city where you can fully enjoy Spanish life in all its facets. I will definitely come back here!

Full name is Rafael Nadal Parera and he is a famous Spanish tennis player. Born in Mallorca, Spain on June 3, 1986. Rafa is his nickname for both privately and on the tennis court. He became a professional tennis player in 2001. Rafa Nadal has won a total of over 46 million euros in prize money!

Rafa is currently ranked No. 2 in the world according to the ATP list. He is considered one of the best tennis players ever. Different tournaments also have different surfaces, for example, Roland Garros has gravel where Wimbledon has grass. Rafa Nadal is also called the King of Gravel. This name because of his 7 titles won on this surface. With this, he has surpassed Björn Borg. He is, according to some, the best gravel player ever!!! In total, Rafa Nadal already has 11 Grand Slam titles to his name. Nadal has also won a gold medal in 2008 at the Olympics, won 21 Master Series titles, which is a record number. The Spanish tennis player also plays on the Spanish national team and won the Davis cub with the team in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011. After also winning the title at the US Open in 2010, he became the 7th person in history to receive the Career Slam, Rafael was also the youngest by the way! In 2012, he became the first tennis player in history to win an ATP title 8 times in a row, the Master Series Monte Carlo. Before Rafael Nadal became No. 1 in the world on Aug. 18, 2008, he first spent 160 weeks at No. 2 behind Roger Federer. Rafa remained the No. 1 until July 5, 2009, but on June 7, 2010, he regained the No. 1 position after winning his 5th title at Roland Garros. Since July 4, 2011, Novak Djokovic has been the No. 1 player in the world.

For all his professional tennis career, Rafael Nadal has been in a duel with Roger Federer. Off the court they are friends, but once they face each other in a semifinal or final, it is hard against hard and they give everything! These are therefore always beautiful and especially exciting matches to watch for the fans among us.

Private life

Rafael Nadal's parents are Sabastián and Ana María, also Rafa has a younger sister named María Isabel. Rafa is the nephew of former soccer player Miguel Ángel Nadal and his coach is his other uncle Toni Nadal. Nadal has been dating Maria Francisca Perello since 2005. A hobby Rafa pursues outside of tennis is golf. There is also an autobiography written about Rafael Nadal's life titled "Rafa," which came out in 2011. 

It is safe to say that Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal is among one of the best in the world. Not only now, but also in history he has broken many records. And I believe Rafa will continue that in the coming years now that he is at the top. 

Volunteering in Spain and Latin America has become increasingly popular among the Dutch in recent years. More and more people and especially young people go to developing countries during their vacations to help with different projects. This can be building an orphanage, teaching in Latin America or going on a volunteer trip in Spain.

There are many organizations offering volunteer work and this number will continue to grow in the coming years. Many companies also volunteer both at home and abroad. The relative distance (distance in time, money and effort) has become smaller in recent years, making visiting developing countries more and more accessible now. Relative distance has been reduced by development of land, sea and air transportation.

You can now take a Spanish course first and then volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country, such as Mexico. At don Quijote they can arrange this for you, as it is important to have a certain level of Spanish before you can help people. The only condition don Quijote sets is that you take a Spanish course for a minimum of 4 weeks to improve your Spanish, during which you will stay with a host family to improve your Spanish even faster. The course should bring your Spanish up to a level that will allow you to become a volunteer. When you start volunteering, you can choose to stay with your host family or you can choose different accommodation, which does not have to be don Quijote.Neem hier makkelijk deel aan door je zelf in te schrijven bij don Quijote. Een ervaring voor het leven zal het worden die je nooit zult vergeten!!

All income goes directly to the volunteer project. This way you can see for yourself right away where the money is going. Nowadays you can also volunteer in Spain, put together your own trip and help the less fortunate. Helping to build orphanages and schools gives you a fulfilled feeling!

We will look for a good volunteer project for you. During your volunteer work you will be accompanied so that we can keep track of how you are doing and help you when needed. For each volunteer, don Quijote will donate a contribution to the project in question.

So have you always wanted to do something for those people who are less fortunate in their lives than you? Now you have the chance to do something for this, become a volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country in Spain or Latin America. There are many projects in Latin America that help in orphanages and schools. Improve both your Spanish and the lives of those less fortunate by volunteering!

Toledo is the capital of the Castile-La Mancha region of central Spain and is located 70 kilometers south of Madrid. Toledo is also on UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its rich history and diversity of cultures.

Toledo was the capital of Spain until 1561 and is still considered one of the most important cities of the Spanish church today. The city is also known for its many daggers and swords that you will find all over the city. Toledo is also the city of El Greco, a famous painter.

Ancient Toledo was owned by the Romans who called the city Toletum until 192 B.C. Furthermore, Toledo was also part of the Visigoths from 534 to 712 A.D. In Moorish times, 712 to 1085 A.D. the city was called Tolaitola. After this time, Toledo experienced a prosperous time through the silk and wool industry and also through arms manufacturing.

Although Toledo is not a large area, it is an important hub economically and socially. The city is rich in culture and Spanish history. Toledo can also be easily visited on foot. All sights, monuments, museums and other places of interest are close together. However, it is advisable to wear good shoes or sturdy slippers since, as in all other cities in Spain, the streets are usually lined with small stones.

Toledo is generally known as "The City of Three Cultures." This is because Christian, Muslim and hebrew cultures lived within the city walls and this has left its mark on the city. This is particularly evident in the extraordinary architecture where all three cultures come together and give it its own personality.

During the Spanish Civil War, Toledo became truly famous for the siege of the Alcázar. At the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, the siege of the Alcázar of Toledo took place, this was an important military confrontation between opponents and supporters of Francisco Franco. From July 21 to Sept. 27, 1936, the city of Toledo and particularly the Alcázar was besieged by citizens loyal to the leftist government. The Alcázar was defended by Colonel José Moscardó. On July 25, the besiegers captured Colonel Moscardó's son, Luis, and wanted to kill him if the Alcázar did not surrender within ten minutes. The colonel asked his son on the phone to address him, telling him, "Dedicate your soul to God and cry loudly Long live Christ King! Long live Spain!" The son replied, "That is something I can accomplish!" After this refusal to surrender, the son was bloody murdered a month later. On Sept. 27, after two months of siege, the Alcázar was unseated by Franco.

Toledo's rich history in particular makes it a wonderful city to visit. Transportation to Toledo is easy from Madrid. It is definitely worth visiting Toledo once if you get the chance. After all, you can really enjoy walking in this city!     

As I’m now heading into my final few weeks in Spain (leaving this 32°C heat to go back to rainy England doesn’t bare thinking about!) I’ve already started getting nostalgic about the time I’ve spent here. Salamanca is a really fantastic place to study Spanish, but it’s the city’s quirks and unique character that I’m going to miss.

The tradition and its origins

One of my favourite days here was Lunes de Agua. This tradition is observed the first Monday after Lent, and dates back to the Catholic roots of Spanish society. In order to keep the city ‘pure’ for the Semana Santa celebrations at Easter, in XVI century the king Phillip II expelled the city’s prostitutes from Salamanca, so that the men to keep their minds on the religious goings on!

So the prostitutes were rowed away on boats to the outskirts of the city each Ash Wednesday, to await “Water Monday” as it is known, when they were allowed back into the city. The men of Salamanca were so excited at the prospect their return, that every Lunes de Agua, the Salmantinos would spend all day sitting, waiting and being merry by the river until the row boats moored on the banks by the city and the real party got started!

The festivity nowadays

I’m not entirely sure when the prostitutes of Salamanca stopped getting kicked out every Easter, but the festivities remain to this day. Nowadays it’s fun for all of the family, and the city's river banks are full of picnics and parties on the first Monday after Lent. Although it’s not technically a public holiday (sadly I still had to work, although in true Spanish style the party keeps going into the early hours of the morning), many of the smaller businesses shut for the afternoon in order to be part of the merriment!

Another part of Lunes de Agua which has stood the test of time is the hornazo. This amazing meat pie, so full of chorizo, jamón, salchichón and everything else that would horrify a vegetarian, is taken down to the river as sustenance for the day. The hornazos are huge; mine took me the best part a week to finish! They were designed so that the men wouldn’t need to keep popping into town for food and risk missing the prostitutes’ return. They are surprisingly moist for a meat pie, although very often they get washed down with a six-pack or two!

What I really enjoyed about this crazy tradition (apart from all the vino...) was that after the very solemn week of Easter celebrations, where the focus is on penance for all your sins, the Salmantinos go above and beyond in enoying themselves for a very un-holy reason! It was one of my favourite days in Salamanca (although the day after was pretty difficult!) and if you’re thinking of visiting, I’d definitely suggest co-ordinating your trip with Lunes de Agua!

Traveling through Spain, enjoying Spanish life under the sun! Travel in general has become one of the most popular leisure activities of most people in recent years. This year, an estimated 1 billion people will go on vacation! Spain is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe.

This trend starts especially with the youth between 18-25 years old. Taking a year off to work or going on a year of travel is increasingly becoming a popular option. This is a result of reducing the relative distance between 2 places. The relative distance between two places is the time it takes to get from one place to another. This has become shorter over the years through technological advances of land, sea and air travel.

Because the distance between different places is smaller, the ability to travel is also easier. It used to be special if you went abroad for vacation. Nowadays, we don't do anything else and most families go on vacation abroad at least twice a year. Many study trips are also taken, whether it is studying abroad or learning a language abroad, nowadays anything is possible! A study trip is an experience for life, you learn from it and you meet many different people. Study trips to Barcelona, Madrid, Granada and Salamanca are the most visited study destinations.

Accessibility in a country is very important. Therefore, in Spain there are many buses and trains that can take tourists from one city to another for relatively low prices. From Madrid the trains in Spain run in all directions, Madrid is located in the middle of Spain which ensures the many directions. The roads in Spain are also good, making a car vacation to Spain easy to do as well. This allows you to see a lot of the country while being independent of any buses and/or trains. You can easily rent a car from the airport.

Did you know that the Madrid - Barcelona flight and vice versa are the most frequent flights in the world. Daily flights go from the largest city in Spain to the second largest city and back again. Because there are so many flights going every day, the airline tickets also have pleasant prices. Furthermore, many domestic flights go from the north to Andalusia and also to Catalonia. Because of this, many Spaniards also enjoy a vacation in their own country.

All in all, traveling to and through Spain is quite doable. There are many pristine spots of nature where mass tourism has not yet set its foot. It is therefore definitely worth doing a tour of Spain, especially with the pleasant climate that we Dutch are always so envious of!

The Spanish Inquisition lasted from 1478 to 1834. The definition of Inquisition is as follows: "A court of the Roman Catholic Church, charged with the detection, investigation and punishment of heretics."

Yet the definition of Spanish Inquisition is slightly different and reads as follows: "The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 for the purpose of upholding Catholic orthodoxy. It was not abolished until 1834 during the reign of the Spanish Catholic monarch Isabella II. The Inquisition was used to impose religious unity on the people, thus the Inquisition became a political tool of power."

Christianity was the most well-known faith in the earlier centuries that had many followers around the world. Many Catholic rulers wanted to preserve Christianity and wanted to convince anyone who believed something else to Christianity, if the person did not want this he/she was persecuted.

Capture

After someone was imprisoned, the case was investigated by "calificadores." These were responsible for whether someone was found guilty of heresy or not during the Spanish Inquisition. If this was the case then the person was imprisoned. Sometimes the "calificadores" would take people into preventive detention. This period could last for two years in some cases. Also, the prisoner was not told what the charges were, in most cases they did not know for years what they were accused of. The prisoners could not leave their cells during their imprisonment; everything was isolated. In 1483, stricter inquisitors were appointed and from then on faith courts were established in all the main towns, the prisons were named holy houses (casas santas).

Trial

The trial itself consisted of a few hearings with both the accuser and the accused both allowed to tell their own stories to the inquisitors. The accused was assigned someone from the tribunal to advise the accused to tell the truth. Also present was an official who kept notules. The accused had two opportunities to defend himself during the Spanish Inquisition; first, finding a witness in his favor (abonos), or second, proving implausibility of the accuser (tachas).

The Spanish Inquisition was never really interested in witch hunting. There were two reasons for this, first, because the Catholic Church already had enough scapegoats in Jews and Muslims, and second, because Christianity had more enemies outside Christianity than inside Christianity (as heretics and later witches).

The end of the Inquisition

The end of the Spanish Inquisition was in 1843, but actually it had not been active since 1700. When the Catholic prince el Borbón came on the Spanish trome, the Spanish Inquisition had already come to an end.

Precise figures on the number of trials and results during the Spanish Inquisition have never been fully ascertained, as many documents have been lost. In the most gruesome years of the Spanish Inquisition, there were about 44,000 trials. According to documents, 1.6% ended with a death sentence (700 people).

Many people died during the years of the Spanish Inquisition. Today there are still groups active that want to continue the Inquisition ideology. Fortunately, we can also respect each other today, but the topic of faith will always be sensitive in politics and beyond.

Congratulations to everyone graduating! Whether you’re getting your degree or leaving high school, now is the time to throw caps in the air, burn your notes and rejoice that you never have to study maths/molecular biology/origami again! But for those of you who are leaving your language learning behind, or are reminiscing of your long-ago student life, you can revive your Spanish!

For many people, learning languages at school isn’t overly fun. The lists and lists of verbs to learn, speaking in front of the class when you’re worried people will laugh at you, the seemingly pointless discussion topics – I understand your pain. Truly I do. Because when I got to Spain, I could talk all day about the pros and cons of nuclear power, or what I had for dinner last week, but I really struggled opening my bank account. Personally, I didn’t find my school had properly equipped me for using the language in real life. But now you’re free of school, you can learn or refresh your Spanish the fun way!

Because languages aren’t just another subject confined to the classroom; they’re useful, relevant and a way to connect with the world. So now that school is becoming a distant memory or your uni days are a source of nostalgia, you don’t have to regret dropping a language; it’s like riding a bike, albeit a very wobbly one, but you never forget completely!

There are so many ways to refresh you’re language. Why not try online resources! Read the news from ‘El Pais’ instead of CNN, put the Spanish language option on the DVD you’re about to watch, or try re-reading your favourite book in Spanish (Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal anyone?!). It’s the little things like this can keep your Spanish knowledge ticking over, instead of casting it out of your memory like quadratic equations.

You could take a course! Due to the high demand of Spanish now, especially in the business world, there’ll be nightclasses near you, and it’s worth seeing if your employer/university provides or supports them. Or try and incorporate Spanish into your holiday; if you can, pop to Puerto Rico, visit Venezuela or chill out in Costa Rica. Just a weekend minibreak in Madrid can jog your memory and revive your Spanish.

Something that I’ve really enjoyed since being in Spain is doing intercambios, the Spanish for ‘exchanges’. In a world of ever increasing global mobility, many people move to the US or to the UK, who have native Spanish but need help with English. What better way to meet new people, help them integrate in their new society, and revive your Spanish, than to spend half an hour in English, and then half an hour in Spanish chatting. Check out local notice boards/the internet to find intercambios.

While it’s easy to get complacent with your languages, they’re definitely life skills, and a cool party trick at the very least! You spend years and years slaving away at school, so why give up on the fruits of your labour! Language skills do deteriorate without practise.

So, class of 2012, congratulations on making it through, good luck in the real world, and may your Spanish studies continue!

Equestrian also called Equestrian is a well-known phenomenon in Andalusia, southern Spain. The art of horseback riding with real Andalusian Spanish horses. These Spanish horses are also called the Andalusian and Pura Raza Española (PRE). This Andalusian is often used in shows and other spectacles because of its appearance.

The history of the Pura Raza Española is often debated. In fact, many misunderstandings have been brought into the world. First of all, the biggest misunderstanding is that this Spanish horse would have blood from the Arabian horse. There is no Arabian blood in the PRE at all. The second major misunderstanding is that the breed would have been purified and bred in a Carthusian (monastery for hermits) in the ^15th century.

The Andalusian is recognized by its long, silver-white and especially silky mane and low tail. This pure and noble breed is only surpassed, in terms of pure bloodline, by the Arabian. These Spanish horses are usually in the gray color and become whiter as they age.

The character of the elegant Andalusian horses can be described as courageous, spirited and above all very docile. Because of this, the stallions are also usually not castrated for their gentle nature. These Spanish horses trust their rider, an excellent partner in wartime. The Andalusian proves itself even today at bullfights. They are proud, honest and, above all, intelligent partners of man. An animal that learns quickly and almost never shows misbehavior.

Because the Spanish horse is so easy to handle, these horses are used all over the world for shows as well as for circus, liberty dressage and also for regular riding schools. At Spanish riding schools, the elegance of the Andalusian comes out well because of their courage and agility.

Three more different riding arts are practiced in Spain. These three are: "Doma Clásica," "Alta Escuela" and "Doma Vaquera." This art and culture come together in all these riding arts through the Pura Raza Española. In Andalusia there are many of these shows where all these riding styles are reflected.

Doma Clásica

Doma Clásica is a classical riding style from the Renaissance. This style of riding with the Pura Raza Española was practiced mainly by the nobility. The Doma Clásica is an ancient art widely used at dressage competitions around the world.

Alta Escuela

Alta Escuela, also called the Old School. The style of horseback riding was especially widely used in the military. The purpose of the Alta Escuela is to impress and create space for other men. This Spanish pass is also often seen at shows. At shows, you also see mostly old and classical exercises.

Doma Vaquera

The Doma Vaquera riding style may be called the national riding style of Spain. Doma Vaquera literally means the "training of the herdsman." The herdsman (the vaquero) still rides his horse over the land to watch his cattle. The herdsman usually only rides with one hand so he can do other actions with his other hand. Along with the Alta Escuela, Doma Vaquera is the oldest riding style in Europe.

Equestrianism is an important part of daily life in Andalusia, which is why horse shows have also become art and culture for tourists. The Andalusian horses are known all over the world, this will only increase in the future due to the character of these beautiful Spanish horses. Definitely worth attending a show when you are in Andalusia.

The main rivers in Spain are the Duero, the Ebro, the Tagus, the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana. These many Spanish rivers flow as much as hundreds of kilometers through the country and generate a lot of energy. Most rivers in Spain are unnavigable.

In northern Spain, the Duero and the Ebro run; in central Spain, the Tagus, the Guadiana and the Júcar flow. In southern Spain, the Guadalquivir and Segura rivers run.

The Duero River

The Duero River flows together with the Tagus River from the central plateaus westward to Portugal. The Duero rises in the region of Castile and León and flows into Portugal. The name Duero also means "Golden River." This Spanish river has a length of 897 kilometers, making it one of the largest river basins in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Tagus

The Tagus flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. This Spanish river is about 1,000 kilometers long and flows past Toledo, among other places. The Tagus is used to irrigate surrounding agricultural areas. Wine is grown along its banks.

The Ebro

At 900 kilometers in length, the Ebro is Spain's longest river and runs past Zaragoza. This. Spanish river is the only river that flows to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Guadalquivir River

The Guadalquivir is about 650 kilometers long and flows past Córdoba and Seville. This Spanish river empties into the Gulf of Seville and is navigable as far as Córdoba for ocean-going vessels.

The Guadiana

The Guadiana forms a border between Portugal and Spain and flows past the cities of Mérida and Badajoz. The unusual thing about the Guadiana is that this river suddenly disappears underground and only reappears after a few kilometers.

Other major Spanish rivers include the Júcar and the Segura. The Júcar empties into the Mediterranean Sea after 500 kilometers and flows through the provinces of Cuenca, Albacete and Valencia. The Segura is a slightly smaller river known for its floods and flows past Murcia, among others.

Most Spanish rivers have variable water supplies, this is mainly due to the many mountains and alternating rainwater. As a result, most rivers in Spain are unnavigable for navigation. Only the Guadalquivir from Seville is navigable downstream. The Duero and Ebro rivers usually have enough water but the differences in elevation also make them unusable for navigation.

Strong soil erosion is present in the rivers of Spain. As a result, they generally carry a lot of sediment, creating deltas. In the northeast in Galicia, Spanish rivers have wide estuaries.