Preparing your trip to Spain

Your trip to Spain to learn Spanish is getting closer and you have to prepare many things before you arrive. Do you know all the things you should have before you come? Do you know about all the procedures and agreements that exist between your country and Spain? Research these topics well because the success of our trip could depend on what you do before you depart and entering Spain legally is not as difficult as you may think!

We are going to give you some recommendations to make it easier for you in this post. Enjoy!

1. Before buying your plane ticket, make sure that your passport is valid. If it is not, you will need to renew it before entering Spain or any other part of the European Union.
2. If you are a European Union citizen, a Passport is not usually required to enter Spain. However, some form of legal identification is necessary.
3. Plan your itinerary well and get information about the Spanish destinations that you will be visiting. This will help you avoid unnecessary delays when you get to your destination. Spain has very reliable public transportation with trains and buses that will take you to any city in very timely matter. You can also fly between most major cities which can also save you a lot of time.
4. Regarding the Spanish visa: There are different types of visas for Spain: student, work, residency... Which is your case? Spain has special agreements with many countries that allow citizens to enter the country for up to 90 days without any paperwork. However, there are some exceptions so make sure to ask the Spanish Embassy in your country if you need a visa or not.
5. Remember that Spain is an EU member and once you are legally permitted into Spain you are allowed to visit other EU countries. There are also many low cost airlines such as RyanAir or Easyjet who sell cheap flights so that you can easily visit other cities and countries.
6. Medical Insurance: The best advice is to purchase medical insurance that will cover you in Spain. The Spanish health system will tend to any Spaniard or foreigner that needs attention, but the coverage for foreigners is only on an emergency basis. This service is not free. However, your country may have a public health agreement with Spain so make sure to inform yourself before purchasing any plan
7. If you decide to rent a car, despite the great public transportation in Spain, make sure that your driver's license is valid in Spain. If not, you should get an international driver's license before coming.
8. What kind of clothes should you bring? Even though Spain is a relatively small country, it has many different climates. Most regions have hot dry summers and cold winters, a good example of this is the weather in Madrid. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, remember that Spain is in the Northern Hemisphere which means that our winter coincides with your summer... Bring a good jacket if you are coming to Spain in September or April!
9. Spain is one of the safest countries in Europe, but regardless, you should pay close attention to your possessions and remain vigilant at all times so that you can avoid unnecessary problems such as the loss or theft of your documentation or credit cards.
10. Enjoy your stay in Spain and take advantage of the opportunity to get to learn about Spanish culture! Spain is a friendly country with people who are eager to learn about other cultures. Be nice to the locals and they may show you some of their city's secrets. Don't forget to practice and join aa Spanish course in Spain!

Let us know if you have any questions and we will try to answer them for you.

This blog is to help you learn about where Argentina is located, discover places to visit while you travel in Argentina and view an Argentina map of our suggestions. This is a comprehensive article for anyone thinking about doing tourism in Argentina.

Where is Argentina? That may sound like crazy question for many people, but according to Google, "Where is Argentina?" is one of the most searched for Argentina terms in the USA. I am not judging anyone here. Many Americans are geographically challenged and this is not because we (yes, we) are stupid. I prefer to use the word "sheltered", yes, we are very sheltered from the world. What do I mean by this? Well, many people may not know where is Argentina because they simply lack exposure.

One geography class 20 years ago was not enough, the local news doesn't often mention the "world", local newspapers are lucky to have an extensive international section even national papers lack on the "foreign news" front. My point is that Americans can literally live their whole lives not knowing where Argentina is, let alone the rest of the countries of the world.

So where is Argentina? Argentina is located where the map ends, on the southernmost tip of the planet, at the end of South America. It is a large country, the second largest in South America dominating the major part of the continent. However, compared with the US, Argentina is a bit less than three-tenths the size with a total area of 2,766,890 km² (1,068,302 mi²). Argentina is 3,650 km (2,268 mi) long from North to South and 1,430 km (889 mi) across from east to west.

On the north, Argentina is bounded by Bolivia, to the northeast by Paraguay, to the east by Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean, and to both the south and west by the long nation of Chile. In total, Argentina has over 9,665 km (6,000 mi) of border.

Now that we know the answer to "where is Argentina," we can take a look at this vast and beautiful country filled with adventures, mighty waterfalls, high mountains, vast plains, impressive ice glaciers, unique cities, tango, natural charms, amazing food and nice people.

If you are planning on traveling to Argentina or traveling through Argentina, it is a good idea to get familiarized with the country so that you can plan your trip accordingly.

The following is a map of Argentina with the top 10 places to visit while you are traveling around Argentina. This Argentina map is available online and is interactive.

1- Buenos Aires is known to be a very European feeling cosmopolitan city. The population descends mainly from Italians and Spaniards giving the city a rich cultural heritage and unique architecture. Don't miss a good tango class, the bohemian San Telmo neighborhood, the famous Recoleta cemetery where Eva Perón is buried. Study with don Quijote's partner school in Buenos Aires, marked on the Argentina map with a special symbol, to really discover the unique Argentine accent and culture.

2- The "pampas" are not marked on our Argentina map because the Argentine pampas are great plains located around the capital city of Buenos Aires. Famous Argentine "gauchos", or cowboys, can be found working the land that is also spotted with many lovely 19^th century homes. This beautiful area is open for tourism.

3- Peninsula Valdes is home to some of the world's best wildlife reserves in Argentina. Tourists traveling to Argentina often head to this area to watch whales breeding off shore. Sea lions, elephant seals, Orca whales and penguins are also common sights.

4- Ushuaia, as you can see on the map of Argentina, is located at the very tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) and is the southernmost town in the world. From this point in the world, you can board an excursion to Antartica!

5- Patagonia glaciers & Mount Fitz Roy: Some of the world's largest advancing glaciers are located in the Patagonia region of Argentina. If you are traveling through Argentina, make sure to stay a night in one of the several towns located in the area to cater to visitors who come to see the Perito Moreno glacier and the Upsala glacier. The Patagonia region is marked on the Argentina map below. Mount Fitz Roy is located about 130 miles to the north of the famous Patagonia glaciers. This peak is a must see for adventurists, often described as the most amazing and breathtaking mountain peak in the world.

6- Lake District - Bariloche: Bariloche, located in the Lake district, is a charming town and home to one of the most impressive ski resorts in South America. It is also the location of another don Quijote Spanish partner school located on our Argentina map. The Lake District area is often compared to the mountainous region of Switzerland and contains many charming towns like Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes. El Bolson is another village known for its crafts while Esquel is famous for the Old Patagonian Expressway.

7- Mendoza - Argentine Wine: Head to the city of Mendoza in the Andes, marked on our map of Argentina, home to Argentina's famous Malbec wine. You can tour the wineries and participate in wine tastings. While you are in this area traveling through Argentina, head to Aconcagua, just a short drive from Mendoza, where you can marvel at the world's highest peak after the Himalayas.

8- Salta & Jujuy: These two southern villages are known to be colorful and indigenous feeling. In Salta you can catch the famous Train to the Clouds, the highest railway in the world and fropm Jujuy you can visit cloud (fog) forests and other small unique villages.

9- Iguazu Falls in Argentina is a spectacular set of over 275 falls between Argentina and Brazil. The power of Iguazu Falls is unrivaled by any other, not even Niagara Falls or Victoria Falls. Devil's Throat, one of the main attractions, dumps over 10,000 gallons of water a second from a height of over 230 feet.

10- Córdoba is the second largest city in Argentina and is home to another don Quijote partner school. The city, indicated on the Argentina map, is famous for its preservation of historical monuments from the times of Spanish colonialism. Several 17^th century buildings have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

So now you have the answer to the question: Where is Argentina?, you have many really good reasons to travel to Argentina. We hope you find our suggestions and Argentina map useful to plan your tourism in Argentina.

View this INTERACTIVE Argentina map on Google

Want to study Spanish in Argentina?

Study in don Quijote's partner school in Buenos Aires.

Talk about innovation in a time of crisis. Why didn't I think of it?

A new spa called "Cosquillarte" has opened in Madrid and is 100% dedicated to, you guessed it, tickling "massages".

The unique name is a play on words and can be translated as either "Tickle yourself" or "Tickle art".

The salon was the idea of Isabel Aires who claims that she has always loved being tickled softly as a way of relaxing. One day she realized that if she could pay someone to tickle her, she would.

So, she opened up her spa in December which has steadily built up a roster of loyal clients.

Since there is no school for the art of tickling, she worked with two trained massage therapists to develop different tickling treatments.

The small spa with 2 rooms is much like any other. Clients will be treated in a darkened and relaxing room with soothing music and nice aroma. The client will lie on a normal massage table and then the treatment will begin of light fingertip tickling along the body, and then with a feather.

The prices are reasonable, 25€ for 30 minutes and 45€ for an hour.

In the article I read about this, the reporter who visited the spa explained that she is not usually keen on being tickled. However, after a few minutes she noted how soothing the treatment was as all the "tension just flowed out of her".

The idea is to relax the client, not cause them to squirm.

Who goes to Cosquillarte? From teenagers to the elderly, men and women, it seems that there are lots of people who have been waiting for something new like this. They try it once, and they are hooked.

In fact, the idea is so new and interesting that Isabel Aires receives messages from Latin America and Russia, and also many inquiries about setting up franchises. In fact, she recently signed an agreement to give in-room treatments to a major Spanish hotel chain in Madrid.

Isabel continues to innovate, for the summer time she is developing a cold-hand treatment to chill people off from the hot weather.

So check out their web, make an appointment in Madrid, and let me know! I am very curious to see what you think!

This year’s Royal wedding was proof of how much the Brits (and the rest of the world it seems!) love their royal family. But did you know that throughout the long history of Britain’s monarchy a few Spaniards have been in there too?

The British and the Spanish have not always been on friendly terms, way back in the past, but there have been moments when the two countries have been linked through royalty.

Back in the 16^th century, King Henry VIII was famous for his succession of six wives, and on of them was Spanish! His first wife, Catherine of Aragon (known in Spanish as Catalina de Aragón) was in fact the daughter of the Spanish king and queen of the time, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, famous for sponsoring Columbus’ journey to America. She had also been previously married to Henry VIII’s brother, Prince Arthur, and clearly had a thing for the family! Through her marriage to Henry VIII she was Queen of England from 1509 to 1533, until the king wanted a divorce. He had fallen in love with another woman, to become his second wife, and Catherine was now too old to bear children. Despite being pregnant 6 times, only one of their children survived, Mary I, and Henry believed this to be a punishment for marrying his brother’s widow.

Mary I would also find a Spanish partner, in the form of Phillip II. His family wished for him to marry Queen Mary in order to gain a higher social status and he did just that, ruling England and Ireland alongside her until her death in 1558, when he lost his rights to the throne.

Perhaps the most unlikely Spanish monarch however was during the reign of Henry VII, the father of Henry VIII. Juan de Lepe, a sailor from the Andalusian town of Lepe, one day on his travels ended up in the court of Henry VII and somehow came to be a sort of court jester and assistant of the king. The two enjoyed playing cards and chess together and one day, thinking he had won, the king gambled the throne of England for 24 hours. Juan de Lepe accepted and won the bet, making him King of England for just one day. The Little King of England, as he was known, made the most of the occasion and made himself rich, as well as later requesting that the fact that he was King of England for a day be written on his tombstone!

So it turns out that Great Britain and Spain have an intertwining Royal history. If you want to know more about Spain’s fascinating history, why not take a Spanish and History course in Spain?

A few weeks ago I visited El Valle de los Caídos and thought it was definitely worth a mention as it’s one of the most unique places I’ve visited here in Spain.

El Valle de los Caídos (literally, the Valley of the Fallen) is a unique monument comprising a huge Catholic Basilica and a stone cross which is a staggering 150m tall, making it visible from 20 miles away. It is situated in the Cuelgamuros Valley, in the Sierra de Guadarrama hills, to the north of Madrid, making for stunning views surrounding the monument.

Upon arrival I learnt that, more that just being an impressive building in the middle of nowhere, the monument was actually conceived to honour all those who died in the Spanish Civil War, which took place from 1936-1939. The dictator Francisco Franco, who ruled for almost forty years following his victory in the Civil War, decided on building the large monument to commemorate the deaths of both Republicans and Nationalists who fought in the war, 40,000 of whom are buried in the surrounding valley, hence the name ‘Valley of the Fallen’. The whole area, particularly the cathedral, has a very solemn feel to it, in light of its tragic history.

However, it was apparent that there was also a controversial aspect to this monument that was not to be overlooked either. Despite being built as a commemoration of all those who died, there are several features which favour the right wing party of Franco, causing some protests in recent years to close and even destroy the monument. It features the inscription: ‘Caídos por Dios y por España’ (‘Fallen for God and for Spain’), a phrase which falls in line with the ideals of the dictator, plus it is known that a considerable proportion of the people who built the monument during its 18 years of construction were in fact Republican prisoners who had been captured by Franco’s side. Some opponents to the monument also think of it as a shrine to Franco, as both he and the founder of the fascist Falange party, Antonio Primo de Rivera are buried within the basilica. Recently in the Spanish news, there has been mention of removing the remains of the two men and locate them elsewhere, in order to avoid this controversy.

Before visiting, I was completely unaware of the historical significance of the monument and its surrounding area, but afterwards whilst admiring the stunning views of the valley, I’d certainly been left with a lot to think about.

The Alhambra Palace is a fortress complex located in Granada, Spain that was constructed during the mid 14th century by Moorish leaders. It is one of the most famous palaces in the world.

A team of restorers have found 80 polychromatic (composed of various colors) drawings of animal and human figures hidden under wood and plaster in the Alhambra Palace. These types of images were strictly banned from Islamic art.

It is not the first time these forbidden paintings have been discovered; in 1959 some small paintings were found behind wood pieces that covered the ceiling in the Hall of the Ambassadors of the Comares Palace, Alhambra. At the time, little importance was given to the discovery and the workers assumed they were used to guide the artisans to fit the pieces together correctly.

However, a recent discover suggests that these finds are more important than originally thought. This time in the Lindaraja Viewpoint of the Alhambra Palaces workers discovered more paintings hidden beneath plaster and wood. The 80 drawings were done by artisans who worked decorating the Moorish Palace.

The Alhambra Palace is one of the most famous palaces in the world, and like many others, it has gone through many changes and restorations. These paintings represent something truly special because, since they have been hidden for centuries, they have been preserved in their original state. They are completely authentic and have not suffered from the humidity or other damaging elements throughout the centuries.

The drawings are very diversified and appear in the original colors. Animals, vegetation and fantasy creatures are clearly represented as well as verses from the Koran which are pending translation.

The human representations may explain why the workers chose to hide the drawings. At the time, human figures in Muslim art was strictly forbidden, so these graphical representations are not often found. The Koran states that it impossible to have an image of God and also suggests that no artist can compete with the divinity of the creation of real people. These suggestions greatly impacted Islamic art, to the extent that artists avoided the portrayal of human bodies (except for private rooms) and opted for geometrical designs that are common today. The Alhambra paintings were likely done completely in secret for fear of prosecution.
Besides the rare human representation, some of the drawings were even signed, something that is very strange in Muslim art. This may mean that person responsible for the designs may have had significant importance in the decoration of the Alhambra.

There are many mysteries surrounding the new discovery that are currently being investigated. It has been determined, however, that these drawings were in fact made by the same artisans that decorated the Alhambra Palace.

Perhaps these workers wanted to take a break from their grand geometrical paintings that decorated the Alhambra, and express themselves behind closed doors.
The director of the Patrimony reemphasized that the drawings were extremely valuable since they are in their original state.

Learn more about Granada, Spain

According to a study done by the Coca Cola Institute, Spanish people are among the happiest throughout the world!

Numbers speak for themselves

Although the study doesn’t give definite reasons as to why the Spanish people feel happier than many of their European counterparts it does comment that they enjoy the small things in life and feel valued by their families.

The study also says that the moments in which the Spanish people feel the happiest are during their summer holidays, family meals and also Christmas.

Why are Spaniards so happy?

Spaniards in general are very friendly and enjoy having a good time. Indeed they are renowned for their love to party and celebrate the Spanish fiestas!

Personally, we think that the relaxed pace of life in Spain is probably a big reason why the people seem happier. They don’t rush frantically to complete things but take their time, after all there is always manaña! Though there is also no doubt that the sunshine as well makes people a little more cheery!

Why not come and take a Spanish course in Spain and experience this happiness first hand?!

The last kiss that had us talking was between Iker Casillas (Goal keeper of Real Madrid and the Spanish National Team) and Sara Carbonero (Sports reporter voted one of the world's sexiest) when the Spanish Soccer team beat the Dutch in a passionate World Soccer Cup final in South Africa in 2010. After the win, Iker gave Sara a passionate kiss that was broadcasted around the world.

Another famous Catalan footballer Gerard Piqué is now making headlines. He is a young (24 year old) central defender for FC Barcelona who happened to meet famous Columbian singer Shakira in South Africa during the World Cup. She sang the theme song for the World Soccer Cup and he played on the winning team, it seems like a match made in heaven.

Shakira at the time was involved in a long relationship and rumors starting swirling when she left her long time boyfriend and moved to Barcelona. Soon later, Gerard Piqué and Shakira celebrated their shared February 2nd birthday together in Barcelona with friends, as seen in a picture that the footballer kindly published on his Twitter page. Pique turned 24, Shakira 34,10 years his senior.

Recently, with a photo obtained by Caras magazine, all of the rumors have been confirmed. Although you could have asked any FC Barcelona fan and they could have confirmed it earlier based on how the seemingly distracted Piqué has been playing lately... The magazine cover shows Piqué tenderly kissing the Columbian singer at what appears to be their birthday celebration, based on their clothes.

Gerard Pique recently appeared before the press as the new spokesman/model for the men's line of Mango clothes when he was confronted with the picture which he has apparently not seen previously. When he was shown the picture by a reporter he chuckled and said that "it is a nice kiss". Pique took the opportunity to explain that this picture will never unseat the passionate and intense kiss between Sara Carbonero and Iker Casillas, although he carefully avoided using the singer's name. The FC Barcelona footballer went on to say: "I don't know if this is this is the happiest year of my life, but right now I am living a very beautiful moment. I am also in love, and I hope it stays that way".

In regards to his new role as a model for Mango, the handsome young footballer commented that he does not feel as comfortable in front of a camera as he does playing soccer. He also commented that he does not want to be the Catalan version of David Beckham and that "I would like to have a private life, it is difficult but I try to do it the best I can".

The 83^rd Academy Awards, the Oscars, took place this week and one of the most talked about couples to hit the red carpet was the Spanish actor and actress Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz.

This was their first public appearance since Penelope Cruz gave birth to their baby son, just a month ago, who they have announced is called Leonardo. The cameras were flashing left, right and centre to get a glimpse of one of Spain and Hollywood’s favourite celebrity couples, who looked happy to be in each other’s company. The paparazzi have also gone crazy about their outfits, which for Cruz was a stunning and figure-flattering red dress with Jimmy Choo shoes and for Bardem a smart Gucci suit.

But the couple weren’t just there to look glamorous; Bardem was in fact nominated for the Best Leading Actor award for his role as a criminal suffering from cancer and with two children to look after, in the Spanish language film Biutiful, which was filmed in Barcelona. He didn’t win, with the Oscar going instead to Colin Firth, but Bardem has previously received an Oscar in 2007, for his role in No Country for Old Men. Cruz was also an Oscar winner in 2008, for Best Supporting actress in the comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Despite the couple’s great success in the international world of film, the pair are notorious for keeping their private lives private. They married last July in a quiet ceremony in the Bahamas, away from prying eyes, and have also kept the details of their son’s birth to a minimum. In doing so, they’ve made themselves a couple that receive little bad press and are well respected professionally. Public appearances together like at this years Oscars are a real treat for their fans!

Karlos Arguiñano Urkiola is a popular Spanish chef, TV presenter and producer of his own cooking show: La cocina de Karlos Arguiñano (Karlos Arguiñano's kitchen). Karlos is famous for his practical cooking and presentation tips, cheesy jokes, amateur singing, and the catchphase "Rico, rico y con fundamento" ("Tasty, tasty and with nutritional value").

If you are in Spain, you can catch his show on Antena 3 at 20:15 Monday through Friday, which is just what I have been doing.

Tonight I am going to try my luck at an apparently easy and healthy recipe that I saw the other day on his show.

What are we making today? Cheesy Leek Crêpes with puree! I already bought my ingredients so I will let you know how they turn out tomorrow!

Okay, so I may know what you are thinking about... Leeks??? YUCK! I assure you that despite my dislike for leeks prepared in certain manners, if they are sauted nicely and mixed with other ingredients, they are great, add a nice crunch and are really healthy! Afterall, we all know that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest in the world!

Cheesy Leek Crêpes with puree

(serves approx. 4 people)

Ingredients for the filling and puree:

• 4 leeks
• 250 grams of fresh pumpkin (a little over half a pound)
• 1 potato
• 100 grams of cheese (about a 1/4 of a pound - cut in 8 strips)
• Water
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Parsley for presentation

Ingredients for the Crêpes:

• 1/2 liter of milk (2.11 cups)
• 2 eggs
• 200 grams of all purpose flour (a little under half a pound, about 2 cups)
• a small spoonful of butter
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• diced parsley

Preparation:

First you need to prepare the pumpkin and potatoe puree. Peel and chop up the pumpkin and the potato. Cook for about 15-18 minutes in a small saucepan with water and salt until tender. Beat with a hand blender, strain, and set aside.

Next, clean and chop the leeks. Saute in a frying pan on medium heat with a small amount of olive oil and salt. Cover the pan so that the vegetables sweat (soften in their own juice without browning). Strain and set aside.

To prepare the crêpe batter, in a tall container suitable for the hand blender, add the flour, milk, butter, eggs, dash of salt and parsley. Beat all the ingredients together well and let stand.

In a non-stick frying pan, heat up a dash of olive oil on medium heat. Cook the first crêpe and discard it. To make crêpes, pour in the batter and extend it by moving the frying pan until a thin layer of batter is covering the whole bottom of the pan. When bubbles appear meaning that the first side is done, carefully lift an edge of the crêpe with a fork and then use your fingers (BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF) to flip the crêpe over. The second side will cook very quickly. Repeat the process but be sure not to stack the cook crêpes on top of eachother because if they are warm they will stick.

In each crêpe, towards once side, add a bit of poached leek and a strips of cheese. Roll the crêpe up and fry it lightly (until browned) on each side in a frying pan with a good amount of olive oil (extra virgin is not necessary for this step).

Presentation: Pour some of the pumpkin puree in the center of the plate, place two crêpes and decorate with a sprig of parsley.

¡Voila! ¡Qué aproveche! (enjoy your meal)

Check out other Spanish recipes at don Quijote

UPDATE: I changed the name of this dish because technically the pumpkin is only used to make the puree, but is not actually part of the crêpe!