It is not wrong to say each part of Spain is worth to see and Andalusia is a bit different from the other regions with its history, art, culture and Spanish accent. If you consider a trip to Spain you should add these places to your list.

Seville which is the capital of Andalusia and the city of golden tower, split by the Guadalquivir River. You can start your trip with the Cathedral of Seville as you spend a little energy to go up to the Giralda -the bell tower- which is 95 meters high yet it is really worth to see the panoramic view of the city. Bear in mind that it is better not to be there on the hour otherwise you could have slight hearing loss. Another must go place in Seville is Plaza de España whose area is 50.000 square meters, is one of the fine examples of Renaissance architecture. If the time of your visit falls around April then you will enjoy the streets and the restaurants during Seville Fair (Feria de Abril)

La Joya Mora or in other words Moor Jewel completely fits to this attractive city. Granada is a total magnet located under the hills where the great Alhambra Palace takes place. Just next to Alhambra don’t forget to visit the Palace and the Gardens of Generalife. In winter it is a good opportunity to show your skiing skills in Sierra Nevada.

The enchanting scent of orange trees, the white Mediterranean houses with full of flowers and the fine blend of Moorish and Roman architecture, the time passes slowly in Cordoba. The most important historical place is the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba which is one of the largest buildings of Islamic architecture.  

Cadiz, Spain’s coast of Atlantic Ocean is another fantastic city to visit. The oldest navy town of Spain is an attractive point offering a wide range of Andalusian history to local and international tourists. Cathedral of Cadiz is one of the landmarks of the city with its golden dome and Tavira Tower is the only remaining watchtower where it is possible to have a panoramic view of the old city with a pinhole camera.

Malaga, the birth town of Picasso is a shining diamond of Costa del sol. Famous for its long and golden beaches the city is a perfect holiday destination. Alcazaba of Malaga , which is the best preserved citadel in Spain, was built on a hill dominating an entire view of the city. It will be a pity if you don't pay a visit to Picasso Museum and also the house where the great painter was born. For a little fun, you should go to Juzcar, a small town where all the houses were painted in blue two years ago for the premiere of Smurfs.

Spain is a wonderful country to live in or to spend some time.... Here you will also find many kinds of animals! As in the Netherlands, and many other countries, quite a few dogs are kept at home. This is often done in a house with a garden or just in their apartment in the city, all can be done here with all those parks!

Many people have an apartment in the city and a bigger house with a garden in a village. In this village they usually live in the summer or on weekends and holidays. If they have a dog it often lives in the village. Also many people just have a dog in their apartment. These are usually smaller companion dogs. And they can stay just fine in an apartment, which is perfectly normal in Spain. They are let out in one of the many Spanish parks.
When you are on vacation in Spain, you can easily take your dog with you too! You bring it to a part-time or full-time dog hotel. So when you want to go shopping or to the beach for a day without your dog, you can bring it to the dog hotel. This also applies when you live in Spain with your dog. Many foreigners who have settled in Spain, but also (rich) Spaniards themselves regularly bring their dogs to the shelter.

In Spain it also happens that people do not take good care of their dogs and there are quite a few stray dogs that end up in the shelter. What is unfortunate is that many of these shelters in Spain are already overcrowded. This is of course not nice for the dogs at all! As a Dutchman you have many opportunities to adopt a Spanish dog and give them a better life.

Many things are written about animal welfare in Spain. There are many different opinions, negative and positive. I can only write from my own experience and it is positive. Fortunately, I have never noticed anything strange! When I walk down the street or along the water here in Spain, or run through the park on weekends, I see many people walking and playing with their dogs. There are even true meeting places where people get together with their dogs!

Spain, the home of Spanish language or in original form Castilian (Castellano), can be the perfect location to start your language education. There are several options, as the country has 17 autonomous communities and each has its own characteristic features. For this reason most of the time the question “Where is the best Spanish spoken?” arises in minds. Spanish spoken in Spain differs in dialect and local language of some provinces so the answers vary as well. The history, culture and to be the source of the language are the biggest reasons in the process of selecting a Spanish course.

One of the most preferred destination in Spain is Castile and Leon (Castilla y León) region, might be the result of the common belief that the purest Spanish is spoken there. The purity is mostly about the accent since there has been no interaction with other dialects and it is clearer than the other regions. Accordingly public authorities and private tourism agencies have started collaboration to spread language tourism in Castile and Leon. The region has been selected one of the most popular destination by Spaniards and it is an important location for international students. Language tourism is not considered to be an ordinary travel type yet people who are dedicated to learn other languages have started to travel to other countries in order to realize this mission. Many universities in all over the world organize exchange programs for the students to learn Spanish in Castile and León.

There are 9 provinces to discover the beauty of Spanish culture and each one has a distinct importance. Valladolid once hosted the author of Don Quijote, Miguel Cervantes, the epic story of El Cid which is depicted in the oldest preserved poem "Cantar de Mio Cid" was born in Burgos, Salamanca has the 3^rd oldest university in Europe and is the center of DELE exams, Segovia, being one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is an amazing place to see the Roman and medieval architecture and Leon is an important stop on the way to Camino de Santiago, in Palencia you can see the fourth tallest Christ statue in the world and many more other details are awaiting to be seen.

Castile and Leon is a must go place to understand history, culture, gastronomy and most importantly Spanish language. Why don't you select your next travel destination among these cities and start to live Spanish!

This metropolis of 3.2 million (!) inhabitants is a true paradise for art and architecture lovers! There are endless hotspots to be found here. With all the beautiful squares, extraordinary statues, sights and beautiful architecture, Madrid offers you everything your heart desires!

Madrid is so incredibly big! I remember my first time in Madrid. Where to start? I thought. Therefore, I made a list for you of the places where you can find the most interesting architecture that you should not miss!

The square not to be missed is Plaza Puerta del Sol, the heart of the city. And of course the Plaza Mayor, an ancient square where you can relax, designed by Juan de Villanueva. Furthermore, you can visit the impressive train station; Estación de Atocha where you will find, for example, in the waiting hall a tropical garden and the memorial of the 2004 bombings. Then continue to the Palacio Real (royal palace) and take an immediate walk down Gran Vía, as this street is known as the broadway of Spain!

What else should you see?

• Arco de la Victoria, the triumphal arch built in honor of the Spanish army, work of architect Arreguien
• Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, the dome, courtyard and royal salon are all examples of admirable architecture in this palace
• Faro de Madrid, this modern tower was designed by Salvador Perez Arroyo in honor of the Barcelona Summer Olympics
• Parque Retiro, on Sundays visit the most beautiful park in Madrid, where you will find the only statue in the world honoring the devil.
• Torre Picasso, this is the tallest building in Madrid, designed by the same designer as the Twin Towers in NYC, namely Japan's Minoru Yamasaki.

Puerta de Europa is a good example of how modern Madrid is. Still fairly new (1.5 years old) in this city, it is the largest inner-city park in the world! The huge park full of modern achitecture is built on a highway so that the residents are no longer bothered by the noise. This park is definitely worth a visit when you are in Madrid!

Madrid is the perfect city for a city break! As you may have read, there are many sights to see, but you can also go shopping and find some of the best nightclubs in the country and probably in Europe! But if you want to spend more time in this vibrant city, take a Spanish course! Where better to do this than in the capital of Spain?

When the rain and the first cold spells arrive, we feel like trying "comfort" recipes that can recharge our energy and fill our stomachs… and our spirits. Below, you'll find three of our favorite Spanish recipes, which can help you confront the rainy autumn and the cold winter. Keep on joining us on our blog - soon you will discover more traditional Spanish dishes of other Spanish regions.

Besugo al horno (Baked Sea Bream)

Ingredients

1 kilo sea bream, 4 potatoes, 1 green onion, 1 green pepper, 6 cloves of garlic, Spanish Olive oil, salt, chopped parsley, ½ guindilla pepper

Preparation
Cut 4 of the garlic cloves in slices, the green onion and the pepper in thin strips and the potatoes in thick slices. Cook it all in a pan on low heat. When it's almost done, transfer it to a cooking tray, covering the bottom surface. Put it in the preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes. Clean the bream, remove the head and the tail and save them. Separate the fillet meat, removing the spine. Salt as desired and place the bream fillet, with the skin side up, over the mattress of potatoes on the cooking tray. Also place the head and the tail here. Moisten with a little more oil and put the tray in the hot oven for 10 minutes. Serve in a serving dish with the skin side down. Chop the other two cloves of garlic into small cubes. Sauté them in a pan with oil and the guindilla pepper without the seeds (they're too spicy). Add some of the juice from the bream left in the cooking tray. Add the chopped parsley, mix well and pour the sauce of the fish.
Serve with the baked potatoes to one side and the fish with the skin side down.

Cocido madrileño (Madrilenian Stew)

Ingredients
250 g of garbanzo beans, 300 g of beef sirloin tip, ¼ chicken, 100 g of tocino entreverado (a type of bacon), 100 g of blood sausage, 100 g of chorizo sausage, 50 g of Serrano ham, 4 small beef marrow bones, 1 kg. of cabbage, 4 medium sized potatoes, 100 g of noodles for the soup, 2 carrots,  1 onion, 1 turnip, 1 clove of garlic, olive oil, salt

Preparation
Soak the garbanzo beans the night before in warm water and with a little bit of salt. In the morning, drain them. Place the meats, the tocino, the cleaned bones and the Serrano ham all in the pressure cooker and cover with water. Place it on the stove top and close it. When it starts to boil, the foam will rise to the surface. Remove the foam with a skimmer and add the garbanzos. When the water boils again, add the carrot, the onion and the turnip. Cook under pressure for 30 minutes to soften the garbanzos.
Open the cooker and add the potatoes (peeled and cut into pieces that aren't too small). Try it and salt to taste. Remove the vegetables and the garbanzos and put them to the side, leaving the broth to prepare the noodle soup. At the same time, in another cooking pot, cook the chopped cabbage for half an hour. Drain, and lightly fry with the garlic. Cook the chorizo sausage and the blood sausage in a separate pan so the color won't mix with the broth.

Presentation: Cocido Madrileño is eaten in three steps. First, the noodle soup is served (noodles must be cooked in the broth for 5 minutes). Then, the garbanzos are served in a serving dish with the vegetables: the lightly fried cabbage, the carrot, and the sliced turnip (about 2 centimeters). The onion is added to the broth to give it flavor, but then it's removed. In the third step, serve the meats cut into pieces, the chorizo and the blood sausage, the tocino and the bones pieces. The marrow spread over toast is delicious.

Patatas a la riojana (Rioja style potatoes)

Ingredients

6 potatoes, 3 chorizo sausages, 1 onion, 1 green pepper, 2 bell peppers, 1 head of garlic, Water, olive oil, salt, 2 bay leaves, 1 guindilla pepper (optional)

Preparation
Place the chopped onion and green pepper in a pressure cooker along with a little oil. Add the entire head of garlic, the bay leaves and the guindilla pepper (this is optional, depending on if you want it spicy or not). Add the sliced chorizo and the potatoes which must be broken into pieces using a knife and your hands (this makes the broth thicker). Cover with water and add salt. Cook for 5 minutes beginning from the time the cooker is pressurized. Soak the bell peppers in warm water after removing the seeds. When they've rehydrated, scrape off, chop up and save the pulp. Open the pressure cooker, take out the head of garlic and the guindilla pepper (if you added it). Add the bell peppers, stir and cook for two more minutes (so the flavors mix). Salt to taste.

A Spanish study, which was published in an international online journal, showed that the fossils of a giant panda bear were found in the northeast of Spain; in fact revealed the first panda remains outside of Asia.

Unlike popular belief the birthland of panda might not be China, instead Iberian Peninsula might be the very initial place for those lovely creatures. The fossils were found in Zaragoza and Barcelona including two jars and several teeth which are almost 11.6 million years old. It has been the oldest ancestor link to giant panda ever found. The previous findings of panda lineage had demonstrated that the oldest predecessor is 7-8 million years old that were discovered in China.

It is surprising to see the first traces of panda bear in Spain as they are always thought to have existed in Asia mainly in higher parts of China. Bamboo, which grows in humid and warm environment, is the main food of their nutrition; so it has brought a theory into light that million years ago there must have been similar plants and the climate was different back then in Spain.

There is still no clear explanation how the ancestors of panda bears got into interaction with other species and migrated to China or whether it is possible that they lived in Europe and Asia at the same period million years ago. Panda bear is a rare animal, originally was considered to be a member of racoon or cat family, even in ancient times it was called "the large bear cat". Genetically they are closely related to bears and have carnivorous digestion system yet they adjust themselves on vegetarian diet, eating fibrous plants mostly bamboos. Due to lack of humid area and scarcity of plants they face extinction and their fur is so precious that Chinese government put severe penalties on hunters and dealers however it does not seem a sufficient solution.

Spain has many historical treasures dating back to old ages but this scientific discovery comes a bit more forward by revealing an amazing fact. Still it is not a concrete fact whether they are the ancestors but the idea of panda bears once resided in Iberian Peninsula itself is enough to fascinate. There might be other uncovered fossils in the future and we will be able to learn the truth behind giant panda bears in Spanish history.

Everyone has heard of it and this trend is becoming more and more popular! I'm talking about Salsa dancing. It is of course a typical feature of Latin American culture, but at the same time it is also an intense sport! It is one of the few trends that has not gone away again after a while and is practiced all over the world.

Salsa is actually a collective name for various Latin American dances and forms of expression such as Son, Mambo, Cha-cha-cha and many more.... Each country has developed its own way of dancing salsa over time.

This dance is done in pairs, starting with 8 counts, divided into 2x4 counts. Every 4th beat is a rest beat. As you keep repeating this pattern, a rhythm develops in which a step is performed on each beat. The more you practice this, the easier it becomes and eventually you don't have to count anymore because then it goes by itself!

The music on which salsa is danced is also called salsa! Salsa music is a mix of many different styles of music. Nice detail: ´salsa´ means ´sauce´ or ´mixture´ in Spanish; it is a whole, a ´music sauce´ made by mixing all kinds of rhythms.

Salsa once originated in Cuba but today it is danced throughout Latin America and Spain! Young and old practice this sport. If you would like to take a salsa course or workshop, the best place to do it is in Latin America.

The best places for a salsa course are:

• Argentina, Córdoba and Mendoza
• Chile, Santiago de Chile
• Cuba, Havana
• Guatamala, Antigua

But you can take salsa lessons not only in Latin America! Also in Spain you can learn to dance salsa! In Málaga, for example, you can also find salsa courses and salsa workshops. During a salsa course you will be totally immersed in Latin American culture. You will learn to salsa dance and of course in South America and Spain you will find many salsa bars where you can put everything you have learned into practice! In these bars there is always a fun, relaxed and especially lively atmosphere!

It is of course great fun to take a salsa course in one of these countries! Through such a course you will also learn a lot about Latin American culture. You can also combine a salsa course with a Spanish course, giving you the best of both worlds! You learn to speak Spanish and dance salsa at the same time!

The Boom Movement in Latin America could be the turning point that lead to an innovation in literature. Between 1960’s and 1970’s, Latin America was suffering from the authoritarian military regimes and most of the writers had to leave their countries. Their literary works became the voice and the protest of their people.

The Boom Movement became widely known in Paris and Barcelona after publishing the works of the exiled Latin American authors like Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez. Thanks to this movement Latin American literature came into prominence and many books were translated into other languages. Some critics claim that the very finest literary examples of Latin America were written during this period and on the 50^th anniversary of the Boom, let’s remember the authors and their famous novels.

Gabriel García Marquez: Beyond doubt Marquez is one of the most notable novelists along with Llosa among the Latin American writers. One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien Años de Soledad) has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and his other works are No one Writes to the Colonel (El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba) and The Autumn of Patriarchy (El Otoño del Patriarcha).

Mario Vargas Llosa:  In his first novel The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros literally must be The City and the Dogs) showed an excellent narrative skill. Later he wrote The Green House (La Casa Verde), Conversation in the Cathedral (Conversación en La Catedral).

Carlos Fuentes: The Mexican writer used to travel a lot because of his diplomat father so he witnessed the difficulties of Latin American people and the experiences of Mexican immigrants in USA. He wrote The Death of Artemio Cruz (La muerte de Artemio Cruz), Where the Air is Clear (La region más transparente), Aura and Terra Nostra during Boom age.

Julio Cortázar: Must be the most famous Argentine writer after Borges and his novel Rayuela(Hopscotch) added a different perspective on literature. There are numerous ways of reading it. The author suggests two options. Either the conventional way and reading from the start to the end of chapter 56 or starting from Chapter 73 and jump to another chapter according to a table of instructions.

Augusto Roa Basto: Some theorists thought that the movement started with Paraguayan writer’s Son of Man (Hijo de hombre).

José Donoso: Chilean writer spent most of his time in exile in Mexico, US and mostly in Spain. The most known works are Hell Has No Limits (El lugar sin limites), The Obscene Bird of Night (El obsceno pájaro de la noche).
 

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!