If you’ve decided to make a fresh start over in Spain, congratulations! The pleasant climate and easy going lifestyle make it a popular choice for thousands of people looking to emigrate every year. Being part of the European Union means you should find it relatively easy to move to Spain but you still need to be aware of a few factors.

Start off with a good understanding of the Spanish language. If they can see you’re making an effort more Spaniards will be happy to help you with the language should you need it. Next you’ll need to think about what you’ll be taking with you. I don’t mean your favourite shoes or the antique dresser in your bedroom. If you’re planning on living over their permanently you’ll need to think about any children or pets you’ll need to relocate. When you first get out there renting whilst you find somewhere permanent is advisable. Once you have got your permanent home finalised don’t forget holiday home insurance. You may find it easier to go through a broker in your own country if you’re not too sure of the legalities around home insurance in Spain. There are serious factors to consider if you’re putting your children in Spanish education, least of all the fact they’ll be taught in Spanish. The average age of compulsory education in Spain is six - fourteen. At the age of fourteen they can either continue to a higher secondary school or they can attend a vocational school. You may decide you don’t want the hassle of buying a new car over there and decide to take your own car with you. This will also involve looking into the paper work required. Although you can drive you car over there with a UK tax disk, if it needs to be renewed whilst you’re out there you’ll have to do this through the UK. If you and your car intend to stay in Spain you should probably register your car for Spanish plates.

The most important thing you can do is plan ahead as much as possible. Make sure you’ve got everything insured, insurance for holiday homes and health insurance for expats are best being organised through brokers in your native country to avoid any language barrier issues.

Madrid has a lot to offer, whether it be relaxing in the many, beautiful plazas watching the sun slowly retir. Para mi, being a TEFL graduate for only a few months, the events leading up to the night’s fun in the best part. The bookends of the night are caňas and tapas. Let me present, ‘caňas y tapas’. This combination can of course be coddled in at any time…

The ultimate edible morsels I have come across in Spain have been served with caňas. Caňas are small, being served in a mini glass, and are the perfect coupling with a idle Sunday afternoon. Whichever one, fantastic tapas is always served up.

My first caňa and tapas experience was in Plaza de Espana, just off Grand Via in a very loud, typically Spanish tapas joint. This bar compels you to stand, which is not as appalling as made out. The bar makes a very useful prop and you feel exceptionally Spanish ordering caňas whilst making small talk. The bartenders were highly amusing and happy to help and whet the appetite. The first dish they present is fried chip potatoes covered in a delicious oily, garlic sauce. With these potatoes came three chorizo sausages. My Spanish friend and I eagerly dig in. I don’t think you should chose the garlic sauce on a first date, wow. It was magnificient. The chorizo was the best bit, completely disappearing in my mouth and making me want to order more from the waiters! Another caňa, another tapa. Next up was baby squid in a rich, divine tomato salsa. Fondly remembering the day I decided to come to Madrid, we ate the squid eagerly and chugged the beer. Another beer, another plate of food. Next on the agenda was a plate of salami that was really delicious.

Plaza de Espana really is great for tapas bars. Its extensive side streets offer a whole host of cercevias that produce their own nuggets of pure culinary genius. But be aware that the closer you go to Gran Via, the pricer things become. Plaza de Espana is the great mixture of classic Madrid and busy Spanish culture. Our bill totalled only €7, for 3 beers and 3 plates of fantastic food. So how come we didn’t stay there you might wonder? Just too many more bars to discover!

I was not able to stay in town any more I had to lesson plan. After getting home after quite a dizzy metro ride I sit down and start planning my business English lessons. Fill on tapas and content on caňas, this comes very easy. Another great evening! Here’s to the next time I go out in Madrid!

Summer may be over in mainland Spain but there are outposts where the season never ends.  Such as the Canaries – the seven islands which are situated just off the coast of West Africa, many hundreds of miles south of the Iberian Peninsula.  A location that creates a great climate all year round.

As a result of this great climate the Canaries have become the second most visited region in Spain after Catalunya (with its star attraction of Barcelona).Attracting over 9 million visitors a year.  So despite the current economic climate thousands of travellers will still be booking holidays in Lanzarote and the Canaries this autumn.

The journey time to the islands is also an important plus factor.  With flights at a bearable four hours.  Shorter than any competing mid-haul destination such as Egypt.  And usually at much cheaper prices too – thanks to growing completion on the route between low cost flight operators such as Ryanair and easyJet.  With both airlines offering cheap flights to Lanzarote this winter from all major airports in Britain. 

So for those who have never enjoyed a winter sun holiday in this part of the world before what can they expect?  The temperatures will certainly be warm enough for plenty of days on the beach or by the pool.  With the mercury rising into the early 20´s Celsius throughout December and January.  Whilst the sun never sets much before 6pm – in contrast to the dark afternoons prevalent in Britain at that time.  Rainfall is also very low. 

Accommodation standards are high – as the island has been welcoming tourists for over forty years.  Choose from chic rural hotels, budget apartments and luxury villas in Lanzarote.  With the bulk of holidays now booked direct on online thanks to the growth in internet usage over the last five years.

Due to the increase in tourists needing Lanzarote apartments and villas is excellent news for visitors to Lanzarote as accommodation owners are being driven to ensure presentation is up to par, and all mod cons and traditional extras are now included gratis

Which is the best resort on the island during the winter months?  That title has to go to Playa Blanca – located right at the southern tip of Lanzarote.  Which enjoys the best microclimate on the island – whilst also boasting a great selection of beaches, such as Papagayo which is just a fifteen minute walk from the centre of the resort.  Along with Playa Dorada, Playa Flamingo and Playa Blanca – which are all located within the resort itself.  The island’s leading tourist attraction of the Timanfaya National Park is also just fifteen minutes drive for anyone who tires of relaxing in the sunshine.

The island is a popular year round holiday island with a good choice of holiday resorts. Follow the links for more information about Playa Blanca villas in particular or other Lanzarote villas and apartments.

Nerja may be one of the smaller and lesser known towns on the Costa del Sol in Spain, but it definitely has much to offer. Indeed, there are plenty of exciting activities you can try out if you spend your holidays in Nerja while staying at a great Nerja apartment. Here are some to get you started.

Explore Nerja Caves

The caves of Nerja are one of the town’s main attractions, which is why you should explore them during your holidays in Nerja. This complex of caves was discovered in 1959, although studies show that it has been in existence for millions of years. Here, you will see the world’s largest calcite column, remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations, several paleothic wall paintings and skeletal remains displayed in glass cases throughout its various halls, though most of the artifacts unearthed in the cave are displayed in the museum outside. You can even catch a concert or a ballet at one of its halls.

Watersports at Burriana Beach

It goes without saying that one of the things to do in Nerja is to relax or have a splash at its idyllic beaches. In fact, many tourists rent apartments in Nerja just for this purpose. The most popular beach is Burriana Beach, which is also the largest in town, as well as the most commercialized. This means that you can easily find sun beds, palm umbrellas, shower facilities and restaurants on this beach or take advantage of its watersports centre and go surfing, jetskiing or scuba diving.

Enjoy a Stroll through the Balcony of Europe

The Balcon de Europa or Balcony of Europe is a wide palm tree-lined promenade built on the site of a 9th century fortress. If you want to enjoy the most stunning views of the city or the ocean, or catch glimpses of the surrounding mountain ranges and even the coast of Africa on a clear day, there is no better place to go to than here. You can also stop by the El Salvador church, dine at one of the fine restaurants on the Balcon or hire a horse-drawn carriage from here to see the rest of the town.

Visit the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary

Donkeys are known for being stubborn but they can also be loving, as you will see when you visit the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary, one of the things to do in Nerja. You will also see some mules and horses here, and even some dogs and goats. For a truly unique and rewarding experience, lend a hand at feeding, grooming and even walking the animals. You can even adopt one of the donkeys for a year by making a contribution to help out.

Nerja at Night

Even at night, you can still have a lot of fun in Nerja. No matter where your Nerja apartment is, you’re sure to find a bar, pub or restaurant nearby where you can eat, drink, dance, socialize or even watch a flamenco show during your holidays in Nerja, although for the best of the nightlife in Nerja, you will have to make your way to Plaza Tutti Frutti and Antonio Millon where the parties go on until around four in the morning.

Learn Spanish

There is no better place to learn the Spanish language than in Spain, which is why you will find many language centers all over the country, even in Nerja. Most centres offer classes for different ages, with both beginner and advanced courses, and the best part is that they often offer excursions to the nearest cities and attractions so you can practice your Spanish while seeing some of the best sights around, so make sure you take advantage of this opportunity during your holidays in Nerja.

Indeed, you will find plenty of things to do during your holidays in Nerja and if you want a change of pace or scenery, you can always travel to the amazing attractions nearby. These are all reasons to rent a Nerja apartment, which will surely allow you to have a great time and make the most of your vacation.

Murcia is an excellent spot to visit in Spain.  It is a town that was set up by Islam in 831 and has much to give.  It has terribly hot summers and has very pleasant weather throughout the year.  It has many things to enjoy and many things to do.

There are a lot of places to stay when traveling to Murcia.  There are a wide selection of hotels that will provide a wide selection of accommodations available.  Look into numerous resources to get a place which will best serve your requirements.  It is nearly best to look places up on the internet or to call the places yourself to determine if they offer any discounts.

Another option one may consider is the utilization of a rental property if you’re looking for an extended stay.  Many properties and residences are available for short term rental and will offer you lots of the conveniences of home such as cooking.

What To Do In Murcia

There are naturally the beaches as well as the lagoon.  These are very popular especially in the summertime months.  There is a wide expanse of beachfront to be taken advantage of.

There are a lot of old churches and architecture to see about 500 years worth of architecture and design to take in.  Also be aware of the nearby city of Torrevieja.  This city as well has many things to take in and enjoy.

The sanctuary of Fuensanta was built in the 18th century.  It has much to supply and plays a big role in the summertime festivities as the statue of the guardian saint of the city is paraded in town as its portion of the festivities.

The Museo de Tradiciones y Artes Populares is a glorious museum in the city.  This is an agricultural museum.  It contains a wide variety of rural items and things to observe that are over 300 years old.

There are a wide variety of festivals that happen in this town each year.  The most prominent of which would be the Easter holiday.  It is the most distinguished of all of the festivals throughout the year.

In this coastal city of Spain there are plenty of different styles of food to taste and enjoy as well as the wide range of items to enjoy.  Look into the different seafood types and things to enjoy as well as the other varieties of the food.

For more information about travel and useful tips for tourists, visit famouswonders.com and check out Old City of Salamanca Spain.

There is so much to in Malaga.  With such a lot of historic importance that has took place in this town there is much to be explored and learned.  Plenty of what has took place is preserved in the ruins that are located across the city, from when it was founded by the Phoenicians to when it was ruled by the Moors.

With a large choice of churches and palaces to visit there is much to be enjoyed on your visit.  Some of these churches are even located in palaces as well as the Moorish and Roman architecture that can be observed in varied areas.

Areas Of Sightseeing In Malaga

One area to have a look at is the Cathedral in Malaga.  There’s much to see with its 2 chapels and stalls.  It was built by the Catholics and completed in the mid 1700’s with much of its design being visible from the later time period.

La Inglesia del Sagrario is another church one may need to visit that was completed in 1448 on the location of a mosque and contains many different sculptures to enjoy on your visit.

Santuario de la Virgen is another pretty old church which has the crypts of the counts of Buena Vista.  It is very elaborate and yet one more superb sight to visit.

There are also quite a few museums that may be visited while yopu are in the city.  These are the museum of Popular Art and Culture as well as the Museum of Art.

Attractions In Malaga, Spain

The King’s palace is known as Alcazaba.  It has got many amazing works a swell as items to take in and observe while you are on your visit and enjoying your trip.

The Castillo de Gibralfaro is another item found near the palace.  It was made by the Phoenicians and contains much architecture and things to see.

Throughout the summer there are several different music festivals that happen across the town.  There’s much for almost anyone to enjoy and take in while they are in town.

There is much music that can be enjoyed including Flamenco music.  Mush of this may be enjoyed in the nightlife section with the many different clubs and bars.  Lots of these are near the beaches particularly on the Costa del Sol.  There’s much to enjoy and many different clubs and varieties of nightlife to enjoy.

There is much cuisine to enjoy, essentially of the Mediterranean style.  There is reasonably a wide variety of other foods to enjoy too.

How would you like to see the top 100 wonders in the world? Visit famouswonders.com and browse through the top destinations in the world and be sure to check out Ibiza Spain.

Like the Seville region, the province of Cordoba is landlocked, though that should not be a reason for the more adventurous visitor to not visit either for both are engaging.  The area of Cordoba is split by the powerful Rio Guadalquivir on which lies the traditional city of Cordoba, founded by the Romans, though it flourished under the Moorish occupation and this is evident in the design found all over the town. 

Built on a pointy bend of the brook which is crossed by the Roman bridge, the El Puente Romano, the city was once a port.  When the Moors were replaced by the Christians, the city’s beauty was left untouched and the Christian cathedral was built in the mosque, the Mezquita.  The Mezquita goes back to the twelve century and symbolises the power of the Moorish Islamic influence on this region of Andalucia.  Built in 785AD by Abd al Rahman, the mosque has been added to over the generations by both Christian and Islamic faiths as they each controlled this area.

At the centre of Cordoba is the old Jewish quarter where small has changed in centuries, narrow streets and garden squares, tapas bars and eateries, a perfect area to explore and relax in the Spanish way.  The bull fighting museum and the cool and refreshing fountains and gardens of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos are definitely worth a visit both being open from Tues. to Sunday.

Move outside of the town into the area of Cordoba, and you will find it quite unoccupied, most of the people live in the town itself while the remainder are spread out in this huge unexploited area.  Summers here are dry and hot, so the best time of the year to go to is during the cooler spring and autumn months, where you may find hamlets that still hold on to their Spanish values, something that has virtually all but vanished from the Costas to the south.

For more information about travel and useful tips for tourists, visit famouswonders.com and check out Toledo.

Puerta del Sol is one of the most popular destinations for tourists to Madrid; the name means “Gate of the Sun”.

The gates used to be the entrance to the city of Madrid. Like many towns in medieval times back in the 15th century Madrid was protected by a large wall with Puerta Del Sol serving as the only entrance. This made them known to traders and visitors from all over the world and the site remained a meeting place after the walls surrounding Madrid were taken down. As a matter of fact, it remains the major meeting point in Madrid even today.

Outstanding examples of Spanish architecture can be seen throughout the area and there are also various monuments and statues, a particularly famous one being a large sculpture of a bear eating the fruit of the madrone tree (the name ‘Madrid’ derives from the Spanish word for this plant and the bear is a powerful symbol for the Madrid citizens).

The House of the Post Office is one of Madrid’s most important sites and is located nearby to Puerta Del Sol, it is central to New Years celebrations, there is also a paving slab which marks the start of the six major highways which cross over Spain. It’s therefore not only a good point from which to begin to explore the city, but to explore the country as a whole.

From other attractions on Madrid, like the Plaza Mayor, and the Palacio Real(Royal Palace, and Parliament it is only a brief walk, in addition, there is a Metro station that allows fast access to the site and back.

There are many side streets that have shops, restaurants, and many other attractions, so as much time as possible should be used to visit this section. But Madrid and Puerta del Sol are not just places to visit during the daylight hours. At night is when the real fun begins; as bars and cantinas and cafes become packed with tourists and residents, the street performers come out and entertain all.

More : Spanish Phrases

So you are traveling to Spain but what is one of the most important things to get for your trip? Well the Spain map is going to be vital to your trip so that you know where you are going. There are also a little other reasons as to why one should be sure to have Spain map with you, namely that you will be able to find different things to go and do.

Whether you want to pack as much in to your trip as you can or would rather just lie around on a few different beaches, with your Spain map you will be able to discern just exactly where you can go to do what you want.

Your Barcelona Spain map will really be of great help to you here, but it is not the only thing that you need to be aware of when it comes to heading off to Spain for a trip.

To Read Your Spain Map And Learn The Language

One of the first and most important things to do is learn the Spanish language. You want to get to know at least the basics so you are not going to be stuck when you get there and not be able to understand anything. It will be more than just confusing it will probably be very frustrating as well so make sure that you learn a bit about the Spanish language before you go there.

Pick Your Attractions From Barcelona Spain Map

With your Spain map you want to pick and choose from the various attractions and decide on which are most important for you to see. There are so many to choose from and you will probably not have the time to see them all so make sure that you pick all the right ones.

Spain Map: Take A Journey

One of the best things that you will ever do on any trip to Spain is use your Spain map and just take a random journey. Don’t worry because if you have your map you will not get lost, and this way you really get to travel around and make the most of your trip. You want to totally enjoy yourself and feel all the sights and sounds, and this means taking a journey at least once while you are there.

Spain is a wonderful place to visit, and you can really make the most of it with these great tips showing you what to do.

A quick look into how the Spanish spend the festive period - we take a look at the customs and holidays that define the Christmas break in Spain.

Learn Spanish in Spain
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