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You are here: Home / Archives for spain

Tempting Tenerife – What’s Not to Like?

September 28, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Over the years, Tenerife has developed a reputation as a place for holidaymakers seeking blazing sunshine and a party atmosphere. While much of Tenerife’s pull on tourists has been the beautiful climate and fantastic nightspots, it has so much more to offer if you take the time to explore the island. Take a look at the following ways you can get the most out of a trip to Tenerife.

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Visit the Ancient Dragon Tree
No trip to Tenerife would be complete without experiencing the Ancient Dragon Tree. It is often referred to as the oldest tree in the world, with many locals believing it to be 1000 years old, but more accurately thought to be around 650 years old. Hire a car for the day and visit Icod de los Vinos to see the tree, and while you are there take in the Church of San Marcos and the Artlandya Doll Museum.

See the Highest Peak in Spain
Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain, 3718 metres above sea level. An active volcano, Mount Teide is an impressive sight when viewed against the bright blue skies of the island. If you don’t fancy climbing in the mountains, you can still appreciate the beauty of the Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site filled with some incredible animals and plants. The stunning volcanic rock patterns and formations are worth the trip alone.

Experience the Local Cuisinefood-406473_640
You may be familiar with traditional Spanish food, but Tenerife has its own unique twist with some African influences. There are plenty of general restaurants catering to tourists, but try to seek out the more traditional restaurants with a local flavour if you really want to experience the regional cuisine . Many dishes will include local fruit, vegetables and fish, grilled to create a lighter meal which suits the warm weather. Make sure to try plenty of Tapas and the Papas Arrugadas potato dish, famous within the region.

Have Fun at the Carnival
If you can make it to Tenerife in February, make sure to take part in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The people of the island are known for their warm, friendly nature, so be sure to mingle and make plenty of new friends. The carnival is known around the world and features lots of musical entertainment, dancing and a big parade. Prepare a fancy dress costume in advance if you really want to fit in.

Get Out on the Water
Surrounded by water, it is natural that tourists to Tenerife have plenty of options when it comes to water-based fun. You can charter a boat for a day out at sea, take a Submarine Safari and go diving in the Atlantic Ocean, swim in the rock pools at Garachico or look for whales in the surrounding waters. If you prefer to stay inland, there are plenty of water parks for some family entertainment in the sun, with Siam Park being the best known.

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Headline, Spain Tagged With: beach vacation, espana, spain, tenerife

Consider Cadiz – an alternative option for Spain holidays

June 17, 2013 By Guest Blogger

CadizThe warm Mediterranean sun has done something special to southern Spain, or Andalusia as the autonomous region is called. This region is home to some of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Spain, such as the city of Seville and the fortress of the Alhambra in Granada. That said, travelling the region in the summer can be overwhelming and tiring if you stay to the tourist trail. If the tourist sites are not on the agenda for your Spain holidays this summer and the focus of the trip is the culture, food and the scenery of the region, there are numerous options to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Rather than starting the trip in Seville, consider flying into Cadiz. Somehow the tourist hordes usually overlook this beautiful and ancient port city. This is both unfortunate and a blessing. When food is on the mind, Cadiz should come to the forefront. While in the city, everyone should ensure that they at least try the tapa of Cazon en Adobo, which is a small shark marinated in spice, or consider an order of the shrimp fritters, called Tortillitas de Camarones. Being a port city, almost all of the seafood options will usually be good.

For those looking for a beach to relax on where the scene is a little more laid back and less packed with tourists from around the world, consider Los Canos de Meca, which is less than an hour from Cadiz. This beach and adjacent small town are slowly gaining prominence, but they still retain that small town Spanish vibe and lightly tourist-packed sand.

The alternative vibe of Barbate-small and lonely beaches blending with their tuna-based gastronomy, with Mojama, the seafood equivalent to Spanish cured ham, as the highlight, would satisfy the tastes of all travellers and be an even further flung destination for most tourists. Once you are wandering around Barbate, you could also try and visit other spots such as Zahara de los Atunes.

When in the area around Cadiz, a wonderful option for taking in a bit of nature is the Bahia de Cadiz Natural Park. The park has numerous walks or hikes ranging from easy to challenging. A moderately challenging walk that is worth the work is the Sendero Pinar de Algaida. This 12km walk begins at the University of Cadiz and follows along the river. It is a truly peaceful walk that provides a glimpse of the southern Spanish natural bounty while also allowing for some quiet reflection.

And if you are interested in trekking, remember to take a look at Los Alcornocales Natural Park, one of the most unique natural parks in Europe. From the “canuto” forests to its strange animal life, Cadiz Natural Park per excellence is the ideal place to escape from the city while we learn more about the Tardigrada or waterbears

Often when people are thinking of Spain, holidays are focused on seeing the big sites, however a more relaxed trip focused on the area around Cadiz can be more memorable and rewarding, particularly when it comes to food and scenery.

 

About the Author: Samuel Stokes is a British travel writer. He spends most of his time planning or writing about finding the best budget and backpacking holidays in the Mediterranean coast, after spending most his youth living in different parts of Spain.

 

Photo Credit: Image by Michael Osmenda used under creative commons license.

 

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Spain Tagged With: alternative locations, off the beaten path, spain

Photo: Sevilla’s Plaza de Toros

December 14, 2011 By Jillian

The oldest building in Sevilla is the Plaza de Toros. It was once the site for the famous Feria de Abril (one of the bull fighting festivals which is famous all over the world). The ring is regarded as tone of the city’s best and most enjoyable attractions for tourists.

The construction of Plaza de Toros began in 1749, by Pedro y Vicente de San Martin and Francisco Sanchez de Aragon. The inner facade, called the Prince’s box, was originally completed in the plaza in the year 1765.  It consisted of two main parts. One was an access gate where the bull fighters who were successful went out and the other was a theatre box which was exclusively reserved for the Spanish Royal family. There are four arches in the top most part which is covered by blue and white tiles. The Palco was actually built for Felipe de Borbon, the son of Isabel de Farnesio and Felipe V.

Bull fighting remains legal in most of Spain today.  However, a growing movement to end bull fighting, especially in culturally distinct areas like Catalonia and Pays Basco, has begun to widely prohibit the practice.

IF YOU GO: Do visit the entire tourist attractions of Sevilla and don’t just get locked in Sevilla apartments.  The city is more than 2000 years old so there is plenty of history and rich culture to explore.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Flickr user AustinEvan via a creative commons license.

Filed Under: photos Tagged With: architecture, bull fighting, spain

Photo: Madrid

November 30, 2011 By Jillian

There’s nothing like a big city at night.  Neighborhoods take on a whole new atmosphere as the cafés and restaurants open and then change again as nightclubs and bars begin to spill their patrons out and onto the street. There is a certain energy that comes with the transitions, you can feel the streets awaken, calm and finally sit at peace.

Madrid is a surprisingly artistic city, and not just in visual arts.  Sure there are a number of excellent art museums, but the city is also home to an incredible variety of Alternative Arts- from performing to expressive and visual.  A few neighborhoods are well known in the alternative art scene and even play host to underground art clubs.

IF YOU GO: Madrid has modern infrastructure and still maintains its charming neighborhoods. A very welcoming city, despite its size Madrid plays host to many different types of people and cultures.   Apartments in Madrid are a great way to spend a week and get to know the neighborhoods and communities.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

Photo Credit: Flickr user PromoMadrid under a creative commons license.

Filed Under: photos Tagged With: City, Madrid, spain

Photo: Colored Tiles in Seville

October 11, 2011 By Danny

Andalusia is a hotbed of rich cultural history.  The whole region was a mixing bowl for centuries between Christian descendants of Rome and the Muslim Moors who came from North Africa.  In the early 700’s the Moors took over the south of Spain and named Seville as their capital.  Despite the fact that the Moors were largely pushed out several hundred years later, Seville still shows much of their impact even to this day.

The photo below from the Plaza de Espana is clearly a Christian scene but take a close look at a lot of the styles.  Around the photo, especially towards the bottom, are styles that we typically saw as we traveled through Islamic holy sites.  The right portion of the photo even shows an archway that is clearly of Moorish design.  Just because the Moors are no longer in Spain, doesn’t mean their way of doing things hasn’t been integrated into the norm.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: When I visited Andalusia I stayed a few hours to the south on the beaches of Malaga.  I didn’t need to book a stay in some Seville apartments but any city in the south of Spain is certainly the type of place to warrant a longer stay.


Photo Credit: Flickr user Alaskan Dude via a creative commons license

Filed Under: photos Tagged With: Moors, Sevilla, spain

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