Peek at Spain

Taking That Long Overdue Trip to Spain This Summer?

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We’ve been extolling the virtues of Spain for some time now, so if you’ve decided that this summer’s finally the time to hop on a plane and head out to Espana, here are a few tips to help keep your home safe while you’re gone. Nothing can ruin your Spanish vacation faster than problems back home!
Consider an Alarm – If you’ll be away for a while, consider looking into a home security system. Look at sites like allhomesecurity.com to find out if a home alarm is a good solution for you.
Talk to Your Neighbors – Make sure everyone knows where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers for you so your home doesn’t look unoccupied.
Go to the Doctor – Though Spain is a developed nation, you should still see a doctor before you go to make sure you don’t need any vaccinations or updated shots. Better safe than sorry when you’re doing international travel!
Spain is only a flight away – make this year the time you hit the road and take the trip of a lifetime!

The Culture and History of Spain

www.peek-at-spain.com — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Spain’s sunny climate, storybook castles, and colorful bullfights, as well as its dynamic history, make the country one of the major tourist attractions of Europe. During the Middle Ages Spain was ruled by Muslims, who have left their mark on buildings such as the Alhambra; vocabulary items such as alfombra (rug; Arabic ); and place names such as Granada. Spanish bullfights are especially popular in the south, and rings are a common sight. (The sport is banned in some places.) Soccer (that is to say, football) is the country’s most popular sport.

Interesting places to see in Spain include El Corral del carbn in Granada, once used by merchants but since the 1500s it has been a theater; the water sports village of Iznjar; the medieval Cuitat Vella in Barcelona; and of course the windmills of Castile- La Mancha, just like the ones tilted at by “Don Quixote ”

Jews (Sephardis) were a major presence in Spain until the expulsion of 1492; they included the prominent philosopher Moses Maimonides, or Rambam (1135-1204). These people have also sung colorful songs, such as “Morenika” (Dark Beauty). Modern Spanish singers include Jos Luis Perales, one of whose best hits is “Quisiera decir tu nombre.”

Sightseeing at Historic Sights in Spain

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A trip to Spain is not complete without a tour of this country’s numerous historic sites. One of the major attractions in Spain is the Alhambra. Located at the top of the hill in the southeastern border of the city of Granda this structure was built by the Moors during the mid 14th century. The Alhambra is like a city itself consisting of forts, royal apartments, pavillions, barracks, and gardens all surrounded by an impressive wall.
This fortress which exhibits the style used in Muslim architecture was the residence of the Moorish rulers until 1492 when the city was conquered by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Another favorite tourist spot in Spain is the famous Roman aqueduct located in Segovia. Built sometime in the 1st or 2nd century AD for the purpose of supplying water from the nearby mountain town to the hilltop town of Segovia. This aqueduct is known as the only Roman structure left in the Iberian peninsula. Visitors can explore the aqueduct on foot starting from its source or walk between its column which should take about 30 minutes. Being that it is a free standing attraction there is no admission charge to view this fascinating 2000 year old monument.

The Unique Shopping Experiences Found in Spain

admin — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Spain is a great travel destination not only for all of its rich history and visually arresting landmarks, but also for all of the unique shopping experiences that are able to be had.

Most shops in Spain are run by families and offer merchandise such as clothing, furniture and leather goods that are very unique. Because a lot of Spanish merchandise is hand-made, it tends to have more personality than what is sold in large chain store in the United States. Spain also has both outdoor and indoor marketplaces that sell a wide variety of goods, most of which is food.

Because Spain is considered to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, there are an abundance of designers who’s clothing creations are for sale. Spain has shopping districts were there are an abundance of smaller-sized stores of minor fashion designers. The wares of these up-and-coming Spanish fashion designers who’s pieces are usually for sale in their shops.

Also located in Spain is Europe’s largest flea market, known as El Rastro. This market is so large that it encompasses many different streets and has a plethora of items for sale from antiques and trinkets to clothing and electronics.

A peek at Spain’s upcoming holidays

www.peek-at-spain.com — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:16:55 +0000

Everybody knows that holidays are the perfect excuse for food and celebration, and when you’re eating and celebrating in Spain, it gets even better. The months of October and November begin a festive holiday season leading up to the religious holidays of December. Here’s what ‘s coming up.October 9: The Day of Festive CommunityThis celebrates the day in 1238 when Valencia was conquered by King Jaime I and made an autonomous kingdom. The festivities begin two days in advance with a staged performance of Valencia’s surrender. On October 9, an official procession starts at noon, with parades and dancing throughout the day.October 12: Hispanic DayObserved on the same day as Columbus Day in North America, this national holiday was originally called “Day of the Race” and celebrated the first meetings between Europeans and Native Americans. It was changed to “Hispanic Day” in 1957 in Spain, but is still celebrated by its original title in other Latin American countries, and as the “Day of Indigenous Resistance” in Venezuela.October 25: Day of the Basque CountryThis holiday is scheduled to begin next year, and will celebrate the 1979 ratification of the Guernica Statute of Autonomy. This set up a parliamentary government for the Basque people, although 40 of the Spanish electorate abstained in the original ratification.November 1: All Saints DayCelebrated more religiously in Spain than it is in America (where it’s not a Holy Day of Obligation if it falls on Monday or Saturday), this date remembers all those who have been granted the beatific vision in Heaven. People celebrate by making offerings to their saints of choice.

Thrill your taste buds with the flavors of Spain

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:29:53 +0000

Like everything else in Spain, the food has a history. Most recipes go back almost three centuries, while others incorporate influences from Europe and America. While investigating the flavors of Spain, you’ll find two ingredients in commonolive oil and garlic. In different regions, these ingredients are combined with various others, so that there are vast differences across the country. Of course, that just means more to explore.The most popular type of meat is ham. In fact, it’s something of an obsession, as you can find ham museums located around the country. On average, each person eats about 5 kg a year, whether on its own or in various tapa recipes. Tapas are special types of appetizers, which developed in Spain to fill in the time between work and dinner, which usually occurs between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.Seafood is also very popular in Spain, given the country’s location. Lobster and snow crabs are all recognizable to North American diners, but other popular seafood dishes include langostine (a very small variety of lobster) and octopus. Octopus is tenderized and cooked whole, usually seasoned with a variety of spices and olive oil. For the adventurous, there is also the goose barnacle, which is like a small clam, and is served boiled.Other Spanish favorites include cheeseany kind of cheese, be it sheep, cow, or goateggs, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Fruits usually come before or after the meal, and most families always keep a bowl on hand for when the craving hits. Beans and nuts help round out dishes, whether on their own (chickpeas) or with dessert (almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts).

Getting to know the bulls of Spain (and the men who fight them)

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:24:08 +0000

For most people, images of Spain include men with flowing red capes dancing around fearsome, panting, majestic beasts. The tradition goes back to 711 A.D., when the very first celebratory bullfight took place at the coronation of King Alfonso VIII. This accounts for the sport’s origins as a domain of the aristocracy, especially since it originally required a horse. However, King Felipe V was not a fan of the sport, and in 1724 banned the aristocrats from taking part. The lower classes were not so quick to let the tradition disappear, but cheapened the equipment costs by taking horses out of the equationleading to the basics of how the sport is presented today.For many Spaniards, the fights are a weekly event, with many bull-rings across the country. Madrid houses the Las Ventas Bullring, which was built in 1929 and can hold 25,000 spectators. Every May and June, the arena hosts San Isidro, the famous festival in which nightly fights occur for three weeks. Some can last as many as three hours. Seville is also a popular bullfighting site.Just what does a bull fight entail? The matador uses a variety of cape movements to sidestep the bull gracefully. The particular brand of fighting bulls used are bred to charge instantly, but are not treated badlyin fact, they live for one year longer than the ones at many slaughterhouses. The spectacle continues until the matador lines the bull up for the kill, which takes place quickly and cleanly with one thrust of the sword.Bullfighters themselves may become national heroes. The best known is Manolete, recognized for being able to stand almost immobile while the bull passed, and being able to link different cape movements together on the same spot. When he died from a goring in the right leg, there were three days of national mourning.

Getting down in the city of Ibiza

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:12:17 +0000

It is rare to find a site that can claim history back to the 7^th century B.C. and still rank as one of the biggest summer break spots in the world. The island of Ibiza, however, is just the place to defy expectations. Home to a famous port founded by the Phoenicians in 654 B.C., the island is now known as the home of swinging discos and big bass beats.Ibiza shifted ownership between the Christians and the Moors several times, first when it was conquered by the Moors after the Roman Empire and later when King James I conquered it in 1235. The island gained a democracy in the late ’70s, when it became a part of the Balearic Autonomous Community. The official languages are Catalan and Spanish, but thanks to the growing spread of tourism, English, German, and Russian are also popular.Of course, this is interesting enough, but if you’re headed there for summer break you’ll want to know where the best parties are. The nightlife is spread across two major areas: Ibiza Town in the south and Sant Antoni in the west. There’s good reason that everybody hits these spotsit’s the only place everybody can fit. Privilege Ibiza is the largest nightclub in the world, with a capacity of 10,000 and a special spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Another popular nightclub is Amnesia, which can hold over 5,000 and has been featured in films and on music albums. It’s not uncommon for DJs to debut new songs at these sitesthey can always be sure of a warm reception.Despite its party reputation, Ibiza is also a World Heritage Site, and is also the possible birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

Can’t-miss tourist attractions in Spain

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:54:42 +0000

While one can imagine that Spain has been beautiful since the world’s beginning, a thriving tourist industry only developed in the late ’60s and ’70s, when it became a popular summer vacation spot for European travelers. Today, Spain is the second most-visited country worldwide, coming only behind France. However, if you are drawn in by the food, entertainment, and numerous festivals, it could be number one for you.There are plenty of historical sites to keep you interested on your journey. For example, there is the Burgos Cathedral, where national hero El Cid lies buried. Going even further back, the Cave of Altamira contains some of the best-preserved cave paintings, and the first in the world to be discovered. It would also be well worth your time to invest some days exploring Toledo, which served as a capital of the Spanish Empire.Of course, Spain hasn’t been resting on its haunches for the last 500 years. It contains many world-renowned discotheques, including the 7-story Kapital in Madrid. The Balearic sites also include many popular tourist attractions, such as Ibiza.Chances are there’ll be a festival going on during your trip as well. Whether it’s Seville’s Holy Week celebrations right before Easter or the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, most cities are looking for an opportunity to share great food and enjoy entertainment like that recorded in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.Beyond anything man-made, Spain also offers plenty of gorgeous landscapes and vistas that you’ll want to record just so you can believe you were there. The Ordesa Valley and Monte Perdido represent two extremes, where you can either enjoy the sight of a natural glacial valley or look down from snow-capped mountains. With all these options, your only problem will be in figuring out how to fit everything in.

A cool guide to the hottest sports in Spain

www.peek-at-spain.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:42:23 +0000

Spain’s most popular sport is football (soccer to us Yanks). Still in the running for this year’s World Cup, fans are so exuberant that the players themselves are urging fans not to let their imaginations run away with them. However, the possibility of adding the Cup to their Euro 2008 trophy still looms. The Spanish football team has been in existence professionally since 1926, and non-recognized teams like the Catalan XI and Euskadi XI have been playing since 1915.Basketball is another popular national sport. The national team won a gold medal in 2006 at the FIBA World Championship, and another at the 2009 Eurobasket. Several players have also made the jump to the NBA, such as Pau and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, and Sergio Rodriguez.Tennis and handball all have their admirers, thanks in no small part to Rafael Nadal. Nadal is once again ranked number 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals after winning the French Open for the 5^th time in June.All of these are well and good, but sometimes you need something a littlefaster. When that time comes, look no further than Spain’s motorcycle and racing championships. Spain holds three motorcycle Grand Prix every year, and also holds the honor of being the only country with two Formula 1 Grand Prix. The racer Carlos Sainz, one of Spain’s heroes for winning the World Rally Championship twice, has an appropriately Spanish nickname: El Matador.Hockey and gymnastics are also popular sports, but the one that has grown the most in recent years is skiing. The boom occurred after the recent time of Spanish development known as the Spanish miracle, taking place between 1959 and 1973. Besides housing Europe’s most southern resort, Spain also boasts a Royal Family who are self-professed fans of the sport.