All About Spain

Most famously known for its endless beaches and year-round sunshine as well as the sultry Flamenco and the gory bullfights, Spain has oodles more to offer than that. For thousands of years, Spain has been one of the prime cultural centres of Europe. What distinguishes Spain from the other European countries is its distinctly Arab characteristic which is a result of almost eight centuries of Arab influence.

Spain’s diversity is overwhelming. Its various regions are all conspicuously different from each other; from their geography and climate to their cuisine and culture. Every city and town is an eclectic mix of ancient monuments and futuristic architecture standing testimony to Spain’s centuries old history and its changing times. Cities and towns are littered with Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces, medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals.

Geography

Located in the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, Spain’s bordering countries include France, Andorra, Portugal, Gibraltar and Morocco. The waters surrounding Spain include the North Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees Mountains southwest of France. Spain has a total area of 504,782 km, with a coastline that stretches 4,964 km. It comprises 19 autonomous communities including the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean; the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca) in the Mediterranean Sea and Melilla and Ceuta, situated in northern Africa. Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas are three tiny Spanish possessions that lie off the coast of Morocco.

Five immense mountain ranges span the country adding to the extremely varied landscape; green and fertile in some areas and arid, almost desert-like in others. Along with all this are the never-ending coast lines that run from the Pyrenees to Gibraltar along the Mediterranean Sea in the east and along the Cantabrian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

Climate

Spain’s climate is predominantly temperate with clear, hot summers and colder winters in the interiors and cloudier with moderate temperatures along the coast.

Language

While Spanish is the official language of the country, there are several other languages that co-exist with Spanish and are spoken in certain regions of Spain. These include Catalan in Catalonia, Valencian in the Valencia Region, , Galician in Galicia and a distinct variety of Catalan that is spoken on the Balearic Islands.

Culture

Fiestas and bullfights are indispensable parts of Spain. The seasons in Spain are defined not only by the changes in temperatures but also by the different fiestas; there is a fiesta for every season. Every fiesta is distinct from the other in the way it is celebrated, why it is celebrated, when it is celebrated as well as which region it is celebrated in. Fiestas are such an integral part of Spain that you would have to spend a year in Spain to experience the real culture of Spain. While the Feria de Abril in Sevilla includes an entire week of dancing and singing while indulging in tapas and sherry; the Semana Santa is a more somber week of prayer and penance.

The Flamenco is Spain itself. This musical tradition is absolutely inseparable from Spain and so are teg bullfights, which are part and parcel of almost all Fiestas and are a sight to behold. Not to be missed is the "Running of the Bulls" during the Sanfermines in Pamplona.
Article source: ContentLog.com

Tips For Car Hire in Spain

Spain is an excellent country, where more than 5 million Brits visit each year, and more than 10,000 British people choose to emigrate to every year making it the number on country British people want to visit or emigrate to.

Spain has such a broad appeal because it offers such a variety. Spain has the big resorts where partygoers flock to, the posh swanky upmarket resorts. Spain has the historic cities, towns and villages and the remote countryside. Spain has culture and the beautiful beaches and sea. In short, Spain has everything, which is why we love it so much.

Because there are so many excellent places to visit in Spain, and so many things to experience, choosing the right resort or area to holiday in can be a bit of a pain. Obviously, every person who goes on holiday has an idea of how they want their holiday to be, for instance some people may simply go to visit bars and party, which is great. Some people may wish to simply lie on the beach all day long soaking up the sun and getting a tan. Some people may wish to do some fishing or walking in the countryside. And some people may wish to do a little of all of these things, which makes for some quite nifty planning and preparation.

Finding a place which will offer a little of everything will always make for a great holiday, but you may have to accept the fact that the place you want to stay at doesn’t offer everything - however, look on a map and see how far you are away from the other places. Driving in Spain is easy, and with some planning, care hire in Spain can really open up your horizons and allow you to travel further a field. Let’s face it, buses in Britain can be difficult enough to get a grasp of, including timetables and routes, and you don’t want to end up stranded someplace with no hope of getting back, so car hire in Spain is perhaps the only realistic option. Be warned however there are many, many dodgy car hire places in Spain which will give you an unreliable car and may overcharge you and even accuse you of doing damage to the car to try and keep you’re deposit and so forth. These places should be avoided, and reputable car hire places used only. Make sure you do some research into the area you are to visit and the car hire services available. There may even be some reviews and testimonials you can read to help you decide who to hire a car from during your holidays. Advance planning is the key.

Must Have Tips on Buying A Property In Spain

Competition has become a trend for foreigners to buy properties in Spain. The reason maybe for such popularity is that, the country offers a delightful and excellent climate conducive for healthful and restful living. Aside from that, there has been a great effort by the local authorities to lure more foreign tourists and residents.

It was found out that tourism is the biggest contributor to their booming economy. If you are planning to buy a property in Spain, then this the best time because the interest rates in Europe is practically low. So do not waste your time. You should grab immediately the opportunity. I assure you, there will be no regrets.

With the great culture and the rich heritage of Spain, you will never run out of places to go, people to meet and activities to do. Spanish people have shown their great love for the arts and their sprawling fields and countries have been a perfect choice for a romantic vacation or a retirement place.

Many tourists have fallen in love with Spain, and why not. A lot about history can be found in Spain. They have traveled far and wide even before the others and have great influences all over the world. There are many museums you can go to and so many artifacts to see, plus there is so much to say about the food.

So, I wouldnt blame anyone for considering buying a property in Spain. If you are indeed considering or actually buying a property in Spain, then some congratulations are in order. You are making a decision which will change your life in the future. Life changing decisions and huge purchases such as buying a property in Spain needs a lot of consulting and thinking before being acted upon.

If you are really interested in buying a property in Spain, you may consult the many real estate agents from Spain or check out websites that are dedicated to properties for sell in Spain. But before you do this, you are supposed to weigh things, plan in order to avoid the same fate some foreigners have experienced in the past years, which had painful stories regarding their disadvantageous transactions and no clear idea regarding the property they are going to buy in Spain. We will be dealing with the guidelines and tips on how to purchase a property in a very fair and satisfactory deal.

The following are the tips and guidelines in buying a property in Spain:

Fix your budget for the operation.
Before making a decision, be sure to have an ocular visit of the property at least twice.
Know what amenities are installed to the property.
Consult an architect or a contractor to check out the building structure.
Confer with residents around your prospective property.
Take some pictures, in case you are in doubt of the property.
Consult your lawyer to examine the ownership of the property before signing a contract.
Learn about the easy access of the property to the center of the town or city.
Have a licensed lawyer and a notary.
Be a Spanish literate.
What is it that you really want?
Have a financial adviser.
Have a trusted and reputable agent of property.
Study your situation (your employment status, financial situation, your familys decision and etc.)

After you have weighed everything down and have finally decided to buy a property in Spain be sure that you are not only financially ready, but physically and emotionally set as well. Also, your familys well-being and life situations must be taken under great consideration.

Also, try to study about the culture of Spain, many foreigners tend to forget it and they stick out like a sore thumb. When in Spain, Do what the Spaniards do. Try also to learn about their laws, this will save you a lot of trouble in the end.

After all that, you can go on and start living a wonderful laidback relaxing life in good old Spain. Sit back, relax and enjoy your life as a Spanish resident with a good glass of wine on your hand and the rolling hills of Spain as your front yard.