geographic	weather	golf	gastronomy
fiestas	ski	school	flamenco
siesta	nightlife	art	infraestructure

Europe	Spain	Costa del sol	Granada

-SPANISH CLIMATE-

January 16 C	May 23 C	September 27 C
February 16 C	June 27 C	October 23 C
March 18 C	July 29 C	November 20 C
April 21 C	August 30 C	December 17 C

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-GOLF-

For obvious reasons the Costa Del Sol is also called the Costa Del Golf. You find 36 courses with a total of 666 holes along the 190 km long coast. 20 of these courses are situated in and around Marbella. If you are a newcomer in this sport or simply want to improve your skills, you can do so in one of the many golf academies along the coast.

golf view	courses in Malaga	golf view

-SKI-

The ski resort of Andalucia is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain. It is the most southerly ski resort in Europe and is small in comparison to other European resorts. The Sierra Nevada ski resort has numerous runs of varying difficulties to satisfy all skiing desires. Natural snow is supplemented by snow cannons on some runs. Being so far south, many skiers are pleasantly surprised to find the air temperature is usually warmer than other resorts. The season is December to April. The resort hosted the 1996 world ski championships. The Sierra Nevada resort is only 45 minutes drive from Granada city, one hour from Granada airport and 2 hour drive from Málaga airport. Visitors should also consider visiting the attractions in Granada city.

-GASTRONOMY-

Spanish cooking is rich and varied, much like the country itself. First-rate ingredients, the excellence of which are renowned, wise old popular traditions and the promotion of fine new culinary professionals have boosted Spain's gastronomic prestige to the top of the list in Europe over the past few years. In general, there are six major gastronomic zones in mainland Spain.

Andalucia is the land of fried food. Its "fried fish" is insuperable. There is also "gazpacho", the exquisite cold vegetable soup.

..................Valencia and the surrounding region specialise in rice dishes. Besides their famous "paella", the Valencians are able to prepare exquisite rice dishes with any type of ingredients - meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables or fish. Also exquisite is the rice dish from the region of Murcia known as "caldera", or caldron.

There is nothing more Spanish than "jamón serrano". This country ham is a national treasure shared in Spain by all walks of life. You find hams wherever you look. Jamones are hanging in stores, bars, and even private homes.

.......The "tapa" tradition is as important for the conversation and company as for the delicious food. Every Spaniard has his favorite tasca, as the tapa bars are called, where he goes regularly to meet his friends or business acquaintances. Tapas will be found in even the smallest bar in a tiny village. The word tapa, meaning cover or lid, is thought to have originally referred to the complimentary plate of appetizers that many tascas, would place like a cover on one's wine glass. Tapas can vary from simple to complex and include cheese, fish, eggs, vegetable dishes, dips, canapes, and savory pastries. A quantity of tapas can make an excellent meal.

.......The "tinto de verano" (summer red wine), is an excellent Mediterranean beverage elaborated on the basis of selected red wine, lemon extract and a touch of fizz, all of it natural one, that make it unique in its genre. Its fascinating lemon taste makes it a very digestive and appetizing wine-based drink, in any season. Drink it very cold and accompanied by a slice of lemon, and enjoy this singular beverage at any time of day or night. The Mediterranean shows its most luxurious side thanks to this great drink, which maintains the entire secret and the authentic fizzes.

-SIESTA-

To fully enjoy a siesta it is very important to have a good lunch with friends or/and relatives. The real siesta takes place in bed and in pyjamas, but a suitable sofa is also meant if a bed is not available. Timing is very important. A siesta should last between 15-30 minutes not more. Don't let anything disturb you. Siesta is quite a serious activity. Some people can't enjoy a siesta without tv or radio. If these kind of things help you to fall asleep, use them. The best way to wake-up from a siesta is a delicate human voice. If you don't have anybody near, remember to use an alarm clock. Tips: Right after the siesta, a glass of water and a piece of chocolate will make your life easier. Disconnect the telephones!

-ART-

Spain has a rich artistic heritage and has produced many world famous writers, artists, and architects including El Greco, Cervantes, and Gaudí. Painters such as Dalí and Picasso have been very influential in twentieth century art. The film industry has enjoyed huge international success too, most recently for the work of Pedro Almodovar who has followed in the footsteps of the surrealist genius, Luis Buñuel. Federico García Lorca is a world-famous Spanish poet. Spanish architecture reflects the influence of past eras. From the early Roman ruins, the ornate Moorish Alhambra Palace in Granada with its lace-like stone carvings to the Gothic castles and monasteries, and the fantastic modernist sculptures and monuments of Gaudí, Spain has been a melting pot, absorbing characteristics from each successive wave of settlers. Spain also offers a wide variety of domestic arts and crafts which respect age-old traditions, as well as modern decorative styles. Catalonian textiles and hand-woven rugs are world-famous; leather goods have a similar high profile and are extremely popular amongst the tourists. The spread of tourism has seen huge growth in local craft traditions. Valencia is home to an international furniture fair and offers a fine range of hand crafted wooden products, while the Balearic Islands are celebrated for their colourful painted ceramics. Madrid is home to one of the world’s most famous art galleries, the Museo del Prado. This elaborate neo-Classical building holds a fascinating collection of Spanish, Italian, and Flamenco art dating back to the fifteenth century. The Guggenheim museum of modern art in Bilbao also attracts visitors from all over the world.

-INFRAESTRUCTURE-

The Costa del Sol has an established infrastructure of first class hotels, motorways, new roads, hospitals, hospices, clinics, English, German, and other foreign language schools and colleges. A huge selection of leisure activities, golf courses, tennis, sailing, flying, bowling, fishing, diving, water sports, horse racing etc. Hypermarkets, shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, casinos etc. More direct flights to Malaga airport, the AVE. high speed rail link to Malaga is under construction.

Spain has an increasingly efficient transport system. All the major cities have airports and flights from all over the global arrive and those of Madrid and Barcelona. Both the road and rail networks were greatly improved by during the 1980s and in the run-up to Expo and Olympics in the 1992. Intercity rails services are efficient, but coaches are a faster and more frequent option between smaller towns. In much of rural Spain, however, public transport is limited and a car is the most practical solution for getting about. Ferries connect mainland Spain with the UK, North Africa and the Balearic Islands.

-SCHOOL-

Apart from public schools there is also a wide range of private schools available. You can choose between Spanish schools or International (bilingual) schools in all age ranges for you children.

-NIGHT LIFE-

From Latin Clubs full of funny people to Irish Pubs, to Jet Set Discos and Gay Clubs, you will find whatever suits your taste and have a great time. If you're spending the night out in Spain and if you're lucky, you might even run into a celebrity.

-FLAMENCO-

Music is very important to the Spanish and is a vital part of daily life, particularly in their frequent fiestas, festivals, and Saints’ days. Many forms of music and dance are enjoyed here, but perhaps the music most often associated with Spain is Flamenco. Originating in Andalucia in Southern Spain, it has spread throughout the country and can be found in most regions. There is a lot of argument about the development of Flamenco. The vibrant rhythms suggest a strong Moorish influence although the music is clearly a fusion of Arab and Jewish elements too. Flamenco had just survived through traditional live performances. Castanets (castañuelas) have long been part of the great Flamenco tradition, but like every other musical instrument, there is an art to playing them. Worn on the thumb of each hand, the strings have to be perfectly adjusted to make sure that there is enough pressure to achieve the right sound. The little finger is the most important: it begins the sequence pressing the castanets together to create the clap. This has to be repeated as quickly and evenly as possible: right hand, then left, then right hand, and so on in quick succession.

-SPANISH FIESTAS-

Bullfighting is one of the most know traditions in Spain. Bullfighting is basically the slow killing of the bull by the matador and then cooking it for people to eat. Although many are religious occasions, there is a strong pagan influence too. Some consist of carnival-style parades and processions with entire communities dressing up and disguising themselves with masks. Over 200 festivals take place annually; they are gaining an international following as more and more tourists attend them. Many are specific to certain towns, and each town has its own Saint’s day. In the month of March, Valencia celebrates Las Fallas with a week of all-night dancing and firework displays. Many people dress up for the occasion; in particular, women dress up in traditional Valencian clothes. The city is decorated with gigantic comic papier-mâché sculptures of TV personalities and local celebrities. Seville also has a big cultural event in April called Feria de Abril where fairgrounds with music displays, dance-spectaculars, firecrackers, flags, and feasts are set up all over the city. The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, in July, is one of Spain’s most elaborate and famous festivals. Those who are brave enough risk their lives by running through the streets with the beasts charging behind them. Semanta Santa is the Easter procession of Holy Week which takes place every year throughout Spain and is one of the most important events in the Christian calendar. Men known as penitents carry a huge statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets, followed by musicians and children.

fallas		San Fermin		feria		semana santa

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