Each country has its “mother ship’ (as my husband likes to refer to it as) for its shopping purposes and in Spain, one of the leading stores is El Corte Ingles, here you can find almost everything you are looking for.

With more than 6 levels of shopping ,the Spaniards as well as all tourists run to these establishments, that can be found all over Spain and shop their hearts out.

Anything from books to clothing, electronics, cosmetics and music. With a travel agency, restaurants, cafeteria and even a gourmet grocery store, you do not need to go anywhere else.

photo flckr

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One of my favorite typical Spanish food is the Tortilla de Patata, basically a potato omelet. Very simple to make, anyone can do it. There are several different recipes but basically all you need are some eggs and potatoes and you are done.

It can be served hot or cold and it is considered a tapa but can be eaten any time, anywhere for any reason.  When visiting Spain, don’t forget to try one and if you can’t make it here to visit yet try to make one yourself. Be careful when you flip it, there is an actual art form to this.

photo flckr

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Spain is not only a great sightseeing country with beautiful sites, culture and food, it is also known for its wild night life. No where in the world can you party like in Spain. I can speak from experience, and I could tell you this party town does not sleep.

You can party almost anywhere in this country but the most known for the spectacular late nights anything goes cities are Ibiza, Madrid and Barcelona. There is no limit to what you will discover. Discos such as the famous Pacha are an experience you will never forget.

Night life in Spain usually does not begin until about 1 am and there is no curfew for this lively city. The best advice I received on one of my first adventures out at night in Spain was a friend who told me “make sure to bring your sunglasses”, not sure what that meant at the time but soon found out when at 8 am we were in line to go in to an “after hours” club..

source niumba

photo flickr

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The Cibeles Catwalk is one of the top promotional platforms for Spanish designers with a well known fashion show that brings together famous designers and lesser known novices to present their new collections. The week of February 12th through the 16th will be the week to watch because that is when all designers will present their Autumn-Winter 2007/2008 collections.

With designers such as Miriam Ocariz, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Victorio & Lucchino and many more the press awaits this upcoming years trends presented by and in a city that is setting the standard for fashion and style.

more information | cibeles

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The Coast of lanzarote in the Canary Island is an amazing site. An island designed by volcanic forces, it is one of those rare places that evokes curiosity an awe. One of the mayor attractions to this place is the Cueva de los Verdes, which is a galeria of 7 km of strange formations which were left long ago by volcanic eruptions and lead you to the sea in an amazing adventure.

The beaches here are also a site to see, the Playa Blanca (white beach) is just as the name states, white sand and a trail of palm trees that make you feel you are in a tropical paradise. Most people would not even think they are in Spain.

more information | lanzarote

photo | flckr

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The Tower of Hercules (Torre de (57 Hércules), dating back almost 1900 years and standing 185 feet (57 meters) is said to be the oldest active Roman lighthouse in the world. It is located outside of the city of A Coruña in Galicia.

Many mythical stories have been told about the hero Hercules who slew the giant tyrant Geryon after three days and three nights of continuous battle and buried his head and weapons upon where a city would be built. The lighthouse atop a skull and crossbones representing the buried head of Hercules’ slain enemy appears in the coat-of-arms of A Coruña.

more information | infohub

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If February is Carnival month in Spain well then March should be “Fallas” month. This is one of the biggest festivals in Valencia and probably one of the most popular and well known around the world. The week of the Fallas are full of fireworks, processions in honor of Saint Joseph and lots of celebration.

This festival attracts more than 2 million people to this part of Spain who all come, intrigued to find out what this celebration is all about. Once here they become part of this long time tradition. They watch in awe as the large paper maiche caricature figures of both nationally an internationally celebrities and objects (some measuring up to 4 meters high) are burnt, the highlight of these fiestas.

If you are afraid of fire don´t worry the government of Valencia is well equipped with more than 250 firemen who can deal with anything and are prepared for everything. Fireworks are also one of the biggest parts of these Fallas and can be heard for miles away.

If you are daring and love noise and excitement, you need to visit Valencia and enjoy the celebration of the year.

more information |fallas

source | notes from spain

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Well, the new year is here so let the new holidays begin. Spain has many different holidays each month in each region. Starting in February with the carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (the second most important holiday in the world right after Rio de Janeiro) and continuing throughout the country.

This is a time of the year to celebrate to a latin beat. There is a huge parade which honors its chosen carnival queen and her court for that year, there are costume contests, and music, dancing and lots of energy all around the streets. Each city celebrates a little differently but one thing is for sure the fun and excitement is the same throughout this cheerful country.

more information on carnival | trip advisor

source | spanish teaching

source |

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The Dalí Theatre-Museum is located in the city of Figueres, close to Barcelona and it contains the broadest range of works from Salvador Dalís artistic career ranging from 1904- 1989 and covering from his earliest artistic experiences to his most surrealist creations and up to the last years of his life.

The museum was built in 1974 upon the remains of the former Figueres Theather and holds works such as : Port Alguer (1924), The Girl from Figueres (1926), The Spectre of Sex Appeal (1932), Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon (1941), to name a few.

Other Dali museums are the Dalí Jewel , House and Gala Dalí Castle. All worth a look.

more information | salvador dalí organization

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What would Spain be without Flamenco? I´m not really sure, but I do know that Flamenco is the soul of Spain and it is a passion that not only can be seen and heard it is felt from deep inside the veins of any Spaniard.

The roots of Flamenco can be traced back for centuries. Born from the expression of a persecuted people, most notably, the Gypsies of Southern Spain, flamenco, in general, consists of three artistic elements: the singing (cante), the dance (baile) and the guitar

(guitarra) all with the addition of hand clapping (palmas) which help and add to the rhythm and beat of flamenco.

Flamenco is everywhere in Spain and if you are visiting this country you need to experience a flamenco show for yourself. Flamenco org offers you lists of different flamenco spots and festivals so you are sure not to miss any excitement.

photo | flckr

more information | flamenco world

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