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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UNESCO World Heritage Committee is part of the World Heritage organization that work to protect cultural and national sites of the world. This centre works night and day to investigate the world wonders and most intriguing sites that need to be preserved.

When visiting a new country one of the first things to look for are these precious monuments and sites that are considered worthy enough to be saved and restored for all time. Within Spain, this committee has chosen certain sties as ones in need of protection due to their history and amazing beauty.

Included in this prestigious list are the Alhambra, Segovia´s Aqueduct and the Route of Santiago de Compostela to name a few. I will cover each one on future post to help you better understand Spain and its beauty.

more information the salmons

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We all know Spain is known for its great wine and now Enate becomes the fifth Spanish company to be awarded the seal of honor. This award certifies that Enate is fully equipped to deliver the consumer a product that meets with all the compliances of the food safety regulations.

Enate is a winery from Huesca that offers a wide range of wine from its estate of the art facilities you can visit any time you like.

more information | winesfromspain

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All is set for next weeks Madrid Fusión 2007 held at The Palacio Municipal de los Congresos in Madrid. Here Chefs of high prestige will show off their techniques and creativity in this yearly event that holds many surprises.

In attendance will be chefs such as: Ferrán Adrià, Andoni Luis Aduriz, Dani García, Pedro y Marcos Morán, Carles Gaig, Paco Roncero, and international chefs, Charlie Trotter, Fatema Hal, Tetsuda Wakuda y Heston Blumenthalto name a few. With events planned like Vegetable treatment techniques: recovery of varieties”. Koldo Rodero and Floren Domezaín and Ricardo Gil.

This is sure to be a must see event.

source directo al paladar

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Pablo Ruiz Picasso, the geniuos who brought art to life and gave the world a new meaning of the word art is alive here in this spanish museum which holds over 3,500 of his works.

Many of his works hold a special bond with Barcelona which is why this is a must see museum. Make sure you sign up for the free guided tours so you can get as much out of your visit as possible.

Please mark this on your to see list of Spain, it will be more than you expect and much more than you can imagine.

more information picasso museum

picture flckr

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Could Pedro Almodobar do it again? His last Oscar win was in 2002 for the screenplay “Hable con Ella” and in 1998 he won the big award for best film with the movie “Todo sobre mi Madre”. Could Volver be number 3 for the Spanish native? The American Critics Association have already awarded him an award for the best foreign film, along with the  European Film Academy that has awarded him with 5 very well deserved awards.

Pedro along with his muse Penelope Cruz are nominated for the Golden Globes award. Penelope has become the first Spanish actress to be nominated for the best female actress award in this prestigious award show and is said to be a sure bet. We will have to wait and see how these two along with Volver fair at the Oscar Nominations later this month.

source  euroresidentes

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When in Europe you feel the energy of the time past by and a sense of culture and art that will overwhelm you. If you happen to be in Spain (or anywhere in Europe) the 16th through the 18th of February 2007 you will be able to have a peek at some of the worlds best operas.

Many opera houses in Spain will open their doors to all interested in finding out a little more about Opera. European Opera Days is a celebration of 4 centuries of opera that will include selected performances by many of today’s great opera stars.

If you have never been to an opera this is your chance and what better place than in Spain to celebrate the sounds of pure beauty.

more information European opera days

picture flckr

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Spain is known for many different things but one of the most controversial is the sport or as some refer to it the art of bullfighting. This sport has been around for ages and has a loyal following of many devoted fans. A corrida de toros (bullfight) begins with the entrance of the entire entourage that is part of the corrida into the bullring and introducing themselves to the audience, from there different rituals are carried out with people from all over the world cheering on.

If you find yourself in Spain and are interested in this peculiar art form you can visit any of the bullrings around the country. This is not for everyone and the controversy surrounding the animal cruelty is very well known throughout the world but here is Spain it is considered a life long tradition and looked upon in a completely different light.

more information idealspain

photo flckr

more information coloquio

photo flickr

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What can I say about Toledo that has not already been said. All I could really say is this is my favorite city in the entire world, and that is a big statement but its true. Wether you grew up in Spain or anywhere outside of it Toledo will also become your favorite spot.

With over two thousand years of history , this tiny city has more than 100 monuments and is the historic center of Spain. I could literally spend everyday of my life here examining the architecture, getting to know the town in and out and relaxing with a cup of coffle in the main courtyard.

Even though there is a lot to see, a train ride away from Madrid this makes for a quick day trip that is not to be missed.

more information Toledo

photo flickr

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Sidra is the official drink of Asturias. In thisnorthern Region of Spainn, the drinking and specially pouring of this drink are a specialty here.

Sidra or Cider is fermented apple juice and has been around for docents of years in this country. There is even a sidra museum for the most devoted fans. Sidra contains a small amount of alcohol but please don´t let that fool you. There are certain rules when drinking this drink. The first and most important is the pouring, it should be poured into a narrow glass from a height of around 30 cm or three feet, and once a bottle is opened it must be consumed in one sitting due to the fact it oxidizes quickly and becomes flat.

Any time of the year is good for a good glass of Sidra. When in the northern part of Spain don´t forget to go to any of the cider bars and pour yourself (well, at least try) a glass of this tasty juice.

source bootsnall

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