Ok, I think I have introduced you to most of the typical foods in Spain such as the Paella, Tortilla de Patata and specialty drinks like Sangria and Sidra and now I introduce you to Jamon Serrano. One of the greatest delicacy’s of this country. You can´t come to Spain and not leave without trying a little piece of this delicious cured ham.

Jamon Serrano is a dry cured ham which is generally served raw in thin slices, similar to the Italian prosciutto. A foreleg prepared (and eaten) in the same manner is called paleta. The highest quality, pata negra (literally black hoof), which only accounts for about five percent of total ham production, is made from the black Iberian pig (cerdo ibérico), range fed and fattened on acorns in cork oak groves along the southern border between Spain and Portugal.

The taste of this specialty ham is like nothing you have ever tasted. My American friends who come and visit me here in Spain are hesitant at first to try this meat that is being held by a stick and to them does not look very appetizing but let me tell you as soon as they have their first bite they are hooked and proceed to try to figure out how they are going to take a leg back home to the states..

source notesfromspain

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The Costa Blanca part of Spain has many different sites it offers. One of those sites in the island of Tabarca. In just a boat ride away from Alicante you can arrive in this privileged island, in the past called San Pablo. Surrounded by the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, this island conserves all its marine tradition and offers us a precise paradise.

Here you could practice scuba diving of fishing in the unsurpassable conditions of its crystalline waters that are protected ever since Tabarca was declared a marine reserve. You can visit the museum of miniature art, the urban town, walk around its surrounding and eat at one of its many restaurants recognized for their menus typical of the region with fish as their specialty.

Any time of the year is a god time to go visit the island of Tabarca, so make it now.

More Information alicante live

Photo Las provincias

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What do you know about the Spanish Royalty? If you are interested in learning more about Spain and its Royal court you can visit the casareal webpage, where you wil find out all about this intriging family. You can also learn more about theRoyal Palacee where the royal family carry out their official duties, under the terms of the Constitution and the Law of 16 June 1982. You can visit this beautiful place which is located in the center of Madrid.

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I think every country has its local favorite sport. In the US you have your choice of football, baseball or basketball, in the UK rugby is the most common but here in Spain and most of Europe Soccer (called fútbol in spanish) is the national treasure.

Spanish men schedule appointments and work schedules around the soccer matches and get together in bars of friends houses to watch all the excitement. The two most popular teams are the Real Madrid or the Barcelona Team FCB who has as its superstar Ronaldinho who is out of this world.

You are either from Madrid or Barcelona and there is no gray line here. Sport fans take this sport very seriously and will go to any lengths to enjoy the game. I don´t care much for sports but endure the games along with my husband and son who are absolute fans.

The rules of the game are pretty straight forward, kick the ball into the net, don´t use your hands and run around trying to stop the ball from getting to the opponent. This is another one of those events that you must attend to while in Spain.. pick your team right and get into the fun.

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I think it’s almost everyone’s dream to retire in a place where the sun shines 365 days a year, where the life is relaxed, the food is good and the quality of life even better. Spain for some years now has topped the charts in preferred places to retire, with residents from the UK making it their number one choice. So, if you are one of those people who dream of retiring in Spain, read on..

Tenerife news state: “Protecting your wealth in retirement is a key factor in living the lifestyle you dreamed of in Spain. Reviewing your financial arrangements will help to make sure that you do.”

Another article by Assetz points out things to be aware of when relocating to another country. If you are sure you want to retire in Spain you first need to start your savings plan and start looking for an investment property way ahead of your retirement date. You should start to look into any tax laws which will prevent you from receiving your home country retirement in full and talk to financial experts early on, so they can start a retirement plan that is right for you.

With a little planning, a lot of savings and a dream you will be living the Spanish life in no time.

source eyeonspain

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Well, its official although ticket information is not yet available, what is known is that the date is set to be September 27th, 2007 in the Barcelona Olympic Stadium. The Police who announced last month their comeback will only visit this city in Spain during their world tour. They will start in Stockholm and end in Cardiff.

source typically spanish

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Love Spanish food, want to try some of the things you have been reading about? Not planning a visit to Spain in the next few weeks and want to have a taste of Spain. I found a great little online store called latienda where you can find authentic Spanish food at very reasonable prices. Easy to order, just click and buy. When I was living in the states it was my saving grace, a place that I could always go to find my favorite food.

La tienda was created in 1996 and is a family business that wants to share the love of Spanish food to everyone around the world. They have carefully chosen each individual item and give one of the best customer services around. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a shot you will not be disappointed…the next thing on your list will be planning the trip to Spain so you can explore more about this wonderful country.

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Ok, just reading about this hotel makes me want to jump on an airplane and get there as soon as I can. Hotel Torrequebrada is a luxurious 5 star property which is located in Benalmadena, a coastal town near Marbella. With 350 spacious guestrooms all with balconies overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, I ask what more can we ask for?

There are 4 different style restaurants to choose from, a health club, gym, beauty parlor, tennis courts, gardens and lots and lots of sunshine. I lived in Benalmadena when I was about 6 years old for a couple of years and I could still remember waking up everyday and just walking to the beach and playing in the sand all day long.. I’m sure when I return I will do the same.

You can book directly with the hotel or look for special packages that include everything you will nee for a great vacation.

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Ok, it was on my list of things to write about. Good old chorizo.. another one of the great delicacies of Spain. While searching for interesting information I came across this article in the newspaper 20 minutos. It seems that a company from Galicia has created the longest chorizo in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The chorizo measured 110,15 meters in length.

The makers of this impressive chorizo state it was a very difficult project. They used over 119 kilos of pork meat, 62 kilos of panceta, 4.5 kilos of sweet pepper, 800 grams of spicy pepper, 800 grams of salt and 300 grams of garlic. (now you know the basic ingredients that go into making a chorizo). All this has to be squeezed in to (in this case) an artificial stomach lining..

The ingredients and making process might not make this seem like an appetizing treat, but I beg you to taste a good piece of chorizo and then tell me what you think.

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The beautiful Picasso Museum in Malaga will hold two new works of art in its complex, the Retrato de Paulo con cuello blanco and Retrato de Olga which were acquired by the ministry of culture for an estimated three million euros with the collaboration of Unicaja. The paintings show Olga Kohklova whom Picasso married in 1918 and their son Paulo who is father to Christine Bernad who along with her son Bernard Ruiz initiated the museum with their generous donations of paintings.

The two works of art are available for public viewing starting March 5th, in the second hall of the museum which also holds other works inspired by his wife and son.

source el pais

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