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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 11
Until Sunday, September 16, you will be able to find, among other venues, at the Pueblo Espanyol as well as the Ramblas and the nearby Plaza Real in Barcelona, the International Mexican Fair and Mariachi Festival.
Events include music from various well known artists, folk dance and a Mariachi Procession, projection of films and all kind of different activities.
spaindreams.com
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 11
From tomorrow, September 12 to September 16, the Asia Festival will be held in Barcelona, offering music, dance and films apart from leisure activities from different Asian countries. Many of the events will be held during the weekend. The main event area of the festival is to be found around Barcelona?s Mercat de les Flors and Institut del Teatre. This year?s guest country is South Korea.
spaindreams.com
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 6
Wine dominates the local economy in La Rioja more than in any other part of Spain. So it?s no surprise that these festivities are even more special for them. The most symbolic act is the offering of the grape juice, obtained through the traditional method of stamping them underfoot, to the Virgin of Valvanera, La Rioja?s patron. When authorities have sampled the juice and passed it to their assistants, the San Mateo festival gets into full swing. This act, which indicates the beginning of the wine-making season, is of enormous importance. The participation of the general public and the presence of bottles from various wineries in the shop windows shows this fully.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 30
For the past thirty years, different studies by scientists and doctors worldwide have shown that the inhabitants of Mediterranean countries suffer less heart attacks and have a lower death rate from cancer. These same studies have demonstrated that the type of food common to all five nations plays a vital role in the prevention of and fight against these diseases. Thus has arisen the concept of the Mediterranean diet, which has come to be seen as synonymous with health. The Mediterranean diet is based on a combination of foods and lifestyle related to Mediterranean culture. It corresponds not to geography, but to a shared ancestry reflected in the type of food people from this part of the world eat.The diet?s primary components include pasta, mainly made from wheat, abundant green vegetables and pulses. Fruit, olive oil (?Spanish gold?) and fish are also used, while meat, especially of the red variety, is less common. All of the above are frequently seasoned with spices and herbs like garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary and pepper and washed down with good wine, though always in moderation.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 16
A Celtiberian city, an important Roman town, capital of the Visigothic kingdom, centre of rebellion against C?rdoba?s Muslim caliphate, and metropolis of the Spanish empire with Charles I. These are just some of the roles which Toledo has played throughout the years. All of these eras and their accompanying cultural influences have left their mark on the city. Together with the blocks of granite that form palaces or monasteries, it is not unusual to come across synagogues where the Hebrew inscriptions combine with writings in Arabic. Such places also provided shelter and inspiration to great artists, as shown by the works of the Cretan painter El Greco.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 16
It was the year 1370 when a patrolling soldier named Frances Canto found a chest bearing the inscription ?I am for Elche? on the beach. When Canto opened the box, he discovered an image of the Virgin Mary along with text and music for the staging of the Feast of the Assumption. Surprised by his find, he rode to Elche to tell the authorities there, who organised a group of citizens to go to the beach and collect the Virgin?s image. When they arrived, residents from Alicante and Orihuela were also trying to take it away. To resolve the arguments about its ownership, the chest was placed on a cart pulled by two oxen wearing blinkers. The animals were left at a crossroads in order to discover the chest?s true destination, and they duly pulled their load towards Elche. Upon its arrival in the town, it was set on a throne in the hermitage of San Sebastian.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 9
Sanl?car de Barrameda is about the Guadalquivir River, horses and dry sherry. The La Pileta and Bajo de Gula beaches play host each year to the second phase of the horse races known as Los Palcos, a festival which has been declared of International Tourist Interest by the Spanish government. These races are the oldest in Spain and one of the most picturesque events to take place on the country?s coastline.
posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 9
Its barely 700 square kilometres contain incredible contrasts within an environment ideal for relaxation. Menorca, the small one, as the Romans called it, has been since prehistoric times a stepping stone for various cultures due to its strategic location in the western Mediterranean. As a result, several civilisations have left their influence there due to the island’s value as a port of call and refuge. Their legacy has made Menorca’s heritage one of the richest in the region. So much so, that historians and archaeologists have come to regard it as an authentic open-air museum.
posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 9
A natural step on St James? Way and the Silver Route, Oviedo displays itself proudly to the world each year at the Prince of Asturias Awards. During the course of its 25 years of existence, this ceremony has made Oviedo the cultural capital of Spain every autumn and a global reference point. Unsuspecting recipients, such as director Woody Allen, are never short on praise for a city which retains the best of its heritage and combines it with a unique network of green
posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 9
As a popular saying goes, ?being Spanish is a source of pride, being Aragonese is a title, and being from Arag
