Tagged With "spain"
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Marveling at La Sagrada Familia
Being perpetually surrounded by the ordinary things of everyday life made me a bit unprepared for the reaction I had when I experienced my first man-made marvel. Never had I felt in awe of the “genius” behind a calculator, or the...
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If you're happy and you know it...press here, please!
A Finnish company called HappyOrNot is supplying Spain's airport authority with quick-check terminals to test passenger satisfaction with aspects of airport security and service. The terminals have four buttons, with emoticons ranging from a happy...
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Spain's 'Napflix' takes siesta to a new level
For those who can't sleep without stimulation (how ironic!) a new website offers to bore you to drowsiness.
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Spain worries about too many tourists and not enough
Spain worries about being swamped in tourism as other countries lose business, and also worries that the visitors are not spending enough.
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Spain: High-speed WiFi for High-speed trains
Spain's Renfe is fitting all its high-speed lines with fast WiFi; the first line to get it, Madrid-Seville starting Dec. 5th
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Catalonia crowds call for secession, despite splits
As Catalonia's secession movement continues to grow, discord among secessionist parties may be a roadblock.
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Minding manners saves you money
A Spanish cafe sticks up for politeness, and finds it's making a difference.
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Spain's national anthem: Just hum along
Since abandoning Franco-era fascist lyrics, Spain's had to make do with a centuries-old anthem that has no official words.
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Tomato fight time again in Spain
Tomatoes by the ton and other entertainments mark La Tomatina, the world's biggest (and best-promoted) tomato fight festival.
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Feb. 10, 2017: Playa de Alojera, Canary Islands
A few images of Playa de Alojera, Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain.
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August 5, 2016: Pico de las Nieves, Canary Islands
Ian Cook shares images of and from Pico de las Nieves, the highest peak of the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Spain links up with Bollywood!
Spanish tourism officials are hosting events and building ties with India's Bollywood film industry to increase Indian tourism in Spain.
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Granada, Spain: A Walk Through the Historic Albaicin
Few of Europe’s medieval neighborhoods can have as varied a history as Granada’s hill-climbing Albaicin. Many others share the narrow streets, twisting lanes, hidden courtyards and sudden vistas, but this one is unique, and a UNESCO World...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 6, 2014: The Palace of Charles V
Charles V (Carlos to his Spanish subjects and Karl to the subjects of most of the Holy Roman Empire) built this palace in the Alhambra at Granada; he wanted both to show his power and wealth and to put a Christian stamp on the formerly Muslim...
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The Alcazar of Jerez: A Window into History
Jerez is known to most people for its namesake wine—sherry—or as a center for Flamenco, but it has another less well-known attraction, its alcazar, originally a Moorish fort and military residence, then the seat of Christian mayors,...
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Six Tapas Bars in Seville, Spain
We just spent five days in Seville, walking the city, seeing the sights, taking a day trip to Jerez—and eating tapas. If ever there were a city with a tapas bar on every corner, Seville is it. In fact, maybe two on every corner! Five...
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Spain: Lots of May events on tap
A round-up of festivals, sports and music events, pilgrimages and more to enliven May visits to Spain.
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Uber tries a new tack in Spain
Uber, which was banned in Spain last December and tried to overturn the ban with an appeal to the European Commission, will now try a different perspective: following the rules. Uber's original plan used its app to connect passengers with...
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Spain: a campaign for quiet dining
A Spanish charity that works on behalf of people with hearing impairments has asked Spanish diners—and visitors—to keep it down a bit while out to eat. The group, Oir es Clave, says that "Spain is the second noisiest country after...
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Spain's tourism hitting record numbers this year
Spain is getting record tourism numbers this year, in part because of jitters elsewhere
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Is Spain becoming a Drone Zone?
Spain's local governments are finding innovative uses for small drones, but Madrid's new city government cancelled its order.
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June in Spain: Festivals all over
Spain has a bit of something for every taste in June, including a huge book fair, a Bosch anniversary, and fire-walkers. More inside...
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Here's a chance to really dig Spain!
A team of British archeologists is using crowdfunding to finance an excavation in a Spanish Iron Age hill fort, and to recruit willing diggers.
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Austria's Easter: 50 million eggs, lots of visitors
Austria's Easter season includes 50 million eggs, many visitors and a lot more. Click to read more, and also news about Easter in Spain and Denmark.
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Flour and egg battle marks Spanish town's tradition
Ibi, in Eastern Spain's Valencia region, was a battlefield Monday as two "armies" fought each other for control of the town, using flour, eggs and firecrackers as weapons. It's hard to say who won. The mock battle takes place every Dec. 28, which is Dia de los Inocentes, roughly equivalent to April Fools' Day in effect. In the 200-year-old tradition, the insurgents seizing the town under the slogan of "New Justice" served as "Enfarinats," or "flour police," levying fines under a mock system...
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Spain proclaims 'World Tapas Day'
Those tasty little bites that can add up to a delicious meal of an evening will now be honored with a special celebration.
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It's Official: Spain's 2015 a record tourism year
A record year for Spain's tourism industry helps power an economic recovery as travelers seek safer places in the sun.
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Spain to open Europe's first 'underwater museum'
Lanzarote, in Spain's Canary Islands, is about to 'open' an underwater museum you can visit by diving or by glass-bottom boat.
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Is the clock running out on Spain's 'wrong time?'
Spain may be ready to undo the Franco-era decision to share a time zone with Germany rather than England...and it may bring even more change with it.
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'Game of Thrones' sparks Spain tourism
'Television tourism' is drawing greater numbers of visitors to the cities and sites where popular TV shows have been filmed.
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The Ancient Spanish Monastery, Florida
DrFumblefinger visits an old Monastery -- built in the 12th century in Spain, but purchased by William Randall Hearst, disassembled, crated and shipped to America where decades later it was reassembled in North Miami.
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Re: Silk Road becomes the Silk Railway
As a huge fan of all sorts of surface travel, you had me going there for a moment. Until I realized I'd have to wear my chorizo disguise to get a ride on this train.
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Re: Silk Road becomes the Silk Railway
I’d have to agree there…visions in my head of having to stand out in the cold while the engines were changed (and sinister figures on the platform, with their collars turned up…thanks, Graham Greene, Eric Ambler, etc.). The author of the article may, at the end, have crossed a line, though with the words: “It is certainly an epic monument to the lengths we will go to meet our unfulfillable desire for things we don’t need.” I can’t see how those words apply to olive oil and chorizo…
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Re: Silk Road becomes the Silk Railway
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: As a huge fan of all sorts of surface travel, you had me going there for a moment. Until I realized I'd have to wear my chorizo disguise to get a ride on this train. You could always disguise yourself as a ham or a can of olive oil. As I recall, there was a famous character on the Popeye cartoon who liked to disguise herself as Olive Oyle.
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Re: Silk Road becomes the Silk Railway
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: You could always disguise yourself as a ham... That would definitely make the most sense, actually requiring no disguise.
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Re: Bobbies on the Beat in Spain's Ibiza
I love the way you Americans call our British Cops "Bobbies" It's awesome !
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Re: Bobbies on the Beat in Spain's Ibiza
Has that gone out of style? It's what we were always told you call them (when not calling them something worse)! Here, from Brittanica: derivation of name Scotland Yard The London police force was created in 1829 by an act introduced in Parliament by the home secretary, Sir Robert Peel (hence the nicknames “bobbies” and “peelers” for policemen). This police force replaced the old system of watchmen and eventually supplanted the River (Thames) Police and the Bow Street patrols, the latter a...
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Re: Bobbies on the Beat in Spain's Ibiza
Haven't heard the name "Bobbies" ( on bicycles two by two) since Roger Miller sang about it in the 60s. We have a long list of things that have been attributed to us. Things that belong in a time capsule. But it keeps the tourists happy ! I love researching the origins of words. A word you use in the US more than we do. "Sherriff" has its origins in the English middle ages. But from where ?
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Re: Bobbies on the Beat in Spain's Ibiza
Just as I suspected Paul ! The History of Britain you quote is written by Paul R. Josephson Visiting Associate Professor of History, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts Without leaving the comfort of his leather chair ! Obviously ...
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Re: Spain's tourism hitting record numbers this year
Flights from the UK to Spain for under $50 helps too. Many families in the UK have bought a Spanish apartment that gets shared with their relatives.
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Re: Spain: a campaign for quiet dining
This is a big problem in the Caribbean too. You book a table in a fine restaurant. Candles on each table. Napkins and best silver cutlery. And the gentle tones of a Spanish Guitar soloist provide the entertainment. Then 2 families sitting at tables 15 feet apart discover they both come from Michigan. They have to shout to each other to be heard above the music. The soloist takes a break. The conversation continues and the noise level stays the same.
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How An Online Guide Can Help You Find Leiebil (Car Rental) In Alicante
Some suggestions for car rental and exploration of Alicante (sponsored content)
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Spanish hotel chain to use only renewable energy
Spain's Melia hotel chain has been working with Endesa, Spain's largest electric utility, on a plan for the hotel chain to use only renewable energy, such as wind and hydro, and expects to be all-renewable for all of its locations by next year.
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Silk Road becomes the Silk Railway
There's a new long-distance champ for rail routes: an 8,077-mile run from Yiwu, China to Madrid, Spain. The first trip took 3 weeks, but that may improve as time goes on.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 14, 2015. Hans Monheimus
I made many friends during my journeys to Sri Lanka. The most treasured of these was with science fiction writer and futurist, Sir Arthur C. Clarke . Arthur had two expat friends he enjoyed having Sunday brunch with -- former US ambassador, James Spain, and Hans Monheimus, both of whom I got to know quite well.
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Seville's Cathedral: Vast Spaces, Long History
The Cathedral of Seville is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and third-largest church—not only verifiable, it’s the first thing that strikes you on entering.
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Ryanair, unions at odds in Spain and Denmark
Ryanair, the leading low-cost air carrier in Europe has its hands full on labor issues these days.