Europe Travel Guide » Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net Melissa tips Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:19:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 The Centers of the Nightlife in Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-nightlife/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-nightlife/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:33:15 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=199 There would be no doubt that nightlife is a way of life, and Spain nightlife is an absolute way to get a life. I bet even Spaniards party themselves to epic proportions more than any other people. La marcha, or Spain nightlife is at its highest in Madrid and Barcelona. For a party junkie like me, I should know better to use my afternoon siesta wisely if I am to crash the Spanish nightclubs since they are open until dawn.

In major cities and resort areas, nightlife is varied for all ages, there is the jazz clubs, cabarets, discos, sex shows, flamenco clubs and the usual music clubs, bars, night clubs, music halls and restaurants with floor shows. The popularity of Karaoke in many pubs and clubs wouldn’t be much for asking why.

Nightlife isn’t just about the booze and the balls in Barcelona and Madrid. It also means that whole families are out enjoying themselves while sipping coffee or sangria at sidewalk cafes until the wee hours in the morning.

Nightclubs in Barcelona

You’ll find Old Town Barcelona intoxicated with trendy, casual pubs mixed with tourist spots and local watering holes. Nightlife in this Old Town is very much simple, sitting at a sidewalk café watching people pass by in the night may be one. One should know that in Spain, the terms café and bar are quite synonymous. Although one should still have to know that a bodega specializes in wine, a cerverseria serves beer while refined palate tourists should visit Spain’s Xampanyeria or champagne bars.

It’s a sad fact that the hottest nightclubs in Barcelona are not open until midnight –because they start doing business at 1 or even 2 in the morning.  You should not be in tight budget though since these bars charge up to ten times you would normally pay for a bottle of beer. Nightclubs in Barcelona keep up with the latest and trendiest developments in the nightlife in Spain.

Some tourists in Spain may find disco music dead and dumb, so Barcelona still have nightclubs that features an edectic mix of live music. Every June, Spain holds the European Jazz Festival where the best jazz masters around the Mediterranean travels to Spain to witness and take part in the festival. In October and November on the other hand, Barcelona hosts an annual jazz festival where street concerts are very much alive and Spanish nightclubs gets a new beat.

The Madrid Nightlife

The epicenter of Spain’s nightlife can be found in Madrid. At 4 am, you’ll still have problems whre to park and how you will free yourself from the traffic jam as clubbers and ravers hop from discobares to discotecas. Discobares are the most common in the Spain nightlife haunt. These clubs entertain polysexual crowd as they play a mix of rock, dance, and salsa music. This gets going around 11pm until 2 or 3 in the morning. If Spain discotecas is what you want, don’t think about going there by midnight since they don’t open their doors until 1am.

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-nightlife/feed/ 2 My Top 10 Cities to Visit in Europe http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/my-top-10-cities-to-visit-in-europe/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/my-top-10-cities-to-visit-in-europe/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:03:44 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=139 Everyone has their own favorite place to visit and I have mine. You can decide to agree or disagree with me, but here are my choices for the top 10 cities to visit in Europe.  You can find hot deals on hotels in Europe with Twenga.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 1: Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy is considered as one of the world’s fashion and design capitals. It’s the most modern of all of Italy’s cities while still keeping most of its history intact. Here’s a tip: save on travel and splurge on shopping. This is why Milan is one of my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 2: Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and also considered to be the capital of the European Union. Don’t worry about being surrounded by international diplomats though. The city has vibrant areas filled with restaurants and bars and beautiful parks. The city also happens to be right in the heart of Europe so you can easily go to other European hot spots from here. This is why this is in my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 3: Berlin, Germany

Berlin remembers its colourful past with monuments and museums that are definitely worth seeing. The city is the heart of Germany and is a wonderful and exciting city to visit. There are trendy restaurants, shops, bars and boutiques. It also has great transportation which makes getting around easy. The festivals are also a key factor in being chosen as one of my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 4: Munich, Germany

Munich is the largest city in Germany and it has a fabulous culture. The city is historical and grand and features some of the best museums in Germany. There’s great architecture, culture, fund clubs and the famous Oktoberfest beer celebration. Why wouldn’t Munich be in the top 10 cities to visit in Europe?

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 5: Istanbul, Turkey

If you want to feel intrigue when you arrive at a city, visit Istanbul. The city is shrouded in history, layered in religion and wrapped up in theater. There’s a rich culture to immerse yourself in. And that’s enough for me to name Istanbul as one of my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 6: Manchester, England

Manchester, England has a classy culture with a historic vibe. It’s never short of partygoers. They’ve got a great soccer team and tons of music venues to have a great time at. What else could you want in one of the top 10 cities to visit in Europe?

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 7: Athens, Greece

Athens has a lot to offer with its many old and beautiful buildings and ruins that date back to BC. It’s rich in history and culture too. Why wouldn’t the birthplace of modern civilization be in the top 10 cities to visit in Europe?

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 8: Seville, Spain

Seville lures tourists with its colors and vibrant nature. It’s the cultural and financial center for Spain. With a fascinating history, sights and attractions that will blow you away, and the wonderful coastline, Seville makes it into the top 10 cities to visit in Europe easily.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 9: Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is built on history, romance and culture. It’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for history, festivals and a great nightlife. From visiting Edinburgh Castle to experiencing a rugby match, this city left an impression that made me list it in the top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe  10: Marseille, France

Forget Paris for a moment and think of Marseille. It’s one of the older cities in Europe and is listed as a major center of art and history. The city is fashionable in different aspects without forgetting its rich history. Marseille offers great bars and fun around every corner. This is the final entry to my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

What’s on your list?

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/my-top-10-cities-to-visit-in-europe/feed/ 0 Museums in Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/museums-in-spain/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/museums-in-spain/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:29:00 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=119 Art lovers must not take for granted Spain’s magnificent collection of Museums that offers the finest works of world class artists. The first museum one must visit is the Museu del Temple Expiatori de La Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudi is the author of the architecture of Barcelona. Sagrada Familia, a giant temple, is one of Gaudi’s greatest creations. This is one of the most visited attractions in Barcelona catering over two million visitors per year. Spain definitely made an impact when it housed the museum inside a building. The museum tells significant developments and history of the Sagrada Familia as well as to the author himself. The photos of how the Sagrada Familia developed through its reconstruction will surely capture you as its photos dates back from the early beginnings up to this day. This huge piece of art is one the Spain is really proud of having.

Another of Gaudi’s work is La Padrera. The building itself is the museum. It is the second most visited museums in Barcelona, another pride of Spain. La Padrera outstands the other museums as it has the most unusual apartment building’s ever built. Though potential tenants were hesitant to rent the rooms due to its irregularly shaped rooms, today, La Padrera houses renaissance drawings and a collection of modern art paintings. It is also considered as one of the most important museums in Barcelona, Spain.

Museu Futbol Club Barcelona is the fourth most visited museum in Spain. Ever wondered why it is named as Futbol Club? It is for the very reason that it houses sporting artifacts from the club dating back a century ago. Two types of admission is offered to tourists and visitors: One would give you access only to the museum and the pitch are while the other would provide tour a guided tour of the changing rooms, press rooms, VIP lounge, and actually see the pitch at ground level. You will also be allowed to sit on the players’ benches and get to feel how it is like to sit in the best seats of the stadium. Football lovers must never miss this place!

Barcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture is known for its regular exhibitions of widely varying artworks ranging from photography, paintings, sculptures and frescos from around the world and from different periods as well. It is the 8th most popular museum in all of Barcelona, Spain.

The history of Catalunya can be well studied in the Museum d’ Història de Catalunya. It does speak for itself doesn’t it? Its artifacts deals with the different periods in the Catalunya history, it also has those artifacts which will allow you to interact with the displays.

The Maritime Museum of Spain is one of the oldest one in Barcelona. It covers the period of 1750 to 1850. After visiting this museum you may want to take a quick stroll to see Colon (the giant statue in honour of Christopher Columbus) and then on to Port Vell which is a picturesque walk across the marina.

Spain also offers an archeological museum through Catalan Museum of Archaeology. The curator of this museum has given a significant emphasis on the archeological remains of Catalunya. If only for the novelty of the subject material, the ancient history of Catalunya, it is well worth a visit.

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/museums-in-spain/feed/ 1 Spain for Singles: The Endless Things to Do http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-for-singles-the-endless-things-to-do/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-for-singles-the-endless-things-to-do/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:25:16 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=51 There’s a lot to do in Spain that doesn’t require that you’d be attached or with someone special. You can enjoy even when you are alone. One activity I may suggest is horseback riding. You get to enjoy nature from another point of view. A route is prepared throughout the mountains or by the Andalusia beaches. The variety of landscapes you may awe in wonder is in the south of Andalusia, mainly in the province of Malaga and Cadiz. If souvenirs you may want to find, there are a plenty of Andalusian products available in the market.

Paragliding is another activity which definitely anyone would enjoy. This is like parachuting, only without the help of a plane. Marbella is one of the best paragliding areas in Spain and in placed at approximately 1.000 meters above sea level with huge open spaces below.  Paragliding offers another way of enjoying the wonderful landscapes from an unusual perspective; the view is just as near as those of the birds.

I hate physics, but you may need to appreciate it with our next activity in line. If you dare jump from a plane and fall freely for the next minute, wouldn’t that be exciting? Without anything to stop you from falling, I bet your heart will fall first when you find out that this activity we call parachuting is very much affordable with an excellent quality. If you are with someone, you may also try jumping as a tandem.

If you’re not up for the free fall, there is Spain’s hot air balloon for you to enjoy. This is another way to travel the blue skies without getting your heart fall first to the ground. As you contemplate the scenery before you as you travel the sky with this floating balloon, you will be able to view the horizon like you never before have done and for as far as your eyes can see. Unlike parachuting, you can’t jump until the balloon reaches the ground!

Glider rides are very thrilling to do in Spain. A glider, for everyone’s information, is a plane with no engine that once aloft, will cut through the air and let you enjoy all the freedom the plane flying has to offer. This activity is done as safely as possible, there is the assistance of a plane with an engine that will pull you into the air by cable and will then disconnect the cable by remote allowing you to soar like a bird.

Do you want to witness the power of a motorcycle in a four wheel vehicle? Then you’d better try quad riding. It is more like driving a car only you get the feeling of driving a motorcycle more. Sky is the limits or as far as you would want to set it. There are experienced guides, vehicles appropriate for all ages and the needed safety equipment (protective glasses, gloves and helmet). The only requirement left for you is to have a driver’s license.

Spain has definitely a lot to offer those singles out there!

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