The last decade of the 19th century and the first of the 20th saw a spate of big cities - mostly in Europe and the USA - launch a new era of urban transit by opening underground rail systems. And we as travellers can be extremely grateful, as the
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Today on the feast day of St. James it's worth noting that the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), the famed mediaeval pilgrimage route from Paris down to Galicia's capital Santiago de Compostela, is famous for not just its spirituality but its
The year 1819 was part of a turbulent time in Spanish history.. Just five years earlier, the country had thrown off its occupation by the empire of Napoleon Bonaparte but the Bourbon Dynasty's restored King Ferdinand VII had caused outrage by abro
Read more…As people start to think about fun getaways for the summer, it's worth noting that a number of key spots all across Europe draw multicultural people and gays/lesbians to unwind, let their hair down, and party their butts off, whether they're backpac
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If you’re heading to Spain’s famous Costa del Sol, you’re likely to visit Málaga, its capital. This city has a rich history in which you’ll want to immerse yourself. Art enthusiasts will be pleased to know that this was the birthplace of Pablo Picas
Barcelona never fails to excite, particularly in the summer, when it boasts one of Europe’s liveliest big-city beach scenes (and with a bit of sizzle, too, including not just family zones but also gay and even nude sections). And ground zero for a
Exploring a country's cinema is a great window into its contemporary culture, and the best of 2018's Spanish movies, were honoured this past Saturday in Seville when the Academy of the Cinema Arts and Sciences of Spain held its 33rd Premios Goya g
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Looking for the perfect destination for toddler-friendly holidays can feel like a lot of pressure. You want to pick somewhere that meets all of your (and your kids’) expectations. Luckil
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Globalization has been a sometimes controversial mixed bag in different areas and different parts of the world, but I think we can all agree that on the plus side, one of its grooviest benefits has been to bring to spread many of the exciting cultu
When you come to the holiday resort town Magaluf on the east coast of Majorca in Spain's Balearic Islands, it’s likely that you here either on a booze cruise or just as a way to let loose and have some fun. Regardless of why you are here, though, y
When I was growing up in Donostia (aka San Sebastián), one of our family's favourite Christmas songs was Gabon Gabean, which lauds the family traditions of the Christmas season, sung in both Euskara (Basque language) and Spanish:
Christmas Eve one h
The home of Serrano ham, suckling pig, and a cornucopia of sausages has been a little late to the game when it comes to widespread dining and shopping options for vegetarians (especially those who eschew fish and ovo-lacto), beyond having to settle
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July 25 is the Catholic feast day of St. James, the biggest date along the Camino de Santiago(Way of St. James), Europe’s most famous religious pilgrimage route, whose endpoint is the majestic cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, believed by the fait
Autumn travel is already on the horizon! When you read about spectacular autumn foliage and leaf-peeping, the vast majority of the attention gets focused on places like the northerly regions of the USA. But many Europeans can tell you that large par
OK, I love you Italy and it’s been a fine romance but I’m breaking up with you. I haven’t done this lightly - it’s just that I have met Spain and spent some time there . . . and I’m in love.
Apart from short periods of time in my misspent youth, S
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It’s an undeniable trait of the Spanish national character that most everyone loves a festival. You can safely say that approximately every other week (if not every week) there is a festival, feria, or fiesta somewhere in Spain – including copi
A vast valley protected between two mountain ranges, northern Spain's La Rioja features terrain, wind conditions, and soil that differs from one village to the next. The River Ebro flows through it all from west to east flanked by the Cantabria Moun
Dry, fiery and dramatic: the landscapes of the Spanish island of Lanzarote are like no other. Born through volcanic eruptions millennia ago, the northernmost of the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa has since been sculpted by the hands of M
Read more…Traveling to Spain soon? You'll be happy to know that Iberia has launched a high-tech program to make Madrid's Terminal 4 the world's most user-friendly airport terminal. Here's how we're doing it.
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Known for its ornate, golden-sandstone architecture of the Renaissance era as well as one of the world's oldest universities, the Castilian city of Salamanca is a delightful fount of a million details and delights for the visitor, as I discovered on
