There is no doubt about it: now is as good a time as any to learn Spanish. The question on the minds of many prospective students is which learning method to choose! This article will outline the pros and cons of the different ways of learning Spanish so that you can decide which option is best for you.

Attend Spanish Classes

Advantages

• The students have a set time for class which sets a routine.
• There is a “real” teacher available to reply to questions and clarify any doubts; the empathy with the students encourages the learning and communication.
• The opportunity to make friends with other students – learning languages should be fun!

Disadvantages

• You have to make your way to where the class takes place and stick to the timetable.
• Face to face classes are more expensive.
• You cannot usually make up for classes that you miss.

Learn Spanish Online

Advantages:

• Online courses are available 24 hours a day, from your own home.
• They are cheaper than face to face courses.
• Some online courses offer video tutorials.

Disadvantages

• They are easier to abandon as there is less commitment to online courses.
• There is no set timetable and therefore no routine.
• You can not learn from other students as there is no interaction.
• Learning is not as fast as in a course in a Spanish speaking country.

Learn Spanish in Spain

Advantages:

• There is no better place to learn a language than in a country where it is spoken.
• As well as learning Spanish you gain an insight into the culture of the country.
• You can meet new people, and not just natives – some may be from all over the world.
• It is an amazing life experience.
• You can access more learning material such as the local radio, newspapers, TV and even the natives with whom you can interact and ask questions.

Disadvantages

• It can be more expensive.
• There is a tendency for students to spend time with only people who speak their first language, and therefore learn less than they hoped.

In summary, most people would agree that the best way to learn Spanish is in Spain. Combining all three methods will maximise your results; start a course in a Spanish language school in Spain but use the internet as a means to practice after class. Try downloading free podcasts and using online vocabulary lists to expand your knowledge to supplement what you learn on your course!

¡Mucha suerte y hasta pronto!

Born in Fuente Vaqueros near Granada in 1898, Federico Garcia Lorca was the son of a prosperous farmer and a school teacher mother. It was from Lorca's mother that he took most influence in early life – she taught him to play music and sing – skills that would lay the foundations for the poet's sense of rhythm and timing. In 1909 the family moved into Grenada where he would later mingle in artistic circles and wield a great influence amongst his peers. He first studied law at Grenada before moving to university in Madrid to the famous "Residencia de estudiantes" in 1919.

One year earlier, Lorca had his first collections of poems published, entitled "Impresiones y paisajes". It enjoyed critical acclaim without much commercial success. However, now in Madrid, Lorca was to make friends with a great many influential young Spanish artists, two of the most notable being Salvadore Dalí who needs little introduction, and Luis Buñel, the groundbreaking film maker, who Lorca was to become great friends with . 1919 also saw Lorca get his first break on the stage; he wrote and staged his first play: "El Melefico de la Mariposa". It didn't go too well and was laughed off the stage after four shows; the incident was to sour Lorca's feelings towards the theater going public forever.

During the twenties, Lorca improved as a poet and playwright and became increasingly involved in the "avant garde" movement becoming a key member of "generation of 27", a group of poets and artists keen to employ the latest techniques and theories to their medium . In this period he published another three anthologies of poetry including, probably his most well known work, "Romancero Gitano" in 1928. His second play, "Mariana Pineda" had also opened to great acclaim in 1927.

Behind his public success Lorca was struggling to keep his private life together and experienced extreme bouts of depression during this period. His friendship with Buñel and Dali was becoming strained and his attempts to hide his homosexuality from his family were becoming increasingly thin-veiled. During this period his turbulent and often one-sided relationship with sculptor Emilio Alandrén was also collapsing, adding to Lorca's torments.

In 1930, Lorca left Spain for the USA in order to study English at Columbia University. Lorca was somewhat let down by his first experience of a modern democracy, America's rampant commercialism and discrimination of minority groups provided Lorca with the fuel to produce some of his most challenging work. His poetry anthology "Poeta en Nueva York" and his play "El Publico" were both penned whilst Lorca was in the USA; indeed, "El Publico" wasn't to see the light of day until the 1970's due to the repression of his work under Franco's dictatorship.

Garcia Lorca's return to Spain in 1931 coincided with the fall of the Prima Rivera dictatorship and the reestablishment of the Spanish republic. Lorca was asked to head-up a government sponsored theater company, aimed at bringing classic theater to rural Spain. During this period Lorca created his celebrated "rural trilogy" of plays: "Bodas de Sangre", "Yerma" and "La Casa de Bernada Alba".

The outbreak of the Civil War in 1936 was to mean an untimely end for Garcia Lorca. Ultimately an independent and free-thinking artist, the specific reasons for his murder still remain something of a mystery. We do know that he left for Granada in 1936 where he was arrested and later murdered by Falangists (who would later go on to commit some of the greatest atrocities of the war) and thrown into an unmarked grave in or around Viznar, near Granada. Andalusia was the main stronghold of the nationalist movement and some maintain that when Lorca set out to Granada, it was more than likely he knew he'd never return alive, especially as his brother in law was the Socialist mayor of Grenada at the time.

Lorca was to become one of the great martyrs of the Civil War and in many respects epitomised the free-thinking opposition to Franco's regime. Franco himself wouldn't want to hear mention of the author or the circumstances of his death so Lorca's full oeuvre hasn't really been in print for much more than 25 years.

His undoubted talents place him in the same bracket as Cervantes and he has gone on to become Spain's most influential literary figure of the 20th century despite his untimely and, ultimately premature, death at the age of 38.

Castilla & Leon is the largest region in Spain located between the north of Madrid, Portugal, Aragon and the Costa Verde. Many visitors approach this region from Madrid and its International Airport as many of the major cities in the region can be reached from motorways leaving the capital of Spain. However, good road access can also be found from the North coast via roads to Burgos and Leon. In total, Castilla Leon has nine provinces that are Avila, Burgos, Leon, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora.

Castilla Leon Holiday Attractions

The main attraction for visitors to the region of Castilla Leon is the high number of historical buildings, many in near perfect condition, that have been left as a result of the many conquests by the Romans, Celts and the Moors. Many of the major cities boast some of the best cathedrals, churches and castles found not only in Spain but also in Europe for architectural design. Castilla is the land of castles and they can be found in virtually every corner of the region.

Avila

Avila is Spain’s highest provincial capital and it is also entirely enclosed by the most complete set of medieval walls in Europe. With a total of 88 towers and 9 gateways, the walls stretch for a total of 2km in length. In Spanish, the walls are called Las Murallas and were originally built by the Christian Knights after the re-conquest of the city from the Moorish settlers.

Burgos

The Gothic Cathedral in Burgos is the city’s most splendid sight and is the third largest in Spain behind those in Seville and Toledo. Founded in 1221, the cathedral’s construction continued over 300 years involving some of the best architects in Europe. As well as being a fantastic example of gothic architecture, it is also one of the main stopovers for Pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela where according to legend, the body of Saint James; one of Christ’s apostles was discovered in the year of 813.

Leon

Leon is a cosmopolitan city with a relaxing ambiance that makes it ideal for visitors to Spain who wish to see a wonderful mix of the historic and modern. The Gothic Cathedral in the centre of the city began construction in the 13th century and is one of the finest in Europe. Some of its outstanding features include 700 panes of stained glass used in its construction, and an unusual design of mismatched towers.

Salamanca

The city of Salamanca is probably best known for its University, which was founded in the 13th century and is the oldest in Spain. At any time of day you can see hundreds of students wandering around this wonderful ancient city and enjoying the many bars and restaurants well into the early hours. The best way to see Salamanca is on foot and the best place to start is the Plaza Mayor, which is one of the largest and best in Spain. The plaza is an 18th century baroque square, whose street level arcades, cafes and bars support 3 more storeys with the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) and Royal Pavilion at opposite ends to each other.

Segovia

There are two main features in Segovia that cannot be ignored as you enter the city. One is the two-tiered Roman Aqueduct that can be seen all across the city suburbs and is considered to be one of the finest in Europe. The other is the Alcazar, Segovia’s fairytale royal castle, which stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. It has everything a castle should have including spires, battlements and exquisite chambers. It is well worth climbing the 152 steps to the top of the castle for some excellent views over the whole city.

Valladolid

Valladolid is the capital of Castilla & Leon, and a city full of historic and cultural attractions including a cathedral, churches, sculptures and museums. There is plenty to see in Valladolid and also many castles to be found in the surrounding area.

Zamora

The great Cathedral of Zamora was built in the 12th Century and includes certain Gothic additions that were added at a later date. The roof of the cathedral is layered with curved stone tiles and modelled on the Haghia Sophia in Istanbul. Around the cathedral in the streets of Zamora are plenty of Romanesque churches to visit at leisure with many bars and restaurants nearby to admire their facades.

Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory is one of his most cherished works from a prolific lifetime. It was painted in 1931 long after he attended art school in Madrid and Barcelona. His early work throughout his education reflects an unusual aptitude for a wide variety of styles.

In the 1930’s Dali’s unparalleled ability as an artist was combined with his discovery of Sigmund Freud’s teachings about subconscious imagery, and his recognizable mature style was introduced to the world. Before painting The Persistence of Memory Dali had also become acquainted with the Paris Surrealists. He felt enabled to create groundbreaking art that would establish the reality within the subconscious.

The iconic imagery of the melting pocket watch has made The Persistence of Memory one of Dali’s most recognizable paintings. The painting is a splendid example of the contrast between sharp hard lines and melting softness. The watches themselves symbolize the concept of time past, and perhaps the irrelevance of time in the universe. Dali may have been commenting on the Surrealist interpretation of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Dali painted an abstract human figure in the middle of the composition that some interpret as a self-portrait. This bizarre figure is a recurring visitor in his work, and represents a soul that travels within both the realms of reality and the subconscious. Dali often drugged himself into hallucinatory states, and spent a great deal of time exploring his subconscious. The figure in the painting has only one closed eye which suggests a dream-state.

Ants crawl over a clock at the bottom left of the painting. Dali often painted ants to symbolize decay. This effectively ties in the mortal plane to work that is clearly a depiction of the subconscious.

It is likely that the clocks was used by Salvador Dali to symbolize mortality instead of literal time. And the cliffs that provide the backdrop are the impression of part of Catalonia, which was Dali’s childhood home.

This is rather a small painting, at least not as large as you would think. While this painting is one of Dali’s biggest triumphs, the actual size of this oil on canvas painting measures only 9 1/2″ x 13″.

This painting was first shown at the Julien Levy Gallery and has been part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City since 1932, thanks to an anonymous donor.

Diego Velasquez is one of Spain’s most celebrated and influential painters, born in 1599 he rose to become the leading artist in the royal court of Phillip IV. Velasquez came along during the contemporary Baroque period and went on to become one of it’s leading exponents alongside the likes of Peter Paul Rubens. Baroque was an elaborate style of painting and was especially good a depicting religious scenes; for this reason, its use was encouraged by the catholic church, its dramatic and direct style perfectly captured the drama of religious imagery.

Born in Seville, Velasquez was the son of a lawyer of noble Portuguese descent. He was well educated in philosophy, religion and languages; his parents clearly intended him for a high calling. Velasquez showed an early passion for art and displayed an obvious talent and began his studies in the discipline in Seville. At age 11 he began studying under Francesco Pacheco where he remained for five years, advancing his talents and absorbing all he could from the art scene in Seville. In 1618 he married Pacheco’s daughter with his mentor’s whole-hearted endorsement.

By 1620 Velasquez’s reputation was assured in Seville as a superb painter; early works such as “Vieja firendo huevos” painted in 1618, displayed his immense talents as he began to display a greater maturity; his works taking on an acute realism. In the latter part of 1622 Velasquez made his first trip to Madrid where he began to paint court figures and garner an excellent reputation. He famously painted a portrait of poet Luis de Gongora y Argote which was extremely well received.

When the King’s court painter died, Velasquez was presented with an opportunity to paint the king who first sat for the painter in 1623. Velasquez completed the portrait in one day and Phillip IV was pleased with the outcome, thus beginning a long and fruitful relationship that saw Velasquez admitted into the royal service. During this period Velasquez painted many portraits of his king, unfortunately most of these are now lost although two excellent examples can be found in the Prado museum in Madrid. In 1627 the king set a competition to find the best painter in Spain on the subject of the expulsion of the Moors and Velasquez duly won, further advancing him in the eyes of the Phillip IV.

In 1629 Velasquez made his first visit to Italy, he sailed from Barcelona in the company of the Marques de Spinola, the conqueror of Breda. The companionship gave him the inspiration for one of his most famous works, “The Surrender of Breda” which he would paint five years later. Velasquez was greatly influenced by what he saw in Italy and in Venice and the Spaniard took copies of many famous works including Tintorello’s “The Last Supper” and “Crucifixion”. He also painted the famous “Forge of the Vulcan” in 1630 which also hangs in the Prado museum today.

On his return to Madrid Velasquez continued to be held in high favour as the Kings favourite painter and this middle period of his career saw him produce some of his greatest works, such as “Christ on the Cross” painted in 1632. At the Kings behest Velasquez also started an academy of art in Spain, something the art-loving Phillip IV had been keen to do for some time.

Velasquez took a second trip to Italy not long after where he produced a startling portrait of Pope Innocent X. After two years he was recalled to Spain and entered the twilight of his career. 1656 saw Velasquez produce “Las Meninas”, undoubtedly the painter’s “magnum opus” and his most famous work. The painting was famously re-worked by Picasso in 1957 to startling effect. Velasquez was to die four years later in 1660 after being stricken by a fever in Madrid, his body was interred in the church of San Juan Bautista – the church was unfortunately destroyed by the French some years later so his burial place is today unknown. What is known however is the legacy that this brilliant painter left, his technical ability and personal style had, quite rightly, earned him a place in the pantheon of art.

Travelling through Spain to the ferry port of Balboa I was surprised to see the ever-changing scenery. The terrain changed every few miles. With numerous places inviting you to stop for refreshments along the motorway; these are probably welcome in the heat of summer, but it is Spring now and the roads are pretty deserted. I do wonder how they make a living in winter.

We left the flat countryside of San Pedro del Pinitar where the coastal sands meet the Mar Menor, and the shallow water’s of the inland sea. Here the mountains pop up almost vertically from the wide flat expanses where fruit trees grow amid dusty, stony soil. Golf urbanizations built for visitors line the coastal areas.

Soon before us are a craggy range of mountains, and isolated homesteads. Spain has half the inhabitants of the UK but is twice the size. Then for many miles the motorway winds through a mixture of small dusty towns and varied countryside.

Once Albacete is left behind Rhoda is the next large urbanization. Madrid was easily passed with the aid of the sat nav. and the landscape flattened once again with patches of forest along the way.

Eventually before us on the horizon were a range of snow-capped mountains. Here we pulled of the road into a very pretty village, la Cabrera. They must have a lot of visitors in the summer, possible from Madrid, as the whole village seemed to be catering for visitors, restaurants cafe’s and Hotels. We stayed at the delightful Hotel Mavi.

Next morning we were surprised to find the temperature was only 7 degrees, as the day before it had been 26 degrees, however we were in the mountains north of Madrid, sometimes driving through the clouds as the misty vapour encircled us..

We passed through a succession of mountainous areas which were very picturesque, some were covered in dense forest but as we neared the coast the land became greener with more broad-leaf trees and looked more like England, with fields of rape seed.

So pulling into Balboa ferry port we enjoyed the last few hours on Spanish soil. This was the end of wintering in the sun until the autumn when we will return to our house in Spain. What made us choose to winter in the sun? We had experienced enough cold wet icy winters and decided to change our lifestyle, so with the help of my online business, we experienced our first winter in Spain, which was delightfully warm and pleasant.

So if you are fed up with cold wet winters and are wondering how you can avoid them in future, let me recommend affiliate marketing as a means of a growing an income, and a very satisfying way of life. You will need the help and guidance of a good coach who will supply products to tempt and satisfy your customers, in a range to inspire them, plus excellent training in marketing and all areas of working online. With dedication you will soon be beginning to earn as you master the techniques.

Begin part-time and decide if working online is what you are looking for. Affiliate marketing is suitable for most people who are determined to succeed and are prepared to invest time and effort. You may be pleased to know only basic computer skills are required to start as you can soon learn other skills.

Make 2016 a great year for a new venture. Visualize your new life-style as you would like to experience it and achieve your dreams. There is great satisfaction to be derived from stretching your boundaries.

Books to interest and inspire you:

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

“Creative Visualization” by Ronald Shone

“Live life first Class” by Kenneth Thurston Hurst

“The Which Guide to buying Property Abroad”

When filing a Trademark registration, you need to determine which of the five (5) types of application is best for you. It is important to determine the right application for your situation as each have different fees and requirements.

The following are the different types of Trademark applications and when they are appropriate:

Section 1(a) Application based on use in commerce

Filings based on Section 1(a) are applicable when you are currently using the mark in commerce within all the goods/services class you wish to register. You will be required to provide the date in which you began using the mark and a specimen showing how the mark is actually being used with the goods/services.

Section 1(b) Application based on intent to use

Filings based on Section 1(b) are applicable when you have not yet started using the mark for your goods/services. You must use the mark and complete an additional filing before you will be granted full registration. Generally, you will be required to use the mark and make the necessary filings within a limited time period. So, be mindful of the time requirements to avoid the risk of having your application declared abandoned.

Section 44(d) Application based on foreign application

Filings based on Section 44(d) are applicable when you have filed for the mark in a foreign country and now wish to file for registration in the United States based on the foreign filing’s filing date. Applications based on foreign applications are required to meet very specific requirements, so you should counsel with an attorney to determine whether you are able to meet these requirements.

Section 44(e) Application based on foreign registration

Filings based on Section 44(e) are applicable when you have a mark registered in a foreign country and now wish to file for registration in the United States based on that Foreign registration. Similar to 44(d) filings, this sort of filing requires that you meet very specific requirements.

Section 66(a) Application based on the Madrid Protocol

Filings based on Section 66(a) are applicable when you wish to extend protection of your mark in multiple different countries under the Madrid Protocol.

Conclusion

Deciding which of the five applications to use will depend on a number of factors, including your current use of the mark, business goals, and target audience. It is best to always consult with an attorney to determine which application is best for your needs.

Disclaimer: This article should not be taken as legal counsel and readers should not base any legal decisions solely on the article without consulting an attorney.

The Las Damas Apartments are a cozy two key self catering holiday apartment complex located one block away from the beachfront of the Playa Levante on the Avenida Madrid in Benidorm. The Old Town and resort center are within walking distance and are a comfortable fifteen minutes on foot. The nearest golf course is five kilometers away from the Las Damas Apartments.

The complex is made up of one hundred and twenty apartments spread over twenty five floors and serviced by two elevators. Each unit has a sofa bed in the lounge / diner, a fully equipped kitchenette and terraces with sea views. Heating and satellite television is available at an extra charge to be paid locally.

Facilities at the Las Damas Apartments include an outdoor swimming pool, with sun terrace, sun loungers and parasols, which is guaranteed to be open from the 15th of June until the 15th of September.

The Las Damas Apartments do not have a reception area and all guests checking in are required to pick up their keys from the head office and reception at the Fincas Benidorm Edificio Veracruz on the Avenida Madrid on the corner of Calle Castellon during regular office hours from nine in the morning until seven in the evening from Monday until Friday. Guests arriving outside of these hours or at the weekend need to pick up their keys from the Buena Vista Apartments on the Calle Ciudad Real. All guests checking-in are required to pay a refundable breakage deposit on arrival in order to use all the facilities.

Shops, bars and restaurants are in abundance around the complex offering Spanish specialties and familiar English pub food as well. The Las Damas Apartments are well located to make the most of the golden blue flag beach of the Playa Levante and use as a base to visit the theme parks and revel in all the nightlife Benidorm has to offer.

Rates for the Las Damas Apartments can start as low as eight pounds a day.

Benidorm is a town which has many attractions namely the wonderful climate which is even good in wintertime, of course the wonderful beaches especially Playa Levante, the most popular beach which is lined with restaurants bars and shops.

Many people opt to rent an apartment in Benidorm because you can get for five people who are very reasonable price. Cheap flights are also available into Alicante airport from most destinations in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe.

Hotel accommodation is also quite reasonable in Benidorm with those on a budget renting apartments is a better choice.

Earthquake Hazards in the United States

Although the West Coast and Alaska generally has the greatest earthquake activity, the potential for earthquakes exist almost everywhere in the United States. Active areas in the Midwest include: 1) The New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeastern Missouri which has the potential to impact eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee; and 2) The Wabash Valley Seismic Zone along Illinois-Indiana border that would impact three states: Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. In Eastern United States, another active region is the Charleston area in South Carolina.

Earthquake Prediction in California and the Midwest

California has 99.7% probability of having a moment magnitude Mw = 6.7 earthquake (same as Northridge event) during the next 30 years. The southern segment of San Andreas Fault has the highest probability of generating such an earthquake in Southern California with a 67% chance of striking Los Angeles Area, while Hayward Fault is the most likely earthquake source in Northern California with a 63% chance of striking San Francisco Bay Area. Larger earthquakes are less likely during the same time frame; 94%, 46% and 4.5% for Mw = 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0, respectively. On the other hand, the probability of a New Madrid earthquake of Mw = 6.0 or greater occurring in the next 50 years is 25-40%, while a repeat of the 1811-1812 earthquakes of Mw = 7.7 is 7-10% according to the United States Geological Survey. However, most structures in the Midwest were not built to withstand earthquake shaking. Moreover, earthquake awareness and preparedness in the Midwest have lagged far behind as compared to the West Coast.

What if your Home is Destroyed or Partially Damaged?

Many people wrongly believe that the United States Government will take care of all their financial needs if they suffer losses in an earthquake which is not true. In fact, the federal disaster relief programs are designed to help you get partly back on your feet but not to replace everything you lose. In the meantime, homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage to your home and possessions. Therefore, most of the property damage caused by an earthquake will end up being handled and paid for by you. In addition, you are still responsible for your existing debts such as mortgage, auto loans, and credit card payments even if your home is destroyed or partially damaged.

How to Protect your Assets and Investments?

If you own your home, it is probably your biggest financial asset. You have worked hard to secure your piece of the American Dream to become a homeowner. Your assets and investments made in personal belongings may be at risk when an earthquake strikes as your home will probably have some level of damage. How do you plan to protect these assets and investments from the costs of destructive earthquakes? Earthquake preparedness plans that include retrofitting your home and mitigating its contents are effective ways for protection against earthquake damage. Another option for managing the potential costs is to buy earthquake insurance.

Earthquake Insurance

Earthquake insurance provides coverage for ground shaking that may destroy your home, business, and personal belongings. Coverage for other kinds of damage that may result from earthquakes, such as fire and water damage due to burst gas and water pipes, is provided by standard homeowner and business insurance policies. On the other hand, cars and other vehicles are covered for earthquake damage only under the comprehensive part of the auto insurance policy. The states of California, Washington, Missouri, Tennessee, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana are the top 10 largest markets for earthquake insurance coverage. Earthquake insurance premiums differ widely by location, insurance company, and the construction material of your home. Older buildings cost more to insure than newer ones. Wood-frame structures benefit from lower rates than unreinforced masonry buildings as they tend to withstand earthquake forces better. A wood frame house in the Pacific Northwest costs $ 1-3 per $ 1,000 worth of coverage but less than $ 0.50 on the East Coast, while an unreinforced masonry home costs $ 3-15 per $ 1,000 in the Pacific Northwest but $ 0.60-0.90 in New York.

Do You Need Earthquake Insurance?

A wise decision on earthquake insurance is crucial if you live in an active seismic region. My family and I survived the 1995 Kobe Earthquake because I decided to live in a relatively new reinforced concrete apartment building although the rent was higher than traditional Japanese wooden houses. The three story main building stood still after the earthquake except an extension that partially collapsed, while many of the surrounding traditional houses completely collapsed. However, the apartment contents were damaged including the refrigerator, a microwave, and a large TV. The answers to the following questions may help you to decide if earthquake insurance is right for you:

• Do you know the plausible earthquake hazard at your home?
• How much would it cost to repair / rebuild your home?
• Can you afford paying the mortgage while also paying to repair / rebuild your home?
• Can you afford losing your home equity?
• How much would it cost to replace your household expensive possessions (furniture, computers, HDTV's, refrigerators, etc) if destroyed?
• How much would temporary accommodations cost if you cannot live in your home after the earthquake?

Interesting Facts on Earthquake Insurance

It is surprising to know that only 12% of California residents currently have earthquake insurance coverage down from 33% in 1996 when the devastating 1994 Northridge Earthquake was still fresh in people's minds. On the other hand, 35% of Missouri homes have earthquake insurance coverage which seems reasonable.

Concluding Remark

On January 09, 2010 the powerful Mw = 6.5 Offshore Northern California Earthquake caused moderate damage to the City of Eureka and elsewhere in Humboldt County. Few days later, on January 12, 2010, a catastrophic earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Haiti which is considered to be one of the deadliest quakes in the last four decades. These earthquakes are wake up calls for individuals living in active seismic regions to re-consider retrofitting their homes and mitigating their contents to protect themselves and their families; to develop, update, or maintain their own earthquake preparedness plans; and to re-consider buying earthquake insurance to manage the potential costs of future inevitable earthquakes.

A miles south in the Atlantic Ocean lies Spain. This country has more than 4 centuries of rich history and culture that makes it the third most visited places in the world.

Spain has more than 10 cities that make up this country. Each of these places is worth visiting if only the person has the time. This is the reason some tourists stay as long as two or three days before moving on to other cities to appreciate the sights.

One city that is located in the eastern tip of Spain is Barcelona. Aside from this being the venue of the 2002 Olympics, it also has marvelous church called the La Sagrada Familia, the fortress known as the Castell de Montjuic and the La Casa Mila, which are homes that have beautiful balconies and chimneys.

Those who love going to Museums should pay a visit to Madrid that is the capital of Spain. There are over 50 museums to check out and a huge palace that has 2600 rooms which is hard to visit in just one day.

Another city close to the bay of Biscay is Bilbao. Often considered to be the American version of Detroit, it is no wonder that there is a lot of steel work going on such as the Guggenheim museum.

The most festive in this place is the Semana Grande where a major bullfighting event is held. Tourists can also eat, drink and be merry with the locals since the parties are from dusk until dawn.

The city of Madrid is another nice place to visit. It has rose gardens and the Crystal palace. Those who want to see the king and queen may get lucky by going to the Palacio Real, which is the home to the Spanish monarchy.

The most visited place in Madrid is the Paseo del Prado. Its has artwork both of Spanish and some international artists. Another place is the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia that has on display the works of Dali, Miro and Picasso.

Spain can be visited at almost any time of the year. This is because the parties and the festivities just keep on coming such as the bull run or a similar version of the Mardi Gras.

Those who may find the weather to be too cold or hot should visit Spain during May to September when it is considered to be just right.

The individual should bring a few memory cards along with that digital camera since carrying around rolls of film is quite difficult visiting the various sights.

Spain is the fashion capital. One should dress in bright colors to be able to blend in with the locals that could help get discounts when shopping for gifts and other items from the shops on the road. Women can wear a dress while the men can walk around in linen clothing.

Visitors are encouraged to wear sandals or rubber shoes. This will prevent the feet from getting sore after walking around the various places from the morning until the day ends in the early afternoon.

Those who want to check out Spain should bring a jacket and perhaps an umbrella should it rain because the weather changes especially in the mountains or by the sea.