Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe with a great mix of beaches, history and a friendly welcome from the locals. Major international airports such as Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga are now very busy with cheap flights available from around the world.

Alternatively you could always drive through the South of France or even jump on a ferry from England to Spain visiting the famous port of Bilbao.

There are many attractions for those wishing to Travel to Spain including the fantastic beaches along the Costa coasts, the rich history of cities such as Barcelona and the charming small villages throughout Spain offering local food.

Spain is only a few hours flight from most European countries and now has adopted the Euro as it’s currency. Famous for cheap bargains with the old peseta currency it is now the opinion of many that the introduction of the Euro has increased prices throughout Spain.

However you can still pick up fantastic bargains at the local market in such places as Benidorm where the tradition of haggling is still strong ! You can also pick up good deals at the ” duty free ” airport lounges where cigarettes, perfume and alcohol are the most popular buys.

When you travel to Spain don’t forget the charming islands just off the coast of Spain. These include Majorca where you can visit the famous Palma Cathedral and even mingle with the famous who dock their boats at Palma Bay.

If you fancy a trip to the Canary Islands you will also visit the island of Tenerife where you could climb Mount Tiede or visit the golden dunes in Gran Canaria.

Spain has much to offer and continues to thrive as a tourist destination and indeed many who travel to Spain are now buying property and living the ” Spanish dream ” enjoying a siesta and the midday sun!

Spain is Famous for its Fiesta’s. There is no doubt that the Spanish are the most noted Nation for their parties and Celebrations of their rich cultural history and traditions. Here we have put together a list of the best ones in each region. They really are not to be missed and are great fun for all the family. There are both National Fiesta’s, celebrated all over Spain. Alongside these, there are also hundreds of smaller, local Fiesta’s in every town and village.

Here is a quick guide to the great Fiesta’s of Spain:

January: Three Kings day – Día de los Reyes Magos (5th January) – This is a Huge celebration which takes place on the evening of 4th January when the Three Kings give out Christmas presents. In most Towns and Large villages there is a street procession where many sweets are given out to the children lining the streets.

February: The Seville Tapas Fair gives you a chance to savour a feast of Spanish snacks in the world capital of tapas.

March: The Festival de Jerez is a flamenco festival with some of Spain’s top performers dancing the National dance for your enjoyment.

In Valencia there is the not to be missed Fallas de San José where there are huge street parties with incredible fireworks for a number of nights in a row accumulating in the burning of the fallas (papier-mache effigies of famous people) on the last day.

April: Some of Spain’s biggest festivals take place during April and May starting with Holy Week (Semana Santa) which is important nationwide but is especially recommended in Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Alicante. The celebration of Holy Week is the highlight of the year, with teams of parish members carrying enormous religious floats. In Torrevieja there is a ‘international’ float carried by non Spanish Nationals, the majority of whom are English. It is a massive Honour to be asked to take part in the Semana Santa procession and to add to the Glory, the International float is the largest and heaviest float carried without wheels (carried by 100 people).

In Alcoy, Alicante it’s the festival of the Moros y Cristianos where you can see mock battles between Moors and Christians. In Seville, two weeks after Easter you can visit Spain’s biggest annual party at the Seville April Fair (La Feria de Abril).

It is also the Romería de Andújar in Andalucia, which is a mass pilgrimage to a shrine of the Virgin Mary.

May: In Granada and Cordoba there is the festival of the Cruces de Mayo where you can see large crosses adorn parishes and the locals party in the streets. Cordoba continues its parties with the Fiesta de los Patios, a competition to find the city’s most beautiful flower covered patio. Also in Cordoba, and shortly after the Fiesta de los Patios, you can watch the Feria de Cordoba, a fiesta of flamenco and all things Spanish that now rivals Seville’s April Fair in size.

The famous Feria del Caballo, Jerez’s Horse Fair is also this month. In Madrid they host the world’s largest bullfight festival plus plenty cultural events and parties throughout the month of May, as Madrileños celebrate San Isidro, the Patron Saint of the capital.

June: On the evening of June 23rd, to celebrate the summer solstice, people flock to the beaches, light bonfires, and party until dawn. The Hogueras de San Juan (midsummer bonfires and fireworks) are celebrated in the south of Spain, especially Alicante.

A little known festival is La Romería del Rocio which is a pilgrimage of up to a million people who travel on foot or by horse and carriage to the shrine of the Virgin at El Rocio in Huelva. This is a Fiesta celebrated all over the country but most notably in Toledo and Seville. In Granada you will find the International Festival of Music and Dance.

The Hogueras de San Juan (midsummer bonfires and fireworks) are celebrated in the south of Spain, especially Alicante. At the end of May the annual Sonar Festival which takes in music and art, takes place in Barcelona which attracts huge crowds.

July: The Festival de Cordoba is an International guitar festival which takes place in the gardens of the Alcazar. In Pamplona the famous San Fermin (running of the bulls) takes place which always begins on 7th July and lasts for a week. In San Sebastian you can see some of the top jazz performers at its annual San Sebastian Jazz Festival.

If you are around the South Coast area on 16th July you will come across a range of different celebrations on the Día de la Virgen de Carmen. Most commonly you’ll see a statue of the Virgin carried in from the sea by a flotilla of fishing boats often with some impressive firework displays.

August: One of Spain’s most fun and totally mad festival is La Tomatina, the Tomato Festival in Bunyol near Valencia which is the world’s biggest tomato fight. In Malaga you will find the Feria de Malaga which is a massive 10 day party down on the south coast. Cambados in Galicia hosts the Albariño wine fair where you can sample some of Galicia’s finest white wines.

The Elx (Elche) Mystery Play is held in August and dates back to the 13th century. It is one of Spain’s oldest cultural events. Even though the play is voiced in Spanish, it is great fun for all non Spanish speaking as the drama and theatre of the event plays out in front of you, you can get the gist of what is happening without having to hear the dialogue.

September: Jerez de la Frontera celebrates its wine harvest with the Jerez sherry festival which begins on the first Saturday of September every year. Known locally as the Fiestas de Otoño, this is a three week party involving sherry, horses and flamenco.

Catalunya celebrates Cava week, a festival dedicated to the fine Catalan version of champagne. The City of Barcelona celebrates the Festes de la Merce, a huge fiesta with processions, fireworks and dance performances.

In Sueca, Valencia there is a Fiesta del Arroz which is basically a paella festival – A number of local Paella Festivals also take place during September and October in the smaller towns along the coast from Valencia, through Alicante to San Pedro del Pinatar.

October: The biggest event this month is in Zaragoza with the Pilar Festival which celebrates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to St James. The event coincides with Hispanidad, a nationwide fiesta commemorating Columbus landing in the Americas.

November: This month begins with the sombre occasion of All Saints Day (Todos Los Santos) celebrated all over Spain. This day is a public holiday where all shops will be closed. Spanish people from all over the country return to their birthplaces to remember their deceased relatives.

December: The month we all know that celebrates Christmas. Christmas in Spain is a big, traditional family affair with Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) being a very quiet night when all families get together for dinner. Christmas day is not a day when presents are given, this is saved until Three Kings Day (5th January).

In Palma de Mallorca cathedral, preparations take the form of morning choruses and the Cant de Sa Sibilla (Hymn to St Sibly). This tradition, spread throughout the south of France, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Corsica, was abolished by the Trento Council. Nevertheless, the Bishop of Mallorca decided to allow it to take place, hence its preservation.

In Murcia, the campanas de auroras (dawn bells) group perform their ancient and sober compositions. After midnight on Noche Vieja (New Years Eve) is as raucous in Spanish cities as elsewhere in Europe. You can see Fireworks filling the sky at midnight from miles around as the Spanish see the New year in in style.

Spanish apartments to rent are perfect for a beach vacation on the Costa Almeria on the southern coast of Spain. The Costa Almeria has fantastic sandy beaches and some excellent resorts. A flight of only a couple of hours from the UK will bring you to a holiday villa rental in Spain in this fabulous region, which is considered to be one of the quieter Costas. The city of Almeria is full of charm and history. It can be found in the centre of the bay at the foot of a mountain range which is crowned by the magnificent Alcazaba, an Arab fortress built by the Caliph of Cordoba.

A lot of people who book their Spanish apartments to rent or their holiday villas in southern Spain on this coast think that the Costa Almeria has the best climate in Spain. During the summer you will enjoy long sunny days and the temperatures rarely dip below a delightful 30 degrees Centigrade with hardly any rain. In the winter, temperatures stay around 20 degrees Centigrade so it is very mild during the daytime, although it can be chillier at night. Little rainfall and a high number of hours of sunshine per day makes it the perfect place to book an apartment or a holiday villa rental in Spain for either a summer or a winter sun holiday.

If you are interested in booking Spanish apartments to rent or a holiday villa rental in Spain in Almeria, many airlines in the UK offer low-cost flights to airports near Almeria. There are several Spanish international airports that you can choose to fly to, from the UK, which provide easy access to the Costa Almeria. These include Almeria, Murcia and Malaga international airports. Almeria airport is the most central as it is within the region and no town is more than about an hour’s drive away. Murcia is the next nearest airport and is located to the north of Almeria. You can also fly to Malaga, which is about two and a half hours’ drive from the south of Almeria.

One of the pleasures of staying in self-catering holiday villas in southern Spain or Spanish apartments to rent is that you can get out and try the local food. The cuisine in the Almeria province has a notable Arabic influence. There is also a strong inclination towards fish and seafood and dishes using local produce such as olive oil and tomatoes. You will find some good rice dishes often using fresh fish. Soups are popular in Almeria and include the famous ‘Sopa de Almeria’, which is made from sea food and the ‘Sopa de Ajo’ made from garlic. Cured meats are served in many of the restaurants giving the dishes a distinctive flavour. Tapas are served in most bars and restaurants in Almeria and give visitors a chance to have a small taste of a variety of dishes.

You will find that there are many things to see in Almeria if you book your Spanish apartments to rent or holiday villas in southern Spain here. In Almeria and the surrounding area you can visit the La Alcazaba fortress (an Arabic Palace), the Muslim Medina, churches, museums and stately homes. The Cathedral in Almeria is also worth a visit and can be found in the middle of the old town. If you just want to go out in the sunshine for a pleasant walk, try a stroll along ‘Las Ramblas’ or the ‘Paseo de Almeria’. The San Nicolas Salmeron Park is also a pleasant venue for a wander or a sit in the shade of a palm tree.

Another popular resort on the Almeria coast to book Spanish apartments to rent or Spanish villa rentals is the attractive town of Mojacar which is a great place to take a quiet, laid back holiday in the sun. It has a traditional Spanish atmosphere and is not over-developed as there are strict rules on the size and height of building construction. All over the town you can see the influence of the former Moorish inhabitants and the clusters of whitewashed houses will put you in mind of a Moroccan village. Each summer the local people honour their Arab ancestors with a spectacular Moors and Christians Fiesta, complete with extravagant costumes, Arab sabres and mock street battles. Mojacar also benefits from lovely sandy beaches which stretch for seventeen kilometres, much of which is untouched by development.

From the magnificent architecture and winding streets of the old Seville and the dramatic hill towns that surrounds Ronda to the entrancing Malaga’s seaside city, Southern Spain (famous by the name of Andalusia) is a copious blend of natural delights and man-made wonders. With captivating warmth, you’re likely to feel an inviting climate in Southern Spain, all year round.

The best way of reaching Southern Spain is to fly to the capital of Andalusia, Seville. The mesmerizing city had been originally laid in order to confuse the invaders who were attempting to conquer the city. It is said that the invaders kept wandering in the winding streets of the city absorbing the perfect delight. The city’s Tapas hard-to-reach and the nighttime begins to attract the hoppers who like to move from one restaurant the other rather then getting stagnant at one. The most amazing attraction you will find in Seville is it’s Cathedral that adjoins the famous Giralda Tower. This Cathedral is extravagantly decorated with a large amount of gold from all corners and the adjoining Tower is the tallest building that was ever constructed in the world before 1184.

From Seville, you can move towards the South in Jerez (de la Frontera). This midsized city is much famous as the birthplace of sherry. The place is also home to a number of sherry ‘bodegas’ (wineries). You must stop at the School of Equestrian Art, a place where training sessions and colorful equestrian pageants can mesmerize you.

Your next stop should be Cadiz which is a short drive towards the south over the unspoiled Andalusian Atlantic coast. The city is known to serve a range of mouthwatering Seafood. A large number of monuments and Plaza’s such as the gold-dome wonder that took about a century in making is worth a visit.

From Cadiz you should make your way towards the Arcos de la Frontera which is situated northeast. With small city is known for an eye-catching ridge. The city is worth spending a night and offers a lot that you can see. A captivating castle and a Gothic church are amongst the few attractions. Your next travelling destination if you travel towards the northeast will be the town of Ronda which is known for the amazing attractions including the remains of Roman origin. A bustling shopping promenade and fabulous bull-ring should not be missed.

Your final stop should be Malaga which is a handsome seaside city and is known for the Moorish influence it. Amongst various attractions the Home Museum of Picasso is worth a visit.

The trail is located at Central Washington on the northeast region of Ellensburg in Kittitas County. The trail is easy and mostly traverses on a roadbed which becomes rocky as it passes through the north section of the pass. The Colockum Pass, where the mountain road goes through, stands at an elevation of 5,373 feet. It was an emigrant and freight route linking The Dalles, Oregon, Ruby Mines, and the British Columbia in Canada.

The south side on an ascent to the pass is less scenic than the descent which is bound to the north that offers spectacular views of the Columbia River and the North Cascades. You may get a map for this off-road trail at the Wenatchee National Forest South Half or some information about the trail at the Kittitas County.

The whole trail can be traversed in 2 hours over a 30-mile stretch of land. To get to the trailhead, go toward Ellensburg. From the north of Kittitas and northeast of Ellensburg, proceed to the Brick Mill Road which is the eastern section of the Colockum Road. Follow the northeast bound route over the pass where you will then start the trail from that point. If you are taking the road from the north at Wenatchee to get to this trail, start from the Wenatchee Avenue on the Malaga-Alcoa Highway on the southeastern section along the Columbia River. You will then reach the Colockum Road on this highway.

The rest stops are at some roadside areas and at the campground of Colockum State Wildlife Area. From the Colockum Road where the trail starts, take the graveled road for 2.2 miles as it ascends from the Kittitas Valley and through sagebrush volcanic hills and roadsides lined with clusters of aspen and pine trees. Move further for 14 miles and the trail approaches the Colockum State Wildlife Area and the Half-Way Station.

Proceed 2 miles further as the canyon road drops to the Tarpiscan Creek onto Columbia where the road then forks right. Down by the river the road proceeds to the Colockum Road where you will pass an excellent vista of Central Washington. From this descent, the trail continues to Wenatchee on the Malaga-Alcoa Highway. From here you may take a detour to the left toward Kingsbury Road to view the Kingsbury Canyon. The trail then leads to Moses Carr Road in 5 miles where you will turn right down onto the Malaga-Alcoa Highway.

Sun, sea and sangria – Spain has them all. Which is why it’s such a popular destination with the British, both for holidays and for those living abroad. Some estimates put the number of British expats who live in Spain either full time or part time as more than 750,000.

Many British expats enjoy the communities of the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, with plenty going on for all ages and lots of help and support while you’re still learning the language. The more adventurous ones buy and restore old fincas in inland areas, usually about an hour´s drive from the coast and expat hotspots such as Malaga.

Southern Spain is particularly popular with the British for its hot sunshine. Expats celebrating the sunshine are easily spotted, donning their shorts and T-shirts in early spring while the native Spanish are still perfectly comfortable in long trousers and jackets well into high summer! Thanks to mail order shopping from the UK, expats who like to enjoy high summer clothing can shop from home, without the language barrier or having to deal with unfamiliar European clothes sizes.

Moving to a new country brings daily discoveries about customs and foodstuffs, especially when you’re still learning the language. In the supermarkets, I’ve noticed that newly arrived expats often stock up on familiar foodstuffs and things they miss most about home. It’s tempting to fill the freezer with large white sliced bread you know and love, but there are lots of crunchy baguettes and other local delicacies to discover. Like delicious “molletes”, an Andalusian specialty triangular shaped bread roll, eaten for breakfast with fabulous local Spanish olive oil drizzled over. I can thoroughly recommend them – especially if you’re catering for guests. They go down a treat.

I’ve also seen that British expats soon go native as they settle in, and happily ask “quien es la ultima?” (who is the last in the queue?) as they join the locals to stand in the fishmongers, casting a glance over the fresh catch of the day whilst the Spanish engage in loud conversation in big groups while buying almost the whole of the Atlantic! I realised almost immediately that the Spanish don’t believe in orderly queues, so unless you ask, you have no idea who you follow. And when shopping for something as important as the freshest of local ingredients, to jump the queue is like risking your life!

So you’re thinking about starting a business that relies on drop shipping. Congratulations on making an excellent decision. You probably already know that drop shipping can save you a ton of money on your inventory and storage costs. But now you face the problem of trying to find a good drop shipper. If you search the Internet or eBay you’ll find many people selling “lists” of wholesale drop shippers or “memberships” in drop shipping sites. The problem is that many (maybe even most) of these sites and lists are scams!

“Review” sites – the latest scam The latest scam seems to be, so called, drop shipper review sites. Some of these are legitimate, but I have recently become aware of at least one that was setup by a drop ship membership site. I can’t mention the name of the drop ship membership site in question, but it is one of the largest and most well known. This site registered a separate domain name and put up a review of drop ship membership sites. Well, guess which site came out on top of that review… If you dig deep enough in the site you’ll discover exactly who owns it.

How to Avoid the Scams How can you avoid drop shipping scams? First, never purchase a “list” of wholesale drop shippers. I have purchased dozens of these lists and have never found one that delivers. Most are out of date and many provide lists of retailers.

Second, think twice before joining a drop shipping membership site. These sites typically aggregate drop shippers and allow you to purchase a large variety of products from one source. This might sound good in principle (and might work well for certain businesses), but think about it in practice. These sites markup the wholesale price. Think about why they won’t let you see their price list before you join. If their prices were so great, they would let everyone know.

Third, if you want to find legitimate wholesale drop shippers, stick with directory sites that have a good reputation in the industry. These sites include, World Wide Brands, Aid and Trade, and Hienote.

Spain

Spain has always been the favourite holiday destination for us Brits. However, recently more and more of us have been swapping the Spanish beaches for Spanish golf courses.

La Cala golf hotel and spa in Malaga is Spain’s largest golf resort. It has three golf courses, properties and a luxury hotel and spa. The golf course is set in a stunning location, surrounded by Spanish mountains and the Mediterranean sea.

The resort has everything golf enthusiasts could wish for. The three 18 hole golf courses offer varying levels of difficulty and challenges and the resort also has an executive 6 hole course situated in beautiful hills.

If you feel like a break away from the golf course then you can always try your hand at squash or simply relax in the clubhouse.

Another luxury golf resort in Spain is the PGA Catalunya. It was voted the number 1 golf course in the country in 2012.

Players have said that the resort has an obvious wow factor, with beautiful green fir trees and a large number of lakes which blend into the landscape. There are two courses in total, the Stadium and Tour course, both surrounded by nature forests and water.

Dubai

Jumeirah golf course is one of the best known golf courses in Dubai. It opened in November 2009 in time for the first Dubai World Championship. The courses are part of Jumeirah Golf Estates, a luxury golfing community containing four courses called Fire, Earth, Water and Wind. All have a different environmental theme. The Fire course is said to be the most challenging, with its notoriously deep bunkers. Some of the traps even contain stepladders to help!

Dubai itself has been rapidly growing in popularity over recent years as tourists flock to the country to experience luxury and beautiful scenery. The Jumeirah golf community will definitely not let you down.

England

Although we may not be able to rely on the weather in Britain, there is no shortage of stunning luxury golf resorts. Scotland has a whole host of courses set in beautiful surroundings, with the famous St. Andrews and Carnoustie being amongst the most popular. Royal St. Georges golf course in England is arguably one of the most popular and well known in the country as it has hosted a total of 14 Open Championships. There is also a wide range of golf courses in the North East of England, many combined with stunning luxury hotel resorts for the perfect holiday or weekend get-away.

Have you ever considered a Golfing Holiday in the Algarve, Portugal or in The Costa Del Sol, Malaga? Both of which are a short two to three hour flight from most European capitals into Faro Airport for Portugal and Malaga Airport for the Costa Del Sol. This short hop means you can get away for a weekend Golf break and still be back in time for work on Monday morning!

The Algarve is a natural region with beautiful mountains, valleys and unspoilt beaches on Portugal’s most Southern coast and it boasts over 30 Golf courses stretching across 100 miles of beautiful coastline all offering an excellent standard and of course stunning views. The climate of pretty much endless sunshine and low rain fall makes it one of the most popular destinations for Golf in Europe. They really have thought of everything to entice the Golfer to this part of Europe and even offer Golf Clubs to hire at Faro airport, so you can travel light!

The Costa Del Sol often referred to as the Costa Del Golf with good reason, there are now over 60 Golf Courses in this region of Spain 4 of which are ranked in the top 10 in Europe, Valderrama which has hosted the Ryder cup and in 2007 the Volvo masters commemorated it’s 20th anniversary there. A warm sunny climate attracts Golfer’s all year round and it is especially popular in the winter months with people travelling from the cooler European countries.

The Costa Del Sol is the most popular destination in Europe for Golf tourists and it has been granted permission from the authorities to use recycled water to irrigate Golf Courses. It is investing millions of Euros in expanding it’s network of recycled water to be able to supply 100 per cent of the Golf courses in the region. Due to the climate in Andalucia and the low rain fall as opposed to other European countries who receive an abundance of water naturally through rainfall, it is deemed the best and most environmentally friendly way of keeping the coasts courses up to a high standard, and they really are a high standard here!

Overview

The city of Antequera is located in the Malaga province and is a municipality. It is also known by the name – the heart of Andalusia because it is central to Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Malaga. It is situated at a height of 57 m above sea level and has a population of 42,000.

History

Two Bronze Age burial mounds exist in the city’s northern outskirts – Dólmen de Viera and Dólmen de Menga and they date back to 3rd millennium BC. The structures of these mounds are the largest in Europe.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 26 °C in July-August and 9 °C in February.

Art and Culture

The monuments in this city are as follows:

* Roman baths – excavated recently.

* Arch of the Giants, built in 1585.

* Church of Santa Maria la Mayor.

* Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

* 13th century Moorish castle.

* 19th century bullring.

* Barefoot Carmelitas.

* Megalithic mass tombs.

The following museums are popular:

* Municipal museum – is an 18th century museum situated in the Nájera Palace; contains Roman remains and paintings of Cristóbal Toral.

* Museum House of the provincial government – is housed in the 18th Century mansion.

* Bullfighting Museum – is situated in the bullring.

* Convent museum – exhibits local culture artworks.

* San Benito Folklore Museum – displays local history using artifacts, vintage items, etc.

* Hojiblanca – is an olive co-operative where you can learn about the production of olive oil.

Cuisine

Popular food items are:

Porra Antequerana – a cold thick Spanish soup.

Molletes – a kind of bun.

Sports and Entertainment

Popular sports in this city are Golf, trekking and horse riding. There are plenty of opportunities to practice team games as well as individual sports. There are many Gyms that you can make use of for your workouts. Paddle tennis and tennis are other popular games.

The following parks are useful for enjoying your time:

Paraje Natural del Torcal – is a protected area that has rock formations because of erosion over a period of years. You can practice trekking, horse riding or mountain biking in this place. A number of birds from Europe and Africa migrate to this place.

El Chorro – is the Lake District.

Jardín de la Plaza de Toros – has play areas for children.

Jardines del Rey – is a new park inaugurated in 1998. Can get a view of the city from this park.

Río de la Villa – has an artificial lake as well as recreational area.

Shopping

There are many family run small shops in this city; in addition there are many shopping centers. Hipermarket in the outskirts is popular. Some of the items that you could shop are furniture, items required for home improvement, gold works, etc.