With the two countries Belgium and Spain, Spain is the most prominent country that features Flamenco dancing. In fact, there is a place in the country featuring different shows of it and it is Granada. This is a province in Spain with many clubs for flamenco dancing. If you would like to have idea about the places in the province that feature flamenco dancing, reading this up would be great.

Photo by Kathryn

Eshavira Club

The name of the club is just painted on plain white wall. It is actually an underground chamber with hazy vault. The place is the origin of some of the best flamenco dancers of the country itself. The pace is also a home for some great dancers and musicians. The shows in here are sometimes changeable.

Raiz y Duende at Sala Vimaambi

This is one of the best and lively flamenco dancing clubs. It actually offers great dancers and musicians uplifting the spirit of the crowd, making them fun to watch the dancers dancing their own dance. Aside from the great performers, this place also caters excellent food and cuisines.

Huerto Del Loro

This is not so much visited by tourist, since it is far from the city centre. The only thing is that, it is one of the most affordable Flamenco clubs in Granada. The domed theatre is grayish, but warmly lit yield having a simple lavender flamenco cover that serve as the backdrop. The place has regular artists who show flamenco dancing skills.

Peña Flamenca La Plateria

This is one of the oldest flamenco dancing clubs in the Spain. It was built in the year 1949. This is a place run and operated by flamenco enthusiasts having an objective of nurturing and supporting the craft instead of making money. The establishment is only open during Thursday nights. The performers for the show are thoroughly chosen from the best flamenco dancers of the city and other countries. The show in this place is serious and well rehearsed.

Upsetter

This is located in the city center that is why, there are some days that the place is too busy and gathered a number of tourists watching the show. The place has the best local performers of flamenco dancing. The best day to visit the country is during Monday nights, as it has local artists showing and performing.

These are only some of the places that offer flamenco dancing in Granada. There are still other places to visit in the place itself. If you like flamenco dancing, visiting Granada is a great way to be inspired more to continue the craft and perform it perfectly. Aside from flamenco dancing, Granada is also one of the places in Spain that offer great views, scenery and adventures.

The post Flamenco Dancing in Granada | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Golf club, Marbella, Spain by Meindert Arnold Jacob

Shanti Som

Shanti Som Spa has a variety of packages to heal the mind, body and soul which draw influences from South East Asia. A full selection of specific retreats and treatments are available from complete balance and harmony treatments, spa detoxes to yoga retreats. The best way to get the most out of a spa holiday here is to have a consultation so an approach can be tailored to your needs. Shanti Som’s sole purpose is to promote new and healthy habits to follow through life.

LA Quinta Golf & Spa

Plush and luxurious describes the Arabic and Andalucían themed spa at La Quinta. With an outdoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, hammam, aromatic steam room and cascade showers the idea is to touch and sooth your senses into relaxation and renewal. La Quinta itself has wonderful views of the sea and mountains. It is surrounded by a golf course as well if you fancy twinning a bit of exercise with your spa break.

Finca Cortesin Spa

As part of the five star hotel in Casares, Finca Cortesin, their high standards expected at the spa too. The development is in beautiful grounds and surrounded by a world class golf course. It boasts three pools one of which is a heated indoor pool treated with sea salt, a thermal area with Finnish sauna and snow cave. Wellness is the focus in this luxurious spa.

For exercise fanatics there is a fully equipped gym with personal trainers on site to advise on routines. As for spa treatments if has several treatment rooms focusing on the face and body, wellness and rejuvenation.

Marbella Club Hotel Golf Resort and Spa

Sat right next to the sea is somehow a real plus to spa lovers, something in the sea air perhaps. Marbella Club Spa offers your very own personalized spa holiday at its Thalasso Spa. Your every whim is catered to from detoxification to rejuvenation, facial beauty to body wraps the Thalasso spa has it covered. Another plus is all their products are from the luxury brands of BABOR, Morjana and Thalion.

O2 Centro Wellness

This is the least luxurious of the five spas in Marbella however it is therefore the most reasonable too. It offers a thermal circuit of six hot springs, two swimming pools, a Nebula Shower, Steam Bath and Sauna. The mantra at O2 is to enjoy health, sports and beauty so there are good gym facilities too.

The post Five Spas in Marbella for a Weekend Holiday with Friends | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Marbella, Spain by pip13

Nikki Beach

Nikki beach have beach clubs in eight different locations from Miami to Marrakesh all offering an exclusive summer loving atmosphere. Nikki Beach Marbella is no exception, with its oversized bamboo beach beds, massages on request, parties and VIP private jet services – it’s advisable to leave modesty at the entrance and let exuberance take over. Famed for its White Opening Party in June and Red Closing Party in October Nikki Beach is not all about sunbathing and clubbing, it offers a restaurant too. Remember the clubs motto, tell only your best friends.

Sala Beach

With its pool Sala Beach offers something different from Nikki Beach for a visitor to Puerto Banus. Stating it’s where east meets west its restaurant menu and décor reflects that fact, offering sushi to Mediterranean seafood platters and burgers. A mini spa is on site with Garra Rufa fish for a sole pedicure, along with the usual offerings of facials and massages. They have a summer season of music nights from RnB, hip hop and house with resident DJs spinning throughout the day too.

Ocean Club

This is one of the biggest beach clubs in Europe – a massive 9000m2 and a pool to match in terms of enormity. Hues of blue cushions against soft, round, white sunbeds sat on rich, dark wooden decking make Ocean Club look every bit a luxurious hangout. The restaurant is a fine dining experience and the food derives its influences from classical French, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. The chef is the acclaimed Michelin star chef from Belgian – Stephane Bruylant. The other feather in Oceans Clubs caps is they have an in-house sommelier with more than 40 years’ experience, he ensures their wine and champagne collection is the best in Andalucía by sourcing wine from all around the world.

Sonora Beach

For something altogether different in vibe, Sonora Beach is an alternative, hippy hang out. It’s a little further west in Estepona but if the other Beach Clubs in Marbella don’t suit than Sonara might be exactly the missing link. Beach hut boho style with splashes of vibrant coloured lanterns, sunbeds and cushions is the call of the day. Chilled world music plays in the background but it also has live music occasionally.

Sea Soul Beach Club

Sea Soul Beach Club between Puerto Banus and Marbella is a small unassuming affair sat right next to the beach with chilled house wafting around the bar and sunbathing area. It has pool so close to the sea you can swim and look out to sea. It offers lunch and dinner, mains are around 20€.

So from huge luxury affairs like Ocean Club to Glitzy party perfect Nikki beach there is a Beach club in Marbella to suit every whim.

The post Fabulous Beach Clubs in Marbella | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Flamenco dance by Flavio (back for a while…)

Types

The first thing that most of us associate with the flamenco tradition is castanets and brightly coloured dresses but these are just two of the elements which make up a flamenco performance. As well as the dancing and castanets, flamenco performers will also sing, clap their hands along with the music and play on the traditional style Alhambra guitar. Flamenco has its roots in the Romany gypsy culture of the southern part of Spain, and the city which is the spiritual home to flamenco performers is Seville.

Performers

The flamenco tradition is alive and kicking throughout Spain but still predominates in the south. Informally, at many weddings you can expect to see an uncle get out one of his Alhambra guitars and start to strum a few chords, accompanied by another family member on vocals. There are also many professional flamenco performers, the best of which have the star status usually afforded to pop stars or movie stars. The genre of flamenco has developed over the years and there are many different styles of the music and dancing, some forming crossovers with other art forms such as ballet or tap dancing.

Duende

The key to a good flamenco performance is “duende” a Spanish word which is roughly translated as soul or passion. Flamenco performers put incredible passion into their performances and try to convey the words of the singer through the dance movements. In traditional flamenco performances maturity is an advantage as it is thought that the “duende” develops with age and that teenagers and young adults do not have sufficient life experience to interpret the moves properly. Flamenco in Spain is therefore very popular with dancers in their 30s, 40s or even older.

Experiencing Flamenco

Perhaps the best flamenco experiences are when you stumble across a bar in a remote village and hear the strains of the Alhambra classical guitar coming from inside. Most visitors to Spain are not so lucky, and it can be difficult to find a performance which is authentic and not simply tailored to tourists’ tastes. Going by car to one of the larger towns and cities away from the coast can make it easier to find somewhere, or ask the staff members at your holiday accommodation to recommend somewhere with an authentic feel to it. Some of the best known and most professional flamenco performances are booked up months in advance, so investigate what is due to be happening before you make your holiday plans. If you get bitten by the flamenco bug, there always classes in the UK which will teach you the basics.

Excellent Spanish guitars, ideal for Flamenco, include the stunning Alhambra guitar which can be found at London Guitar Studio’s wonderful online store.

The post Basics of Flamenco – a deeply-rooted tradition in southern Spanish culture appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by baqueira.es

Baqueira-Beret ski resort offers a total of 104 km of slopes. There are mainly trails for beginners and advanced skiers. There are, however, also black runs for experienced skiers. Transport is managed by 33 lifts: 1 gondola with 9 seats, 20 chairlifts, 5 ski lifts and 7 magic carpets, which are able to transport 57,983 people per hour. Baqueira-Beret resort has also the terrain park for snowboarders and freestyle skiers. There are also several trails for Nordic skiing fans.

The main season in Baqueira-Beret Ski Resort lasts from late November to early April. All-day pass in high season costs €42. Of course there is a ski school, ski rental services, accommodation and plenty of restaurants. Very popular activities here include snow-shoeing and dog sled riding.

Photo by baqueira.es

The resort invested 6 million Euro into innovations and boasts 608 snow cannons. If you are just thinking about going to ski to Spain, do not wait and book a room in some of the hotels nearby, as this resort can accommodate “only” 17,647 skiers.

For further information see the official site of Baqueira-Beret ski resort.

View Baqueira-Beret – the best, biggest and most popular ski resort in Spain in a larger map

The post Baqueira-Beret – the best, biggest and most popular ski resort in Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.