Santiago de Compostela, Spain by Alquiler de Coches

• Every place in the world has its own gastronomic pleasures to provide to guests from other places, therefore it makes perfect sense for travelers and holiday makers to try out the edible goodies of Galicia.  It is simply recognized for the unique set of seafood, with octopus being the main attraction.  Of course, this is very much like a slippery version of calamari, which can be off putting to some people.  However, there are also some other dishes that one can try out.

• There are a few events that can prove fascinating to curious guests, and one of them is the Queimada.  This is a traditional practice in which one engages in a bit of drinking with the rest of the locals and other travelers.  At the same time, it is also a ritual which is intended to fend off evil spirits.  This can be quite entertaining to say the least, and one would certainly learn a whole lot about Galician culture.

• Of course, since one would travel to Galicia to enjoy the best experiences that it has to offer, it would be suitable to take a trip to Santiago de Compostela indeed.  For many of the locals, they would have to travel straight from their homes, while pilgrims and hikers would start off their journey to the town from the French regions of the Pyrenees mountains.  It is a 500 mile walk, which can prove quite challenging for some.  However, the minimum distance that one can travel in order to be recognized as following “the Way of Saint James”, is 100km.  it would usually take travelers 3 to 4 days, and they would be treated to a certificate that congratulates them for making it that far.

There is so much adventure awaiting tourists, and it can even prove to be an experience unlike any other. These are just some of the things that one should get involved in when they’re planning to do the El Camino.  The spiritual gratification and fulfillment from traveling to Santiago will certainly have an impact on people’s lives for the better.

Leslie loves hill walking and writing his routes on the web.  He has been running the main Camino de Santiago and Walking in Scotland site since 2006. Click on El Camino to know more interesting facts.

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Benidorm, Spain by Siocaw

Change Up The Quids When You Get There

You will get a better rate in Spain than back home in the UK. However, be careful as there are many con artists who will rip you right off if you give them half a chance. A common trick many of the exchange shops pull is by advertising that they do not charge commission. On closer inspection, you will notice that written in tiny letters under the main attraction is a disclaimer which normally states that commission won’t be charged when exchanges of over 3000 euros are made’. Most people are not changing that much money in one go so you can imagine how many people get nipped this way. That is not to say all exchanges in Benidorm are like this. One of the most popular and reputable places to switch up your cash is ‘Sheila’s’. Run by a British woman, you can guarantee a fair transaction.

Stock Up On Suntan Spray

If you forget to bring this, two things are bound to happen. Firstly, you will get burnt to a crisp and look like you have holidayed under a cloud of acid rain. Secondly, the local vendors are extremely aware that holidaymakers will be hunting for sun protection lotions and will want them quickly so they can enjoy the rest of their day ‘tanning it up.’ Therefore, prices are sky high for run of the mill products. However, if you shop at home, your choices are basically unlimited. The way to go is organic. These types of creams contain no harmful ‘parabens’ and will comfort your skin whilst at the same time protecting it from harmful rays.

Benidorm, Spain by Ross Hawkes

Buy A Decent Book

Most of your time will be spent on the beach, lounging in a deck chair or chilling out in the air con room. During these relaxing moments, having a good book by your side can be a great companion. As I am sure you are aware there are plenty of bookstores and magazines outlets in the departure lounge of any international airport. Most will stock the newest and hottest releases around as well as some good old gossip magazines. ’Beni’ itself is great for second hand books. You will find many paperbacks for less than three euros in  the used book shops, so it might be worth holding on to see what you can find when you get there. One place to recommend is the ‘book swap shop’ located in the indoor market.

Don’t Forget The Adapters

How many times has it happened that you have gone to plug something in and found out that the socket is different from the connection you have at the end of your lead? As most of Europe is different to the UK power outlets, you will need some sort of convertor to change the voltage for your electrical goods. Again, buy one before you get there. The adapters you find in the pound shop are just as good as the ones in the local chemist , but they are a lot cheaper. If you wait and expect to grab one easily when you arrive in Benidorm, and then think again. These are one of the most popular ‘forgettables’ among visiting tourists. Because of this, they run out of stock very quickly and are priced astronomically.

Noel Gallagher’s favourites

I’m not sure if I should be encouraging this, but both cigarettes and alcohol wondrously cheap. Rather than buying duty free at your departure lounge, wait until you get there. Boxes and bottles of these two vices can found everywhere and are a great solution to beating the bar prices if you fancy a warm up before a night out. However, if you really want to save money on tobacco, my best advice is to kick it to the curb.

Summary

Benidorm is great fun. Whilst taking some of this on-board, remember you are going on holiday, so don’t stress yourself out too much. Due to the amount of people vising the resort, things normally run very smoothly and the list above is probably all you are going to have to worry about, except having a good time!

Enjoy!

This article was written by Ted Hunter on behalf of Travel Republic. Travel Republic offers some of the Holidays to Benidorm available. Ted is a seasoned traveller having visited many of the world’s travel destinations and enjoys submersing himself in the local culture to gain the true experience of the country he visits.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Fernando García

Spain offers a mixture of historical, cultural and modern attractions to its tourists. Almost every key city presents different features every tourist will surely love. Here are some of the tourist attractions in Spain that you will surely remember:

Palacio Real (Royal Palace)

If you want to take a look at the King of Spain’s official residence, your feet should bring you to Madrid, the capital city. The Palacio Real is not the actual residence of the King but it serves as a place for state ceremonies. The palace was built in the 1700s so your eyes will feast on a fabulous architectural design.

Running of the Bulls

If you happen to be there from July 6-14, you should not miss the Pamplona’s San Fermin festival. Pamplona is located in Navarra – autonomous community in northern Spain. The festival gains its popularity because of its El Encierro or the running of the bulls. If you want to become part of the festival’s main attraction, you will be able to feel the exhilaration of running in front of numerous bulls that have been let loose to roam the town’s street.

La Concha

Believed to be one of the best city beaches in the Europe region, La Concha attracts beach lovers and surfers as well. If you are planning to take a break from your day tour, La Concha will take your stress away without a doubt.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Tomas Fano

Ibiza

Ibiza is one of the islands found in Balearic group of islands. You will be captivated by its nature scenery. Also, most of the tourists going to Ibiza are there to enjoy its live night club parties, bars and restaurants making it one of the favorite tourist attractions in Spain.

Sagrada Familia

You will find the ancient Roman Catholic Church, Sagrada Familia in the city of Barcelona. It was designed by the famous Antoni Gaudi who worked for this church for almost four decades. The basilica was constructed on 1882 and you will notice it was never finished completely.

Mezquita of Cordoba

This mesmerizing mosque is famous for its beautiful arches and pillars on its main hall. Aside from its stunning architectural design, its place in Spanish history will also broaden your knowledge.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Shaun Dunphy

Alhambra Palace

Alhambra Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in Spain. Almost every traveler here explores this magnificent palace and learns about how this palace was built. It is situated in the city of Granada, in the south. Alhambra boasts its intricate interior designs built in the 14th century by the sultans of Nasrid.

Given all of these amazing places to discover, prepare at least a couple of weeks if you are planning to visit all of these places. These major attractions will definitely give you a total Spain vacation getaway.

Nicholas Martin writes for Passport Visa Travelers Guide. Interested in traveling to Spain? Be sure to check the travel requirements for tourists before booking your trip.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Marian Hubinsky

Trenčín Castle was built in the 10th century. Since 11th century it was the royal castle, which not only withstood Tatar invasions, but also served as a fortress against the Turks. It was gradually rebuilt and expanded, but the castle burnt down in 1790. Its reconstruction began just after 1945.

Trenčín Castle is accessible all year-round except for Mondays. You can get there directly from the city centre by following the street leading from the main city’s square (Mierové námestie). The castle is nicely illuminated at night.

Various events are held on the castle during the summer, such as folk exhibitions, fencing tournaments, live music concerts and more. One part of the castle serves as a gallery where you can see oil paintings of local nobility, emblems and seals.

The biggest attraction of the castle is 80 metres deep well, called Well of Love. The well is excavated into the hard rock and it is said that the well was built by Turkish Omar Pasha. Stephen Zápoľský held in captivity a beautiful girl Fatima, loved by Omar, and Zápoľský promised him that if he sink a well at the castle, he will let her go. The works lasted three years and then Fatima and Omar could really leave the castle.

In Trenčín you can also find many other historical sites. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Slovakia and certainly worth a visit.

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Basic information
Maribor is an important transport hub, especially for those travelling from Central Europe to Croatia or from Eastern Europe to Italy. But this city deserve more, not just passing through. There are galleries, museums and also the university, which was founded in 1961. But the main attraction is the four hundred years old, still nascent, grape-vine in Lent – the oldest part of the city. Through the city flows the river Drava, where you can try a traditional raft ride.

History of Maribor
Maribor originated from the village below the Markburg castle. It was first mentioned in 1208, the name Maribor is used only since the late 19th century. There is also a large railway junction (the oldest railway crossing Slovenia) and the highway to Zagreb, Ljubljana and Graz. Until the World War I, there was a large minority of Germans living in Maribor. But they had to leave after the first, and then also after the Second World War, so now the city is purely Slovenian.

Old Vine (Stara trta)
The old grape-vine on the banks of Lent was discovered during the renovation of the port. It was found that this forgotten grape is perhaps the oldest in Europe (three hundred to four hundred years old). Ceremonial harvest of these precious berries of wine is at the end of October. However the wine of this origin can hardly be bought. You could get it only as a present and only if you are really very important visitor to the city of Maribor.

Maribor’s Squares
Core central area of ​​Maribor includes the Main Square (Glavni Trg) and Slomškov Square (Slomškov Trg). On the Main Square you can see the Plague Column made by the sculptor Joseph Straub, which commemorate the tragedy of 17th century, when a third of Maribor’s residents died of black death. On the same square you can admire the old Renaissance Town Hall (Rotovž), through you can walk to Town Hall Square (Rotovški Trg). On the Slomškov Square you can see the monumental church and great facade of the classicist theater.

Lent International Summer Festival
Bank of river Drava, formerly a major port or residence of rafters and small craftsmen, is now a promenade with many cafes and restaurants. It is suitable for pleasant walks. Lent is also a place of the annual international music, theater and entertainment festival. It is held for approximately two weeks at the end of June.

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Castillo de Coca is preserved example of medieval architecture in Spain. It is located above the river Voltoya and is protected by a broad and deep moat, which has a length of approximately 560 meters. It was built by Don Alonso de Fonseca, Archbishop of Seville in the 15th century. Besides its advanced defensive system, Castillo de Coca has also very nice interior decoration. Here you find Gothic ribbed vault mosaics and various geometric motifs.

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Castillo de Coca belonged together with castles of Cuéllar, Arévalo and Olmedo to a strategic fortification system. Thanks to the cleverly formed defence the castle was first occupied in 1808 by Napoleon’s army. In recent years, the castle was used as a forestry high school, but it is publicly accessible. Its main attraction is the decoration of the interiors and museum.

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Photo: karaco1971

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Biebrzański National Park is situated on an area where is a large representation of wetlands and swamps. They are also its main attraction. Biebrzański National Park is largely composed of forests, mostly deciduous. The rest of the area is occupied with already mentioned bogs and wetlands.

Biebrzański National Park is very rich in the representation of different organisms. It is a paradise for all kinds of water birds. One of them, the Ruff, even got into the character of the park. You can meet here also a beaver or moose. There are also various mosses and lichens.

The northeastern boundary of the park is near the Belarus.

Biebrzański National Park was founded on 9th September 1993 as one of 23 Polish national parks. In 1995 it was added to the list of The Ramsar Convention (The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat). The most important part of the Park is Red Marsh, which is under strict protection.

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The town of Monreale has today around 25 thousand inhabitants. Thanks to its location near the Sicilian capital city, Monreale has almost become one of the turbulent suburbs of Palermo. But if you visit this site, you should definitely visit The Cathedral of Monreale, which is thanks to its mosaics one of the greatest treasures of this Italian island.

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The Cathedral of Monreale is a kind of monument to Arab, Norman and Byzantine art and architecture. Its construction began in 1172 at the instigation of King William II, who wanted to use the cathedral as his tomb, after his death. Therefore, a court architects tried to overcome other royal temples. Not only the building itself, but also the decor was influenced by French, Islamic and Byzantine designs. The cathedral is a massive three-nave building, 102 meters long. However, it looks quite modest from the outside. West facade is, except of the portal to the ornate gates, very curt. Cathedral is in addition covered by a largely urban area with an adjacent monastery.

You can see the beautiful bronze door from 1186, which are decorated with 42 biblical scenes. There are features of a lion and a griffon here, which were symbols of the Norman royal family. On the left side of the church you can see another bronze door from the year 1179, which are mainly influenced by Byzantine art. But the main attraction is the cathedral’s interior.

So if you’re interested in art and history, the Cathedral of Monreale should really be included on the your must-see list.

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The main attraction of the cave is called Milky Way Hall, where you can see the white branches and clusters of aragonite shining like stars in the Milky Way. There are fantastic shapes of flowers and Aragonite crystalline formations.

Ochtinská Aragonite Cave was discovered accidentally in 1954 by Jan Bystricky and open later to the public in 1972. However its length is only 300 meters, and only 230 meters are accessible, it is famous for its rare aragonite filling. In 1995 Ochtinská Aragonite Cave has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List together with other caves in Slovak Karst.

The cave is open daily except of Mondays from April to October. Basic admission is €6.

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River Nore flows through the city of Kilkenny, where you can enjoy beautiful walks. Above the river, in the heart of the city center, there is the medieval castle from the 12th century. Kilkenny Castle is the main attraction of the city, which was inhabited until 1935 by the Butler family. It serves as a relaxing place. At one side there is a park with a fountain, at the other we can find a large grassy area, which is totally full by locals during the nice weather.

Another important monument is St. Canice’s Cathedral, considered one of Ireland’s finest Gothic buildings. The cathedral is richly equipped with many glass windows. Next to it is a round tower, which offers stunning views of the city. Do not miss a visit to both places and obtain a combined ticket.

Other sights include:
The Tholsel Hall, which dominates the main street (High Street)
Rothe House, a rich merchant’s house, who ruled for 300 years, the city, along with other families
Black Abbey, a Dominican monastery

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