8. Don’t go if you don’t like to drink and dance in the street. To me, this is one of the essences of Fallas, the verbenas: outdoor bars often accompanied by a stage with live music or a DJ and, if you’re lucky, a scantily clad young lady dancing up there and shaking her thang. This last bit has shocked many of my friends. All I can say to you is that the Spaniards are very open people when it comes to bodies.
… also evident if you stroll down any Mediterranean beach in July!
Years ago Alistair Wood and I used to put on joint photographic exhibitions here in Madrid, now hard work and other responsibilities mean we have been reduced to adding ourselves to each other’s Flickr contact list! Judging from the quality of his photos these days that is probably a good thing! Sharing wall space with photos like the one above, of visitors to Madrid’s new 11M bombings memorial, could be pretty taxing! To see more of Alistair’s photos of the memorial, and trips through Spain and beyond, check out his Flickr pages.
Recovering from just one day at Las Fallas this year means that is has taken me nearly 5 days to get this podcast, video, photos etc together. I highly recommend listening to the podcast before you watch the video below, but that may be just a personal preference – I always find it better to let audio work on the imagination before seeing the real thing!
You still have ten days left to enter our competition and help us make a fantastic book about the very best things to do in Spain. Debbie Jenkins, from www.NativeSpain.com sent in the latest entry, about Plaza Cardinal Belluga, in Murcia City:
“Nothing could be more relaxing than making the short drive into the city on a Sunday morning, and sitting in the Plaza Cardinal Belluga with your newspaper (La Verdad for Marcus and El Semanal for me – I like the pictures!) and a coffee and tostadas, watching the world go by. On many occasions we’ve been entertained by marching bands, balloon sellers or by watching cars magically appear out of buildings.”
The region of Murcia (map) is off the map for many travelers to Spain, but is increasingly popular with British holiday makers and second home buyers. Do you know anything else about the region? A Murcia secret you’d like to enter into the 500 things to do before you die competition?
“Oh my God, take me there” was Marina’s reaction when she saw this photo, by Fred Shively. Now I have always had a funny relationship with yoga – I’ve taken it up and dropped it again three times in the last 4 years – but I’m right behind her on this one. How relaxing does that look?! Sitting high in the Alpujarras, south of Granada, with that view? Yes please! The photo was taken at Kaliyoga retreat if you feel in need of such an experience yourself…
Ben and Marina talk to Scott and Sheryl who gave up everything for a year on the road, and have just spent two months in Andalusia. To follow them as they continue on their adventures check out the great posts and podcasts at ayearineurope.com, and Scott’s photos on Flickr. The image above comes from Scott’s La Cartuja Flickr set, taken at the semi-abandoned Seville Expo site we discuss on the podcast. Would you consider giving up everything to make a trip like this? Let us know in the forum or comments below…
Experiencing one of the jewels of Mudejar Andalucia is something you’ll never forget. Make your way to Cordoba and visit La Mesquita first thing in the morning, right at opening time. As you walk through the courtyard you are teased by the bricked up Moorish arches that were originally open to the interior. When you enter through the tall wooden doors, and once your eyes adjust to the darkness, you’ll see what makes this place so breathtaking. Stretching seemingly into infinity is a forest of columns, connected by graceful white and red arches and dimly lit by hanging chandeliers. Wander through the streams of morning light, splashing pools of color onto the marble floor. If you’re lucky, you’ll pass through a wisp of orange incense in the air. Inside La Mesquita, you are transported to another time where you experience a special piece of ancient Spain. It is magic.
The best way to avoid being pick-pocketed, ripped off, abused even more by taxi drivers etc is, conventional wisdom would have it, not to look too much like a tourist. How do you achieve this? According to Dave Hall (aka Pepino) in a must read forum post on the subject:
“Avoid the absolute worst fashion crimes below, and you’ll be well on your way.
Dress for the season you’re in
Don’t have too much flesh on show (unless you’re on the beach)
Bikini tops are for the beach only (not for walking around shopping centres)
Wear subtle jewellery or single pieces of funky large accessories (not dripping in gold)
Try to avoid the typical British "combats/trainers/white socks/vest top†look (although, one individual part combined with something else can be absolutely fine)
Be careful with Burberry checks. Burberry’s still a great brand, but their famous check pattern has been hijacked by Chavs, so don’t touch it.
If you’re American, avoid the "nautical†look and DO NOT wear a plastic sun visor…. Ever! jeje
At the moment, big sunglasses are still very cool (Posh Spice’s are bigger than her head these days!)
No cheesewire knickers on show.”
What’s your top tip for blending in whilst in Spain?
Arpi Shively, who runs the excellent Andalucid blog on life in the Alpujarras and beyond, sent in this entry for our “500 things to do in Spain before you die” competition (you can win and iPod Shuffle and get in a book!). Apparently there is somewhere in Spain that you can get away from all the noise:
The entries are pouring in for our ‘500 things to do in Spain before you die’ competition (you can win an iPod shuffle!) When I sent details to my Spain-dwelling friends I never expected to get two entries on the same experience, proving that this must indeed be one of the most memorable things to do in Spain before you die…
The NFS Flickr Group is still going strong, feel free to add photos whenever you like! Today’s image was taken by Scott from ayearineuopre.com (lots of great podcasts from Spain on the site!) Scott explains:
“It was taken in Cordoba in the Caballerizas Reales. The Cordoba Ecuestre club was assembling there for a parade in celebration of Día de Andalucía. Once assembled, the horses, riders and carriages then proceeded out of the stables and onto a route through the streets of Cordoba. We felt really lucky to stumble upon the event!”
You still have ten days left 
Notes from Spain by Ben Curtis 