Today we are going to tell you about a flea market in Madrid that is not just a market. It's a cultural event! We are talking about the famous and very trendy Mercado de Motores (Motor Market).

This market, which is held once a month, has become one of the most sophisticated events in the city. And we're going to give you some reasons why it’s so popular.

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First, because this market, with its great atmosphere, has everything: arts and crafts, work from new and enterprising designers, retro items, just about everything for collectors. You could be looking for a nice shirt and you will end up buying a gift for your partner, several items to decorate your house with and that Stones LP you've been after for years!

Second, because it takes place in one of the most picturesque venues in Madrid, the Railway Museum: what was once Delicias Train Station, today you’ll find several locomotives and wagons on display that in their day toured Spain. Its nineteenth-century atmosphere will transport you to another era. By the way ... Did you know that the museum cafeteria is in an old restaurant car?

Third, because you can hear great live music. So many groups of musicians set up around the museum: from tribute bands, to DJs intent on making you dance no matter what, from swing bands to performances… Hold on to your shopping bags because you won’t be able to resist the moving rhythms.

Fourth, because after so much activity you’ll want to sit and relax or have a drink. Here in the Mercado de Motores there are a myriad of food trucks with all different kinds of fare: international, vegan, the classic and always triumphant hot dog, cupcakes and other delights without forgetting the Spanish gastronomy.

And finally, because when you return home after having spent the day in the Mercado de Motores... You won’t stop thinking about going back the following month!

Note: the photos in this post are by photographer Josetxu Miguel, and granted by the Mercado de Motores organization.

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There are usually two ways to travel to another country or an unknown city: for the adventure, or following a planned route. That’s why, as we know you are up for the adventure, but would like to be well informed so as to leave not everything to chance, we suggest a route that starts at our Spanish school don Quijote and will take you to the best places and most important areas of Oaxaca.

Since it would take hours and hours to tour the entire city and see everything, we’ll tell you about the best places to visit in Oaxaca’s historic center.

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Walking 5 minutes from the don Quijote school, we find the Temple of Santo Domingo. This first stop is a temple built at the time the Dominicans arrived in Oaxaca towards the end of the 16th century. Although they say that the most significant work is in its interior, this time the facade is almost as beautiful as the temple, which houses ten chapels and more than 20 paintings.

Its construction began in 1570 and was inaugurated, yet unfinished, in 1608. The temple also contained a botanical garden that was without equal in all of Oaxaca. Both the typically European architecture and the ideas that the Mexican builders employed resulted in a temple that stands out above all the other buildings of the city.

Just a one minute walk from the temple, we arrive at Calle Macedonio Alcalá. It's, without doubt, the most touristic street of all Oaxaca. In fact, the street was turned into a pedestrian zone in 1985 so that the people could stroll peacefully. In this way, everyone who walks around Macedonio Alcala can enjoy the monuments, shops and all the colors that adorn this street.

During your walk around this area, you can stop at any of the sidewalk cafés, dine at one of the many restaurants, try the typical chapulines (toasted grasshoppers), tamales (steamed, meat-filled pastry) or drink some of the famous mezcal (tequila’s close cousin). You also have many stores to bring a souvenir of Oaxaca back with you.

And after enjoying this street, you will almost come to its end, only three minutes away, where you’ll find the Museum of Contemporary Art. Opened in 1992, it is the place where the most typical traditions of Oaxaca meet the international culture of the moment. It has expositions that mix the most innovative with the most traditional, so that everyone who comes through feels at home. And, to top it off, the 17th century facade acts as a testament to the perseverance of culture.

Only a few steps from the museum, you’ll find one of the most important theaters in all of Mexico, the Teatro Macedonio Alcalá. Although it was inaugurated in 1909, 20 years later it was renamed, displaying the name we know it by today grandly at the top of its facade.

Having been restored many times, it has hosted many ceremonies and celebrations, from the religious to military and many more in between. But although the theater has gone through many changes throughout its existence, what will not change is the fact that it is a worthy World Heritage Site.

If we continue discovering Oaxaca, just two minutes walking distance from the theater we find the place where culture is created and spread. The San Pablo Academic and Cultural Center also offers spaces for everyone who comes to learn about indigenous culture. This is the place where the past, present and indigenous cultures meet, perfect for getting to know the history and traditions of Mexico.

And to end our tour of downtown Oaxaca, the best place to rest is the Benito Juarez Market. At about 7 minutes walking distance from the academic center, this market is the oldest in the whole city, having been inaugurated in 1893. There is an incredible number of items to buy or to try. From clothing, accessories or jewelry, to crafts, fruits, vegetables and many other types of food.

But take your time. There are three very specific things that you must try in this market before you leave. On the one hand, pan de yema (egg yolk bread) is a perfect party food. It has a unique flavor that will bring back memories of your tour of Oaxaca. On the other, if you ask for chocolate to make hot chocolate at one of the stalls, they will grind it for you right there, adding any ingredient you choose. Cinnamon, vanilla, almonds… whatever looks best to you. And finally, from when you arrive until you leave Oaxaca, you will have a thousand and one opportunities to try the chapulines (grasshoppers). Although be warned as this dish is only for the most adventurous.

Come to Oaxaca to enjoy the good life, enter the Mexican culture from your first moment and let yourself be carried away by all that this city has to offer you.

Do you dare to visit Oaxaca?

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Everyone agrees that the buildings created by Santiago Calatrava for the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia have a futuristic twist, as if they were taken from a science fiction film. And this has not gone unnoticed by film and show producers of the genre. In fact, we can see silhouettes of these buildings in many different productions.

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In “Tomorrowland”, a Disney film starring George Clooney, these buildings appear as part of a city in the future, home to scientists and great minds. The film was not a great success, but Spanish spectators had the opportunity to see what a Calatrava-style city could be like.

Doctor Who also took the opportunity to park his TARDIS in this spot. You can see it in the episode "Smile" in which the Time Lord confronts robots that have gone too far in their eradication of sadness on a terrestrial space colony. Thank goodness the Daleks did not pass by! Those who did appear were quite a few whovians who did not hesitate to take a myriad of selfies with the patient and chivalrous twelfth doctor.

The new adaptation by the show “V” is quite curious. In one episode, we can see the famous profiles of the museum Prince Felipe and L'Hemisfèric from within the visitors’ mothership. There was only one problem: the producer of the show did not apply for the necessary permits from the city of Valencia to use the images. The event gave rise to many jokes about whether the architect Calatrava was an extraterrestrial or not.

The City of Arts and Sciences is not just a land for dreamers. Cynical tough guys love it too. If you don’t believe it, ask Norman Reedus and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, actors in “The Walking Dead”, about their time in Valencia. But not to worry, the zombies aren’t invading the city. An episode for a documentary series in which both actors travel the world on motorcycle was being shot.

Here’s more on the subject of motors and wheels, but in a very different medium. We move on to video games. One could imagine using the setting of the City of Arts and Sciences would be perfect for a digital space adventure, but no... We are talking about the car racing game Gran Turismo 6! One of the races in the games takes place there. Of course, it is prohibited to drive around this city, but anything is possible in the world of video games.

This monument is no longer just a symbol of Valencia. It has also become a stage for dreams and adventures. A place you can visit if you come with us!

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Santo Domingo de Heredia is the perfect city for those looking for a peaceful place to live, yet not miss out on everything a large city has to offer.

 

To be among the crowd and feel yourself in the heart of a populous capital, there is San Jose. But to enjoy tranquility and be surrounded by nature, the best place is Santo Domingo de Heredia without a doubt.

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Thanks to its vast extension of nature all around it, this incredible city, with its pristine air and the most important natural parks in Costa Rica, is an absolute treasure to visit.

 

One of these small paradises is the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Words can’t describe it completely.

 

It has over 6,000 different species of plants and more than 500 types of birds. Thanks to the climate conditions and the sheer immensity of the forest, the tallest trees lie in the lower area, while the smaller trees are in the highest part of the forest.

 

All this is just a tiny part of everything you can see and enjoy in the park, so prepare your backpack and get ready for adventure.

 

On the other hand, if you would rather spend an afternoon shopping, enjoying a good time with friends or having something to drink in a terrace, the Paseo de las Flores is the perfect place.

 

But don’t be fooled by the name, as it’s not what it seems.

 

At the time, it was the largest commercial project in all of Costa Rica and, to this day, it’s one of the most important shopping centers in all of Heredia.

 

In the Paseo de las Flores you’ll find everything you need in a city. There are fast food and traditional restaurants, shoe and clothing shops, cinemas and entertainment areas... It’s the perfect place to spend a pleasant afternoon chatting with friends or finding new clothes to take with you as a souvenir of the city.

 

In addition, it’s easy to get there as the buses leave you at the entrance, and later can take you anywhere in the city in a moment’s time.

 

But for those who really want nature, and want it close to home, the best thing to do is visit INBio, the National Institute of Biodiversity.

 

This specialized center’s mission is to preserve the diversity of the area’s nature and allow everyone who comes to Heredia to experience it.

 

This institute is divided into two separate spaces.

 

One of these is the natural park, which has more than 50 different species of birds, with more than 600 plants, and animals as diverse as sloths, toads, turtles or iguanas. A wide variety of nature awaits you.

 

Next, from this impressive space we pass to the other one, dedicated to education and research, so that every visitor can get to know this natural wonder that lives in Costa Rica.

And, for the more adventurous, there is Aguas Bravas, with whom you can live the greatest outdoor adventures. This company organizes excursions for small groups that want to meet the local people, learn about local traditions or live an adventure like no other.

 

From rafting to climbing activities, touristic routes or whatever you propose, Aguas Bravas will organize it for you and your friends. It’s an incredible opportunity to get close to Costa Rica’s nature and interact with it.

 

 

So, now you are ready to plan your trip to Santo Domingo de Heredia knowing what you want to see and how you want to live it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sun, sea and beach are the images that usually come to mind when we think of Alicante. We could therefore mistakenly think that it’s not a very interesting destination in autumn. But it sure is, as Alicante has many hidden surprises during this time of year. Like to come along to see them?

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First of all, we should not forget about the beach. Even if we can’t go for a swim, we can always enjoy a relaxing along the sand or, if the sun is still shining, organize a little picnic on the shore. And best of all, you can even do it by yourself.

If you’re a history buff, you’ll be surprised by the five castle routes in the province of Alicante. This region boasts of several castles and fortresses that date back to the time when the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon where frontiers. Routes with such evocative names as the Key to the Kingdom, the Mountain, Vinalopó, Tudmir, the Frontier of Fear… These routes will make you feel like a true medieval knight visiting amazing castles and palaces like Castillo de la Atalaya, in Villena; Castillo de Biar or the Palacio de Altamira! Venture beyond Santa Barbara Castle!

Autumn is the perfect time to hike in Alicante: temperatures are mild, there are hardly any tourists and the trails are tinted with precious golden and orange hues. Alicante has so many routes to walk, revealing its natural charms. And with the myriad to choose from, we want to highlight a 10-kilometer route very close to Alcoy, which takes you from a place called Preventori to Barranc del Cinc. It’s beautiful, simple, and at the same time stunning. The perfect example of Mediterranean landscape.

Autumn is also an ideal time of year to visit museums: The Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Volvo Ocean Race interactive space... you already know these. We can only tell you that at this time of year you’ll find very few visitors and will almost have the museums to yourself. But if you go a little outside the city, in particular to the town of Villajoyosa, you will find one of the sweetest museums in the world... It’s dedicated to chocolate!

Although we love fideuá (similar to paella, but with noodles), black rice and arroz a banda (rice cooked in a fish broth), there are many specialties to savor in Alicante, and autumn is the ideal time to try something different. Game meat, mushrooms, marinades... are all added to paellas and soups. Our favorite dishes? Undoubtedly arroz caldoso (rice soup) and the olleta (a hearty stew). Ideal for the weather that’s just beginning to chill! Ah! And don’t forget, autumn is also the time the oranges are being picked. Imagine making juice with oranges almost straight from the tree!

And these are just a few suggestions. As soon as you walk out of the classroom you will see that, even in autumn, there are many options to have fun and enjoy the city. With so much on offer, Alicante is very much the ideal city!

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Today we are going to talk about two of Seville’s most important legends. One deals with the world-famous Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) and the other is about a crocodile from Egypt.

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The Torre del Oro, it is said, is called such because of an incident involving doña Aldonza in the 9^th century. This most beautiful woman, while waiting for her husband to return from war, decided to shut herself away in a cloistered convent to avoid temptations. One day, as King Pedro was passing through the convent, he saw the damsel and fell in love. He couldn’t help but notice her flowing blond hair which, try as she might, couldn’t be hidden under her habit.

As was his custom, the king took the angelic young woman to the tower, where he would send all the women with whom he would maintain relationships behind his wife’s back. Seeing that she had no way out and that it was no good to oppose with force, she decided to sacrifice the beauty that had brought her there by cutting off her long, golden hair.

The king, having discovered what doña Aldonza had done, sent her back to the convent. It is because of this story of a blond woman’s locks that the tower where the king would keep his trysts became known as the Tower of Gold.

Only a few steps from the tower stands the Cathedral of Seville. Inside, there are many curiosities to be found in its Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard). As you walk in, looking up will reveal more than lamps and a historic ceiling. There is a life-size, hanging crocodile, an elephant’s tusk, a horse´s bit (or a giraffe’s, no one knows for sure) and a staff.

As legend has it, around the year 1260, the Sultan of Egypt fell in love with King Alfonso X’s daughter, Berenguela. To ask for her hand, the sultan sent an entourage bearing exotic gifts. The king, disagreeing with this request, kept the exotic gifts and sent other ones back to Egypt.

After some time, when the crocodile died, it was stuffed with hay and the king decided it should be hung in the Patio de los Naranjos of the Cathedral. Now what you see hanging is a wooden replica which, some say, represents the virtue of prudence.

These are only two of the many legends that live in the streets of Seville, hoping that you will come and decide for yourself how much is legend… and how much history.

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When you arrive at a new place, or are introduced a large group of people, one of the first things you need to do (without anyone noticing, of course) is to find out who corta el bacalao (cuts the cod).

 

But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that, upon arriving, you have to sit at the table and try this delicious fish. Not even close. Knowing who “cuts the cod”, as heard in Spanish, is a saying that refers to the fact that there’s always someone in charge, who makes the most important decisions.

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This adage originated in the 16^th century, when refrigerators, as we know them, didn’t exist. To conserve food and be able to take it on long journeys, meats and fish were heavily salted, kept as cool as possible and then desalted when it was time to cook.

 

Around the same time, in Spain cod was becoming more and more popular. As meats were scarce, this fish was one of the few that was abundant enough to be normally available in the marketplaces. Thus, little by little, it began to be taken to the colonies in the Americas by boat from Spain.

 

In these areas, pieces of cod were given out to the slaves as they finished their hard day of work. So, when they finished the last of the many tasks they had for the day, they stood in a long line before the foreman or the leader of the group. He was the boss and decided how much each one ate, and was the one who would cut the cod in strips to hand out to the slaves. And, if someone got on his bad side, he risked receiving the worst part of the fish, a smaller portion, or even going without.

 

So, over time, referring to a person as one who cuts the cod means this is the person who calls the shots.

 

Another explanation for this same expression points to the old grocery stores of yesteryear. Cod was common fare in these shops, but it only the boss or shop owner would cut it for the customers, because he was the one with the proper knife skills.

 

In any case, be it the foremen in the Spanish colonies or the shop owners, it has always been important to have the person who corta el bacalao on your side.

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The University of Salamanca will soon celebrate its 800th year. Eight centuries go a long way and if we keep in mind that this institution has seen periods such as the Middle Ages, the Baroque, the Spanish Empire and Romanticism, it’s only natural that numerous legends are contained within its walls. Here are just a few.

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The first one, although it has to do with the university, takes place in the chapel of Santa Barbara, inside the Old Cathedral. Originally the students had their classes on the temple’s premises and this chapel served as a classroom in which to prepare and defend dissertations and doctoral theses. These days, a procedure like this would likely make your hair stand on end: the student would spend the night reviewing his books and notes in front of Bishop Lucero’s tomb in complete solitude, dimly lit by a few candles. The next morning, still in front of the bishop’s tomb, he would defend his work before the examining board. To pass the examination after a sleepless night in the sole company of a deceased dignitary must have been, at the very least, challenging.

Another legendary component that has to do with the fleeting nature of life is the famous frog which, to pass all courses, must be found on one of the skulls that adorn the facade of the university. It is not known who started this legend, but it is one of many: some say that the frog is the stonemason’s signature, others that it warns students of the danger of leading a careless life, still others that it is an uneasy message telling us that the dead will rise “when frogs grow hair” (a common Spanish saying).

Let's move on from these dark and gloomy legends to a brighter, shinier one. Surely you have marveled at the beautiful architecture of the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), a true artistic treasure that was once the home of Rodrigo Maldonado, Professor of Law back in the sixteenth century. Well, some people say that each of the shells that decorates the facade hides a gold coin. Could this be the real reason for its recent restoration?

Another artistic detail full of mystery is the sky that can be seen in the Escuelas Menores (High School). It is a map of the firmament created between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries which then occupied the ceiling of the University’s old library. These paintings were covered over when the library was renovated as a chapel. In the mid-twentieth century they were rediscovered and brought to light again in the Escuelas Menores. Imagining a multitude of wise men, researching ancient and secret knowledge under a map of the sky has its charm.

Several streets below there is a corner of Salamanca that, although it has nothing to do with the University, was a classroom ... or so they say. According to the legend, the Cueva de Salamanca (Cave of Salamanca) was used as a classroom where the devil himself taught magicians and wizards. They say the classes ended because one of the students deceived the teacher by selling him his shadow instead of his soul. But it is also said that there is no trace of a school, and what we see today are the remains of a medieval church.

We have many more to tell and invite you to come and learn Spanish with us and discover more. We can tell you with certainty that if you walk through its streets you will not only feel the legends. You will also be tempted to create your own.

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Just imagine...

A stormy night. A castle in the middle of an immense field. Just one way to get to your destination. Walking. You know you must stop somewhere to rest and all you can find is a castle at the end of the road.

Little by little, and completely soaked by the storm, you arrive at a drawbridge that passes over a moat. You knock at the grand entrance with more fear than shame, and you are received by a pleasant receptionist who invites you in to her "enchanting" hotel in Topas, Salamanca.

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It is the Villanueva de Cañedo Castle or the Fonseca Castle, better known as the Castillo del Buen Amor (the Castle of Good Love- only its walls know what really happened to qualify for that moniker).

This fifteenth-century castle was constructed after the fortress that occupied the same land four centuries earlier. In times when this imposing fortification was still young, daily life inside revolved around the warriors who came and went between battles. Knights astride their horses tired from their travels, yearning to relax and refresh in the stables. Meetings of kings and emissaries in their halls, and many more goings on…

After the Catholic Monarchs and the Duke of Alba, its owners were the Fonseca, a famous line of bishops. In fact, it is said that the name of the castle arises from the romance bishop Alonso de Fonseca held with Maria de Ulloa. Gossiping tongues recount that, since he was bishop and thus his romance had to be in secret, she died from her melancholy inside that castle. And, for that reason, his soul still wanders errant throughout the places he walked in life. Now it is at this point that the story which really matters to us begins.

Today, the Castillo del Buen Amor is a hotel in Salamanca that takes in many curious tourists. And the most perplexing thing is they all agree that there is something mysterious shut away within the stone walls. Some receptionists will tell that on more than one occasion, they have received calls from a room where no one was staying. Calls in which only deep breathing could be heard, as if from beyond the grave. Moreover, not only did they confirm that there was no one in the room, and thinking it might be a joke in bad taste, they had the phone disconnected to put halt these calls. Yet to everyone's astonishment, the calls continued to come in from the same room, the same telephone... and the same profound breathing.

Many guests maintain that, day and night, continuous blows emanating from a particular room resound around the estate. Others even say that they have seen the shadows of warriors moving up and down the stairs.

This "enchanting" hotel-castle is open to the public and always well prepared for its visitors. In addition, it was declared a National Monument in 1931. The only thing you need to do is visit our school in Salamanca and try to spend a night in this hotel... if you dare.

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They say that in the late-nineteenth-century two cafés on Matheu Street, France and Paris, competed to attract the most customers. The manager of the first one came up with something simple to have more clientele despite the small size of the local: take out several tables into the street. The manager of the second café wasted no time in imitating him.

You’ll see if the initiative was successful walking through any street in Madrid on a hot summer’s day. A few meters on you will surely find a bar that has placed several tables and chairs on the sidewalk, inviting you to sit down and order a refreshment or a beer. You have reached one of the city’s many terraces.

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Trying to define or classify the terraces of Madrid is impossible. What we can say is that the terrace has the "philosophy" of the bar that owns it. There are ones that give you great tapas, others that only offer a small bowl of peanuts to accompany your drink, those in which a waiter saturated with orders can take a lifetime to bring you the check, ones in which the waiter treats you as if you were the only customer... and we have even come to know some where they’ll take the glass out of your hands if its past closing time.

What is usually common to all of them is an increase in the price. This hike may be a small percentage of the total amount or a fixed amount of cents per customer seated at the table.

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