Halloween is approaching and a small controversy is flaring up: have we Spanish-speaking countries betrayed our roots by turning something as profound as All Souls' Day into something superficial?

Let's take it one step at a time: All Souls' Day is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. In many places the 1st is a public holiday so people go out on the eve, and what better way to have fun the night before a holiday than a costume party? Besides, that doesn't mean we're being frivolous: many people who celebrate Halloween also remember their loved ones on the following days.

Controversy aside, it is curious to see how some countries have adapted Halloween to their culture. Let's give you some examples.

In México, of course, the big celebration is the Day of the Dead, but Halloween is also celebrated. It is curious to see how children have adapted trick-or-treating and go from house to house asking not for sweets, but for donations. On 31 October, costume parties are also held, but with little connection to the typical images of the Day of the Dead. The latter, as tradition dictates, is celebrated when it is due.

In Spain it is the case that, in the north of the country and especially in Galicia, a Celtic festival very similar to Halloween, called Magosto, was already celebrated between 1 and 11 November. However, in Spain they have adapted Halloween to the Spanish in an unexpected way: some families solve the "trick or treat" by giving children Christmas sweets such as nougat or marzipan. Many say this is one of the reasons why by mid-October you can already see all kinds of Christmas specialities in supermarkets.

In Argentina Halloween is celebrated as if it were carnival: parties, dances... a simple party to have a good time. For a while there was also controversy related to the adoption of a foreign custom and it was proposed that instead of monsters such as the werewolf or Dracula, American-style beings such as the Anchimalén goblin, the vampire Ehéie or the Mapuche monster Pihuchén would be the protagonists. The proposal - it's a pity - never came to fruition. What does take place every year in Buenos Aires is the Halloween Run, a night-time marathon in which people dress up in costume.

We were very surprised, we admit, to learn that Halloween was already being celebrated in Colombia in the 1960s, although it was a festival celebrated by urban high society. In the 1970s it spread to the rest of the population. By the way, in Cartagena de Indias there is an indigenous tradition reminiscent of trick-or-treating called Tintililillo: children go around the neighbourhoods singing a little song and asking for a few pesos.

In Costa Rica the celebration of Halloween has served, ironically, to revitalise a somewhat forgotten custom, that of the masquerade. It is a festivity that unites the Spanish tradition of the giants and big-heads with indigenous traditions. Such has been the strength with which the festival has returned that in 1997 it was declared by decree that 31 October should be the national day of the traditional Costa Rican masquerade.

The clash between Halloween and tradition is most evident in Peru. Since 1944, 31 October was established as the day of one of the country's best-known traditional manifestations, the "canción criolla"; however, in recent years many Peruvians have dedicated the day to Halloween festivities. There have also emerged supporters of a third way, "Criolloween", which advocates uniting the aesthetics of one and the content of the other.

Halloween has taken hold, but the traditions refuse to go away, giving rise to parties, celebrations and very curious manifestations. Something very, very interesting.

Malaga’s great pride is being the birthplace of one of the greatest geniuses of painting, Pablo Picasso. We all know his work and his style, but many are unaware of some of the most curious details of his life. Do you want to learn about some of them?

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We almost didn’t have this genius: at birth he was given up for dead; but his uncle Salvador, a physician by profession, was able to revive him.  

We all know him as "Pablo Picasso,” but if we saw his birth certificate we would be surprised. His name was really Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martir Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso!

It is known that Picasso started painting from an early age. So early in fact that his first word was "piz" referring to lápiz (pencil in Spanish)!

And he really was a “chip off the old block.” Picasso's father was an instructor at the School of Fine Arts in Malaga. They say, that upon seeing that his son had surpassed him in talent at barely 13 years old, the father gave up painting.

He was a rebellious student and was often punished; but he did not take it badly because he used the afternoons of punishment to draw and create in his own fashion.

Few know this: Picasso figures in the Guinness Book of Records as the most prolific artist in the world with 3,500 paintings, 100,000 prints, 34,000 illustrations and 300 sculptures.

In 1911 the famous Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. The police called Picasso, but as a defendant! Of course, he could prove his innocence.

Ironically Picasso is precisely one of the most "stolen" artists. More than 350 of his works have been victims of thievery.

Picasso was a great friend of another genius of painting: Joan Miro. In fact, their mothers already knew each other, but their true friendship was born when Picasso's mother sent Miro to take her son, who was residing in Paris, an ensaimada (typical, fluffy pastry from Malaga). It took the young Miro several days to find Picasso, and when they were finally together, he gave him the ensaimada, which was already hard. Picasso was impressed that, in a gesture of honesty, Miro hadn’t eaten the pastry.

Picasso's friends claim that he used to carry a revolver loaded with blanks that he would fire when a conversation became too boring.

They say that when he realized that, one night, he had no money, Picasso wanted to pay for a dinner with a drawing. The manager of the restaurant, knowing the painter's fame, asked him to sign it. To which Picasso replied "What I want is to pay for dinner, not buy the restaurant.”

Picasso is the favorite artist of many, but who were Picasso's favorite artists? It is said that he had a weak spot for the work of El Greco and, after his pink period, began to deeply admire ancient Iberian art and pieces such as the Lady of Elche or the Lady of Baza.

As you can see,  genius, art and even wit had always been present in the life of Picasso. Therefore, to conclude this article, we quote the painter himself: "When I was a child, my mother told me: If you become a soldier you will grow into a general, if you become a priest, you will end up a pope. Instead of all that I decided to be a painter and I became Picasso."

In Spanish, we can say “mantenerse en sus trece” which translates literally to “keep to one’s thirteen”. Yet this isn’t talking about a thirteen-year-old who doesn’t want to grow any more. Far from it.

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If someone “keeps to their thirteen,” it means something like they stand firm on a position about whatever subject, and nothing will make them change their mind. And this Spanish way of saying “standing one’s ground,” in fact, has a special nuance. Someone who holds their thirteen won’t change their mind, even when the opposing ideas are correct, or even indisputable.

One example of this common saying goes something like this:

• Although he knew he was not right, Juan kept to his thirteen and did not change his mind.

So, as it is an idiom with such a marked meaning, we will investigate its origin and how it got to us.

After checking various sources, we found that it has two possible and very striking origins.

On the one hand, it is said it might come from a card game from the Middle Ages in which the goal was to reach fifteen points, without going over, adding up the value of each card. The player who got closest to those points won, and so, anyone who reached thirteen points held their cards, taking no more, as it would have been easy to go over fifteen with only one more card.

As such, keeping to one’s thirteen, with all its variants, might very well have originated from this ancient card game.

On the other hand, it is said that it might come from the times of Pope Luna, also known as Pope Benedict XIII.

They say that after the division of the Church in the districts of Avignon and Rome, this Pope was chosen as the representative of the French see.

Shortly after the appointment of Pope Benedict XIII, France withdrew its support and he was forced to go live in the Peniscola Castle in Spain, stripped of his power.

As he found it unjust, he relocated with the few people who still considered him Pope to the Castle, although he had the habit of shouting "I am Pope Benedict XIII!" constantly. That is why, after repeated it so many times, it began to be taken as an expression leading to the one we know today. Others say that what he shouted was "I am Pope ... and thirteen!", which also would have given rise to our saying. Whatever the real origin of this expression, if someone “keeps to their thirteen” it is synonymous with being a bit hard-headed.

The Day of the Dead is a very special day in Mexico. Far from being a sad or gloomy day, its color, animation and aesthetics celebrate life and its triumph over death. It is something that goes beyond the sweets, makeup, the attire... That is why we are going to show you the meanings behind the beauty of this day.

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First we should talk about the eye-catching Catrinas, amusing representations of a skull or bones painted on the face well-dressed women. Its invention dates to 1910, when figures of animated skeletons appeared in the newspapers satirizing the politics of the time. A Catrina, called Garbancera at the time, represented a snobbish sector of society who would dress, talk and act as if they were foreigners, ignoring their cultural roots. The famous painter Diego Rivera fell in love with the persona and gave it the name we all know it by today- Catrina. As such, Catrina has now become the indisputable star of the Day of the Dead and even an "it girl". In fact, the design school of the beautiful city of Leon, in the state of Guanajuato, organizes a fashion show each year where its students show their creations based on this character. In another of our destinations, Oaxaca, these Catrinas are also to be seen, but this time in an eerie procession through the streets.

Typical of this date are candy sugar skulls, a sweet confection called alfeñiques. They are often seen in offerings on the altars that fill streets and neighborhoods during this day, as well as given as gifts to family and friends, often bearing their name. Their roots can be traced to the funerary rites of Mesoamerican cultures, in which the skulls of deceased ancestors were displayed. Today, in Leon, these alfeñiques are also revered in a festival dedicated exclusively to them. There are many, many forms of this confection which fills the stomach, sweetens the spirit and charms the eyes.

The most important and meaningful element is undoubtedly the offering. It has to do with that colorful and fascinating altar that we can see in houses, shops, restaurants... and hides many more secrets than we can imagine.

The altars for these offerings always have seven levels, count them if you want: a photo of a saint or a virgin is placed on the first one; the second is dedicated to the souls that are in purgatory; salt is put on the third level for the souls of the children in purgatory; also in the room, pan de muerto (sweet bread with red sugar), that must be made by the deceased’s relatives, is placed; the fifth holds fruit and the departed’s favorite food; a photo of the deceased is placed on the sixth level and on the seventh a rosary of tejocotes (a yellow, bittersweet fruit) or limes.

Other offerings are present too, also loaded with meaning: candles that must face the four cardinal points; white flowers, symbolizing the sky, and yellow flowers, symbolizing the earth; a rod to protect the spirit of the deceased from all evil... finally there is a path flanked by cempasúchil flowers from the entrance of house to the altar.

With so much symbolism and art contained in these altars, it is not surprising that every year the inhabitants of Guanajuato wait anxiously for the traditional monumental offering that the students prepare on the steps of the University. In another state, Oaxaca, cemeteries become impressive successions of offerings and altars illuminated by the spiritual candlelight.

The day of the dead in Mexico, as we say, has something inexplicable, mystical, lasting. Something that really makes us think that our loved ones still protect us.

Today is a very special day for us. as it is the birthday of Miguel de Cervantes, author of  "Don Quijote de la Mancha". So, we want to you join the celebration with ten of his best quotes, to inspire you. Here they are!

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• Trust time; it usually provides a sweet way out of many bitter challenges.
• The truth may be stretched thin, but it never breaks, and it always surfaces above lies, as oil floats on water.
• Who reads much and walks much, goes far and knows much.
• Love and desire are two different things; not everything that is loved is desired.
• Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts heaven gave to men; the treasures under the earth and beneath the sea cannot compare to it; for freedom, as well as for honor, one can and should risk one’s life, while captivity, on the other hand, is the greatest evil that can befall men.
• Who does not know to do with happiness should not complain when it passes.
• There is no so bad as not to have something good in it.
• The pen is the tongue of the soul.
• Be brief, for no discourse can please when too long.
• To be prepared is the half of the victory.

Now you know the keys of the "Cervantino" wisdom. Use it wisely.

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.

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?

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!

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.