In northern Spain lies the Basque city of Bilbao, the capital of the province of Biscay. The city is known for being one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, but mostly because it boasts one of the world-famous Guggenheim museums. 'Museo Guggenheim de Bilbao' belongs to the famous Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation alongside the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the Guggenheim in New York and the Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi. According to many, the Guggenheim museums are the most important museums for modern art and are often at the top of art lovers' lists.

• The so-called "Bilbao effect" represents the fact that one building can attract so many visitors to a somewhat less popular city.
• The Bilbao Guggenheim Museum is the most famous building in the Basque Country in Spain.
• From the city side, the building looks like a silver flower, but from the other side it looks like a large sailing ship.

In 1997, the Guggenheim Bilbao opened its doors to the public. The works of art exhibited range from pop art to Pablo Picasso. The permanent Guggenheim collections are most focused on the modern art and plastic art of the 20th century such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Andy Warhol and are spread throughout the four museums.

Guggenheim museums are known for their impressive architectural buildings. For example, the Guggenheim in New York resembles a futuristic teacup with one big long spiral upward where you can occasionally take a turn to a room, rather than changing floors by stairs. The building in Bilbao resembles a large sailing ship and was designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, who represents deconstructivism. Deconstructivism is modern architecture that assumes that modern society is confusing and uncertain and shows this in its structures. The Guggenheim Bilbao certainly shows this as well. The building is composed mostly of scaly titanium plates that allow the building to shine for up to 100 years due to the reflection of sunlight. To still protect the many works of art from the heat and sunlight, numerous glass walls have been constructed. The building also gives the impression that it could collapse at any moment - the effect of deconstructivism.

The Guggenheim in Bilbao is among the most famous museums in Spain, along with the Prado in Madrid and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. The Guggenheim Bilbao is a great success and can be seen as the proof that a building is capable of putting an entire city on the map. This is also known as the "Bilbao effect. Bilbao as a city itself is not a tourist attraction, but because of the Guggenheim Museum, it still attracts very many visitors. For modern art lovers, the Guggenheim in Bilbao is one of the more important and interesting museums in Europe, and the building outside alone is breathtaking.

The night of San Juan is an ancient and traditional festival in many countries celebrating the beginning of summer. From Finland to Brazil, this festival in honor of San Juan is celebrated in different forms. In Spain, this old traditional summer festival takes place every year on the evening of June 23. Many towns and villages organize bonfires and parties on the beach or in the city center. The largest bonfire in Spain is on the beach in Alicante and is also known as "Las Hogueras de Alicante".

• The original tradition states that Alicante residents jump around the flames seven times or run into the water.
• Eventually, the fires go out with the help of the fire department, but in the city, the celebration continues for a few hours.
• Each year there is a beauty pageant, the Belleza de Fuego (Beauty of the Fire), in which the winner is crowned Queen of the festival.

Looking at the past, the Hogueras originally had to do with celebrating the longest day on June 23 in the countryside. The celebration officially began with a festive dinner using local produce from the land, and around midnight the bonfires were lit around which residents danced. Over the years the traditional way changed, but in 1928 the Hogueras of Alicante were formally established. Today, it is somewhat similar to the Las Fallas festival in Valencia celebrated in March.

Now Alicante celebrates the tribute to San Juan starting June 19 for several days. During these days, the entire city is filled with large papier-mâché or wooden dolls called ninots, fireworks, mascletas, music and giant bonfires. A great popular festival with a spectacular ending on the night of June 24, when the créma begins: the burning of the dolls in the hundreds of bonfires that flood the sky with an orange hue. On the beach, the party continues into the early hours.

These days are of course dedicated to San Juan, but during the rest of the year Alicante is the perfect city for a city break. The medium-sized city is located on the Costa Blanca and has a diverse history with Roman and Moorish influences. Some important sights in Alicante include the Castle of Santa Bárbara, the old town hall and many impressive churches. The city has beautiful beaches for relaxing and good restaurants serving typical Spanish cuisine.

The Hogueras of Alicante is one of the most important and popular fiestas in Spain and in the province of Alicante. The Hogueras of Alicante equal fire, large papier-mâché dolls, music, parades and a cheerful summer atmosphere. For a few days, the city turns into one big party destination. Enjoy the arrival of summer in the best way possible: experiencing the magnificent and enormous bonfires of San Juan in Alicante.

When it comes to culture, Spain's greatest churches are definitely among them. Spain has a rich religious history. The deep-rooted Catholic faith prevailed for centuries and this caused many churches to be constructed. Today, these churches are the most special sights and monuments in Spain. Spain possesses some very special churches, "La Giralda" and "La Sagrada Familia" are just a small sample of these....

• 'La Giralda' in Seville is the third largest and the largest Gothic church in the world.
• The ninth largest church in the world is 'La Catedral-Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar' in Zaragoza.
• The 'Sagrada Familia' is likely to be one of the tallest churches in the world when construction is completed.

Seville: La Giralda

The very largest church in Spain is located in the city of Seville, in southern Spain. The church called 'La Giralda' has an area of up to more than 11,000 m2 and also ranks third among the largest churches in the world. The name 'La Giralda' stands for turning and is derived from the statue that sits atop the church. When it is windy in Seville you can sometimes, with luck, see this statue spinning. The style in which the church was built is Gothic. You can tell by the many arches and the somber character on the outside, due to the use of dark color bricks. It is also the largest Gothic church in the world.

Zaragoza: La Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar

This Roman Catholic church is number nine in the world ranking of largest churches and has a total area of more than 8,000 square meters. Its architectural style is baroque. In the interior of the church is the fresco painting "Adoración del nombre de Dios," by the famous Spanish painter Goya. The sacred chapel is composed of jasper (speckled stone derived from quartz), marble, bronze and silver. On the outside, the church is characterized by four large towers placed on each side.

Barcelona: La Sagrada Familia

'La Sagrada Familia' has a total area of more than 4,000 m2. The Sagrada also has a distinctive Gothic appearance. However, this is only on the outside of the church, as the inside again has Romanesque influences. The colorful reflection of light entering through the stained glass creates a true work of art an sich. On either side of the church, four meter-high towers stand stately in the urban landscape of Barcelona. When construction is completed, this could possibly be the tallest church in the world. Until then, though, it is the tallest church in Spain, followed by "La Catedral Vieja de Santa María" in Salamanca.

Now the question can also immediately be asked whether the Mezquita in Cordoba does not also belong to this list of the largest churches in Spain. With more than 23,000 m2, one could say that this would otherwise have been the largest church in the world. However, every list has some exceptions. Namely, these are real churches, something that is just a little different for this mosque-cathedral. Even though its use now seems to be entirely as a Catholic church, the "Mezquita-Catedral" does not fall under this list. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a visit.

The Machu Picchu; a hidden city that was never discovered by the Spaniards and thus is still completely intact. The amazing place is located in Peru and is Peru's most famous tourist attraction. At the same time, this in turn brings dangers to the wonder of the world so the Machu Picchu is very well protected from all factors that can damage the city.

• Machu Picchu was built by the Incas, the people who had the largest empire in the world at the time.
• The hidden city among the sharp peaks of the Andes Mountains probably had no average function.
• The isolated city is closed to tourists every February because of ecological restoration.

The Machu Picchu is a city at an altitude of 2,400 meters among the steep mountains of Peru. It is the city of the Incas; from the 13th century this Indian people lived in an area of Peru and had their own capital: Cuzco. The language they spoke was Quechua and the name of the city in this language was "Machu Pikchu. The Indian people were religious and their religion based on honoring sun god Inti spread throughout the area. In terms of size, the Inca Empire was the largest empire in the world. They kept control of this huge empire with the help of a road network, tunnels through the mountains and bridges over canyons and rivers. When Columbus discovered America in 1492, it eventually led to the demise of the Inca Empire.

Because of its location at an altitude of 2,400 meters among steep mountains, the city was difficult to reach and was never discovered by the Spanish when they discovered the Americas. There is much speculation about Peru's Machu Picchu, as its former function is not clear. Since the city was very inaccessible, experts expected that it did not have an average function. Nevertheless, the Incas used to lay a path to the city. The entire trek from Cuzco (where the Incas gathered) to the isolated city is done on foot. It totals about 100 kilometers with the last bit through the Andes mountains up to the hidden city considered the toughest part; this is the Inca trail. Nowadays, thousands of tourists visit Machu Picchu and thus also walk the famous Inca trail. To avoid damage to the path, only 400 tourists per day are allowed to enter the path and only groups accompanied by a guide are allowed to go up.

Machu Picchu is a hidden city among the highest and sharpest peaks of the Andes Mountains. 'Machu Picchu' therefore means 'Ancient Summit'. The city's "buildings" have been restored since the 20th century to give tourists the clearest possible idea of what it probably looked like in the past, but also to protect the city as much as possible, since it is very fragile. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes or weather cause the city to be damaged. In addition, despite their caution, tourists are a factor causing the Machu Picchu to be affected. Consequently, every February, the Machu Picchu is closed for ecological restoration.

The Incas built the city using numerous techniques that made it resistant to earthquakes at the time. Furthermore, many of these techniques had to do with the position of the sun; the sun meant everything to the Incas. The famous Intihuertana stone in the hidden city was seen as an astronomical clock or calendar that was tracked according to the position of the sun, which is what researchers believe. Whether this is really true is not known. In addition, the stone lies at exactly those coordinates that the sun is directly on the stone on Nov. 11 and Jan. 30 in the middle of the day, creating no shadows at all around the stone. Furthermore, the stone creates the longest shadow on its southern side on June 21 and a much shorter one on its northern side on December 21. This is probably indicative of the seasonal changes we use today.

It is Spain's largest autonomous region and is conveniently located in the warm south of the country on the Mediterranean Sea. The landscape consists of mountains, dry plains, green natural areas and extensive sandy beaches. Within this autonomous region are the gems of Andalusia. These gems can sometimes be seen in towns or small villages, each of which has its own unique character. Andalusia is very versatile and therefore has much to offer throughout the year. This is partly due to the excellent temperature that makes it possible to organize many festivals, markets, fairs, etc. Some of these large and small pearls are described here: Seville, Ronda and Córdoba. There is also room for two lesser-known tourist places.

• Seville is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Andalusia and is located in the province of the same name, Seville.
• Ronda, as a “romantic city,” is excellent as a wedding venue.
• Also the somewhat less touristy known places, such as Juzcar and Aracena are unique. You will see something that not everyone has seen yet.

Seville

This is the capital of Andalusia and has more than 700,000 inhabitants. This makes Seville the 3rd largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona and is probably one of the places in Spain where true Spanish culture is best preserved. It is the birthplace of flamenco and it shows: flamenco theater performances, flamenco shows over a romantic dinner in a restaurant and a flamenco museum are plentiful. It is a city with Spanish and Arab influences and has a modern and historic feel. Major tourist attractions include “Plaza de España,” “La Giralda” and “Metropole Parasol. For those looking for the most traditional Sevillian tapas dish should ask for 'Solomillo al Whisky.' Here, a deliciously tender piece of meat is served with a dash of whiskey. 

Ronda

On the road from Seville to Málaga lies the romantic town of Ronda. This picturesque town averages about 36,000 inhabitants and belongs to the province of Málaga. It has a rocky landscape and a rugged appearance due to the many gorges, mountains and valleys that surround this city so beautifully. The most characteristic feature of Ronda is the monument “Puente Nuevo. This massive stone bridge connects the two parts of the city. It has a number of imposing arches, one of which is as high as 38 meters! This has also been the setting for an episode of the Dutch program 'Wie is de Mol'. The beautiful weather, fantastic views and romantic aura of this city make this the ultimate wedding venue.

Córdoba

On the northeast side of Seville lies the city of Cordoba. Known as one of the hottest cities in Europe, it has a historic downtown that is also a World Heritage Site. The city houses the world's only “Mezquita cathedral” and shows many Moorish influences in the details of its historic buildings. It is the third largest city in Andalusia by population after Seville and Málaga and is a busy city. Besides the large mosque-cathedral, the bridge “Puente Romano de Córdoba” is very imposing. For a long time, this was also the only access to the old part of the city. Besides sightseeing, this city also holds the festival 'Festival de los Patios Cordobeses'. During this festival in the third week of May, patios can be viewed and the most beautiful patio is chosen.... This special festival is also listed by UNESCO.

Of course, Andalusia has much more to offer than these places. The slightly lesser-known places include the “smurf village” of Juzcar and Aracena. In Juzcar, all the houses are colored blue and bear pictures of various characters from the cartoon series the smurfs. In the mountain village of Aracena, a visit to 'La Gruta de las Maravillas' (the wonder cave) is highly recommended. Here you walk a guided route through this immense cave and can admire crystal clear water, stalactites and stalagmites. However, it is recommended to rent a car, as you cannot get there directly via public transport. This makes it even more special to visit. Andalusia stands for even more such villages of surprise. It is therefore recommended to rent a car so that you can explore the country and discover these pearls during your trip.

The World's Most Dangerous Road

Several websites have released lists of the roads that they consider to be the most dangerous in the world. Routes in many different countries including China's Guoliang Tunnel Road and the Trans-Siberian Highway in Russia are often mentioned. However, among all of the roads around the world, one stands out as particularly treacherous. It constantly features on the aforementioned countdowns and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the “world's most dangerous road.” Its name is the North Yungas Road but it is commonly known by its nickname Death Road (el Camino de la Muerte). In this article we will answer the following questions: Who built it? Why is it so dangerous? Do people still use it? And finally, is there an alternative if you do not want to put your life on the line?

• This route has featured in several different Australian, American and British shows including in an episode of the British Broadcasting Corporation's program entitled World's Most Dangerous Roads. The first ever commercial on this trail was shot by the car firm Mitsubishi showing their Outlander cars traversing the mountain pass.
• Before driving the road the locals pour beer on the ground and make other offerings to appease Pachamama (Mother Earth).
• The South Yungasor Chulumani Road which runs from La Paz to Chulumani is equally terrifying.

Also known as the Grove's Road this track, perched high in the Andes Mountains, runs between La Paz, the seat of Bolivia's government, and the jungle town of Coroico. In the 1930s Paraguayan prisoners constructed the road during the Chaco War (a war between Bolivia and Paraguay fought from 1932 to 1935).

There are several reasons why this road is so notoriously deadly. Climbing to an altitude of 4,650 meters this steep and winding track demands total concentration as some of its features include hairpin bends and sheer drop-offs of at least 600 meters without the protection of guardrails. Crosses and stone cairns indicate where drivers have lost their lives with many people going over the edge every year. The Bolivian rainy season which runs from November to March makes the road even more perilous as it creates a slippery surface which landslides could wash away at any moment while dust and fog contribute to poor visibility.

Considering the myriad of difficulties and challenges encountered by people who dare to travel this trail you would be forgiven for thinking that it is no longer in use. Admittedly, a lot of the traffic consists of tourists on bicycles however there are still some local trucks and buses whose drivers rely on this lifeline to make a living transporting products and passengers from one of the world's highest cities to the Golden Valley and back the other way.

 As mentioned above, numerous visitors choose to take their lives in their own hands and set out to defeat the road every year. Companies have emerged which offer thrill-seekers the opportunity to cycle down this track.

However, if you do not fancy embarking on this exhilarating and nerve-wracking drive or ride you can use the alternative highway, opened in 2006, which has modern infrastructure including drains, guardrails and bridges.

In conclusion, the Death Road is just one of Bolivia's top attractions. It is a country with so much to offer from the bustling jungle town of Rurrenabaque to the Salar de Uyuni (salt flats) in the department of Potosí and the magnificent Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. If you go to Bolivia and you decide that you want to experience the Coroico road for yourself on a cycling tour, I would recommend that you choose your company wisely. Look at reviews of the different trips, check out what safety systems and procedures are in place and see what is included in the price.  This will make sure that you have a life-changing experience and that you come out the other side proudly stating that you have conquered the “world's most dangerous road” and that you have lived to tell the tale.

Games are a form of leisure activity adapted and changed by the passage of time. They are passed on from the older generation to the younger generation, who then pass it on to the next generation, and so on. Just as we all used to play hopscotch, marbles and tag, in Spain there are also various Spanish games that were traditionally played and are still performed daily by young and old to this day. Indeed, Spain is a country with a rich history full of traditions and stories from which many games have emerged. Indeed, games used to go from village to village, with everyone inventing their own version of the game.

• A typical Spanish game and probably one of the most popular card games is the card game "el Mus.
• Popular games widely played in Spain are known all over the world.

Spain even has its own card deck (juego de naipes or cartas de jugar) better known as Spanish card deck. It originates from the fourteenth century. This baraja española (Spanish card deck) normally consists of 48 cards with various historical figures and symbols on them. Of these card games, the most famous game is probably "el Mus. Originally from the Basque country, this card game is one of the most popular card games in Spain. Besides Spain, this game is also played largely in Latin America and a small part of France. It has a history of up to more than 200 years and there are several theories about the meaning and origin of the name.

The name "Mus" may have originated from the Basque language, where musu means kiss. Another theory is that the word comes from the Latin musso and means silent silence. This is the opposite of talk and was used to start the game. Normally played with four players in two pairs with the Spanish deck, the game consists of 40 cards. The deck then does not include eights, nines, tens and jokers. However, the rules of the game can vary greatly from each other as occurs in any card game. The game has four rounds: grande (big), chica (small), pares (pair), juego (game) and the goal of the game is to reach 40 points. It is a verbal game in which the players of the same team always sit opposite each other and can communicate with each other using signals.

Besides the card game, there are many different games for children. The most famous games that have been played since ancient times and are still popular today are: 'oca' (Goose board), 'escondite' (hide and seek), 'gomas' (rubber bands), 'peonza' (spinning top) and 'rayuela' (hopscotch). 'Oca' is a fun board game with numbered squares in a spiral shape. Stories circulate that the first version of this Spanish game was a gift from Francesco I de Medici (Grand Duke of Tuscany) to Philip II of Spain sometime between 1547 and 1587. The game "Gomas" is also a traditional game of Bolivian origin, in which a long elastic band is stretched by two players. A third player must do jumps and tricks in the middle of the elastic band. If a mistake is made, the player must go and another may continue.

Other traditional games in Spain (and also in other countries) are "damas" (checkers), "dominó" (dominoes) and "parchís" (don't make trouble). These games are especially popular among older people, as they can be played while sitting quietly. They are real thinking games and real party games that can keep people occupied for a long time.

Spain is famous for its strong soccer traditions, particularly after its national team clinched the coveted world cup title in 2010. But fútbol isn’t the country’s only sport; Pau Gasol has slam dunked his way to Spanish basketball greatness, Rafa Nadal has brought great attention to Spain via the tennis court, Ogruu is the father of jugger in Spain, and the Barcelona Eagles competed in the 2013 European Quidditch tournament the “Brussels Muscles Invitational”. Indeed, the European Quidditch tournament. Spain’s also got athletes passionately competing in many decidedly off beat and obscure sports, some of which we’ll take a candid look at below.

So without further ado, don thy bubbles, hop aboard thy nimbus 2000s, and grab thy q-tip staffs: game on!  

Bubble Football

Also known in Spain as futbol burbuja, this new sport born just a few years ago in Norway is alive and “kicking” strong in the Iberian Peninsula. Intense on-pitch action here would seem little different than your everyday soccer game were it not that each player competes enshrouded in a giant plastic bubble. Many observers describe it as a safer variety of the traditional game, where slide tackles are virtually impossible (as is any kind of serious ball control).

Muggle Quidditch

We all know that Harry Potter loves playing quidditch. What fewer people know however is that muggles from many countries have adapted their own fun variety of the magical sport (in which players don’t fly). According to the Spanish journal El Mundo, Spain has 140 players who represent 11 from teams around the country with names like Dementors de A Coruña and Bizkaia Boggars. Madrid Lynx, formed in March 2012 is Spain’s oldest team. It’s an exciting game in which players dodge bludgers, pass quaffles and race to capture the golden snitch in an attempt to prove that they’re wizards on the quidditch pitch.

Underwater Hockey

This sport that dates back to 1954 is surprisingly well established around the world. The down side for spectators is that very few pools have underwater viewing ports, so watching live subaqueous action may involve making use of a scuba mask and snorkel. The Spanish national championship was held in Castellón last year and it looks like it will be held there again this September. For more info you can check out the website of the Asociación Española de Hockey Subacuático. Their Facebook page shows Team Spain heading off to compete in the 18^th World Underwater Hockey Championship held in Hungary.

Jugger

Armed with q-tip staffs, swords, shields and chains, jugger players prepare to “get medieval” on opponents in this eccentric sport that recalls intense middle age combat. The sport is played in Europe, Australia, the US, and Costa Rica. The first national jugger tournament in Spain took place in Zaragoza in 2010. Spain currently has over 500 players and 60 teams who play across the country. For more info, take a look at the Spanish Jugger Association’s website.

Bossaball

This modern sport played in 15 countries looks like volleyball but with the striking presence of a large trampoline and highflying competitors executing spectacular bicycle kicks. Marbella has just become the home to Spain’s first Bossaball club.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this round up of lesser-known sports in Spain.

The siesta is a world-famous concept and a real tradition in Spain and other warm countries. Even in the Netherlands it is often used as an excuse to get away from it all and close your eyes for a short (or somewhat longer) period of time. Because the term is used so often, there can also be some misconceptions regarding this custom, because what is a real siesta really, where does it come from, and how long does it officially last?

• The siesta originated in the 11th century and over the years has become a real custom in Spain.
• A real siesta lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and is a time for the population to rest in silence so that new energy can be obtained for the rest of the day.
• For some tourists it may be a bit annoying, as small stores often close between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. just when they are often walking around the city to explore it.

The origin of the siesta can be disputed for a while. Indeed, there are several stories about this. The best known story is that it most likely originates from the rules of San Benito in the eleventh century. The Romans used to count the hours from sunrise, which showed that for them the sixth hour was noon. In Latin, the sixth hour means, la sexta hora. Therefore, the rule was rest and silence during this sixth hour. All the faithful thus gained more energy for the rest of the day. This custom was then adopted from monastery to monastery, whereupon the population also began to adopt it as a custom and gave it the name siesta. However you look at it, the siesta has been absorbed by the population at a rapid pace and, like flamenco and fiesta, has become one of the Spanish traditions and is an important part of Spanish culture.

Many people often think that siesta lasts longer than one hour, but this, however, is not true. Officially, a siesta lasts only between 15 and 30 minutes and can be seen as a kind of afternoon nap. Here it is customary to rest for a while on a confortable chair with your eyes closed. If this is not possible, lying on your bed is also allowed. The important thing is to be able to relax in complete silence. Among the real Spanish customs, it is not customary and even a little inappropriate to call between the hours of siesta. In fact, this is the time of rest for the Spaniards and also lunch time for them. This can be compared to calling during dinner time in the Netherlands.

In many cities, siesta still applies to shopping hours. To illustrate, stores in Seville close between 2:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon. This is certainly not weird or nonsense as some people may think, but around that time it is the hottest part of the day and then it is better to stay out of the sun. Especially in Seville. In fact, there it is better to get out of the sun when it is high summer. In fact, temperatures can easily reach 35 degrees in southern Spain. For some tourists, these shopping hours can sometimes be frustrating, as that is often the time when they go out to explore the city and visit stores.

Over the years, siesta has changed a little bit. As before almost everyone used this afternoon nap, now it is no longer so obvious. Because large multinational companies or other businesses do stay open at noon, not everyone can use it anymore either. In addition, in the north of Spain it is not always so hot and necessary to take a nap to escape the heat. This time is then mainly used to hang out with the family and children.

However the siesta is used, it is a habit that can and will easily be adopted....

The Beatles was a band that swept over the world with startling speed, even a country like Spain couldn't avoid this English steamroller thanks in part to Radio Luxembourg and its shortwave transmissions of rock n roll into Spain. One person, in particular, who was an admirer of the group, also used the lyrics from these transmitted Beatles songs to help teach English to his students. Juan Carrión, now 90 years old, was an English teacher at the University of Cartagena and his story was the inspiration behind the movie Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed by David Trueba which was selected as Spain's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the 2015 Academy Awards.

During the time Juan Carrión was teaching languages, there wasn't an established teaching method employed in Spain. Instead, he had to create his own classroom teaching strategies and help his students succeed in language learning. One tool that he employed which made him different from his peers was his use of music in the classroom. By getting his students to listen to songs and their lyrics, he believed that this would help them improve their listening comprehension. His notions today are backed by research that states that using music in the foreign language classroom produces positive "emotional and learning enhancements". In a University of Edinburgh study and workbook the author states that songs are an authentic, challenging and enjoyable method of getting students involved in the language which can lead to them practicing outside of the classroom.

What makes Juan Carrión so unique are the lengths he went to so that his students would learn correctly what was being sung by the artists. You have to remember that Juan didn't have the albums of his favorite band which meant that he had to write down the lyrics to the Beatles songs as he heard them on the radio. Not an easy thing to do even for native speaker.  As you can imagine his notebook was full of lyrics and some empty spaces where he couldn't figure out what they were saying.

John Lennon in Spain

As luck would have it, in the autumn of 1966, Juan discovered that John Lennon was in Almería filming the movie, How I Won the War. This was a difficult time for John since he had just finished touring non-stop for three years and the fame surrounding him was becoming a tremendous burden, so much so that he was considering leaving the band. Unlike the stereotypical rabid Beatles fan, Juan was a quiet and modest teacher with a goal—to ask John to fill in the gaps in his notebooks of copied lyrics and ask John (and the Beatles) to publish their lyrics on the album sleeves like other bands.

Going to Almeria from Cartagena by bus in the 60s was certainly a long and hot drive along winding country roads and stopping at every village along the way. Juan did this not knowing if he would meet one of the most famous rock stars at that moment. After one week of trying to arrange a meeting he was finally permitted to meet with John Lennon as he was playing soccer with fellow actor Michael Crawford. His first words directed to Juan were "you're late". John was probably just as shocked at the appearance of this not quite middle-aged "groupie" asking for help with understanding his lyrics and "demanding" that the Beatles print their lyrics so everyone can understand what they are saying in their songs.

As a result of this 40 minute encounter, John Lennon took the time to fill in gaps and add some notes of his own to Juan's notebooks. John was fascinated so much with the idea that his music could be used to teach people English he even promised Juan that he would stop by and visit his school one day (a promise that he couldn't keep). Whether or not Juan was the motor behind the change, in 1967 the Beatles published for the first time the lyrics to their songs in liner notes of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and would do so for the remainder of their albums. It should also be noted that "Strawberry Fields Forever" was penned by Lennon during his stay in Almería.

Today, you can see the movie that was inspired by this story starring Spanish Actor, Javier Cámara (Talk to Her) and Jorge Sanz (Belle Époque). Winner of seven Goyas, the Spanish equivalent of the Oscar, including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Director, this movie changes some of the details of Juan's pilgrimage but stays true to the spirit of the times and the character of this unique and compelling language teacher.

Here is a brief interview with Juan Carrión (in Spanish).