Carlos Ruiz Zafón was born on Sept. 25, 1964, in Barcelona. He is one of the best-known Spanish novelists. All the books written by Zafón are set in Barcelona. He became famous with his first novel "La sombra del viento," the shadow of the wind. All of Zafón's books have been translated into Dutch, by Nelleke Geel.

Until today there are 7 books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Including 3 novels and 4 juvenile novels. All his novels have been published in more than 40 countries in 30 different languages. Ever since Carlos was five years old he has wanted to be a writer, working at a large advertising company until the 1990s. But then quit this to focus fully on his passion: writing! In his own words, Zafón's novels are a biography of his own life.

The shadow of the wind

His first novel was the 2001 book "La sombra del viento," which in Dutch means "the shadow of the wind". This was also the book that brought him great fame. This book is about the main character, Daniel, who one day is taken by his father to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Daniel gets to pick one book and chooses the book; "The Shadow of the Wind. From that day on, the book changes his whole life, and even seems that the people Daniel meets in his life from then on are part of a game in which the book is the centerpiece.

Juvenile novels

In 1993 Carlos released his first book, a juvenile novel called 'El príncipe de la niebla' (the mist prince), this was a mystery horror novel. In 1994 he released his second juvenile novel called 'El palacio de la medianoche' (The Midnight Palace). His last juvenile novel was "Marina," which he released in 1999. After this, Zafón began writing novels for adults.

The Spanish Civil War

Besides 'La sombra del viento' Zafón released two other novels. 'El juego del angel' in Dutch is called 'Het spel van de engel' this book was released in 2008 and in 2011 he released the book 'El prisionero del cielo', 'The prisoners of heaven'. The remarkable thing is that all these novels are set after the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona. Consequently, there are several individual and group tours available in Barcelona that visit all the locations from the books. Carlos has mentioned several times that his three novels are part of a four-part series, "the quartet of Barcelona. So it is only a matter of time until his next novel comes out and his four-part series is complete.

The Argentine tango

Tango originated in Argentina more than 100 years ago. To be precise, at the end of the nineteenth century in the working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Like flamenco, tango is not only and dance style but also a music style and a poetry style. There are two types of tango, Argentine tango and ballroom tango.

Argentine tango originated in the late 19th century when many European men went to Buenos Aires for a better life and work. These different nationalities all had their own input into tango. For example, the Spanish brought influences from flamenco and the descendants of African slaves knew the candombe, but Italians, Russians and other nationalities had also had their influences on tango.

All these influences created a confident, restrained, emotional and challenging dance. The most important thing in tango is the connection between the dance partners. Argentine tango is known for its improvisation. This ensures that no two dances are the same. The tango contains many tempo differences and sharp footwork. Because there is so much improvisation, making a mistake is not a problem as long as you improvise together with your partner. The basic steps of the tango are la caminada (the basic step), el paseo (the same basic step but with the partner together while moving) and la cadencia (the same as el paseo but without moving).

The tango in Europe

In the early 20th century, many members of wealthy families from Argentina came to Paris. This caused the tango to become popular in Europe. In Europe, however, the tango had many opponents. People considered the dance vulgar and vulgar. It even went so far that in 1923 the pope banned the tango in Europe! This caused the ballroom tango to emerge. You could think of the ballroom tango as the corrected version of the Argentine Tango. The ballroom tango was characterized by its tight music and the tango dance of this dance style was much tighter and less improvisation took place. This, together with the entrance of other music and dance styles, was the reason why the tango became less popular in Europe.

However, in the 1980s Argentine tango became popular again in Europe. This time there were no opponents of the dance and since then it is impossible to imagine Europe without it. In every major city in the Netherlands you can find a tango dance school.

Citytrip Valencia

Arriving early in the morning at the airport of Valencia, I can't wait to start my day with a freshly squeezed zumo de naranja á la Valencia. Instead of a hotel in Valencia, we opted for a hostal right in the center. Drop your bags and then quickly into town! From the airport you can very easily take the metro to the center of Valencia. So we did. The subway takes us straight to our hostal. This hostal is located at the "Plaza Ayuntamiento" from where you can easily walk to the other two squares of Valencia (Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen). The temperature gauge in the square reads 34 degrees. Fortunately, there is a constant wind blowing through Valencia, so it is perfectly bearable. Valencia is the^3rd largest city in Spain, but this does not feel like it at all. It has a quiet center with not too much traffic, where you can stroll through the many narrow streets.

Thinking about tasty snacks for tonight, the so-called pinchos, we first have breakfast. As we walk towards the first square we see that you can sit on the terrace of Horchatería El Siglo in the sun. This is definitely the place where we want to have breakfast and catch the first rays of the Spanish sun. On the menu is horchata de chufa (almond drink). According to the camarero, this is something typically Valencian you must have tried. You drink this local thirst quencher ice cold and eat fartons (stems of croissant dough) with it. The waiter manages to seduce me anyway so, in addition to the zumo de naranja, I order the horchata with fartons. The horchata tastes like a slightly sweet milky drink and is wonderfully refreshing. The combination with the fartons completes it!

To explore Valencia properly we´all Dutch´re going to explore the city by bike. Everywhere you can rent bikes, but on the recommendation of our hostal we rent them at ´Solution Bike rental´ at a great price. Very nice is to cycle through the 10 kilometer(!) long city park ´Jardines del Turia´ in the old river bed of the Turia. This park runs right through the city like a green strip. I have never seen such a versatile park with playgrounds, work-out machines, playing fields and beautiful picnic areas!

After an active bike ride through Valencia, our stomachs begin to growl again and we look for a restaurant where locals enjoy the almuerzo. We plop down at restaurant ´Taberna Española Pasodoble´. Like the valencianos do, we order the daily menu. This is a complete 3-course meal for about 10.00 euros. Very tasty and a cheap solution that can fill you up well.

What you must have tasted when in Valencia is the paella. This cocina típica de Valencia, is available everywhere. Just outside Valencia, in Albufera, you can visit the rice fields. We decide to eat paella on the beach of Valencia in the evening. It is easily accessible by metro from the city center. We were told that the most famous restaurant is "La Pepica", but that "L'Estimat" serves the best paella and that it is surrounded by Valencians. That is the best tip: eat where the locals are sitting.

We end the evening at the ´Café de las Horas´ with Valencia´s most famous cocktail, Agua de Valencia. The alcoholic version of Valencian oranges, mixed with cava brut (Spanish champagne) and cointreau.

Before we go home again, I go to the Central Market in the morning to buy something for home. This market with its food stalls of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and meat makes your mouth water. This is also where all the restaurants in Valencia get their fresh produce. On the side of the ´Mercado Central´ I quickly buy paella rice and a paella pan so that later I can try to make the real paella Valenciana at home.

Valencia, with about 1500 restaurants, is a delight for culinary lovers. It is a versatile city where you can fully enjoy Spanish life in all its facets. I will definitely come back here!

Beat the heat with this top ten Summer drink selection!

1. Pisco sour

The origins of this sweet drink are a bit of a controversy; the bordering countries of Chile and Peru both claim it as their own. What everyone agrees on however is that the drink must be made with a good pisco, some syrup (water + sugar) to sweeten, an egg white, and a bit of lemon.

Mix these ingredients in a cocktail mixer and then add a a few drops (no more than just two or three) of angostura bitters.

2. Margarita

Can you imagine Mexican food without a refreshing margarita? Take 50 cl. (16.9 ounces) of your favorite tequila, 20 cl. (6.7 ounces) of Triple Sec or Cointreau (the latter is sweet), and some lemon.

Shake and serve in a glass with a salted brim.

3. Sangrita

Not to be confused with sangría, this drink is made with tomato juice (3 parts), orange juice (1 part) and lime (1/2 part), and seasoned with a dash of salt and pepper and even Tabasco sauce if you like spicy flavors, or perhaps Worcestershire sauce.

This drink goes perfect with tequila añejo before lunch.

4. Sangría de cava

Here's a white version of this Spanish classic. It's made with semi-dry or brut cava, the juice from one lemon and half of an orange, a pinch of sugar, and perhaps a bit of rum or triple sec.

Then add an orange, a peach, and strawberries that have all been cut into small chunks. We recommend serving immediately to not lose the sparkling magic of the cava.

5. Sangría

Make this perfect summer drink with a nice red wine, the juice from three oranges and one lemon, sugar (as desired) and a stick of cinnamon.

Then add cut pieces of apple, peach, apricot and banana. It's best to cool it in the refrigerator to serve cold without adding ice.

6. Rebujíto

Anyone that's been to the Feria de Sevilla must remember the rebujito: a wine from Jerez or Manzanilla with the added touch of a carbonated lime refreshment and a few hierbabuena leaves (like sweet mint) to create a refreshing and aromatic beverage.

7. Mojito

The mixed drink loved by Hemingway and known the world over comes from the Caribbean island nation of Cuba.

White Cuban rum and grinded hierbabuena leaves in the bottom of a glass with a spoonful of sugar, a little carbonated water and plenty of ice make up this popular drink.

8. Palomita

This drink reminds us that Spain is indeed a Mediterranean country: the palomita (anisette, sweet or dry, plus five parts cold water) is the Spanish version of the French pastis, the Greek ouzo, the Turkish raki and the lebanese arak.

Refreshing and fragrant.

9. Daiquiri

Our list of summer drinks wouldn't be complete without this marvelously simple cocktail made with two parts white rum and one part lime juice and served in a glass with sugar on the brim.

10. Piña colada

For experiencing the South American tropics, there's nothing like filling your drink mixer with equal parts of white rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream.

Shake and serve with a slice of pineapple decorating the brim of the glass.

Photo credits by: Reese Lloyd (Pisco Sour), Pfau 910 (Sangría de cava), Colonnade Boston (Sangría), German Laullon (rebujito), Kenn Wilson (daiquiri).

Increasingly popular, also in the Netherlands, are the Spanish dances. Flamenco and salsa, we have all heard of them. But where do these dances come from, are they real Spanish dances or did they originate elsewhere in the world?

Flamenco is one of the most complex dances in the world. Flamenco originated in the second half of the nineteenth century in Andalusia, southern Spain. When people think of flamenco they often think of flamenco dance, but flamenco is more. Flamenco is a combination of baile (dance), toque (guitar playing), cante (singing) and palmas (hand clapping). It is a spirited, expressive and powerful dance and is characterized by its footwork, rhythms, attire and castanets. Today flamenco is one of Spain's most important cultural exports.

Another dance thought to be Spanish is salsa. In the Netherlands, salsa dancing is very well known and therefore there are many opportunities to learn this dance. Salsa is a collective name for different types of dances and rhythms such as son, mambo, guaguancó, cha-cha-cha and the dázon. The rhythm of the dance consists of 8 beats divided into two times four beats, where of every four beats one beat is rested.

When you dance salsa, you don't have to memorize complicated choreography; you can certainly improvise as well. So you don't have to be a professional dancer! With the right rhythm, basic steps and turning technique you will come a long way. The footwork is fortunately not complicated, with these you make the basic steps and the rest of your body does the remaining (dance) work, such as graceful arm movements that are characteristic of salsa.

Salsa is found both in Spain and in the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America and is a melting pot of different cultures of peoples who came to Cuba, each bringing with them their own music and dance style. African slave music and Spanish singing were especially influential in the creation of salsa. Today some 15 million Latin Americans dance salsa.

Spanish culture

Sports are very important in Spanish culture. The most important Spanish sport is soccer. But besides soccer, tennis, motor sports and golf are also very popular in Spain. Spain has many athletes who have performed well at the international level.

Spanish soccer

Soccer is the national sport of Spain. Soccer has been played in Spain since the last decade of the nineteenth century. The Spanish clubs, national team and national league "Primera División" are among the best, strongest and most famous in the world. Spain's all-time top scorer is David Villa. Also, the Spanish national team became world champions a total of once in 2010 in South Africa, and European champions 7 times.

Golfing in Spain

Spain is also the perfect country to play golf. Spain has the ideal climate to play golf, for example, it is 18 degrees in the south of the country in the winter and 20 degrees in the summer in the north. Spain has a total of 250 golf courses that together provide more than half a million hours of golf a year. Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Severiano Ballesteros and José Maria Olazábal are some of the famous names in the golf world associated with Spain's golf courses.

Motor sports in Spain

Besides soccer and golf, motor sports are also very popular in Spain. Spain has several circuits for motor sports. But the most famous are the circuit of Catalunya where the Formula 1 race takes place every year, and the circuit of Jerez de la Frontera where the moto GP takes place every year. One of the most famous Spanish racing drivers is Fernando Alonso. Fernando Alonso is and two-time world champion and in 2005 he was even the youngest world champion ever. His success has caused "Alonsomania" in parts of Spain. Fernando Alonso is still active in Formula One and currently drives for Ferrari.

Spanish tennis players

Finally, the sport most famous in Spain besides soccer, tennis. Spain has many professional tennis players who are very highly ranked at the international level. These Spanish tennis players owe their success in part to the tennis courts and schools they have had at their disposal in the past. Rafael Nadal is the best-known Spanish tennis player and is currently ranked No. 4 in the world. His nickname is the King of Gravel, many experts consider him the best gravel player of all time. Nadal has won 11 Grand Slam titles, including Roland Garros 7 times. He achieved his best position in 2008, at which time Rafal Nadal was the No. 1 player in the world.

Spanish food culture

Spanish food culture has many typical Spanish dishes. Including tapa dishes and the Spanish paella. Tapas and paella are the most famous dishes of Spanish cuisine. These dishes are both easy to make yourself at home.

Tapas

Tapas is a collective name for all small tapas appetizers that are eaten in Spain mainly in bars and cafes. Spaniards often eat these tapas between their breakfast and lunch or between their lunch and dinner. In Spain, people have lunch around 2 p.m. and most people don't have dinner on the table until around 10 p.m., so you can imagine that a tapas in between is delicious.

There are as many as a hundred different types of tapa. Almost every region in Spain has its own specialties. An example of a well-known tapa in northern and inland Spain are "pintxos. These are small slices of bread topped with anything and everything. Some other examples of tapas are patatas bravas (baked potatoes in spicy tomato sauce), tortilla de patatas (potato omelet), shrimp, melon and ham and pinchos.

Tapas appetizers are fairly simple snacks and are easy to make at home. Tapas are also ideal as a snack during a party. With one of the many tapas recipes available online, you can have a table full of tasty appetizers in no time.

Paella

Another typical Spanish dish is paella, which is an originally Valencian dish. Paella is a rice dish that has a different method of preparation per region. The advantage of paella is that there are so many different varieties that almost everyone likes paella. The main main ingredient is the rice, and according to your own preferences, you can then choose to use fish and shellfish or chicken and rabbit.

Paella is also a Spanish dish that is easy to make yourself at home. As told, you can choose the ingredients yourself. The only other important thing is the ratio of rice to liquid. Paella rice is usually cooked in fish or chicken stock to create a stronger flavor. The rule of thumb is that 3 parts broth equal 1 part rice. But even this varies with each variation of the dish.

Tapas and paella are just two of the many Spanish dishes that are easy to prepare yourself at home, and you don't have to be a professional cook to do so!

Holidays in Spain

One thing you always have to keep in mind when planning a vacation is your budget. Many people save up all year to be able to splurge during their summer vacation. Summer doesn't have to be expensive though. Read on for a few ideas on saving this summer, all you'll have to pay is a little attention.

Granada In Granada, besides going to traditional monuments, you also won't want to miss Bañuelo, historic Arab baths located on Carrera del Darro that you can see for free. About 150 meters farther up the road, the Archeological Museum is free for European Union residents and only costs 1.50 € for non EU residents. After taking in all that rich cultural history, going out for tapas around the Plaza Nueva, Bibrambla and calle Elvira areas is an economic option for taking a relaxing break.

Valencia It's important to remember that museums in Spain usually close on Mondays, so plan on checking out other types of attractions on those days like parks, monuments, churches... In Valencia, you've got to go to the Fallas Museum (Museo Fallero) which is free from 10:00 a.m. until the afternoon. The Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM) is free on Sundays and every other day it's just 2 € to visit. Right outside of Valencia, the Lladró Museum - if you like porcelain - has free guided tours after 9:30 a.m. It closes on Sundays.

Salamanca If you're in Salamanca, there are plenty of free places like the Gatsby night club or the Catedral Vieja (the old cathedral), where you can delve into the city's historic past. The Cueva de Salamanca is supposedly where Satan himself gave lessons on demonology to a group of 7 students over 7 years... you can visit the cave any day until 10:00 at night. Going out for tapas in Salamanca is also an attractive option: it's a great way to enjoy an authentic Spanish dining experience and get to know the people of Salamanca.

Barcelona In Barcelona, Runner Bean Tours offers free guided tours of the city's old town and Gaudí's architectural attractions. To contact the company, just send an email to info@runnerbeanstours.com. Sundays, after 3:00 p.m., you can go into the Picasso Museum for free, and the first Sunday of every month the museum is free all day. Parc Güell is also free to visit and remains open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Exploring by bicycle In flat cities like Barcelona, Seville and Valencia, there are public bicycle programs that let you explore the city by bike for an economical price. In Granada and Tenerife you may need a form of transportation with a bit more physical power to manage the hilly geography you'll come across in those cities.

Madrid Downtown Madrid offers you the chance to experience the fantastic Retiro Park, which is right next to the Prado Museum. The museum is free every day after 6:00 p.m., and if you're more into modern art, the Reina Sofía Museum is just 200 meters away and is free on Sundays. Exploring Madrid's old central quarter, known as El Madrid de los Austrias, is always a great free way to spend a morning in Madrid.

Tenerife Tenerife's stunning natural landscapes give you the chance to immerse yourself in diverse ecosystems: you can walk from a subtropical environment to a mountain one in just an hour. You can also hop on the guagua (how Canary islanders call the bus) for just a few euros to enter the island's lush laurel forest. On the north side of the island, and especially in Orotava Valley, you must try some local wine and traditional cooking in one of the island's famous guachinches (typical Canary taverns).

Finally, if you'd like an affordable place to stay, where you can meet new people, Spain's youth hostels offer travelers a comfortable bed, kitchen services, washing facilities and bathrooms for a price that ranges from 15 to 30 euros per night depending on which type of accommodation you choose. For more information, you'll find all you need to know about Spain's network of youth hostels on their website.

We hope these tips help you have a fun (and cheap) summer!

Photo credits by: El Jubilado (Los Bañuelos), Antonio Marín Segovia (Ivam), Santiago Sánchez (Orotava)

Calixto and Melibea

Calixto and Melibea park is a beautiful garden in Salamanca. It is the garden of the house where Melibea lived in the story, La Celestina. La Celestina is a love story with a tragic ending. The story is the Spanish version of the story of Romeo and Juliet.

The garden is located in the old town of Salamanca. The garden was opened on June 12, 1981. The garden is 2,500 square meters and is built on part of the old city wall, offering a beautiful view of the Río Tormes with its Roman bridge. On the other side, the garden offers a view of the old town and the beautiful old cathedral. The garden has a great variety of colorful flowers, plants and fruit and nut trees. And is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the tranquility, the view and the romantic atmosphere of the garden.

La CelestinaThe garden is the setting of the love story between Calisto and Melibea in the book "La Celestina" by Fernando de Rojas. Therefore, the name of the park refers to the two main characters of the story, Calisto and Melibea. The park is also home to a statue of Celestina, the matchmaker between Calisto and Melibea.

The story is about Calisto, who is an employee of Pleberio, Melibea's father. Calisto falls in love with Melibea and enlists the help of a matchmaker. The matchmaker, named Celestina, also owns a brothel. Celestina matches Malisto and Melibea by telling Melibea that a man is seriously ill and can only be cured by Melibea's attention. Celestina arranges an appointment between the two in Pleberio's garden.

Calisto's two servants do not trust Celestina, so they try to convince Calisto not to accept her help. However, when the servants find out that Calisto cannot change his mind they decide to make a pact with Celestina. They decide to help her in exchange for some of the money Celestina receives from Calisto. On the night of the meeting, however, the two servants find out that Celestina has no intention of sharing part of the money with them. At this, the servants go to Celestina's brothel and kill her, however, they are caught and the two servants are also executed by one of the prostitutes.

In the meantime, another tragedy takes place in Pleberio's garden. In desperation, Calisto tries to climb a ladder to get to Melibea's window, but Calisto falls off the ladder and dies. Melibea, however, cannot live without him, so she tells her father the whole love story between her and Calisto. After telling him this, she robs herself of life by jumping off a tower.

La Celestina is considered one of the most important and well-known works of Spanish literature. This book is also marked as the end of medieval literature and the beginning of the literary renaissance in Spain.

Besides beautiful beaches, great culture and magnificent nature, Spain has much more to offer. For example, how about the many museums with a variety of works from different periods of Spanish history. Many Spanish museums have found a good balance between combining ancient art with modern art and often beautiful architecture. The range of Spanish museums is enormous, so below is a very small sample of the Spanish museum guide.

The Prado museum in Madrid

The Prado museum in Madrid is one of the most famous and also one of the largest museums in the world. Among other works of Bosch, Albrecht Dürer, Botticelli, Velazquez, Gaudi, Michelangelo and Van Dyck are exhibited in this museum. In addition to paintings, the museum also contains and large array of fine art, coins and other works of art. In total, the museum owns more than 8,500 works of art. These artworks are not only exhibited in the same building, no these artworks are distributed in 2 buildings, "The Villanueva" and "Cason del Buen Retiro. During a trip to Madrid, a visit to this museum is definitely worthwhile. Every year millions of people visit the museum. In 2011, the museam had a visitor count of 2.9 million.

The MNAC in Barcelona

Besides Madrid, Barcelona also has a wonderful museum. The Museum Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, also known as MNAC. The museum is located in the Palou Nacional on Montjuïc hill. But from Plaza España, you can enjoy a great view of the museum. Many people find the Palau Nacional somewhat akin to the Vatican City. The museum's main collection is its collection of Romanesque art. Most of the works in this collection are representative of Romanesque art in Catalonia. In addition to this collection, the museum also has a large collection, Gothic art as well as works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The museum also has several works by Rubens and Picasso, among others. In total, the museum owns more than 150,000 works. If you buy a ticket to this museum, you will have 2 days to see the museum. If you are not much interested in the art, just stop by to admire the beautiful architecture.

Dalí Museum in Figueras

North of Barclona is the town of Figueras. This place is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí. This is why the Dalí Museum is located in this place. The collection consists of thousands of objects from different periods of Dalí's life. More than 4,000 works of art result from Dalí's use of different techniques, materials and media. Coastal works include jewelry, paintings, drawings and sculptures. Most of the collection is on display year-round at the Dalí Theater museum. Two special aspects of the museum are its architecture, and the fact that Salvador Dalí is buried in the museum! However, a visit to Dalí's grave is not possible.