Watching television is not as popular in Spain as it is in the Netherlands. Spaniards, thanks to the climate, mostly live outside and if the television is on at all, it is usually during dinner. Spaniards do not slouch on the couch in front of the television.

Until 1975, Franco's regime imposed strict censorship on the Spanish media. This caused few good films to come from Spain until then. In 1956, the television channel TVE came into being. TVE is similar to the Dutch NOS. Mostly documentaries, news lectures and sports were broadcast. Until 1974, all programs in Spain were in black and white. In 1977, all TV channels were in color.

The Spanish way of watching television is very different from the Dutch way. Where the Dutch often watch television on the couch after dinner, Spaniards mainly watch television during dinner. This is why most televisions in Spanish households can be found in the dining room or kitchen.

Spanish films

Spanish films are a reflection of Spanish culture, diverse, raw and passionate. Abre los ojos is considered the most successful Spanish film. Made in 1997, this film is about the beautiful man, Cesar who lives in Madrid. Because of his outward appearance, he gets enough attention from women, much to the jealousy of his girlfriend. This jealousy has caused his girlfriend to cause a car accident in which Cesar gets disfigured in his face. This accident changes his whole life and this film is about Cesar's search for a new love.

Penélope Cruz

One of the leading roles in Abre los ojos is played by Penélope Cruz. She also played the same role in the American film adaptation Vanilla Sky. She is one of Spain's most famous actresses of all time. Before studying theater in New York, Penélope Cruz studied ballet in Madrid. To this day, Penélope Cruz is one of Hollywood's most famous actresses and, among other things, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Penélope is married to Javier Bardem, also a celebrated Spanish actor. Among other awards, he received an oscar for his role in No country for old men, in which he plays a cold-blooded hitman.

Antonio Banderas

Finally, we must not forget Antonio Banderas! Who doesn't know him? He has sidns 2005 star on the Hollywood walk of Fame and he is known, among other things, for his role in Spy Kids, but really broke through in America with his role in Philadelphia in 1993. After his breakthrough in America, he played in many films. His most famous role he played in the movie The Mask of Zorro in which he plays Zorro. This puts him, along with Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, at the top of the Spanish film industry!

Marbella - the pearl of the Costa del Sol

Marbella is a well-known seaside resort in Andalucía, southern Spain. Marbella has more than 140,000 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the province of Malaga. Marbella is mostly known for its jet set and the many celebrities who visit the city every year.

Marbella is located in the autonomous region of Andalusia between Gibraltar and Málaga. Marbella is easily reached by car or by bus from the airport of Málaga which is located about 50 km away. With an average daily temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius per year and its 320 days of sunshine per year, the Costa del Sol, the Sunshine Coast, is an excellent destination to visit all year round. This is also one of the main reasons that many Spaniards and other Europeans have a vacation home in Marbella.

With its pleasant temperature and many days of sunshine, Marbella is a good place to play sports such as golf or tennis. Marbella has as many as 10 golf courses, and every year the WTA women's tennis tournament is held in Marbella.

The name Marbella means "beautiful sea" and derives from the name the Moors gave the city, Marbil-la. In the city you can still find many things from the time of the Moors. For example, the Moors built a castle and walled the city. Parts of this fortification wall are still present. The old part of town consists of small narrow streets where the real Spanish atmosphere can be found.

Puerto Banus

The new part of Marbella is mostly known for its glitz and glamour, jet set and the many celebrities who visit the city every year. Puerto Banús is the most prestigious pleasure port in the Mediterranean. Many celebrities or Middle Eastern leaders have their boats here, including the king of Saudi Arabia. Near Puerto Banús is also the famous Boulevard of Fame, this boulevard has the same idea as the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Parks in Marbella

The new and old parts of the city also have many parks and gardens. Located in the center of the city is Parque Arroyo de la Represa. This park includes several sports fields, two ponds and the Bonsai Museum. Parque de la Alameda is a park very popular with locals. People come here for a walk and events and markets are regularly held in this park. In addition to the parks, in the area of Marbella, just outside the city you can also find a botanical garden, Jardin botanico el Angel. This botanical garden has been one of the oldest botanical gardens in Spain since the 18th century. 

2013 World Scrabble in Spanish Championship

Airan Perez  (from Venezuela) clenched the title of World Scrabble in Spanish Champion last Saturday after facing  two time world champ Enric Hernandez (from Spain) in a dramatic final match of the popular word game.

International competition was intense at the 17^th annual World Scrabble en español Championships held in Buenos Aires last week; 92 players from 23 different countries (including the US, Israel and Switzerland) entered the 4 day event, many with visions of bringing Scrabble glory to their home countries and earning major bragging rights. Some observers and participants felt that Argentina had dominated on-board Scrabble action for too long, with Argentines having won the title 4 years running.  President of the Federación Internacional de Scrabble en español (FISE), Santiago Rosales stated before the tournament: “Argentina has won so many world titles that they must be stopped any way possible”.

Horacio Moavro, president of the Asociación Argentina de Scrabble and last year’s world Scrabble champ describes the game as “a sport of the mind”, and says that “to play, you have to know a lot of words, but most importantly, you must employ a strategy that allows you to use those words in a way that scores the most points”. Mr. Moavro stated at this year’s competition that “there’s great camaraderie here that goes beyond countries and rivalries, we’re rivals on the board, but when the game’s over we all go have lunch together”. It’s no surprise that Argentina make a strong presence at the event, as an estimated 10,000 Argentines play the game regularly in clubs and associations across the country. Buenos Aires’ city legislature officially declared this year’s World Scrabble Championship an event “of special sporting interest”.

Spanish Letters

The English version of the game only allows for the use of 120,000 words, while Scrabble in Spanish recognizes 660,000 words. 105.000 of those Spanish words appear in the latest edition of the Royal Spanish Academy’s dictionary, while the rest are the 34 to 35 conjugations for each verb and gender differences (feminine versions of nouns generally don’t appear in the dictionary). Among the accepted words are 87 two letter words and 450 three letter words, which are essential knowledge for savvy scrabblers. Small words that score big points include “ox” technically meaning “sound used to scare away chickens”, along with za  ño, and lle. You don’t have to know what the words means though to use them in play, and even world ranked players admit they don’t know what many of the words mean. Spanish Scrabble also has letter tiles you won’t find in the English version, such as the Ñ (worth 8 points), CH (5 points), and the LL and the RR that will each score you 8 points.

Scrabble in other languages

World Scrabble Championships are currently held in 3 different languages around the world: English, French and Spanish. The board game is produced in 29 different languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Icelandic, and the latest language addition Welsh.

The 2004 documentary Word Wars – Tiles and Tribulations on the Scrabble Circuit explores the curious world of competitive level Scrabble competitions. The film was shown at the Sundance film festival and was nominated for an Emmy. 

Next year’s World Scrabble in Spanish Championship is scheduled to be held in Cuba.

The Spanish costas have been one of the most popular vacation destinations for years. The Spanish coast is very diverse and therefore has much to offer. Where in the North of Spain the coast is rugged and has a very green hinterland, the costas in the Southeast of Spain consist mostly of white sandy beaches and clear blue seawater.

The Spanish word for coast is Costa. For years, the Spanish costas have been one of the most popular beach destinations in Europe. The coast of the Spanish peninsula is a whopping 4964 kilometers long. Portugal's location on the Iberian Peninsula has caused the Spanish coastline to be divided into two parts. One is the southeast coast of Spain, most of which faces the Mediterranean Sea. The southeast coast is also divided into 12 costas. The second part of the Spanish coastline is located on the north side of Spain on the Atlantic Ocean, this part is divided into 6 costas.

Costa Brava

In the far north of Spain lies the Costa Brava. Costa Brava also means the "rugged, wild coast. This costa is about 200 km long and is a popular vacation destination especially with young vacationers. South of the Costa Brava in Catalonia is the Costa Dorada and consists mostly of well-known seaside resorts and small fishing villages. The Costa del Azahar is located on what means the 'Orange Blossom Coast', is 120 km long and owes its name to the many orange fields in the area

Further south is the Costa de Valencia and the Costa Blanca. The main city on the Costa de Valencia is Valencia, this along with Barcelona is one of the few cities that have a city beach. The Costa Blanca is a 250 km coastline located south of Valencia and is best known for its beautiful bays with white sandy beaches. This costa gets its name from the many almond trees that grow in this region. Even further south we encounter the Costa Calida, "the warm coast." This region is also home to the largest natural pool in the world, "Mar Menor.

One of the costas not yet overrun with mass tourism is the Costa Tropical. This costa owes its name to the many tropical fruits that grow here. The Costa Tropical is located in southern Andalusia and is a paradise for peace seekers, nature lovers and because of the clear water also for diving enthusiasts.

Costa del Sol

South of this tropical paradise is the Costa del Sol. This costa is very popular with tourists and here you will find many busy places often used by winter visitors. The Costa del Sol characterizes itself by its beautiful beaches, warm weather and wide boulevards. Besides the busy places, there are also fishing villages.

Thus, on the southern coast of Spain one finds many winter destinations. In contrast, for those who like active beach vacations, the Costa Verde is an ideal destination. Located in northern Spain on the Atlantic Ocean, Costa Verde has extensive beaches interspersed with rocks and cliffs that extend into the sea. Because this region also experiences occasional showers in summer, there is plenty of greenery. In the immediate vicinity of the Costa Verde are some beautiful cities and also the mountain peaks of the Picos de Europa. Therefore, the Costa Verde is the ideal destination for hikers, climbers or cyclists who want a great diversity of nature at their fingertips.

Home to some of the finest landscapes in Europe Spain is definitely a top destination for both beginners, intermediate and advanced triathletes looking for a different sort of physical challenge. Most Triathlons happen between February and September throughout the year. The weather in Spain varies massively between these times but below I have highlighted a few events which are sure to be an eye stopper for those looking to get into doing a triathlon or semi professionals alike.

Types of triathlons

Triathlons are usually split into the following types:

Sprint Triathlons – 750m Swim, 20KM Bike, 5KM Run
Olympic Triathlons – 1.5km Swim, 40KM Bike, 10KM Run
Long Triathlons–1.9KM Swim, 90KM Bike, 21.1 KM Run
Ultra long – Known commonly as the ironman

As you can see the distance varies massively. Nowadays there are slight variations on these such as Cross Triathlons, triathlons over a rougher terrain such as a beach, forest, mountains etc. These are sometimes more physically enduring than an Olympic triathlon on road because it requires you to focus significantly more regarding which direction and speed you are travelling in, and as the terrain requires more effort these are very difficult. They are however a great place to start from if you are looking to get into triathlons.

There are several brands and organizations when it comes to triathlons in Spain. Most are part of the Federation of Triathlons in Spain. The most common in Spain are: Gescon Chip – offer a broad range of duathlons, triathlons, aquathlons and cross sprints etc. all over Spain. Easy to sign up, cheap and all information is uploaded onto your account.  ICAN – This is the equivalent to an IRONMAN. The distances are tough and challenging and entry fees are a lot more expensive. These courses are for true triathletes. Then there are other organizations like: TriStar, TriSur, AviaMan, IronCat and Ironman (in the Canary Islands).

Cities also organize their own private triathlons without major companies so bare that it mind. So if you’re looking to get involved or take advantage of Spain’s ideal climate and geography than here are a few stand out triathlons in Spain to look out for. Have a google if you are unsure, there are normally a lot smaller:

TIMANFAYA TRIATHLON

Located in the Canary Islands, this is a great early year triathlon blessed with great African weather. This is a Sprint triathlon and a top spot to get some early year experience and practice ahead of the bigger events. Intermediate and advanced.

ICAN MALAGA APRIL

Definitely a top triathlon for the elite. This is a long triathlon located in the south coast of Spain that is not one for the faint hearted. You have to sign up quite early and prices are quite high but definitely worth trying. Advanced

TRISUR SEVILLA

This is definitely a great event for everyone. They do sprint, Olympic and Long triathlons. Fine landscape but very, very hot so make sure to drink a lot of water. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

TRIATLON DE CARTAGENA

Great event and in a nice location, located on the south east coast of Spain. This is a sprint triathlon and a good one to do. Good for all levels, and a great place to start. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

TRIATLON VILLA DE MADRID

Located in the heart of the city this is definitely a recommended triathlon. Level is normally quite high but they offer both sprint and Olympic triathlons. Definitely worth a look. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.

That’s about it, let me know if you have any experience with the above or if there are a couple crackers I might have missed out on!

The Maya

The Maya lived in an area what is now southeast Mexico (Yucatan) to parts of what is now Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, among others.

One of the wonders of the world

1.2 Million tourists visit the ruins of Chichen Itza every year. Chichen Itza is ideal as a day trip from one of the many resorts in the area such as Playa del Carmen. Chichen Itza was founded between 600 and 900 AD by the Mayans. However, it was not until the 10th century AD that the city became important to the Maya. From then on, Chichen Itza was one of the most important Mayan cities. In 1850, the city was discovered by archaeologists. Since 1988, the city has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. On July 7, 2007, El Castillo, located in Chichen Itza was listed as one of the wonders of the world.

El Castillo is the most famous Mayan monument in the world. El Castillo is a pyramid that is also a calendar, the Mayan calendar. The pyramid consists of 18 levels, these levels equal the 18 months that make up a year. The number of steps of the pyramid, together with the upper platform makes a total number of 365, which represents the number of days per year in the Mayan calendar. Finally, the pyramid has a total of 52 separate planes on the sides of the pyramid, which equals the number of years in a century in the Mayan calendar. El Castillo is 30 meters high, unfortunately it is no longer possible for the public to climb the pyramid.

In addition to its function as a calendar, the pyramid has another wonderful effect. On March 21 and September 21, the beginning of spring and autumn, the position of the sun creates a beautiful shadow play. The position of the sun and thus its shadow makes it appear as if a 34-meter-long snake climbs up the pyramid's steps, and slides back down the other side of the pyramid. This phenomenon attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the world every year.

Furthermore, there are many other monuments in Chichen Itza. For example, there is the largest ball court in the Mayan world. There are also several temples present including the temple of tables, the temple of warriors and the temple of jaguars. You can also find an observatory called El Caracol. This observatory was used by the Maya to make astronomical observations through the slots in the roof of the dome.

Spanish Wines

As a salute to wine harvest season, we're listing our top ten wines that bear the prestigious label of Denominación de Origen, an official classification granted by the Spanish Department of Food and Agriculture to the country's finest food products and particularly to its wines.

The labeling guarantees quality and that the product has originated from the region of its designation. Here are ten ideas, ten places, ten exceptional wine regions. They may not be as well known as other Spanish wines such as Rioja, Ribera de Duero, and Sherry, but these wines and their places of origin are no less delightful.

Top ten Designation of Origin wines

1. D.O. Navarra

The Navarre region is well known for its running of the bulls festivals and its bountiful orchards that produce top quality fruits.

The excellence of Navarre wines often takes tasters by surprise, and wineries in this region have clearly evolved.

A visit to a local bodega and a hike around Sierra de Urbasa Park make for a "round" experience.

2. D.O. Chacolí de Guetaria

This refreshing white wine with a bit of a bite goes perfect with "txikitos" you can order in bars all over the Basque country.

This is a social, upbeat wine that's also a great complement to the endless fish dishes on offer in the region.

The town of Gueteria holds a unique appeal for many: it's got some of the best waves in the world for surfing. Other area towns with beaches and fishing ports worth visiting include Zarautz, Deba and Motriku.

3. D.O. Bierzo

This region sits nestled in the northeastern corner of Castile and Leon, near the border of both Asturias and Galicia. It produces robust red wine that perfectly complements the mountain cuisine.

The mountainous landscapes that await your hiking boots are also the place of origin of exceptionally fine meats and cheeses. From Ponferrada, you can first head to Las Médulas to take in impressive scenery.

Next we recommend visiting the Asturias area of Los Oscos, just an hour by car and just a short drive away from Galicia.

4. D.O. Ribeira Sacra

In the province of Ourense, embraced on either side by the Sil River, there's a community of winegrowers that insists on cultivating vineyards and producing wine on rugged river banks that are often only accessible by water.

Like the famous Galician wines Albariño and Ribeiro, wines from Ribeira Sacra are offering surprising new quality white and red wine flavors that go nicely with the wonderful meats and stews of the region.

A boat trip to the Sil River canyon is a must.

5. D.O. Ribera del Guadiana

Extramadura is known for its ham and its cherries from the Jerte Valley. Some also call the cheese from here "Torta del Casar", but not many people know about the wine of Ribera del Guadiana, a wine that's been produced since the age of the Roman Empire, but which has only had a regulatory council for the last ten years.

The white and red wines of these regions, most notably Montánchez, have obtained "very good" classifications in the last few years. Enjoying a nice wine and strolling about Merida while soaking in the enchanting historic ambience are highly recommended activities.

6. D.O. Sierras de Málaga

Although Malaga is most associated with stunning beaches and not with the drink of Baco, the region's inland areas such as Competa and Frigiliana offer a pleasant surprise.

Frigiliana and the mountains surrounding Ronda will provide the dynamic setting for our tour of the region's most palette pleasing wines.

7. D.O. Alicante

The Spanish Mediterranean coast is home to a wine that is listed by the European Union as one of its five "luxury wines".

Fondillon is made with over-ripe monastrell grapes and aged for a minimum of 10 years.

Only 10 bodegas in Alicante have the privilege of making this wine.

8. D.O. Pla i Llevant

White wines are produced in this eastern, inland area of Mallorca that make notable use of Chardonnay grapes.

Mallorca's mountain scenery and the cozy coves tucked away along the island's coastline provide a perfect excuse to make your getaway to this Mediterranean paradise, an ideal backdrop to your wine tasting adventure.

9. D.O. Lanzarote

This is a place where volcanoes make the ground so hot you can cook without making a fire, a place where the earth's force is in constant movement, and where an excellent wine is produced:

Malvasía, which delighted Shakespeare himself four hundred years ago and continues to be made among the cones of ash that protect the vineyards huddled within the prairie lands of La Geria on Lanzarote Island.

10. D.O. El Hierro

For centuries, this small island marked the end of the known world for Europeans. It was called "Isla del Meridiano" because the prime meridian passed through here for several centuries until it was redrawn over Greenwich. El Hierro is a model community in terms of its use of sustainable energy, its respect for nature, and friendly residents, many of whom produce flavorful white wines that reflect the character of the island.

The La Restinga area in the south is required visiting, where the sea floor continues "fabricando isla" (creating island) as the islanders say.

Spaniards love lotteries, and there are dozens of lotteries to mention. Spain has several daily, weekly, monthly and annual lotteries. Also, "the fattest" lottery in the world is a Spanish lottery! Every Christmas, the Loteria Nacional has the biggest jackpot in the world. This special Christmas draw is called "El Gordo," meaning "the fat one" or "the fat one. It is not remarkable when the prize money of this lottery reaches up to 66 billion euros!

Let's start with the cheapest lottery in Spain. This is the Bonoloto, the draw takes place Monday through Wednesday and on Friday. Lottery tickets can be bought from €0.59 cents per day. However, one can also buy a lottery ticket valid for the whole week, which costs €2.37. The prize money can reach up to 66 million euros. However, this prize money is divided among all Bonoloto draws that take place in the same week.

In Spain, you can also play EuroMillions, which is a European lottery in which several international lotteries work together into one big lottery. The EuroMillions draw is every Tuesday and Friday. The big advantage of this lottery is that the prize money from all the countries is added together, giving you a huge jackpot. Also, if the top prize does not fall, then this amount is added to the jackpot of the following draw.

The Loteria Nacional is a lottery in Spain similar to the Staatsloterij in the Netherlands. It is a state lottery and therefore tax-free. There are several variants of this lottery. One is the "El Gordo de la Primitiva," which is a weekly lottery. Also in this lottery, the prize money can reach up to 66 million euros. However, the tickets for this lottery are a bit more expensive than the Bonoloto. Lottery tickets are sold in 10 parts, each part is called a "décimo. Each décimo costs €20 and a whole lot costs €200. The prize money is therefore divided among the 10 winning lots. Many Spanish groups of friends or families therefore buy a whole lot together to reduce the cost and in this way the money is divided within the circle of friends or family.

Spanish bullfights

Pamplona is a city located in northern Spain and is the capital of the province of Navarre. The city was founded by the Romans and is best known for its bull runs and bullfighting. It is also an important city on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella.

The San Fermín fiestas

Bull runs in Pamplona take place during Las fiestas de San Fermín. This fiesta is held in honor of the patron saint San Fermín. The San Fermín fiestas used to take place in October, but due to the often bad weather, the fiestas were moved to the month of July. One of the most famous parts of the San Fermín fiestas San Fermín fiestas are the running of the bulls.

Every morning 'encierros' take place, which are bull runs where people run in front of the bulls. Bull runs originated because in the past the bulls had to be moved from the stables to the bullring, so they ran through the streets of the city. The distance from the stables to the bullring is a street 900 meters long that is very narrow in some places. In 8 days, 48 bulls are let loose in the streets, so per day this is 6 bulls. Along the route there are two rows of fences. The first row is for the riders who want to get out of the way of the bulls or for the riders who are injured, and the second row is for the spectators. Behind the first row are also the emergency workers in case medical attention is needed.

When the bulls are released from their stalls, one flare is fired. A second flare is then fired when all the bulls are in the street. The bull run lasts no more than a few minutes, but due to the adrenaline in the spectators and riders, it seems to last much longer. How dangerous these runs are depends on the number of participants; if there are many riders participating, there is little room for the bulls to get out of the way. Once all the bulls are in the arena, a third flare is agreed upon. Finally, a fourth flare is fired when all the bulls are in their stalls.
Daily bull runs are concluded with a bullfight. After the bull runs, a 'corrida' takes place every day at 6:30 pm.

Photo by www.environmentalgraffiti.com

Spain is best known for its many varieties of sangría. But Spain has more to offer than just sangría. For example, Spain is the third largest wine country by area in the world. Besides sangría, Spain also produces many red and white wines and cava, drinks that are also becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands.

The most famous drink coming from Spain is sangría. Everyone who has been on vacation to Spain has had a glass of sangría. The origins of sangría can be traced back to the 18th century. The British brought a drink called "sangaree" to Spain. There they consumed this drink with food, and to make it less strong for the children, a carbonated beverage was added. However, the adults wanted the drink stronger, so liqueur or brandy was added.

Sangria recipes

Several sangría recipes can be found. Sangría can be made to anyone's taste. However, the main ingredients for traditional sangria are red wine, carbonated liquor, fruit juice and fruits. There is also a white version of sangria, it consists of carbonated water, fruits, a liqueur of your choice or even vodka for those who love it. In Catalonia, white sangría is also often made with cava as the main ingredient. Sangría is tastiest if you make it several hours or even a day in advance and refrigerate it. This allows the flavors to mix well. After the sangria comes out of the refrigerator, ice cubes are added and the sangría is served in a transparent decanter with a wooden spoon in it to remove the fruit from the bottom.

Spanish wine

Sangría is not the only popular drink in Spain. Red wine is also very popular. The Romans began making wine, however, by the end of the Roman era, Spanish wines were declining. In the Middle Ages, monks began making new wine. However, lack of knowledge caused mainly red wines to be made. However, it wasn't until the end of the 19th century that Spain became internationally known for its red table wines.

Cava

In the last century, cava has become increasingly well known. Cava is also known as the Spanish version of French Champagne. Cava is an effervescent white wine produced in Catalonia. There are 7 categories; brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra seco, semi seco and dulce, in order from very dry to sweet. According to connoisseurs, brut nature is the highest quality variety, as it is the purest form of cava. The recognized cava can be identified by the cork, where a four pointed star can be found.