Learn Spanish in Spain
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To book a Spanish Course in Spain
Visa Requirements For visits to Spain of up to 90 days, the nationals of many countries
do not require a visa. For travel between Spain, Portugal, France, Italy,
Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, there is normally no
passport control on land frontiers, at ports or in airports, although
spot checks are always possible. Money Matters Credit Cards N.B. Card purchases and cash advances are normally charged to your account via an exchange rate, which may be slightly worse than you'd be quoted for exchanging cash or travellers' cheques in Spain. Once you consider the commission on the exchange transaction you'll probably find that you usually win by using plastic, even taking into account the handling charge, usually about 1.5%, that's levied for cash advances (though not for direct purchases by credit card). Geography With exception of Switzerland Spain is the highest and most mountanious nation in Europe, with an average height of around 600m. Spain's domain covers a sphere of influence much wider than that of just the mainland. Bounded by the Pyrrenees to the North, the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) to the South East, the Canary Islands to the South West and the tiny enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north African mainland. Europe's second biggest mountain range, the Pyrrenees, stretch from the Basque Country in the west to the Mediterranean Sea in the East. At times the peaks rise to over 1524m, the highest point being 3404m. The central area of Spain is covered by a vast plateau sporadically broken by several chains of Sierras. In the south the plateau drops abruptly at the Sierra Morena, beyond which lies the valley of Guadalquivir. Southeast of Granada is the Sierra Nevada, part of the Betic Cordillera, which runs parallel to the Mediterranean, rising to 3481m. The Mediterranean coastal area reaches from the French frontier in the northeast down to the Straits of Gibraltar, the narrow strip of water linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and separating Spain from North Africa. Climate In general you can rely on pleasant or hot temperatures just about everywhere from April to early November. The temperatures normally range from 15°C to 35°C. In Andalucia there are plenty of warm, sunny days right through winter. However, in July and August, temperature inland can get unpleasant, unless you are high enough in the mountains. Andalucia is very hot in high summer, when temperatures can rise to 35°C. In Madrid and Salamanca it is slightly cooler, although temperatures can climb above 30°C in July and August. The southeast, from the Costa Blanca to Cabo de Gata, is the most arid part of Spain, and can produce near-desert conditions in parts of Eastern Andalucia. The Mediterranean provides Spain's warmest waters, which reach 27°C
or so in August, and you can swim as early as April or even late March
in the southeast. Madrid and the Central region regularly freeze in December, January and February and snowfalls in the mountains start as early as October with some snow cover all year on the highest mountains. Weather in the high mountains is generally unreliable. Culture Flamenco Sports The Bullfight Food Spaniards have their own timetable for eating so it's a good idea to reset your stomach clock, unless you want to eat alone or only with other tourists. Breakfast: Most Spaniards start the day with a light breakfast (desayuno),
perhaps coffee with a toasted roll (tostada) or a pastry (pastel). A favourite
is churros con chocolate - long, deep-fried doughnuts, unique to Spain. Lunch: This is usually the main meal of the day; it is eaten between about 1.30 and 4 p.m. and is known as almuerzo or comida. It can consist of several courses including soup or salad, meat or fish with vegetables or a rice dish or bean stew, followed by fruit, ice cream or flan (a kind of set egg custard). Dinner: A Spaniard's evening meal, or cena, tends to be lighter, perhaps an egg dish with bread, and may be eaten as late as 10 or 11pm. However, lots of people also go out to a restaurant for a larger meal - though before about 9 p.m. you're unlikely to see anyone but foreigners doing this. Between meals: It's common (and a great idea!) to go to a bar or a café for a snack. One great Spanish snack is a bocadillo, a long white bread roll filled with cheese or ham or salad or tortilla -the list goes on. You probably won't leave Spain without sampling a bocadillo de tortilla española or de jamon serrano, a roll filled, respectively, with potato omelette or cured ham. Tapas: These saucer-sized mini-snacks are part of the Spanish way of life and come in infinite varieties. You can make a meal of tapas, or go on to a meal afterwards, or hop on to another bar to sample even more tapas, a great Spanish pastime. Tapas are generally consumed standing at the bar and accompanied by wine from the barrel or a beer. Tapas translates as 'lids'. Today's snacks supposedly originated in the sherry area of Andalucia last century when bar owners placed a piece of bread on top of a drink to keep away flies; this developed into the custom of putting a titbit, such as olives or a piece of sausage or ham, on a lid to cover the drink and something salty to encourage drinking. Today, tapas have almost become a cuisine of their own and each region and city has its specialities. Typical tapas include olives, slices of cured meat or cheese, potato salad, diced salad, bite-sized portions of fried fish, albondigas (meat or fish balls), chickpeas with spinach, rabbit stew, callos (tripe), gambas (prawns) in garlic, or boquerones (anchovies) marinated in vinegar or rebozados (fried in batter). Public Holidays Everywhere in Spain there are at least 14 official holidays a year - some observed nation-wide, some very local. When a holiday falls close to a weekend, Spaniards like to make a puente (bridge)- meaning they also take the intervening day off as well. The eight national holidays are:
In addition, regional governments everywhere set four holidays and local councils a further two. Common dates include:
Shop Opening Hours: Generally shop opening hours are from 9.00 to 13.30 or 14.00 in the morning and from 16.30 or 17.00 to 20.00 in the afternoon. Travel Safe Advice Insurance However you travel, it's worth taking out insurance. Standard insurance should at least cover theft and loss of luggage, and cancellation of, and delays in, your travel arrangements. Ticket loss is also covered by travel insurance, but make sure you keep a separate record of your ticket details. Contact us if you haven't already taken out a comprehensive policy. Health Before you travel you should always check with the Foreign Office as to the official view on the safety of the country you intend to visit. Foreign and Commonwealth Office MASTA What Shall I Take? Apart from any special personal needs you may have and things you might require for a particular kind of trip i.e. camping gear, hiking boots, surfboard etc., you may like to consider the following: · An under-the-clothes money belt or shoulder wallet Books · The New Spaniards by John Hooper Totally Spanish Guitar (Various Artists) Films La Ardilla Roja Useful Websites www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features (The weather worldwide) To book a Spanish Course in Spain
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Customer Service - Tel: 01273 687697 inside the UK (normal call charges apply) or +44 1273 687697 from outside the UK (normal call charges apply) |