Posts Tagged ‘Madrid’

Event: Celebrate San Isidro in Madrid

May 6th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Madrid in Springtime – perfect!  The colder Winter nights of this high placed city are over,the intense heat of Summer not quite here, the perfect time to visit and stay in Madrid is now,  the capital city of Spain.  Any capital city weekend or short break is always full of things to do, but if you choose to visit Madrid next week, you can also take part in one of the biggest festivals on the city’s calender – the Fiesta de San Isidro.  Best party foot forward – let’s go to Madrid!

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City Heat – Top 5 City Breaks in Spain

April 29th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
City breaks – our favourite type of mini break and the total antithesis from where we live.  A rural setting in some of the cleanest air in Europe is wonderful but sometimes a little bit of carbon monoxide is called for! A few short days in the city is a treat and a cultural top up, and needn’t cost the earth either. Spanish cities are worth exploring more than most.  Let’s take a quick look at the Top 5 city breaks in Spain, for that next weekend away.

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Using your 5 senses in Spain

April 9th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
A holiday in Spain will leave you with all sorts of lingering, beautiful memories.  Uploading your photographs when you get back home is all part of the pleasure, remembering each sun filled day out, that great Paella, the gorgeous beach you chose when you booked that perfect holiday home.  Spain will fill all of your senses, and leave you relaxed and rejuvenated.  What are your special memories of your best Spanish holiday?



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Go Mad at Festimad 2M in Madrid

March 29th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
A holiday in Spain, maybe with a little music thrown in for good measure you think?  How about a LOT of music?  If you’re considering a visit to the capital city this April, then maybe keep in mind the event of the month.  April is when Festimad 2M comes to Madrid. It’s also the anniversary of an important date in history, celebrated in Madrid at the same time. Want to know more? Then grab your guitar – maybe your earplugs too – and come to Festimad 2M in Madrid.

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Bullfighting in Spain

February 23rd, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Bullfighting.  It’s an emotive subject.  Do you loathe it? Or do you accept bullfighting as part and parcel of the culture of Spain?  Easily dismissed as cruel, barbaric or old fashioned, many visitors to Spain find bullfighting abhorrent  – but it is still a big part of the culture and history of this country.  What do you think?  Whatever your opinion, March, next month, sees the start of the bullfighting season in Spain. 

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A Royal trip – making music in Aranjuez

February 14th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Aranjuez? Where’s that?  Close to the capital of Spain, Madrid, just 46 kilometres in fact, this destination makes for a great day trip from the noise and bustle of the capital city.  At just under 50 kilometres from Toledo too, consider Aranjuez for a visit the next time you are in this beautiful part of Spain.  Royal connections ensure that there is plenty to gaze at, with stunning architecture and sightseeing.  So leave the bustle of Madrid alone for just a day, and explore Aranjuez. It has a famous musical connection too -  ringing any bells?!

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Top traditional foods of Spain

January 18th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne

Self catering on a Spanish holiday means that you get to try out all of the great local foods.  Traditional Spanish food is known the world over, but how much of it do you know, what have you tasted? Forget impersonal hotels and the ubiquitous buffet – try renting a beautiful Spanish holiday home and rustle up some local flavour instead.  What will you try?

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Be my Valentine – Top 4 Romantic Spanish Spots

January 17th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Love is in the air – now you shall be singing along all day.  Hey, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner – February 14th if you really need a reminder of the date.  Forget the bunch of flowers from the garage – we always know – and remember boys, anything with a plug is not a present! What a girl wants is old fashioned romance. Simple.  Now, if you were to somehow incorporate a Spanish holiday into that equation – you have a winning formula!  Valentine’s day in Spain – how nice!  Where are the Top 4 most romantic places to go?

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Around Madrid – seeing Segovia

January 14th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
A visit to a capital city is always a treat – a weekend dash can really be rewarding with a bargain flight, a couple of nights seeing the city of your choice, a little shopping and sightseeing, sampling the local gastronomy, maybe take in a show.  In Spain, Madrid offers all of this and more, and will beckon you back for a second visit before you know it.  Second time around – take a little more time, base yourself in Madrid and see a little of the surroundings too – how about Segovia for starters?

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Gastrofestival in Madrid

January 8th, 2013 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Spain is a great destination for many reasons, you can roll them off your tongue as easily as A,B,C. Sun, of course, Sand, the best beaches in Europe await you, Flamenco and Culture to rival any other destination.  But don’t forget the great Gastronomy, a mouth watering reason to visit Spain at any time of the year.  Are you finally finished with that Turkey? In need of some new tastes to whet the appetite and tantalize the taste-buds? Of course you are. Then come to Madrid this month, and take part in Gastrofestival Madrid 2013 – bring your best bib and tucker!

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Carol Byrne
So you thought that the party was over? But it’s just getting started in Spain!  This weekend sees the arrival into every village square and city plaza of the esteemed Three Kings, those noblemen bearing gifts.  They’ll dress up and hand over gifts and throw sweets high in the air for the children to catch - Spanish Christmas, if you like.  If later in the month is when you plan to visit, and you’re still in the mood for more fun and fiesta, then make it on one of the Saint’s days – celebrated somewhere in Spain, every day of the year! Start with San Antonio – and book yourself into the Balearics!

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Posh property in Spain

December 23rd, 2012 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Well, we’re still here. The End Of The World wasn’t nigh, as it turned out. Lucky us. Luckier still, for some this morning , waking up the day after El Gordo – the famous Spanish Christmas Lottery.  No, I didn’t win – or I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this! – but if I had, I think I would be booking myself and my friends and family into a little bit of luxury for Christmas. Not a hotel – too impersonal – but a stunning high end rental property. Now, let’s just imagine for a moment that we had the winning ticket….Where shall we go? Where’s that chauffeur?

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Hitting the slopes in Spain

December 10th, 2012 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
The Christmas holidays are a great time in lots of ways. Getting the family together these days is not as easy as it used to be, with people scattered all over the globe. A fantastic idea is to pour over the holiday ideas between the games of Scrabble and the endless TV repeats…what about a break for everyone in the New Year?  Have the whole family arrive at a destination and share the cost of accommodation – what better than a holiday with a little activity thrown in…Ski Spain it is then!

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Top 5 places in Spain to spend Christmas

November 23rd, 2012 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Where do you like to spend the festive season?  Christmas is a time for families, and the idea of a relaxing time spent with loved ones is one to look forward to. But rewind there for a second…relaxing? Acres of shopping, cooking and cleaning combined with a drizzle or a downpour is hardly appealing. Wind down in Spain instead, take the whole family along and choose one of our Top 5 destinations in which to spend a Spanish Christmas!

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Carol Byrne
For such a Catholic country, Spain does like to celebrate it’s Celtic beginnings!  Then again, perhaps Spain just likes to celebrate. Full stop! The Winter Solstice is another important date on the Celtic and Spanish calender, marked out each year on the same date, December 21st. Choose a stunning destination and a winter holiday to enjoy the start of something new, and where better to have a winter holiday than Spain?

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Give me a break…Spain in November

November 7th, 2012 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
November . That month when Christmas is just around the corner -  and as I write just 47 days on the online countdown calender -  the weather turning wet and cold, the heating constantly on...if you live in the UK that is! You can choose to write your gift list, grow a moustache for Movember, and then again you could see what is on in Spain and book a break in the Winter sunshine…what sounds good to you?

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Beer tour of Spain – hop to it!

October 31st, 2012 by vernon

vernon
Here we go. We have taken a road trip tasting the wine of Spain, travelling north to south. Now let us make the reverse journey seeing the towns and cities that are home to some of the most famous beers of Spain. Those names you may be used to in your home country, or some new tastes for you when holidaying in Spain. 

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Green fingers in Madrid

June 14th, 2012 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
Are you enjoying the European Cup football tournament as much as I am? At least I shall until later on tonight when we will know the result of Ireland v Spain!  I live in faint hope… After tonight I may instead choose to spend match times in the garden – not a bad place to be whether you´re avoiding the TV or not!  And Spain has much to offer in the way of formal gardens and parks to spend some time. Going to Madrid this year? Then take in the gardens…!

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Flaming June in Spain

May 8th, 2012 by Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne
We always said that years ago – Flaming June…but as I recall there was never anything remotely hot about it! At least not on Northern European shores…this June book a respite from the damp squib of early British `Summer´ weather and come to Spain instead – let´s see what´s on…

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Bus Stop – to Granada

April 19th, 2012 by vernon

vernon
I never cease to be amazed at how many people living or holidaying along the coastlines of Spain never hop on a bus to see more of the country. Especially the cities that are easily reachable in a day. In Spain it is wise to see more than the sea. So leave the car at home and get on one of the comfortable coaches that run daily linking so many coastal towns, with inland villages, and the distinctive cities beyond. Here is such a journey. I take the bus to gorgeous Granada. 

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