costablog.com

The Falles, or in spanish Las Fallas, is an internationally known fire celebration in Valencia, which was this week. It is a Valencian traditional celebration in praise of Saint Joseph. Every citizen in Valencia works and prepares himself for this few days of festivity with the biggest enthusiasm man can have for this tradition. It is being held between the 14^th and the 19^th of March mainly in the city of Valencia, where for example on Thursday they have burned 772 monuments, specially built for this occasion. All of this monuments, called Ninots represent actual themes with a satire point of politics, comedy and social life, some of the Ninots can get up to 30 m high and are exposed until their burning. The party goes continuously from one morning to the other during the 5 days surrounded by fireworks, massive amount of firecrackers and the smell to gunpowder.

Planning a holiday in Lanzarote? Or simply want to find out more about this unique Canary Island? Then download the new edition of Lanzarote Guidebook – the free, in-depth tourist guide to the Island of Fire.

Lanzarote Guidebook is researched and written by long term island residents. Which means that it provides readers with the real inside track to the island. And it is published every quarter. Ensuring that information is always accurate and up to date.

The new Spring 2009 edition is packed with useful information for visitors. Along with some fantastic pictures of the island from local photographer James Mitchell. And can be downloaded for free at www.lanzaroteguidebook.com.

Read more »

Sierra Nevada is a ski resort near Granada only one hour away from the beach. It is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make skiing possible in Europe’s most southern ski resort, even this area along the Mediterranean Sea is more known for its warm temperatures and yearround sunshine. But just have in mind that the highest point of continental Spain, the Mulhacén mountain at 3,478 metres is situated in the Sierra Nevada. Just to go up to the Sierra Nevada from any corner of the Costa de Sol is an easy and cheap way to ski and only takes an hour or two. For 40 € you get your daily ski pass and you can enjoy about a 100 km of slopes with up to 350 cm of depth. We haven’t had this amount of snow for a long time and it’s actually a shame not to have more free time left to spend skiing up in the Sierra Nevada. Read more »

50 years ago, 5 children discovered the Nerja caves or better known as “La Cueva de Nerja”, when they were just playing and looking for bats. In 2008, the caves received 415,000 visitors, which makes it the second most visited monument in Andalucia after the Alhambra in Granada, even though they have just investigated 15% of the Nerja cave yet. This year a group of Anthropological scientists has been formed to study and follow with the diggings in the Chamber of the Mine, here is where they believe to find the rests of the last Neanderthals of Europe. In this anniversary year they planned plenty of activities like conferences, seminars and a special edition of the international festival of music and dance of the Cave, which also celebrates its half-century anniversary this July. In summer the caves are opened from 10:00 to 19:30 and the price is 8,50 Euro for adults and 4,50 Euro for children. Be sure to check out the caves when you visit Nerja!

In the last years the number of foreign couples getting married in a corner of the Costa del Sol like Nerja, has multiplied. Especially the Irish couples love to celebrate their wedding day in a really special and different way with friends and family on the Mediterranean shore. There are companies which take care of every single detail from the photographer to the Honeymoon, the wedding planners from abroad. They prepare even activities for the guests before or after the big day. Costa del Sol wedding organisers joined together to create “Costa del Sol Bride of the Year” competition where you can win a tailor-made wedding worth 12.000 €.