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When traveling abroad to Barcelona it would be wise to do your research ahead of time so you can find many exciting events to go to once you arrive.

There is no need to worry about whether or not there is something special to do. The problem is whether you have time to experience everything you want to experience during your trip.

One of the events that many town locals as well as tourists participate in is an event called St. John’s Eve. If you are a fan of fireworks and food then you will love this memorable event. This festive event is the celebration that takes place prior to the holiday of the feast to John the Baptist.

Spectacular Events in Barcelona: if you are a music enthusiast there are music festivals that will satisfy your interest in music. If you are a self proclaimed food critic, there are a myriad of  top restaurants in Barcelona, each with their eclectic mixture of cuisines. If you are more of a person interested in the aesthetic beauty of the arts, there are numerous art festivals throughout the year. Many of the events described below are economical, take place more than once throughout the year and will be very memorable experiences.

Another great holiday celebration happens during Easter week. This event also takes place at various venues in and around Barcelona. Catalans celebrate this holiday by partaking in blessing the palms on diumenge de rams, meaning Palm Sunday.

Hordes of people go into the cathedral with bleached palm fronds brought from the city. These fronds are thought to bring households good luck. On the day of Good Friday blessings and processions take place outside the cathedral. Then on Easter Sunday, godparents take out the chocolate confections and goodies to celebrate this holiday.

If you are a fan of car racing then the Spanish F1 Grand Prix will have you enjoying a great racing experience. Many people come to see many of the best racers from around the world participate in this fabulous racing event.

Another very vibrant and memorable event that you won’t want to miss is an event called Festes de Sant Medir de Gracia, which happens March 3 ever year. Each year for the past 200 years on or around the day of St. Emerterius, a horse drawn carriage comes to Gracia to Sant Cugat. In their celebration of this event the people in the carts shower the crowd with blessed boiled sweets.

When you travel to Barcelona you will be surprised at the many events that take place. Whether it’s a religious celebration that is taking place or a very popular music festival there is something for everyone to enjoy. When you participate in any of these events you will be able to experience the beauty of Barcelona inside and out. These events will make your trip that much more memorable and will be memories that will last a lifetime.

Until as recently as thirty years ago Playa Blanca was still a small fishing village – long after the development of resort rivals Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise to the north.  Serving as a port from where ferries cross the Bocaina Straits to Fuerteventura, the neighbouring Canary Island.  But its great climate and beaches soon caught the eye of developers – and building work started in earnest during the 1990´s.  Resulting in a host of new hotel and villa developments.

Visitors arriving by plane and viewing the resort from the air will note that Playa Blanca basically comprises three bays set within one much larger cove.  And tourist visitors today can now enjoy a relaxing stroll from one end of the resort to the other.  Thanks to the fact that a delightful promenade now runs the entire length of Playa Blanca from the Faro de Pechuguera lighthouse to the outer reaches of the beaches at Papagayo.

Holiday villas in Playa Blanca have become very popular with tourists over the last few years, as they offer decent value for money.  And are the best choice during the winter months when the climate here is more favourable than elsewhere on the island. 

Holiday villas in Playa Blanca are also in plentiful supply making rental accommodation here cheaper than in the other resorts.  And all of these properties boast plenty of luxury extras such as private swimming pools, satellite TV and hot tubs. As well as internet connections for those who need to stay online even when on holiday, making them an ideal choice for families ar even a relaxing romantic holiday for two.

Whilst many guests find it hard to leave the poolside during their stay there are some great beaches around the resort to explore.  Such as the small town beach of Playa Blanca (the resorts namesake), Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo.   As well as the real star of the show – the stunning set of coves and bays of Papagayo (parrot in Spanish).  Which take just fifteen minutes to reach on foot from the centre of the resort.  The islands number one tourist attraction, the Timanfaya Volcano Park, is also just a short drive away.  And is an absolute must see for anyone visiting Lanzarote.

Booking a holiday abroad has never been easier.  Thanks to the advent of the Internet, which to a large extent has rendered travel agents redundant.  With tourists now able to book breaks to holidays hot spots such as Lanzarote direct online.

Lanzrote forms part of the Canary Island group.  Which is part of Spain and the EU but which is located close to the coast of West Africa.  During the 1980´s these islands briefly became a byword for package holidays – but today there are just as many upmarket luxury accommodation options as there are good value choices.  With Lanzarote for example boasting no less than six 5 star hotels.

Lanzarote, the fourth largest of the islands and one of the most unspoiled, boasts no less than six 5 star hotels.  Including the sumptuous Gran Melia Volcan, which is located right at the southern tip of the island in the fast growing resort of Playa Blanca.  The Volcan forms part of the stylish Rubicon Marina development which is home to loads of luxury yachts.  And along with sister establishment the Gran Melia Salinas in Costa Teguise is regarded as one of the best Lanzarote hotels.

Arguably the best known hotel on the island though is the Arrecife Gran.  As this occupies a building which was a notorious landmark on Lanzarote during the 1990´s.  As it was originally built by flouting local planning laws – which prohibited high rise constructions taller than a Canarian palm tree.  So for many years this building lay burnt out and derelict right on the seafront.  Eventually though the island government took the pragmatic approach and granted permission for creation of a luxury hotel.  Which spans 17 floors and is the tallest edifice on the island.

The Gran Melia hotel is owned by Spain´s Sol hotel chain, who also have another 5 star establishment in the southern resort of Playa Blanca.  The Gran Melia Volcan is situated right next to the upmarket Rubicon Marina development, which provides an atmospheric environment for dining out or strolling around the shops.  The Volcan also has a unique entrance hall atrium which is designed to echo the islands most famous landmark – the volcanoes of the Timanfaya National Park which are located just a short drive away from the resort.

Around half of all visitors to Lanzarote prefer self-catering accommodation to hotels and there’s a wide selection of Lanzarote villas for them to choose from across the island.  Apartments in Lanzarote also provide a good value alternative for these seeking to book a break in the sun on a budget.

You can find details of Lanzarote 4 star hotels and further Lanzarote villas here.

Thinking of taking a sunshine break on the popular holiday island of Lanzarote this year?  You certainly won’t be alone if so, as during the course of 2009 close to 1.4 million tourists visited this unique little Canary Island.  Located just off the coast of West Africa.  With many planning their trip around specific events and festivals that take place on Lanzarote every year.

Hundreds of thousands of British tourists will be enjoying a break on the island during the course of 2010.  With around 50% opting to stay in self catering accommodation, with apartments and villas in Lanzarote proving especially popular.  Many choose to build their visit around specific events on the island – as there’s a whole raft of fiestas and festivals taking place throughout the course of the year.

For independent tourists there are a whole host of Villas in Lanzarote to choose from either from the budget end or luixury end of the market throughout the year.

In February Carnival sweeps across the island – bringing work to a halt for at least a couple of weeks. With events taking place in different locations and on different dates.  This is arguably the most colourful and best attended event of the year and attracts huge crowds.  Featuring cleverly decorated floats that wouldn’t look out of place at the Notting Hill Carnival, massed ranks of drum bands and hordes of dancers dressed in real Carmen Miranda fashion.  With plenty of riotous dancing and drinking.

May sees the arrival of over 1000 super fit athletes on the island.  As the annual Iron Man contest gets underway.  This is widely regarded as one of the hardest events of its kind in the world.  Entrants have to swim 3km, cycle 180km and then finish all of that off with a full marathon.  Many don’t even make the finish line but for the top 60 a place in the Grand Final in Hawaii beckons – along with a slice of the $75,000 prize money.

Many music lovers plan their visit around the Jazz Canarias festival in July.  Which in previous years has featured some of the leading emerging talents of this genre.  Such as the prodigious young jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding and the guitarist Kyle Eastwood –offspring of the famous actor Clint Eastwood.

September is also a great time for booking holiday apartments in Lanzarote.  As the Costa Music Festival takes place that month.  Bringing an eclectic mix of live dance acts and top DJ talent to the beach at Playa Bastian in Costa Teguise.  And like so many other events on the island this is also entirely free of charge – attracting crowds in their thousands.

Follow the link for more details on villas in Puerto Del Carmen.

The Madrid lifestyle has a lot to offer, whether it be sitting out in the many, glorious plazas watching the sun gently disappear or dancing the night away in Sol. For me, being a TEFL graduate for a couple of months, the build up to the night’s fun is the best part. The bookends of the night are caňas and tapas. Let me present, ‘caňas y tapas’. This merge can be taken up any time…

The ultimate edible morsels I have come across in Spain have been served with caňas. These little sized beers are the perfect compliment to any Sunday afternoon. Whatever you choose, great tapas is forever involved.

My first caňa and tapas experience was in Plaza de Espana, just off Grand Via in a very loud, typically Spanish tapas joint. This bar compels you to stand, which is not as appalling as made out. standing up at the bar is useful…for ordering beer for one thing. The bartenders were highly amusing and happy to help and whet the appetite. The first dish they present is fried chip potatoes covered in a delicious oily, garlic sauce. Served with these were three, bite sized chorizos. My Spanish friend and I eagerly dig in. I don’t think you should chose the garlic sauce on a first date, wow. It was spectacular. The chorizo was the best, dissolving in my mouth and made me want more! Another beer, another plate of food. The next dish was baby squid in a completely delicious tomato sauce. Praising the day I decided to come to Madrid and enrol in a TEFL course, we finished the squid and chugged our caňas. More beer and therefore more food. Straight after we opted for a round of salami, which turned out to be delicious.

Plaza de Espana really is great for tapas bars. Its extensive side streets offer a whole host of cercevias that produce their own nuggets of pure culinary genius. But be aware that the closer you go to Gran Via, the pricer things become. Plaza de Espana is a happy mix of quintessential Madrid and Spanish bustle. For 3 caňas each and therefore 3 plates of tapas with our drinks, the bill came to a heroic €7. Why didn’t we stay for more you may ask? Because there are too many other bars in the area!

I was not able to stay in town any more I had to lesson plan. When I get home after a rather giddy metro ride I pull out my folders and put my TEFL knowledge into good use. Stuffed with tapas and with a happy caňa feel, this is easy. Another exciting night! Here’s to the next time ‘salido en Madrid’!