Top 20 Spain Experiences in a Photo List

WARNING:

If you are OK settling for mass market travel or corporate events please do NOT read this surpising report :->

   " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  " 

Dear Fellow Discerning Traveler,

Greetings from Europe’s most fun & diverse country, Spain.  Spain and tiny Portugal together would be largest country of western Europe. Spain alone is about the size of Texas and offers many undiscovered attractions that most won’t find alone even with a stack of clunky guide books and maps! After ten years organizing thousands of vacations  & events here, we have long list of known + “top secret” discoveries and contacts.

We are reserving some items & detail for clients only, as our 11 years of professional expertise is valuable. This sample list is based on historic and cultural importance plus esthetic, cultural, historic & emotive power. We have placed some lesser known experiences higher than more well known places like Barcelona ect...Of course, we have many more next door in charming Portugal

Hasta Pronto,

Montse, Dan & Richard  

P.S. OK this sounds good but what about practical benefits?....You experience more, learn more & have more vacation fun with NO hassles + time and stress savings, convenience and our "no hurry, no worry" profesional style. All the details have been arranged for you, saving you countless hours of decision making & hassles.

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

Our Insiders Top 20

Reasons to Experience Spain

1.                                EXOTIC DIVERSITY  =   FUN EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

Cultural Adventure,  Spanish Language,  Cooking, Surfing , Dance, Guitar, Yoga, Sailing, Painting or Wine 101. 

Whether you are a family with kids or a small group of empty-nesters, Spain, nearly western Europe's largest country and a world power in the 16th & 17th centuries, offers many diverse ways to enjoy... Experience cultural treasures, vibrant festivals, family fun, lavish food & wine, medieval castles & villages, hip cities, ancient tradition, superb art, olive oils, luxury hotels, warm Med beaches, huge forested mountains, + a mix of east and west with still discernable Medieval, Arabian, Sephardic, French & Roman influences...if you have the insider’s savvy!

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

2.   ANDALUCIA:  Quintessential Spanish traditions of flamenco , tapas, toros & horses are king here +  Moorish towers, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, lush gardens, the Alhambra of Granada  and a joy-to-be-alive attitude in this deep south river city of Spain.

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

3.                               MEDIEVAL HERITAGE:   Explore 250+ Medieval Castles & Villages, Olive Groves  &  Ancient Caves, Shrines & Trails

4.   TAPAS CUISINE,  WINES & 100+ CHEESES: Learn the Ritual of “El Tapeo” or Eating Tapas with locals. Wine lovers....can discover why Robert Parker calls Spain the “ a new 21st century power of the Wine world”. we can offer 100+ cheeses.

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

 5.  EXTREMADURA:  Authentic Old Spain, Gourmet Ham, Cheeses, Castles & Timeless Tradition!

Extremadura is perhaps the most unknown and surprisingly authentic part of old Spain., the Romans ruled Lusitania (western Spain and Portugal) f rom Merida in central Extremadura. This beautiful and rural area was homeland of many of the conquistadors who conquered and ruled South America, bordered by the Gredos in the north and the Sierra Aracena in the south. The black pigs, sheep and goats of the area contribute to produce such as cured ham, chorizo sausages and all pork products. Also look for mushrooms, chestnuts, aspargagus, paprika, cherries and acorn liquers. Cork oaks are common in the dehesas , providing food for free range pigs and bark for wine stoppers. The monastry at Guadalupe, a centre of gastronomy in the times of the conquistadors, is credited with the invention of both the omelet (tortilla cartujana) and consomme (consumo). The consomme recipe is said to have been stolen by the French in the Napoleonic wars. Merida has major Roman remains, Zafra is a small town with a charming double plaza. Also we love Plasencia and Trujillo, bithplace of Pizarro. The old walled city of Cacares should be on any itinerary. As should "Atrio" in the new town, (Gourmetour restaurant of the year 2006). The Parador has a good restaurant, as does "Torre de Sande" nearbye, (tapas; hare with beans (judias con liebre) was good, indoor and patio restaurants).

Extremadura is most easily seen by a car tour between the paradors of the region, public transport being fairly sparse and the roads quiet. Birdwatching for eagles and vultures along the road can be rewarding. A few traditional dishes: Frite is lamb cooked in paprika. Migas is fried breadcrumbs. Morros is the pork in tomato sauce. Served hot it was delicious if not health food!
Hornazo is a bread crust pie filled with various types of pork. Cachuela Extremeña, a coarse cut spicy pate.

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

6. INSIDER EXPERIENCES   +  MEET OUR SAVVY CONTACTS:  We believe a destination is more than monuments and traditions. We believe meeting real locals is invaluable and so have cultivated contacts with Artist, Chefs, Musicians, Wine Makers, Lawyers, Doctors,

Flamenco Dancers, University professors ect...

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

7. FIESTAS:  Spanish Fiestas date back to Medieval & Roman times

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

8. HISPANIA = ROMAN SPAIN : Discover Roman Spain, Theaters, Arenas  &  Bridges from Hispania where 2 Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian + Seneca , Martial and others were born.

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

9.    UNFORGETTABLE HOTELS:  Sleep like royalty in 500-year-old castles or medival monasteries... or 21st century wonders

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

 10.               SPORTS ARE HUGE IN SPAIN WHICH IS ON A CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL: Football (soccer), Formula1 racing with Fernando Alonso, Tennis with Rafa Nadal and the Davis Cup without him,  and  Basketball are all big and successful here. Spain has major title in all of these sports. In the Olympics the Basketball, 2006 world champions,le and barely fell to the USA DreamTeam in a controversial final in Beijing (See Rudy fernandez dunking on Diwight Howard in the Olympic Finals in Beijing. Top football (soccer) teams include: Real Madrid, La Barca,  Sevilla. Huge stadiums of 80,000+ roar at these passionate football matches of the La Liga .

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

11.    EL CAMINO de SANTIAGO:  Enigmatic Medieval pilgrim’s trail to Santiago

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

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12.     MADRID & WORLD CLASS ART:  Discover Europe's highest altitude and highest energy capital.Savor legend-filled old town of beautiful 16th century plazas of Madrid.  Learn about and ponder the  world-class art  of Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Picasso & more  with our charming expert art historians

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

 13.      SEVILLA : 2000 years of Festivity & Style, Birthplace of Tapas Cuisine, Moorish architecture, Alcazar Fortress....

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 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

  14.                 CATALONIA &   BARCELONA : Discover Pyrenees mountains & villages, architecture, Med coast & Barcelona

      15.         FINE OLIVE OIL: Spain, since the Roman Empire has been the world’s largest producer of olive oil... 

Yes the italians buy here to resell.

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

16.     ARCHITECTURE: Award-winning Modern Architecture of Bilbao, La Rioja & Valencia + Roman, Moorish, Gothic...

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

17.                                            PASSION OF FLAMENCO:  Live Flamenco Guitar, Song  & Dance. 

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

18.                          ISLANDS: Spanish Canary & Baleric Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza & Fomentera

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

19.                               LA MEZQUITA CATEDRAL: The world’s only medieval mosque/cathedral in Cordóba

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

20.     GOURMET NEW CUISINE: Michelin star-winning Modern & Traditional Spanish Fine Dining

of Feran Adria,Arzak,Arguñano, Subijana and more

 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "

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Spain is Europe's most diverse & friendly place as medieval & modern mix with Mediterranean spirit.

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 " USA’s Travel & Event Gurus in Spain since 1998  "