Altea is without doubt one of the most charming towns to be found on Spain’s ‘White Coast’, located in the region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. The town is just 11 kilometres north of Benidorm, yet the two resorts are worlds apart. Altea is similar to other Costa Blanca towns in that it has a new and an old neighbourhood. The old section is perched on top of a hill from where you will find really spectacular views. All in all Altea is a pretty …

1. Benasque Photo: yimix / Flickr Creative Commons Nestled within the Posets-Maladetas nature reserve in the Spanish Pyrenees, Benasque is perfect for those who prefer skiing of the cross country variety. There are routes to suit all tastes from experienced to beginners that wind through scenic oak, birch and beech forests. And unlike downhill ski resorts, you don t have to pay anything to cross country ski. 2. La Molina Photo: Kibo M / Flickr Creative …

A trail has finally broken me. I ve met a trail that I just can t hack. It s El Camino Santiago. I m pretty tough mentally. I smile during mountaineering moments when most people cry. I ve hiked nearly 15, miles (24, km) in the last decade, having a blast under nearly all conditions. I ve never even though about quitting a trail. Until now. Walking from Pamplona to Burgos is murderously dull, yet most say it is much more scenic than Burgos to Leon …

Discover a tranquil oceanfront oasis in Spain at Marriott s Marbella Beach Resort. Located just moments away from the crystal-clear waters of Marbella s famous Elviria Beach, our resort features spacious, intelligently appointed apartment rentals; each one of our luxury apartments offer separate areas for living, sleeping and dining, a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi access, a private balcony, a whirlpool …

Watch ITA graduate, Lauren O Rourke from Chicago, IL, discuss her experiences teaching English in Barcelona, Spain. Private Language Schools The majority of English teaching jobs are found in private language schools & institutes. Private enterprises that specialize in language training, these schools typically cater primarily to adults, including businessmen and university students. Teachers are paid by the hour (13-18 euro per hour typically) …

Aragon Spanish Aragón, comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) and historical region of northeastern destroyed numerous vineyards there. Meanwhile, the population of the province and city of Zaragoza has grown at the expense of Huesca and Teruel. One-half of Aragon’s population lives in Zaragoza city. Most of the land is cultivated by , producing crops of , , olives, and grapes. The land, however, is far more productive and accounts for the better …

Flamenco is one of the most characteristic elements of Spanish culture, especially throughout the southern region of Andalucía. That s precisely why several of our schools - Granada, Madrid, Marbella & Sevilla - offer a one-of-a-kind Spanish + Flamenco course, where you can learn Spanish while learning how to dance flamenco. What better souvenir to take home with you? Learn more about this unique course and where it s offered right here: Spanish …

Spilling over the Pyrenees from France into Spain, the network of trails that make up the Route of St. James—or El Camino de Santiago—converges at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have trekked over the high plains of Castilla and the hills of Galicia, some to honor the Apostle James; others in the midst of their own spiritual journey. The route has given rise to historic and religious sites that represent …

Schooling in Spain is state funded and is compulsory between the ages of six years and sixteen, given that no courses are repeated. Although non-university education in state-funded schools is free in Spain, parents must pay for books, materials, and sometimes uniforms for their children. Once the required schooling is finished, a student can then opt to continue on to high school (bachillerato) or move on to a vocational school. Only those who finish …

The pilgrims, scallop shells dangling from their backpacks, are up before the sun. In the cool of the dawn I watch from the balcony of my parador, itself a former pilgrims’ hostel, as these doughty hikers cross the old San Marcos Bridge and make their way out of León. This ancient seat of the Reconquista, eponymous capital of the kingdom which famously had 24 kings before its upstart neighbour Castile even had laws, has long been a major way-station …

Every once in a while, usually during a domestic Spanish scandal, Spain decides to kick up a fuss about British rule of Gibraltar. Eventually it all comes to nothing. Nevertheless, it s worth going through the main reasons why Gibraltar is not Spanish, and won t be anytime soon. 1. It is British in perpetuity Lets be clear from the outset. Spain s legal claim to Gibraltar is weak. It does not dispute the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713, the document which …

While growth is back on track, employment and savings continue to struggle amid rising inequality By and It has taken the Spanish economy a decade to claw back lost output after its worst crisis in modern history, but the wounds are far from healed. While gross domestic product is this quarter on track to finally reach the level registered in 2007, employment is almost 12 percent lower, wages remain subdued and social inequality has risen even as …

Trails note- Trails in the Mines of Spain can be affected by water depths of the Mississippi River. Catfish Creek which runs through the park consists of back waters of the river and its depth varies with the rivers depth. Please check water depths of the river by going to River Gages Website Flood stage in Dubuque is 17 feet. The portions of the Calcite Trail and Mesquakie Trail are affected when the river stage is at 15 feet. The Catfish Creek Trail …

We stayed in Murcia for two nights, and it would have been great to stick around longer. This is a city–and region–that’s largely unknown to Americans, but it should definitely be on your radar. It’s affordable, easy to get around, and chock full of all of the mandatory things a Spanish destination should have: we visited cathedrals, did a tapas crawl, shopped at Veronicas market, shopped at the legendary El Corte Ingles (they have everything!), wandered …

I have been living here for the last 7 months and I have had ongoing issues with the management staff, specifically the property manager, Matt. There have been a few issues that I needed the management team to address only to be met with little to no response. The most recent episode is the most upsetting. I cam home on Tuesday from a weekend trip over Labor Day to discover a leak in the ceiling of my second floor apartment. It was after hours and …