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 tub and much more. For your convenience, our resort also showcases a wide range of deluxe amenities, including several swimming pools, a complete fitness center, fantastic on-site restaurants and a variety of family-friendly activities; we're perfect for a family vacation to Spain. In addition to placing you steps from the beach, our resort apartments are located close to Marbella Old Town, world-class nightlife at Puerto Banús and many more attractions along the famous Costa del Sol. An exceptional adventure awaits you at Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort.

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) and should expect to work a varied schedule as many students work and take English classes in the evening. Private Tutoring The market for private English lessons throughout Spain is immense. Private tutoring does offer some advantages. Teachers are typically paid more per hour, and it offers more control over your schedule. Potential challenges include building a roster of regular students and dealing with students that don't show for lessons. NOTE: Most Americans teaching in Barcelona work as & independent contractors on an expired tourist visa, which is not legal, but is extremely common. To learn more about how it works, please read: Visas & Jobs: A Quick Guide to Teaching English in Barcelona, Spain for Americans. Also, read this article from Lauren O'Rourke, a Chicago native who has been teaching English in Barcelona for 2+ years: Cultural Ambassadors

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 part of Aragon’s agricultural output. The principal crops of the irrigated zones are corn (maize), fodder, and fruit. The government sponsored various projects to expand the land under irrigation, beginning with the Imperial Canal alongside the Ebro River, which was completed in 1783. By 1904 the Canal of Aragon and Catalonia had brought wide stretches of land in the province of Huesca under irrigation, and the Plan Bardenas and the Plan Monegros, both initiated after 1945, brought many additional acres under irrigation. The Bardenas Canal channels the Arba and Aragon rivers and centres around the town of Ejea de los Caballeros, while the Monegros Canal draws on rivers south of Huesca town. Livestock farming, especially and raising, is important in Huesca. Aragon’s manufacturing sector is heavily concentrated in greater Zaragoza. The introduction of sugar beets in the late 19th century hastened the industrialization of the city; seven sugar refineries were established there between 1900 and 1905. Metalworking is now Zaragoza’s leading industry, however. Electric appliances, machinery, railway equipment, and automobiles are the leading manufactures. Textiles, footwear, and clothing are also produced. Aragon’s primary source of energy is hydroelectricity, generated by the damming of the Ebro River and its northern affluents in Huesca. Historically, Teruel province was a lignite and iron-ore mining region; today its dominant economic activity is the production of thermoelectric power. A railroad reached Zaragoza in 1864, and highways now connect that city with Spain’s major industrial centres. History Test Your Knowledge Beer and Brewing The modern autonomous community of Aragon is roughly coextensive with the historical . This principality had its origins in 1035, when (the Great) of Navarre left to his third son, , the small Pyrenean county of Aragon and established it as an independent kingdom. To this mountain domain Ramiro added the counties of Sobrarbe and Ribagorza to the east. By 1104 Aragon’s kings had doubled its size by conquests southward toward the Ebro River. Zaragoza, a major city controlled by the Almoravids, fell to of Aragon (1104–34) in 1118, and it soon became the capital of the kingdom of Aragon. The reconquest of present-day Aragon from the Muslims had been completed by the late 12th century. In 1179 Aragon reached an agreement with the neighbouring Christian kingdom of Castile under which those parts of Spain remaining in Muslim hands were divided into two zones—one for each kingdom to reconquer. In 1137 the ruler of , , count of , married the heiress of the kingdom of Aragon. The union of Aragon and Catalonia principally benefited the Catalans, who dominated the state until 1412. The union enabled the Catalans to devote themselves to commerce and maritime expansion, knowing that the financial and military responsibility of defending them from would fall largely on the inhabitants of the Aragonese hinterland. The Aragonese kings meanwhile continued to expand their domains, reconquering the rich kingdom of Valencia from the Muslims in 1238. Having thus completed the occupation of the Muslim territories allotted to it by the treaty of 1179, Aragon began expanding into the Mediterranean area, a move made possible by the of the Catalans. In 1282, after the incident of the , of Aragon (1276–85) was received by the Sicilians as their king, and thenceforth was ruled either directly by the kings of Aragon or by their relatives. was incorporated into the Aragonese empire in 1320, and in 1442 Alfonso V of Aragon (1416–58) successfully concluded his long struggle to conquer the . Navarre, which had been ruled by Aragon from 1076 to 1134, came under its rule again in 1425.

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 + Flamenco Course Below, you can learn more about flamenco history and technique. If you're interested in learning to do it yourself, we hope to see you soon here at Enforex ! History of Flamenco Dance To point out the stomping feet and fiery passion is merely brushing the surface of flamenco dance. Flamenco dance, as one-third of the quintessential Spanish phenomenon of flamenco, has an extensive historical background that parallels the cultural development of Spain itself. Hailing from southern Spain's outcast populations, flamenco dance and music drew early influences from Greek and Roman and later from Indian, Moorish, and Jewish cultures. With the arrival of the Moorish and Jewish populations to the Iberian peninsula centuries ago, Andalusia's already thriving music and dance inadvertently began extracting characteristics from the newly-arrived populations. The flamenco dance and music that we see today are the dazzling results of centuries of absorbing and flawlessly sewing together elements of this myriad of diverse cultures. With the flourishing development of flamenco music emerged the equally rapid evolution of flamenco dance, which first appeared recognizeably as a structured dance in the 18th century. While flamenco's design in its origin revolves around the hearty voice of the singer, the impassioned flamenco dancers stunned audiences in special music cafés - called cafés cantantes - and quickly began stealing the show. Centuries of cultural melding later, what ironically began in caves as a form of personal expression by gypsies and other oppressed ethnicities has evolved into the flashy flamenco dance and music that has taken the world by storm. Flamenco Dance Technique Flamenco Dance While the common denominators of passion and fervor never waiver, there is no one single flamenco dance. In fact, depending on the criteria of mood intention, the set of melodic phrases and the cultural traditions behind each song, flamenco dance actually manifests itself in more than 50 distinct palos (types of flamenco dance)! Both flamenco music and flamenco dance involve a great deal of personal improvisation which takes its form through the spontanteous expression of the performer's emotions at each moment of the performance. However, personal expression must adhere to the strict framework of flamenco music's traditions and rhythmic patterns. Flamenco Dancers In a flamenco performance, the dancer - or bailaor(a) - will often stand motionless for the first moments absorbing the strums of the guitar, the clapping, and the singing until the inspiration hits him/her. Then he or she will launch into a flamenco dance every bit as passionate as the song being belted out by the cantaor - you can even see the explosion of emotions in the dancer's facial expressions thoughout the performance. The role of the flamenco dancer is essentially to physically interpret the words - which often express the great lament of the persecuted ethnicities of flamenco's history - with light, graceful arm movements that contrast the reverberating steps as feet drill into the floor with a bewildering intensity. Duets, performed by a man and a woman, are often the most vivid flamenco dances. The dancers keep their eyes firmly locked each other, constantly and aggressively building off one another in what becomes competition of passion, sexual tension, and emotion.

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 centuries of European architecture at its best. Set out from Pamplona to discover the longest pilgrimage route in Europe, experiencing the most picturesque and poignant sections of this UNESCO World Heritage site on foot. Trip Highlights Trace footsteps of Ernest Hemingway (and many a bull) through the streets of Pamplona, and take a guided tour of the spectacular old town of Santiago de Compostela. Venture into the cathedral of Burgos and the monasteries of San Millan de la Cogolla, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Encounter Roman sites, mountain villages, and the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Stay in historic monasteries and paradors built centuries ago. Day 1 — Pamplona, Spain Arrive in Pamplona and transfer to our historic hotel, once a haunt of Ernest Hemingway. After an orientation, set out on a walk through the old city and the streets made famous by the running of the bulls. Meet up for a welcome dinner tonight. Gran Hotel La Perla (D) Day 2 — Logrono/Navarrete Descend out of the foothills of the Pyrenees to La Rioja, one of Spain’s most celebrated wine regions. In the capital city of Logroño, we get the first stamp in our “credencial” at the Plaza de Santiago. Then begin our journey along El Camino, walking through the vineyards to the village of Navarrete. In the afternoon, visit the Yuso and Suso monasteries of San Millan de la Cogolla, a World Heritage site considered the birthplace of the Spanish language. Stop for a wine tasting at a local bodega before settling into our hotel. (8 miles hiking, 4 hours)

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 high school can be admitted to a university. There are three categories of Spanish schools in the Spanish education system: public schools (colegios públicos), state-funded private schools (colegios concertados) and private schools ( colegios privados ). Since some private schools are publically funded the line between public and private is blurred. Spanish school hours depend on each type of school. Some may run from 9 am through 5 pm with a two hour lunch break. Other schools may begin at 9 and end at 2 pm, the typical lunch time in Spain. Some schools may have only a one hour lunch break and may or may not provide a cafeteria for children to eat at the school. For working parents, Spanish schools offer a paid morning program starting as early as 7 am and an afterschool program of extracurricular activities, free or paid for, depending on the activity. The literacy rate of a country, while not a perfect measure, is often used to rank educational systems worldwide. According to the CIA World Factbook, 97.9% of Spain's population was literate in 2003. The figure encompasses a literacy rate in Spain of 98.7% among males and 97.2% among females. Literacy, in this case, is defined as a percentage of the population over the age of 15 that is able to read and write. Other sources indicate that the Spanish literacy rate is actually higher. The structure of the Spanish Education System follows the Fundamental Law of Education, known as LOE in Spain. Spanish Preschool Preschool in Spain is divided into two cycles, the first cycle is for children between the ages of 0-3 years old and the second cycle is for children from 3-6 years old. The first cycle of preschool is not free, although there are aid programs for families in need. The second cycle of preschool education in Spain is free for all students. This cycle is often considered as an integral part of the education system. Normally, the first cycle of preschool is taught in special nursery schools or daycares (colegios infantiles) and the second cycle is taught at primary schools. However, more and more primary schools in Spain are beginning to offer the first cycle of preschool as well. Spanish Primary School Primary school in Spain, often referred to as simply “colegio”, is the beginning of the government required education in Spain. Primary school is made up of 6 academic school years from age 6 through 12. The system is divided into three cycles of 2 years each. Generally, the first cycle is from age 6-7, the second cycle from 8-9, and the third cycle from 10-11 years of age.

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 on the holy Camino to Santiago de Compostela. In recent times, however, León’s position in relation to the ferry ports at Santander and Bilbao has also commended it as a favoured stop-off for visitors heading south to Spain and Portugal. Whether they arrive on foot or in the family car, visitors delight in 13th-century artistic masterpieces, the charming back streets and the full-on foodie culture – think lengua curada (cured tongue) – of León’s casco antiguo (Old Town). I begin my day by tracing the pilgrims’ footfalls in reverse. Beyond the brass statue of a cowled pilgrim resting his sore feet in Plaza de San Marcos – no wonder the city boasts so many orthopaedic clinics – I follow the brass scallops set in the pavement that mark the Camino’s route through León. They lead past the plazas and broad boulevards of the new town, past the medieval walls, to the old city’s cathedral. Beyond the ornate Gothic stonework of the doorways I gasp at the stained glass, the most exquisite in Spain. For a closer look at their fiery reds and intense blues, I join a tour to the platform being used during restoration high in the cathedral’s interior.

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 formally ceded the Rock to the British "in perpetuity". Instead it bases its argument on territorial integrity, calling Gibraltar a colonial relic (hypocrisy you may cry, but don't worry, we'll get on to that point). Knowing that its legal case is weak, the Spanish government also refuses to acknowledge Gibraltar's territorial water, or its airport which is built partly on reclaimed land and on the isthmus, which was not explicitly covered by the treaty.

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 the nation extends a four-year recovery. To support its recovery, while being part of the euro area, Spain had to undergo an internal devaluation through lower salaries coupled with more flexible labor laws. As a result, wages in relation to GDP have fallen to the lowest since 1995. That means middle-income families depending on their paycheck have come under strain, while asset-rich households have held firm. Though household income picked up for the first time in seven years in 2016, it’s still more than 10 percent below the levels seen at the end of the last decade. Families feeling squeezed have cut investments and eaten into their savings. “It’s taken ten years for Spain to get back to square one and 2.1 million jobs have been destroyed while salaries have fallen significantly, ” said Daniel Fuentes, senior economist at Analistas Financieros Internacionales in Madrid. “We’re back at the starting point and we’ve done so with greater social inequality.” The greatest concern remains the labor market even as job creation picks up. Employment is still far below the heady days of a decade ago, when a construction boom drove the jobless rate down to a record low of 8 percent. Spain’s unemployment rate is now 17.8 percent, from a peak of 26.3 percent in 2013. Some may point to a drop in government spending on unemployment benefits as good news. But the underlying reason is far from encouraging. Payouts are curbed after a person spends more than two years without a job. There are 1.5 million Spaniards who fit that description and almost half of the nation’s jobless receive no government aid. Many are saddled with obsolete skills and education and are at deep risk of staying perpetually unemployed. Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. LEARN MORE

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 will be affected when the depth rises to 18 feet. Flooding of the trails usually occurs in May. Please check the Corp of Engineers flood data or call the park office for updates.” 1. Catfish – 2 miles: This trail covers a wide range of area. The lower portions find its way along Catfish Creek which gives the trail its name. The upper portion goes past rock out-croppings, through white Birch and River Birch forested areas. A savanna area on the east end includes Indian Mounds and 200+-year-old Oak trees. 2. Calcite – 2 miles: This trail is named for the common rock found in the park, Calcite. A large sample is at the trailhead in the parks main picnic area. While on the trail watch for bowl shaped holes in the ground – lead mine pits. This trail is steep at the start by the main picnic area. 3. Julien Dubuque – ¼ mile With access from the parking lot, this level sidewalk trail leads to Julien Dubuque’s Monument which is a National Historic Landmark. This handicap accessible area features a scenic overlook and benches and picnic tables. Julien Dubuque Foot Trail. A new portion of trail has been completed at the Julien Dubuque Monument. The trail starts at the picnic area and winds down to the north into Riprow Valley. The trail dead ends at the bottom and eventually will be connected to a parking area and will serve as a trail head for Heritage Trail which runs north through the city of Dubuque and then west to Dyersville.. The trail is about 1/4 mile long. It is an extension to the Julien Dubuque trail that goes south down to Catfish Creek. 4. Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail – ¾ miles Accessible from the main park road, this trail features a scenic overlook at the north end. From here you can see the Julien Dubuque monument to the north and view the old quarry to the south with the Mississippi River in the background. Interpretive signs explain the parks geological history. You can enter the quarry from the south going past the wetland. 5. Cattesse – 1 ½ miles: The trail means Catfish East Southeast. The trail flat and goes up through a major valley cutting the park in half. Spring, fall and winter allow you to see and explore the rock out croppings, some 70 feet high. In the summer the trail has dense foliage prohibiting you from seeing the rocks. 6. Nature Center Trails – 1 ½ miles. Trails lead from the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center and Park office. Junkerman Trail includes remnants of an 1859 farm area including: a hillside lane, meadow, farm garden area, natural prairie, pine chapel, grapevine terraces, farm site, herb garden, root cellar, chimney rock and creek overlook, wine cellar, meadow trail, bridge, greenhouse, table bluff, surface lead mine, shaft lead mine, and ravine 7. Mesquakie Trail – 1 mile: This trail connects the E.B. Lyons Center with the rest of the Mines of Spain. Access is from the northeast corner of the Nature Center Trails. This trail will take you across Granger Creek and along Catfish Creek on its south side. It will eventually hook-up with the Calcite Trail. 8. Prairie Ridge Trail – 2 miles: This trail has been designed for cross-country skiing and for hiking. The trail passes through tall grass prairie that has been planted in sections from 1994 to 2001. 9. Cedar Ridge Trail- 1 ½ miles: This trail has been designed for cross-country skiing and hiking. The trail passes through areas that were planted with Red Cedar trees during the 1980’s. 10. Eagle Scout Trail – 3 ½ miles. This trail starts at an intersection on the Cedar Ridge Trail. It winds down and connects with the Cattesse trail where it continues to the extreme south end of the park. The trail has been built by Boy Scouts earning their Eagle Scout award. This trail is long, winding through forests, prairie and cropland. You probably will not see other hikers, as this is a remote area in the south end of the park.