When you first arrive to this amazing city you re initially blown away with the colonial and Quechua architecture, some of the best examples of the two cultures mixing (or should I say colliding?) in all of Latin America. Of course, it s a Latin American city and like any good Latin America city there s the incessant honking from the taxis and the exhaust fumes that can make you want to head for the hills but…good thing you can do just that!

I had arrived to Cursco to learn Spanish for 4 weeks and from the first day I knew there were lots of other things to do besides learn Spanish. On my walk to school in the morning I gazed down at the Plaza de Armas, over the tops of the buildings saying to myself that this city is breathtaking (literally! especially considering the altitude and the fumes from cars). Then as I turned to the corner I purchased for about .30 cents, two glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice. I get it “to go,” meaning in a plastic baggie with a straw.

When I arrived to the school every morning ready to learn spanish, I would always find something new and interesting. The colorful textiles and the way the city is nestled into the surrounding mountains. Probably the most remarkable aspect of Cusco is its setting. You can easily escape the city and be on top of the world at Sacsayhuaman, pronounced Sexy Woman by gringo and local alike, in a mere 5 minutes. Up there you step back hundreds of years. You can take a horseback ride near the ruins or just stroll around taking in the impressive sites.

It takes a while to learn Spanish, after a week I was surprised to meet with students that had supposedly left Cusco but had fallen in love with the city and ended up staying much longer than just to learn Spanish. They said they ve tried to leave several times but the city has seeped into their bones. This place is not just all alpacas and cuy (the delicacy of Cusco - fried guinea pig). This place is just plain old fun. With a nightlife that rivals the major capitals of Latin America, there is always something happening at night. Many of the bars and clubs stay open until 12:00…in the afternoon that is; great to learn Spanish, not! The relaxing couch bars offer jazz, some bars offer live music, most clubs have DJs and sweaty dance floors. On most nights in Cusco you can meet people from all over the world that are there to learn Spanish, tour and even Peruvians making our experience to learn Spanish much richer.

I would like to focus on some issue, even though I went to learn Spanish, that where completely different than in my home country. Forget culture shock, how about showers that shock! Not bad shocks, just quick nips. I learned to only touch the electrical tape after a few showers since they use electrical heating devices to warm the water. Also, don t flush the toilet paper or in the case of the apartment I was in, you can t flush the toilet …at least not without it making horrible shrieking whirly noises. The person in charge of my appartment had spent waiting for the plumber since last week to fix the toilet. He said the plumber had promised to come at 7pm. I guess they had meant 7pm some time in November after my deadline to learn Spanish in Cusco!!

At the same time, there is a lack of change in this city. I ve been denied movie tickets when I tried to pay for a 10 sol flick with a 100 sol note. You can t even think about getting into the taxi, which costs 2 soles, with anything bigger than a 5 sol coin. Even then you sometimes have to wait around while the taxi driver finds someone kind enough to change his coin. Having a 100 sol bill is usually like having no money at all. One time, having gone out with my classmates after we learn Spanish at the language school, I was buying a hat, and gave the se ora a 50 sol note and then waited around for 15 minutes while she ran all over town to get my change. Other customers had come into the store and started asking me questions about merchandise. She had left me all alone to run her business, it was great to learn Spanish!

So…I drink my OJ from a plastic bag, I get into a shower that shocks me, still waiting to flush my toilet properly. All this you ask and I can still recommend this place with a smile? ABSOLUTELY, I wouldn t trade the opportunity to learn Spanish here for anything!!!

Just remember, when you arrive to Peru and your first impressions are of Lima, this is NOT indicative of the rest of Peru. - Happy traveling and make sure you learn Spanish, it comes quite handy!

About the Author:

Enjoy your free Spanish Phrase ebook: http://www.amerispan.com/spdownload - This 30-pager is great if you quickly want to learn Spanish phrases for travel or life in general. Dorioara Pinku is the co-owner of AmeriSpan, a leader in study abroad and international education since 1993. 85 cities, 35 countries. http://www.amerispan.com

This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com

Following are just some of the many reasons learning Spanish will benefit you and enrich your life:

More than 400 million people speak Spanish worldwide — By learning Spanish, you ll be better able to communicate with Spanish speakers who don t speak English. Whether you travel abroad or within the United States, you ll likely run into more than one situation that will require you to know at least basic Spanish.

Spanish speaking countries include Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.

More than 33 million people in America speak Spanish — That makes the United States fifth on the list of countries with the most Spanish-speaking people. Spanish is also one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, behind Chinese, English and Hindustani. Undoubtedly, at some point during your life, you re going to find that knowing Spanish is extremely valuable.

More than 1000 Spanish-speaking immigrants come to the United States every day — That means the country gains at least 365,000 new Spanish-speaking residents each year.

Knowing Spanish enhances your resume — Employers love applicants that have fluency (or even moderate fluency) in a foreign language. Having the ability to speak Spanish will allow you to communicate with Spanish-speaking employees. If no one else at the company speaks Spanish, you ll be even more valuable. If you ve ever searched through the classifieds, you ve likely run across an ad that states, Must speak English and Spanish.

If you want to continue your education, you ll need to take foreign language classes — Most colleges require that undergraduate students take at least two semesters of a foreign language. If you have your eyes on graduate school, you should know that many require students to be able to read and comprehend one, and sometimes two, foreign languages. Getting a jump-start on learning Spanish will definitely pay off later, especially if you re continuing your education.

If you love to travel, you ll have even more fun if you go to a Spanish speaking country — Of course, you don t need to know Spanish, or any other foreign language, for that matter, to travel overseas, but you ll find it really enhances your experience to know the language. In fact, even if you don t go to a Spanish speaking country, you ll still find that knowing Spanish is an asset. Let s say you go to Paris or Rome. More likely than not, you ll run into Europeans who don t speak English, but speak several other languages, and you ll be able to use your Spanish.

Spanish is a romance language, which means if you re in France or Italy, for example, you ll have an easier time deciphering the language because they re similar.

Learning a foreign language actually helps keep your memory sharp — As we grow older, our memory begins to fade. In fact, an article published by the AARP (American Association of Retired People) states, Mastering activities you ve have not done before, such as playing the piano or learning a foreign language, stimulates neuron activity. For best results, remember this: People exposed to positive reinforcement before completing memory exercises scored well above others exposed to negative reinforcement in a study led by Thomas Hess, a North Carolina State Univ. psychologist.

These are only a few of the many reasons you ll benefit from learning Spanish. You probably have a few of your own. Whatever the reason, you ll find that learning Spanish is not only fun, but it enriches your experiences, whether at work or while traveling.

About The Author

Dorioara Pinku

Enjoy your free Spanish phrase ebook: http://www.amerispan.com/spdownload - This 30-pager is great if you quickly want to learn common Spanish phrases for travel or life in general. Also pronunciation and basic grammar. http://www.amerispan.com

When learning the Spanish language, it is very important that you are aware of its variants. Most people might choose to follow one variant, but it is even better to study them all insofar as the Global Village continues to grow. The demand now is to be open to different accents, not only in terms of pronunciation, but also regarding vocabulary and grammar, and even common usage. Whether it s a Colombian, a Mexican or a Castilian (Spain) accent, for instance, it is worthwhile to distinguish important differences between them. Learners should focus on one version and develop their Spanish based on that variant; but I recommend that at least they learn differences between Latin American and Castilian Spanish.

This approach will make your Spanish more complete, and you ll be able to speak fluently no matter if you are in Spain or in Colombia. It will also avoid embarrassing situations. Imagine that a foreigner asks an American for a rubber. The foreigner s English is of the British variety, so of course that person is asking for an eraser, but that person may be laughed at because of the meaning of that word (i.e. condom) in America. Likewise, if you can use Spanish contextually, it will sound great to local native ears. For example, it would be odd to hear carro or plata in Spain when referring to car and money, which a Spaniard would usually call coche and dinero. This is partly because we use those words for different items; carro, for instance, is a wagon, so it sounds somewhat funny. If you are in Mexico, the opposite will probably happen. If you talk about carro and plata, that would be perfectly normal, and you won t be pointed out as a foreigner.

It may not be a problem to make yourself understood in most occasions, but Spanish grammar remains important because it might lead to miscomprehension too. For example, a Latin American would say something like Estamos felices que vosotros/ustedes van a venir; a Spaniard would use a completely different construction to express the same idea: Nos alegramos de que vay is a venir. If you are familiar with both variants, you ll be able to understand, you ll be able to modify your Spanish to facilitate communication, and moreover you ll be acknowledged as a skilled communicator.

About The Author

Silvia Lopez-Cepero is a linguist who co-operates www.spanish101.org, a consumer review & learning support website for people who are learning or want to learn Spanish.

Subscribe to ‘Spanish101′, a FREE eNewsletter, and download the FREE eBook ‘LEARNING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE’ by e-mailing: spanish101@aweber.com

Despu s de examinarme, los especialistas en c ncer de mama me solicitaron estudios de mamograf a y ultrasonido. Se me realizaron dos sesiones tom ndome dos placas de rayos x de cada mama y una tercera placa de rayos x de un rea espec fica de mi mama derecha. En el estudio de ultrasonido pude ver el rea de mi mama derecha donde realizaron la placa extra de mamograf a. Hab a una masa oscura. Despu s de la biopsia de mi mama derecha, me diagnosticaron carcinoma d ctil infiltrante de mama, un raro, agresivo y mortal c ncer productor de met stasis en los huesos y pulmones. Yo ten a los s ntomas de met stasis en ambos lugares.

El ultrasonido de mi mama izquierda mostr una estela de peque as gotas, masas desde mi axila hasta el pez n. Esto no puede ser bueno , pens . Estas masas rozaban contra los conductos, produciendo sangrado y el drenaje del material pegajoso del color de la orina. Mi mama izquierda fue diagnosticada de una enfermedad rara de los conductos. Mi onc loga crey que yo tambi n ten a c ncer en esta mama. Ella qued profundamente preocupada, y quiso remover inmediatamente la masa de mi mama derecha, y extirpar un tercio o m s de mi mama izquierda.

Incluso antes del diagn stico, yo ya estaba decidida que no quer a ir a cirug a. En mi coraz n, realmente no cre a que pudiera vivir a trav s de la cirug a. Yo prefer a un tratamiento alternativo. Buscaba la cura completa, no s lo una soluci n parcial. Eleg el tratamiento Mye-Cell en puerto Vallarta, M xico, y trabaj con el Doctor Melenie Dunn, NMD en Scottsdale, AZ, 480.556.6700. Ahora yo estoy libre del c ncer.

Tengo la creencia confirmada de que cada uno de los momentos de la vida contiene un objetivo y un regalo. No siempre me acuerdo de vivir por estas creencias, pero siempre estoy volviendo hacia ellas. Yo sab a que esta experiencia particular sobre el c ncer era acerca de la confianza. Acerca de mi habilidad para confiar en mi misma y en DIOS. La lecci n fue acerca de darse cuenta, saber que en cada aliento y en cada latido de mi coraz n, soy bendecida. Todos lo somos

Doreene Clement, una vencedora del c ncer y autora de “The 5 Year Journal”(Diario personal de 5 a os), est escribiendo un nuevo libro titulado “Blessed” (Bendecida) sobre su experiencia con el c ncer. Para m s informaci n, visite WWW.the5yearjournal.com o llame al 480-423-8095.

Copyright 2005 OMDC, LLC. Todos los derechos reservados.

Feel free to pass this along to your friends. If you want to see my column, About Journaling, every month,

Copyright Doreene Clement - “>www.the5yearjournal.com”>www.the5yearjournal.com

If you consider yourself a more adventurous tourist or you re just bored of the same old same old spouted by tired tourist guides read on for an exciting Spanish itinerary.

1) The Seville Fair we all know that the Spanish are party people and they party well, but if you d like to experience the biggest, liveliest and most exciting party of all consider visiting the Seville fair which is seven days of pure, unadulterated fun!

2) Surfing and Snowboarding from riding the Biscay swell at Guernika in the Billabong Pro to snowboarding in the Sierra Nevada whatever form of extreme sport you re into Spain has the unique natural landscape to satisfy you!

3) Breathtaking Views from standing atop the piste with views of Granada to driving the N340 highway with the coast of Morocco so close you can almost reach out and touch it - Spain not only has the most breathtaking natural scenery, it affords you a wealth of unique views to die for.

4) Drink Sherry & Drink Rioja drink sherry in Jerez, drink Rioja in La Rioja say no more!

5) Clubbing in Ibiza take a week and visit one of the seven main clubs in Ibiza each night of the week and be prepared to party until the sun rises and your feet can dance no more! It has to be done!

6) Bull Fighting and Bull Running bull fighting may be ritualised killing and many people s idea of extreme cruelty, but to others the experience of a corrida is to take a breathtaking and dramatic glimpse into the Spanish psyche. The Pamplona Bull Run on the other hand is possibly the very last thing you ll get to do in Spain! We d advise anyone crazy enough to charge ahead of a mad bull down the narrow cobbled streets of Pamplona to get their life insurance in order before they set off alternatively, join the crowds of spectators and simply witness this (possibly?) once in a lifetime thrill!

7) The Alhambra At Sunset the Alhambra, the most incredible and enduring legacy of Moorish Spain is worth a hundred visits but if you want to experience the true majesty and understand why the Alhambra was the physical manifestation of the Moorish concept of paradise, climb up to St. Nicholas Square at sunset and see how the ancient wonder glows golden against the stunning snow-capped backdrop of the peaks of the Sierra Nevada - and be prepared to feel seriously moved if not a wee bit emotional!

8) Art & Culture The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is a work of art in itself and worth visiting even if you re not interested in the wealth of art and artefacts contained therein. The museum is an incredibly daring structure built from titanium, glass and stone, and it beats at the heart of this city of contrasts. Madrid s Reina Sofia Museum is tame in architectural comparison but it houses one of Picasso s greatest works, in fact, possibly one of the greatest works of 20th Century namely Guernica if you want art and culture, Spain has it in heaps and every city, town or region you visit will offer you a whole host of opportunity to experience the Spanish cultural riches.

9) World Heritage Sites - The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is dedicated to ensuring future generations inherit the treasures of the past by working to protect both cultural and natural sites of significance worldwide. Spain has over 35 sites that have been flagged as world heritage sites we challenge you to visit them all!

10) Tomato Fighting not fighting tomatoes (that would be silly), but fighting with tomatoes in Valencia in August. Yes, one of the strangest of all Spanish festivals and carnivals is La Tomatina where upwards of 30,000 semi-naked people gather to throw tomatoes at each other before getting washed down by the hoses of the local fire brigade it is truly an experience worth well experiencing really! If only to say been there, done that.

Spain is different! It is a country which effortlessly and seamlessly combines a plethora of fiestas, indefatigable nightlife, stunning and diverse natural scenery, supposedly impossible to achieve levels of synergy between ancient and modern architecture and artistic culture, fun and fascination, beautiful people, incredible cuisine, sun, sea, sand and sangria - to create a variety and spice of life you will never experience outside of Spain.

About the Author

Rhiannon Williamson is the publisher of http://www.shelteroffshore.com/ the online resource for investment property abroad, offshore investing and living overseas. Click the following link for Spanish property and moving to Spain articles, guides and resources.

My friends Jean and Peter decided to retire to glorious Espa a. Their plan was to rent a beautiful villa with a pool, next to a holiday resort that they have visited many times before. They were extremely happy with the villa they have purchased. Initially the couple used the villa for short two week holidays with friends and family.

Very soon the couple decided that the time is right to move in permanently. This would prove to be a mistake.

As a fulltime living space; they soon discovered there was no room to keep anything in storage. The villa was always ok as a short term stay but in the long term people need storage space and this became an enormous problem. They had no shed, not enough cupboards, no garage space… they had to sell or give away precious belongings simply because there was no where to put them. They also complained that although the villa was a perfect haven in the summer, in the winter it was chilly and windy. The thin walls and cold tiled floors offered little comfort. The area were it was located was spookily deserted during the winter months as the holiday season had ended. That resulted in leaving then feeling isolated and alone. Even the local shops and bars were closed.

Eventually they sold up and bought a lovely home in a residential area which is populated all year round and where all bars and shops 12 months of the year. Best of all there are round fellow ex-pats to talk and socialise with. The moral of this story is that you must think hard about the location of your intended purchase and what you would like to use the property for.

About the Author

Justin Colins is a successful Spanish real estate agent who lives and works in Spain. His properties are proudly presented at http://www.Espana-por-favor.com. He also supports http://www.gettothetop.info and http://www.solicitors-uk.info.

Now that you have an idea of what villas you can visit, let’s start making plans. Firstly, the majority of the people choose summer for their vacation time, which is great, but you will need to book your flight in advance. There are a lot of scheduled economy flights when flying in from another European destination. England is one of the countries which has the most amount of flights in as much as frequency year round, airport availability with a lot of open timetables and very low prices. Between Alicante and Valencia, both serving the Costa Blanca as they are almost the same distance away, your travel options will be plentiful. As far as getting around, if your budget permits, a rent a car would be quite nice, if not, then there are many buses, trains or taxis making trips to and from the airports and major bus and train stations, connecting all the villas along the Costa Blanca. Nature Calls Tradition, culture and landmarks is what differentiates one place from another even though they are neighbouring towns. Javea for example shares with Denia the Natural Park of Montgo, a solid massif right on the coastal line. Just the fact that the side facing the sea acts as a huge windsheild, blocking the marine winds and humidity, it does not have the same vegetation as the west side which is treated with warmer and drier breezes. Therefore, in order to appreciate the more than 600 different kinds of flora, you must make a complete circle round it. On doing this, you will also come across different fauna like the yellowed-legged seagull, eagles and royal owls. If that were not enough, there are also archaeological remains which are under study and that is probably one of the main reasons for this area to have been declared a World Heritage. But Javea is also curious because it has kept up many of its original tradition like the ball game, similiar to tennis but played in a very primitive way. There are no courts, just the streets, the ball is made with cloth, compactly held together with string and more cloth, their hands are used as paddles and the spectators are the judges or referees. At the weekends there are usually a few games going on so feel free to sit on the curb and participate. And if that is not thrilling enough, then plan your holiday when Javea is celebrating its patron saint in the summer. This is usually a week long festivity which includes bullfighting in the streets.

After this stay, it would be relaxing to just lay around on the beaches in Moraira or Calpe, sip some sangria made with good Spanish wine and feast out on fresh seafood, most of which you have never seen so close up or have probably ever tried. In Calpe, there is another treat for the nature lover’s- the Rock of Ifach, a small roky peninsula joined to land by an isthmus right in front of Calpe. Among the fauna you will see cormorants and hawks of all kinds and of course a completely different vegetation from other areas. The sea in Calpe is usually crystal clear, letting you see red corral, sea sponges and the sea anemone. Now onto Altea, an old fishing village which has grown considerably thanks to the amount of tourists and foreigners looking for a second residence. The villa of Altea is surrounded by various mountain ranges making the general view from almost anywhere nearby a special combination of a mountain backdrop and the sea. The waters are usually quite calm although the beaches are pebbly. They have a nice festive air when celebrating their Moorish tradition in April, a great firework display in early July and the local honouring of their patron Saint Ann in August. Cannot ever be bored there! Other Kinds of Fun Parks around the Costa Blanca Now your travel has taken you to Benidorm, which if we stretch our Spanish into English, it could mean ’sleep well’. As that is what you will probably do after a long day of boat rides, skiing classes or theme park activities. You can go on all kinds of thrilling and daring rides, be they on dry land or going down long watershoots or hang out with the wildlife and then go for a splash in the same park or prfer completely dry land and smell the aromas in an area filled with exotic plants and birds. Alicante is just a stone’s throw away from Benidorm ( http://www.alica nte-spain.com/benidorm.html ), and this city is where you can get a good dose of Spanish culture with its innumerous museums, cathedrals and castles. If you choose late June, you eyes will be amazed with when seeing the huge carton figures that are set up in the streets, beautiful girls elegantly dressed in the typical Alicantinian dresses and the partying in the streets until late hours of the night. ut then again, you can change atmospheres and sprawl out on the beaches in Torrevieja before ending you wonderful holiday in the Costa Blanca.

About the author:

Ciara McNamara wrote many articles for www.alicante-spain.com an internet site on Costa Blanca information. You can find most of her writings here http://www.alicante-spain.com on the website.

As it states on the home page, the Alternative Dictionaries collection is “bad language” that contains “slang, profanities, insults and vulgarisms from all over the world.” So from that description alone you can be pretty sure that this isn’t just any old collection of language terms.

The site was created by and is under the editorial control of Hans-Christian Holm. When I checked the site in January 2006, the website listed a total of 162 separate language dictionaries (everything from Apache to Zulu). These dictionaries together contain 2743 terms along with their corresponding English translation(s).

As with any other online dictionary reference, there are both some positives and negatives about the site. I’ll start out with the negative (just to be able to end on a positive note).

The Bad

The site seems to have started out with very good intentions collecting user-submitted words along with their definitions and then posting them in the corresponding language dictionary. However, it seems that now there is no way for users to add updated terms. The FAQs promise an input method to be up and running, but the last update to the page seems to have happened a year and a half ago (June 2004), so I doubt that the input system will be up any time soon. There is, however, an email address on the site through which minor edits can be made, but I don’t know if the email address is good.

Along with there not being an input system is the fact that slang changes rather quickly when compared to other types of language. Because there is no input system, there is no way to know how current the slang is that you’re looking at. It might have been used five years ago, but it could mean something entirely different today. There is no way to know by just looking at the dictionary entries.

Another negative is that there are only 2743 terms for 162 separate languages. That comes out to an average of only about 17 words per language, which is not all that extensive. However, to be fair, the Alternative Spanish dictionary has just over 170 terms, while the Alternative Mexican Spanish section has a little under 140 terms.

A final criticism is that because the dictionary seems to have at one point been populated by user-submitted terms, there is some duplication of words and their definitions.

Enough of that. Now…

The Good

First of all, because the dictionary only deals with “bad language” the vocabulary is somewhat specialized (if you consider profanity and vulgarity to be a specialized topic). This is nice because you know exactly what kind of words and definitions will be in the dictionary.

Second, the layout is easy to navigate. You choose the language on the left-hand side of the homepage and after you get to the language dictionary you want, you click on a word and it goes right to a list of all the words in the dictionary (there can be multiple pages if there are numerous terms).

Another positive is that each definition contains useful information including the part of speech, the definition, and a notes section with different information, such as the literal meaning of the word, where the word is used, pronunciation, etc.

Finally, the editor has made .pdf documents available for each language dictionary. You can either download each individual dictionary or download all the dictionaries in one .pdf document of 131 pages.

The Rating

Overall, I give the Alternative Dictionaries site 2 out of 5 stars, just because it seems to have been pushed aside and is no longer maintained. However, I give the Alternative Spanish Dictionary 3 out of 5 stars because there is a decent collection of terms and definitions.

About the author:

Clint is a Spanish->English translator and Spanish translation consultant specializing in helping others become better translators. His website can be found at www.spanish-transl ation-help.com.

The unpredictably of the British summer drives British holidaymakers to the Spanish Costas in droves for guaranteed sunshine and beach weather. In fact, British tourists are always surprised to find that the temperatures in Spain always exceed the weather forecast printed in the UK newspapers. However, July and August can witness some extremely hot temperatures and the constant ‘blanket’ heat can feel pretty unbearable, particularly if you have been plunged into the thick of it directly from the UK.

Although, there is no on/off switch to give you a break from the suffocation, there are a few preventative measures and cures that you can take to stop the Spanish weather from spoiling your enjoyment.

Drinking:

Firstly, surround yourself with water. Start by drinking it and lots of it! Get into the habit of ‘downing’ water. Forget about Cola and alcohol, when you feel thirsty drink plain, old, simple water.

Don’t wait until you feel thirsty, in fact, once you get to this stage, it is actually a sign that you are already dehydrated. No other drink will re-hydrate you like water. Get young children into the habit of drinking it. It is difficult to wean them off what they are used to but if you don’t buy fizzy drinks and squash, there’s nothing else in the house to drink; if they’re thirsty they’ll drink water.

Bottled water is cheap in Spain compared to the UK, especially if you buy supermarket own brands.

Always buy more than you think you will need and in almost every possible size of bottle. Store them in the fridge and always keep one by the bedside. Pop a three-quarter filled bottle in the freezer in the morning, ready to go to the beach in the afternoon. Stock up at home and take it with you because you will only end up paying inflated Spanish petrol station prices when you are out and about.

Ways to keep the temperature down :

Water is key to keeping your temperature down and you should immerse yourself in water as much as possible. Make sure you holiday in an urbanisation with a pool or near the beach. Regular bursts of cold showers are a refreshing way to cool off for a while.

If you have toddlers buy them a small paddling pool and supervise them while they splash around. You can pick up inflatable pools everywhere, the large Spanish supermarkets are usually quite cheap for inflatable pools, rubber rings etc.

As soon as you arrive go to the supermarket and stock up on ice-lollies. For small children, you can’t beat Mercadona (a great value supermarket to look out for) for boxes of mini-size lollies.

You will definitely need an electric fan or two, preferably air conditioning. However, the only drawback of air con is that compared with the scorching weather outside, inside can get a little too comfortable, making it impossible to motivate yourself to go out. Fans can be bought from Boulangier or the bigger supermarkets eg Carrefour or Alcampo. Make sure you get in there before it really heats up as they can sell out very quickly.

Clothes to bring:

No need to check the Spanish weather forecast before you pack during the summer, you are guaranteed it’s going to be hot! When packing really think practically about what you will wear in Spain. When you’re in the UK, it’s very difficult to imagine just how little clothing you are going to need. Jeans, long sleeves and long trousers are out of the question unless you think you deserve some punishment! The UK has a lot of competition on the high street, more so than Spain.

Avoid bringing your thick, good quality cotton clothes from Next and Marks and Spencer’s as they will be too warm. In fact, it’s worth trying the ‘cheaper’ shops such as Primark and Matalan and even the supermarket ranges especially for children’s clothes.

Cheaper clothes are usually made of thinner cotton, which is ideal for the heat. You could always wait until you get to Spain, as Spanish clothes do tend to be designed with the climate in mind. Sarongs and kaftans make great comfortable cover-ups for ladies especially since many retain fluid and swell in the heat. The choice in the UK is the best it has ever been, but if you fancy something different try the Spanish markets where a kaftan will cost you about ten euros.

Sleep and heat:

The Spanish summer nights can be very balmy and it is not unusual to see Spanish children in the park at midnight. As far as sleep is concerned make sure you are well equipped with a fan and water by your bedside. You will sweat lots at night and probably won’t need even the thinnest of sheets as a cover. During the hottest period, you will need to change your sheets every day. Both Carrefour and Alcampo are great for bed sheet sets ‘Juego de sabanas’ comprising of a fitted sheet, flat sheet and long Spanish style pillowcase.

It is worth reviewing your daily routine during your stay. In Spain, the daily routine is definitely dictated by the weather. A good starting point is to get into the habit of taking an afternoon nap during the hottest part of the day. This will enable you to stay up later and enjoy the more comfortable hours. If you have children, you may want to adapt their routine for a couple of weeks, if you’re brave enough as there’s always that risk that they won’t slip back into their old one when you return.

Avoid the beach before four o’clock especially if you have young children. Always avoid the sun between eleven and three. We know you hear and see this everywhere, but this is what the Spanish tend to do and they’re the sun experts. Remember that you can burn in minutes so coat on the cream in a high factor, don’t worry you will still tan. Sit as close to the shore as possible as it tends to be breezier.

Enjoy the Spanish ferias:

If you do have young children, adapting their routine allows you to make the most of the liveliest time of year in Spain. When I say lively, I am not just referring to groups of lads on stag weeks in Puerto Banus. During the summer months, most Spanish towns hold their annual ferias. The people of Andalucia come out in their full glory and often Sevillanas costumes to take part in a party tradition embedded in their culture. The streets are buzzing with ambiente whilst adults and children alike enjoy the attractions until the early hours of the morning.

So, prepare yourself in advance and change your routine to really make the most of your Spanish summer holiday!

Top tips for surviving the Summer weather:

* Water - Drink it, bathe in it, play in it. * Fans * Ice-lollies * Cheap, light clothes * Lots of bed sheets * Avoid the beach between eleven and four * Change your routine to adapt to the weather * Wear sun protection. * Keep checking the weather forecast, as you may be lucky enough to have a slightly cooler day to do your sightseeing

About the author:

Susan Pedalino is Masters degree qualified in Intercultural Communication and teaching English as a foreign language. Susan regularly writes for Eye on Spain (www.eyeonspain.com). Having moved to Spain to set up a business and buy property, she has gained invaluable experience in buying off plan property in Spain.

Spanish language courses have increased in popularity in recent years maybe because more Spanish soap operas are available on cable! Fortunately for those who want to learn the language, Spanish courses are available online. You can of course, try and learn Spanish on your own, but you’ll see better results if you take proper Spanish course.

If you’d like to translate Spanish text online, it’s simple:

1.Using a search engine, find a language translation page on the web. There are many to choose from.
2.After selecting a translation page, choose the appropriate translation format say, Spanish-to-English indicate the languages you are translating.
3.If you’d like an entire web page translated into English, simply paste the URL into the space provided and then press the submit button. A translated version of the page will then appear.
4.If you want other text translated, you have to simply paste the text instead of the URL into the space provided and then press the submit button.

Things to remember:

Bear in mind that the translations produced are quite rough usually an intermediate Spanish student could do better.

When pasting in your own text, you may be limited to one or two paragraphs.

There are also tutorials available online, offering tips on how to speak Spanish:

1.In speaking the Spanish language, remember to pronounce the letters B and V the same way they are pronounced in English. This is easy to remember.
2.Don t bother to learn verbs in anything other than the present tense.
3.Don t forget to pronounce the letters D, G, H, J, L, Q and Z the same as they are pronounced in English. Again very easy.
4.If ever you don t know the Spanish word just add o or a at the end of the English word in order to make into a noun or ar at the end to make it into a verb.
5.Remember that if a Spanish word looks like an English word, it probably means the same thing.
6.Also bear in mind to forcefully pronounce all consonants and to muddle the sounds of vowels.
7.Don t forget to study courtesies such as por favor (please) and gracias (thank you) are important in Spain and Latin America.
8.Speak using the t form of you
9.Avoid redundant pronouns
10. Hopefully, learn something!

It is still recommended that you take a professional Spanish course in order to learn correct grammar and pronunciation. Be sure to practice what you ve learned in order to become more fluent in the language.

About the Author:

Jeff Linaker has an interest in Travel & Holidays related topics. To access more information on learn spanish online or on learn spanish spain, please click on the links.

This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com