Travelling is something we’d all be doing if money wasn’t part of the equation or that there weren’t other obvious tie-ups in our lives. However, a job that takes you travelling means that you get to do much of the exploring that you’d like to during your life whilst getting paid.

When young people today make the decision to spend some time abroad studying, in my eyes Barcelona has to be close to the top of the list of the ideal locations. One of the most famous, cosmopolitan and vibrant cities in the world, Barcelona really offers everything a student should look for.

Whilst a lot of people choose to visit Spain for the beautiful beaches and outstanding weather, the truly savvy know that to really get a taste of Spanish culture you should plan your trip around some of the fantastic festivals which take place around the country.
This list is by no means comprehensive; but these are some of our favourite festivals; well worth the hunt for cheap flights!

Sherry Festival, Jerez

Of course we don’t! It is just another thing we have become expert at faking over the years …..

Pretty funny article by Nigel Farndale in the Telgraph based on his shopping phobia and inability to think that anybody could find it an enjoyable experience.

A sign of the times for sure but hopefully a sign that people are starting to get the message and stop being so greedy!

The average Christmas spend on presents, toys, lottery tickets, food and leisure for a Spanish person this year will be 560€ (114 less than last year) and people from Madrid, Valencia and Catalunya are the country’s biggest spenders.

Genuinely surprised to read that the kids in Spain have more money spent on them on toys at Christmas than anywhere else in Europe.

The average Spanish parent will spend around 75 euros on their children over the festive season, with 40 per cent expected to spend over 100, in spite of the recession and families being much more hard-up at the moment. This is twice as many as in Portugal, Italy and Germany.

This is not funny. Do not try it ah home. But it is an ‘only in America’ classic!

Up to 20 people have been injured when a woman shopper used pepper spray during frenzied scenes on the start of America’s holiday shopping season.

The shopper was among hordes waiting at a Walmart in the Los Angeles area and was apparently trying to get ahead in the rush for Xbox game consoles.

An international expert has revealed that fewer than 20% of women are given international assignments in business, despite being better equipped to handle the pressures of working abroad.

At a seminar held yesterday at Macquarie University and attended by management leaders from across Australia, Dr Rosalie L. Tung (pictured) presented her findings on the complexity of doing business in Asia and dispelled myths related to women in international assignments.
Dr Tung said the alarming statistic is perpetuated by a three-pronged myth, namely:

As we get closer to Christmas is slightly worrying to read that the great summer here in Spain has affected the chestnut harvest in the Serrania de Ronda, this year’s harvest being 35.9% less than in 2010.

Between 2 and 2.5 million kilos have been harvested this year compared to 3.9 million kilos last year. Around 70% of the chestnuts are destined for export.

As Spain’s politicians spar over how to escape a painful economic crisis, major exporters like fashion titan Inditex and its smash Zara brand are finding riches elsewhere.

As the crisis batters Spain, the low-price brand, which brings in two-thirds of group sales, has its eyes fixed abroad.

A total 97 percent of new store openings are abroad, Inditex communications director Jesus Echevarria said. Only one-quarter of group sales now come from Spain.

Read some truly horrifying statistics the other day: 400,000 women in Spain currently suffer abuse from their partners, and 1.5 million have been victims of domestic violence at some time in their lives.

The information was from the Gender Violence Observatory, who are pushing for more education against violence, with 80% of woman reported as NOT reporting abuse.

Education makes sense, but so would imposing much stronger penalties for those found guilty.

Spain has a rich proud history of cooking and the country today boasts some of the best restaurants in Europe if not the world.

It’s influences spread beyond it’s borders, with Spanish delights being found in the finest London Hotels or Dubai Hotels – though there is nothing quite like tasting food in the region it was born.

As with all countries, each region has its own unique style of cooking and specialities, which are usually based on geography.

To celebrate the feast day of the patron saint of animals, highly-skilled Spanish horse riders jump through flaming bonfires in a death-defying spectacle.

As villagers look on in amazement, horsemen and their equally-courageous mounts embark on the heated leaps of faith.

Every year, the villagers of San Bartolome de Pinares, west of Madrid, are treated to the show – in honour of St Anthony Abad.

The world’s first “gastronomic university” is set to be established in Spain and students worldwide will now have the chance to master the skill of ‘molecular gastronomy’ in state of the art facilities at the university being set up.

Cristina Gamendia, Spain’s minister of Science and Innovation, was present at the function where the foundation stone to the university was laid. The construction started last month in San Sebastian at the Basque Culinary Centre and the first batch will commence September next year.

Selfridges is inviting customers with discerning palates and deep pockets to cough £1,800 for an authentic jamón ibérico puro originally belonging to an acorn-fed Spanish porker.

The Albarragena ham, selected by expert Manuel Maldonado, hails from Extremadura, where pampered pigs roam free while gorging themselves on the fruits of the encina, or Holm Oak (Quercus ilex).

The legs are salted, and cured for three years before dispatch in a “hand-made wooden box wrapped in an apron made by one of Spain’s most exclusive tailors”, as the Sun explains.

Clara Sanchez has won oldest prize for literature in Spain, the Nadal prize, according to reports published by the media on Wednesday. The Nadal prize was first awarded in 1944 by the Destino publishing house based in Barcelona, and the tradition has continued till date. Sanchez has been awarded 18000 euro as the prize.

The Three Kings parade in towns and villages in Spain on the night of January 5th each year

While more and more homes in Spain are receiving visits from Papa Noel at Christmas, the 6th of January is traditionally the time when children receive their gifts, brought to them on the Día de los Reyes, the Day of the Kings, by the Three Kings, the Reyes Magos. It’s preceded the evening before by a parade through the streets, the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos which takes place across Spain as dusk falls on 5th January, when crowds of children eagerly follow the procession to collect the rain of sweets thrown down by Sus Majestades.

There was a sharp rise in drunkeness and violence this New Year’s Eve in the capital of Madrid, it has been revealed.

According to the emergency services, drunkenness was up by 86 per cent and there were 43 per cent more fights than last year.

The emergency lines didn’t stop ringing from the moment the clock at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol struck twelve.

The new funding, partly from a tax on the other channels, is being investigates by the EU

Spanish state broadcaster TVE sees its last advertising tonight, leaving some 500 million € a year in publicity income to be picked up by the private channels. However the other channels will also have to find some 600 million € a year between them to fund TVE in the future.

The Ministry of Health has carried out the first national survey on sex in Spain

Eight out of ten Spaniards say they are satisfied with their sex life.

88% of men and 84% of women say they are very or quite satisfied although the men admitted that they would like to have sex more often.

The numbers come from the first national survey on sexual health carried out by the Ministry for Health in which nearly 10,000 people over 16 were questioned.