Most people when they visit Spain on vacation tend to spend the majority of their time in Madrid or Barcelona. While both are amazing cities to visit, especially the posh boutiques in Madrid or Gaudi’s Barcelona, I think it is also pertinent to consider including the southern tip of Spain in your adventures.
Cadiz and the Costa de la Luz in the southern part of Spain close to the Moroccan border is an amazing place to visit. It is not the big city life and tons of commerce such as Barcelona or Madrid, but it is scenic, peaceful, and full of culture.
Cadiz sits on a narrow piece of land the curves on the Costa de la Luz – which is the coast of light. Many people say that Cadiz has an end of the world feel. So this is a prime place for relaxation, culture, and simplicity.
A place to get lost in your thoughts.
Within this region it is also very easy to drive to some of the surrounding communities such as Costa del Sol and Cordoba. This regions has plenty of long stretches of beaches, you can roam through white villages, and see a variety of palaces and museums.
Also, very popular within this region is Flamenco dancing. Flamenco is a form of song, guitar playing, and dance that represents the soul of Andalucia. Even Pink Floyd sings about Andalucia in his famous song Spanish Caravan. It is a combination of Arab, Oriental, and Gypsy influences that create the unique sound.
Then, of course you can’t forget to visit Granada where the famous Alhambra Palace is. Many artist try to capture the wonders of Granada’s Palace. It is known as the number one sight for visitors in Spain. One primary reason an adventure to the south of Spain is necessary.
When is the last time you or your family took a vacation? If it has been a while and you can’t escape out of the country to go mystical places such as Machu Picchu or go on location to learn about famous art areas such as Gaudi’s Barcelona, then there are plenty of alternatives to do with your family right where you are.
You guys can plan on going to the beach. When summer is near you know it is time to hit the beach. It is the perfect place to go for a swim, learn to surf, or to lounge and sun bathe all day long. The family can have endless games of soccer, volleyball, or football. The beach is also a good place to bring you dog. The Zoo is also another great option for children. I personally love going to the zoo to also see the giraffes and monkeys. If you and your family haven’t been to the zoo this year I would highly recommend adding this to your list of fun and inexpensive things to do. If the beach or the zoo has already been done on the last several months, then you should plan a hiking trip. Hiking never gets old, and you can make it a learning experience as well. Hiking, no matter where you live or what country you are in, you can almost always find good hiking trails.
If you can’t find it within your budget to plan family vacations every year, there are always creative ways to still go on vacations with your family even if you stay in your own country, state, or even your own city. You and your family could also start a travel blog so that it can make it a more interactive experience, and it will stir the excitement much like if you were going somewhere exotic.
Rojales Spain is a traditional Spanish village which lies inland from the Guardamar Del Segura, south of Costa Blanca. It is rich with history in which the local inhabitants, both Spanish and foreign, enjoy every day of the week. The River Segura which flows right across the town is its most identifiable feature which has dominated and shaped the history of the town.
Its history can be traced to Spain’s occupation by the Arabs in the 8th to 13 century. It was founded by the Muslims, and it was them who created the amazing irrigation systems that were used to water the crops of the farmers, the irrigation systems still exist to this day. The irrigation systems have contributed to the town being known for its agricultural products which are mostly oranges and lemons.
An essential Part of the Arab irrigation system built in the earlier centuries, is the Water Wheel, which is surrounded by some vast stonework which helps to protect it from damage that can arise when the river is flooding.
Another prominent feature of the river is the Azud which is dam with stone works. It has a length of 40 meters and a width of 10 meters, it was built in the 16th Century and it was specifically built to increase the water level of River Segura and redirect its flow to the irrigation channels and to the Water Wheel.
The Gasparito Wells are another features worth visiting. They were built on sandstone in 1920, and they were built to collect rainwater which is extremely precious to the people of Rojales. One of the wells has been transformed into an exhibition site, the other well however is used by the local inhabitants and surrounding villages who collect the rainwater from it.
The Charles III Bridge built in the 18th century crosses over the river with its 3 extraordinary arches, its definitely a site worth seeing.
- You need travel health insurance! – photo by brkymantra
I’ve now been ‘traveling’ (ie away from home) for over a year and so time to renew my backpacker’s travel insurance policy. As I’ve been living in Bali for nearly 9 months I thought it was about time I got myself some proper health insurance, designed for expats. However, after researching several insurance comparison sites and emailing insurance brokers for quotes, I realized that a year-long health insurance policy was going to cost significantly more than I’d anticipated.
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- Starbucks in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
If you’re yet to set out on your travels and you’ve been freelancing for a while or even if you’re just an avid blog reader who likes the idea of making a bit of extra money online, chances are you already have a fast, reliable internet connection with generous or unlimited bandwidth. Cheap fast broadband internet access is something many of us have come to take for granted so once you’re on the road you’ll want to quickly find the cheapest, easiest way to stay connected so that you can keep working and making money.
So in this article I’m going to go through some of the main methods of staying connected while you’re travelling, how to find a good place to work from and keep your productivity up and touch on some security precautions you should keep in mind.
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I am afraid I have sadly neglected this blog in the last year, However I’m now back with lots more ideas for future articles so hopefully this site will evolve once again into a useful resource within the next few months.
I’ve been living in Bali, Indonesia for the last 8 months and have a new perspective on trying to earn a living from your laptop when you stay in a foreign country for several months, rather than travelling and moving on every few days. Lots of information for expat freelancers on the way!
So many apologies for my extended absence but we will be back – bigger and better than before!
Photo by BigGolf
Unless you’ve been freelancing for a while, chances are that at some point you’ll need to tell your boss and the people you work with that you’re leaving. Your colleagues may be surprised at your decision to travel – some may think you’re mad to be throwing away the security of a regular pay check, but most will probably admit that you’re doing what they always wish they had. You may even inspire a few to follow your example and leave on an adventure of their own.
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I am currently on the verge of buying the laptop I’ll be taking with me on my travels. I currently work from a shuttle desktop pc which, compact as it is, is obviously not suitable for taking backpacking. I also have an old battered ibook which I dropped and broke the hinges on – it’s not in a fit state to take out of the house, let alone on a round the world trip. So this brings me to the task of choosing a laptop with travel-friendly attributes.
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What you pack for your trip will depend on where you’re going, the type of places you’ll be staying (hotels/hostels/camping) and the activities you plan on undertaking. A packing list for a trekking trip through the Amazon rain-forest will look very different to a list for a beach holiday in Thailand.
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Photo by Swiv
You’ve planned your route, bought your ticket and you’re all set to go but even the most carefree souls will have some preparation work to do before they can hop on that plane. It’s best to write a checklist of things that need sorting out at least three months before departure – six months would be better if you’re particularly organised. This way you can make sure everything is sorted before you go and you won’t be rushing around panicking in the last few weeks. The list below isn’t definitive but it will give you a starting point for your own list, whatever your circumstances.
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