On the other hand, a lot of people, are convinced that Mallorca has much more to offer than just the popular “El Arenal“, for example the beautiful landscapes around the coast, especially in the north and the small, unique villages in the heart of the biggest Ballearean island. These vintage villages even possess the typical Spanish flair – thus, no sign of German conquest!

Share your opinion and help to find out what reputation Mallorca really has nowadays!

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Animals, especially in Spain , do not enjoy any kind of respect. There are so many dogs living on the street, who are starving to death or die because of terrible injuries. They are put out by their owners just because they were too old, too ill or they just became too boring over the time. On the street they breed totally uncontrolled.

In order to come to grips with this problem, they created the so called “perreras”. They are supposed to work like a normal dog pound. But they don’t!!! Perreras are mostly owned by private investors who earn money on the sorrow of the dogs, because the community pays a ”premium (Kopfprämie)” for each dog.

In those “perreras” the homeless dogs live together in narrow cages, there is barely anyone who removes their excrements and they can be lucky if they get anything to drink or eat. The dogs are given 21 days to be picked up by their former owner or by a new one. If not, they get killed ( in case they aren’t already dead ).

How can this happen within the EU?? There is a law in Spain which says, that animal abuse is just handled like a “criminal property damage”. Therefore they merely get a monetary penalty. Can you believe this? Thousands of pictures on the web show the worst dog abuses, from burnt dogs to sexual abused dogs.

Unfortunately all this is not solely happening in Spain, but also in Italy (you really should take a look at this video,it is awful, but that’s what is happening in our well-liked holiday spots), Portugal and Greece it is very common.

I can’t believe such a crime is being accepted within the EU! Why is it so difficult to strive against these problems properly??

- SO SAD!

Did you know that “Flamenco” is not just a traditional Spanish dance but that it consists of four different elements?!?

Flamenco implies the guitar playing, the vocals, the dance and the ‘palmas’ (handclapping). Of course, the element mostly associated with the word ‘Flamenco’ is the dance.

But what does the name mean? Does it have got something to do with the ‘flamingo’ (the pink bird you all know) ?

Indeed, it has! ‘Flamenco’ is Spanish for ‘flamingo’! Some people said, that the music was given this name, because the dancing was similar to the movement of the flamingo, but this is rather unlikely. The word ‘flamenco’ also means ‘Flemish’ (the people of the Dutch-speaking side of Belgium) and it has been said that the music may have some of its roots in that part of Europe. There is also a third theory which argues that it comes from the Arabic ‘felag mengu’ which means ‘peasants without land’(-the labourer who sings). Despite all these  totally different theories, it’s real origin is lost in history.

In order to give you an impression of how it looks like, here again a little video:

In case some of you might be interested in dancing it his/herself now,  I did some research where to do so: Check this out!

Hasta pronto, Natalie

So what it is “bullfighting“?

Bullfighting is a traditional spectacel of Spain, Portugal and some parts of Latin America and even France. The public “show” consists of professional matadors and his escorts( bandarrilleros ) who fight a number of bulls throughout an afternoon with the ultimate goal of killing them by inserting a sword into its backbone. In order to do so, they must rip and weaken the back of its muscular neck to reach its backbone with more ease. The escorts achieve this by sticking small short spears into their back.

Why is it still so widely excepted?

You can often read or hear about bullfight being an art. To latter, I found a really good article you should have a look at.

-> Few Spanish traditions divide opinion as much as bullfighting. For every bull aficionado willing to defend their art there are ten who see it as just cruelty to animals and want it banned – yet still the practice goes on.

Maybe a short video about the question: Art or Cruelty to animals? will help you to form an appropriate opinion about the whole thing.

In my opinion, this scenario is nothing else than animal abuse. How can one enjoy watching an animal suffering ( please have a look at this article, it really is worth it) and at the end being killed by the ridiculous matador. I mean, yes of course, what he is doing there in the arena without or with horse is certainly a matter of years of training, but how can he look the bull in the eyes and kill him without any bad conscience???

Furthermore, it isn’t even a fair “fight” at all! First the bull is injured by the picadores and only when the animal is already weakened and obviously totally exhausted by pain and loss of blood, the so-called `brave’ matador steps in and finishes the job. ISN’T HE A BRAVE MAN ?!?!?

Please tell me what you think about it. Have you already been to one?

This entry I want to dedicate to all girls who ever felt bad because of a guy just because he acted like an a… I’m sure there is no one out there who never suffered because of a guy, right?!?

So, when I was really sad because of a boy some time ago, my hostmother showed me this song here and we kept singing the song in the car every day until we finally felt better. I’m gonna summarize and translate a little bit for you…

It is called LA MAGDALENA by Quijano..

You stayed at home for already two weeks, without getting out of bed, you’re not able to stop crying neither to eat nor to talk. You’re just so sad that you do not even see any necessity to wash yourself cause you think it isn’t worth it without him. Guys are just superflous, this one and better ones. Stop telling yourself, you don’t want to live anymore without him, and that you’re loving him but he’s not loving you. So, no! – it isn’t worth it to cry like a baby just because of this culpable guy. I’m sure it isn’t worth it because all of them are equal, they promise so many things, but at the end you don’t see anything! There is not even one who is perfect, there is always one detail that is missing in the perfect picture!

You have to forget about him, go out and cure yourself! The time will cure all wounds! You’re “poisoning” yourself every single night. The strange thing about is that finally you’ll find out that there are bigger fishes in the sea! And you will definitely meet one of them!

So cheer up! Live is too wonderful to waste any time!

El 25 de diciembre, El día de Navidad

On the first Christmas Day they also have a great meal with the whole family and in some cases, Santa Clause ( Papa Noel ) pay a visit to the children in order to give them their presents. However, this custom is not as popular as in other countries. The Spanish people tradicionally wait until the 6th of January, el día de los Reyes Magos, to distribute their presents!

El 28 de diciembre, El día de los Santos Inocentes – ( April, April…..)

The 28th of december is a feast day in Spain, it’s ‘el día de los Santos Inocentes. This feast has its roots in a very bloody event, although nowadays the custom is to joke around to friends or family just in order to laugh and play with other people. In reality, this day used to commemorate the slaughter of children which Herod commited in Judea. On this day, a lot of people get confused because not only the people but also the newspapers publish news unbelievable and absurd, but ironically everybody just accepts what they say! I’d say just one word to the latter one – typical!

El 31 de diciembre, la Nochevieja

Of course, the celebrations on the 31st of december, or New Year’s, create a really impressive spectacle. At all of the places of the Spanish cities you can see almost similar scenarios, and always the protagonists are grapes and church bells. When the clock strikes 12 o´clock, the bells sound 12 times and all the Spanish people eat 12 grapes, one for each stroke of clock. After the tradition, the ones who eat those 12 grapes, will have 12 months of prosperity during the following year. Family and friends stay together for this celebration which marks the end of one year, and the beginning of another, and in case of the Spaniards, it’s common that they celebrate til the dawn.

Have a great Christmas time!!!

¡Hola amigos!¿Que tal ustedes? Espero que todos hayan disfrutado las vacaciones!

Have you ever been to Sevilla? Unfortunately I haven’t been there yet, but I heard it should be one of the most beautiful places in Spain.

Let’s go together to see some popular places in Sevilla…

All you have to is click on the maps and then you’ll find a little person on the left hand side of the map. Click on it and drag it to the marked point. You will find yourself standing  for example at….

….PLAZA DE ESPAÑA:

Größere Kartenansicht

Isn’t this fun? you can even move yourself!!! Let’s go on…

…. TORRE DEL ORO:

Größere Kartenansicht

…. LA GIRALDA, PLAZA DE TRIUNFO:

Größere Kartenansicht

…. ARCO DE LA MACARENA:

Größere Kartenansicht

By clicking on our places you get some interesting information given by wikipedia!

Hope you enjoyed our little virtual trip and that I made you interested in really visiting this beautiful city some day!

Muchos besos!

Imagine then, you are in a foreign country, in a big city like mexico city or buenos aires or even madrid or barcelona. You have no idea where and how to spend your day, even less your night. Wouldn’t it be great to get to know somebody who could help you? But how to begin the conversation? “Hola, que tal?”…noooo, too simple…or “Hola, como te llamas? Yo me llamo …”…hmm not really better…but what about…” Está lloviendo tanto hoy, que no sé que hacer con mi día. Usted tiene una idea, que hacer en esta ciudad en un día como hoy?” (” It’s such a rainy day that I really have no idea what to do. Do you have got any idea what to do in this city on a day like this?”)

Did it ever happen to you that you went to a country, stayed there for several weeks or even months, came back to Germany and then somebody asked you what is a typical tradition in this country and you really had no idea?

Luckily this didn’t happen to me, when I stayed on the Canary Islands. I experienced the ‘Baile de Magos’ last summer!

At the “Bailes de magos” (Country dancing events), local people dress in traditional costumes and enjoy music, dancing and typical Canarian food. The word  “magos” belongs exclusively to the Canary Islands and means peasants. Most districts on the island hold these open-air dances and on some occasions you must wear your traditional costume to get into the dance.

Therefore we borrowed the traditional costumes and it was really so much fun wearing them and being part of this tradition. This is what they look like:

Not everybody wears the same costume – depending on from which of the seven islands you come from or even from which part of the island they vary in colours and details. If you have a look at my next picture you can recognise the different colours of the women’s skirts! The atmosphere the people create while dancing altogether the same dance and eating just the most typical food together at long tables is just amazing. You really can feel the happiness and the communality they radiate!

What I really want to give you with you on your way is that whenever you have got the chance to get to know ancient folkways of a country or city, do never hesitate to take part in one. It really is worth it and finally, these experiences are those you can tell your family and friends about and these experiences are those you will always associate with this place of the world – they are unique!

Buenas dias a todos!

After having a great cocktail night on friday, I came up with a new idea for my post – A typical Spanish cocktail recipe – THE MARGARITA!

I myself enjoyed it a few times on Tenerife, where they serve it in cans including 4-5 small glasses. You can order almost every fruit flavour – from apple to pineapple to raspberry. If you were lucky enough to choose the right bar, they prepare the Margarita with fresh juice, which makes this spanish cocktail even more delicious! Moreover, sharing a “Margarita-Can” with a few friends somehow creates a special atmosphere. It is not like the usual “I’m-drinking-my-drink-by-myself-and-order-a-new-one-whenever-I-want-to”- atmosphere.

But what is a MARGARITA COCKTAIL?

A margarita is a cocktail which is made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lemon or lime juice. Numerous variations on the margarita have flooded the market, including margaritas with fruit juices or blended fruit, and frozen margaritas, which are made by blending these ingredients with ice. These cocktails are commonly on offer at bars and restaurants, and they are also very easy to make at home.

Soooo, if you would like to prepare one at home with your friends, here is how to do it:

…and instead of just posting a short (since it isn’t that complicated) recipe, I thought a brief video would make it all more vivid!