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Thursday, September 6, 2007
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   Thursday, September 6, 2007

Holidays in Madrid, capital of Spain
Madrid is the capital of Spain, and is located almost exactly in the centre of the country. The provinces Avila, Segovia, Guadalajara, Cuenca and Toledo border Madrid, and with an elevation of over 2 thousand feet, it is also the highest capital in Europe and home to over 3 million people. Madrid is also home to the royal family, Spanish parliament, banking, and is the administration hub of Spain.
Madrid is a lively, cosmopolitan city full of culture and artistic activity and has an endless supply of bars, which are busy well into the early hours. One of the best ways to get around the city is on the efficient Metro System. There are 11 numbered and colour-coded lines that are easy to follow and extend to most of the holiday attractions Madrid has to offer.
Madrid Plaza Mayor
The main centrepiece in Madrid is the Plaza Mayor. This vast traffic-free cobbled rectangle is completely surrounded by 17th Century architectural buildings, the most prominent being the Casa de la Panaderia (Bakers' Guild), which is covered with modern allegorical murals. Another fantastic building is the Casa de la Carniceria (Butchers' Guild) whose facade is also covered with vibrant paintings. There are nine gateway entrances leading into Plaza Mayor and in the centre stands the 17th century triumphant statue of King Filipe III. The spectacular scenery and ambiance is best appreciated from the many bars within the square and outdoor seating that sprawls out onto the cobbles.
Holiday visits to El Rastro
El Rastro is Madrid's famous Sunday flea market, which can be found on Plaza de Cascorro and Calle Ribera de Curtidores. It is an excellent way to spend the day, and an experience in itself to join the thousands of people all squeezed into the tiny streets. The variety of goods on sale is amazing with everything from clothes, books and leather goods to plants, tools and anything you could care to imagine. The best time to visit the market is early morning when the stalls are just setting up. By mid-afternoon it will be hard to move either into or out of the market what with the thousands of people who visit every week.
Madrid Palacio Real
Palacio Real is located just north of Plaza Mayor in Calle Bailén and can be reached on the Metro underground at Opera, Plaza de España. It is a formidable Palace that overlooks the huge square Plaza de Armas. Construction of the Palace took 26 years to complete and it was occupied from the late 18th century until 1931 when King Alfonso XIII was forced to abdicate. Nowadays the palace is only used for formal occasions as King Juan Carlos I lives elsewhere. The Palace can be enjoyed at your leisure, or you could join an organised tour, which will take in the most interesting rooms. Off the main entrance is the Botica Real, rooms used as a pharmacy containing jars of medicines and herbs. Other highlights include the Thrown Room used for royal receptions, the Gasparini Rooms named after their Neapolitan Designer and the Royal Armoury with its suits of armour and weapons.
Madrid is about as far away from any coast of Spain as you could get, but come August and some of the hottest temperatures to be found anywhere in Spain, the city becomes deserted as many Spanish leave the city for surrounding towns and cooler coastal resorts. The many motorways that leave the city start their life at the bustling Puerta del Sol where 10 streets converge to a point known as 'Kilometre 0’, which is where all distances in Spain are measured from. The spot is identified by a small plaque on the south side of the square, which is under the clock that Spaniards tune in to at midnight on New Year's Eve, eating one grape for good luck with each strike of the bell. The Puerta del Sol buzzes with life and one of the best ways to enjoy it is from one of the many fine street bars and restaurants.
Steve Greenwood invites you to visit Madrid Holiday Villas for accommodation and holiday attractions in Madrid. Visit http://www.idealrentals4u.com for holidays and accommodation in all the regions of Spain including the Canary Islands Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Lanzarote.


Lottery Winners Turn Down A Burnham-On–Sea Caravan
The New Year brought them a big proportions financial surprise: £ 2.4 million was their prize for trying their luck at the lottery. Suddenly, what it may seem to be just a fantasy for others it became real for them.
A Gloucestershire couple is the lucky couple who won not only the top prize at the lottery but also another £ 1,331 for matching five numbers in the same draw. With such an amount of money you might think that Brian Crook, retired council groundsman and his lifetime partner, Janice Giles will be looking forward to set for a fabulous Mediterranean trip. However, the couple of 65 and 69 years old have turned down the idea of this kind of trip: “The Mediterranean doesn’t interest us. We’ve been going to Burnham for years and it’s a lovely place”.
Originated from Stroud, Gloucestershire the winners of the £ 2.4 million are considering in fact of investing their gained money in a new bungalow. Besides, they also considered about buying a caravan in their favourite place where they want to spend their holidays: somewhere in Burnham.
They have justified their choices by saying that they have never been “ the one to show off, but having this windfall will let us take time out to enjoy some fresh sea air and let the news sink in. Everyone is over the moon.


Granada and its historic attractions
Granada is the Spanish city with the population of 265 thousand people. The whole of it can be observed from the Suspiro del Moro place – “The Sigh of the Moor”. It is from here that the last Granada’s Moorish king, Boabdil, gave his last look over Granada. Catholic kings did not manage to turn this place into the Christian city, and still, despite the abundance of Christian churches and monasteries, it possesses a mysterious eastern soul. For several centuries, the city of Granada was the Moorish property. Those were the Moorish who left the evidences of their reign here – not only because they lived in Granada for a long time, but also because little has changed since their withdrawal. And today, you can still observe this influence in many city’s attractions, some of which are represented in this article.
Among the most interesting Granada attractions is the Archaeological Museum of Granada which occupies La Casa de Castril, a Renaissance palace. All kinds of archaeological objects, starting from the prehistoric times to the last Nasrid epoch are represented in this museum. Moreover, the museum’s courtyard allows a wonderful view over the city.
You will definitely not miss the building of Alhambra, as it is standing on a high hill dominating the city. Alhambra is not only the palace, it is the whole town surrounded by walls with fortresses, king’s chambers, barns and gardens found within these walls. However, according to the initial plan, Alhambra had to be a simple fortress. Unfortunately, after the Renacentist Charles the fifth ordered to ruin a part of the palace and build another palace with a church here. After that, Alhambra faced its collapse and was only renovated in the 19th century.
Alcazaba, or the Citadel is the only ensemble construction that beared the military role. The citadel was built approximately in the 13th century. In past, the soldiers’ barns were located here – however, almost nothing was left from these. To the left, there is the Adarves garden with cypresses, flowers and lots of fountains while a wonderful view over the city and the Sierra-Nevada peaks can be observed from La Vela (or La Campana) tower.
Among the important Granada’s attractions are the Nasrid Sultans’ Palaces, with lots of rooms and halls that are definitely worth observing. Those are il Cuarto Dorado (the Golden Room) and Patio de los Arrayanes (the Myrtle Yard) – a true pearl of Alhambra, the Comares tower – the highest tower in the city and Patio de los Leones (the Lions’ Yard) – the past center for sultans’ apartments, which is said to be the real heaven surrounded by four rivers. Among them there is the Generalife summer palace and country estate that is worth mentioning. Translated as “the architect’s garden”, it was the place where the Nasrid kings had their rest in summer time.
Granada's Cathedral was built by request of Isabella the Catholic and has several facades. The cathedral boasts its astonishing illumination and the main altar, which is often named a true pearl of the Spanish architecture.
And, finally, if you visit a la Cartuja monastery, you won’t regret it. Being a Cartesian monastery in past, it can now only offer its church and a beautifully adorned sacristy.
Visit Granada hotels to book a room at one of Granada’s hotels.