16th Annual European HOG Rally - Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol in Andalucia, Spain has rocked and throbbed to the sound of 15000 Harleys for the past few days. Its the 16th Annual European HOG Rally, and they are all here! A wonderful array of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles from all over the world is collected in the Fuengirola Fairgrounds. On Saturday morning, there was a parade through town and along the beach front - amazing sight and sound! Our multi-cultural town became even MORE multi-cultural for just a few days.. running from 21 June 2007 to 24 June 2007.

Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain by Anne Sewell

You might have already visited Fuengirola in summer - too many people, burning summer heat? Time to replan your Spanish holiday!

The ideal time to visit this vibrant coastal city is during autumn and spring. Mild and pleasant temperatures, glorious sunshine, and quieter streets and beaches make for a really enjoyable holiday! You will find people smile just that little bit easier, shopping and dining are an absolute pleasure, and you can enjoy all the attractions this city has to offer in comfort.

Wonderful sandy beaches, relatively empty out of season, stretch along the coast with many restaurants, bars and chiringuitos (beach cafes) to choose from. Plenty of good shops including fashion, food, shoes, etc. and some excellent new shopping centres have opened up on the border of Fuengirola and Mijas.

Fuengirola is very convenient to Malaga airport - a short drive or train ride away, and is also close to Marbella and other attractions on the Costa del Sol (also known as the Costa del Golf for golfing fans!)

Other major attractions in Fuengirola include:

The Fuengirola Zoo:

Right in the middle of town is an oasis of calm, a world class zoo with wonderful animals in very natural enclosures. Appropriate regional sounds play as you walk around the various areas of the zoo. Of particular interest are the Sumatra Tigers, the gorillas, and also the Lemur enclosure, with many of these fascinating creatures from Magagascar. This enclosure is open with a tour guide at certain times of the day - ask when you arrive at the zoo for a close up experience with magical lemurs. Best time to visit is either early morning (zoo opens at 10 am) or late afternoon.

The Sohail Castle:

On a hilltop, close to the centre of town is the Sohail Castle. Makes a pleasant stroll (if a bit uphill), with wonderful sea views from the top.

Fuengirola Port:

The port of Fuengirola consists of two sections:

1. A working fishing port where it is fascinating to watch the fishermen offloading their catches from the boats - you can also take a pleasant stroll around the port from this point and look at the many boats moored in the port, and also magnificent mountain views.

2. A leisure boat marina, with many attractive yachts and other boats. In this area are several pubs and restaurants, and also enjoyable boat trips are on offer, including sailing boats and glass bottomed boats for viewing the dolphins.

So come and visit Fuengirola and enjoy our city in the so called "off season"! You won't regret it, and will have a wonderful holiday!

About the Author

Anne Sewell is involved in web based accommodation reservations and advertising in Fuengirola, Spain. Visit All Spain Accommodation
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Ronda, Spain - Magical Mountain Top City in Andalucia, Southern Spain by Anne Sewell

When visiting Andalucia, I would highly recommend making the trip to Ronda. The winding roads up the mountainside can be a little daunting, but what a view all the way to the top!

Ronda is one of the oldest cities in Spain, having origins in the Neolithic age. Wonderful cave paintings were discovered, including the famous Pileta's Cave, depicting paintings from the Paleolithic age.

Its mountain top location made it an ideal location to build a city - very easy to defend. The first builders were the Romans, and many examples of their architecture can still be viewed in the city today.

The Moors then made their mark, and built the walls, gates and arches of the city, which are still very much intact. You can stroll alongside the walls, enjoying the fabulous views… or visit the Arab Baths, still in an excellent state of repair. State protected because of historic interest in 1931, these baths were built at the end of the 13th century or start of the 14th century.

Another fascinating building to visit is the Casa del Rey Moro - or House of the Moorish King - which appears to be from the 18th Century. The house itself is in a dilapidated condition, but the first floor has been restored, and contains the tourist office. Well worth a visit to the gardens of the house, which were constructed by the great French Landscaper Forestier in 1912. The house also has a mine which you can visit, which consists of a wide zigzagging staircase carved into the rock, covered by a fascinating system of stacked vaults. Visit the Sala del Manantial (Room of the Spring) from which slaves brought water to the King.

The hub of Ronda is the "New Bridge", that divides the city, over a deep gorge - El Tajo, with houses literally hanging on the edges of the cliffs. Right next door is the lovely Alameda del Tajo Park - perfect for a restful stroll after your busy sightseeing, and also the Blas Infante viewpoint where you can stand on a balcony over... a huge drop!

Famous people love this city - close to the Alameda del Tajo Park, you can visit the Paseo de Orson Wells - the famous actor loved Ronda and is, in fact, buried there. Ernest Hemingway was also very fond of the city and the Paseo de Hemingway has been named for him. He visited Spain during the Spanish Civil War, to report for the North American Newspaper Alliance.

The Plaza de Toros, or Bullring, of Ronda, is the oldest in Spain and was officially inaugurated in 1785 by the two bullfighters, Pedro Romero and Pepe Hillo. It is possible to visit the bullring, its museum and the surrounding buildings and paddocks. Outside the entrance to the bullring are statues to two famous bullfighters of Ronda, Cayetano Ordonez and Antonio Ordonez.

Strolling the streets of Ronda is like taking a step back in time - narrow streets with attractive buildings, tapas bars and restaurants - and wonderful shops. You will also come across interesting museums, like the Museo del Bandelero… lots of beautiful churches and lovely plazas and sidewalk cafes to rest and catch your breath.

It is difficult to mention all the wonderful attractions of this city in one article, but this is definitely a must-visit part of your Spanish tour! One little warning - try and stay a minimum of 3 days, otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of the attractions. Wear good comfortable walking shoes, and if visiting in summer, always carry a bottle of water.. it gets hot in Ronda!

About the author:

Anne Sewell is involved in internet tourism, and is also an enthusiastic amateur photographer. Photos and more details about Ronda can be viewed on All Spain Accommodation.

A Whistlestop Tour of Barcelona, Spain

Visiting Barcelona, with limited time? There is so much to see in this fascinating city, which would normally take at least a week, but it is possible to see the major highlights in a couple of days too.

I would highly recommend the following:

The Gaudí masterpieces:

1. Temple de la Sagrada Familia - or Temple of the Sacred Family - Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece and a must-see in Barcelona. A fascinating combination of the original architects' vision (Martorell and De Villar), combined with the magic of Gaudí. Unfortunately Gaudí passed away before the work was complete. Construction still continues on this amazing building and your entry fee helps towards this.

2. Casa Milà (La Pedrera) - in the L'Eixample neighbourhood - Antoni Gaudí was commissioned by the industrialist, Pere Milà, to construct a building on the boundary of Barcelona and Gràcia, as both a family residence and also to be leased as separate dwellings. Owing to the way its facade appears to be carved out of rock, the Casa Milà was nicknamed "La Pedrera", which means stone quarry. Amazing interior architecture, as well as the famous and fascinating chimneys on the rooftop.

3. Casa Battló also in the L'Eixample neighbourhood - a fairytale building. Originally Gaudí was commissioned to demolish the building, and build from scratch, but he convinced the owner to let him completely redesign the existing building. This was in the days when the Paseo de Gracia was undergoing a "keep up with the Jones'" battle - everyone trying to outdo each other with their architecture. Gaudí did an incredible job using tiles and scales on the exterior of the building, wonderful interior design, plus again the famous chimneys on the roof top.

4. Parque Güell (Güell Park) - ideal for a restful stroll after your busy days in Barcelona. Originally planned to be a residential area, it is now a beautiful park with many wonderful Gaudí creations in tilework and stone. The views over Barcelona to the sea are simply beautiful.

Other areas worth visiting are the following:

- The very famous Las Ramblas - a busy street between the Plaza de Catalunya and the port with many restaurants, cafes, bars, kiosks and the famous Human Statues of Barcelona

- Poble Español de Montjuic (the Spanish Village) - situated at the foot of Mount Montjuic. Created in 1929 on the occasion of the Barcelona International Exhibition, the Spanish Village is the only initiative of its kind which has survived the test of time. A collection of streets and squares, monuments and buildings, representing the different peoples and cultures of Spain. Some might call it kitsch, but it is an attractive and interesting place to visit, full of shops selling the handicrafts of the various regions. There are restaurants and cafes to enjoy a break and also an art gallery, Fundacio Fran Daurel. Above the entrance is a terrace cafe with incredible views (but alas, bad service and incredibly high prices!) However, the views were worth it!

- The Cathedral - a Gothic creation of great beauty

- The Palau de la Musica - a beautiful concert hall

- The Port, Barceloneta and the beaches

Barcelona has many more attractions, too numerous to list here - so if you are only spending a couple of days in this city, plan ahead for a longer trip to Barcelona in the future - you will not regret it.

About the Author:

Anne Sewell is employed in internet travel and accommodation. More details of the above tourist attractions, plus photo galleries, can be viewed at All Barcelona Accommodation.

A Whistlestop Tour of Madrid, Spain

Madrid is a modern, world-class, but also historic city - the capital of Spain - located almost centrally in the heart of the country. A contrast of old and new, Madrid is a beautiful and vibrant city with great architectural interest. You might find the drive into the city a bit boring with its suburbs of concrete apartment blocks, but once in the centre, you will enjoy the traditional streets, with medieval buildings and some narrow and very atmospheric alleys, containing shops and bars.

The old quarter has a concentration of magnificent attractions including the Prado Museum with its great art collection, as well as the Reina Sofia and Thysssen-Bornemisza galleries, displaying Picasso and many other European and American masters.

The people of Madrid are among the great attractions of the city. Commonly known as the "Madrileños" they can be seen relaxing in the traditional cafes and cars, at the Sunday El Rastro flea market, and also late into the night at the many bars and nightclubs of Madrid.

For shopping, Madrid is a shopper's paradise, including the classy and expensive shops of the Salamanca Quarter. For those on a more modest budget, the El Rastro flea market is highly recommended.

Other attractions include:

Parque del Buen Retiro (Park of the Pleasant Retreat) - a lovely green and leafy oasis in the heart of the city including a lake where rowing boats can be hired. There are also wonderful puppet shows for the children in the park.

Temple of Debod - an ancient Egyptian temple which has been rebuilt in Madrid. The temple was originally built in southern Egypt, close to the first cataract of the Nile and is dedicated to the goddess Isis, in Philae. Due to the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan In 1960, and the subsequent threat it posed to certain monuments and archaeological sites, UNESCO made an international call to save this rich historical patrimony. As a sign of gratitude for the help provided by Spain in saving the temples of Abu Simbel, the Egyptian state donated the temple to Spain in 1968.

The Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) which has the world's finest stage and acoustic settings for opera.

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - home to Real Madrid - is a must visit for football fans.

The city has many relaxing plazas with beautiful sculptures, including the Plaza de Cibeles with its magical fountain and the Plaza Mayor, a lovely place for strolling, feeding the pigeons and enjoying a cup of coffee at one of the sidewalk cafes.

Weather in Madrid: Freezing cold in winter, and boiling hot in summer! Recommended seasons for visiting this fascinating city are Spring and Autumn, when you can stroll around the city and enjoy its many pleasures in comfort.

Transport - with the versatile metro and bus transport systems, plus convenient taxis that can be hailed in the street, you will have no problems getting around Madrid.

In conclusion, Madrid is among the world's most popular destination cities and is well worth the visit.

About the Author:

Anne Sewell runs the website All Madrid Accommodation, which offers hotel and apartment reservations in Madrid, along with great private tours of the city and its surroundings.