Welcome to Paris

Paris Culture
Some would say that the words "Paris" and "Culture" are almost synonymous. Some would add a third word, "Style". In architecture, cuisine, decorative arts, diplomacy, drama, fashion, landscape, language, literature, music, painting, politics, sculpture, urban design, Paris’s contributions and leadership in Western culture have been formidable for centuries. Its landscape, its intellectual life, its politics are suffused with and define to the world what it means to be French, and members and leaders of other societies revere Paris culture, or at least know that they must seriously reckon with it. Few in the world, in any walk of life, have to reach far to find an example of French culture that affects their lives. Regardless of the ebbs and flows of influence, it is not coincidence that French remains one of "The Official" international languages of diplomacy. It carries so much to the world.

Today, beyond its high culture and place on the world stage, Paris is a great melting-pot of ethnic communities which make its own cultural life so rich. Neighbourhoods like Belleville or La Goutte d’or will give you a North African/African feeling. You will see incredible things there: live chickens at butcher’s shops, people smoking narghile in cafés, clothes hanging out the widows… The district of Strasbourg-St Denis is “the” place to get dreadlocks. Also in this area stands the vibrant Passage Brady, a whole street exclusively dedicated to Indian cuisine. In the 13th Arrondissement you will find a kind of Chinatown (not as lively as New York City’s or San Francisco’s), with scores of Chinese restaurants and stores. In the centre of the city, Le Marais has a few Jewish streets and is also famous for being a great place of entertainment for the gay population. Hot clubs, bars, cafés, but also avant-garde clothes, gadget and furniture stores abound in this area.

Beside this extraordinary mix of population, Paris has always been a city for intellectuals, for new ideas. In the world-famous Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Prés used to gather Aragon, Breton, Apollinaire… the first Surrealists; then in the 30’s, it was the meeting-point of filmmakers, painters (Picasso, Giacometti…), publishers, writers and philosophers (Sartre)… After the war, the whole district of Saint-Germain-des-Près, with its many jazz clubs, became the most fashionable place to be. Miles Davis played here, and so did Boris Vian and Juliette Gréco. At that time Paris was a warm and welcoming place for those who were not understood or accepted elsewhere, because of their race or political opinions. For instance, intellectuals who were members of the French Communist Party like Arthur Koestler, Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Lawrence Durrel… found shelter in Café de Flore. Here they could express themselves freely because it was all about liberty of thought.
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Paris Architecture
Haussmann, Haussmann and again Haussmann. We owe this 19th century architect the main big boulevards of Paris, its straight avenues starting at the Place de l’Etoile, its freestone buildings with grey slate roofs. When he called him in 1853 to renovate Paris, Napoléon III hoped to better control the flow of traffic, encourage economic growth, and make the city "revolution-proof" by making it harder to build barricades. Haussmann accomplished all this by tearing up many of the old, twisting streets and dilapidated apartment houses, and replacing them with the wide, tree-lined boulevards and expansive gardens which Paris is famous for today. Haussmann was so criticized at that time that he was finally fired in 1870. The only remains of the old Paris are now concentrated in the very centre of the city: Le Marais, L’île de la cite and l’île Saint-Louis, and the Latin quarter. Also, Montmartre has preserved its old village feeling. Being on a hill, it couldn’t be destroyed by Haussmann’s straight architecture.

Interesting, as a side note, that Haussmann’s influence is still seen on the most mundane level, too. At periodic intervals each day, water gushes from manmade artesian springs to wash the gutters of Paris’s streets and boulevards -- a Haussman innovation, some would say obsession for transforming the Paris of old to a clean city... organizing not only its civil defense and its traffic flow, but also the flow of its effluent, as well.

Also interesting, as a side note, that the US would invite a Parisian, Pierre l’Enfant, to transform the urban design of Washington, DC, on the same scale.
Notwithstanding the extreme make-over, Paris edifices and monuments, pre- and post-Haussmann, are impressive and well preserved. You cannot miss the French Renaissance Louvre and its ultra-modern glass pyramid; the opulent Neo-Baroque (Napoleon III) Opéra de Paris built by Garnier in the second half of the 19th century (a good tour for those not having the time to visit Versailles); of course, the Eiffel Tower made out of iron for the Universal Exhibition of 1900; the High-tech Modern Centre Georges Pompidou with its appearing have been built "inside-out" with its external multicoloured infrastructure, built by Rogers and Piano in the 1970s.
Among monumental projects of President François Mitterrand, don’t miss the Grande Arche of the Défense (close western suburb of Paris) that stands right in the line of the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, the Tuileries' Carousel, and the Louvre’s pyramid; the French National Library (Bibliothèque François Mitterrand), located on the left bank of the Seine, near Bercy, with its L-shaped towers of books (symbolizing open books) arranged at the corners of a giant platform around a sunken garden.
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Welcome to Lisbon

Lisbon Culture
Portuguese culture is an incredible amalgamation of foreign influences, from the extensive expeditions the Portuguese explorers made all over the world, to the Moorish and Roman invasions. In the streets of the city, travelers will be spellbound by the busy and energy of Lisbon, from the artists performing, businessmen bustling in their suits, vendors selling hot chestnuts, or children playing in the parks. The city itself is littered with historical landmarks, from the Baroque architecture to restored palaces, castles and regal churches. A mix of the old and new, Lisbon is overflowing with events, music, museums, and sights that display this diversity. Lisbon also seethes with gradeur, reminiscent of when this city was the heart of the most powerful, rich nation in the world. In Lisbon, many different festivals are celebrated reflecting the people’s past beliefs in local pagan and roman gods as well as Christian saints. For instance, June is the most filled month in terms of Lisbon's festivals; these festivals honor different saints with parades and parties. In addition, on the second Sunday of lent, there is a parade of violet-covered litters in the Graça district; this ritual has gone on since the 16 th century.

The famous music of Portugal is Fado, which means roughly ‘common human feeling.’ Much like its namesake, the music Fado is very emotional, if not melancholy in nature. The origins of the music are thought to be a combination of Arabic influence from progugese sailers and Africa slave music. Lisbon Fado (there are two types) is performed by women and communicates a mix of suffering, love, nostalgia and pain.
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Lisbon Weather
July and August tend to be the hottest months so if you are planning on visiting the Portuguese coasts or islands for their beatiful beaches, these may be a good choice though you will be caught up with the rest of the tourists as it is the peak season especially English and German tourists.

A good month to travel will be June and September. Weather is still wonderful with quite a bit fewer travelers The worst weather begins from November to March. This the only time frame of the year you won't find Lisbon overcrowded. Holidays to watch out for are the religious days and each town/city has their own saints so it is celebrated on different days. Check the town or city you are traveling to for the specifics but here are some major ones for the year: January 1st - New Year's Day February 28th - Mardi Gras (last day of Carnival) / Shrove Tuesday April 13th - Easter Thursday (Banks only, afternoon) April 14th - Easter Friday April 15th - Liberation Day (marks the Revolução dos Clavos or Carnation Revolution) May 1 - Labour Day June 10 - National Day June 13 - San Antonio/St. Anthony (Lisbon only) June 15 - Corpus Christi August 15 - Assumption October 5 - Proclamation of the Republic November 1 - All Saints' Day December 1 - Independence Day December 8 - Immaculate Conception December 25 - Christmas. So pack your bags and get ready for a good trip!
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Welcome to Seville

Seville is Spain's 4th largest city with a population of some 710,000. It is a city with soaring summer temperatures which have approached 50ºC on occasions during the last two summers so avoid July and August if possible.
There is nowhere else in Spain that complies so closely with the foreigner's perception of stereotypical Spain as Seville. For it is here that flamenco, bullfighting and fiesta are a way of life. Never more so than during the Feria de Abril (2 weeks after Easter Sunday) when everyone seems to hit the streets for a week long party.
Seville Culture
As with any foreign country, customs and culture will often differ from what travelers are accustomed to. In Seville, and in fact in Spain as a whole, there are a few things that travelers should be aware of before they go in order to make their stay as enjoyable as it can be.
The Spanish do several things that people from other countries, especially Americans, may find strange. In some bars for example, not the nicer ones, people find it perfectly acceptable to throw bits of trash and cigarette butts on the floor. While someone generally comes by and cleans the mess up every so often, the stuff is seen better to be on the floor than on the counter or tables. Another thing that is common in Spain is smoking. Almost everyone seems to smoke and they pretty much ignore no smoking signs, which don't seem to be enforced anyway. Pushing and shoving in line is also commonplace, especially at the train station or while waiting for taxis. Spainards do not mean it rudely, however, so Americans should not be perturbed.
One of the beloved and admired Spanish traditions is the time schedule. Shops usually open around ten (with the exception of a few coffee shops here and there) then close for a short break during the morning, reopen, and close again from around 2:30-5 for the siesta. The city usually settles down during siesta when school children go back home for lunch, employees go home to rest, and even hotel staff take a break. Restaurants are generally still open as it is lunch hour...but it is a slow-paced lunch. Take your time should be the motto in Spain. Also, after this late lunch, you will see Spainards bustling around shopping from 6-8. At nine, dinner is served. Expect to stay out until about 11, at least, every night. Most travelers come to appreciate the relaxed lifestyle in Spain.
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Seville Weather
In summer the Seville weather is hot, hot, hot particularly in July and August. In these months the streets tend to be empty during the day with people leaving their houses in the early morning and then not leaving them again until late in the evening. This makes for quite a nocturnal life during these months. There is very little rain from June to September.
The winter temperatures tend to be very pleasant and although there can be some rain there are still lots of clear and sunny days.
There are lots of terrace bars and restaurants around Seville where people can sit out most months to have a drink or some food.
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Welcome to Malaga

Malaga, Pablo Picasso's birthplace and the gateway to the Costa del Sol, is a hectic, sometimes unruly city of 550,000. An impressive number of museums and monuments, including the 11th-century Alcazaba fort and Museu Picasso Malaga, provide plenty of diversions for those who opt not to spend all their time on the coast's famed beaches - and in their accompanying bars. The old city bustles with taverns and bistros.
Spain Culture
This segment is about culture with a small "c" emphasizing customs concerning food and meals.
Cultural items- Sometimes travelers are upset that there is no butter with their bread or that someone is sitting forever at the sidewalk café, long after they are done with their snack or meal. These observations reflect lack of understanding of the Spanish culture, and although cultures are blending and becoming more global and international, there still are some differences.
A Spanish breakfast is simply bread, toast, or roll with marmalade. Drink is usually either hot chocolate or coffee with milk. OJ, bacon, sausage, etc. would be served in a hotel that caters to more international taste. Churros are another breakfast item often eaten on the weekend although there are cafes that serve this stick-like pastries daily with a very chocolately hot chocolate. Almost liquid fudge.
The “noon” meal is served between 2 and 3. Many stores close during the siesta to accommodate that tradition. This is the main meal of the day, which consists of three courses plus a dessert of fruit or cheese. Ice cream or cake is a special treat although it’s easy to buy ice cream on the street. Coffee is served at the end. Bottled water is often served, but there is no problem with the drinking water.
Eating on the street traditionally is for children only. Drinking soda and eating ice cream may be done in parks but appears out of place for adults in the city, who are usually dressed in city attire. City attire means long slacks, leather shoes, polo or dress shirt rather than baggy or short shorts, tennis/sports shoes and t-shirt. Although as the world becomes smaller, some Spaniards have adopted these heretofore foreign customs, i.e., eating on the street and wearing casual city dress.
The menu del día will be posted at a restaurant. This is today’s special which is usually a good value. It’s a three or four course meal, often with several choices for each course, all for a fixed price. It usually included bread and wine or mineral water. It does not include coffee, butter or soft drinks.
The evening meal is eaten between 10 and 11 pm. Unless one goes out for dinner, it is usually a lighter meal of huevos (fritos o tortilla) or leftovers.
At the restaurant or café, the customer has the right to stay until he is ready to leave. Then he asks for the bill. If there are many people waiting, that doesn’t interfere with the customer’s privilege. The waiter will give you the bill when you ask for it…not before.
By the way, tortilla is an omelet. Tortilla francesa is an omelet as you probably know it while the tortilla española is a potato omelet. If you are unsure of a tapa to order, consider tortilla española.
A tapa is a bite to eat with a glass of wine or beer. As the stories goes, a glass of wine was served with a piece of bread or a small plate to cover the glass and to keep the flies out of the wine. Then the bartender put a little snack on the bread or plate as a nice gesture. The snack is often a salty one so the customer orders more wine.
When ordering tapas, it’s cheaper to stand at the bar. If you want to sit at a table you pay at least 15-20% for that privilege. The percentage goes to the waiter for the table service. The customer can’t order at the bar and then take tapas and drink to a table.
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welcome to Granada

Granada Culture :
Granada was the last of the Arab kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula, and retains a great deal of these influence, not only in the architecture, but also amongst the people, cuisine, musical traditions, etc. The City of Granada fell to the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in January, 1492, the same year Columbus was sent on his first voyage. The Moorish-influenced style of Granadino culture is generally called Morisco or Mudejar. The greatest cultural attraction of Granada, and the most visited historic monument in Spain, is the Alhambra Palace, a treasure of Mudejar architecture. It and the Albaycin neighborhood form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Albaycin retains the character and charm of an ancient Arab neighborhood and is well worth exploring on foot. Granada also contains a treasure trove of Rennaissance architecture, especially downtown surrounding Plaza Nueva. The most prominent example is the Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real), but also includes buildings such as the Royal Chancellary, now the Supreme Court of Andalusia, and parts of the University of Granada.
Flamenco is another important cultural component of Granada. In the gypsy cave village of Sacromonte, the visitor will find numerous tablaos, or small, family-run flamenco venues that offer a combination of dancing and singing in this distinctive style.

Granada Health and Safety :
There is a lot of nightlife in Granada, and a lot of people out in the streets in the evening, but common sense should be used when walking around after dark, especially in secluded alleys which can be difficult near the Cathedral area.

Granada Weather :
Unless you are near the coast, Spain has a very dry and arrid climate. The nice thing is that it's never really that humid that you feel like you can't go outdoors, but it can get extremely hot, especially in the spring and summer. While the Spaniards are used to the heat, even they sometimes get overwhelmed by the temperatures. Temperatures can usually reach the high 90's- low 100's in the height of the spring and summer months. Granada can get extremely hot because it is in the deep south of Spain. Though it is located an hour from the beach and an hour from the mountains, neither the sea breeze nor the mountain chills reach the city. With that in mind, it is probably best to avoid visiting during the middle of the summer if you can avoid it or have problems with extreme heat. The best time to visit is probably in the earlier spring months or the fall. The reason for this is you will avoid the extreme heat, as well as the colder temperatures of winter. If you like to ski, however, winter is a good time to go because you can go to the mountains to ski, but it is not freezing like other locations where you would be skiing. Another thing to keep in mind is that Spain has tons of students studying abroad. During March, they will be on spring break and will be going wild all throughout the country. If you want to avoid this, plan your trip around that to avoid that mess.

Welcome to Andalusia

Andalusia Culture :

The culture of the Andalusia region of Spain was most highly influenced by the Muslim Moors who governed the region for almost 800 years until the late 1400's. During the time of the Moors' reign, the region flourished culturally with new music, art, and theatre. Technological advances were made, and a tradition of intellectual growth and nurture was founded. Many of these cultural advances laid the groundwork for Andalusia's culture today which is known for its art, dance and music in particular. In 1790 the guitar was invented in Andalusia when innovative musicians added an extra string to a Moorish lute. Less than 100 years later Flamenco music and ballet was born, showcasing the new instrument. Andalusia has also been home to many famous artists including Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
The Moors also introduced several new ideas to Europe through their universities in Seville, Granada, and Cordoba including the mathematical concept of zero and several other concepts in physics and medicine that were so influential that they eventually led to the founding of Europe's first universities.

Andalusia Health & Safety :

Many people visit Andalusia each year and return home safely without incident, but most recently the region has experienced an increase in the number of crimes reported there, especially those which are aimed towards tourists. This tourist crime seems to be most prevalent in tourist-friendly cities, like Seville and Malaga, and at attractions such as museums as well as at beaches, resorts, and train stations--all of which attract large numbers of travelers. Most of the crimes reported are petty thievery and pick-pocketing, though some assaults have been reported as well. According to Frommer's, many of these crimes seem to be aimed at elderly travelers and Asians, who are perceived by thieves as having greater amounts of money than other travelers.

To protect yourself from tourist crimes while visiting Andalusia be sure to carry as little cash as possible and avoid wearing expensive jewelry and watches. Leave all valuables in your hotel's safe, including your passport. Carry a photocopy of it on your person instead of the real thing.

Thefts from cars are also common so be sure your doors are always locked and that you do not leave items in view where thieves will see them and be temped to break in.

Andalusia Weather :
Andalusia, Spain's southernmost region, has a relatively mild Mediterranean climate that attracts visitors throughout the entire year. Its southern coast, or La Costa del Sol, also known at the The Sun Coast, is somewhat warmer in the winter than Andalusia's Atlantic coast and attracts winter visitors from northern Europe and North America. During the spring, summer and fall months Andalusia is full of tourists visiting its many beaches and historic attractions.

As Andalusia is a large area, its average temperatures can vary from region to region, with the coldest areas during the winter and the coolest in the summer being in the mountains. Many of Andalusia's coastal areas can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees F during July and August. The region as a whole gets more rain during the winter than in the summers, which are generally rain-free, with the rainiest months being December through March.

Andalusia Tourist Board :
Andalusia's official government tourism office has a web page, Andalusia, which provides travelers and would-be travelers to the region with a variety of helpful tourism and travel information and advice. The site provides a nice map of Andalusia's provinces as well as a searchable map and direction feature that allows travelers to choose their destination by street address. Travel brochures can also be ordered via the site as can Andalusia Magazine, the official tourism magazine of the region. Weather reports, travel planners, and transportation information are also available, as well as dining listings and and hotel information.
Another of the site's useful features is its routes planner, featuring several travel routes through the region for driving, hiking, and biking as well as through rural and flamenco territories.

Andalusia Arriving & Departing :
Andalusia is a large area in southern Spain, encompassing many cities. Traveling to the Andalusia region can be accomplished in a variety of ways due to the region's size and the number of major airports, seaports, and roadways found there. Depending upon where one wants to go in Andalusia, one can fly into airports in Seville, Málaga, Almería, Córdoba, Granada or La Parra. Major sea ports are located in Algeciras and Cadiz. Good highways are available to drive to any of these Andalucian cities, or other areas of the province, from any other point in Spain.
The Adalucia tourism website has an excellent transportation page where travelers can go to to search for the best transportation options for them. One simply puts in their destination and preferred mode of travel and the search engine provides information on the nearest airports, seaports, and roadways.

Welcome to Madrid

Welcome to Madrid, the capital of Spain. The city is famous for its Museums, for its classical architecture and for its night life. The best Museums in Madrid are the "Museo del Prado", with Spanish and foreign masterpieces from 1400 to 1700; the "Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia", with a vast a collection of 20th century works; and the "Museo Thyssen-Bornemizsa", with 18th to 20th centuries masterpieces from the Thyssen private collection. But Madrid has many other interesting things to offer. If you come with me, I will take you on a Photographic Tour of this wonderful city.


Madrid Culture :
In Madrid, the art and cultural scene is not limited to museums. Art galleries, cultural centers, public spaces of exhibition and foundations also house incredible shows and exhibits with the latest works of contemporary art.
- At Castello, 77 (Metro Station Nuñez de Balboa), Fundación Juan March is one of the oldest institutions in Madrid that funds exhibitions of Modern and Non-West ern Art including Chinese and Japanese. It was the first to house exhibits of international art.
- Fundación "La Caixa" (Serrano, 60, Metro Serrano) has the best calendar of temporary exhibitions in Madrid.
- Casa de América (Paseo de Recoletos, 2; Metro Banco de España) is a space for the study, research, and exhibition of the Iberoamerican culture. Latin American artists and writers make art and book presentations.
- Círculo de Bellas Artes ( Marqués de la Casa Riera, 2; Metro Banco de España) houses temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and feature music concerts and theater presentations. There is a nice cafe that you can visit at any time of the day.
- Fundacion Arte y Tecnologia ( Fuencarral,1, Metro Gran Via) is a space for new and multimedia exhibitions. It is one of the few in the city and it is part of the Museo Telefonica. source: tripadvisor.com

Madrid Weather :
Spring and Autumns are perhaps the best times of the year to visit Madrid. The weather is mild and the air is crisp. But the two seasons present some differences that you may want to consider when you are planning your trip to the city.

During Spring, that goes from March through May, the days are warm, and the nights, cool. Unlike Winter, people swarm into the streets for the popular "marcha" (the walking across the city, stepping in bars, chatting on the streets, having fun outdoors). A good time to visit Madrid is Holy Week when madrilenos leave the city on vacation. There is some rain and some wind, but it is generally OK.

Autumn (September through November) marks the beginning of the school year and people return to work after the August holidays and there are lots of cultural activities. The days are very enjoyable compared to August high temperatures (although being a dry city with little rain, condition that makes the heat no that oppressive, it can be really, really hot).

In Winter (December to March), there are not so many tourists and it can be a good time to visit if you don't mind some snow and some cold (temperature can go below 0). It is low tourist season and you will find great bargains at hotels and trips outbound Madrid.

And the feared Summer (June through August) is not so bad as publicized. It has a kind momentum in June, and a harsh one in July and specially August. June is the best! Nights are warm and long and you can really enjoy the party atmosphere on the streets. But, July brings temperatures that hit the 40's (over 100 Fahrenheit) and it doesn't cool down very much at night. One good thing is that madrilenos leave the city for their yearly long vacation and there is less traffic, although some restaurants close, the open are less busy and you can appropriate the city in a more leisurely way.

Spain Culture

This segment is about culture with a small "c" emphasizing customs concerning food and meals.
Cultural items- Sometimes travelers are upset that there is no butter with their bread or that someone is sitting forever at the sidewalk café, long after they are done with their snack or meal. These observations reflect lack of understanding of the Spanish culture, and although cultures are blending and becoming more global and international, there still are some differences.

A Spanish breakfast is simply bread, toast, or roll with marmalade. Drink is usually either hot chocolate or coffee with milk. OJ, bacon, sausage, etc. would be served in a hotel that caters to more international taste. Churros are another breakfast item often eaten on the weekend although there are cafes that serve this stick-like pastries daily with a very chocolately hot chocolate. Almost liquid fudge.

The “noon” meal is served between 2 and 3. Many stores close during the siesta to accommodate that tradition. This is the main meal of the day, which consists of three courses plus a dessert of fruit or cheese. Ice cream or cake is a special treat although it’s easy to buy ice cream on the street. Coffee is served at the end. Bottled water is often served, but there is no problem with the drinking water.

Eating on the street traditionally is for children only. Drinking soda and eating ice cream may be done in parks but appears out of place for adults in the city, who are usually dressed in city attire. City attire means long slacks, leather shoes, polo or dress shirt rather than baggy or short shorts, tennis/sports shoes and t-shirt. Although as the world becomes smaller, some Spaniards have adopted these heretofore foreign customs, i.e., eating on the street and wearing casual city dress.
The menu del día will be posted at a restaurant. This is today’s special which is usually a good value. It’s a three or four course meal, often with several choices for each course, all for a fixed price. It usually included bread and wine or mineral water. It does not include coffee, butter or soft drinks.

The evening meal is eaten between 10 and 11 pm. Unless one goes out for dinner, it is usually a lighter meal of huevos (fritos o tortilla) or leftovers.
At the restaurant or café, the customer has the right to stay until he is ready to leave. Then he asks for the bill. If there are many people waiting, that doesn’t interfere with the customer’s privilege. The waiter will give you the bill when you ask for it…not before.

Spain History :
Spain is a country that is rich in history and has been influenced by many cultural groups, which makes this country an amazing and fascinating place. Spain has some of the oldest cultural groups in Europe. The Basque people of the region that is named for them (Basque country) have a language that is said to be one of the oldest in Europe. Their language Euskara has been compared to other European languages and non common origins have been found.

Spain is unique in that it has been a mixing pot for cultures for thousands of years. First the Iberians from the south came, followed by the Celts, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, Romans, and the Moors. Today you see the remnants of many of these cultures in every parts of Spanish life. From the Spanish language itself, to the architecture Spain shows its history. Most notably is the Spanish language which is a Romantic language that has been influenced in many ways by the Arab influence of the Moors. Words and phrases still make reference to the Moorish time period of 711-1492.

When the country of France was able to push the Moorish invasion from their borders thanks to Charlemagne, the Spanish were not. For over 700 years the Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula. During this time there was a constant struggle for power and control and eventually the Moors were pushed into what is now Andalucía. This time was called the Reconquest and took hundreds of years to accomplish, for example Cordoba fell in 1236, but it was not until 1492 that Granada fell. Today this is most notable in the architecture. In the Northern areas of Spain you see influence from the Romans and very little in the way of the Arab influence. When you travel farther south you begin to see more signs of the Arab influence in cathedrals, baths, etc. Granada is the best example of this influence with its centerpiece of the Alhambra.

Spain was a peninsula of many smaller kingdoms in the years before 1492. It was with the marriage between Isabel I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon in 1469 that essentially united Spain. Called the Catholic Monarchs their goal was to bring the entire country under the Catholic religion. In 1492 they accomplished their goal by conquering the last Moorish kingdom, Granada. It is in Granada today that you will find the burial place of the monarchs that in many ways changed the world. Shortly after the January conquering, the Monarchs sponsored Christopher Columbus in his quest to find a route to the orient by traveling west. Later that year Columbus found the new world.