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Valencia District Guide

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:48 +0000

If you are visiting Valencia for the first time or you’ve heard about this great city, the first thing that will catch your attention is the incredible light that reaches every corner, the great weather that lasts all year long, or perhaps the friendly nature of its people. All this is true, as is the fact that together with Barcelona, these two cities are the most important on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, and, within the last few years, Valencia has grown tremendously. But perhaps what might surprise you even more is its incredible diversity. Moving from one area of the city to another means being surrounded by completely different urban landscapes; so much so that you might even think you’re in a different city altogether. The Center A good point to start a sightseeing trip through the city is without a doubt the historic center of town. The Ayuntamiento (Town council) and Correos(Main Post Office) buildings stand out as some impressive sites worth visiting. If you head to the Plaza de la Reina, this large square introduces you into an older part of town with turn-of-the-century buildings and, just beyond that, the historic Old Quarter and the Barrio del Carmen neighborhood. Some of the buildings in this area date from the period of Arab domination of the city and others incorporate the old walls of the city into their structure. The palaces in this part have been restored and turned into luxury restaurants or official government buildings. A walk along the narrow, cobble-stoned streets will give you a flavor for the past, contrasting with the modernity that the many bars, cafés, and clubs that this area boasts. University Area The new Town Council was built in this area as was theCalatrava bridge. The latter is an example of the innovative architecture found in Valencia. It joins the two shores of the Turia riverbed, which has now been turned into a fantastic garden and recreational area running through the entire city. This area is almost like a triangle of modernity between Alameda-Blasco Ibánez-Avenida de Aragón streets where you’ll also find a good part of the university campus in the city. It is also where you’ll find modern glass skyscrapers, some of the best restaurants, pubs, and night clubs in the city, together with the best parks and gardens, such as the Jardines del Real o ‘Viveros’, Jardines de Monforte, or the Alameda. It is here in front of the river Turia that you will find the Palau de la Música, with its huge glass dome and main venue in the city for concerts and all sorts of cultural events. Cánovas Classicism, harmony, good taste, luxury shops, and restaurants, are what you will find in the turn-of-the-century buildings-lined streets of the Cánovas area. This is the traditional residential area for the Valencian bourgeoisie, and nowadays home to some of the best clubs and most chic, most elegant restaurants in the city. Bordering on the old quarter, you’ll find Colón Street, which has some of the most elegant boutiques and shops in the city, and, of course, the Corte Inglés department store. The Beaches We cannot end without talking about the most characteristic feature of this city, which gives it color and life: the Mediterranean. This inseparable part of the Castilian culture is very easily reached, and, if you choose to use the route that takes you by the Avenida del Puerto, your efforts will be rewarded. This last avenue is lined with traditional restaurants, some of which boast the honor of having been visited by Hemingway on one of his visits to Valencia. Other more recently-opened restaurants display unique, modern Valencian designs- a city with a reputation for great creators. The city’s coast consists of three beaches: Las Arenas, la Malvarrosa and Alboraya, in addition to the Cabañal neighborhood, where the city’s fishermen once lived. If you are fit enough, try to walk along all three in just one morning. If not, just enjoy the landscape and the sea breeze while sipping on a refreshing drink in any of the open-air terraces facing the sea. This is Valencia in very general terms, but if you decide to get to know it on your own, you will discover lots of details, beautiful plazas, and charming neighborhoods that will undeniably entice you to return to this beautiful city by the sea. “Valencia District Guide” by www.travelchannel.com

Flamenco Places in Valencia

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:58:36 +0000

One big part of Spanish culture is the expressive world of Flamenco. AlthoughFlamenco is an Andalusian and not a Valencian invention, it is Spanish so it sounds through the streets of Valencia and entertains the people in many bars as Pop Music in middle Europe. If it is a spontaneous performance in the maritime district which has a substantial amount of gypsies (gitanos) or flamenco on the beautiful Valencian promenade, inValencia you won’t miss the Spanish vitality. As typical Valencian characteristic the City understands to combine old traditions with modern influences. So you will often find genuine gitanos with impressing Flamenco performances within modern environment. Although Flamenco is an important part of Valencian Life, there are just a few places for organised Flamenco shows which are really worth to know: Radio City It is a mega popular club in Valencia that puts on a full-on party on weekends and a cultural programme during the week. Flamenco every Tuesday is part of that programme. There are several flamenco groups that come to play here regularly, all of them well-known flamenco artists in Valencia. You will always get the full set – the guitar, the voice, the percussions and the dance (either male – usually Leo Molina or female – usually Cristina Simon). This is not the kind of flamenco party where everyone joins in with all the energy – more like the watching of a serious performance. You are ensured a genuine, high level flamenco experience here. Calle de Santa Teresa, 19 46001 Valencia, Spain www.radiocityvalencia.com La Claca La Claca is another cosmopolitan nightlife spot popular with the foreigners, expats and internationally minded locals in Valencia. La Claca offers pretty much the same flamenco experience as Radio City, with the same flamenco artists on the roster, only on Sundays and at an earlier time. These shows are not for taking part in as it is more a sitting and enjoying of a serious Flamenco show C/SAN VICENTE Nº3,Valencia, Spain www.laclaca.com/flamenco/flamenco Cafe del Duende One of the most genuine Flamenco places.Cafe del Duende is a small and inimate bar on the edge of Carmen.It is a cosy space for some of the most authentic flamenco in Valencia. Some of the flamenco artists of Radio City and La Claca perform here, but Cafe del Duende also has a number of its own favourites. The flamenco here doesn’t tend to have the dance part often – usually the guitar and the voice. Check their website if that is important – if you see “baile”, then there will be dance as well. Check the website in any case, since the flamenco shows here are sometimes more irregular than in other venues – while Thursday is reliable, Friday isn’t always and sometimes performances are on Wednesday. Arrive early as the place is really small. C/ Turia 62, 46008 Valencia, Spain www.cafedelduende.com El Toro y la Luna El Toro y La Luna gives three hours of flamenco for 3 hours 4 days a week. The catch is that it’s a strange place. They have a resident flamenco group which can put a decently average performance but this group usually shares the stage time with another group. This another group changes often and can be anything from a decent flamenco to unbearably awful pop synthesisers. It is a strange ambience – a restaurant with a stage, with a strictly above 40 years old clientele. And overall the place doesn’t project an ambience of high culture if you catch the drift. However, the resident group is a charismatic, if somewhat crude, set of characters and you may find a fair bit of humour and more light-hearted air in this quirky bizarre place. An adventurous traveller would enjoy this. Plaza del Mestre Ripoll 14, Valencia, 46022 www.eltoroylaluna.com Bodeguita Cavallers Bodeguita Cavallers is a small bohemian tapas bar on Calle Caballeros – the main drag of Carmen. Normally a quiet place for a tapa with some flamenco CDs, every now and again, after midnight, it sporadically breaks into a real free-style flamenco party with everyone grabbing whatever they can to jam in, or just clapping and dancing along. This is a truly amazing and authentic experience, real fun and good time. It is a really spontaneous occurence so they only way to catch it is to be passing by when it happens to take place. C/ Cavallers, 10, Valencia, Spain http://labodeguetadeisa.blogspot.com

Top 10 Spanish swear words

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:55:07 +0000

The Spaniards have an alarmingly rich vocabulary of swear words and vulgarities – ranging from one-word cusses to full-sentence chants like ‘me cago en todo lo que se menea!‘. When speaking to a typical Spanish man, it’s almost strange not to hear a full sentence with anything erm… crude. Mind you, I adore the Spanish language: combined with expressive hand gestures, it’s full of vigor, passion and emotions. The Spaniards for one, have always captivated my heart with their sultry linguistic demeanours. If you get to know the Spaniards and learn Spanish well enough, you’ll come to observe that they tend to usepalabrotas (cusses) openly in their daily conversation. Words like ‘coño’ (cunt) don’t contain extremely vulgar connotations, and so are used commonly by most people here in Spain. In comparison, the Latin Americans tend to be a tad bit more gentle in their language. But before you start stringing sentences with a long list of cusses, bear in mind that without the correct usage, you might just end up offending the more refined ones, or end up with a bunch of giggling audience. Let me sum up the top swear words most frequently used in Spain. Without them, life wouldn’t be this colorful or should i say- de puta madre!

1. Joder! (hho-DErr)

The first Spanish word I’d learnt- this literally translates to ‘fuck’, but perhaps used more commonly than in English. For example: You forgot to bring your phone out, Joder! They’re not showing your favourite TV show anymore, Joder! Damn I have to wake up early tomorrow, Joder! It’s just part and parcel of daily life in Spain. It’s used in many power-packed sentences like ‘Que te jodan! (Fuck you!)’. 2. Mierda! (mi-err-da) This literally means ‘shit’, and is the most lightweight of all these swear words. It makes a perfect combination with many words to give a better impact, such as ‘Come mierda! (A shit-eater!)’.

3. Gilipollas (hhi-li-PO-yas)

Used frequently to describe bastards, the word ‘Gilipollas’ is simply served as a retorting cuss. When someone pisses you off, or even teases you, you would call him a ‘Gilipollas’. Translated literally, ‘gili’comes from a latin word meaning ‘son’.

4. Qué Cabrón! (kehh cabrON)

In reality, ‘cabrón’ refers to a big male goat, with giant horns. As the old Spanish saying goes, a man whose wife is cheating on him is called a ‘cabrón’ i.e. his horns are growing. Everyone then started using ‘Que Cabrón!’(What a bastard!), to swear at others. It’s quite a mild cuss, and often used just as a sarcastic remark instead of a real curse.

5. Los cojones! (los co-hho-nehs)

The Spanish men are known as ‘machotes’ (macho men who are proud of their balls), and so, besides the toros (bulls) and the corridas(running of the bulls), they love to show their masculinity by adding the word‘cojones’ (literally means ‘testicals’) to their colorful language. It tends to be used more like the word ‘Bullshit!’ in English, in occasions when someone is trying to give you some crappy excuse, you would respond with ‘Los Cojones!’

6. Me cago en todo lo que se menea!

My personal favourite of all. It is long yet packs a punch. Whenever I hear my husband chant this long cuss while driving, I crack up. It literally means ‘I shit on everything that moves.’ (strangely unvulgar) ‘Me cago en…’ is a very commonly used cuss, and can be combined with anything and everything that comes to mind, like ‘Me cago en Dios’ (..on God) or ‘Me cago en tus muertos’ (..on your dead relatives).

7. La madre que te parió!

In my personal opinion, this would be top on the list of the most frequently used curse. It literally means, ‘the mother who gave birth to you!’ It is used in the same way as ‘motherfucker’ in English. Usually used as part of a sentence for example: ‘Me cago en la madre que te parió!’ (I shit on the mother who gave birth to you.), it has the same effects as dropping a huge bomb!

8. Hijo de puta(yi-hho-deh-PU-tah)

Translated to the English swear word, ‘son of a bitch!’, it’s used in the exact same way as English, except almost ten times the frequency. It is however mostly used to tease someone, especially as a sarcastic or envious remark. Your friend gets a promotion – hijo de puta! Your brother is traveling around the world- hijo de puta! He just bought a 40inch plasma TV- hijo de puta!

9. Tonto del culo

Slightly milder than all the previous curses, this translates to ‘an idiot of the ass’ and it’s used to refer to how stupid/silly someone can be. It’s useful in all occasions.

10. Puta madre (poo-tah madre)

Literally meaning ‘fucking mother’, it can be used to curse but can also be used positively. As a form of exaggeration, it is commonly used to describe how good something is. For example: ‘Esta fiesta está de puta madre!’ (This is a fuckin’ good party!). ‘Puta madre!’ is often used to express great satisfaction, eg. ‘Barcelona won! de puta madre! “Top 10 Spanish swear words” by Nellie Huang - http://www.wildjunket.com/2009/03/19/top-10-spanish-swear-words/

LAS FALLAS DE VALENCIA

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:52:26 +0000

Las Fallas takes place between the end of February and the middle of March and is basically the fiesta of fire! Las Fallas actually means ‘fires’ in Valencian. During the festival, the population of half a million inhabitants increases to about three million pyromaniacs. The origin, as ever, is not exactly clear, but most believe that the festival began as a tribute to St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters. In the sixteenth century, during winter the Valencians used streetlights hung on wooden structures called parots, but as the days became longer, the superfluous parots were burned on St. Joseph’s Day. Nowadays, the festival has evolved into a week long celebration in which the whole town is set alight. THE NINOTS The basis of the fiesta is the construction and subsequent destruction of the ‘ninots‘, which are statues (made of cardboard, wood or cork and plaster) that are placed all over the city. The ninots are designed and built by neighborhood organizations and take about six months to create (the cost can range from 6000 to 600,000 euros). Some ninots exceed 20 metres and need to be moved into position with cranes. Through a display of art, irony and humour, the ninots are designed to satirize popular figures such as politicians and Spanish celebrities. THE START OF THE FESTIVAL – LA CRIDA The beginning of the festival is marked with La Crida, as crowds gather beneath the Serranos Towers. After an amazing display of fireworks, the ‘Fallera Mayor‘ of Valencia invites everyone to enjoy the fiesta, extolling its excellent qualities. Two ‘Falleras Mayores de Valencia’ are elected each year (one adult and one child) as the queens of the festival, a coveted position among Valencian girls. Nowadays, the figure of the ‘Falleras Mayores de Valencia‘is not only important during Las Fallas, as they often appear at the most significant events that take place in the city throughout the year. Las Fallas takes on religious significance during the floral offering to Valencia’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Forsaken. During this offering, held on 17th-18th March, a huge image of the Virgin decked in flowers stands in the square which bears her name in front of the Basilica Virgen De Los Desamparados. Parades of ‘falleros‘ wearing regional costumes and bands playing music accompany this visually beautiful event. Proving that the festival has much more to offer than just the burning of the ninots, Valencia is alive with activity during the fiesta days: there are parades, bullfights, paella contests and beauty pageants. Artistic lighting displays run throughout Valencia, as every district is decorated with flamboyant lights in different shapes, colours and designs. MASCLETAS AND FIREWORKS Spontaneous firework displays take place during the days leading up to ‘La Crema‘ (the fiery end of the festival), but another important event to watch out for is the daily mascletá in the Plaza Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square) at 2pm. During the mascletá, a huge pile of firecrackers is set on fire, which creates a concert of gunpowder. Lasting about six minutes, the display ends with an ‘earthquake‘ as hundred of ‘masclets‘explode simultaneously. As well as the daily mascletás shows, various firework displays take place at night between the Puente de la Exposición and the Puente de las Flores. The most famous of these is the Night of Fire ‘Nit del Foc‘ on the night of 18th March, a massive explosion of light and colour. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NINOTS Despite the constant activity, the ninots remain the focus of the fiesta of fire. These sculptures stay in place until March 19th, ‘La Crema‘. In the early evening, men begin to chop holes into the statues and fill them with fireworks. The crowds chant, the streetlights are turned off, and all of the ninots are set on fire at midnight apart from one, as one ninot is saved every year through popular vote. This ninot is glorified on display at the permanent exhibition of ‘ninots indultats‘ (saved ninots), in the Museo Fallero.

Whilst the frivolity and spectacular nature of the Crema are without question, the night also has an aspect of aspiration much like that of New Year‘s Eve. As the Crema ends, a new Fallas year begins, which one always hopes will be better than the last.

The Fallas Fiesta – Trailer

Discover the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:49:15 +0000

Everybody knows this landscape which have made famous Valencia around the world. But do you know exactly what hide these big architect works art? Anyway if you’re plannig to visit Valencia, you can’t miss and let me to explain why: The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia is a unique complex devoted to scientific and cultural dissemination which is made up of five main elements: the Hemisfèric (IMAX cinema and digital projections), the Umbracle (a landscaped vantage point and car park), the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum (an innovative centre of interactive science), the Oceanográfico (the largest aquarium in Europe with over 500 marine species) and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (which takes care of the operatic programme). The Ágora gives the complex a multifunctional space. You can check all the news, info, program… on www.cac.es and pay your entrance directly at the reception of the Purple & Red Nest Hostels. The Hemisferic The Hemisfèric was inaugurated in 1998 and was the first building in the City of Arts and Sciences to open its doors to the public. It is a spectacular construction designed by Santiago Calatrava, with an ovoid roof over 100 metres long that contains in its interior the large sphere that constitutes the projection room. It’s a IMAX cinema and digital projections to feel adventures through spectacular images. This is the largest hall in Spain to contain three systems projecting onto a concave screen of 900 square metres: -Large-format cinema, IMAX Dome. -Digital 3D screen measures: rectangle about 12×6 meters. -Digital projections. Astronomical representations and entertainment shows. THE SCIENCE MUSEUM This is the great 21st-century science museum for getting to know in a didactic, interactive, and entertaining way everything to do with life, science, and technology. The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum has become a world reference point for interactive science and one of the most visited destinations in the country, with over 25 million visitors since its inauguration in 2000. Itsmain objective is stimulating curiosity and critical thinking and at the same time surprising and amusing the public by its contents from the world of science, technology, and the environment. THE OCEANOGRÀFIC The Oceanogràfic of the City of Arts and Sciences is the largest aquarium in Europe and contains representatives of the world’s main marine ecosystems. Each building is identified with the following aquatic environments: the Mediterranean, Wetlands, Temperate and Tropical Seas, Oceans, the Antarctic, the Arctic, Islands, and the Red Sea, as well as the Dolphinarium with 24 million litres of water and a depth of 10.5 metres. The Underwater Restaurant and the Access Building which welcomesvisitors stand out because of their spectacular roofs designed by Félix Candela. During their route through the various installations, visitors can get to know at first hand the behaviour and way of life of over 45,000 individuals of 500 different species: dolphins, belugas, walruses, sea lions, seals, penguins, turtles, sharks, rays, sawfish, jellyfish, starfish, sea urchins, and crustaceans of all kin…, as well as wetland bird species such as those inhabiting the Albufera de Valencia and tropical mangrove swamps. THE PALAU DE LES ARTS Get to know the Palau de les Arts, one of the main badges of Santiago Calatrava’s project After the inauguration of the Hemisfèric in 1998, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum and the Umbracle in 2000, and the opening to the public of the Oceanográfico in 2003, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía completes the artistic facet of the Generalitat’s firm bid for culture in its broadest sense together with science, technology, and nature. It was inaugurated in 2005 and is equipped with the most modern technologies to constitute an avant-garde and modern space, which is the cultural catalyst that has placed the Region of Valencia, with its centenary musical tradition, in a privileged position among all other world regions. THE UMBRACLE The Umbracle is a vantage point of over 17,500 square metres with an exhibition zone from which all the buildings, lakes, walkways, and landscaped areas of the City of Arts and Sciences can be contemplated. Its vegetation is characteristic of the Mediterranean, of the Region of Valencia, and of tropical countries, and changes according to the season of the year; it also contains an interesting exhibition of contemporarsculptures by internationally acknowledged artists in the ArtPromenade. Until 1st November 2011, Umbracle at the City of Arts and Sciences is holding Europe’s biggest ever exhibition of robotic dinosaurs. Inside it houses the car park for the City of Arts and Sciences which has room for 665 light vehicles and 25 coaches on two floors. It is its upper part, however, that is of interest with its “Parade of the Sculptures”, an open-air art gallery of nine sculptures by contemporary artists with a central wooded garden; a balcony located on the north side of the latter affords a magnificent panoramic view of the whole complex. THE AGORA The new icon of the City of Arts and Sciences is a versatile space that will allow the holding of varied events. A multi-functional setting has been planned for the staging of congresses, conventions, concerts, and performances; it can also be converted into an exhibition area. Venue for the Valencia Open 500 Tennis Tournament, one of the most important international sports meetings, this building hosted the tournament successfully. The Freestyle Burn Spanish Cup and the Christmas Special Programme tookplacein the Agora too. This building is used too every years for the Valencia Fashion Week, the valencia fashion catwalk ( The next 7,8,9,10 of September 2011).

10 reasons to travel to Valencia

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:45:42 +0000

Valencia is Spain’s third biggest city and the one with the reputation for throwing the best parties. If you are planning to make a trip in Spain, you can’t miss this funky pretty town!!! So for you 10 reasons to travel to Valencia:

1. Las Fallas

Window-rattling explosions, the smell of gunpowder, enormous towers engulfed by flames, world-class artwork destroyed in the blink of an eye… what sounds like an embattled war zone is actually the highlight of Valencia’s most famous festival: Las Fallas. Valencia’s affinity for pretty much anything that bangs, fizzles and explodes launches the city into a week of street parties, music and, of course, pyrotechnics! Designers, architects and artists carefully plan and expertly craft these giant wood and papier-machè towers – they reach up to 15 meters high! – for months on end. Full of satirical characters and scenes inspired by events and people of the past year, the hundreds of colorful fallas are set ablaze in possibly the largest legal pyrotechnic display in the world. 2. Location Since its budding days as a Roman city, Valencia’s geographical position has been one of the most treasured aspects of the city. La Huerta, the belt of Spain’s most fertile farmlands that essentially enclose the region, has keptValencianos - and visitors – nourished with the freshest fruits and vegetables and played a major role in the city’s tasty gastronomy. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean shores – just steps away from downtown Valencia – have served a multifaceted role, providing the city with prosperous sea commerce, fresh seafood and stretches of pristine, sandy beaches. Throw in mountainous inlands perfect for hiking and trekking, sprawling natural parks and a wealth of fascinating day-trip ideas, and you have one of the most ideally situated cities in Spain! 3. Architecture Essentially narrating the entire history of Spanish architecture within its city limits, Valencia is perhaps one of the most architecturally captivating cities in Spain. With dark Visigoth crypts, castle-like Gothic silk exchanges, lavish Baroque palaces and spectacular Modernista marketplaces, Valencia is chock-full of distinct architectural styles that somehow harmoniously complement each other. 4.Paella With chicken or with shellfish, scrumptious paella is considered by most to be a Spanish national dish… which today, it is. However, when it comes down to it, Valencia is the city wearing the crown. As the founding city of the Valencian-turned-national-turned-international phenomenon known as paella, Valencianos are quick to point out that their gastronomic claim to fame. Known for the freshest of products and for being masters of rice, paella is just one of over 200 rice dishes that you’ll find in Valencia! 5. Nightlife From the laid-back Bohemian vibe in El Carmen to grunge bars, sophisticated cocktail locales and the swanky clubs along the beach, Valencia’s music-thumping, glass-clinking nightlife easily rivals that of the after-hours playground known as Madrid. La marcha, the action, kicks into high gear around midnight and doesn’t slow down until the sun comes up, so don’t count on an early night to bed! Don’t know where to go or what to do once the sun sets? 6. City of Arts and Sciences Rising out of a crystalline blue pool are the hulking, ultra-futuristic buildings composing the City of Arts and Sciences. Learn more about the City of Arts and Sciences… 7. Football If its any sign of the tradition of sports excellence in Valencia, the city has not one but two football teams playing for Spain’s top division, La Liga. Rocking the sports scene and, on game nights, bolstering the city’s beer industry is Valencia’s football team Valencia CF; constantly one of the top teams in Spain, Valencia CF has garnered quite the formidable collection of tournament appearances and trophies under its belt. The city’s second team, Levante UD, is a relative newcomer to La Liga but with an equally loyal fan base and an unbeatable stadium atmosphere. 8. Climate With the warm sun on your face and a gentle breeze coming off the Mediterranean Sea, the year-round climate in Valencia is, in itself, one of the city’s highlights. Regulated by the very sea upon whose shores it sits, Valencian summers are hot but not boiling and winters are cool but not cold. This mild climate, complemented by over 300 days of sunshine each year, makes any time of year the perfect time to visit the city and take advantage of its outdoor and sports activities. 9. Museums In the realm of Spanish culture, Valencia is one of the leaders of the pack. Along with all sorts of music venues, theaters and funky film houses, the city boasts well over 40 museums! Celebrating and educating about anything from Las Fallas to modern art, science and bullfighting, culture vultures are bound to have a field day poking through the seemingly endless museum offerings. 10. Vibe Balancing the cool sophistication of Barcelona, the friendly nature of Sevilla, the hip energy of Madrid and the laid-back air of a beach town, Valencia is a city with a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that ropes in visitors from all walks of life. On the cutting edge of modernity and leading Spain into the future, Valencia still remains a city dedicated to maintaining its traditional recipes, festivals, music, dances, traditions and even its own language.

11 Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Start Planning Your Round the World Trip

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:43:05 +0000

You may never have heard or read the letters R-T-W before. If you don’t know their meaning, that’s all right. If you do know their meaning and have contemplated taking one, then you have come to the right place. If you are a travel lover, an adventurer, or are questioning what it is you really want out of life, then maybe it’s time you find out what those three little letters mean, and why it is that you should consider taking a Round The World trip of your own. Some think it’s crazy, some think it’s impossible, some think, “There’s no way I could do it.” I’m here to let you in a little secret. It’s certainly not crazy. It’s most definitely possible. And yes, there is a wayyou could do it. So get rid of those excuses and get ready to hit the road for a life-changing adventure.

1. You are only going to get older.

This is one of the most-used excuses in the book. “I’m not 18, or 22, or (fill in whatever age you think is still appropriate for traveling for an extended period of time), so I can’t do that.” That’s crap, and deep down, you know it. I was 30 when we hit the road for our RTW, and we met travelers ranging from 18 to people in their 60’s to families with kids – in hostels, taking buses, on mountain treks. We saw people of all ages, so while it may not be common to take a RTW trip at your particular age, it is not impossible, and other people do it. Whether you’re 17 and sitting in class right now, or whether you’re already retired sitting at home sipping your morning coffee, or you’re at any age in between, one thing is for sure: you are only going to get older. So now is the time. No matter your age, as time goes on, it’s common you will want more comfort and less adventure in your life. It’s a lot easier to endure 24 hour bus rides, stinky, grimy, loud hostels, and multi-day treks through the Andes when you’re young. These are many of the things you may have to do when on an extended trip around the world, and the older you get, the less likely you are to enjoy these types of activities. One thing is certain, though, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to pull the trigger.

2. In many cases, it’s cheaper to travel than to live at home.

One of the biggest reasons people give for not traveling long-term is that they can’t afford it. That’s simply a myth. Having the discipline to save for a trip of this magnitude is certainly not easy, nor is having to bypass luxuries like going out for dinner and drinks and buying that new car, television, or outfit. But thinking that a RTW trip is only for the rich or those with a trust fund is simply wrong. When we’re talking about the everyday expenses of traveling vs. living at home, particularly for those living in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or anywhere around Europe, chances are it’s going to be cheaper to travel for an extended period of time than to live at home. Mortgage payments, rent, bills, car payments, food, and drinks are all more expensive in western countries. Traveling around the world to areas like South America, Africa, SE Asia, India, the Middle East, and even parts of Eastern Europe are much cheaper than simply living your everyday life at home. Even if you’re a little older than the gap-year traveler straight out of high school or those in their early-mid twenties traveling right after college, you can still get by easily in many parts of the world for about $35-40/day. And that’s for everything. Accommodation (even private rooms with your own bathroom), food, transport, and activities are all included in that price tag. Try living in the US, England, Canada, or Oz for that much.

3. You will learn much more from experiencing different cultures than sitting behind a desk or in a classroom.

While school, work, and a career are certainly important, they’re not the most important things in life. Educating oneself and expanding your horizons can have more impact on you as a person than your job, career, or even schooling. You can experience new and interesting cultures on a daily basis and educate yourself on how the rest of the world lives while traveling. It’s easier to understand a country like India if you are there, talking to the citizens and experiencing their daily lives than by reading a book. You can see for yourself the impact that war and poverty have had in countries like Laos and Cambodia while you’re there, perhaps volunteering and making a difference. You can learn many new skills, like patience, bargaining, and communication with other cultures while on the road much easier than you can while sitting in a cube. Education and careers are important, and I certainly don’t mean to downplay either, but getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing different cultures firsthand can have a much bigger impact on your life than a year of schooling and/or work. Besides, work and school will still be there when you return.

4. If you’re not well traveled, here’s your chance.

Not everyone was lucky enough to grow up in a family that was well-traveled (mine certainly wasn’t). Many people in their twenties and thirties may never have left their home country before. And while this may deter some from embarking on a trip like this, it absolutely should not. In fact, it should be a motivator to get on the road and see the world. Don’t use “I’ve never left my country, it will be too hard” as an excuse. Yes, it will be hard at times, but the only way to become a traveler and see the world is to actually get out there and travel. If you’ve dreamed of seeing the world and traveling for an extended period of time, then do it! This is your chance! This was a concern of ours before our RTW trip. We had only been to Mexico (to resorts) and on a short Western Europe trip, so places like Bolivia, Vietnam, and India seemed very intimidating to us. While there were certainly challenges along the way, the high points far outweighed the low ones, and forcing ourselves outside of our comfort zone provided us with lasting memories. Not having traveled much before is simply an excuse, and there’s only one way to change that.

5. You can be free from all your crap.

While I’m very far from being a minimalist, there was just something freeing about living out of a backpack for a year. Having all my possessions on my back just made life easier. There was no pondering for an hour about which outfit to wear or what shoes to put on (when you only have 3 outfits and 2 pairs of shoes, it’s much simpler). A lot of the time, more stuff means more headaches, and now that we’ve been home for a year and a half, I can’t count how many times we said to each other, “It was just so much easier on the road, not having a car or a house or all this stuff that can break or get damaged or costs money.” Don’t misunderstand me here. I like stuff. I grew up and live in America, a culture built upon collecting as much stuff as you can. And while I do still enjoy having nice stuff, after having lived both ways, I can firmly say that happiness does not only come from how many possessions one has. Happiness, at least for me, comes more from experiences, from living life, from seeing amazing sites and meeting new and interesting people. You can have your 5 pairs of $100 jeans. I’ll take my dirty backpack, ridiculous-looking zip-off pants, and Chang Beer tank top (which could be reason #12 why RTW travel is awesome-men get to wear sleeveless shirts).

6. You can be free to finally pursue what it is you truly love.

When you’re working 50-60 hours a week and have family, friends, and obligations, it’s difficult to pursue what it is that truly makes you happy. Sure, there are some who are lucky enough to love their job and have that as their passion. But the majority of us don’t do what we really want to do for our careers. We do what it is we have to do to get by. This is your chance to do something different. Have you always dreamt about getting certified to teach yoga? Have you always wanted to learn how to scuba dive? Do you love photography but never had the time to really work on it? Have you thought about volunteering with young children in need? Do you want to learn how to cook a new cuisine? Or maybe, like me, you’ve thought about what it would be like to pursue that one dream you had growing up – to be a writer? Whatever your dream or passion is, a RTW trip will allow you the time and freedom to finally pursue those dreams. The excuses for not following what it is you truly love are now gone, replaced by all the time and freedom in the world. If I was ranking these reasons, this would probably be #1. There is no price tag for getting a second chance to do what it is you love. And extended travel releases you from your obligations and gives you that chance.

7. You get to do what you want, when you want, every single day.

Perhaps the coolest thing about RTW travel is this. Waking up every day and saying, without anything else holding you back, “What should I/we do today?” When’s the last time you’ve been able to do that? Can you even remember? There are so many obligations at home that tie us down, and having the freedom, as an adult, to do exactly what you want when you want every single day is one of the best feelings in the world. Want to go sit and lounge on the beach all day for a week with your favorite pile of books? Do it! Want to go hike to the top of a mountain or volcano? Go for it! Want to eat yourself into a coma? Nothing wrong with that! Want to sleep all day and sit in the common area of your hostel watching movies? Who’s going to tell you not to? Want to go to the pub and drink yourself silly? Hey, you don’t have to work tomorrow! One of our favorite mantras of the trip was, “What, you gotta work tomorrow or something? Didn’t think so.” Whenever someone made an excuse for not wanting to do something, this was our response, both to each other and friends we met along the way. Once you get out of college and start working, there aren’t many times in life when you can say, for an extended period of time, “No, I don’t have to work tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after, or for several more months, so you’re right. I can do whatever the hell I want!”

8. You can see iconic sites after iconic site after iconic site.

Over the course of a year, we hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, went on a Salar de Uyuni tour, visited Iguazu Falls, hiked all over Patagonia, went ice climbing on a glacier, watched the sun rise over Angkor Wat, saw the Taj Mahal, and hiked in the Himalayas. And that was just a tiny portion of what we did and saw during our year-long RTW trip. I say this not to brag, but to show you what is possible with extended travel. All of these iconic places were on our travel bucket lists, and we managed to cross them all off in less than a year (though we managed to add twice as many new sites along the way). When this becomes your life, whether it’s for a few months or a couple years, it’s pretty amazing. Sailing up the Mekong River one day and then being at Angkor Wat two days later was just incredible. Hiking to different glaciers in Patagonia three days in a row was a powerful and awesome experience. Walking through the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu for the very first time is a memory burned into my brain forever.

9. Putting your career/relationship/purchases on hold is just temporary.

These are perhaps the biggest excuses out there. “Quitting my job will be career suicide. I’m saving for a house and just can’t do it now. My boyfriend is most likely going to propose soon, so I can’t do something like this now.” I’m going to let you in a little secret. That job? It will still be there. A new house? They have many of those, too. A proposal? Well, maybe if it hasn’t happened, yet, there’s a reason for that. Or maybe you can get your significant other to share this amazing experience with you. For those of us who grew up in cultures where you go to school, graduate, start a career, get married, buy a house, and have kids, straying from that path can be daunting. Believe me, I know. We were on that exact path before deciding to go on our RTW. But what if you don’t really want that path? What if you constantly think of doing something different? What if you just want to quit it all and go explore for a while? You can do that. I assure you. While you may be met with negative words from some people, most of the time it’s because they wish they had the guts to do the same. All that stuff you’d be leaving behind? It will still be there when you return. You may not be able to get the same job, be on the same career path, have the same boyfriend or girlfriend, or buy that same house. But after a trip like this, chances are you won’t want all those same things.

10. It WILL change your view on life.

One of the things I didn’t expect from our trip was how much it changed me. I knew I would probably look at certain things differently when we returned. But our experiences completely changed how I viewed the world, my life, and what I wanted out of it. Maybe it was the horrific poverty we experienced in some places. Maybe it was the freedom of being on the road and doing whatever we wanted for an entire year. Maybe it was seeing and reading about other travelers pursuing their dreams. It was probably a combination of everything, but suddenly, I wanted more out of life. Whatever I was going to do when we returned, I wanted to love it. I was no longer satisfied with a job that I enjoyed, a life I really liked. I wasn’t unhappy before we left. Quite the contrary, I was very happy with my life. But after the trip, I wanted more. Call me greedy, but I wanted to not only enjoy my job, but feel passionate about it. I wanted to not only be happy with my daily life, but love where I lived and what I did. The trip really hit home for me and made me re-evaluate what I wanted out of life. As corny as it sounds, our RTW trip made me realize just how short this life is, and it gave me the confidence and motivation to seek out the life I truly want.

11. REGRET

This was the biggest reason of them all when it came down to why we decided to chuck it all and head out on the road for a year. Regret. After reading about RTW trips, talking to others who had done it, and thinking about whether or not it was right for us, what it came down to was this: If we decided to bypass the trip and go on the path that we were on, would we regret our decision 5, 10, 20 years down the road? On the flip side, if we were to get rid of most of our stuff, quit our jobs, and take off on this epic adventure, would we regret it 5, 10, 20 years down the line? Once we broke it down like that, the answer was easy. By not going, we were setting ourselves up for a lifetime of “What if’s…” By going, would we really ever regret doing and seeing the things we were going to experience? How would it be possible to regret volunteering at an orphanage in Cambodia? Or spending New Year’s Eve with a local Argentine family in Buenos Aires? Or being invited to a home-made lunch at a painter’s studio in India? Or teaching English to college kids in Laos and learning about their lives? Or waking up to the view of 23,000 foot (7000 m) Himalayan peaks? The answers? We wouldn’t, and we haven’t. It’s never easy to do something that isn’t deemed normal or popular by the culture you live in. Some will denigrate you, some will put you down, some will dismiss your plan as stupid. What’s important when making a decision of this magnitude is how you feel about it. Disregard what others think. Do what’s best for you as a person; what’s best for your life. RTW, long-term travel certainly isn’t for everyone, but there are tons of people who would benefit from a trip like this. Are you one of them? “11 Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Start Planning Your Round the World Trip” by Adam Seper on www.bootsnall.com

Guide to Street Art Valencia

nh — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:40:44 +0000

Setting the bar for legendary paella and ridiculous week-long fire fiestas, Valencia now adds street art to its list of claims to fame. Politically charged and creativity infested, Spain’s third largest city is gaining some serious street cred as an urban art capital worth hitting up. Spain has always been a little late to the pop culture party, and graffiti’s arrival to the lazy beach-city of Valencia was no different. In the mid-late 80s, small groups of young Spaniards finally got on the graffiti and hip-hop bandwagon (i.e. they started break dancing and wearing gold chains). Fortunately, regulatory controls also lagged, so with free reign of the town, Valencian grafiteros tagged the city walls like coloring books. With little access to outside techniques and fancier paint, the street art scene was snail slow to evolve. Graffiti fans had to depend on movies, random skater magazines and trips to larger cities for both supplies and inspiration. But in the mid-late 90s, the scene changed – supplies grew, and then, of course, there was that little thing called the Internet. Now, withbigger cities like Barcelona cracking down hardcore on the controversial vandalism, Valencia is becoming a rising star for street murals and outdoor artistic expression. Artists You Should Know Like many a Spanish artist, XLF Crew member Escif keeps it surreal with his deeper-meaning murals that make you go “hmmmm.” Standing out among the flashy tags and bling twinkles, you can’t miss the Valencia native’s often wall-sized masterpieces filled with black-and-white animals and twiggy-figured people. Less about technique and more about the message, expect his creepy-cool style to keep things interesting. Holding down the fort for the ladies, Julieta is also part of the XLF Crew. You can spot her signature kawaii style with its cartoonish Japanese influence throughout the city. Think rainbows, butterflies and dollies, all lost in a sea of 90s rap-CD cover art. Get in touch with your girly side – shit’s kinda cute. Luce says fuck it to bubble letters and bright colors. Instead, the innovative artist keeps it simple with retro block letters that are more MOMA and less subway. These days Luce – also known as Lucky – thinks outside of the spray-can box by creating versions of his tag out of wood rather than paint. Then, he attaches them to doors, walls and every other random surface available. Further blurring the lines for US foreigners between Latin American and Spanish culture is XLF Crew member Sr. Marmota and his often Mexican wrestler-infused artwork. A fan of muscle cars and other manly things like guns and porn actresses, expect an almost 50s Americana twist to his collection of oddball subjects. Deih sprays up some gnarly cartoon-like creations that would scare the crap out of Julieta’s cutesy counterparts. Another XLF Crew member, Deih’s characters walk the line between modern comic art and classic graffiti goodness. Sam3, from nearby Murcia, covers walls and some serious ground – from San Francisco to Bethlehem, to be exact. With only a handful of artwork in Valencia, his black-silhouette characters are worth staking out. He also dabbles in other seriously trippy stuff beyond street art, like video animations with evaporating water and Roman-style statues dancing to “Pump Up the Jam”. Finding Street Art Valencia’s undisputed street art spray spot is El Carmen. The oldest neighborhood of the city has as many gargantuan wall murals and spray-painted garages as it does hipster haircuts and punk boutique shops. With fewer uptight police officers controlling the outlawed pastime, skilledgrafiteros regularly make store shutters, garage doors and vacant building walls their canvases. Xerea Calle En Gordo in the Xerea barrio is where street art virgins pop their graffiti cherries. In the surrounding areas, you can also spot pieces by more established artists such as Escif, Sam3 and Hyuro. Just be sure to keep an eye on your stuff while you get all urban philosophical – the sketchy hood is graffitied-up for a reason (and it’s not because it’s full of friendly people who want to hold hands and chat about the weather). If you’re too fidgety for a siesta, or when a lump of paella calories are sitting in the gut, take to the Valencia streets for a little stroll through some of Spain’s most interesting urban art. “Guide to Street Art: Valencia” by www.offtrackplanet.com

Purple Nest Party

nh — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:46:49 +0000

Hipnotik Festival 2011 Barcelona

nh — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:39:14 +0000

The hip-hop festival in Barcelona with DJ Q-Bert, SFDK, Morodo on September 18, 2010.