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Spain
Barcelo, Costa Del SOl, Ibiza, Malaga
Volcanic landscapes
The Canary Islands lie near the northern coast of
Africa surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The islands autonomous region is
made up of seven large islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria,
Lanzarote, La Palma, la Gomera and el Hierro. and other smaller ones, such
as Graciosa, Alegranza and Lobos.
The coasts are blessed with vast
sandy beaches full of outstanding reefs, capes and bays. Nevertheless in
some areas along the western and northern coasts of Gran Canaria, there are
many cliffs and steep rock faces. The Canary Islands is characterised by its
volcanic scenery. This can be divided into three different regions: the
central islands, the eastern islands and the western islands. The volcanic
activity of the past has created a most peculiar landscape on the islands,
with craters, volcanic cones, volcanic rocks, tubes etc. The island's most
emblematic natural landscape has to be mount Teide which, standing at 3,718
metres high, is the tallest mountain in Spain. In order of importance are
Blanca mountain (2,743 metres) and Viejo peak (3,100 metres). The island's
geography and low rainfall ensure that there are no major rivers of note.
The last Wednesday in August sees the Valencian town of Buñol go
bonkers with La Tomatina , in which the surplus from its
tomato harvest is sploshed around in a friendly riot. The
Running of the Bulls (Fiesta de San Fermín) in Pamplona in
July is perhaps Spain's most famous festival. Along the north
coast, staggered through the first half of August, is Semana
Grande , another week of heavy drinking and hangovers.
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Tips |
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* Canadian's require a passport valid for 3 months pat the return
date of travel. Visa not required for Canadians staying less then 90
days * Gateway airport:
* Flying time:
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State Capital:
Lisbon
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Currency: Euro 1 Euro = $1.60 CDN. CDN dollars may be exchanged
at banks, exchange bureaus and some hotels. Credit card widely
accepted. ATM almost everywhere
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Language: Spanish/Portuguese and English is widely spoken in the
Algarve.
*Time Zone: Mainland Spain is 6 hours ahead of the Canada (EST). The
Canary Islands are 5 hours
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Electricity: 22V. Transformers and adapter with 2 round pins
required
*Driving: Traffic stays right. No right turns on red.
*Tipping: Restaurants 5%, Maid 1 euro a day
* Goods to buy: Leather goods, jewelry, clothing, Spanish
guitars are know to be the best in the world
* Things to do: |
BARCELONA You're pretty safe walking anywhere in
the main tourist areas, but be wary of strangers who are a little too
friendly. If someone asks how you like Barcelona or tries to hug you, hold
on to your valuables tightly: Pickpockets use techniques like these to throw
people off guard. The police department has a special unit that roams
crowded areas like La Rambla disguised as tourists, right down to the maps
and cameras, to watch for thieves in action |