Annual food fight in Valencia, thousands of tomatoes to be slung, lots of fun to be had, Karim Beerahee takes a look.

For the last 65 years the small provincial town Buñol, in Spain has paid homage to its two patron saints on the last Wednesday of every August not with quiet contemplation but ritual food fight, in the Tomatina Festival.

The genesis of this tradition is unclear, but the resulting celebration is not something to be missed. The cause of the fight has been attributed to a juvenile class war, local food fight among friends, a practical joke on a bad musician and a lorry spill in the town square. What you need to know is that around 20,000 people gather together to pelt tomatoes at each other come the end of the month.

The buildup towards the festival is also not to be missed, a week long celebration begins leading up to the fight with parades, fireworks, feasts and street parties. The night before the Tomatina begins you can get a taste of the sizzling cuisine, all tomato themed, to prepare you for the slinging match that begins the next day.

By 11 o’clock the next day the town is boarded up and trucks laden with around 90,000 lbs of tomatoes arrive, and battle then rages until there aren’t any left to throw.

Begins: 25 August 2010 11AM Free Entry
To get to the Plaza del Pueblo by road: Buñol is 35km (22 miles) west of Valencia off A3 motorway. There is and additional rail service from Valencia.

More information:
Oficina de Turismo Valencia-Paz
Calle de la Paz 48
Valencia
46003
Spain

Portsmouth to Bilbao with P&O Ferries
The Pride of Bilbao sails every three days at approximately 9.15 pm cruising for 2 nights.

Image Credit: Juanjo Valverde

Tags: P&O Ferries, Spain by Gabriel Grant
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It all comes down to one day, just 90 minutes on a warm Sunday evening and everyone in the world of football will be on the edge of their seats awaiting the final score. Rosie Khdir tunes in to the World Cup Final 2010.

Two of P&O Ferries beloved destinations are competing for the FIFA World Cup trophy this weekend in South Africa and we have decided to take a look at the chances of both teams.

Spain

Spain has been a strong team throughout the competition, thanks to the one touch technique, or “ticka tacka” as it is more locally known.

They not strangers to winning after the nabbing the trophy in the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and winning the World Cup this year would be another ruby in their crown.

But despite being two-time UEFA champions, winning the European Nations’ Cup in 1964 and qualifying for the World Cup thirteen times, they have never won the much revered title of World Champions.

In terms of individual player, speculators say the Spain have the better team, and obvious have a lot of experience under their boots. Will this be enough to knock out Holland and claim the price they have lusted after for years?

Holland

Holland has surprised everyone this year, thrashing their way through the stages and ending up in the final.

The Netherlands rarely get singled out as one of the top teams of the world, despite winning The UEFA European Championship in 1988 and reaching the World Cup Final twice before (1974 and 1978).

For over 20 years Holland has stayed out of the football headlines, but this year the Oranje (Orange – a tribute to the Dutch Royal Family) are making a come back.

The World Cup Final will take place on Sunday 11th July 2010 at 6.30pm GMT. Who will you be supporting?

Tags: History, Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries, Spain by Rosie Khdir
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Tomas Mowlam explains where to eat in Madrid, with a different way of dining and meeting new people. (Note: little to no running actually involved).

The concept is pretty simple really: three different courses – starter, main course and dessert – eaten at three different houses while meeting a load of new people.

Participants are paired up in male-female teams and each team prepares a course at one of their houses, before heading to the other teams’ houses to enjoy the other courses.

The night ends with all the running gourmets meeting up in a bar to talk over the night and have a few drinks.

If this sounds a bit hurried and like an un-Spanish way of eating, the organisers promise: “You have an hour and a half to enjoy each course; afterwards, the teams have half an hour to get to their next destination.”

So you’ll have to prepare your course in advance like a good Boy Scout, but the organisers say: “We’ll try and make sure (as far as possible) that there isn’t too great a distance between the flats each team will visit.

“The more participants sign up as hosts, the more flats there will be and the shorter the distances will be.”

It’s free to take part and each team splits the cost of the ingredients

The first ever Running Dinner is on the 24th July 2010, but you have to register by 17th July, with your name, address, phone number and of course any dietary requirements. You’ll then receive an email with your team mate’s details, the course you’re going to prepare and where you’ll be eating the other two courses.

Check out runningdinnermadrid.blogspot.com/ for more information or email them at runningdinnermadrid@gmail.com.

That picture’s a Van Dyck. The food will be fresher than that. Image Credit: Wiki Commons

Tags: Spain by tmowlam
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In the run up to the opening games of the World Cup we’re taking a look at four of the qualifying nations served by P&O (sorry Belgium). Tomas Mowlam looks at Spain’s chances, and where to go and what to drink if you’re in España.

Today we’ve got Spain. They should easily come out top of Group H against Switzerland, Honduras and Chile. Being European champions (picture above) is no guarantee of success, but after qualifying in exemplary style, winning all ten matches and having never lost to their group rivals, they’re bound to be confident.

Spain plays Switzerland on the 16 June in the Durban Moses Mabhida stadium. They then travel to play Honduras on the 21 June in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park stadium, before the final group stage game against Chile at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld on 25 June.

Star players to look out for are midfielder Xavi, keeper Iker Casillias, and strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres.

If you’re in Bilbao then check out the old town around Casco Viejo to watch Spain’s group matches, where there will be big screens and plenty of bars. Steer clear of the imported lagers and drink down an Estrella Damm instead; 4.6 per cent and refreshing, just what’s needed after a hard day’s football watching.

If you’re in Barcelona then why not check out Universitario, Irish bar Michael Collins, Ovella negra or the massive Sports Bar – worth getting there 30 mins (or more) earlier.

P&O Ferries run the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry service.

Image Credit: Wiki Commons

Tags: Spain by tmowlam
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To see a Griffon vulture circling high above the Spanish hills, wheeling and swooping on the thermal drafts is an awe inspiring sight.Tomas Mowlam goes looking for a truly awesome bird of prey.

To see them up close is even more impressive. They’re massive birds, up to a metre long, with a two and half metre wingspan, the Griffin vulture can weigh up to 13 kg.

Native to North Africa, Middle East, the Griffon vulture can be found in Andalucia and in northern Spain on the border with France. With a pale white head and caramel coloured outer feathers they’re pretty striking.

Vultures haven’t quite got the status of an eagle, but they perform a vital task cleaning up carcasses that die on the hillsides and Spanish farmers used to use them for this very purpose. Since an EU directive that dead farm animals can’t just be dumped and left for the vultures the numbers have declined, but Spain is probably the best place to see them in Europe – the populations in Sardinia and Sicily are almost gone and the Croatian numbers on the island of Cres are small.

They’re year round residents so your chances of getting a look at one are good. If you really want to ensure your chances though it might be worth joining up with a dedicated tour that provides hides and guides.

P&O ferries run the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry service.

Image Credit: Wiki Commons

Tags: France, Spain by tmowlam
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As the Pride of Bilbao begins its final summer’s service on the Portsmouth-Bilbao route (says John Hillman)whale watchers have their last chance to join P&O Ferries and the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme on-board for a marine wildlife workshop.

A selection of Europe’s leading cetacean and seabird researchers will be on hand during selected crossings to teach people how to spot and recognise a whole range of fascinating sea animals.

The course is open to the general public and is unique in its approach, combining a fantastic opportunity to experience a real marine biology field trip with the comfort and facilities of one of the fleets most impressive cruise ships.

The 2010 workshop dates have been confirmed as 3-6 June, 12-15 June, 18-21 June, 3-6 July, 13-16 September, 22-25 September and 25-28 September

On-board you can try your luck at spotting anyone of over 20 cetacean species, Fin Whale, Common Dolphin, regular Beaked Whale and many hundreds of different types of bird. The group in fact records record whale sightings all year round and has been instrumental in documenting just how important an area the Bay of Biscay is to marine wildlife.

Of course you can expect to enjoy your trip in the very comfortable surroundings that the Pride of Bilbao has to offer, including en suite cabin, cinema, bars, restaurants and even a casino. However the real attractions will be our on deck where the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme will be on hand to provide a Full programme of events including deck watches and presentations.

Image credit: dufspix

Tags: Lifestyle, P&O Ferries, Spain by John Hillman
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Tags: Lifestyle, P&O Ferries, Spain by Peter Moore
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If you are debating whether to take a city break or a beach holiday stop right there! Rosie Khdir has found the ideal Mediterranean location that doesn’t make you choose…

Barcelona has all you could want from a holiday destination; sun, sand and city sights! As the second largest city in Spain, both in size and population, and capital of the Catalonian region, Barcelona is sure to attract heaps of tourists, but it’s what they find there that keeps them coming back.

If you like to spend a good deal of your holiday sourcing the latest in Spanish trends then here are places to do it. El Born is for those with a bigger budget and a keener eye for labels; and has mixture of shops filled with all things designer and those sporting weird and wonderful artefacts.

Port Vell is home to a major shopping complex called Maremàgnum, which offers popular names such as Calvin Klein, Mango, H&M and a variation of tapas restaurants and coffee shops.

Just a short walk from Port Vell is Las Ramblas the famous 1.5km street running through the centre of the city. You can see many famous monuments along this street, such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house, the Font de Canaletes and the city’s famous street market the Mercat de la Boqueria.

The city is filled with architectural wonders but none as beautiful as works of Antoni Gaudí. From the Güell Parc with its Doctor Seuss-esque buildings and colourful mosaic walls, to the intricate spires of his unfinished Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família Gaudí never fails to amaze every visitor.

When you get tired of the city (if you ever do that is) you can always escape to the coast and soak up the springtime sun somewhere along Barcelona’s 4.5 km beaches. You have the choice of Mar Bella, Barceloneta, Bogatell or Nova Icaria, which is closest to the Olympic Marina.

When I said this city has it all, I really wasn’t kidding. If the beautiful buildings, cultural museums and plush shops don’t fulfil you are tired of being a beach bum the head up to Montjuïc and Tibidabo, the two mountains above Barcelona.

On Montjuïc you will find not only stunning views of the city and its coast but also a botanical garden, a modern art museum dedicated to Joan Miró, the Catalan Museum of Archaeology and an Olympic Museum.

Barcelona is crammed with things to do and see, so much so that only a fraction has been mentioned in this article. What is for certain is that Barcelona has definitely earned the title of “The city that has it all”.

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Image credit: papalars

Tags: History, Lifestyle, P&O Ferries, Spain by Rosie Khdir
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