About Spain

Spain also called the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign country and member of the European Union. Spain covers most of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain´s capital is Madrid, in the souther part of Europe. Spain includes the archipelagos of the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean sea) and the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic ocean) and in northern Africa places of sovereignty of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. It has a population of 46.745.807(2009) people. Mainland Spain shares borders with France and the principality of Andorra to the north, Portugal to the west and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar to the south.

Spain has a very diverse climate throughout the entire country. Either seasons we travel to Spain the options we´ve got are unlimited. From winters skiing in the the Pyrenees Mountains to the mild Mediterranean climate enjoyable in southern Spain and the Balearic Islands, to hotter temperatures as we get inland of Spain where zero temperatures occur during the winter time. Semi-desertic regions with an arid climate can also be visited within the Tabernas Desert in Almería and the Ebro Valley.

Northern Spain, the regions of Galicia and Cantabria up to the Bay of Biscay have a very different climate, characterized by abundant rainfall throughout the whole year specially in winter. The summers are hot and not as humid as the southern areas of Spain. The lanscapes between between both sides of Spain varies a lot, the north of Spain being very green and mountainous, and the south of Spain generally being flat and dry. It´s entirely up to us when do we want to visit Northern Spain, we can expect rains and cold weather from Mid September up to April, and sunny temperatures from May up to September. Either season we go we will always enjoy the northern charm. Northern Spain covers the regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country and each one of the provinces have a unique charm.

Southern Spain, covers mainly the region of Andalucia and the south of Valencia. Southern Spain has generally a warmer climate than the interior and northern areas and less rainfall. The main destinations we can choose from are Seville, Córdoba, the coastal area of Costa del Sol(Benalmadena, Málaga..)

The Canary Islands has a privileged geographical location in the coast of Africa with a subtropical climate, with warm temperatures throughout the year and low rainfall (most abundant in the Western Canary Islands). Astonishing landscapes and nature, each Canary Island has it´s own climate and particular nature. From the tropical forests of Tenerife, to the long white sandy beaches of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

If you want to get away from the “beach, Sun and Sangria” Spain, there is a lot on offer in the country. From the ski resorts in the Pyrinees Mountains, along the province of Aragón and the Vall D´Aran Valley in Catalunya, there is ski resorts and wonderful places for trekking and hiking. If you like wild trekking and astonishing views, in the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, we can go to Mondragó, Soller, or Santanyí and countless places and pretty towns of Mallorca to explore for only a couple of hours or spend the whole day on the go. Northern Spain, from Galicia to the Basque Country we´ll be surprised how it varies from north to south of the country. Mountains, lakes, wonderful green scenary, charmy towns and an exquisite cuisine. With many people wanting to move to rural and country side areas of Spain there is associations in Spain that will give you advise and information on making that move.

Easter it´s a popular tradition in Spain, with ceremonial processions through out the country between March and April. Carnival, most famous in Tenerife, Seville´s April Fair in Andalucia, San Fermin -the “Running of the Bulls” in Pamplona, the “Tomatina” in Buñol, Valencia(Tomato Festival) are very famous festivals in Spain too.

Spanish cuisine includes numerous local variations. Of course seafood is an important ingredient as the country is surrounded by the sea and the ocean. Some famous local cuisines are from Mediterranean Spain with the use of a lot of seafood, then Inner Spain where meat, including the famous Spanish ham, as well as olive oil are prevalent ingredients, and finally the Northern coast where fish-based stews are the most significant local delicacies.

Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by famous Spanish architects worldwide. Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences, romans, arabs, celts. The arrival of Modernism in the academic arena produced much of the architecture of the 20th century. An influential style centered in Barcelona, known as modernisme, produced a number of important architects of which Gaudí is one of them. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in contemporary architecture and Spanish architects like Rafael Moneo, Santiago Calatrava(Chicago Spire), Ricardo Bofill with works such as Les Temples du Lac, Paris, or La Place du Nombre d’Or, Montpellier both in France, have gained worldwide renown.

One of the influences in Spain´s society it´s the globalization and freemasonic societies behind politics and the lack of underestanding between the communities, regions and politicians of Spain´s(former Iberia) own languages, such as Vasc, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. Main concerns for spaniards today are unemployment and ETA´s terrorism. The so called “traditions” such as bullfighting are still common in Spain, join our campaigns to stop them. The Bull Tribune

Festivals are an important part we should consider when visiting Spain and a different way to see the country. The Classical Theatre Festival from Mérida it´s held in an old Roman Amphitheatre in Mérida, in the province of Badajoz. Sonar Festival it´s a very important event of electronic and audiovisual arts held in Barcelona, and the Los Monegros Desert Festival it´s an important electronic festival held in the spanish desert of Los Monegros. Ibiza is also flourishing with new festivals and events with musicians from all over the world coming over to the island, check About Ibiza for more.

It is a known fact that a whole body exercise has the ability to isolate, which improves strength, muscle tone and body composition.

Kettle bells can toughen the ligaments and tendons, making your joints stronger and less vulnerable to injury.

For sure, you have seen kettle bells in the hands of everyone from buff jocks to athletic moms at the gym. After all, you might still be shy to take one. These are becoming a go-to workout tool for many; they can be difficult to master. Improper usage can cause damages.

Many fitness experts thought that kettlebells originated from Russia in the 1800s. Others oppose this claim, saying that they date back to the Spartan era. This was the time when handles were positioned into cinderblocks to move them. Since the introduction of kettle bells into the fitness world, many are going crazy about them.

Pavel Tsatsouline, an ex-Soviet Special Force trainer popularized the kettle bells in the United States. He strongly believes that these can perform like dumbbells, but only better.

But there is an obvious difference between the two. If you are using a kettle bell, the center of the mass is placed far from the hand. This is the most logical explanation why these spherical weights are perfect for active swinging exercises.

With this, you can perform unlimited multi-joint exercises. If you read the Kettlebell Kickboxing: Every Woman’s Guide to Getting Health, Sexy and Strong of Dasha Libin Anderson, you can access a comprehensive library of different motions and ways to link them using the kettle bells. You can also search online for free tips.

Each routine staunches from the standard kettlebell swing. It may appear weak, but actually it is a strong swing. This is ideal for improving the strength in the following series – back, shoulders, glutes and hamstrings. It can help you lose weight as long as you do all the routines accurately. Remember, kettebells are all about hinges not squats.

Be more cautious if you are executing the kettlebell routines. If you are unable to keep your back in a straight line, as you pick up, put down or swing them, then you have no right to pick up the weights. It is very important that you can uphold your stance at all times when you are doing weights.

You might not easily realize the significance of swings to your fitness routine, but when you begin seeing the difference, comes the appreciation for this workout equipment. You should give this trendy and vibrant fitness training a shot.

If you want to make the kettlebells work for you, swing them properly. According to fitness advisors, you can enjoy the optimal results once you have suitable diet and supplements. No matter how long you exercise, but you still practice that unhealthy lifestyle, it will be hard for you even to lose a few pounds.

When a person swings a kettelbell, his heart rate rises as fast and as high as it would from any type of jump training. The American Council on Exercise or ACE conducted a study, which said that a person can burn up to twenty (20) calories per minute of kettebell training. The result will get much better if you work out harder and it is somehow alike to what one can achieve in a good cardio class. Also, this can answer a debate if one should go for strength or cardio. Fortunately, you can do both with kettebells.

The routines in this kind of fitness training are in general flow from one (1) exercise to the next. This is identical to the Vinyasa flows that you can experience when you perform yoga. If you execute it precisely, you can feel the smooth transitions, making you feel so great while performing different steps. Because kettlebell for weight loss training includes smooth swinging movements, you won’t hurt your joints.

In addition, kettelebells are excellent conditioning equipments for building muscle and cardio respiratory endurance. The routines demand for coordination and mobility. When you do kettlebell exercise, you are actually developing your balance and motor skills. This is way better than working out with any conventional weights. This is one of those forms of exercise where you cannot shut down your brain.

Kettlebells are very practical. You can have them in the gym; of course, you can have them at home. It’s unlikely that you have a barbell in your living room next to your dining area. It’s true, it’s a real challenge to have fitness equipment in a home with a very limited space. But kettlebells can solve this dilemma, with them, you will only need one (1) weight to accomplish equivalent heart rate spike like you do a 5-minute run.

If you are decided to make kettlebells part of your weight loss program, please do your homework. Make sure you are using the right weight. As a starter, women are advised to get 15 to 40 pounds kettlebells. Men should begin with 25 pounds and can level up to 45 or 55 pounds.