Despite their unenviable reputation for insularity, Britons have enthusiastically embraced the cuisine of other countries over the past few decades. These days every British town, however small and insignificant, can boast at least one Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurant. However the latest culinary craze to find favour is the Spanish tapas bar.

Continue reading…A little bit of Spain in London…

Science Magazine, one of the world’s most influential periodicals on the subject, recently nominated its Top 10 Scientific Discoveries of 2011, of which three emerged from Spanish research.

The much-heralded vaccine against malaria was developed in Spain along with the surprising discovery that human beings can be divided into types according to their intestinal flora, in a manner similar to the divisions drawn by blood grouping. Previously it was thought that each person’s intestinal flora was unique.

Continue reading…Science Magazine names 2011′s Top 10 Scientific Discoveries…

Amid all the doom and gloom out there we are really happy to be able to report on some positive and indeed encouraging news. It comes in the form of the official figures released on tourism numbers for 2011, which show an increase in arrivals of 7,7% over 2010, culminating in a total of 56 million visitors last year.

Continue reading…2011 record year for Spanish tourism…

Strolling through the restaurant district just off the Granvia Marqués del Turia, in the centre of Valencia, we finally found the Mercatbar while actually looking for another restaurant. Since Quique Dacosta’s Mercatbar was very much on our ‘to-do’ list we were happy to abandon our original plans and give this very Spanish interpretation of the deli-cum-gastro-bar concept a try.

Continue reading…The Mercatbar, a haven for foodies in Valencia…

It’s tempting sometimes to imagine that there is no rhyme or reason to the cost of luxury goods. The more cynical among us will – at least once in our lives – observe that the addition of a designer label to an everyday item can raise its price by an unimaginable amount.

Ramiro Encizo’s handbags are elevated above the ordinary by the fine quality craftsmanship that is put into every seam and diamond.

Continue reading…Ramiro Encizo raises the bar in luxury…

If you like your pet dogs to enjoy the same level of comfort that you do when travelling, good news is in store! A new collaboration between Chien Bleu, the UK’s first and – so far – only luxury travel specialists for dogs and their owners, and Sit ‘n Stay Global, their US equivalent, has resulted in this increasingly popular British pet travel provider being able to extend its reach internationally.

Continue reading…It’s a dog’s life!…

The riurau is a unique structure irrevocably linked to the Spanish east coast and the Jávea region of the Costa Blanca in particular. Even the name has an unmistakable local ring to it, and can only really be done justice with the rounded ‘Rs’ of authentic Valenciano pronunciation.

This unusual outbuilding, with its characteristic long arched galleries covered by Spanish roof tiles, is the product of the vibrant raisin trade that long made the Jávea area an important source of fine grade raisins and sultanas. Grown in the large, level valley as well as in the surrounding countryside, the raisins exported from Jávea’s Las Duanas port area to destinations around the world were gathered and dried in riurau that once dotted the entire area and gave it a very distinct architectural look.

Continue reading…Riurau, a typical structure…