The trouble with a driving holiday in Portugal is that you miss a great deal of everything this beautiful country has to offer. There is another way to see Portugal's countryside from a completely different viewpoint - on horseback. Don't worry if you've never even sat on a horse before; the gentle giants that are Luisitania horses are a placid breed that are perfectly suited to amateur and experienced riders alike.

Continue reading... Riding Luisitania Horses in Portugal

The Festival of San Juan on June 24th is a major event in the Spanish calendar as it is associated with the coming of summer. The Spanish never need an excuse for a party and the day is celebrated in both urban and rural areas with bonfires and festivities. These fires are particularly popular in the Catalonian and Valencian communities, and in some areas the date is also celebrated as Catalan nation day.

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From June 4th to 14th the historic Portuguese city of Santarem will hold the National Agricultural Fair. If the name puts you off, it is important to remember that the festival is a million miles away from the farmers markets you may have seen back home. The Portuguese never do things by halves, and the festival is a celebration of every aspect of their traditional rural culture. The event takes place two kilometres west of the city centre and is one of the largest agricultural fairs in Europe. Attractions include horse riding competitions, cattle herding and a nocturnal bull run. Dancing is also an important part of any celebration in Portugal and you can expect to see an array of local dances, including the fandango.

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If you happen to be in Spain on June 3rd then expect to get caught up in one of the major festivals of the Spanish calendar. Corpus Christi is a feast day that celebrates the Eucharist, which Catholics believe to be the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Spanish never need an excuse for a celebration, and as a country with a strong Catholic heritage it is hardly surprising that there are major festivities across the country on this day. However, what makes the festival so exciting for an outsider is that each region celebrates the day in its own unique way.

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The Spanish music style of Flamenco is the kind of music played during traditional dances with performers dressed in stylish costume. The ladies wear long flowing skirts while the men dress in outfits that symbolise the attire normally associated with bullfighting. But in Spain, Flamenco is better known as a form of music rather than a dance. The castanets, or palillos as they are known locally, are small-hand held percussion instruments usually played in pairs.

Continue reading... Shake Out Your Castanets in The Canaries