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This Jewish proverb summarizes beautifully how important motherhood is for the Jewish and Christian tradition. It's to be expected that a culture that regards mums so highly has a special day to celebrate them: the 4th Sunday in Lent, better known as Mothering Sunday. Though it's originally a Christian festival, people of the most varied backgrounds are keen to join in on this tradition because, as Thackery put it: "Mother is the name of god on the lips and hearts of all children." In 2012, this joyful day will take place on the 18th of March, so it's time to start thinking about ways to pamper your own mum, the mother of your children or, if you are blessed with children of your own, yourself.

Continue reading... "God could not be everywhere so he created mothers"

There is only one great classical music festival during winter in Europe: The Canary Islands Music Festival. With the start of 2012, the 28th edition of this festival took off. Unsurprisingly, this festival is a reason for music lovers from around the world to book flights to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and the other islands.

Continue reading... Bach on the Beach

Forget bloody bull fights, dog duels and cruel cock fights. During mating season along the Aegean coasts, Casanova camels will kick off a fight over a couple of camel cuties in heat. If you want to see a smoking hot battle, attend the Camel Wrestling Festival that will be held Sunday 15th of January 2012 in Selcuk, a popular city in Izmir, Turkey.

Continue reading... Wrestling Camels in Turkey

This year the Islanders of Lanzarote are attempting to take their Christmas celebrations to record breaking lengths. The annual Father Christmas Parade, held on the 23rd of December, in Puerto Del Carmen is a tradition long observed and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The main attraction, Santa himself, is led down the promenade aboard his magically decorated, horse drawn sleigh, from 18.00-20.00, and throws gifts and sweets to all the children that come to join the parade. But children are not the only ones expected join in: this year, everyone has is asked to don a Santa suit and aid the Islanders in their attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most Father Christmas' holding hands. Shops all along the waterfront are set to sell costumes for reduced rates, so there is no excuse not to join in.

Continue reading... Festive Fun in Lanzarote - Christmas 2011

After the great success of Locals about Greece, the Flythomascook team decided to gather a panel of seven Portuguese men and three Portuguese women and ask them the same questions about their country, culture and cuisine.

Continue reading... Locals about Portugal: He who warns you is a friend

They say there's an art to writing the perfect postcard. Not only will it require your neatest tiny handwriting to get everything in, but it should also go into a little bit of detail about your holiday without being boastful and make a few polite enquiries about the health of folks back home. However, there's no chance of writing a truly original holiday card without taking a truly original holiday. With cheap flights to Rhodes appearing on the horizon after the summer rush, there's never been a better time to see this uniquely historical part of the world with your family. With so much to do and see here, there's no way that your card home could be anything less than one of a kind!

Continue reading... How to send more original holiday cards

The best way to make a holiday really memorable is to immerse yourself in the local culture. Faro is renowned for playing host to some of the most prominent festivals and fiestas in the whole of the Algarve - and the low cost and convenience of flights to Faro makes them easily accessible all year round. Whether you're interested in sporting events, religious festivals or cultural celebrations, Faro is the Portuguese HQ for a range of vibrant and spectacular parties.

Continue reading... Festivals in Faro

There are a number of national festivals that take place all across Turkey and they are popular events for locals and tourists. There is really only a few of the festivals that take place, which includes an element of tradition and these festivals are known as Victory Festival, Republic Festival and also the Liberation Festival. It is common for people to come from all across the world to join in the festivities and they make use of the cheap flights to Turkey. These festivals are all celebrated enthusiastically across the various towns and cities within Turkey. One of the main reasons for these festivities is to celebrate the participation of seymens, which are the dancers and heroes from Central Anatolia.

Continue reading... National Festivals in Turkey

There is a vast amount of different festivals and events that take place within Lanzarote. One of the popular events within this area is Teguise Carnival and this event is popular with both locals and tourists alike. A lot of the tourists that enjoy taking part in this carnival use the regular flights to Lanzarote. This carnival normally takes place during February. This carnival usually starts with birth of the sardine and it finishes with either the burial or burning of the sardine. This carnival is actually very similar to the harvest festival. On the evening prior to the carnival parade there tends to be a band that are based on the back of an open lorry and they play to the crowds that gather to celebrate the start of the festivities. The start of these festivities is also marked by a torch light procession and this is normally held by German people although a wide range of people tend to take part in it.

Continue reading... Teguise Carnival in Lanzarote

There is a number of annual events and festivals that take place within Dalaman and the Maritime and Spring Festival is just one of these. This annual event takes place within the resort that is known as Marmaris. This festival will include a range of different things and this includes musical concerts, sporting competitions, street performances and a range of other parties. This event is very popular with both locals and tourists alike. A lot of the tourists that enjoy this festival also enjoy the regular flights to Dalaman.

Continue reading... Maritime and Spring Festival in Dalaman

There is a number of annual events and festivals that take place within Dalaman and the Maritime and Spring Festival is just one of these. This annual event takes place within the resort that is known as Marmaris. This festival will include a range of different things and this includes musical concerts, sporting competitions, street performances and a range of other parties. This event is very popular with both locals and tourists alike. A lot of the tourists that enjoy this festival also enjoy the regular flights to Dalaman.

Continue reading... Maritime and Spring Festival in Dalaman

Spain has not really been known for pyramids but as you arrive via flights to Tenerife airport, head straight for a town called Guimar to view some of these amazing tombs. Guimar is a coastal town located towards eastern end of Tenerife. In case you need a break from the same old beaches and wish to take dive in the historical mysteries, Guimar will definitely offer you an amazing one. Most researchers, archaeologists and anthropologists have been bewildered by these pyramids since they were uncovered and identified as pyramids in 1991. The place opens for visitors everyday from 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. The only days it is closed is December 25th and January 1st every year.

Continue reading... The Guimar Pyramids

Cretan weddings are great fun for both the families and they are definitely lavish compared to any of the other weddings. If you get an opportunity to witness a Cretan wedding, you will definitely get to see several ancient, mostly pre Christian traditions being followed in the wedding rituals. For instance, you will find tradition of the serving of braided cinnamon bread sprinkled with some candied fruits. The dough is usually cut in the shape of stars and moons. The amazing aroma of the dough is believed to represent the hopes and joys of togetherness after marriage.

Continue reading... Traditional Cretan Wedding

Fuerteventura is known to be the 2nd largest Island among the Spanish Canary Islands. The initial settlers are known to have landed on the Island from Northern parts of Africa. In fact, the term Maho or Mahorero is used even today to explain the people belonging to Fuerteventura. The term is actually derived from the ancient word mahos which means a kind of goatskin shoe. These types of shoes were used by the original residents of Fuerteventura.

Continue reading... FuerteVentura Christmas

Just like all other amazing locations in Greece, Kefalonia is no less and holds great importance in terms of many celebrations and religious festivals. Flights to Kefalonia can be planned according to the events you wish to attend, as the city offers numerous events all through the year and more so in the summer season. The festival, especially the Kefalonia Carnival, is organised with great amount of joy and excitement around the picturesque villages.

Continue reading... Kefalonia Carnival

The Feast of Ria Formosa is a delight for the seafood lovers. This yearly festival is bound to capture the hearts of all the foodies no matter which region of the world they belong to. The festival is aimed at celebrating the bountiful harvest of all type of seafood including fish. It is organized in the month of August and held at Jardim dos Pescadores for a period of six days.

Continue reading... Faro-Feast of Ria Formosa

Ibiza, the third largest island among the Balearic Islands, is one of the most sought after party destinations of the world. The fun begins as your flights to Ibiza land next to the pristine waters at Ses Salines. A unique contrast of natural beauty and modern structures welcomes you as you enter the city of Ibiza. Interestingly, for a place famous for its nightlife, a large part of the island is registered with the United Nations as World Heritage Sites. Different festivals and events organized throughout the year add to the party atmosphere.

Continue reading... Three Kings Day Fiesta-Ibiza

White sandy beaches dotted with tourists greet you as your flight to Monastir lands at the airport. Well, there is much to look forward to no matter what time of the year you plan your trip. Apart from getting the much needed sun, the city has a lot to offer in the form of shopping, restaurants, festivals and events.

Continue reading... The Manaki Brothers International Film Camera Festival

The unusual tradition of Matances de Bujots marks the Easter Sunday in Menorca. The event involves hanging of effigies of prominent figures which, for some strange reason, are then targeted by marksmen. The term Bujot means a rag doll, which actually stands for someone without any character or personality.

Continue reading... Matances de Bujots in Menorca

Santorini is a scenic island dotted with several structures in white and blue.Built on the remains of volcanic eruptions, it is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. Apart from the beaches and places of historical interest, the island is also known for various cultural events and festivals held throughout the year.

Continue reading... Megaro Gyzi Cultural Events Santorini

The festival is about 40 years old, and actually marks the end of the watermelon harvest and includes an interesting competition that takes place at Placa Tomeu Penyato, where local farmers are invited to enter their biggest fruit. One of the recent winning melons was weighed in at the incredible mark of 17,780 g. That is quite impressive!

Continue reading... festa del melo in palma de mallorca

In Rhodes, Greece there is a festival known as the "Medieval Rose Festival of Rhodes". You are given the opportunity to take part in the witches and fairy dance or watch the fire eater with his amazing tricks, there are jugglers and other street performers or you can just participate in eating the gorgeous foods on offer. This festival is now a tradition of the town and is put on by the Medieval Rose which is an organization that operates in a non profit way.

Continue reading... Celebrations in Rhodes Greece

In a few weeks time, Gran Canaria celebrates one of its oldest traditions. Book your flights to Gran Canaria now if you're up for an authentic experience of the aboriginal past of the Canary islands.

Continue reading... Fiesta del Charco in Gran Canaria

For a break from museum hopping, the Funchal region offers a wealth of botanical gardens and parks in which you can relax and enjoy the vistas in the area.

Continue reading... Wine and Gardens in Funchal

The island of Menorca hosts several celebrations and festivals during the summer and, unusually, many include horses as part of the programme.

Continue reading... Horses and Events in Menorca

When you think of Greek islands, your mind invariably thinks of golden, dazzling beaches and all year round sunshine. But for tourists that want to experience something a little more off the beaten track, flights to Kos will surprisingly provide just the ticket.

Continue reading... The Hippocratia Festival in Kos

Everyone has heard of bull fighting, but how about camel wrestling? This rather unorthodox and much less gruesome sporting tradition derived from Anatolian semi-nomadic custom survives in the city of Selcuk in Turkey. Known for its proximity to the ruins of Ephesus, Selcuk is the capital of camel wrestling. The national Camel Wrestling Championship takes place in the outskirts of the Aegean coastal city in January - but do plan ahead if you want to catch a glimpse of something extraordinary!

Continue reading... Camel Wrestling in Anatolia

For over forty years the Hellenic Festival of Athens has maintained Greece's status as the cultural heart of Europe. It celebrates the country's proud tradition as the birthplace of Western theatre, and is generally regarded as one of the most important events in the European cultural calendar.

Continue reading... Hellenic Festival in Athens

The Balearic island of Mallorca is known for its hip and happening bars and clubs, its luxurious villas and yachts as well as for being the summer playground of the Spanish Royal family. While basking in the late summer sunshine, this iconic Spanish island deeply steeped in tradition also offers the discerning tourist a chance to experience medieval Spanish custom, and wine, at its best.

Continue reading... Celebrate Spanish wine with the locals: La Festa des Vermar

As it is situated on the Atlantic, the Algarve region has a bounty of fresh fish on its doorstep. Portugal on a whole is among Europe's highest fish consuming nations. Cod is a hugely popular fish and it is reputed that the Portuguese have 365 different ways to prepare it - one dish for each day of the year! Also popular are grilled sardines, octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp, sea bass, lobster, and shellfish. Expect to see the fish and shellfish here prepared in a multitude of ways. Additional dishes to try are the rich bean stews and presunto, which is a wafer thin smoked ham and bread served with pate and olives. Speaking of bread, you may want to sample the acorda which is a thick bread-based casserole made with garlic, coriander and seafood. Potatoes and rice dishes are also mainstays of the menus here.

Continue reading... The Fantastic Food of Faro

The Ancient Greeks can lay claim to some of the greatest achievements of Western civilisation, and throughout July the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama in Cyprus will attempt to breathe new life into this proud tradition. The festival was created in 1996 and attracts theatre companies from as far afield as Britain, USA, Russia and Korea. Through this international participation, the Cyprus Centre for Theatre aims to highlight the universality of Ancient Greek drama and its relevance in the modern world.

Continue reading... International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama

As is the case in this corner of the world, Lefkas has an ancient and mysterious past. Legends abound from tales of Aphrodite the Goddess of Love and Homer's Odysseus to the story of Sappho's leaping to her death from the 75m high Cape Lefkata cliffs in the 7th Century BC. The Romans also had a thing about throwing people from the cliffs there, however these days, other than the odd hang glider, things have quietened down!

Continue reading... A trip to the myths of ancient Greece

From June to August each year, the majestic Greek island of Corfu plays host to the International Festival. Created to demonstrate the rich local heritage of the island, its main events are known as the 'Ionian Concerts' and are a series of music productions designed to mix the traditional music of the islands with more contemporary sounds from Greece and further afield. Expect to see local choirs and philharmonic orchestras rubbing shoulders with modern jazz and swing musicians. The variety of music on offer means that, no matter what your musical tastes, you're guaranteed to find something you can enjoy.

Continue reading... International Festival of Corfu

The Gambia Roots Homecoming Festival is to be next held sometime between late May and early June 2012.

Continue reading... Roots Homecoming Festival in Gambia

Visitors to Florida this summer may be interested in sampling Sandford's regular "Alive after Five" event, which is held each month on the second Thursday.

Continue reading... Alive After Five in Sandford

If you are visiting one of the resorts on the Algarve this summer, then in addition to the usual cultural events, an array of sporting competitions is planned for both spectators and amateur participants. Resorts like Faro, Portimao, Vilamoura and Tavira are all close to the sporting events for 2010.

Continue reading... Algarve Prepares For Sporting Summer

By far the biggest occasion during April was the two day visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the island, an event that commemorated an unfortunate event that happened almost two thousand years ago. That was the time when St Paul's boat was shipwrecked on Malta while he was on a voyage to Rome. The Saint remained on Malta for 3 months and there are many locations around the island that exist due to this unfortunate accident. In Rabat there is St Paul's Grotto and Church that was built in the 17th Century. It is claimed that the grotto was also used by the Romans as a prison and it was also an air raid shelter during the 2nd World War.

Continue reading... Malta Spring Celebrations

For many holiday resorts the off season is often a period of complete downtime as far as events are concerned, but places like Malta always seem to have something going on to interest visitors.

Continue reading... Malta's April Offerings

The resort of Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife's West coast is the venue for a more unusual tradition that is very popular these days. The annual Canarias Infinity Xtreme Race is a type of obstacle course for adults and is certainly a spectacle that anyone in the area at the time is bound to enjoy. The emphasis here is not on professional sports performance, but having as much fun as possible whilst raising money for local causes.

Continue reading... Mad Race in Puerto de la Cruz

Those who enjoy the Spanish food tradition that is tapas will be treated to the best the island of Fuerteventura can offer thanks to a competition sponsored by the local tourist board. The exact origin of the tradition and the reasons why it has remained popular are varied. One theory is that an ancient law prohibited people from just drinking in taverns without eating anything, so the availability of small meals was a workaround to allow people to drink alcohol freely.

Continue reading... Spanish Tapas Competition in Fuerteventura

If you happened to be spending a break on Malta during the second half of February then carnival tradition and sporting excellence awaited as two of the island's main annual events took place before the end of the month.

Continue reading... Malta in February

Colourful costumes, street parades, plenty of parties and of course great food and drink are the ingredients for most carnival events and things are not too different on Ibiza. For five days during February the main towns on the island seem to stop work and get down to the serious business of letting their hair down. If you can't quite imagine what goes on there, then think back to the best fancy dress party you ever went to and multiply it by a factor of ten. Everyone, whether part of an organised group in the parade or just watching from the pavements, is encouraged to dress as brightly, even as outrageously, as possible.

Continue reading... Ibiza Celebrations

We've already posted information about several of the big carnival events planned for the Canary Islands and the Balearics but Greece is another country that celebrates at this time of year.

Continue reading... Greek Carnival in Crete

Tree blossom brings a welcome boost of colour to UK trees in spring, but for Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Menorca, as well as the islands of the Canaries, spring blossom arrives a little earlier in February thanks to the almond trees.

Continue reading... Almond Blossom In February

The island of Mallorca and its capital Palma , like many places in Spain, prepare for a traditional Christmas and New Year that centres around four main events. Christmas Eve is important with concerts and Midnight Masses held in many churches, including the famous Seu Cathedral in Palma itself. Christmas Day is a time for relaxation and spending time with family. New Years Eve sees another excuse for celebration, with parties and fireworks displays illuminating the island's skies and then finally the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th sees children receiving gifts in much the same way as UK children do on Christmas Day.

Continue reading... Mallorca Beyond New Year

A spectacular kite flying day took place in San Antonio, Ibiza on the 25th January 2009. This traditional event is part of the town's month-long fiesta programme and sees hundreds of kites, of all shapes and sizes, take to the air from the town's beaches.

Continue reading... Ibiza Kite Flying Day

Some of the big sporting events in Lanzarote during 2010 have been announced and are already attracting entries from competitors.

Continue reading... Sport 2010 on Lanzarote

The famous Disney Parks near Orlando in Florida are a lure to children and their parents at all times of the year, but at Christmas they take on an added attraction as the magic of the festive season provides a reason for the parks to put on extra special events.

Continue reading... Christmas Spectaculars in Orlando

Once again Gran Canaria briefly became home to over 200 yachts as the fleet for the annual ARC trans-atlantic yacht race assembled in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ahead of the event.

Continue reading... Transatlantic Yachts in Gran Canaria

For many the Christmas period presents the perfect opportunity to take a short break and get away for a little rest and relaxation. For some a cosy chalet in snow covered mountains is the ideal break while others yearn for some warm sunshine. Being only a short flight from the UK, Lanzarote offers the combination of convenience and value for British tourists seeking some warmer weather.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Christmas

December is now upon us and Christmas celebrations are starting to begin in earnest with many countries seeing traditional Christmas fairs and markets springing up in their towns and villages.

Continue reading... Christmas Fairs and Markets

One of the more esoteric events on Tenerife this Autumn was the Tenerife Tattoo Fest, which took place for the second time this year on the 7th and 8th November.

Continue reading... Tenerife Tattoo Fest

Colourful skies were promised at the annual Fuerteventura Kite Festival in November this year.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura Kite Festival

Once again Gran Canaria briefly becomes home to over 200 yachts as the fleet for the annual ARC trans-atlantic yacht race assembles in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ahead of the event.

Continue reading... Transatlantic Yachts in Gran Canaria

You don't have to go to Germany to enjoy the traditional German Oktoberfest celebrations. The state of Florida is just one of many in the United States that is hosting its own versions of the traditional beer festival.

Continue reading... Oktoberfest in Florida

Visitors to Bodrum will be confronted with so many options to experience the history and culture of the town and the surrounding area that just lying on the beach in the sun may not seem possible given the time available. However, in order to ensure a relaxing break, visitors would be well advised to plan ahead. A visit to Bodrum Castle is recommended, for younger people a night at Bodrum's huge outdoor nightclub would be a shame to miss and for everyone, a Turkish bath, if only to be able to say that you've tried one.

Continue reading... Hamam in Bodrum

Visitors to Crete during September will not only have the fabulous autumn weather to enjoy. A selection of cultural events continues throughout the month.

Continue reading... Crete During September

Visitors to the Greek island of Kefalonia during August have the choice of a number of traditional local events during their stay, with wine featuring prominently.

Continue reading... August Wine Events in Kefalonia

AquaShow Park opened at the beginning of June and has various new attractions to excite visitors this year. It trademark ride is a long water roller coaster which, it claims, is the biggest in Europe. The ride is 740 meters long and a trip is said to last around 5 minutes in cars which twist, turn, climb and drop through various water channels. If you can cope with the thrills, it's a great way to cool off. The park also has other rides including a vertical drop slide called White Fall, a water play area suitable for smaller children and a huge wave pool for just bobbing around. A bird park and a wide choice of places to find something to eat and drink, rounds things off. The park, which is only 10 miles from Faro airport, seems to get great reviews.

Continue reading... Waterpark attractions on the Algarve

Holidays in Turkey are certainly increasingly popular with some remarkable beaches, luxury resorts and a spectacular coastline that changes from developed tourist destination to isolated countryside at the turn of a peninsula. At the western end of the south coast, between the Gulfs of Gulluk and Gokova, lies the city of Bodrum. Although it is surrounded by a varied choice of smaller holiday resorts, Bodrum itself is a popular location that offers an eclectic mix of ancient culture, indulgence in luxury and exciting modern trends. By day Bodrum revolves around two attractive bays, a busy marina full of luxury yachts, an ancient castle and long, palm-shaded promenades. By night in Bodrum comes alive with hundreds of bars and restaurants, outdoor socialising and some of Europe's most exciting nightclubs.

Continue reading... Bodrum Comes Alive at Night

The area around Paphos in the south of Cyprus has changed during the last 25 years on the back of better provisions for tourists and an increasing popularity of the area for second-home investors. Control of development is still a concern with conservationists but at least the authorities can see the issues created when developers are given too much of a free rein. What Paphos has to offer, apart from its own cultural attractions, is its proximity to two areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Continue reading... Paphos a gateway to the real Cyprus

The Tenerife Tourist Board has just released a stunning new promotional video for the island that features time-lapse photography to great effect. The video, which is one of a series covering the Canaries, showcases many of the economic, traditional and natural features of the island. Initially focusing on the bustling urban areas the video moves to the countryside in the second half and illustrates the amazing natural beauty of the island.

Continue reading... New promotional video from Tenerife