Spanish Famous Soccer Players
November 19th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
By Candis Reade
Soccer is the most popular sport in Spain. The Spain soccer team is a superior team and has produced the famous Spanish soccer players for years. As a national team, Spain was not able to achieve any success in FIFA world cup except the 1998 world cup. The team reached the quarterfinal stage by winning eight matches. This was only the best impressive performance in FIFA games where they lost to France. Spain participated in eleven world cups and it was ranked number four in 1950.
Though superior, the world cup squad never gave good results. The famous Spanish soccer players are Luis Suarez, Raul Gonzalez Blanco, Kubala, Alfredo Di Stefano, and the goalkeeper Zamora. Also, Michel, Santillana, and Butragueno are the rising stars of Spanish national team. Most interestingly, the world famous Spanish clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona have provided Spanish soccer with best world famous players. The Spanish clubs are more popular around the world and let us have a look at few big names.
Raul Gonzalez Blanco was born in Madrid, Spain on June 27, 1977. On the club level, Raul as a member of Real Madrid is the most impressive soccer player who was responsible for the victory in Champions League in 1998. Again, in 2002, he was the leading player who allowed Real Madrid to win the Champions league. He was a real hero in the whole tournament and scored the famous two goals that turned the whole situation of the game.
The famous Spanish soccer players include names of world famous goalkeepers. Ricardo Zamora was named as the best goalkeeper in 1958. The place of Zamora has remained unchallenged and not a single goalkeeper in Spain is able to reach his height. He is the greatest goalkeeper produced by Spain and played with the national team for more than 46 occasions. Also, he played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Spain has managed to provide steady goalkeepers like Luis Arconada and Andoni Zubizarreta. Edson Arantes Do Nascimento also nicked as Pele, is regarded as one of the famous Spanish soccer players of all time.
Most of the star players from around the world are involved in the famous Spanish soccer players list. The players signed by Real Madrid include big names such as Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Robinho, and so on. To add on the world famous Barcelona soccer club granted Spanish nationality to Brazilian world famous player Ronaldinho and Mexican player Giovani.
The world cup winning captain of Argentina, Diego Maradona is related to world famous Spanish club Barcelona. The other famous players related to Barcelona club are Marcelo Trobbiani, Alberto Acosta, Marcelo Saralegui, Nicolas Hernandez, etc. Barcelona club from Spain is considered to be one of the top 10 clubs in the world.
Though the Spain soccer national team is not successful on international level, the Spanish soccer has got great respect on world sports platform. The Spanish soccer has great future and the list of famous Spanish soccer players is definitely going to rise in coming years.
Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
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Relocating Dogs and Cats to Spain
November 16th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Relocating your family to Spain is complicated and takes a lot of planning and preparation but don’t forget your pets! It is relatively easy to move a cat or dog to Spain but it does take planning. So, how do you transport them and do they need a pet passport or certain vaccinations?
There are two options for transporting your cat and dog to Spain:
1. By air
Certain airlines will transport pets but they only use certain airports. Check if the airports are convenient for you. You will need to provide an IATA approved carrier which is the right size for your pet and which is fully labelled with all of your contact details.
2. By car
If you are travelling within Europe, you will be able to transport your cat and dog by car, as long as they have a European passport and are restrained – in crates. If you are coming from the UK, you will be able to travel through the tunnel or by some ferries. Certain ferries have kennels and exercise yards.
Before travelling, you must check the regulations regarding importing pets into Spain. In the UK, you can check the DEFRA website:- www.defra.gov.uk/animalH/quarantine/pets/index.htm).
Remember to budget for the cost of moving your pets to Spain – transport, vets bills etc. You will probably be surprised to find that it may be more expensive than your family’s travel arrangements!
If you are travelling to Spain from Europe with your cat and dog, you will need a European Passport for each pet. This passport is issued by your vet and gives information on your cat or dog . Type of animal, breed, colour, ID number, details of vaccinations including Rabies. Your cat and dog will need to be microchipped because it is the law in Spain for pets to be microchipped and the number recorded on the passport.
Pet Passports and the UK
If you intend to travel back to the UK or Ireland (also Malta and Sweden) with your cat and dog, you will need to enrol your pet into the Pets’ Travel Scheme, PETS. To be entered into this scheme, your cat and dog will need to have:-
* An ISO approved microchip.
* Up to date Rabies vaccinations. A blood test needs to show immunity.
* A valid pet passport which has been stamped and signed by a vet.
* Had treatment for ticks and tapeworms 24-48 hours before travelling. This needs to be done by a vet and certified.
Regulations regarding importing your pets from the USA and Canada are similar. They should have been vaccinated against Rabies and have had up to date boosters, to have been tattoed or microchipped with an ISO approved microchip and they also need a certificate, no older than 4 months, from a vet confirming details such as owner and animal details, ID number and vaccination history. You should check regulations before booking travel:-
US Citizens can check on www.mapausa.org/Viaje/Animal/Nocomercial/dcf.htm
and Canadians can get further information on transporting pets at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/export/petcom/ec_ce_esp_infoe.shtm
What Malaga has to offer
November 14th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
You will probably reach Malaga , Andalucia’s second largest city, by the airport. It is a very convenient gateway to the rest of Europe and many discount flights are available. It is easy to arrange for ground transportation to begin your stay.
One reason people like to visit Malaga is for its museums. By far, the most famous resident of Malaga was Pablo Picasso. You can see the home where this famous artist was born and a great museum devoted to his works.
If your artistic tastes run to the more traditional, you can visit two museums at Alcazaba Castle: There is an archeological museum where you can see ancient Greek and Gothic pieces and even a Roman theater. You can also visit the Museo de la Ceramica, which is devoted to ancient and modern pottery. Elsewhere in town are the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions and the city museum, both of which offer many hours of enjoyment.
In addition to museums, Malaga has many other interesting places to visit. Among these is the cathedral, which dominates the city as it stands on the former site of a mosque. Work on the cathedral began in 1528 and its south tower is not finished even today. Because work on the cathedral stopped and started again and again (largely due to war and to shortage of funds), you will enjoy seeing the mix of architectural styles in this beautiful structure.
All this culture is bound to make you hungry. You won’t lack for good food here: The region is renowned for its wine and its fresh seafood. Sample the delicious cuisine at any of a number of places, from small stands, to elegant restaurants and nightclubs. Why not visit the marketplace and create your own picnic lunch in this charming town? You can eat it while watching ships in the harbor.
There are many fun activities to enjoy here, from swimming to golf to hiking to biking. But what would a trip to Spain be without a bullfight? You can see this traditional sport right here in Malaga.
As you can see, there is so much to do in this corner of Spain, you might forget to just kick back and enjoy the beach. It would be a shame to miss it, but remember: You can always come back. Malaga and its delights will be waiting for you to return.
Spain Attractions Await You
November 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Museums, Palaces and Old Churches afford the traveler and a chance to discover the history and culture of various regions. Across the border from France is Barcelona Spain. In Barcelona you can see a mixture of the various cultures that have influenced this city across time. The influence of Carthage and the Moors together with the inspiration of Rome, and France will be seen in the architecture and historic monuments.
Seville and Alcazar
The city of Seville is the government seat of Andalusia Spain. Spain attractions await you in this holiday city.
The old quarter of Seville holds an array of attractions, including charming promenades, plazas, and pictographic vistas. You’ll see fountains in the plazas that are a good place to slow down and rest. These make excellent spots to take photographs. In the Alcazar, you discover a royal heritage. Beautiful gardens surround the grounds of the palaces and other architectural wonders. Even the Torre del Oro Tower, a maritime museum, originally part of a fortification built by the Moors to defend the city, has been endowed with floral gardens. Inside the museum, you’ll find a number of interesting displays.
The capital city of Spain is Madrid. It’s a lively and colorful city. Located in the center of the country it’s famous for museums and art collections. As is the case, with many Spanish cities, Madrid has an older section and it’s terrific for its restaurants, trendy nightclubs with live music, and shopping. You’ll love the nightlife. In the center of Madrid is a spot known as the Golden Triangle. It is where three famous museums are located. These are the Prado, Thyssen Bornemisza and Reina Sofia. Besides these fabulous galleries is the Royal Palace is a major attraction used for ceremonial purposes. Tourists are always interested in the Throne Room with its indoor gardens. Bull fighting in Spain remains ever popular and in Madrid, you visit the most famous of all bullfighting rings, the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas.
Spain Attractions on the Mediterranean Coast
In order to escape the cold of the winter, tourists flock to The Costa del Sol. Vacationers love to sunbathe in the summer at this trendy destination. Costa del Sol offers travelers beautiful scenery and numerous holidaymaking pleasures. You can examine the tourist attractions within cities around the region. Malaga is a popular destination on the Costa del Sol. This district became more popular as a large number of golf courses and full service resorts opened. The district has been nicknamed the ‘Costa del Golf’ by countless golfers. Further south along the coastline is the Costa Blanca. The Costa Blanca is the sightseeing paradise of the Mediterranean. Still further along the coastline are the other areas such as (party central) Benidorm, as well as smaller villages where there are quiet resorts. More to the south there is another city named Torrevieja. This is a vacationer’s city renowned for its salt baths and its salt production. The Torrevieja baths are believed by millions of people across the world to contain curative powers for arthritis and various skin conditions. - 718
Almeria
February 24th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Lying almost midway between Alicante and Malaga, Almeria is a part of Spain still waiting to be fully discovered. It has its own international airport with daily flights from the Stansted and Gatwick in the UK, with other routes being added every season.
(See our main site for more about Almeria)
Slideshow of photos in Almeria
January 31st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
I’ve just found out how to make a slideshow, so I’ve added these for you to see.
Guess which towns are pictured! The house and pretty valley are at Cortijo Grande, near Mojacar.
Today’s Weather in Spain
January 26th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Finally I have managed to find a way of putting the current weather in Spain on the blog. Soon there will be list of various cities, but for now, the top one (the image) is the current weather in Alicante, and the one below gives the conditions in Malaga.
Leave a comment if you want to know the weather for your favourite city and I will see what I can do!
British couple’s dreamhouse in Spain demolished
January 14th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
A British couple living in Spain have become the first expatriates to see their home demolished in a move that threatens thousands of properties built on the Costas.
Helen and Leonard Prior sold their home in Berkshire and spent £570,000 turning an area of barren scrubland into a villa with heated swimming pool and landscaped gardens.
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They named it “Tranquilidad” in expectation of how they would spend their retirement. But yesterday, a demolition ball turned their home of the past four years to rubble. ”We were utterly powerless to stop them,” said Mrs Prior, who is 64 today. “We had hoped to spend the rest of our days here but within hours everything we worked for was destroyed.” Thousands more expatriates living on the Costas could see their homes demolished after it emerged the properties - bought in good faith - had been built illegally. Local corruption and the flaunting of planning laws have allowed swathes of the Spanish coastline to be developed during the last decade.
Countless Britons have been duped by unscrupulous estate agents, lawyers or property developers into purchasing homes that have been built on green belt land or without proper permission.
Last November Spain’s socialist government vowed to pull down all illegally built property on 480 miles of Mediterranean coastline. The Priors, who are believed to be the first British couple to have had their villa torn down, say they did everything possible to ensure they had approval to build their home on the outskirts of Vera in the Andalusian province of Almeria.
“We used a local builder and lawyer and have documentation from the town hall giving us planning permission,” said Mrs Prior.
She added: “About 18 months ago we were informed that although the local council had approved the building the regional government of Andalusia had not.” After seeking legal advice they were told that although their home had been built on designated “rustic land” it would probably be allowed to remain. But on Dec 16 a policeman came to the door with a demolition order.
“Even as late as Tuesday we were reassured by our legal team that the demolition would not go ahead as it was against the Spanish constitution,” Mrs Prior said. It was not until Wednesday morning when the water was disconnected followed by the electricity that the couple realised what was going to happen.
“We looked outside and saw a team of policemen - about 20 of them all armed - approaching our house alongside a team of lorries and diggers and we knew we had lost our home. We are in shock.”
The couple were given two hours to remove their belongings from the house before the bulldozers moved in.The couple have been offered three nights in a hotel by the local council and promised compensation. Mrs Prior said: “Quite frankly, until we have the money in our hands we won’t believe it.”
New Year’s Eve in Spain
December 28th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Do you think you could eat 12 grapes at once? If you’re traveling to Spain for the New Year’s holiday, start practicing. At gatherings across the country, Spaniards eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, one for each toll of the bell.
Videos of Life in Spain
December 17th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
I have just added videos of life in Spain. There’s stuff on sailing, golf - and fiestas and flamenco of course. I hope you enjoy them!
Almerimar the Hidden Jewel of Almeria
December 3rd, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Almerimar, located along the western side of the Almerian province is not an area that many are familiar with, at least not yet. This hidden jewel of the Almerian coast is a luxury beachfront resort boasting a 27 hole golf course, large salt water lake, 1,000 berth marina and more than 8 km of beachfront. Known as an oasis amidst a sea of plastic greenhouses, Almerimar has been the playground of wealthy landowners and agriculturist in and around the area of El Ejido for decades.
During the last five years Almerimar has seen significant growth and investment from international investors looking to escape the traditional bricks and mortar landscape of the Spanish coast for low rise construction and open green spaces. Even with the appeal that Almerimar offers today, it has been unable to capture the tourism market on a large scale, but this is about to change. It has been announced that the city hall will move forward with a plan that will remove surrounding greenhouses and open up the land for residential and commercial purposes at the end the growing season, late summer 2008. Within the project, known as “Bahia de San Miguel”, there is projected to be two new 18 hole golf courses, an Olympic sized rowing canal, land plots dedicated for villas, hotels, parks, schools, commercial centres and of course apartment buildings. Initially the infrastructure will be laid and then building will commence. The project is expected to continue over the next 10 to 15 years meaning that Almerimar will make an enormous investment in its tourism industry and intend to draw more investors into an area that is already one of the most beautiful found in Spain.
Tips from the Experts on Buying Property in Spain
November 17th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
There’s a new article on the website today with great tips about buying property.
Living in Spain
November 5th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
This is just the beginning! Visit our main website for information and articles about all aspects of life in Spain, but this blog is for personal experiences, the problems experienced - and the solutions.
So please feel welcome to post your experiences as comments, and also to suggest topics to cover in the main site.
