What the Running of the Bulls Festival Says About Spain

What the Running of the Bulls Festival Says About Spain

It’s time once again for those shaky videos of men panicking as they run through the narrow streets of Spain – pursued by bulls no less – to flood the internet. 

Running the Bulls in Pamplona each year comes with so many dangers

If you’d missed the news, the Running of the Bulls festival of Pamplona is ready to go for another summer. Also returning with the festival are the piles of articles condemning the practice, and the news reports keeping track of the injuries and fatalities. 

Things have been pretty good on that front for 2017; which has  seen only some injuries and gorngs. It’s nothing like 2016, in which an astonishing 12 people were severely gored. 

It’s understandable why the world would hold such a fascination for this ancient festival. Something that’s more interesting though is analysing what the festival – and indeed the attention it generates – shows us about Spain. 

Tradition Never Dies…

 Whether it’s flamenco dancing, bull running, bull fighting, the siesta, or the weird human pyramids we see each year, the cultural traditions of Spain never die. If anything, they seem to be getting even more popular thanks to the modern world of social media that records and shares just about anything. 

There will always be controversy over bull fighting, but even the harshest critics of the practice admit that it is a powerful market of Spanish cultural identity; perhaps the most distinctive cultural identity there is in the world. 

Foreigners Love It

Of course there will be some Americans, Brits, and other Europeans that focus heavily on the number of people injured during the Pamplona bull run, but this doesn’t deter Spaniards. 

How much Spain insists on maintaining their traditions – even when faced with “health and safety” concerns – really speaks to those who are tired of living in their Nanny States. A tomato fight would never be sanctioned in the UK, never mind a bull run. This creates a real sense of “anything goes” in Spain that appeals to thousands of tourists. 

The World Shows Respect

Most countries with unique and alien cultural traditions can hope to be ignored or admonished only a little at best. But this isn’t the case with Spain. 

Semana Santa, La Tomatina, and the Pamplona bull run draw in a wealth of press from around the world each year. The reason for this is that they respect Spain and are fascinated by a country that has their own distinct regional identities. It also speaks of the desire to protect and nurture these traditions; something that is almost unique in the modern era.

North Korean Officials Visit Spain to get Beach Resort Inspiration

North Korean Officials Visit Spain to get Beach Resort Inspiration

Leader Kim Jong-Un

North Korea is known for doing things their own way and locking themselves out from the rest of the world. It seems the only time we hear from the country is when they are attempting to push their latest propaganda.

Even the North Koreans are willing to admit they aren’t the best at everything however, which is why the nation is known to (unofficially) import computers, cars, and wines from around the world.

While one could hardly import their own ready-made beach resort, North Koreans are doing the best they actually can do; which is sending20 officials off to the Spanish resorts of Salou and Benidorm in order to learn from the best how to deliver great tourism.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Dear Leader Kim Jong-Un is looking to build a Mediterranean-style resort in the North Korean coastal city of Wonsan.

The North Korean embassy of Madrid did indeed confirm officials enjoyed a fact-finding road-trip along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, stopping in Benidorm; where officials were reportedly amazed by the dimensions of the famous holiday parks and towers of the resort.

The officials also cited the Marina d’Or tourism complex of Orpoesa del Mar as being the closest thing to what North Korea are planning to build in Wonsan. They say that the new resort in the country is to be aimed at both domestic and international markets.

The 20 officials from North Korea are said to have visited Barcelona but were reportedly unimpressed with the architectural and cultural highlights of the city; rather they focused on the beaches that surround the edges of the city.

A spokesman from the embassy said that they were so focused on the beaches because that is what they were most interested in.

The history-based theme park Terra Mitica of Benidorm might serve as an inspiration for North Korea, however, as they said that it might be a good idea to create a theme park that shows how North Korea achieved perfection.

The embassy said that the delegates loved seeing how the theme park recreated Mediterranean civilisations, and felt it would be interesting to apply the concept to a theme park of their own; perhaps one covering Asian civilisations.

All that’s left now is to wonder how the delegates will eel after seeing the glitz, glamour, and individual wealth of areas such as PuertoBanús and the Costa del Sol.

Survey Finds Spaniards are More Confident About Economy

Survey Finds Spaniards are More Confident About Economy

Spain is back and every sector is on the up.

Over half of Spanish people now believe that the economy of the country is doing well almost a decade after one of the worst recessions to ever hit the country.

The survey was carried out by international consulting firm GAD3 and it showed 52.5% of Spaniards had confidence that Spain will be one of the best-performing economies of Europe, a claim supported by leading economists who believe the country really is leading the way for growth.

This represents an 11.3% increase in optimism since the survey was put out last year, and it reflects the experiences of the average Spaniard, as more jobs and improved job security are becoming reality for many people across the country.

A poll that covered just Barcelona conducted by the City Hall discovered Barcelona residents no longer consider being employed and their working conditions to be their primary concern. This is the first that job security hasn’t been the main concern since 2009.

However, the poll also showed that Barcelona residents are starting to feel the pressure of tourism. The city continues to grow as a cultural, beach, and party hub of the world. It’s bringing plenty of prestige and money to the city, but it’s also starting to infringe on the livelihoods of residents.

Tourism concerns hit the top of the polls for the first time in history, causing Deputy Mayor Gerardo Pisarello to declare that the issue has nothing to do with some kind of “tourism phobia” ad that people in Barcelona remain fans of travel and seeing tourists. The condition is one of concrete malaise caused by overcrowding.

Barcelona recorded nine million official overnight stays in 2016, but the City Hall estimates that the real number is closer to 30 million after accounting for rental options including AirBnB and private lets.

Barcelona famously announced that they planned to limit tourism numbers; as the city council have begun to refuse to grant new hotel licenses.

Barcelona’s success has been great for the economy of the city – as it has been great for the entire country – but, much like with the improved job market, the country needs to do some additional work to ensure as many people as possible are helped by the economic benefits.

Record Sea Temperatures Noted in Spain as Mercury Soars

Record Sea Temperatures Noted in Spain as Mercury Soars

The summer in the Costa del Sol is in full swing

with temperatures rising 

The stunning coastline of Spain is brimming with warm water, which is great news for those predisposed to cold water.

It looks like the idea of taking a cool dip in the Mediterranean Sea might not be on the menu following water temperatures reaching 24.3ºC off the coast of Almeria.

While the temperature of the water remains around 10 degrees less than the air temperature, it’s still warmer than much of the water across Europe and is the highest sea temperatures have been in Spain for over a decade.

Buoys across the Cantabrian, Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines have been registering temperatures higher than usual as the summer really kicks in. Across the north, off Cabo Silleiro in Galicia, sea temperatures reached 19.9ºC; the highest temperature ever and around 1.25ºC higher than last June.

The buoy at the Bay of Biscay in Bilbao registered temperatures of 23.5ºC, while water temperatures in Tarragona to the northeast of Spain reached a high of 27ºC across the weekend.

The temperature down at the Costa del Sol is a little cooler thanks to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean moving along the Gibraltar straits.

Marine experts are assessing the changes in temperature and believe that there’s currently no reason to concerned as water temperatures between June and September are typically between 23 and 27 degrees. 

It’s inevitable that modern records will be matched – or indeed broken – given the current temperatures and lengthening days.

Brit Avoids Extortionate UK Train Fares by Flying to London Via Spain

Brit Avoids Extortionate UK Train Fares by Flying to London Via Spain

This just shows us how much the uk is over charging for everything 

Even though environmentalists might not be fans of it, plenty of smart travellers are coming up with new and impressive ways to avoid the extortionate rale fares in the UK. Most of the time this involves taking a quick flight to Spain.

The latest such savvy Brit managing to avoid British rail is 21-year old student Joe Furness; who saved £40 by flying from Newcastle to London via a stop in Menorca rather than coughing up the £78.50 it would take to catch a train.

Furness shied away from the rail fare, opting to catch a flight to Menorca from Spain for just £15.99, returning to the country the next day on a £10.99 flight from Menorca to London. Even though not everyone would have the luxury of a spare day, the tale of this student should serve as a reminder to travellers that they should always shop for bargains rather than taking what they feel they are forced to.

Furness hired a car in Spain for £7.50 and travelled across the island during his 12-hour layover. Furness talked to Metro.co.uk, saying that he thought “why not?” when he saw how much the train ride would cost. Instead he chose to fly to Menorca through Thomas Cook, relax on the beach with a cocktail, and then fly to London to meet his friends.

Furness added his friends had thought he was joking when he told them that he would be flying into London from Spain, and that they didn’t believe him until they picked him up at Gatwick airport.

While it sounds like this tale only came together thanks to chance and circumstance, it doesn’t change the fact that flights from the UK to Spain are very cheap, which has done wonders for Brits looking to purchase homes.

Given how easily and cheaply anyone in the UK can get to Spain, it brings them one step closer to their dream of owning a home in thesun.

Marbella Council Approves Two New Dog-Friendly Beaches

Marbella Council Approves Two New Dog-Friendly Beaches

There are several dog friendly beaches which are a warm welcome 

There are a number of unwritten rules about Spanishbeaches; don’t put your towel near others, don’t be too loud and obnoxious, don’t stare at others, and don’t leave your dogs off their leash. Really, it’s better to avoid taking your dog at all.

While this certainly sounds harsh to man’s best friend – who we feel would love to run through as much surf and partake in as many picnics as possible – these rules ensure that beaches are kept free of dog mess and allows children free reign to play without fear of being attacked by a dog that suddenly becomes aggressive.


Even so there’s no denying that dogs love beaches, and that humans love dogs; at least their own. It’s not hard to understand why Miguel Diaz, the Councillor for Sustainability of Marbella has decided to open up sections of the shoreline of the Costa del Sol more dog-friendly. 

The councillor announced the Junta de Andalucía has greenlit opening up two new dog beaches in the summer, one in the El Pinillo area of Marbella, and the other in the Ventura del Mar in Nueva Andalucía. 

Diaz says that the council was placed under increasing demand for more dog-friendly zones in recent years. The council chose these two locations because they aren’t as popular with regular beach-goers, meaning that the dog zones aren’t going to interfere with regular tourists looking for some fun in the sun. 

The council also published a brief set of regulations dog owners must follow at the beaches; namely that pets have to be kept under control, waste must be cleaned up, and dogs must have current vaccinations. 

This ruling is making it easier than ever to be a fan of both beaches and dogs in southern Spain. The ruling adds to the list of dog-friendly beaches in the region. There are other designated dog-friendly beaches in the area including San Pedro, Fuengirola, Torre del Mar, Casares, Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga City, Mijas Costa, Benualmádena. 

Several of these specified areas are open to dogs throughout the whole year, while others will place restrictions for the summer season. Given that bylaws can change between different towns, it’s always a good idea to check at the local Town Hall or Tourist Information Office to avoid running the risk of being fined.

Malaga Airport Sees Record-Breaking May

Malaga Airport Sees Record-Breaking May

Malaga airport continues to break all records

confirming the areas popularity

Records were broken at Malaga airport in May 2017, as an unprecedented 1.8 million passengers passed through the doors of the airport; representing an increase 11.2% over May of last year. This is 200,000 more than the number of people passing through the airport in June from last year – which saw 1.6 million passengers – and 100,000 more than from September 2016.

Statistics from the Airports and Air Navigation Authority of Spain (AENA) show that Malaga airport saw the most growth out of any Spanish airport, seeing twice as much growth in May as the terminals in Barcelona and Madrid.

The UK remained top of the league for country of origin of passengers, with some 620,922 British passengers moving through theMalaga-Costa del Sol airport – an increase of 10.2% over the last year. Domestic travellers were second, with German travellers coming in third (168,652) and then the Netherlands (117,971).

The great figures from May bring the country to a total of 6,487,745 passengers moving through Malaga airport across 48,922 flights during the first five months of 2017; equating to a 16% increase in operations and a 15.6% increase in passengers.

The Costa del sol continues to break all records with tourism