Found this cool timelapse video on Vimeo the other day. I had never heard of El Teide, but apparently its the tallest mountain in Spain, located on the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife. The video is mostly of the sky but also has some nature shots and is worth watching. This is not the Spain you're used to seeing.
Running With the Bulls is fairly common among bucket lists, and it should be. It was one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done. It's not like sky diving or bungee jumping in that you're pretty much at the mercy of your equipment or instructor once you jump, you have to move yourself through a crowd packed shoulder to shoulder, all pumped full of adrenaline and running full speed as 12 1000+ pound bulls/steer come charging for you.
For those of you who don't know what La Tomatina is, maybe you've heard of that big tomato fight in Spain? Or the world's largest food fight? La Tomatina is an annual event held on the last Wednesday of August in the small town of Buñol, Spain, about 40km from Valencia. The town comes to life, packing itself to capacity and bringing in over 90,000 pounds of tomatoes for the food fight.
Gibraltar is a unique place, whether you go to get your passport stamped or just to say you have been there, you have to get to the top of the giant rock and hang out with the Barbary Macaque Monkeys. It's a great opportunity to take an up-close picture of a semi-wild monkey, and it could be the closest you are ever able to get to a monkey and still be pretty assured you won't walk away with a disease or two; these monkeys are tested.
You may have read the article I published back in May about this El Camino Del Rey Hike. I just discovered that this hike is not going to be around much longer, at least not in its current "adventurous" state. If it sounds appealing, you better hurry up and get to Spain
Monte Louro is a small peninsular mountain wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and a small lagoon, Lagoa Xalfas, in Galicia, Spain. The Monte Louro Nature Preserve is accessible from AC-550, just north of the town of Muros. It’s a great day trip from Santiago de Compostela, just 45 miles if you take the coastal route, or if you want to stay the night campsites are available.
The Cathedral of Sevilla (or Seville) is the largest gothic building in the world, and third largest church in the world. It’s impressive from the outside, but you can’t really get a good feel for its magnitude until you see the inside. The 16th century cathedral was built on top of a former mosque, giving it a unique style. One of the highlights of Sevilla, do not miss it.
Morocco is not known for their beaches, however they do have beaches which will exceed your expectations. The beach in Tangier, although located near a port, was actually better than expected. Not world class, but better than you'd expect, and better than people may tell you. Head further south to Agadir and you'll find a beach which is quite nice, and has waves you can surf. If you're coming from Spain, don't expect the same type of beach culture you've grown accustomed to. You won't find any scantily clad sunbathers, or vendors walking the beach selling "La cerveza, la fanta, y el agua"; Morocco is a Muslim country with Muslim beaches. What you will find is sun, sand, and warm waters.
Some say its the most dangerous hike in the world, El Caminito Del Rey (also known as El Camino Del Rey) is definetely the most thrilling hike I've ever done. The path was originally constructed in 1905 for workers of a hydro eletric dam set up in the cliffs of El Choro. Since then, the path has deteriorated and is now only for the adventurous. The government of Spain allocated 7 million euros for the restoration of El Camino Del Rey in 2006, however its clear that this has not been spent yet.
If you're trying to figure out how to get from France to Spain during or around summer, then here's the answer. Rent a car and drive through the Pyrenees. If you enjoy driving, rent something sporty for the mountain roads. Stop and spend a few hours in the highest capital in Europe, Andorra La Vella. Enjoy the fresh mountain air, snap some photos, buy some novelty size bottles of alcohol for cheap, then continue on the pleasant mountain drive. Keep your eye out for castle ruins spread throughout, especially between Andorra and Spain. Expect steep tolls when driving the roads in France.
