Visit... Spain! TEN REASONS TO VISIT SPAIN

If someone would ask me the reasons to visit Spain, then I would reply that the diversity of landscapes and culture. Each region of Spain has a different accent, different personal character, different kinds of music, food, and even other languages.

Do you want to explore some possibilities? Perhaps you will find some inspiring ideas in the following lines!

Firstly we should start with the mountains. Even though when foreigners visualize Spain they imagine hot weather and sunny landscapes, the true is that the country is full of mountains. There are more than forty peaks over 3000 meters.

The highest is Teide (1), in the Canary Islands (Íslas canarias), with 3718 meters tall.

The second one is Mulhacén (2). This peak with an Arabian name, 3479 meters, and is located in the beautiful province of Granada.

Because a big part of Spain is in upland, and because the entire mountain rages that there are, it is possible to find snow during 9 months a year.

But, for people who may prefer the beach landscape, Spain could be but a paradise! The Peninsula is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and there is possiblity to find shores completely full of sand (perfect to play volleyball), or also places with stones and rocks to dive.

Here it is one that maybe you couldn’t expect. No, since it isn’t actually a beach, but a cape. Cabo de Finisterre (3) was considered by the Roman Empire the end of the World, the most western point of those times. Actually, “Finisterre” is the result of “Finis” (finish) plus “terre” (Earth). 

La manga del mar menor (4) (translated as “The sandbar of the Minor Sea”) is a seaside spit in Murcia. The strip which separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Minor Sea is 22km long and 100 meters wide. 

On the other hand, Almería (5) is one of the most attractive regions in Spain with really beautiful beaches. There you can find crystalline water, and amazing landscapes to walk, swim, dive or just sunbath on a towel!

Finishing with the landscapes, Desert of Tabernas (6), have to be mentioned since many people from abroad is expecting scourging heat in Spain and it, actually, is. It is located in Almería, in the south of Spain, and considered as the driest region of Europe. Wikipedia states; Almería is “region of Europe, with the continent's only true desert climate where annual rainfall reaches levels as low as 156 mm in coastal areas.”

One trivia related to this desert is that it was the landscape selected for many Western Movies, like “The good, the bad, and the ugly”. There is even a fake “cowboy” city from those times, which you can actually visit! 

Spanish parties and traditional celebrations should also be mention in this article. In Every region, there are plenty of them, and the diversity of these parties and their unique particularities are making them well known in the international level, even if they are happening just in a little town.

It is the case of “La tomatina” (7), in Buñol, a town with around 10 thousand inhabitants. In this festival the participants are throwing tomatoes and getting involved in this tomato fight just for entertainment purposes. Every year people from many different countries are going there just to participate in the infamous battle.

Other traditional celebration is the “Fallas” (8), in Valencia. This one is actually huge combination of activities and parties like the following:

La Despertà: or the wake-up call, when groups of people play music in the street at 8am, while others are throwing large firecrackers, with the purpose of awake the inhabitants. 

La Mascletà: it could be called by the Valencian people as the music of fire, since it is an explosive barrage of coordinated firecrackers and fireworks displays, taking place at 2pm every day during the festival (which means around three weeks daily). 

La cremà: to close the whole celebration, on March 19, when constructions called “Falles” are burnt as huge bonfires. During this night the whole city seems to be on fire… 

As to cities, there are for all tastes. The richness of monuments from the Roman Empire times, the Arabian times (Al-Andalus) or the Middle Ages buildings, palaces and castles, plus the modern creations, is a secure value for curious persons.

For example we can found a Roman theatre in Mérida (9) , which was built in the years 16 to 15 before Christ.

 

To finish this article, in Córdoba (10) it is possible to find a beautiful mosque from the eight century. It was built by the Visigoths as a catholic Basilica, but later was taken by the Muslims who conquered the Peninsula in 711 a.C.

Visit... the Netherlands!

Of course, if you want to visit the Netherlands, you might decide to book a flight from Wrocław to Eindhoven, take a bus or train to Amsterdam, stay there a couple of days, and return. That way, you will probably have a lot of fun - like many, many others before you.

But, believe me, there's so much more to my country than its capital city. Did you know there's a place where the paper bins talk to you? A city where people dress up the church tower? Would you like to spend time on an island given back to nature, to see thousands of redheads in one day, or to explore two countries during the same holiday? Read on.

If you feel like stepping away from the beaten path ("Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam"), and experiencing the area in a less touristic way, please consider spending some time in the following places.

1. Breda

When you visit this place, it's not hard to see why Breda became an official sister city of Wrocław. In medieval times it was a residence city of the House of Orange-Nassau (anchestors of our current royal family), and this attracted other nobles, who built residences in the city center and placed Breda at the center of political and social life in the Low Countries. Later on, the city became less important, but you can still find pretty buildings and a very nice atmosphere over there.

Breda's market square

Also, you might want to know that "Colonel" Thomas Parker, the manager of Elvis Presley, was born and raised in this city, as well as former and current no. 1 DJs Tiësto and Hardwell.

And gingers, attention please: each first weekend of September it's "Redhead Day" in Breda! This free of charge two-day summer festival is a gathering of people with natural red hair - in 2014 the festival attracted approximately 6.000 redheads from eighty different countries. (Leonardo..?)

2. Bergen op Zoom

Charming, medieval, but small and surrounded by bigger tourist magnets such as Antwerp and Rotterdam, Bergen op Zoom might be easily overlooked. So let me assure you that I'm not only mentioning this city because I was born here.

The "Gevangenpoort", the oldest monument in Bergen op Zoom.

The best time to visit this city is in summer when the Krabbenfoor (Crabs' Fair) takes place, or - if you are up for something totally weird - during Carnival, which takes place in February or March. Carnival is celebrated throughout the southern part of the country, and many people consider the celebration in their city or home town to be the best (including me), but Bergen op Zoom definitely has an unique way to celebrate it. Would you like to party wearing old clothes and curtains and a strange hat decorated with, well, everything you consider appropriate? Ever wanted to see a dressed-up church tower, that might even wink at you? Then this is your chance.

Carnival in Bergen op Zoom (c) Duevel

No matter when you're there: if you consider yourself a coffee, tea and/or ice cream lover human being, do not forget to make a stop at Crusio. Seriously. This ice cream parlor is open all year long and has received multiple awards. Delicious tea, delicious ice cream and - according to those who know - delicious coffee, so don't miss it.

3. the Dutch mountains

If the title above makes you think: "Wait... Are there mountains in the Netherlands?!" - congratulations, you are a well informed person. No, we don't have mountains. The Netherlands is almost as flat as can be. Therefore, the hilly area in the very south of the country seems a bit exotic - or "mountainous" - to us.

France? England? ...No, it's the Netherlands!

Here you can find the highest point in mainland Netherlands, on the Vaalserberg ("berg" = mountain) at an 'astounding' 322,5 metres above sea level. If that doesn't impress you: the area is also known for its castles, ancient lanes, an incomprehensible dialect, and the historical city Maastricht - birthplace, by way of the Maastricht Treaty, of the European Union and the Euro currency.

Go there, and explore this atypical Dutch area by yourself.

Maastricht

4. the Wadden Islands

All of the above places are located in the south in the Netherlands, so let's move to the very north now, before people start to think I'm a stubborn "southerner".

The Wadden Islands, also known as the Frisian Islands or Wadden Sea Islands, form an archipelago in northwestern Europe, stretching from the northwest of the Netherlands all the way through Germany and to the west of Denmark.

The largest Wadden Island: Texel (c) Miquitos

The islands are famous holiday destinations. Texel, being the largest island, offers the broadest range of possibilities: nature, musea, beach life, shops, discotheques... The other islands are more catered towards people who want quietness and relaxation.

Cycling is by and far the best way to get around on the islands. On Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog, cars are only allowed for regular inhabitants!

5. the beach

Not only the Wadden islands are known for having beautiful coastlines. Our neighbours - the Belgians and Germans - envy us because of our beaches. Of course most people go there in the summer time, when there's a chance(!) of having nice beach weather. (Do not expect Mediterranean temperatures in our moderate maritime climate.) But you can have a good breeze at the beach all year long, even during Christmas.

the beach at Domburg

6. Dutch nature

Nature reserves are rare in the Netherlands, small, and often not as 'wild' or 'natural' as you might expect, but not less beautiful than in countries where everything has more space.

The Veluwe, in the eastern part of the country, is a well-known tourist destination among Dutch people. The area features many different landscapes, including Europe's largest sand drifts. If you're up for something a bit less popular: in the south-west you can find De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide, a cross-border park close to Antwerp and my home town. A large part of the park is covered with heath, coloring purple in the period between June and September.

Planning to stay in, or close to, our biggest cities? The island Tiengemeten, just south of Rotterdam, was given back to nature in 2007, and in the Oostvaardersplassen (video below), close to Amsterdam, groups of wild Konik horses - originally from Poland - enjoy their freedom.

In a small country, everything - even nature - is nearby, so why not take some time to relax?

7. Dutch supermarkets and shops

Whether you go to the north, the south or somewhere in between: at some point you will get hungry. Going out for lunch or dinner is expensive in the Netherlands, so you might want to buy your food at a (super)market - at least every now and then.

This is also the place to go if you want to buy typical Dutch food. Dutchmen don't buy their food at expensive tourist shops, you see? So please be clever and get your stroopwafels (syrup waffles) and kaas (cheese) at places where we buy these products as well.

a Dutch cheese factory

Unless you are addicted to fridge magnets, I would recommend you to stay out of tourist shops at all. Try out some 'real' Dutch shops instead, such as Bruna, HEMA and Xenos, or - even better - spend some of your money at independent, unique local shops.

8. the Efteling

As a child, the Efteling was my favorite place in the Netherlands - no, in the world. This theme park has an enchanting fairy tale forest and many, many other attractions, including the first modern Madhouse in the world (Villa Volta) and a wooden racing coaster (Joris en de Draak - George and the Dragon) that is simply too much fun to incorporate. Add beautiful scenery, wonderful music, and statues of fat guys who say dankjewel - "thank you" - when you feed them with paper, and you know why I still love this park.

 

9. Belgium

"Say what?!?" Yes, I put Belgium in a list with places to visit when you're in the Netherlands... Since I grew up less than four kilometers away from the border between these two countries, I'm much more familiar with northern Belgium than with the northern part of my own country. And even if you're further away from the border: it takes maximum five hours to get to Belgium by train. Both countries are small, remember? So why not exploring two countries at once? (To the Dutchies who read this: get over it.)

I can give you at least two good reasons to visit Belgium: it has picturesque, rich Gothic cities (such as Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges) and more distinct types of beer per capita than anywhere else in the world. But even if there wouldn't be pretty churches and high-quality beer in Belgium, I would recommend you to go there, for just one sole reason: the cuisine. Some of the national dishes are so damn delicious, that I believe my taste buds are Belgian. (I have one Belgian great-grandparent, you know...) And some bonus points: going out for dinner seems to be less expensive - or worthier of the price - than in my own country.

Ghent offers a vibrant atmosphere and history – unlike Bruges, it is not a city-museum. (c) Milo-Profi

10. Amsterdam - on and off the beaten path

Okay, let's be honest: this list would not be complete without Amsterdam. Especially if you're about to visit the Netherlands for the first time, it would be a downright shame not to visit its capital city. And while some places in Amsterdam are totally 'beaten' by tourists. others are not. Apart from the city's highlights, my favorite places in Amsterdam are:

• the Centrale Bibliotheek (Central Library) - apart from the usual features of a library, this one offers two radio stations, an exposition area, a nice viewpoint (with self-service restaurant) on the top floor, and more;
• Chinese restaurant Mandarijn on Rokin street - usually filled with Chinese people, which is a good sign indeed;
• cake parlor De Taart van mijn Tante ("My Aunt's Pie") - expensive yet delicious cakes in a very, very kitsch and colourful place that either makes you smile (me) or frown (my dad);
• museum/bar House of Bols - especially on Friday evening, when all visitors get a €5,- discount, which means you can visit its interesting museum and drink a cocktail and two shots for €9,50 p.p. - ridiculously cheap for Dutch standards. 

And please remember: happy cycling is safe cycling!

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Disclaimer: These were my personal recommendations, based on years and years of living in the country (in two different places), what I've seen so far, and what I considered to be worth mentioning. Of course other Dutch people might disagree with me, and so may you after exploring the place by yourself.
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Feel free to comment, ask questions, add recommendations, or to thank me below!

Tot ziens! / Na razie! / See you later!

~ Wendy

Lets meet our new volunteer - Areg from Armenia

My name is Areg Azizyan and I am from Armenia. I graduated from the Armenian State University of Economics in 2008 and have a master`s degree in Business Organisation.  Then I started to work at the Armenian National Statistical Service as a surveyor-statistician. My team and I did many projects like Population and Agriculture Censuses. During my work I have socialized with some poor layers of society which extremely impact on my outlook. From this point of view I always try to take part in projects  concerning the question how to make life easier and safer. The deeper I go in such problems the more it becomes clear to me that in today’s world our society has lack of  such projects which could be contributed towards making life better. So, for me EVS, first of all, is an opportunity to make my own contribution in this process. Also, I hope to make good friends, to get lots of positive emotions. 

As for my hobbies I will mention the follows: swimming, reading, cooking and listening to music. But there is something which turned out to be my passion and it is more than just a hobby for me. It is footwear-design. Being a shoemaker`s son  I grew up with the smell of leather, glue and the process of shoem

aking in front of my eyes. Eventually, I ended up with making shoes by myself. With inner talent combined with the crucial skills I have learnt from my father made me the designer and producer of my own shoes, belts, wallets and even clothes. Anything could become a source of inspiration for me – an old pair of jeans, used leather coats and bags. During these last 10 years I have been working hard developing and experimenting with new materials and technics. Nearly all my free time I spend on either sketching or making shoes or accessories.

So during my EVS in Wroclaw I would like to make a project connected with design of shoes, bags, wallets, belts and clothes. This project will include an ecological and economical element in it. I will show how used materials, like an old pair of jeans or leather jacket, can be transformed into various things such as shoes, slippers, bags, bracelets etc... The message of this project will be the idea that there are lots of materials around us which we can use as a source for making useful and nice things instead of throw them away and polluting the environment. It will show what means recycling and why it is important in today`s world. Especially, I would like to work with the children aged 12 and above since I believe child`s comprehension is the strongest at this age. From this point of view, I consider their minds to be a blank sheet which are waiting to be filled. Moreover, it will develop their creativity and maybe some of them will decide to become a designer in future.

I think taking part in this program will be beneficial in many ways. Since I have never been to Europe, it is a great chance to socialize with people who speak other languages and have different mentalities, to get familiar with foreign culture. Beside it, working as a volunteer I will be able to improve my language, communicative and team building skills. Moreover, I will try to convey my knowledge, practice and my own culture to that society. Also I am eager to learn Polish, since I do believe it is not said at random “to learn another language is to possess a second soul”. Eventually, I just want to see the world and broaden my mind.

Christmas Traditions - Does Turkey celebrate Christmas?

In this article, we will focus on close historical ties between Christianity and Anatolia where modern Turkish Republic settled. During the reign of Constantine I of Roman Empire, Anatolian people met Christianity. As you might know, Constantine I was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, and he moved the capital of the Empire to Constantinapole, todays Istanbul in Turkey. The first eight Ecumenical Councils, which eminent bishops made an attempt to reach an orthodox consensus and to unify Christendom, were held in Anatolia. Christianity is a global religion and the roots were founded in Anatolia. What is more, some important figures for Christianity was born in this rich soil, such as Paul the Apostle. If we need to create a relationship between Christmas and our country, Turkey is the place where Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus and Father Christmas, was born in 270, lived his life and died in 343 in Demre (Myra), Turkey and also his Church and Tomb were built there. He is very important figure for Orthodox Christianity and every year thousands of tourists come and visit his Church. 

Although Anatolia has been safe haven for Christian communities, after the birth and spread of Islam, Anatolia became a Muslim community. Nowadays, Modern Turkish Republic is a so-called secular state that applies holidays in accord with Islam. 

Ramadan Bairam is the most famous Muslim holiday. We will take you an imaginary trip to Ramadan Bairam in Turkey. Islam Religion uses moon calendar, hicri calendar, in which a year is 11 days shorter than sun based the gregorian calendar. That’s why every year Ramadan Bairam has been celebrated different times, 11-12 days earlier than the previous year. Ramadan is a month in moon calendar, at the end of this month, 4-day-National-Holiday has been declared as Ramadan Bairam in Turkey. 

Before Ramadan Bairam days, everyone is ready for this religious festival. New clothes are bought for children. Cologne, candies, and chocolates are bought to serve welcoming guests. That’s why, Ramadan is the favourite festival for children. During Ramadan, elder people gave pocket money to youngsters and kids. Moreover, children are free to go and knock the doors of neighbours, (even though they do not know each other) celebrate their Bairam, and ask for candies and pocket money.

The first day of Ramadan, Muslim people pray in mosques, but only men are allowed to perform Bairam Namaz. The other days of the festival, the Muslims visit their relatives, friends and neighbours. Cologne, sweet and candies are served in these meetings. Ramadan is a day that people who broke up each other, come together. During Ramadan, Muslims go to the graveyards and visit their relatives’ graves, and pray for their souls.