Spanish lottery hands out more than $3 billion

Spain's Christmas lottery, probably the world's richest, was won earlier in the week by 1,950 people with tickets bearing the number 78294. The lottery is known as 'El Gordo' which literally means 'The Fat One' and is highly anticipated event each year, being held on 22 December.

Each ticket holder will collect $430,000 in winnings and thousands of other people won smaller prizes.

Tickets with the winning number were apparently sold in a Madrid city center lottery office.

The drawing of the winning numbers by students at Madrid's Saint Ildefonso School is a nationally televised event and excitement builds dramatically across Spain in the weeks leading up to it. The lottery is now firmly entrenched as a Spanish holiday tradition.

Whilst there are other lotteries with higher individual top prizes, El Gordo is the world's richest on account of the total sum paid out which is a staggering $3.33 million. There is no single jackpot but rather a share in the top prize.

Source:onlinecasinoreports.com/

Essential Things To Do When You Visit Barcelona

Barcelona is such a breathtaking city. If you are planning to target European cities as a vacation spot, Catalonia’s capital and Spain’s second largest city should be on the top of your visit list. Here, you have numerous beautiful places to see and explore and you will have a lot of activities to engage in to make the trip worth your while.

During your stay in this beautiful city, don’t miss out on visiting some of Antonio Gaudi’s world famous creations like the Sagrada Familia Cathedral (Holy Family Cathedral) which is one of Gaudi’s biggest buildings that is still unfinished even up to this day. The most popular park in Barcelona which is the Park Güell is also one of his designs. It has been declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site. You can find here the famous dragon as well as unique monuments of unconventional shape and design. A spectacular view of the city can be seen from its terrace. The park is free for the public to visit and is open every day.

A visit to Picasso Museum at the center of the city will mystify and amaze you with some of Picasso’s famous works. A must visit also is the Maritime Museum. An art enthusiast can find dozens of museums in Barcelona.

Try taking a walk through the lively street of La Rambla. You can make a stop at the second largest opera theatre called “el Liceu.” This area is a popular place to dine, shop and most especially do some sightseeing.

If beaches are your thing, Barcelona has several to offer. Playa la Barcelona is just ten minutes away from central Barcelona. You could also opt for Sitges Beach which is outside the city.

For a visit to Gothic monuments, take a stopover at Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter). This place is filled with squares of bars and cafes with a busy market at its heart. If you visit the square on a Sunday you will get a chance to see some dancers perform a traditional Catalonian Dance called sardana.

If you are looking for leisure time visit some of Barcelona’s attraction parks like the one in Tibidabo or experience a three dimensional movie in IMAX Barcelona. If you have the extra time you can take a train for a one hour trip to an amusement park called Universal’s Port Aventura in Tarragona, a city near Barcelona. Take a ride in their roller coaster or enjoy the different country themes (China, Mexico, Polynesia, Mediterranean, and the Far West) that the park is offering.

Barcelona is also home to Europe’s largest aquarium. Enjoy the experience of seeing marine creatures, fishes, water flowers and animal invertebrates.

For a good night out, Barcelona has a lot of restaurants and bars. A nice dinner coupled with a glass of sparkling cava (local champagne) will prove to be a romantic evening. Try roaming through Port Vell where you will find Maremagnum Center for an array of shops, restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars. The Ribera, St. Gervasi and Gracia should also be considered.

When in Barcelona don’t overlook taking a taste of their delectable Catalan cuisine. Try sampling the escudella, suquet de peix and their wide array of fish and seafood dishes. For dessert, try crema catalana (custard with a caramel crust) and mel i mató (cottage cheese and honey).

If you haven’t done your shopping check out Eixample for fashion shops and jewelry stores. The Pesseig de Gracia is also abounding with commercial galleries. You can also find two department stores with designer boutiques in the Diagonal area. In Placa de las Glories Catalanes is a flea market called Mercat de les Encants selling unique antiques and trinkets.

You will surely enjoy your Barcelona experience. Visit Barcelona!

Great Places To Stay In Barcelona

A most populous and the capital city of Catalonia – Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the major economic center. It is one of the most lively and elegant cities in the world. The city has much more to see and offer from the historical buildings to skyscrapers, beaches, parks and museums bars, restaurant and typical Catalan dishes. The city has the honor of having the second largest airport in Spain.

Barcelona has a very strong historical background. It is still astonishing that such a dynamic and modern city still preserves its history. The traces of it can be seen in the Museum, which houses many relics. As it has a Mediterranean type of climate with dry winters and warm, humid summers the best time to visit this place is in the onset of summer or spring.

The city has many commercial complexes around 68 municipal parks of which 6 are forest parks, 45 urban parks 12 historic parks and 5 thematic parks. The Montjuic Park is the largest one, which is situated on a mountain. The ciutadella Park has several museums, zoo and the parliament building. The park itself is built on an old military citadel.

Barcelona is known for its fashion fiesta, food and fun, the city sizzles with the events happening round the year, discotheques, concerts, Shows, bars. Night is buzzing in Barcelona with its vibrant and lively cultural activities and amusement. Beaches in Barcelona are most happening places.

The oldest and the most visited beaches are separated by other beaches from the Olympic port. These beaches have pristine beauty and panoramic view and are the most popular leisure spaces.

The tryst with the city is incomplete without seeing the museums. There are many museums, which cover many areas and time period. These museums give you the complete picture of the city, lifestyle, civilization of the past and the development in the present.

It has all the track records of the events in chronological order and the historical figures. Sports in Barcelona are the center of attraction and the first choice of every individual. The FC Barcelona is the world famous sports club well known for its football team all over the world. It has successful hosted several grand sports event of football world cup, XFINA world championship, Eurobasket and the most coveted event the Olympics. Being in this city you will experience the modernity with the tinge of ethnicity.

In the friendly hotels in Barcelona you will find the world-class accommodation and services. It is more due to the tourist-oriented nature of the city, that you can find a hotel that is suitable for every budget. Restaurants in Barcelona offer some of the finest delicacies that make their way from around the globe.

It is such an advantage for the international visitors that they can find the best of culinary from their continent right in the restaurants of the city. The luxury hotels in the city offer air-conditioned rooms, health clubs and spas, airport pickup and drop facility, car rentals and many more services. It is best to make prior reservations before making your way to the city to avoid last minute hassles

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Spain Travel Year Round Events

Spain is one of the better countries in the world with rich culture based on religion and customs. The country is inhabited of about 45 million people of whom 80-94% are Roman Catholics. This is the reason why local as well as national events are based on Catholicism and faith. Spain is also home to several great things to do. While in this country, you will never have to worry how to spend your days because believe it or not, Spain travel can give you total vacation experience.

Here are some of the events you can catch and the things you can do if you decide to travel to Spain:

Run with the bulls. If you dare and tough enough to face the challenge of running with the bulls or simply want to join the fun without actually getting face to face with the bull, Pamplona should be your destination. The festival happens every July and has already attracted visitors from all parts of the world. The celebration is offered to San Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona. This religious and unusual celebration makes Pamplona a good destination for your Spain travel.

Skiing and Mountaineering. Visit Catalunya, Aragon, and Torremolinos and Malaga in Andalucia and stay at one of the top winter resorts in Spain. Perfect time to go is during the late spring where you can have your winter sports by day and go at the beach and sunbathe in the afternoon.

Watch the Primera Liga Live. See you favorite football stars like Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Ronaldo, and David Beckham as they all play for the best football team in the UAFA Cup: Real Madrid.

Café all Day. Treat yourself in the relaxing day at one of the café in Spain. The country has lots of cafés in every village, town, and city where you can spend your whole day chatting with friends or alone savoring the Spain environment.

Go to local village fiesta. Spain travel might not be complete if you haven’t seen any local village fiestas. Since every town has their own patron saints to offer thanksgiving, you can never miss attending one. Fiestas normally have parades, religious activities, and parties during the night.

Meet the Artists. Spain travel would introduce you to several world-renowned artists. Visit Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Barcelona beach’s giant copper fish and other Gehny’s contemporary structures. Know more about the art of Antoni Gaudi in his structures at Barcelona and get introduced with his unusual tile style and graceful organic curve.

Take a glimpse of Diego Velazquez’s art in Prado Gallery in Madrid. Diego Velazquez painted the "Old Woman Cooking Eggs" and "The Rokeby Venus". And of course, who would not recognize Pablo Picasso? See his work Guernica at the Reina Sofia. Or visit the Picasso Foundation in Malaga.

Stay during the Holy Week. Spain travel is also ideal during holy week where the whole country commemorates that passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. See all the plays, activities, traditions, and the celebration of the country. If you are not a Catholic, you can still witness this activity.

Eat Snails. The Snail Festival happens every snail Lleida give you a different appetite for food. Although snails are the main course, you can also drink, dance, and eat other local foods all day and all night.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com