Portugal's parliament votes in favour of same-sex marriages

LISBON, Portugal — Portugal's parliament passed a bill Friday that would make the predominantly Catholic nation the sixth in Europe to permit gay marriage.

Conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva is thought unlikely to veto the Socialist government's bill, which won the support of all left-of-centre parties. His ratification would allow the first gay marriage ceremonies to take place in April - a month before Pope Benedict XVI is due on an official visit to Portugal.

Right-of-centre parties opposed the change and sought a national referendum on the issue, but their proposal was rejected and the government's bill was passed by 125 votes to 99.

Gay rights campaigners applauded from the galleries, hugged and kissed outside the building and ate wedding cake.

"This law rights a wrong," Prime Minister Jose Socrates said in a speech to lawmakers, adding that it "simply ends pointless suffering."

Socrates said the measure is part of his effort to modernize Portugal where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Two years ago his government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition.

Gay marriage is currently permitted in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Canada, South Africa and six U.S. states also permit it.

The bill removes a reference in the current law to marriage being between two people of different sexes.

"It's a slight change to the law, it's true," Socrates, the prime minister, said. "But it is a very important and symbolic step towards fully ensuring respect for values that are essential in any democratic, open and tolerant society: the values of freedom, equality and non-discrimination."

Like neighbouring Spain, which introduced same-sex marriages four years ago, Portugal is an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country and previous efforts to introduce gay marriage ran into strong resistance from religious groups and conservative lawmakers.

Paulo Corte-Real, head of a lobby group called Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Intervention, said Portugal had become a pioneering country in gay rights.

"This is a historic moment. We just hope (the bill) gets ratified quickly," he said.

Socrates said a referendum was not necessary because the gay marriage proposal was included in the Socialist Party's manifesto in last September's general election, when it was returned to power.

In 2001, a law allowed "civil unions" between same-sex couples which granted them certain legal, tax and property rights. However, it did not allow couples to take their partner's name, inherit their possessions nor their state pension, which is permitted in marriages.

A proposal from the Left Bloc and Green Party allowing gay couples to adopt children was voted down Friday. Gay campaigners said they would continue to fight for gay couples' parental rights.

The main opposition Social Democratic Party proposed granting non-married cohabiting couples of the same sex more rights, as in France, but its bill also was rejected.

Source:AFP

Spanish federation extends Del Bosque's stay

Madrid - The Spanish football federation said on Wednesday that national team manager Vicente del Bosque had agreed to extend his contract until 2012.

"The rule of the house has always been that the contract of the national manager is extended after qualifying for the World Cup finals, whatever happens in the tournament," said Angel Maria Villar, the president of the federation at its annual Christmas dinner with the media.

Villar added that "Del Bosque has managed to take our team to the highest place (in the Fifa rankings), and has known how to handle the rich inheritance that he received".

Villar continued his after-dinner speech by saying that 2009 had been a "spectacular year" because of the centenary of the federation, and because of the results obtained.

"We have qualified for the World Cup finals brilliantly, we are the leaders in the world rankings and we have won every match except against the United States (a 2-0 loss in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup)."

With regard to Spain's prospects at the World Cup, Villar said that "there is a lot of hope, we have a great team".

"But words are one thing and actions another thing. We will go with illusion, enjoying the fact that millions of Spaniards want us to be the champions of the world."

Villar finished by wishing Del Bosque a happy birthday. He is 59 on Wednesday.

Del Bosque, ever calm and composed, has done even better in charge of "La Seleccion" than even his closest friends and supporters hoped.

He took over in July 2008 just after Spain had elegantly won the European Championship in Vienna, when the explosive Luis Aragones - annoyed at Villar not offering him a contract extension earlier - signed for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

Del Bosque has wisely kept faith with the little ball players - men like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Silva and David Villa - who took Europe by storm in 2008, and has gradually added to the mix ambitious youngsters like Gerard Pique, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente.

He became the first national manager to win every single match in one of the European six-team World Cup qualifying groups - and can now prepare for South Africa safe in the knowledge that he will be staying in the job until 2012. - Sapa-DPA

Source:iol.co.za/

Many a Madrid in the United States

If you think you will have to travel to Europe to see Madrid, you will be surprised to know that there are many towns named Madrid in the United States. The original Madrid in Spain, no doubt, is very famous, thanks to the classics of Ernest Hemmingway, and also because it is a popular tourist resort.

Madrid, Maine is located in the heart of Franklin County and actually named for the Spanish capital. The tiny town has a population well under 200 residents and sits on the lovely banks of the Sandy River near Salem. Madrid, Maine dates back to 1887 and was settled by Free Baptists, who opened seven schoolhouses for the town’s children.

The state of Alabama has its own Madrid. This one is little bigger than Madrid, Maine. This town has a population of more than 300 and is located in Houston County which is a part of metropolitan Dothan. Just like Madrid Maine, this town is also named after the famous Spanish city of Madrid.

The third Madrid is in the state of New York next to the Grasse River. It was in 1801 that the first settlers came to this small area of land near Potsdam and Lisbon and called it Madrid. Later it was named New Madrid but finally the council decided to call it only Madrid. It is in St. Lawrence County. There was a large and successful grist mill in Madrid, New York for many years until it was eventually closed. This town also resembles its namesake in Spain.

The “Show Me” state also has a town named after the Spanish capital. New Madrid was founded in 1783 by two French settlers who came to the state, originally naming the town L’Anse a la Graisse. Today, New Madrid boasts a population of approximately 3,000 residents and is about 4.5 square miles in size. Approximately 45 miles south of Cape Girardeau and 145 miles south of St. Louis, New Madrid was completely destroyed by earthquakes in 1811 and rests directly on the New Madrid fault.

Another Madrid is in the Midwestern United States. It is just 25 miles northwest of Iowa's capital city. It was founded in 1846 by Swedish settlers, often referred to as a bedroom community of Des Moines. It happens to be the oldest Swedish settlement in the west of the Mississippi River. This small hamlet has become quite prosperous since the railway traveled through it. The town was renamed in 1882 and incorporated in 1886.

You can learn more about these towns from their town websites. They may be small, but they all are up-to-date with the latest technology and have firmly planted their place on the World Wide Web.

If you are interested in visiting the Spanish capital, but don’t have the time or money, check out the next best thing—Madrid, USA! There are many other American towns named after European capitals, so get our your atlas and complete a search.

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

Travel in Spain: Great free pocket travel guide of Barcelona

Flashbooking chose to provide backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide, mostly run by locals, in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies. For this and other reasons Flashbooking is becoming a recognized source of information and services for who loves creating a trip by him/herself and book bed nights securely online.

Flashbooking cheap lodging solutions are all available for online bookings and divided by Countries. Travellers have free access to the updated list of Europe hostels and budget hotels, North and South America hostels, Caribbean and Central America hostels as well as for Asia cheap accommodations, Oceania youth hostels and Africa hostels.

Flashbooking's happy travellers can book their rooms and beds not only in cheap hotels or cheap hostel Barcelona but also consider other budget accommodations in Bed and Breakfast, Guesthouses, Campsites, apartments, farm houses and much more.

Flashbooking accommodation database is easily available online and comes completed with all relevant information about youth hostel and hotel location and map, description, services, hostel contacts, customer ratings, six pictures and updated prices inclusive of taxes and services together with instant real availability.

Having the reservation final price is also convenient as it does give the transparency our users pretend while booking. Having the final total amount of your booking means you do not have to worry about other extra surprises!

Other reasons to chose Flashbooking? Flashbooking helps you saving money with a special promotion that allows travellers to earn money and credits of 1,5 euros by inviting other friends to subscribe and receive the monthly newsletter, rich of information about hostel and hotel deals. For each friend that sings up, our travellers get 1,50 euros: it is possible to earn up to 40 euros! These credits are immediately registered in the user's personal online account 'My Booking' and at the reach of 40 euros they are automatically deducted to pay your online hostel reservations!!!

With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers, students, volunteers free disposal some useful pocket travel guides of major European cities: the Amsterdam City guide, the London City guide, the Prague City guide, the Paris City guide, the Rome City guide, the Florence City guide, and the freshly issued Barcelona City guide!! For the Barcelona travel guide Flashbooking staff efforts concentrate on making it simple to read dividing the Barcelona centre in different districts with their relevant amenities.

The Barcelona free travel guide is full of essential hints on where to go, things to see, Barcelona's Museums, Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlò, Casa Milà, Palace of Catalan Music, Foundation Joan Mirò, Picasso Museum, Macba, CCCB, Mnac, shopping mall and flea markets, quality places reasonably priced where to eat Spanish famous tapas, the Catalan cream or drink cava wine, clubs and discos, budget hostels and cheap hotel deals to book, emergency numbers and more. The free City pocket guide of the Catalan City contains, in just 9 printable pages, all the essential information and very good suggestions divided by areas: Barcelona Ramblas, Barcelona Barrio Gotico, Barcelona Example, Barcelona Raval, Barceloneta, Barcelona Montjiuc and Barcelona Rivera.

Barcelona is renown for its open and friendly international people, art museums and Art Galleries, the sea, the movida and cheap lodgings, classic itineraries in the Catalan region and a lot more to make a visit worth wise.

In general, Flashbooking guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor. For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online.

In the Barcelona City guide students, families and backpackers can get a large selection of cheap or low cost accommodation with plenty of low cost solutions in budget youth hostels, Bed and Breakfast, guesthouses, cheap hotel deals.

Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

So mates, we are looking forward to finding you THE budget accommodation that meets your needs and pocket for your next trip! Last but not least, if you wish to help us, you can either give your personal ratings of some accommodations, lodgings, bed and breakfast Barcelona, youth hostels and budget small hotels where you stayed, or enlarging the hostel offer by reporting some new hostel contacts!

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La Sagrada Familia Past And Future

La Sagrada Familia can be found in Barcelona, in Catalonia in Spain and is renowned as Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece.

Although thought of as a cathedral, it is in fact, a basilica – the cathedral in Barcelona is the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia.

Gaudi was handed the project in 1884, but only after the founding association and the original choice of architect Francesc del Villar had irreconcilable disagreements with those behind the project.

Gaudi went back to the drawing board and came back with a completely new design. He worked on the project for more than 40 years and during the last 15 years of his life, he devoted his entire efforts to it.

As the building began to take shape, and reach further and further into the sky, the building began to take on a much talked about fantastical shape and the now world famous four spike shaped towers were crowned with geometrically shaped tops that were most likely influenced by the Cubist movement. The complicated decorations covering the basilica are rooted firmly with Art Nouveau styles.

Unfortunately, in 1926, before La Sagrada Familia could be completed, Antoni Gaudi died. The iconic towers were originally intended to be three times higher than they were. At this time, the Spanish Civil War broke out and parts of the unfinished basilica and Gaudi’s models and workshop were destroyed. No plans were left for the completion of the building and since then, work has continued on it with a variety of different architects, including Francesc Quintana and Lluis Gari. Famous sculptors such as J. Busquets and the controversial Josep Subirachs have work decorating the facades.

Work has continued on La Sagrada Familia with the original plans being reconstructed from historical notes and adapting it to modern times.

As Gaudi intended, every part of the basilica’s design is rich with Christian symbolism. He wanted the church to be “the last great sanctuary of Christendom”. In all, there will be 18 of the striking towers, representing in ascending order of height, the 12 Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and tallest of all – Jesus Christ. The four Evangelists towers will be topped with their traditional symbols, an angel, a bull an eagle and a lion – representing St Luke, St Matthew, St Mark and St John accordingly. The tallest tower will be surmounted by a huge cross.

There will be three grand facades – the Nativity, the Passion and the unfinished Glory façade. The Passion façade includes strikingly emaciated figures of Christ being whipped and crucified and the doors on this façade reproduce words from the Bible in various languages, including Catalan, and the Glory façade is to be decorated with words from the Apostle’s Creed.

La Sagrada Familia was the most popular tourist attraction in the whole of Spain in 2004 with 2.26 million people visiting the unfinished building.

It is hoped that, with the advent of quicker building technology than in the 1900’s when La Sagrada Familia was started, it will be finished in 2026 – the centenary of Gaudi’s death.

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