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/

Italy - Minister Frattini in phone calls to his Spanish and Mauritanian counterparts to discuss the kidnapping of Italian nationals

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini spoke today on the phone with his Mauritanian colleague, Naha Mint Mouknass. The Mauritanian Foreign Minister assured Frattini of his full cooperation in the search being conducted by his country’s security organisations for the kidnapped Italian nationals.

Minister Frattini also spoke with his Spanish colleague, Miguel Angel Moratinos, who offered his country’s support through its embassies in Mauritania and Mali.

Minister Frattini expressed his deep gratitude to his two colleagues. He also confirmed his determination to maintain the utmost media reserve on the operational instructions issued and the contacts being established in the region by the competent institutions. This is to ensure the safety of the kidnapped Italian citizens.

The Foreign Ministry will also refrain from issuing news to the media on any analysis and assessment regarding the place where the van was found in a region very near the border with Mali. This desert area is fairly distant from the north-south route between Mauritania and Burkina Faso which, it seems, was the kidnapped couple’s intended destination.

The authorities are pursuing all possible contacts and information that might further their investigations and help them take the appropriate action to obtain the release of our fellow nationals.

Source:isria.com/

Real Madrid signs Marko Jaric from Grizzlies for rest of Spanish league season

MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid has signed former NBA player Marko Jaric for the remainder of the Spanish league season.

The six-foot-seven guard has not played for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.

Jaric will be reunited with coach Ettore Messina nine years after they helped Kinder Bologna win Euroleague and Italian league titles.

Jaric then made the jump to the NBA, where he averaged 7.1 points and 3.6 assists in seven seasons. He spent three years with the Los Angeles Clippers and three more with the Minnesota Timberwolves before moving to Memphis last season, where he averaged 2.5 points in 53 appearances.

Jaric, 31, was a member of then-Yugoslavia's world championship-winning team in 2002

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i0fnmuilyXoI50Zj6V8Q0yBPF_Lw

Art & Architecture At Its Best – Tailor-made Holidays In Spain

Spain may conjure up pictures of sunloungers, sandcastles and beer, but arguably the best thing about the country is its incredible collection of art. Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Diego Velazquez were all born here, and a luxury holiday in Spain, tailor-made to explore the best of Spanish art, is the ideal way to explore this country’s impressive galleries and remarkable architecture.

If you want to sample the best of Spanish art, you can’t go wrong with a luxury holiday in Spain’s capital, Madrid or a short break to Bilbao to take in its magnificent Guggenheim Museum. Alternatively you could take a tailor-made holiday to Spain’s artistic and architectural mecca, Barcelona, perhaps incorporating a stay in a luxury Spanish villa.

Madrid

If you’re looking for the right location for an absorbing luxury holiday in Spain, Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations for visiting galleries. The Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado, has three galleries within a few minutes’ walk of each other.

First of all, there is the Prado Museum, with its unsurpassed collection of paintings by Baroque artists Velázquez and Goya. The Prado is the most famous of the three. The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Picasso's Guernica hangs. For anyone interested in modern art, a tailor-made holiday to Spain would be incomplete without a viewing of this dark masterpiece.

Barcelona

Luxury holidays in Spain’s magical city of Barcelona are hugely popular, one of the main reasons being its extensive range of fabulous art galleries. Stay in a boutique hotel near to the famous Ramblas, or spread out in a luxury Spanish villa, and embark on a tour of all the best exhibitions.

Among the best of the modern art galleries are the Fundació Joan Miró, the Picasso Museum and the Fundació Antoni, and the Museu Picasso features many of Picasso's early works. The Dali Museum is a short train journey from Barcelona and an important addition to a tailor-made holiday in Spain.

But the most visible art to be seen in Barcelona is in the design of its buildings. The highly original and fabulous work of architect Antoni Gaudi can be seen and explored throughout the city., but Gaudi’s best-known building is the immense but still unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia. This elaborate building, which looks like something out of a fairy tale, is a must see for any art holiday in Spain. Tailor-made itineraries should also include Gaudi’s wonderful Park Guell and Casa Mila building.

Bilbao

Bilbao was not a traditional destination for holidays in Spain, luxury or otherwise, until what is now the most recognisable feature of Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, opened in 1997. Built in shiny titanium, this fantastic building houses an unmatched collection of 20th century art, which rotates between Bilbao, Venice and New York.

US architect Frank Gehry based the design of the Guggenheim on the shapes of a fish and a boat, two important elements in the history of this former industrial city, whose chief activities were shipbuilding and fishing. The museum has injected new life into the city and tourists from all over the world are now flocking to take luxury holidays in Spain’s new area of cultural interest, Bilbao.

As well as being home to the famous Guggenheim Museum, the city’s Fine Arts Museum is recognised as one of the finest art galleries in Spain. A tailor-made holiday to Bilbao should include a visit to this highly prestigious gallery, which has over six thousand paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and objects from the 12th century to the present day.

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

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

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!

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