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Spanish-speaking
Fascinating Facts
1. There are four official languages in Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician.
2. Approximately 5.8% of Internet users speak Spanish, making it the 4th most common language in the Internet community.
3. The Hispanic world has brought the world many traditional and intercultural dances: Flamenco (inspired by Gypsy and Andalucian cultures), Salsa (Latin American), Merengue (Hispano-African) and Mambo (Afro-Cuban) to name but a few!
4. Although predominantly Catholic, Spain agreed to same sex marriages all the way back in 2006.
5. The word ‘chocolate’ is originally from the Mexican indigenous Nahuatl, later being adopted by languages worldwide.
6. Spanish is the second most used language in international communication, as well as being an official language of the UN and its organizations.
7. Spain is the only country in the world to have a festival dedicated to the tomato: La Tomatina.
8. It is widely claimed that the word 'gringo' came into the language as a result of the American marines singing ‘Green grow the lilacs grow...’. Opinions differ though!

  • The Mole Diaries: Guanajuato

    Written by  Adam Sears
    Adam Sears, Spanish student from Newcastle University, gives us his views and opinions on one of Mexico's most photogenic cities, after having spent his year abroad there...
  • The Mole Diaries: Barcelona

    Written by  Giovanna Perciballi
    Giovanna Perciballi has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and English Literature from The State University of New York at Albany.  She's also done a Masters Degree in Literature from the University of London, Institute of English Studies.  She moved to Barcelona  in September 2009 to experience a new culture and teach English as a second language. 
  • Altiplano

    Written by  Nick Goodchild Thursday, 01 July 2010
    Salt Lake City - the Altiplano, Bolivia Soundtrack - Boards of Canada, which I was introduced to while I was in Patagonia. Warmly surreal chillout, went perfectly with the warmly surreal surroundings.

    ‘Salar de Uyuni’ read the sign outside the tour office on the main street of San Pedro. I walked in with D and O, my new friends who I met on my arrival to this desert town.
  • Vivacious Valencia

    Written by  Emma Hutchings Tuesday, 13 July 2010
    Valencia, Spain - beach, party, sunshine, tapas, las fallas

    The nightlife in Valencia is unforgettable! Typically, the Valencianos tend to go out around 1am to a few bars before hitting the clubs at 4am with most clubs closing at 8am!! The timetable of the Valencianos takes some getting used to as the party into the early hours of the morning. The biggest club is Las Animas (located on the beach) and features an incredible roof terrace in summer. There's nothing like watching the sun rise at 7am whilst dancing on a roof terrace overlooking the Mediterrenean sea! (Tip: if you become a member of tillate.es you can sign up to VIP list which means if you enter before 3am it's free as opposed to paying €18 on the door or €10 with a ticket!). Another popular club during the winter is Pacha (again free entry with tillate.es). My personal favourite club is Mya, which is situated under the City of Arts and Sciences.
  • Spectacular Salamanca

    Written by  Sarah Hutchings Tuesday, 13 July 2010
    Salamanca, Spain - stunning, beautiful, homely, hot, quaint

    I spent last summer in Salamanca and it is genuinely the most beautiful place I have ever visited. I studied in the University which is in a stunning building in itself situated next to the cathedral. Small, quaint, gorgeous winding roads line the centre of Salamanca with tapas bars, shops and restaurants aplenty. In summer, Salamanca can easily reach 40C so the outdoor pool located on the other side of the River Tormes is a must. The small gardens next to the Cathedral are relatively unknown and hidden away through a secret garden-esque gate. They open you up to some stunning views of the city, as well as a quiet retreat where locals play guitars. As a city overtaken by uni students, it is unquestionable that Salamanca has become a destination for nightlife. Not so much to do with clubs, but with the different bars and the famed Irish Rover that hosts different nights with themes from around the world. The Chupitería is a popular bar offering a wide range of inventive shots for €1. Throughout my time in Salamanca I could not get over the stunning buildings that line the city. Sandstone and intricate details are common features of all buildings and the blue skies and colourful flowers provide a gorgeous backdrop to a quaint, typically Spanish city.
  • The Mole Diaries: La Paz

    Written by  Andrew Cummings Wednesday, 15 September 2010
    For part of his year abroad, Andrew Cummings spent seven months working as a journalist for the Bolivian Express, based in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. This is what he had to say about one of Latin America’s best-kept secrets...
  • The Mole Diaries: Sevilla la Maravilla

    Written by  Rachel German Thursday, 12 August 2010

    Rachel German, Spanish and Anthropology graduate from Sussex University, tells us about her year abroad in Seville, a beautiful town sitting prettily within the Andalusian back-country, in Spain.  

     

  • Un techo para Chile

    Written by  Nick Goodchild Saturday, 17 July 2010
    Soundtrack of the weekend: I played The Chemical Brothers from a portable speaker and it was surprising how much it helped us to work. Energetic, melodic, amazing!

    The Chilean earthquake is old news. But to some the effects of the earthquake are still acutely present, even after all this time. It was estimated that around 500,000 homes were destroyed, their inhabitants left literally homeless. It is this situation that the charity Un Techo Para Chile is trying to solve. ‘A roof for Chile’. What a noble spirit of community that simple name evokes. They build houses not only for earthquake victims but also for other people who need homes, in an attempt to get them out of the refugee-style camps that are so common throughout the country. They were given funds by the government to buy materials for new homes, and then they appeal for volunteers to go and build them. Young people, often university students, go in busloads every weekend. I wanted to see more of how Chile had been affected and how people were coping, and I wanted to join in the work that Techo Para Chile was doing for them. So I signed up with them and went to build a house.

  • Madhouse Madrid

    Written by  Sarah Hutchings Tuesday, 13 July 2010
    Madrid, Spain - big, exciting, beautiful, cultural, never-sleeping

    Madrid is such a big, beautiful city and you never run out of things to do or places to go. There is always an adventure to go on and something new to see! At first the size of Madrid can be quite overwhelming and the university quite disorganised - once you have settled into the Spanish life-style of 'mañana, mañana' it is a lot easier. When I first arrived in Madrid I was rather overwhelmed by the size of the city and found it hard adapting to life there. However, I settled in quickly and got used to the fast-paced, exciting lifestyle that the Madrileños enjoy. It's all about the siestas and then fiestas. Café con leche and tapas in the evening is a real ritual here. You will eat dinner at 9pm, drink cocktails at 11pm and go dancing at 2am. The nightlife in Madrid is an experience in itself.
  • Soundtrack: I am heavily indebted to J for introducing me to Fever Ray, whose album I listened to at least 6 times while staying there.

    It had been a while since I arrived back from my trip to Patagonia. For two months I hung out in Santiago absorbing the sights and the sunshine, keeping myself entertained and doing some paid work here and there. But at the same time I was getting restless. I wasn’t going to be here forever, and I wanted to see more, go somewhere new. I had already seen the South, so it was time to swim up stream, to go North. My first stop was La Serena, 6 hours North by bus. J, a friend from England, lives there and said that I could stay with her for a few days. Welcome news to my ears because it meant I didn’t have to pay for accommodation, and I was on a tight budget.
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