[12 october] Happy National Day Spain!

Day 3,614, 00:02 Published in Spain Romania by VampireA
Spain


General information



Population : 46,5 milion people (30th in the World,7th in Europe)
Total Area : 505,990 km^2 (51st in the World,4th in Europe)
Official languages : Spanish
Co-official languages: Catalan,Galician,Basque and Occitan
Official currency : Euro(EUR)
Capital : Madrid
Population density : 92 people/km^2 (112nd in the World,27th in Europe)
Top 5 biggest cities : Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza

Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, the Cortes Generales (General Courts). The executive branch consists of a Council of Ministers of Spain presided over by the Prime Minister, nominated and appointed by the monarch and confirmed by the Congress of Deputies following legislative elections. By political custom established by King Juan Carlos since the ratification of the 1978 Constitution, the king's nominees have all been from parties who maintain a plurality of seats in the Congress.
The legislative branch is made up of the Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) with 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and a Senate (Senado) with 259 seats of which 208 are directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms.
The Spanish State is integrated by 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities, both groups being the highest or first-order administrative division in the country. Autonomous communities are integrated by provinces, of which there are 50 in total, and in turn, provinces are integrated by municipalities. In Catalonia, two additional divisions exist, the comarques (sing. comarca) and the vegueries (sing. vegueria) both of which have administrative powers; comarques being aggregations of municipalities, and the vegueries being aggregations of comarques. The concept of a comarca exists in all autonomous communities, however, unlike Catalonia, these are merely historical or geographical subdivisions.



National sport : Football






National animal : Bull (Bos taurus)



National Flower : Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)





National Tree : Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)





Traditional instruments : Spanish guitar



Castanets



Tambourine








The significance of the 12nd of October

October the 12nd is the Spanish national day, also knowed as “the Hispanic day” or “the race day” (dia de la raza translated to spanish).The spanish people commemorate America’s discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Since 2000, October 12 has also been Spain's Day of the Armed Forces, celebrated each year with a military parade in Madrid. To commemorate it, there is a parade led by the military (usually held in Madrid) and presided over by the Spanish king, who is the head of state, since Spain is politically organized as a constitutional monarchy.

*Coat of arms





Once again I preffer mythology over the other stories.. ever wondered why on the coat of arms of Spain there are 2 pillars?? Well this is your chance to find out...
The pillars of Hercules

Once upon a time the World had no limits. It was a closed world, within a huge inner sea surrounded by the Unknown. This world was inhabited by gods and mortals alike. Zeus, the father of them all, had a son with a woman. This son was Hercules, a giant. Hercules grew up and had several children but one day he killed all of them out of rage. In order to redeem for this, he was sent by the Delphi Oracle to serve a king for twelve years. He had to do everything the king asked him to and had a total of 12 tasks.

Now we will reach the 10th task and the reason of this myth: Geryon’s cattle!

To accomplish his tenth labor, Hercules had to journey to the end of the world. Eurystheus ordered the hero to bring him the cattle of the monster Geryon. Geryon was the son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe. Chrysaor had sprung from the body of the Gorgon Medusa after Perseus beheaded her, and Callirrhoe was the daughter of two Titans, Oceanus and Tethys. With such distinguished lineage, it is no surprise that Geryon himself was quite unique. It seems that Geryon had three heads and three sets of legs all joined at the waist.

Now time for the pillars … According to the legend, mounts Abila and Calpe were known as the Pillars of Hercules since it was him who separated the two promontories at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar which kept the Mediterranean entrance of The Strait .



When Hercules had gone in search of the cattle he arrived to Eritia (one of the old islands over which nowadays is settled San Fernando town in the province of Cadiz), next to the Ocean, and after sailing all the navigable sea he intended to go further but he found chaos and darknes. So he set the pillars there, as a memorial for having seized the cattle and as a way of fixing the end of the sea so that sailors knew that they shouldn´t go any further. The northern pillar is the Rock of Gibraltar at Gibraltar (the British enclave on the Spanish south coast) and the southern pillar has been identified as one of two peaks: Jebel Moussa (Musa), in Morocco, or Mount Hacho, near Ceuta (the Spanish exclave on the Moroccan coast). So the pillars established the limit between Africa and Europe.



Interesting legend .. and for more info ask here or search on the interntet , in books.. also the spanish people are glad to explain more for you.







Top 5 visited places by tourists


Valencia

Time for a little tour of the region of Valencia give for you with a little help from akashapeke. I will start with history and what better place then Sagunto and its famous roman ruins:


Let’s move a little in time forward and reach the medieval time .. there is a little city that reminds us of this, it is called Morella , if you don’t trust me .. just see:



After tacking a tour trough history would be nice to relax a little and the city of Benidorm is the perfect places with its nice beaches, parties, places to visit just a good place for the usual tourist to spend time, energy and money:



Now that we are a little tired I know a nice place, a wonder of nature where you could relax a little … It is called "el salto de la novia", a place of legends and a nice place to swim a little in the clear water.. you can find it in the city of Navajas.



I think we are reaching the end of this small guide but what better thing to end with then the great city of Valencia, located on the east coast of Spain right at the Mediterranean sea, it is the 3rd largest city of Spain. It has most striking architecture in the country, adding to the wealth of elegant Art Nouveau buildings that line the streets, as well as Gothic and Renaisssance monuments. With dynamic museums, a flourishing restaurant scene, lively nightlife, great shops and miles of beach, Valencia is bursting with Mediterranean exuberance. And a walkable centre means you can drift from the medieval monuments in golden stone to the avenues lined with elegant buildings, stopping at pavement cafés along the way.
Places you must visit .. I would say to start with the central market of valencia and the central mail building.. doesen’t seem that much but you can have a taste of the arhitecture and from there on to visit more sights full of tourists..



What better way to end it if not with a festival, it is called “Fallas” .. just to tell you the short story.. Each neighbourhood of the city has an organised group of people, the Casal faller, that works all year long holding fundraising parties and dinners, usually featuring the noted dish, paella, a specialty of the region. Each casal faller produces a construction known as a falla which is eventually burnt during the festival that is from 15 march till 19 march.

The Falles festival was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage of humanity list on 30 November 2016.



Spanish islands
*Formentera



*Tenerife


*Mallorca

Spain has some of the most beautiful islands in Europe. The largest Spanish Islands are equally divided between the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. East of the Spanish mainland, the four chief Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca and Menorca) maintain a character distinct from the rest of Spain and from each other. Mallorca is the largest and best-known Balearic island while Ibiza is famous as a party destination. The Canary Islands, also known as the Canaries, are located just off the southern coast of Morocco in the Atlantic. They are popular for their beautiful beaches, mild climate and important natural attractions, especially the Maspalomas Dunes in Gran Canaria and the Teide Volcano in Tenerife.


Catalonia country




*Camp Nou


I present you Catalonia country and its beauties through the eyes of akashapeke. One of the most visited places in Europa at the moment and what better place to start then the city of Barcelona. Probably in top 3 cities visited in Europe at the moment , you have many beauties from historical ones to nightlife but I think one of the things that makes this city special is the catalan modernist style created by Antoni Gaudi with it’s 2 jewels: Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera.

*Sagrada familia


*La Pedrera

Also you can’t avoid the marvelous Barceloneta beach.



And for a last atraction of this city, the football team and it’s stadium: Camp nou.


*Camp Nou

Now you saw a glimpse of this city let’s see what else we can see in Catalonia and I would propose a pretty well-known tradition calle😛 Castellers; constisting in creating a human tower being declared by UNESCO “ to be amongst the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” I am sure you can catch it at many festivals of this region.

If you don’t believe me here is a photo :



And speaking about traditions here is another intersting one called “correfocs” that is about a group of individuals that dress as devils and light fireworks - fixed on devil's pitchforks or strung above the route. Dancing to the sound of a rhythmic drum group, they set off their fireworks among crowds of spectators. The spectators that participate dress to protect themselves against small burns and attempt to get as close as possible to the devils, running with the fire. Other spectators will watch from "safe" distances, rapidly retreating as necessary.



Now let’s move to history and the city of Taragona with its famous ruins that design a World Heritage Site acording to UNESCO.



And if we are speaking of history you can see medieval towns such as Besalu or Camprodon.





And to finish with a touristic city, I say you could also try Girona, a nice walk sightseeing would really make your day. That should be enough to make you hungry for Catalonia, feel free to visit it or ask more questions in the comment section, I am sure someone will help with answers.

Madrid
*Palacio Real


*Plaza Mayor




*Santiago Bernabeu

Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry.


Toledo







Perched on a mountaintop in central Spain, Toledo served as the Spanish capital until the 16th century. Because it was inhabited by Jews, Christians and Muslims for many centuries, the city is sometimes called the “City of Three Cultures.” Today, Toledo is a popular destination for its wealth of historic art and architecture that dates back to the Roman Empire. The best thing to do in Toledo is to get lost amid the medieval streets and admire the old architecture that includes a stunning cathedral, synagogue and mosque.





Top 3 locations suggested by the locals

Basque country


Having more sources I will try something different here. 1st I will present the Baque country from the eyes of Old Bilbao: We will start with San sebastian that is a beautiful city, beautiful seaside with an outstanding culinary tradition and many historic buildings , you will regret not seeing it if you are in those parts.



*San Sebastian


Next we will go to San juan de Gaztelugatxe or how a couple you know it as Dragonstone (GoT refference).


*San juan de Gaztelugatxe


Now that we walked and visited a little it is time for a break.. let me tell you a little secret : 2 of the top 10 Worlds best restaurants are in the Basque Country; so gastronomy is at it’s best in this part of the world, you would better not miss it. Now that we had a pause and ate a little time for visiting again.


There are numerous festivals in July and August .. most of them in Pamplona, San Fermin or even Bilbao.. you chose where you want… I think the little tour made you hungry for more about the Basque country so ask in the comments for more info.



*Pamplona festival

Andalusia

Let’s continue with another charming region, Andalusia presented with the help of Kekco. I will start by saying it is a huge region so it would be hard to say too much about it in one article but let’s try to point a few things. 1st city on this presentetion is Cadiz, being the city I have the most intel about. Will say about it that is an old city, formed by merchants (being at the seaside) with many civilization that settled in this place, such as Cartago, Rome, Bizantine empire, or muslims. Cadiz reached its peack when they hold the commerce route from America, after the colonies were lost, the city lost its importance but not its beauty.
A little test .. guess the meaning of the coat of arms, you can find it in the article:

Now let’s see a few sights :

*Cadiz cathedral

*Parque del Genovés

Also you can find a lot of beaches here such as: Tarifa, Bolonia, Caños de Meca.


*Bolonia Beach

There are many more to say but time to continue with something else, for the moment we say: “Goodbye Cadiz”. Now let’s continue with other beautiful cities but wear in mind the next wor😛 “moorish”.. Andalusia has many moor influences.
Next city is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Spain, Granada is the capital of the Granada province. Granada offers a perfect blend of traditional cultures, an animated nightlife and spectacular attractions including the world famous Alhambra, a pinnacle of Moorish art that encapsulates Andalusian history.
*Alhambra Palace.

There is also a famous quote about this city: “There is nothing sadder in the life than being a blind person in Granada”.

*From what you can see the sunsets are marvelous.

If Andalusia didn’t get you till know.. let’s try another city : Sevilla.

Well known for “the Giralda” a muslim tower that nowadays is part of the cathedral, but there are more to see int his city like the Palace of Alcazar and many more, if you don’t trust me just visit it.


*The Giralda


*Palace of Alcazar

Let’s finish with another city with moorish influence: Cordoba and it’s famous Mosque ( the Mezquita). The structure is regarded as one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture.



Each city has awesome and historical constructions so I would recommend a big tour along Andalucia. You can also taste different meals, because each region has its own special food.
With an astonishing weather, it is also the best place to have a rest at the beach. Cities like Malaga or Cadiz (Specially Sancti Petri) are perfect.


North Spain and it’s regions : Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria

This is the last region of the article that I present, hope you enjoyed them till now cause I surely did and also learned a lot of things. The regions of Galicia, Asturia and Cantabria are presented for you with the help of ymyoli.bz so let’s start.
Galicia
Let’s say we land in A Coruña and want to start visiting. It is a historic city whose history has maintained close links with its old fishing and commercial port but also has a few spaces that show the more modern and playful side of the city. Start with The tower of hercules and after that keep geting lost in the city and see as much as you can.. try to go south and you will eventually reach Santiago de Compostela after a 30 min bus or train ride.



If you are the type who likes relaxing and enjoying the beach I would recomand trying Sanxenxo in Pontevedra or Playa de las catedrales in Lugo, you won’t regret this, here.. take a peak:

*Sanxenxo

*Playa de las catedrales

If you like nature .. I have some sugestions you can enjoy. Let’s start with the Cíes Island … the pride of all Galicians. Declared a natural park in 1980, these islands represent the crown jewels of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park since 2002. Spectacular scenery and not-so-difficult hiking trails make Cíes an ideal destination for the whole family.


If this didn’t convince you then try "Los cañones del sil", a gorge in Galicia, Spain along the Sil. it covers the last 50 km before the Sil enters the Minho. The scenery is considered to be the most spectacular one in Galicia. The walls rise almost vertically up to 500 m from water level. Due to the extraordinary terrain, the local climate differs from surrounding areas and allows the growth of Mediterranean vegetation, such as olive trees.



Festivals… well I can make a little list : Feast of Saint James the Apostle in Spain celebrated on 25 July, The Viking Festival of Catoira hold on the 1st Sunday of the month August and San Froilan Fiestas from 4 to 12 October.

Cantabria
If you like nature, this is the place you should go. You can try out the famous caves of Altamira near the historic town Santillana del Mar. It is renowned for its numerous parietal cave paintings featuring charcoal drawings and polychrome paintings of contemporary local fauna and human hands, created between years ago during the Upper Paleolithic by Paleo human settlers. The earliest paintings in the cave were executed around 35,600 years ago.

The Cantabrian mountains are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain. They stretch for over 300 km across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the Galician Massif in Galicia, along the coast of the Cantabrian Sea. Their easternmost end meets the Sistema Ibérico. They offer a wide range of trails for hiking, as well as many challenging climbing routes. Skiing is possible in the ski resorts of Alto Campoo, Valgrande-Pajares and Manzaneda.

Natural park of Cabárceno located in Cabárceno, Pisueña Valley (region of Pas-Miera) 17 kilometres from Santander, located in a former iron mine in the town of Cabárceno. The park belongs to Cantur, a company whose purpose is the promotion of tourism and which is owned by the Government of Cantabria. Cabárceno Park has two roles: one is the conservation of endangered species and the other is environmental education.


Asturia
Not that many things to say here.. but you can enjoy the images .. it should be enough for a taste.

*Covadonga

*Lake of Covadonga

*Santa Cueva de Covadonga






Inventions Spain gave to the world


*ISubmarine!
-by Isaac Peral



*Lollipops!
- by Enric Bernat Fontlladosa between 1956 and 1957




*Neuroscience!
-by Nobel prize winner Santiago Ramón y Cajal in 1906




*Rapier!




*Mopp!
-by Manuel Jalón Corominas








Famous people from Spain

Pablo Ruiz Picasso - was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playwright who spent most of his adult life in France. Regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, he is known for co-founding the Cubist movement, the invention of constructed sculpture, the co-invention of collage, and for the wide variety of styles that he helped develop and explore. Among his most famous works are the proto-Cubist Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), and Guernica (1937), a dramatic portrayal of the bombing of Guernica by the German and Italian airforces.
(1881-1973)

Salvador Dalí - was a prominent Spanish surrealist artist born in Figueres (Girona) in Catalonia, Spain. Dalí was a skilled draftsman, best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence of Renaissance masters. His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed in August 1931. Dalí's expansive artistic repertoire included film, sculpture, and photography, in collaboration with a range of artists in a variety of media.
(1905-1989)

Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo de Borja - was Pope from 11 August 1492 until his death. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, partly because he acknowledged fathering several children by his mistresses. Therefore his Italianized Valencian surname, Borgia, became a byword for libertinism and nepotism, which are traditionally considered as characterizing his pontificate. Two of Alexander's successors, the controversial pontiffs Sixtus V and Urban VIII, described him as one of the most outstanding popes since Saint Peter. To tell you the truth, one of the reason I choose him was because I am a fan of Assassin Creed games.
(1431-1503)

Miguel de Cervantes - was a Spanish writer who is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelists. His major work, Don Quixote, is considered the first modern novel, a classic of Western literature, and is regarded among the best works of fiction ever written. His influence on the Spanish language has been so great that the language is often called la lengua de Cervantes ("the language of Cervantes").
(1547-1616)

Emperor Marco Ulpio Trajano - was Roman emperor from 98 to 117 AD, 1st emperor not born in Italy. Officially declared by the Senate optimus princeps ("the best ruler"), Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presided over the greatest military expansion in Roman history, leading the empire to attain its maximum territorial extent by the time of his death.
(53-117)








Traditional food


Paella



This rice-based dish is well known internationally, although in Valencia you will find many authentic variations that equally vie for attention. Some consider this a national dish of Spain, but many consider it a Valencia dish, from where it originated and you can typically find the best paella. The most traditional Valencian paella is a mixture of chicken or rabbit (or both), white and green beans and other vegetables, but seafood is also common, where you can find an array of seafood suprises among the flavoursome rice, such as calamari, mussels, clams, prawns, scampi or fish, depending on the type you order.

Jamón



Also known as Jamon Reserva or Jamon Curado, the famous Jamon Serrano is a dry-cured ham usually made in the Spanish sierras form various breeds of white pigs, including Landrace, Duroc, or Large White. The exquisite Jamon Iberico, however, is a different story. Arguably the greatest ham in the world, this ancient delicacy is made exclusively from black Iberian pigs that roam freely on the picturesque oak pastures of southwestern Spain. The process is both elaborate and very rigorous, and lasts for at least three years.


Pulpo a la Gallega (Galician octopus)



This dish is prepared by first boiling the octopus inside a copper cauldron. Before actually boiling it, the octopus is repeatedly dipped in and out of the boiling water, held by its head. The objective of this operation is to curl the tips of the tentacles. The tentacles are preferred over the head, which sometimes is discarded. After the octopus has been boiled, it is trimmed with scissors, sprinkled with coarse salt and paprika and drizzled with olive oil.

Chorizo



Chorizo is a type of pork sausage. Traditionally, it uses natural casings made from intestines, a method used since Roman times.

Gazpacho




Gazpacho or Andalusian Gazpacho is a soup made of raw blended vegetables and served cold, originating in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia.

Fabada



This hearty Spanish stew combines all the best ingredients from beans to sausage and chorizo.

Empanadas



An empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry baked or fried in many countries of Latin America and in Spain. The name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread.

Traditional deserts

Santiago Cake



3 words- Light almond tart.

Brazo Gitano (Spanish Cake Roll)




Milhojas



Not that many words for this category, just enjoy it and try not to droll on the keyboard.


Crema Catalana



You may also know it as Crème brûlée , a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel.

Aroz con leche



Or in english translation: Rice with milk.

Traditional drinks

Sangria



Sangria is an alcoholic beverage of Spanish and Portuguese origin. A punch, the sangria traditionally consists of red wine and chopped fruit, often with other ingredients such as orange juice or brandy.

Kalimotxo



Kalimotxo is a drink consisting of equal parts red wine and cola-based soft drink. Although recently developed, it has become an icon of Basque culture.

Patxaran



Patxaran is a sloe-flavoured liqueur commonly drunk in Navarre and the Basque Country, the Pyrenees and in Spain. It is usually served as a digestif either chilled or on ice.






Interesting facts about Spain:

1.Spain was once a number of separate kingdoms with different languages – which were unified in the 15th century after the marriage of two Catholic monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile.
2.Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world.
3.There's no tooth fairy in Spain – when Spanish children lose a tooth, they put it under their pillow and a small mouse called Ratoncito Pérez comes to collect it and leaves a small gift or money in its place.
4.Spain produces over half of the world’s olive oil more than some 1.5 million tons, and almost all of it comes from the southern region of Andalusia.
5.Spain has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – pre-historic rock art, historic cities and buildings, bridges, national parks and landscapes. Only Italy with 49 sites and China with 45 have more.




My 5 words when I hear about Spain:
#Sun&beaches,#Real&Barca,#tourists,#Sangria,#Jamon


What are your 5?




Special thanks to akashapeke, ymyoli.bz, Old Bilbao and Kekco (for me it was the most I worked on an article but all worth being a joy to colaborate with these 3 and hope people will enjoy and learn many things from this colaborations.. also it almost made me buy the 1st airplane ticket to spain I find and start visiting) and being a little bit different from the other article.. I will have more then one messages :

Girls 1st so I will start with akashapeke.. guess the region she is coming from…

"No creas a nadie sobre que lleva la paella excepto a un valenciano."

"Don't trust anyone but a valencian person about the ingredients of the paella"[/b]
Next is Old Bilbao

“Vosotros, los ciudadanos de eRepublik, en vuestra mano está darle a esta comunidad lo que necesita, contribuyendo en mayor o menor medida y en la medida de lo posible a la actividad de la comunidad, el juego puede situarnos como enemigos, como aliados, como amigos... haciendo que luchemos uno al lado del otro o enfrentarnos en el campo de batalla, diplomáticamente o incluso en la prensa. Yo como jugador disfruto esto como lo que es, un juego, ya que a veces veo mucho odio y rencor por parte de algunos jugadores hacia otros, cuando bajo mi experiencia los aliados son muy buenos amigos, pero los rivales pueden llegar a ser aun mejores amigos, ya que sin ellos no somos nadie, desgraciadamente hay gente que confunde rivalidad con enemistad.”

You, people from eRepublik, it is in your hand to give the community what community needs, in less or greater extent, and as far as possible to activate the community, the game can set us up as enemies, as allies, as friends... make us fight next to each other or faced in the battlefield, diplomatically or even in press. I, as player, enjoy this as it is, because sometimes I see lot of hate and resenment between players towards others, when under my experience, allies are very good friends, but rivals can be even better friends, because without them we are noone. Sadly there is people that confuses rivality with enmity

And Kekco

"España mola. Ya se que teneis envidia, pero así es la vida."

"Spain Rules! I know you are jealous, but life is not fair always hehe ."


Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !

Special thanks to Kariky for the spacers !!



Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 20/74!


P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !