Don’t Forget the Toilet Paper!

Travel abroad can be stressful; with proper planning your memories will last a lifetime.

International travel can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of a lifetime. You will recall with fond memories the walk from your hotel to the money exchanges in the bustling heart of a foreign city passing shop after shop because you don’t have any of the local currency. Perhaps you will look back on an exciting, but confusing dialogue with your waiter after a fabulous meal and still try to figure out what was said. Remember wandering around for hours because you lacked the basic knowledge to ask for directions in Spanish or getting stuck on the wrong metro and traveling miles in the wrong direction because you misread the map. Good times, Good times! With a little bit of preparation before hand you don’t have to have a marvelous holiday tainted by frustrating memories of currency and language barriers.

Plan on it

First, have a basic plan. You don’t have to hire a travel agent to get a firm grip on your accommodations and sight seeing tours. Self-catered holidays are becoming more and more popular. Ask for help from a friend who has been there. The internet is a valuable and virtually limitless source of information, use it! Dare I even suggest it? You could even use a book to get the knowledge you seek.

Speaking of books, a good Spanish/English dictionary (of or a dictionary containing the languages pertinent to your travel) will be very useful. There are many well written and easy to use pocket varieties. In addition to a dictionary it would be a good idea to learn a few basic Spanish phrases like: how much does this cost or where can I find a restroom.

Airport pitfalls

It is a good idea to pack medications, especially liquids, and any object that is the least bit pointy (your toenail clippers for example) in luggage that will be stowed in the bowels of the airplane. Post 9-11 security is much stricter as to what is allowed in your carry-on. Be prepared for customs. Some items cannot cross international borders. Being aware of what these items are will help avoid entanglements with Customs Officials. Save your receipts. You may need to them as proof if a dispute on the taxable value of your souvenirs occurs

BYO-TP

Bring all your basic toiletries, and check them twice! Restroom facilities internationally are not always likely to measure up to standards you could be accustomed to. To avoid embarrassing and stressful accidents always carry a few coins and your own toilet paper. It is not uncommon for public toilet facilities to charge a fee for use. This fee may or may not include toilet paper, best be prepared.

Armed with the prior knowledge and preparation you will be able to look back on the strange and different things you may encounter with fond laughter rather than the disquiet of embarrassment. May your next holiday be soon, and enjoy the trip.

The author of this article Pablo Conway visits Spain on a regulare basis through out the year. He has been improving his knowledge of Spanish on each visit.

Andalucia’s olive oil and wine

I was just online this morning, poking around a map of Spain. I stumbled across a coastal area on the south west, between Portugal and the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea called the Costa de la Luz. I didn’t pay much attention at first until I saw two things that caught my eye.

First the climate there is milder. Which is not really significant in itself but the milder temperatures do lend themselves to growing grapes. You may still think this information amounts to a hill of beans, but as I poked around further I realized why the author of the website chose to include such a small tid-bit of information. The unique climate in this region creates a unique and pleasing flavor to the wines and oils produced here.

I have heard in the past that Spain is known for its fine wines, but not being a connoisseur of wine myself, never paid much attention. I thought it was really interesting to note that not only is Spain known for wine, but is the third top producer in the world. The Jerez district by the Costa de la Luz is renown for sherry…there is even a nickname ‘the sherry triangle.’

I am much more interested in the other product abundant in the Costa de la Luz: olive oil. I cook almost exclusively with olive oil, because of the health benefits it offers. I am always looking for better tasting olive oils. I had no idea that Spanish olive oil was really a major market. Thank heaven for the internet. I now have a ton more options.

The author Pablo Conway has visited the Costa de la Luz on numerous where he has a property in the Andalucian village (pueblo) of Medina Sidonia

Spanish lessons for All

The Spanish are by far one of the most hospitable people you will find. Once they get to know you, they treat you like one of the family. The only thing that you have to do is learn how to speak Spanish. Not to much to ask for when all things considered. It is not difficult to learn basic Spanish; it only takes a little effort on your part. Just think about all those times you have visited a Spanish speaking country and how much more you would have got from the holiday if you could only have spoken even a little of the Spanish language.

The visit to the Restaurante could have been better; you may even have ordered the right items of food. We have all been there, we thought we ordered white fish and got squid instead. When I started to learn Spanish I ordered what I thought was eggs in a mayonnaise sauce, instead I got and ate bulls testicles!!! They actually tasted ok, but a little dry for my palette. The important lesson here is to try and speak Spanish it can only enrich your life, plus make others laugh.

Once you start to learn even the most basic of Spanish you will get a feel for there language and customs. There is nothing better than visiting a Spanish museum (museo) or opera and not only understanding the language but feeling their culture. The only thing that may be stopping you from learning to speak is a fear of failure. Let me tell you there is nothing to fear, you can only enhance your language skills, by learning Spanish. You will find that when you start to speak, the Spanish people will help you with your pronunciation. They still help me now.

So take that step forward and learn Spanish free today. There are now so many different ways to learn the language, for instance download the lessons onto your mp3 and listen at your leisure. Burn to a cd and listen in the car or at home. There are now interactive Spanish lessons on the internet. You have so many choices, don't delay start learning today and you will not regret it. In next to no time you will be speaking Spanish like a native. If you would like to learn Spanish, why not try free audio Spanish lessons to see if it is for you.

Pablo Conway has been visiting Spain on and off for about 3 years. On each visit he learns a little bit more Spanish which on his last visit he managed to walk into a shop and obtain a short length of TV coax cable with the necessary connections on each end. Start a course of give away lessons today. www.spanishbankaccount.com/spanishlesson