We have teamed up with our chums at Contiki Holidays to supply you with an array of excellent reasons to visit some of the world’s most exotic and exciting destinations. Whatever you think you know about Contiki, they do a cuss of a lot more. From Coachella to Costa Rica and China to the Czech Republic, if there’s a place you want to go, there’s most probably a Contiki Tour that will take you there. Let’s talk Spain.
If your holiday style begs cultural learnings with a generous side of partying down (or vice versa) Spain may well be a smooth move for your next vaycay. Boasting srsly beautiful ancient monuments left by the Romans and Moors, architecture fit to make a grown (wo)man cry and the famously sexed-up island of multiple pronunciations, Ibiza, Spain got a wealth of shit to ensure a well-balanced holiday.
[1] This is what people look like when they go to Spain
More on Spain: Officially the Kingdom of Spain. Sovereign state. Emerged as a unified country in the fifteenth century. Thirteenth largest economy in the world. High living standards (tenth in the world), meaning you need not have qualms re. slumming it. (Shout out to Wikipedia for localising the nitty gritty. Wikipedia FTW).
Other talking points are potential opportunities to better yourself. As in, personal growth and development. Relish the opportunity to pick up on the world’s second most spoken first language. Yes, that is a confusing notion. But once over that initial hurdle, consider linguistics as a gratuitous bonus. It’s the old immersion technique. Abandon that guy you knew, the ignorant one who speaks only English. Start here. Feel better. Enjoy the whole process.
So let’s get started. Spain, how we lust thee. Let us count the ways.
SIGHTS
Roman Aqueduct, Segovia
Address: Plaza del Azoguejo s/n, 40001 Segovia
Email: info@turismodesegovia.com
Website: turismodesegovia.com
Phone: +34 921466720
We’ll begin here, assuming you want to start with getting culturally learned before turning your attention to sunning (summer permitting), tapas and other ‘letting yo hair down’ activities. Segovia is located within the Iberian Peninsula, near the Spanish capital, Madrid. And the Aqueduct? This special little guy was constructed between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries for the purpose of bringing water from the river Acebeda to the city. Within its 166 arches, its 20,400 stone blocks are apparently neither cemented nor bound together by any substance. And the whole thing stands bloody sturdily to this day. Well-preserved ancient relic, make no mistake. Furthermore, btw, it continued to provide water to the city in the twentieth century. That’s some fine construction, y’hear? Marvel and coo accordingly as required.
Museo Guggenheim, Bilbao
Address: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Avenida Abandoibarra, 2 Bilbao 48001, Spain
Phone: +34 944 35 90 00
Website: www.guggenheim-bilbao.es
Email: informacion@guggenheim-bilbao.es
If you’re more into modern constructions, navigate yourself thissaway. The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. Touted one of the world’s most spectacular buildings in the style of Deconstructivism upon its opening in 1997, it unfolds over 32,500 square metres of glass, stone and titanium. While other, more straight up baller commodities like gold are absent, I think you’ll find the place to be as classy as shit:
The neighbouring Nervion River is allegedly the best place to view the museum from, by night (cast eyes upward), and this most likely pertains to matters of romance and woo-ing and not just artistic appreciation. If you’re an arty art-type, it’s likely you’re well-versed in this place already. If you’re a regular person who just likes marvelling at nice things (read: everyone is an aesthete, this means you) that’s fine too. Paintings and sculptures play second fiddle to electronic installations and interactive art. This roughly translates into gettin’ amongst it rather than observing wankily. Exhibitions change regularly and are mostly thematic or culturally-centred, although you’ll find permanent exhibitions featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Alex Katz and more. If there’s something else you should know about this attraction its that Mariah Carey’s ‘Sweetheart’ video was shot here. Sink your teeth into that important piece of history.
The ‘Seo’ or Cathedral of San Salvador, Zaragoza
Address: Plaza de la Seo s/n, 50001 Zaragoza, Aragon
Phone: +34 976291231
Website: www.cabildodezaragoza.org
Email: mailcabildo@cabildodezaragoza.org
A different kind of architectural experience again (hey Spain, U one mixed bag), this time halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. Zaragoza mightn’t be on everyone’s radar when visiting Spain, but this city is packed with some disturbingly beautiful pieces of history. This cathedral has pulled some chameleon moves over the years, a temple initially inhabiting the site as far back as the first century BC, then a mosque, before finally becoming a cathedral. The interior comprises Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque styles, with some gob-smackingly amazing tapestries and various treasures to lap up once inside. Works well for budding historians and woven art enthusiasts.
[1]
EATING
Bilbao, the capital of Basque Country, is home to the tradition that is pinxtos- the local version of tapas. Best enjoyed on the weekend circa noon, the ritual is something of a “pub crawl” except more gastronomically focused- sampling bite sized offerings alongside a small beer or glass of txacoli, the local wine. Grazing followed by waddling to the next place of grazing? Kindly go to hell if you don’t find this to be one definition of perfection.
Gatz
Address: Santa María Kalea, 10, 48005, Bilbao
Phone: +34 944 15 48 61
Website: www.bargatz.com
Hours: 1-3pm, 7-11pm
A traditional take on the pinxtos deal, few places come with the shining testimonials of Gatz. Expect a humble setting no bigger than your living room (you may be standing up to eat so I hope you’re okay with that) as the somewhat archaic website is testament to (but don’t be deterred by that either). Simple wonderments such as roasted, pureed eggplant w/ goats cheese sit brilliantly alongside your chosen beverage and are the definition of less is more. On a quest for utmost authenticity? Opt for the renowned Basque specialty, bacalao al pil-pil (cod glazed with olive oil) and sleep well that night knowing you did not mess around. Unpretentious, rave reviews all round, no lies.
Irrintzi
Address: Santa María, 8, 48005, Bilbao
Phone: +34 94 416 76 16
Website: www.irrintzi.es
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:30-23:00 / Fri 9:30-24:00 / Sat 12:00-24:00 / Sun 12:00-22:00
Irrintzi’s brand of pinxtos is harder to pin down. While present are traditional Spanish flavours, international injections are abound. A version of cod seems ubiquitous no matter where you take your business for pinxtos. Here, it’s available in fritter form; small balls of the fish battered lightly and served with a creamy, chive drizzle. Or cod and pepper omelettes, which are rolled up to resemble a sort of sushi looking snack. In fact, there’s a distinct Japanese influence to be found in the decor and the menu. ‘Pinxtos & friends’ is their byline, and their mascot a cutesy, excitable cartoon figure. But rather than simply an obscure Japanese-Spanish fusion, the menu represents a smattering of various cuisine, including French, Italian, Hungarian and Mexican. The presentation is utterly divine and again, not without the fresh, dainty appeal á la Nippon.
Kikos Hiruki w/ vegetables and turkey wok
THRILL-SEEKING
Running of the Bulls, Pamplona
When: July 6-14
Heavily opposed by animal welfare activists, this annual event has caused 15 fatalities since record-keeping begun in 1910. Oh hey, sorry- big downer in that opening sentence- but don’t shoot the messenger pls. The cool stuff is that about a dozen bulls are let loose in sectioned-off area of the street and people run ahead of them! They run and run and run and it’s exciting because of danger and fear of being trampled! Seriously people, you know what happens here, it’s unlikely you need hyping from us. Turn instead to this video which is action packed and easier than reading:
All of these here Contiki tours encompass Pamplona and the Running of the Bulls.
Underwater Diving, Ibiza
Address: Sea Horse Sub-Aqua Centre, Edificio Yais 5, Playa Port des Torrent, 07829 San Jose, Ibiza, Balearics.
Telephone: +34 629 349 499
Website: www.seahorsedivingibiza.com
This section might’ve housed all the best spots for shirtless partying and other saucy tips for navigating Ibiza, but no. We invite you to go forth all ye faithful and party the way you want, just dance the way you feel, et cetera But this, this is this other cool thing. Whilst being a hot spot for ~youths~ and notorious for its vibrant nightlife, the third largest of the Balearic Islands also boasts sea life that is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. And you know what that means? Pretty coloured animals in the water, is what that means. 35 euros (around 45AUD) will get you 1 x boat dive which includes a 12L tank and weights, with multiple dives working out cheaper. Be psyched for a stupidly extensive array of creatures that live UNDA DA SEA, as well as those tricky mammals like dolphins and whales that are also known to chill in those there parts ‘quite frequently’. Here is a visual testimonial right from the Facebook page:
If you’ve come away from this article with overwhelming desires to do all of the above and some, see our mates over at Contiki Holidays where the ‘Spanish Spree’ tour (Madrid, Bilbao, Pamplona, Barcelona, Ibiza, Granada, Seville & Cordoba) might be just what you’re after.
[1] by Bryan Adams via Getty
[2] by AFP via Getty
