When I think of Spain…

I recently came across an article about the air quality in Spain. It got me to think…what does Spain mean to me? Well…for most people they associate Spain with things like the distinct architecture, Don Quixote, Pablo Picasso, Pedro Almodovar, football (aka soccer in North America), tapas, paella, flamenco, Ibiza, bull fighting, and the Castile but to name a few. So what do you associate with Spain?

For me, I associate Spain with the “Running of the Bulls” and “La Tomatina”.

Rainbow Travel Inc - Running of the Bulls

The “Running of the Bulls” refers to the tradition of running in front of a herd of bulls that have been let loose through a sectioned off part of the town. The purpose is to transport the bulls from off-site corrals to the bullring where they will be killed in the evening. The most famous “Running of the Bulls” is the one that is part of the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona. The festival runs for 9 consecutive days from July 6th to 14th with a run each day at 8am.

Rainbow Travel Inc - La Tomatina

“La Tomatina” is a food fight festival in Spain in the town of Brunol. It takes place the last Wednesday of August at 10am. More than 20,000 people participate in this event each year. Being a small industrial town, accommodations are limited and most tourists stay in Valencia and take the bus or train in.

There are numerous events and festivals around the world that many people have not heard of. If you know of something different or unique, please share with us.

Return air fares from Vancouver to Barcelona start at $778 including taxes and fees.