Description of Spain, our country.

1. Our country: Spain Escola Splai 6th grade students

7. In autumn, weather is cool and variable. It’s from 10 to 14 degrees Cº In winter, weather is cool but hardly ever snows. This year it was snowing. It’s from 5 to 10 degrees Cº You should take into acoount that July and August can be too hot in so many cities.

12. Our Autonomous Communities Andalusia Some typical food of Andalusia are fried fish and gazpacho I like fried fish, but I don't like gazpacho. The ingredients for gazpacho are tomato, cucumber, pepper and others. It’s located in the South of Spain. It’s a very big autonomous community.

14. Aragon Some typical food of Aragon are Migas, peaches in syrup And ham from Teruel (PDO). I like ham, but I don’t like Migas and peaches in syrup. Migas’ ingredients are brown bread crumbs ,garlic , sausages, bacon, oil and salt. Peaches in syrup’s ingredients are 2 kg. Medium peach, ½ kg. Sugar, 1 l. water and ¾ tablespoon lemon juice.

15. In Easter, Thousands of drums and bass drums come alive in the hands of several generations united by a passion. It is the " Break Time " being held, according to the site on Thursday or Friday. - The festival of Pilar : It is a floral offering to the Virgin Pilar and they sings and dance Eveyone dressed in the regional costume.

16. Zaragoza is the biggest city in Aragon. It has got 674.317 inhabitants. Other big cities are Huesca, Teruel and Calatayud. Principality of Asturias Some typical food of Asturias are: Fabada, Cider and Cabrales’ Chesse. I like Cabrales’ Chesse and I don’t like Fabada and Cider. Fabada’s ingredients are white beans (fabes), black pudding, and pork.

17. Sidra’s ingredient is apple. Cider is a typical drink elaborated with apples. Cabrales Cheese is a special cheese elaborated in a small village of "The Picos de Europa“ Other typical food are asturian pot (pote asturiano), chorizos in cider (chorizos a la sidra). The first Saturday of August they celebrate the Descenso Internacional del Sella . They go down the Sella River from the origin until the sea in typicals canoes.

18. In Asturias we can see a lot of famous monuments Oviedo’s cathedral and the church of Santa María del Naranco . The Covadonga basílica with the Santa Cueva on is situated the Virgen de Covadonga. In this basílica we can see Don Pelayo statue . Don Pelayo was a King of Spain.

19. Gijon is the first biggest city in Asturias. It has got 269.270 inhabitants Oviedo is the second biggest city in Asturias. It has got 214.883 inhabitants, but Oviedo is the capital. Avilés is the third biggest city in Asturias. It has got 83.553 inhabitants.

20. Balearic Islands Some typical food of Islas Baleares are lobster stew , Berenjenas rellenas a la menorquina and tuna a la ibizenca. I like lobster stew. Mallorca frit, the coca (veggie, trempó, etc), the cuscussó (Christmas dessert of Arab origin) and flaó (cheesecake with herbs). On the second Sunday of May is celebrated in Soller, the colorful staging of the landing and the battle of the Saracens against the inhabitants of the island, ending with the victory of the latter.

21. In Balearic Islands a lots of famous monuments. The Cathedral of Santa María de Palma de Mallorca. The fish market and the Bellver Castle presiding, with the Tower of Homage l', the Bay of Palma ... Palma de Mallorca is the biggest city in Balearic Islands. It has got 401.270 inhabitants. Other big cities are Mahon, Ibiza, Alcudia, Formentera.

22. Basque Country The most famous events in the Basque Country are the Tamborrada in San Sebastian and Bilbao's Semana Grande. Some typical food of Basque Country is Marmitako I like marmitako. Marmitako's ingredients are onions, tomatoes, potatoes and peppers.

23. Santiago Cathedral : The temple is in Bilbao, consecrated in honour of the apostle Saint James the Great (Santiago in Spanish). The present building is a mixture of styles: Gothic and Gothic revival. Bilbao is the biggest city in Basque Country. It has got 354,145 inhabitants. Other big cities are Vitoria and San Sebastián.

24. Canary Islands Some typical food of Canarias are fish, roast meet, cheese, papaya ... I like fish,cheese and papaya but I don't like roast meet. Other typical food of Canary islands are: - Wrinkled potatoes - The gofio - The stews… I like Wrinkled potatoes . Wrinkled’s potatoes ingredients are: potatoes and sauce.

25. Here you can see some views of the Canary Islands. The photographs are taken from space !

26. Their festivities are very religious. Carnival , the Romeries, Corpus Christi and others. In Canarias we can see a lot of famous monuments: Mount Teide , Barrio de San Francisco, Fortaleza de Ansite, Palacio Episcopal Palace, Guimar Pyramids Santa Ana’s Cathedral …

27. Santa Cruz de Tenerife (with 220.902 inhabitants) and Las Palmas (with 381.123 inhabitants) are the biggest cities in Canary islands, each in their respective provinces. Other big cities are: San Cristobal de La Laguna, Adeje, Candelaria, Tacoronte, Arucas and others. Cantabria In Cantabria there are lots of foods,the foods are excellent. I don't like chesse and fricasse. Some typical food in Cantabria are Montañes Cooked, Seafood Pot, anchovies of Santoña and sobaos.

28. Santander is the biggest city in Cantabria. It has got 101.800 habitants. Other big cities are: Tanos, Torrelavega, Camargo, Castro Urdiales, San Vicente de la Barquera, Comillas, Santoña and Reinosa. Festivities: -Sailor Carnival:In february Santoña. In this carnival started in 1934 many people of the town participe dressing themselves up as fish. -Cantabria Day: Second Sunday of August in Cabezón de la Sal. Traditional cantabrian music, ceramics fair, local foods. Magdalena Palace

29. Castile-La Mancha A typical food of Castile-La Mancha is Crumbs . I like Crumbs . Crumbs ingredients are bread, sausages, torreznos (made of pork) and beans. Some festivities are: - La Endiablada (2 - 3 February), in which some villagers dressed as devils walk around the village making noises with “cencerros”. - Romeria del Cristo del Saúco. - La Caballada.

30. Windmills are very typical in Castile-La Mancha. Castile and León Some typical foods of Castilla y Leon are Guijuelo ham and Maragato’s stew , etc. I don’t like Guijuelo ham.

31. Leon is the biggest city in Castile-Leon. It has got 134.305 inhabitants. Other big cities are: Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora. In Castilla y Leon, we can see a lot of famous monuments: Arco de San Basilio Arco de Santa María Arco de Santiago

32. Catalonia Barcelona is in Catalonia. The population of Catalonia in 2008 was 7.364.078 inhabitants. Some typical food of Catalonia are tomatoes and bread , I like tomatoes . Another typical food of Catalunya is calçots . I don’t like calçots.

35. Barcelona is the biggest city in Catalonia. It has got 1.621.805 inhabitants. Other important cities are Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Extremadura Traditionally Extremadura children liked to eat raw green chickpeas . Garlic soup and white beans Crumbs and Gachas are also traditional meals.

36. They celebrate San Anton’s race . Everybody rides a horse wearing a white T-shirt and a red handkerchief . They race between bonfires till 11 o’clock at night. In Extremadura we can see a lot of famous monuments. - Monasterio de Guadalupe - Plasencia’s Cathedral - Arco de la estrella de Cáceres, - Roman Theatre of Mérida

37. Badajoz is the biggest city in Extremadura. It has got 146.832 inhabitants. Other big cities are Càceres Mèrida, Plasencia, Don Benito, Almendralejo and Villanueva de la Serena La Rioja Some typical food of la Rioja are “ white asparagus ” ... Potatoes a la riojana, roasted with chorizo and smoky paprika ,etc. I like roasted with chorizo but I don’t like smoky paprika .

38. - Batalla del vino “The Wine battle” is a national interest festivity. It’s 29th of June in Haro. They throw Red wine to everyone in the street. The Feast of Bread and Cheese is a pilgrimage that is held every August 6 in the town of Quel. It’s held next to the chapel of Santo Cristo de Quel, which throws bread and cheese to everyone. Originated in 1479, it’s one of the oldest festivals in the Iberian Peninsula,

39. Santa María Church in Ezcaray: The construction of this rather large building dates from the 12th to the 16th centuries. It is a church-come-fortification with cylindrical towers on the corners . The oldest part of the building is Romanesque. Logroño is the biggest city and the capital of La Rioja. Other big cities are: Haro, Nájera and Alfaro.

40. Galicia It’s located in the North west of Spain. An important Monument is Santiago’s Cathedral in Compostela. Madrid The capital of Spain is Madrid and it is also an autonomous community.

41. Fiestas de San Isidro are the most emblematic Madrid’s festivities, you can contemplate the streets parties, couples dressed in period costume in the middle of fairs, pilgrimages... And for those who like bullfighting we can see the best bullfighters of the season. In Madrid we can see a lot of famous monuments. One is the Monasterio de El Escorial . Another is the fountain, Cibeles .

42. Madrid is the biggest city in Spain. It has got 5.423.384 inhabitants. Other big cities are Alcalà de Henares and Mostoles. Region of Murcia A typical food of Murcia is “ cocido de pelotas ” (meatballs) I like this food Cocido de pelotas’ ingredients are chickpeas, potatoes, celery and pumpkin.

43. Tradition of Murcia is the Feria of September It’s traditional thanks to King Alfonso X in 1266. Here you can see the Cathedral of Murcia . Murcia is the biggest city of Region of Murcia. It’s got 638.217 inhabitants.

44. Foral Community of Navarre Some typical foods of Navarra are asparagus, piquillo pepper and curd. I like asparagus but I don’t like piquillo pepper and curd . Piquillo peppers ’ Ingredients: -16 piquillo peppers. -a quarter kg of minced meat. -1 small onion. -3 slices of bacon. -2 tablespoons flour -2 cups milk -1 beef bouillon cube -salt and pepper -tomato sauce.

45. The typical festivity of Navarra is: - San Fermines , San Fermin is a festival in honour of San Fermin, held annually in Pamplona, capital of Navarra. They are held in July. In Navarra we can see a lot of famous monuments: - Bocal de Fontellas -Castillo de Javier - Catedral de Santa María de Pamplona -Catedral de Santa María de Tudela -Ciudadela de Pamplona

46. Pamplona is the biggest city in Navarra. It has got 334.830 inhabitants. Other big cities are Tudela, Estella, Tafalla… Valencian Community Some typical dish of the Valencian Community is paella . I like paella. It is delicious.

47. The typical festivities there are “ Falles ”. First, they expose the monuments created during the celebration and then burn all and there's a giant hager. Fireworks and music is everywhere ! It’s a very noisy festivity ! These falles are burnt as huge bonfires. This is known as “ the cremà ”

49. Valencia is the biggest city in the Valencian Community. It has got 807.200 inhabitants. Alicante Castellón. Other big cities are: