Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Alto Alentejo: Old Meets New In Portugal











The New York Times recently ran a fascinating article on the developing tourism hub at Marvão - a walled town in the eastern portion of Alto Alentejo in Portugal. The article's subject - a boutique hotel owner named Doug Smith - was looking to expand from his roots as a Palm Springs, CA hotelier in 2002 and was actively looking for new properties while traveling throughout Spain. He crossed the border into Portugal and found Alto Alentejo -- the perfect setting for boutique expansion. Featuring an amazing, elevated landscape (from the town's former usage as a Moorish fortress), top-notch cuisine and what the Times describes as a "lost-in-time lifestyle" and "relatively inexpensive cost of living," Alto Alentejo became the home of Smith's new venture.

"After four days of inspecting broken-down barns and farmhouses, he bought a 130-acre 18th-century farm outside the village of Campo Maior," explains the Times. 'Compared with Spain, this place was even more charming, beautiful and about a third less expensive,' Mr. Smith said. 'Old guys in snap caps and corduroys tip their hats to strangers.'

In the past seven years, Mr. Smith, who no longer owns Korakia Pensione, has watched the Alto Alentejo, a border province carpeted with cork oaks and olive trees in southeastern Portugal, emerge as a stylish backwater. The region’s name is derived from “Além-Tejo,” which means “beyond the Tagus,” the river that flows past Lisbon. A new blacktop highway now stretches eastward from Lisbon, and within an hour you’re admiring vineyards, the occasional whitewashed town or castle and gently rolling plains."

Head over to the New York Times for the full article. As you've likely noticed, ILC is now offering pousadas throughout Portugal. We encourage you to head to our website or give us a call to check out the options.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Madrid Brings The Culture This Fall












While it's certainly no secret that Madrid is a major culture capital whose cache extends beyond Spain, sometimes there's so many great options going on that every traveler can find the perfect activity. This fall season is one of those times.

In addition to world-class museum offerings, Madrid will welcome 35 major concerts, including appearances from international stars such as Diana Krall and the Jonas Brothers. The 26th Annual Jazz Festival starts at the end of October and there are plenty of theatre, dance, and family entertainment options going on as well.

Here's the full scoop from the Tourist Office of Spain:
Kicking off September 29 at the Thyssen Bornemisza is a major exhibition of 70 paintings by Henri Fantin-Latour. The Museo del Prado is presenting a show about Maíno, one of the most original and least known 17th century Spanish painters on October 20. One of the most important figures in Croatia’s contemporary art scene, David Maljkovic, will be the subject of a show running through January 18 at the Reina Sofía. The focus is on architecture at the CaixaForum Madrid with a review of Richard Rogers obra running through October 18 and Palladio the Architect, the first exhibition in Spain devoted to this 16th century Italian architect which kicks off October 7.

On October 13, Diana Krall will perform at the Palacio de Congresos. The Jonas Brothers are set to appear at the Sports Palace on November 11 and Depeche Mode will be there on the 16.

Kicking off November 4, the city’s Autumn Festival celebrates its 26th year with 35 concerts, theatre, dance and circus performances. Thirty-five companies from 19 countries including: Spain, the U.S., Argentina, Australia, France, Italy, Portugal and Morocco, among many others, will perform at 11 theatres in Madrid and in ten municipalities. On the program are:
  • Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch (11/, 4, 5, 7, and 8)
  • Compañía Israel Galván (11/5-8) (flamenco)
  • Norwegian singer and guitarist Hanne Hukkelberg (11/5)
  • Whale Watching Tour, musicians from the U.S., Australia and Iceland (11/6)
  • Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto (11/11)
  • Les ballets C de la B (11/12-14)
  • The San Quentin Drama Workshop with Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape (11/21)
  • Spanish soprano Marina Bollaín singing The Three Penny Opera by Brecht and Weill (11/27-29)
The 26th International Jazz Festival will kick off around the end of October and while the schedule has not yet been announced, there are usually 15 concerts and world-renowned musicians perform at some 20 jazz clubs.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

NYTimes Covers Matadors In NE Spain













The New York Times published an excellent piece this morning on the fate of matadors in Northeast Spain. Facing an aging, brutal event with high ticket prices (think opera), the public is slowly mandating that bullfighting needs to slip away from both global and national consciousness. There's one notable exception: José Tomás.

Tomás was at the absolute height of his game when he retired seven years ago. Like many famous athletes, the game called him back and he returned with a stunning streak of sellout performances that are keeping the crowds talking. Last Sunday, he might have participated in the last bullfight ever in Catalonia.

"Over the last three decades or so, dwindling interest among young Catalans has combined with pressure from animal-rights advocates and from Catalan nationalists to cripple toreo in Catalonia," writes Michael Kimmelman in the Times. "Across the region’s four provinces, bullrings have closed; Barcelona’s is the only one still active."

The Catalan Parliament recently introduced a high-profile referendum that would end bullfighting all together. The subject has been on the tips of tongues for so long that it's not really surprising to anyone involved. Long the dream of animal fights activists, now even aficionados feel the days of bullfighting are numbered."

Kimmelman continues, "Sunday’s corrida — the term refers to an afternoon’s regular card of three matadors and six bulls — was more than just the last bullfight of the season. It was possibly the end of an era. And José Tomás (José Tomás Román Martín, but everybody knows him by his double-barreled first name) had come, in what seemed almost like a last-ditch attempt, to lend his box office appeal and artistry to the anti-ban side."

We recommend heading over to the New York Times website to read the full article.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, August 31, 2009

New Terminal T1 Opens At Barcelona Airport













Travelers to Barcelona will be treated to a more luxurious arrival and departure with the official opening of the new Terminal T1. The Ricardo Bofill-designed terminal will accommodate approximately 30 million people annually.

Created for $1.7 billion, Terminal T1 boasts some serious amenities. In addition to a 256,181-square-foot shopping promenade, there's also a spa, fitness center, hair salon, four VIP lounges and a multi-faith chapel. Business travelers will have access to a series of offices, boardrooms, a private gym and rest area with beds, baths and TVs.

More from the Tourist Office of Spain:
This terminal is one of the largest civil engineering projects recently undertaken in Europe. Bofill designed the structure with sustainability in mind, placing hundreds of solar panels on the aluminum roof. Thus, 70 percent of the water in T1 is heated using thermal collectors. Curtain walls, designed to resist air, water infiltration, wind and its own dead load forces are composed of an aluminum framing filled with glass to provide an architecturally-pleasing and light-filled structure.

The opening of T1 has created 3,000 jobs in a terminal where over 6,000 will be employed. Many will work in the new processing building which has 166 check-in desks and 52 auto check-in machines. The Barcelona Airport is now able to serve 55 million passengers per year. Improvements have also been made in regards to flight operations. In 2004, the airport facilitated 64 operations per hour. Flight operations will now increase to up to 90 per hour. A total of 19 airlines are currently based in T1 including: Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Swiss International, TAP Portugal, US Airways and Egyptair. At the beginning of September, One World (Iberia, American Airlines and Vueling), will move to the new terminal and by the end of the year, SkyTeam (incorporating Air Europa) will relocate there. Every seven minutes, a shuttle bus connects passengers from T1 to T2. For further information about the Barcelona Airport, go to www.aena.es.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Portugal Parks: Serra da Estrela National Park (Pt. 2)













Continuing our series highlighting Portugal parks (with some excellent information from the Tourist Office), today we'll feature Serra da Estrela National Park.

"The Natural Park of Serra da Estrela is the largest in Portugal and also features the highest mountain peaks in mainland Portugal. Both the Rio Mondego and the Rio Zêzere start here and cut through the Natural Park. These are the biggest two rivers that start and end in Portuguese territory. The Park began in 1976 to protect the rural character of the granite villages and its landscape. It lies to the east of the Central region of Portugal and stretches 55 kilometers from Celorico de Beira in the north, down to Vide in the south west, covering 1,000 square kilometers. It has some of the most stunning mountain scenery in Portugal and even has a small skiing resort."

The park also contains villages towards to the bottom of its mountain ranges. There's a notable Roman presence and past Arab settlers demonstrate influence on the area with unique irrigation systems and orchards. This diverse history gives travelers the opportunity to purchase region-specific cuisine and crafts.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Portugal Parks: Peneda-Geres National Park (Pt. 1)














The Portuguese Tourist Office recently sent over an excellent information guide to the country's vibrant parks and natural habitats. We'll roll out the information slowly, so you get a chance to really soak it in.

To start, we'll preview Peneda-Geres National Park way up north:

"The Peneda-Gerês National Park is a stunningly beautiful wilderness ofrugged granite mountains mixed with forest and fields of flowers. Lower lying areas offer conifer and broadleaved forests including some rare native woodland that contain oaks. The National Park covers a 70,000 metric acres. The striking mountains reach 1500 meters in rough granite. Here you will find the only surviving, untouched Roman road, complete with markers, on the Peninsula, and wild Gerês horses, roaming the wilderness. The spa town of Gerês offers water that is like silk, and renews you at first touch. Ancient villages fill the northern part, with a lake built around a sunken town."
Click here for more information.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Jardines del Buen Retiro












No matter where you are, nothing beats a lovely summer concert in the park. Yet as usual, those who visit Madrid are on the lucky side. Each summer, Madrid's main park (El Retiro) puts on a series of midday Sunday concerts by the local Madrid Symphony. You can rent rowboats to paddle around the Estanque or take a breezy ride on a romantic horse-drawn carriage. Other events vary week-by-week, but highlights include an annual book fair, puppet shows and all sorts of family friendly activities.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Valencia Is Home To August Grand Prix














Capitalizing on last year's successful run alongside the old river bed of the Turia, Valencia is proud to bring back a summer of grand prix racing for visitors. More than 500,000 people gathered to watch the cars rip, roar and rumble at nearly 200 miles per hour along the city's picturesque waterfront. The track - a 3.4 mile circuit that transforms city streets into a Formula One maze - is the work of a fantastic architect named Hermann Tilke. It's really not to be missed!

Here's the ticket information from the Tourist Office:
New General Admission tickets will permit fans access to the Valencia Street Circuit without buying a seat (about $42, or 30 euros on Friday, $70, or 50 euros on Saturday and $142, or 100 euros for the Grand Prix on Sunday.) Grandstand tickets are on sale now and range in price from around $212 to $680 (150 to 480 euros). Sailors can moor their yachts and view the race from the water and the marina also has a special grandstand. To learn more about the Grand Prix of Europe, go to www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/index_eng.html.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

The Pottery Of Portugal
















The Portuguese National Tourism Office sent over some great information about one of the country's artistic treasures: pottery. While Portugal is certainly well-known for its high quality crafts (ranging from leather, copper, silver and gold to tapestries, woodcarving and amazing glassware), pottery is the real core of the nation's creative production.

The Tourism Office writes:
People in Portugal have worked clay since prehistory - it is part of the very ground the nation is built on. Travel the country and one finds glazed tiles everywhere, on churches, houses, palace façades and in gardens. You see traditional red and black clay and every region has both. Many areas offer amazing museum reproductions such as Viana do Castelo and Coimbra and, there are whimsical and fun clay traditions such as the figures from Estremoz, the greenware from Caldas, or the Rooster of Barcelos.

Caldas da Rainha, just north Lisbon, is the center of Portuguese pottery due to the abundance of clay deposits. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, opened a factory in 1884 that makes the town, Fabrica de Faianca, famous. The factory still puts out a variety of cabbage and greenware, figurines, and fanciful pottery.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Nonstop To Valencia












Starting June 5, Delta Airlines will offer direct flights to Valencia - an exotic, beautiful locale on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Flights will depart four times a week from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and the timing couldn't be any better. Valencia is rapidly becoming one of the must-see Spanish destinations.

If a trip to Valencia is in your cards, we advise you to catch the Fallas (the city's main festival taking place in March). Also, make time for a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences - a futuristic cluster of museums that features an opera house, planetarium and plenty of art.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sorolla and Matisse in Madrid This Summer















The Spanish Tourist Office just sent over some great news for fans of art. This summer, Madrid will feature two major exhibitions featuring Joaquín Sorolla and Henri Matisse - two of the most renowned and visually-appealing artists in history.

The Sorolla exhibit opens on May 26th and lasts through the 6th of September at the Prado. The exhibit will focus on the artist's great works and includes his Visions of Spain series of 14 panels that he produced for the Hispanic Society of America. This is his biggest show in the last half century.

Starting June 9th, the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza houses "Matisse: 1917 - 1941" - a showcase of rare works that cover painting, sculpture and drawing. The Tourist Office writes, "Marked by the shadow of World War I and the forebodings of the next world conflict, the period was one of rapid ascent for Matisse, and this exhibition aims to present the artist’s central role in the flourishing of modern art during this era. More than 50 museums and private collections have lent works – many never before exhibited in Spain – for the show, which will run through September 20."

ILC offers many great Madrid hotels that are within walking distance of these great exhibits.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Hot Deals for August















Another summer is just around the corner and it's the perfect time to book a trip to Spain. Lucky for you, we have some incredible hot deals coming up for the month of August at some of our premiere hotels in Madrid and Barcelona. Please click the hotel links below for more information.

Let's take Barcelona first. We're offering massive savings on both Hotel Claris and Hotel Granados 83 (up to 50 and 30 percent respectively). Hotel Claris is a contemporary 5-star Gran Luxe that was built within the former 19th C. Palace of Count Vedruna. It offers guests a classic old work style and is located in one of the finest areas in Barcelona. Hotel Granados 83 is a 4-star boutique hotel that's housed in a Neoclassic-style building. Located in Barcelona's upscale Eixample neighborhood, this hotel is close to the Avenida Diagonal, Paseo de Gracia, and Gaudí's distinctive buildings, the Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló.

In Madrid, we're offering discounts on both Hotel Villa Real and Hotel Urban (also at 50 and 30 percent savings respectively). Hotel Villa Real is a 5-star hotel based on 19th C. Spanish architecture. Furnished with period designs throughout (Persian rugs, antique prints, silk curtains and parquet floors), Villa Real is one block from the Paseo de la Castellana and across from the Spanish parliament in the heart of Madrid. Hotel Urban is a 5-star Gran Luxe hotel based on modern, architecturally sleek style. Located in the heart of Madrid's "Art Triangle," the building contains a glass-enclosed atrium that rises the height of the building and showcases exposed glass elevators. Dark woods, warm colors, African and Hindu art are used throughout, lending a warm and contemporary feel to the interior spaces and guest rooms.

These hotels and offers are only available for a limited amount of time and only valid for travel in the month of August. This special insider rate will not last, so please check out our homepage and contact us before all the available rooms are booked.

To check on the availability of a promotional rate, email reservations@ilcweb.com with the hotel name, arrival & departure dates, number of guests (with children's ages) and room type desired.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Now Offering: Portugal!


















ILC is proud to announce a new addition to our unbeatable stable of lodging options: The Pousadas de Portugal! The Pousadas, like many of our great Spanish options, present the modern traveler with a stunning combination of history and modern amenities. There are tons of different choices, too, with converted monasteries, convents, chateaus and many more.

Please contact us for more information, and we'll keep you updated when we revamp the official ILC website with new photographs and specific materials. We can even connect Spanish and Portugese travel for a whirlwind tour of two of Europe's most beautiful locales.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Empanadas de Cerdo










Roughly translated to "pork pies," this delicious tapas recipe is a surefire hit at any dinner party. This particular recipe is for minced pork and roasted peppers but you can make them with minced beef or lamb, fish and seafood or vegetables. It's up to you! This serves 20 people and comes courtesy of the excellent Proper Spanish Tapas website.

  • 500g (1lb) of pastry

  • 250g (1/2lb) of pork loin, minced

  • 1 tsp. paprika

  • olive oil for roasting and frying

  • 1/2 tsp. oregano

  • 2 onions, chopped

  • 1-2 cloves garlic, chopped

  • 3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

  • 1 tsp. tomato puree

  • small handful chopped flat-leaf parsley

  • Salt and pepper

  • 2 or 3 large red peppers, roasted and chopped

  • 1 egg, beaten

Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Cut the peppers into quarters lengthways, remove the seeds and the membranes. Place in a roasting pan and drizzle liberally with some olive oil. Roast for about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of your peppers.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onions until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two. Raise the heat and add the minced pork to brown it through.

Then add the paprika, oregano, tomatoes, puree, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Stir it all together and cook for a further 5-10 minutes to get all those flavours going. At the last minute, add the chopped roasted pepper and combine.

Increase the heat of the oven to 375°F, then roll out half the pastry very thinly so that you can cut about 20 rounds of 10cm (4in) diameter. Repeat with the other half.

Fill each round with a heaped tablespoon of the mixture and fold over into a pasty, brushing the edges with water and pinching them to seal them.

Place them on a lightly-oiled baking tray, brush them with the egg mixture and bake for about 30 mins. or until golden. Serve hot or cold.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

What's New In Madrid (pt. 4)















The final entry in our series on what's new in Madrid revolves around the International Convention Centre. This new center (the city's third) was created and built by Tuñón and Mansilla and beautifully emerges amongst four new skyscrapers on the Paseo de la Castellana. Totaling 15 acres of space, the new construction will use thousands of small energy-saving lights that aim to illuminate the surrounding environment with an image of forward-thinking sustainability.

The main autotorium will be a major meeting spot with space for between 3500-5000 people. It's the perfect location for your next business conference and the vibrant Madrid culture will make your off-hours more than fulfilling.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

What's New In Madrid (pt. 3)













Two of the best museums in Madrid (or anywhere, for that matter) are the Museo del Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza. Let's check out what's going on at these legendary institutions.

Museo del Prado recently completed a $208 million expansion. The biggest exhibition right now is called "Among Gods and Men: Classical Sculpture from the Albertinum in Dresden and the Museo del Prado." It features 46 classical sculptures from the Dresden museum (for the first time ever). Other upcoming exhibits include a Francis Bacon retrospective, a Victorian painting survey and a special show of murals by Sorolla.

You can click here for more information.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza also recently expanded and is now twice its original size. Ongoing and upcoming exhibitions include "The Shadow" - a depiction of shadows in art throughout history - as well as a major Matisse retrospective that runs from June 9th to September 20th.

You can click here for more information.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

What's New In Madrid? (pt. 2)

















Another great recent addition to Madrid's cultural scene is the CaixaForum. Just opened, this $96 million marvel will hold art exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, concerts and conferences. The renovation was completed by Herzog and de Meuron and converted this former 1899 electrical power station into a landmark cultural hotbed.

For more information on the architecture, please click here.

Here's an excellent behind-the-scenes video:




As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Friday, March 13, 2009

What's New In Madrid?


Madrid, the vibrant capital of Spain, sets a high mark for culture and nothing is more interesting than the city's world-class museums. In this multi-part series, we'll start with the Museum Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.

Reina Sofia is Spain's majestic modern art museum. They are currently planning a large modification and restoration project throughout the interior and exterior of the building, while also making a large investment in new art acquisitions. A recently-opened series of sixth floor terraces will host a series of happenings, poetry readings and dance performances that are free to the public.

As far as exhibitions, there is a major retrospective of Julio González (a prominent 20th century sculptor) running through June 1st. Paul Thek shows his American cult art through and Eulàlia Valldosera presents her conceptual material until April 20th. Other upcoming shows include sculptures by Paul Sietsema and Juan Muñoz and multimedia installations by Fischli and Weiss.

After seeing these shows, hungry art lovers can enjoy lunch at the museum's restaurant, presided over by Sergi Arola, one of Madrid's most inventive chefs.

For more information, please visit Reina Sofia online by clicking here.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Air Europa Flys Nonstop To Spain


We received another round of excellent news for American travelers eyeing a Spanish vacation in the near future. Starting June 1, 2009, Air Europa will fly nonstop from JFK Airport in New York to Madrid Barajas International Airport in Spain. Rates start at $490 plus taxes and surcharge. For those looking for a real value, we recommend looking into Air Europa's special $159 fare to mark the low season (starting October 29th). This flight in combination with the unbeatable hotel and tour rates that we offer is a great value play for 2009.

Here's the full story from the Tourist Office of Spain:

New York, NY, March 6, 2009 – There’s good news for American travelers to Spain. Air Europa, which recently announced new non-stop service from New York to Madrid, is offering some very competitive fares for its inaugural season. And there was news coming out of FITUR, Spain’s annual tourism fair which ended a few weeks ago. One of the world’s leading tourism expos, FITUR attracted more than 260,000 attendees who had the opportunity to learn about new developments throughout Spain’s 17 regions. Air Europa Announces Introductory Fares Spain’s second largest airline has announced a promotional fare for its new service to Madrid. Beginning June 1, when Air Europa launches daily nonstop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD), the fare will be $490 plus applicable taxes and fuel surcharges. Later in the year, the airline will have a special low season fare of $159 to mark its inaugural season. Valid beginning October 29, that fare is good for midweek flights, must be paid upon booking, and travel must be completed by December 13. Air Europa will fly 299-seat Airbus 330 aircraft in two-class configuration. Founded in 1986, Air Europa is the second largest carrier in Spain and today serves 44 destinations. The airline is part of the Globalia Corporation and is an associate member of the Sky Team Alliance. For further information about Air Europa, go to www.aireuropa.com.
As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hot Deal: Hotel Duquesa de Cardona











As the snow melts and temperatures begin to rise, we know nothing gets the blood flowing better than a hot deal. Today we're featuring a fantastic set of offers for Hotel Duequesa de Cardona - a stylish 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Overlooking the Olympic Port, Columbus monument, the World Trade Center and Las Ramblas, Duequesa de Carbona provides the perfect home base for an unforgettable Spanish experience.

Our hot deals are as follows:

  • April Special - Weekday (Minimum stay of 3 consecutive nights required): Valid April 1 through April 30

    Rates: Start at €137.70 + 7% Iva tax, per night (based upon double occupancy in a Classic Room). Offer is subject to availability. Rates with breakfast included also available.

  • April Special - Weekend (Minimum stay of 3 consecutive nights required): Valid April 1 through April 30

    Rates: Start at €165.24 + 7% Iva tax, per night (based upon double occupancy in a Classic Room). Offer is subject to availability. Rates with breakfast included also available.

  • Free Night Offer: February 1 through March 31 (except February 15-20), and July 1 through August 31

    Stay for 3 consecutive nights and pay for only 2 nights. Offer is subject to availability.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Films Of Spain

It's certainly no surprise that Spanish cinema continues to grow in international popularity. The country's beautiful scenery has served as a great inspiration to both local and foreign directors. Luis Buñuel was the first to receive major international recognition. Then the 1980s brought the legendary Pedro Almodóvar - a renowned auteur who has inspired recent cinematic sojourns to Spain from filmmakers such as Woody Allen.

Spanish cinema is also gaining local popularity. Around 15 percent of box office receipts are now from domestic films. The government openly supports this trend and has made sure that national television stations have appropriate funding to film and screen local work.

Due to Spain's beautiful terrain (and its subsequent ability to produce amazing cinematography), many Spanish films are produced in English. Famous examples include: The Machinist, The Others, Goya's Ghosts and an upcoming film by American critical darling Jim Jarmusch.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Politics Of Spain

While it may not affect one's day-to-day life, it's always a good thing to know about the political system in the country you're about to visit. Today, we take a look at Spain's government.

Spanish politics take place in a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy. Sound confusing? Well, this basically reflects Spanish history all the way from Kings of yeseryear to modern political science. The Monarch is officially the Head of State (similar to England) and the Prime Minister (or President of the Government) is equivalent to Barack Obama's role in the United States. The parliament represents a multi-party system with representation based on national elections.

As far as legislative power, there are two chambers of parliament (similar to the House of Representatives and the Senate in the U.S.). The judiciary is completely indepedent of both of the other branches.

The current Prime Minister of Spain is José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is better known as just Zapatero. He has been nominated to this role twice by King Juan Carlos, and elected by the Congress both times (2004 and 2008). His party is called the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, and they have won a plurality of seats in the Congress of Deputies.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

El Greco: A True Original

Any initial research into Spain will demonstrate a rich history of unique art - from gothic and religious perfection to the modern stylings of Picasso - and El Greco really stands on his own as one of the true classics. A painter, sculptor and architect working during the renaissance, El Greco (aka The Greek) touched on many styles such as Mannerism and Venetian Renaissance. His influence really became fomidable in the 20th century when poets and painters in the Expressionist and Cubist styles picked up memes from his work and took them into the modern era.

For more information on El Greco, check out his wikipedia entry.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Street Shots: Madrid

One of our main interests at ILC has always been street photography. What a great, innovative way to capture a city in its pure state! With improvised snapshots and a wandering eye, photographers can provide an unparalleled view into unique populations.

We came across the Flickr page for a user named Publikaccion this morning. This is a whimsical set of street photographs in Madrid that includes citizens and tourists from all walks of life while demonstrating vibrant urban scenes in an uncontrived and spontaneous style. If you're thinking about booking a trip to Madrid with us, this black-and-white set should surely get you in the mood.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.