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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.