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Showing posts from January 15, 2012

Santisima Trinidad - Spanish Galleon in Alicante Harbour

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The "Santisima Trinidad" is now moored in Alicante harbour. I visited there with my family and then the week after ate in the restaurant. I HIGHLY recommend a visit, either for a drink or for a meal. Here is the history behind this incredible ship. The "Santisima Trinidad" was launched in 1769 in the Habana (Cuba) navy yard. At that moment, the ship was known as "Escorial" (because Escorial refers to a great Spanish monastery) due to its magnificence and was the biggest and most armed vessel in the world. It took two years to build, was 63 metres (208 feet) long, 17 metres (55 feet) wide and 8 metres (27 feet) high. It weighed 4.950 tonnes, had 140 cannons and a 160 man crew. Several fine woods were used in its construction such as mahogany. The "Santisima Trinidad" took part in a lot of decisive historical events while it was crossing the seas. The galleon was the Spanish flagship in July 1779 during the American War of Independence when Spa

Sundays ... what are they all about?

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When I lived in the UK, I remember Sundays meant that we had a lie in, the women made a full English breakfast, the men went to the pub, the women cooked a roast dinner, the men came home half drunk and ate it, the women washed up, the men fell asleep in front of the TV! One of the many things I love about Spain is the idea of family. Sunday is a day that you spend with the family. You eat at the Grandparents’ home or go for a picnic. The WHOLE family are there every Sunday, the 6 brothers and their wives and children! All the women work together in the kitchen preparing a feast. The men work in the garden, preparing a fire etc. The children grow up really knowing their cousins and spend the whole day playing, not on computer games or watching TV, but really playing. The entire family sit around the tables chatting, telling stories and playing cards. As well as allowing the kids to be surrounded by the people they love, it shows them respect for the older members who tell stories of t