Español VEl 2 de octubre 2015Realidades 3 viernes

Los Atleticos y los trofeos

los deportes

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end vertical•

Título Sub 17•

Balón de Oro

Preolímpico•

México-EE.UU.

Contraproducente

Palabras : “los Deportes”Anillas

Rings

Atletismo

Athletics

Balón de fútbol

Football

Baloncesto

Basketball

Balonmano

Handball

Balonvolea

Volleyball

Béisbol

Baseball

Boxeo

Boxing

Campeón/ona

Champion

Campeonato

Championship

Carrera

Race

Carrera de velocidad

Race

Coche de carreras

Racing car

Deportes

Sports

Deportes acuáticos

Water sports

Deportes de invierno

Winter sports

Entrenador

Trainer

Equitación

Riding

Esgrima

Fencing

Espalderas

Wall bars

Esquí (actividad)

Skiing

Esquí (plancha)

Ski

Esquí náutico

Water skiing

Estadio

Stadium

Fútbol

Football

Gimnasia

Gymnastics

Golf

Golf

Halterofilia

Weight-lifting

Hipódromo

Racecourse ; Racetrack

Hockey

Hockey

Hockey sobre hielo

Ice hockey

Jockey ; Jinete

Jockey ; Rider

Judo

Judo

Juegos Olimpicos ; Olimpiada

Olympic Games ;Olympics

Jugador/ra

Player

Manager

Manager

Maratón

Marathon

Marcha

Walk

Motorismo

Motoring

Natación

Swimming

Patinaje sobre hielo

Ice skating

Patinaje sobre ruedas

Roller skating

Piloto de carreras

Racing driver

Piscina

Swimming pool

Pista

Track

Rallye

Rally

Regata

Boat race

Ring ; Cuadrilátero

Ring

Rugby

Rugby

Salto con pértiga

Pole vault

Salto de altura

High jump

Salto de longitud

Long jump (U.K.) ; Broad jump (USA)

Sprint

Sprint (U.K) ; Dash (USA)

Tenis

Tennis

Trapecio

Trapeze

Velódromo

Cycling stadium ; Velodrome

Water-polo

Water polo

El ImperfectoImperfect tense:

The Imperfect

The imperfect tense is used to refer to actions in the past that occurred repeatedly.I used to walk every day.Yo caminaba cada día.

The imperfect tense is also used to refer to actions in the past that occurred over an extended period of time.I used to eat paella frequently.Yo comía frecuentemente paella.

The imperfect tense is also used to "set the stage" for an event that occurred in the past.We were coming home when we saw Juan.Veníamos para casa cuando vimos a Juan.

Actions which are not physical, that is feelings and mental actions, usually use the imperfect tense.Juan was feeling sick.Juan estaba enfermo.

The imperfect is frequently associated with phrases that describe the frequency of past actions.a menudooften

a vecessometimes

cada díaevery day

cada añoevery year

con frecuenciafrequently

de vez en cuandofrom time to time

en aquella épocaat that time

frecuentementefrequently

generalmenteusually

muchas vecesmany times

muchoa lot

nuncanever

por un ratofor awhile

siemprealways

tantas vecesso many times

todas las semanasevery week

todos los díasevery day

todo el tiempoall the time

varias vecesseveral times

Regular forms of the imperfect are formed by adding the following endings to the stem of the verb:

-ar verbs example: hablar

abaabasabaábamosabaisaban

hablabahablabashablabahablábamoshablabaishablaban

-er verbs, -ir verbs example: vivir

íaíasíaíamosíaisían

vivíavivíasvivíavivíamosvivíaisvivían

Only three verbs are irregular in the imperfect:ser ver ir

eraeraseraéramoseraiseran

veíaveíasveíaveíamosveíaisveían

ibaibasibaíbamosibaisiban

Leccion de culturaCapitulo I Realidades 3

Gramatica intense- Cumplimentos Directos e indirectosReflexivos

Grammar Review

Reflexive Verbs: Part IA reflexive verb is a verb in which the subject is the direct recipient of the action of the verb in active voice.

There is no object!The subject is “ the object”

Notes:

A verb is reflexive when the subject and the object are the same.

I wash myself.

subject: I

verb: wash

object: myself

Since the subject and object are the same, the verb is reflexive.

I wash the car.

subject: I

verb: wash

object: car

Since the subject and object are different, the verb is not reflexive.

Here's another example of how a verb can be either reflexive or non-reflexive.

I scratch myself.

subject: I

verb: scratch

object: myself

Since the subject and object are the same, the verb is reflexive.

I scratch the dog.

subject: I

verb: scratch

object: dog

Since the subject and object are different, the verb is not reflexive.

When a verb is reflexive, the infinitive ends in "se."

lavar

to wash (non-reflexive)

lavarse

to wash oneself (reflexive)

rascar

to scratch (non-reflexive)

rascarse

to scratch oneself (reflexive)

There is one reflexive verb you have been using since you began studying Spanish.

llamarse - to call oneself

¿Cómo se llama usted?

What do you call yourself?

Me llamo Juan.

I call myself Juan.

Note: A more "natural" translation would be "What is your name?" and "My name is Juan."

When you learned to conjugate regular verbs, you needed to learn a set of pronouns called "subject

pronouns."

lavar

yo lavo

tú lavas

él, ella, usted lava

nosotros/as lavamos

vosotros/as laváis

ellos, ellas, ustedes lavan

Ella lava el coche.

To learn to conjugate reflexive verbs, you need to learn a different set of pronouns called "reflexive

pronouns." These pronouns are positioned before the verb, while the ending "se" is dropped and the verb is

conjugated normally.

lavarse

yo me lavo

I wash (myself)

tú te lavas

you wash (yourself) (informal)

él se lava

he washes (himself)

ella se lava

she washes (herself)

usted se lava

you wash (yourself) (formal)

nosotros nos lavamos

we wash (ourselves)

nosotras nos lavamos

we wash (ourselves) (feminine)

vosotros os laváis

you-all wash (yourselves) (informal)

vosotras os laváis

you-all wash (yourselves) (informal, feminine)

ustedes se lavan

you-all wash (yourselves)(formal)

ellos se lavan

they wash (themselves)

ellas se lavan

they wash (themselves) (feminine)

Ella se lava.

Ella lava el coche, y despues se lava.

The reflexive pronouns are not subject pronouns; rather they are object pronouns.

me (myself)

te (yourself)

se (himself, herself, yourself) itself

nos (ourselves)

os (yourselves)

se (themselves, yourselves)

The purpose of the reflexive object pronouns is to show that the action of the verb remains with the subject.

Juan se lava la cara.Juan washes his face. (reflexive)

Juan lava su carro. (non-reflexive)

Juan washes his car.

Note: When referring to body parts, use the definite article, thus "la cara" not "su cara."

Note that many, many verbs can be made reflexive. All it means when a verb is reflexive is that the action

remains with the subject.

wash the dog (non-reflexive)

wash your face (reflexive)

raise the book (non-reflexive)

raise your arm (reflexive)

put the baby to bed (non-reflexive)

go to bed (reflexive)

wake up your son (non-reflexive)

wake up yourself (reflexive)

...and so on

Now add a flashcard for reflexive verbs:

lavarse to wash oneself

yo me lavo

tú te lavas

él se lava

ella se lava

usted se lava

nosotros nos lavamos

nosotras nos lavamos

vosotros os laváis

vosotras os laváis

ustedes se lavan

ellos se lavan

ellas se lavan

Reflexive Verbs: Part II

In the previous lesson, you learned that a verb is reflexive when the subject and the object are the same.

I wash myself.

subject: I

verb: wash

object: myself

Since the subject and object are the same, the verb is reflexive.

I wash the car.

subject: I

verb: wash

object: car

Since the subject and object are different, the verb is not reflexive.

You also learned that when a verb is reflexive, the infinitive ends in "se."

lavar

to wash (non-reflexive)

lavarse

to wash oneself (reflexive)

rascar

to scratch (non-reflexive)

rascarse

to scratch oneself (reflexive)

You should have memorized a set of pronouns called "reflexive pronouns."

me (myself)

te (yourself)

se (himself, herself, yourself)

nos (ourselves)

os (yourselves)

se (themselves, yourselves)

You learned to conjugate reflexive verbs like this:

lavarse

yo me lavo

I wash (myself)

tú te lavas

you wash (yourself) (informal)

él/ella se lava

he/she washes (him/herself)

usted se lava

you wash (yourself) (formal)

nosotros/as nos lavamos

we wash (ourselves)

vosotros/as os laváis

you-all wash (yourselves) (informal)

ustedes se lavan

you-all wash (yourselves) (formal)

ellos/as se lavan

they wash (themselves)

In the lesson titled Direct Object Pronouns Part III you learned that when there are two verbs, you have two

options on where to place the pronoun: before the conjugated verb or attached to the end of the infinitive.

Great Law of Position of Object PronounsI want to see it. (querer, ver)

Lo quiero ver.

Quiero verlo.Lo debemos comprar.

Debemos comprarlo.

We should buy it.

María nos debe visitar.

María debe visitarnos.

Mary should visit us.

Juan lo necesita lavar.

Juan necesita lavarlo.

John needs to wash it.

The same is true regarding reflexive pronouns. When the sentence has two verbs, the pronoun can be

placed directly before the conjugated verb or attached to the end of the infinitive.

I want to see myself.

Me quiero ver.

Quiero verme.

John needs to wash his hair.

Juan se necesita lavar el pelo.

Juan necesita lavarse el pelo.

More pronouns and POSITION LAWMaria can wash her face now.

Ahora María se puede lavar la cara.

Ahora María puede lavarse la cara.

I have just gone to bed.

Acabo de acostarme.

Me acabo de acostar.

We prefer to wash with scented soap.

Preferimos lavarnos con jabón perfumado.

Nos preferimos lavar con jabón perfumado.

Whenever a verb directly follows a preposition, it remains in the infinitive form. For reflexive verbs, the

ending -se changes to agree with the subject. Observe the differences in the following sentences, all of

which are about counting burros before falling asleep.

ANTES + DE + infinitive

Antes de dormirme, yo cuento burros.

Antes de dormirte, tú cuentas burros.

Antes de dormirse, la chica cuenta burros.

Antes de dormirnos, nosotros contamos burros.

Antes de dormiros, vosotros contáis burros.

Antes de dormirse, los chicos cuentan burros.

In English, many verbs can be used transitively (with a direct object) or intransitively (without a direct object).

The sun dried the clothes. (transitive)

The clothes dried in the sun. (intransitive)

In Spanish, these intransitive constructions frequently employ the reflexive form.

The sun dried the clothes. (transitive)

El sol secó la ropa.

The clothes dried in the sun. (intransitive)

La ropa se secó al sol.

Sometimes, the reflexive construction is used merely to emphasize who is performing the action of the

sentence.

The cake? Maria ate it.

¿La torta? María se la comió.

For some verbs, the meaning changes when they are used reflexively.

aburrir - to bore

aburrirse - to be bored

acordar - to agree

acordarse de - to remember

acostar - to put to bed

acostarse - to go to bed

casar - to perform a marriage ceremony

casarse con - to become married to someone

despedir - to fire

despedirse de - to say goodbye

dormir - to sleep

dormirse - to fall asleep

ir - to go

irse - to go away, to leave

morir - to die (abruptly, as of an accident, war, etc.)

morirse - to die (as from natural causes; also "to die" figuratively)

negar - to deny

negarse a - to refuse

parecer - to seem

parecerse a - to resemble

poner - to put

ponerse - to put on

probar - to try, to taste

probarse - to try on

quitar - to take away

quitarse - to take off

A few verbs are always used reflexively.

arrepentirse (e:ie) - to repent

atreverse a - to dare

darse cuenta de - to realizejactarse de - to boast

quejarse de - to complain about

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Object Pronouns

Basic Spanish Pronouns

Direct Object PronounsFirst of all you must remember that a direct object in a sentence is the person, event or thing affected by the verb. The main difference between the use of the direct object pronouns in Spanish and English is their placement. While in English they substitute the direct object (and

its article) and are placed where the original object was, in Spanish this pronoun is placed in front of the verb, replacing also any article used with the object previously.

 Singular PluralMe (me) Nos (us)

Te (you) Os (you [all])

*Lo/la (him/her/it) *Los/las (them: masculine/feminine/neuter)

Le= you to a male in many Spanish-speakiing countries!!!Ejemplo- Le conozco….

 *The pronouns 'le' are sometimes used as direct object pronouns. Its use carry some subtle differences in meaning.

 Spanish EnglishDirect object expressed (Tú) llevas el libro You take/carry the book

 Direct object pronoun  (Tú) lo llevas You take/carry it

 Direct object expressed  Ella rompe la silla She breaks the chair

 Direct object  Ella la rompe She breaks it

pronoun

 Direct object expressed

 Ustedes secuestran los perros You [all] kidnap the dogs

 Direct object pronoun  Ustedes los secuestran  You [all] kidnap them

 Direct object expressed  El interrumpe la fiesta He interrupts the party

 Direct object pronoun  El la interrumpe He interrupts it

Indirect Object Pronouns: Part I. The indirect object (IO) tells us where the direct object (DO) is going. The indirect object answers the question "To whom?" or "For whom?" the action of the verb is performed. Sentences that have an indirect object usually also have a direct object.

Indirect Object Pronouns: Part INotes:The written lesson is below.Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

The indirect object (IO) tells us where the direct object (DO) is going.He gives the book to María.DO=BookWhere is the book going?To María.IO=María

He gives María the book.DO=BookWhere is the book going?To María.IO=María

The indirect object answers the question "To whom?" or "For whom?" the action of the verb is performed.He gives María the book.To whom does he give the book?To María.IO=MaríaHe buys me flowers.For whom does he buy the flowers?For me.IO=me

Sentences that have an indirect object usually also have a direct object. Remember, the IO tells us where the DO is going. Notice how the sentences below just wouldn't work without a direct object.He gives María . . .the book, the pen, the diamond, etc.He buys me . . .flowers, candy, an ironing board, etc.

Sometimes the direct object is not stated; rather it is implied, or understood.My mother writes me every week.DO=letter (understood)IO=me(My mother writes me a letter every week.)She told him.DO=it (understood)IO=him(She told it to him.)

To identify the indirect object use our two guidelines:• The IO tells us where the DO is going.• The IO answers the question "to whom?" or "for whom" the action of the verb is

performed.

When a pronoun takes the place of the name of the indirect object, use the following pronouns:me (me)

te (you-familiar)le (him, her, you-formal)nos (us)os (you-all-familiar)les (them, you-all-formal)

In an affirmative statement with one verb, the indirect object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb.Juan me compra un regalo.John buys me a gift.John buys a gift for me.Juan te compra un regalo.John buys you a gift.John buys a gift for you.Juan le compra un regalo.John buys her a gift.John buys a gift for her.Juan nos compra un regalo.John buys us a gift.John buys a gift for us.Juan os compra un regalo.John buys you-all (familiar) a gift.John buys a gift for you-all.Juan les compra un regalo.John buys them a gift.John buys a gift for them.

Now, focus in on one part of each of the previous examples:Juan me compra un regalo.John buys (for) me a gift.Juan te compra un regalo.John buys (for) you a gift.Juan le compra un regalo.John buys (for) her a gift.Juan nos compra un regalo.John buys (for) us a gift.Juan os compra un regalo.John buys (for) you-all (familiar) a gift.Juan les compra un regalo.John buys (for) them a gift.

Let's extract the IO phrase and its English equivalent:me comprabuys (for) me

te comprabuys (for) youle comprabuys (for) hernos comprabuys (for) usos comprabuys (for) you-allles comprabuys (for) them

Just like with the direct object, the indirect object presents a problem if one tries to translate word-for-word:Juan me compra un regalo.John for me he buys a gift.

The key to learning to use the indirect object pronouns is the same as the key for direct object pronouns. You must learn to think in phrases, not words. The phrases consist of a pronoun and a conjugated verb. In the following examples, note that the IO remains the same, while the subject of the phrase changes.me comprahe buys meme compranthey buy meme comprasyou buy me

The IO pronouns le and les present a special problem because they are ambiguous. That is, they can stand for different things.leto (for) himto (for) herto (for) you-formallesto (for) themto (for) you-all-formal

The following sentences, while grammatically correct, are ambiguous:Ella le escribe una carta.Ella les escribe una carta.Out of context, there is no way we can know the meaning.Ella le escribe una carta.She writes him a letter.She writes her a letter.

She writes you (formal) a letter.Ella les escribe una carta.She writes them a letter.She writes you-all (formal) a letter.

Since le and les can mean more than one thing, a prepositional phrase is often added to remove the ambiguity.Ella le escribe a Juan una carta.Ella le escribe a su hermana una carta.Ella le escribe a usted una carta.Ella les escribe a sus padres una carta.Ella les escribe a ustedes una carta.

Sometimes a prepositional phrase is added not for clarity, but rather for emphasis.Juan me da a mí el dinero.John gives me the money.(emphasizing that the money is given to me and not to someone else)Juan te da a ti el dinero.John gives you the money. (emphasis on you)

There is no ambiguity in the following sentence. It can only mean one thing.Juan me da el dinero.John gives me the money.The addition of a prepositional phrase merely adds emphasis.Juan me da a mí el dinero.John gives me the money.

Let's sum up the important points of this lesson:• The IO tells us where the DO is going.• The IO answers the question "to whom" or "for whom."• Sentences that have an IO usually also have a DO• Sometimes the DO is not stated, but rather is implied, or understood.• The IO pronouns are: me, te, le, nos, os, les.• Place the pronoun before the conjugated verb.• Think in phrases, do not translate word-for-word.• Le and les are ambiguous.• Prepositional phrases are often used for clarity and for emphasis.

Direct and Indirect

Object Pronouns Used Together!Here are the direct object pronouns and the indirect object pronouns side by side:

DO Pronouns

IO Pronouns English Equivalent

me me me

te te you (familiar)

lo, la le him, her, it, you (formal)

nos nos us

os os you-all (familiar)

los, las les them, you-all (formal)

When you have both a direct object pronoun and an indirect object pronoun in the same sentence, the indirect object pronoun comes first.Ellos me los dan.They give them to me.IO pronoun: meDO pronoun: los

Ella te la vende.She sells it to you.IO pronoun: teDO pronoun: la

Whenever both pronouns begin with the letter "l" change the first pronoun to "se."le lo = se lole la = se lale los = se losle las = se las

les lo = se loles la = se lales los = se losles las = se las

The reason for changing "le lo" to "se lo" is merely to avoid the tongue-twisting effect of two short consecutive words that begin with the letter "l". To demonstrate this, first quickly say "les las" and then quickly say "se las." See how much easier it is to say "se las?"

In negative sentences, the negative word comes directly before the first pronoun.No se lo tengo.I don't have it for you.Nunca se los compro.I never buy them for her.

Because the pronoun se can have so many meanings, it is often helpful to clarify it by using a prepositional phrase.Él se lo dice.Ambiguous. He tells it to (whom?).Él se lo dice a Juan.He tells it to him. (to Juan)Él se lo dice a María.He tells it to her. (to María)Él se lo dice a ella.He tells it to her.

In sentences with two verbs, there are two options regarding the placement of the pronouns. Place them immediately before the conjugated verb or attach them directly to the infinitive.She should explain it to me.Ella me lo debe explicar.Ella debe explicármelo.I want to tell it to you.Te lo quiero decir.Quiero decírtelo.You need to send it to them.Se la necesitas enviar a ellos.Necesitas enviársela a ellos.Note that when attaching the pronouns to the infinitive, a written accent is also added to the final syllable of the infinitive. This preserves the sound of the infinitive.

When the pronouns are attached to the infinitive, make the sentence negative by placing the negative word directly before the conjugated verb.Ella debe explicármelo.Ella no debe explicármelo.Quiero decírtelo.No quiero decírtelo.Necesitas enviársela a ellos.No necesitas enviársela a ellos.

When the pronouns come before the conjugated verb, make the sentence negative by placing the negative word directly before the pronouns.Ella me lo debe explicar.Ella no me lo debe explicar.Te lo quiero decir.No te lo quiero decir.Se la necesitas enviar a ellos.No se la necesitas enviar a ellos.

Fin

1. SPAIN - REGIONS

Las Fallas

Fallas de Valencia

Fallas de ValenciaFalles de València

Falla de la Plaza del Ayuntamiento del año 2015Ubicación Valencia y otras localidades

másComienzo 15 de marzoTérmino 19 de marzoOrganizador Junta Central Fallera,

comisiones falleras y gremio

de artistas falleros1er premio sección especial 2015

Plaza del Pilar

1er premio sección especial infantil 2015

Duque de Gaeta-Pobla de Farnals

[Las Fallas (Falles en valenciano) son unas fiestas que se celebran del 15 al 19 de marzo, con una tradición arraigada en la ciudad de Valencia y diferentes poblaciones de la Comunidad Valenciana. Oficialmente empiezan el último domingo de febrero con el acto de la

Crida (en valenciano; 'pregón', en castellano).

Actualmente, esta festividad se ha convertido en un atractivo turístico muy importante, ya que están catalogadas como fiesta de Interés Turístico Internacional. Estas fiestas también son llamadas fiestas josefinas o festes de Sant’ Josep (en valenciano), ya que se celebran en honor de san José, patrón de los carpinteros.

SANT’Josep las fiestas

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and it is resplendent with amazing architecture, a profound sense of history and beautiful beaches. Many know that this vibrant and cosmopolitan city is home to the European Formula One Grand Prix, and it is also a popular destination for those attending La Tomatina, a much publicized annual tomato fight held in a nearby town. Valencia is, however, also home to Spain’s national dish Paella, and Las Fallas (The Falles) festival which runs from March 15th – March 19th every year.

Las FallasLas Fallas is an ancient and traditional celebration that commemorates Saint Joseph. Preparation for these festivities begins a year in advance with fundraising and construction of the props that will be used during the celebration. Puppets or dolls are constructed, and following a parade they are mounted on elaborate constructions made of paper-mâché and cardboard which is called a falla.The preparation for this event is so intense and elaborate that an entire area of the city has been designated as the City of Falles, where artisans of every kind spend months building the props. The celebration itself will see more than 500 different celebratory falla.

There are a variety of events which occur during this important celebration, including brass bands that march through neighborhood streets, people parading in costume, and plenty of firecrackers. The five days and nights of the actual traditional celebration are a time of continuous partying by people of all ages. Of course, food and drinks are an integral part of any holiday, and there is plenty of sangria, paella and other local dishes available during the festivities.

PaellaWhether you believe that paella is the Spanish national dish or just a regional one, there is no doubt that paella is recognized the world over as being distinctly Spanish. The modern incarnation of this rice dish evolved on the east coast of Spain in the middle of the 19th century. It has, however, ancient roots; the Moors used to make casseroles of rice and fish, and by the 15th century rice was a staple ingredient in most homes. By the 18th century, Valencians used special pans to cook rice dishes for special occasions, and by the end of the 19th century the region was facing increased prosperity and paella’s ingredients changed to include more expensive proteins such as duck, chicken and rabbit. In 1840, a local newspaper referred to this distinctive dish as paella, and this fantastic rice dish with a very specific cooking technique has never been called anything else.There are three main kinds of paella: Valencian paella (rabbit, chicken, white bean), seafood paella and mixed paella.  The base of the dish is always sofrito (garlic, onion,tomato) The core ingredients include rice, vegetables and some form of protein. Saffron and olive oil are also common – the saffron is what gives the rice its golden yellow color and floral aroma.

A specific cooking technique is required before the dish can be called paella. It involves a layering of flavors and ingredients in a paella pan, which is a large, round and shallow dish. The rice and other ingredients are not disturbed during the final cooking process which allows the bottom layer to caramelize and build an intense flavor.  For something quick, local, and cheap you can get an empanada. The savory pastries are hand-made and filled with meat or vegetables.  The local favorite contains tuna, tomato, and peppers.  Don’t forget to visit the Mercado Central de Valencia, it’s a must stop for culinary travellers

looking for local and regional food specialties, such as the famous ham/cured meat called jamon iberico.

The perfect beverage to accompany any paella is sangria or Agua de Valencia.  Sangria is a fruity drink mixture of wine, fresh sliced fruit, a dash of sweetener and brandy.  Agua de Valencia contains orange juice, cava, gin and vodka. Both are flavorful and refreshing, these common drinks are available throughout the country and especially at the time of The Fallas celebration where just about every restaurant offers paella and every bar serves up pitchers of chilled sangria and Agua de Valencia.

Spain is a country of diverse regions, each with their own cultural flavor. Valencia, home of paella and one of the most spectacular festivals in the world, it is a beautiful area that should not be missed if traveling to Spain.  Las Fallas happens every year from March 15th-March 19th, but there are many events and parades leading up to the main event.  It’s a great time of year to visit Spain because of the mild weather, and lack of tourists compared to a summer visit.

Las Fallas Accommodation Advice and Suggestions

1.   La Crema The main reason you'll be at the Las Fallas festival is to witness the burning of the Fallas sculptures on the Thursday night. The biggest and most important burning is that of the town hall (ayuntamiento) Falla.

Las Fallas in Valencia. Image: Damian Corrigan

2.   The Fallas Before they are burned, the Fallas are on display all over the city for all to see. There are dozens to see, but the main ones are the 'Secció Especial' and the town hall Falla. From the 'Secció Especial' a winner is chosen a few days before the event, which will be

saved in the Fallas museum for all eternity. The rest are burned (see above).

Mascleta at Las Fallas. Image: Damian Corrigan

3.   Mascletas A Mascleta is an audio firework display that takes place every afternoon (at 2pm). The Spanish are famous for their noise and nothing in Spain is as noisy as this. The mascleta can be heard from all over the city, but it is worth getting as close to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento as possible to get the real atmosphere. Acrobats perform in the streets and there is a visual element of sorts to the fireworks as the rockets leave smoke trails as they are detonated.

Desperta at Las Fallas. Image: Damian Corrigan

4.   La Desperta Forget to set your alarm after partying all night at Las Fallas? Have no fear! The kind locals provide their own wake-up call, by dropping fire crackers outside people's windows at 8am. The service is done free of charge by the very considerate Valencianos. You won't find this on any official program so ask your hotel where you can get to see

one.

Las Fallas Flower Offering. Image: Damian Corrigan

5.   The Flower Offering The Las Fallas festival isn't entirely about noise and fire (though it is mainly). It is also about lots of ladies dressing up in pretty dresses and carrying flowers. For two days the city's women and girls parade around Valencia, followed by a full marching band.

The processions culminate in the Plaza de la Virgen, where their flowers are 'offered' to a statue of the Virgin.Some of the women get very emotional at being part of this event and you will see a lot of them crying as they approach the statue.

Paella in Valencia. Image: Damian Corrigan

6.  Paella ContestsAnother unofficial part of the Fallas festival, you may be lucky enough to run into a paella contest in the

streets. These mainly take place towards the beginning of March, before the main festivities begin. The Valencianos are very proud of their paellas - the famous dish was invented in this region, so you may never sample a better paella than one of the ones cooked here. Don't be surprised to not see any fish in the paella - original paella doesn't have any seafood in it!Read more about paella in Spain

7.  La Nit del Foc Firework DisplayIn addition to the daytime audio firework displays (see 'Mascleta' above), there is also a more coventional visual firework display at night. There are fireworks every night from the 15th to the 18th, with the last one (La Nit del Foc) being the biggest. These are some of the biggest and most expensive firework displays you are ever likely to see.

8.  Eat Buñuelos with ChocolateAll over the city you will see funny misshaped donut things being served in the streets. These are buñuelos and they will be served with a chocolate 'drink' for dunking them in (really it's little more than melted chocolate and is so thick that it's difficult to drink normally).9.  Visit the Las Fallas MuseumIronically, the Las Fallas Museum at Plaza Monteolivete isn't easy to get to during the festival, due to the fact many roads in the city are cut off for the week. However, if you don't mind walking there

(it's a little out of the city), you will get to see all of the Fallas monuments that have won competition each year and been saved from a fiery death.10.  See a BullfightValencia's very central bullfight is home to bullfights throughout the main Fallas week and attracts bullfighting aficionados from all over the country. Tickets sell out in advance, so speak to your hotel about how to get one as soon as you arrive in the city.

Andar a camping acamparSi vas de camping, seguro que esta lista te ayudará mucho. No

hace falta que te lleves todo lo que aquí sugerimos, pero nuestras recomendaciones te darán una buena base para planificar mejor tu equipaje. 

EQUIPO BÁSICOBotiquín de Primeros Auxilios.Lámparas y Linternas. Pilas.Sillas

y mesa plegables. Navaja multiusos.Cuerdas. Pinzas de tender.Mapas, brújula o GPS.

COCINACocina a gas.Nevera pequeña de hielo.Olla, sartén, platos,

vasos y cubiertos. Abridores.Encendedor.Utensilios para lavar los cacharros.Bolsas de basura.

PARA DORMIRTienda de campaña, no olvidar, piquetas, palos, varillas y

martillo.                    Saco de dormir, alguna manta, esterilla o cama hinchable y una almohada.

ASEOJabón y Champú.Cepillo y Pasta de dientes.Equipo para afeitarse

o depilarse.Bañador y chanclas.Toallas.Peine, secador de pelo y espejo.Papel Higiénico.Medicamentos básicos. (Analgésicos y similares).

EXTRAS

Impermeable y paraguas.Gorra, gafas y crema para el Sol.Espray contra insectos.Neceser de coser.Cinta americana.Teléfono móvil y cargador.

Todo esto claro está, junto a lo que te tengas que llevar según la actividad que vayas a realizar, montaña, playa, o algún deporte concreto.

Ya sabes, elije siempre lo justo, que no se te olvide nada y buen viaje. 

Todo lo que necesitas saber para ir de

camping

Para que la experiencia sea buena, existen una serie de aspectos que debemos tener en cuenta antes de realizar una acampada

ROTOTOM SUNSPLASH/FLICKR

El camping nos ofrece entre otras cosas la oportunidad de disfrutar de la naturaleza y del aire libre. Pero antes de realizar una acampada existen diferentes cosas que tenemos que tener en cuenta.

Lo primero y más importante es elegir el destino y el lugar donde queremos realizar nuestra acampada.

Existen dos opciones principales a la hora de ir de camping.

Podemos acudir a una zona de camping establecida como alojamiento, en la que normalmente se ofrecen diferentes tipos de servicios, como cuartos de baño y duchas, o realizar la acampada libre o en zonas privadas con un permiso previo.

Actualmente la acampada libre en España está casi totalmente prohibida. No existe una normativa a nivel estatal, sino que cada Comunidad Autónoma tiene su propia regulación. Por esto es recomendable, una vez elegido el destino, consultar la normativa concreta de la zona elegida para evitar multas indeseadas. Puede ser útil consultar a La Federación Española de Empresarios de Camping (FEEC), que nos podrá aportar información específica de cada lugar.

Una vez elegido el lugar de destino y tipo de acampada que vamos a realizar tenemos que tener en cuenta una serie de elementos imprescindibles en todo campamento:

El primero es la tienda de campaña.

Las cualidades que se deben tener en cuenta a la hora de adquirir una son la calidad y la resistencia de sus tejidos, el número máximo de ocupantes y la facilidad de montaje.

Hoy en día existen tiendas de montaje muy fácil. Si elegimos una más tradicional, hay que tener en cuenta que necesitaremos diferentes herramientas para montarla.

También preparar la mochila adecuadamente es importante. Hay que comprobar el tiempo que suele hacer en la zona elegida con antelación para saber qué tipo de ropa debemos llevar. No debemos cargar con todo el armario, hay que llevar ropa cómoda y adecuada para el tiempo que va a hacer. Siempre hay que llevar algo de abrigo y algo impermeable por si acaso. También hay que tener en cuenta el calzado. Tiene que ser cómodo y adecuado para el campo.

No hay que olvidarse de llevar también todo lo necesario para cocinar. Utensilios básicos de cocina, agua potable, comida en lata, una cocina a gas, una nevera pequeña, útiles para lavar los cacharros y bolsas de basura.

Es imprescindible también un botiquín para primeros auxilios, medicamentos básicos y repelentes contra insectos, así como linternas pilas y cerillas.Por último, no debemos olvidarnos de elementos para la higiene personal, como jabón, toalla, pasta de dientes y papel higiénico.

Una vez terminada la acampada debemos limpiar bien la zona en la que hemos estado, y dejarlo todo tal y como estaba.