MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hi my dear friends, I want to  wish you MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

All my best greetings to all of you and your families!

Thank you for being there!

Thank you for following my blog!

Thank you for being interested in my posts!

I wish you all the best !


Have a great time and enjoy CHRISTMAS!

I hope you'll receive plenty of presents!

I hope all your dreams will come true!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

**Mes chers amis, je vous souhaite JOYEUX NOËL  et BONNE ANNÉE!

Et merci beaucoup à tous de voir mon blog!
Merci beaucoup d' être mes "followers"!
Merci d' être là!
Merci d être intéressés à mes publications!





¡FELIZ NAVIDAD a todos!

¡Os deseo lo mejor para estas Fiestas Navideñas y para el Año Nuevo!

Que se cumplan todos vuestros sueños y que el Año 2014 sea mucho mejor que este.

Todos juntos ¡PODEMOS!  ¡Ya veréis como todo va bien!

FELICES FIESTAS a todos vosotros y a vuestras familias.  Que tengáis SALUD , AMOR y que económicamente todo os vaya genial.

LONDON'S HIDDEN MUSEUMS/ Museos escondidos de Londres

Hi my dear friends, I'm here again.  Today we're going to look at two different museums.  They are in London. They are hidden and they are special.  I hope you'll like it!

Hola mis queridos amigos, aquí estoy otra vez.  Hoy vamos a ver dos museos diferentes.  Están en Londres. Están escondidos y son especiales.  ¡Espero que os gusten!

TWININGS TEA MUSEUM

Everybody knows that  the British are very fond of tea.  The name TWININGS has been part of this English tradition for 300 years.

And why the name TWININGS?  Well, Thomas Twining was the first man to import tea to England. In 1706 he opened his first shop on The Strand, London. It is the oldest shop in the British capital!

Today, Twinings shop is between a café and a bank.  At the back you'll find a little museum with Twinings memorabilia, chairs, old blocks of Tibetan tea, etc.

MORE INFO:
Address:  216 Strand, London WC2R, 1 AP

Entry:  free, Monday-Friday , 9am to 5pm. Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm.

Nearest underground station:  TEMPLE.

Online:  www.twinings.co.uk/shop/strand

IF YOU ARE A TEA FAN, don't doubt it  and visit this special museum!!!



THE FAN MUSEUM

This museum is part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.  It is on the edge of Greenwich Park which contains the famous Royal Observatory.

Nowadays do women use fans?  In some countries like Spain, of course! But it's mainly in summer when it's hot and we need a bit of extra air when we're walking in the street or in a theatre or cinema or at thome.  It's fashionable too! Spain has a long fan tradition but the museum  we're talking about is in London.

The Fan Museum in London, has more than 3,500 fans, from the 11th century to the present day.

It is said that fans were used by the ladies of 18th century for secret communication.  Here we are some of them:

**Carried  in the left hand,  open, means: COME AND TALK TO ME.
**Carried in the right hand, in front of the face means:  FOLLOW ME.
**Drawn across the cheek means:  I LOVE YOU.
**Fanning slowly means: I AM MARRIED.

MORE INFO
Address: 12 Crooms HIll, Greenwich,  London .
 www.fan-museum.org

Entry: adults 4 pounds,  under 7s is free.  Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm.

Nearest underground station:  Cutty Sark (DLR)


HAVE A NICE DAY!

SEE YOU!

TRAFALGAR SQUARE (London)

Hi my dear friends, I'm here again and today we're going to look at one of the most famous squares in London, TRAFALGAR SQUARE, next month in Spain there is a "long weekend" so it could be a good idea to travel to London!

Hola mis queridos amigos, aquí estoy otra vez y hoy vamos a mirar a una de las plazas más famosas de Londres, TRAFALGAR SQUARE, el mes que viene en España hay un "puente" así que podría ser una buena idea viajar a Londres.

Photo: english-heritage.uk


TRAFALGAR SQUARE - More than the centre of London.

**Why is Trafalgar Square so famous?  This square is dedicated to a famous victory: Admiral Lord Nelson's defeat of the French fleet at Trafalgar in 1805.  In fact, Nelson's statue is on a  high plinth (pedestal) in the middle of the square.

**Why do we say that this square is in the centre of London? Because it is its exact location! It is bordered by the  National Gallery, the church St. Martin-in-the-Fields, The Mall and the government offices of Whitehall.


**This famous place is a meeting point for many people every day! A lot of celebrations are held there too, for instance, on New Year's Eve although nowadays people prefer to go and see the London Eye fireworks display across the Thames.  Other important celebrations are St. Patrick's Day and St. George's Day.

**However, Trafalgar Square is also a popular place for protesters and strike scenes.

**A curiosity: In the square you can see "The smallest police station in the world". It was opened in 1926 and it was inside an old monument and at the time it had a direct telephone line to Scotland Yard! Nowadays this little monument has a less glamourous use:"It is a broom cupboard" (un armario para artículos de limpieza).

**Despite the protest manifestations and riots (one of them last year against the government cuts in education) Trafalgar Square is a peaceful tourist attraction and you can often attend  "free concerts".

**Moreover, you can go for a walk until "10th Downing Street", "the Houses of Parliament" "Westminster Abbey" and to the west of the square you can reach "Buckingham Palace" too.

**In the north-west corner of the square you'll find "The Fourth Plinth" which has no permanent statue.  In 1998, The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce started a series of temporary exhibitions on the plinth.  The Mayor of London continues the tradition and this year's sculpture is of a boy on a rocking horse (caballito balancín). Its creators explain that they wanted to create a sculpture which honoured the everyday battles of growing up (crecer).


MORE INFO: www.london.gov.uk  and www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth/

HAVE A NICE DAY MY FRIENDS!

SEE YOU!

ENGLISH GRAMMAR/Simple Past and Present Perfect./GRAMÁTICA INGLESA/Pasado y Pretérito Perfecto.

Hi my dear friends, I'm here again after my holidays.  I hope your summer will have been great! Today we're going to look at some English grammar about verbs and the tenses Past and  Present Perfect.

Hola queridos amigos, aquí estoy otra vez después de las vacaciones . Espero que vuestro verano haya sido genial.  Hoy vamos a ver algo de gramática inglesa sobre verbos y los tiempos Pasado y Pretérito Perfecto.

SIMPLE PAST  / PASADO.
We use THE SIMPLE PAST to say situations happened in the past and we specify the moment.
Utilizamos EL TIEMPO PASADO para decir situaciones ocurridas en el pasado y especificamos el momento.
So, we  use these words: yesterday,last night, last year, last day, last month, ago (I went to Ibiza two years ago: fui a Ibiza hace dos años) ,etc.
Por lo tanto, solemos utilizar estas palabras: ayer, anoche, el año pasado, el último día, el mes pasado, hace, etc.

HOW DO WE DO IT?  ¿Cómo lo hacemos?
**REGULAR VERBS:  We add -ED to the verb (añadimos -ED a nuestro verbo). Example: Infinitive To work (trabajar), Simple Past: worked (trabajé,trabajaba)

**IRREGULAR VERBS:  We have got a list with each form. Example: Infinitive: To come. Simple Past: came.  Infinitive: To go (ir) . Simple Past: went (fui, iba).  Infinitive: To feel (sentir) . Simple Past: Felt (sentí,sentía).

QUESTIONS:  DID + subject + verb :  Did you go to the party yesterday? ¿Fuiste a la fiesta ayer?
NEGATIVE PHRASES: subject + didn't + verb:  I didn't go to the gym last Tuesday. No fui al gimnasio el martes pasado.

PRESENT PERFECT/  Pretérito perfecto compuesto.
We use this tense to speak about an action happened in the past but we don't say exactly the moment.
Utilizamos este tiempo para hablar de una acción ocurrida en el pasado pero no decimos exactamente el momento.

HOW DO WE DO IT?  ¿Cómo lo hacemos?
It's a perfect tense so we will use the verb TO HAVE + a past participle.
Es un tiempo compuesto así que utilizaremos el verbo HABER + un participio pasado.

**AFFIRMATIVE PHRASES: subject + have + past participle > I have seen Indiana Jones twice: He visto Indiana Jones dos veces (pero no decimos CUANDO).
**QUESTIONS:   HAVE/HAS + subject + past participle. Have you gone to school? ¿Has ido al colegio?
**NEGATIVE PHRASES:   subject + haven't/hasn't + past participle> Lucy hasn't done her homework yet: Lucy no ha hecho todavía los deberes.

**Some words are used with Present Perfect: for (durante), since (desde), ever (alguna vez -en preguntas), before(antes), this week (esta semana)month/year.



SOME SENTENCES FOR YOU TO SEE / Algunas frases para que las veáis.

- Did you see Mary last week?  No, I didn't.
- Have you ever gone to Norway? Yes, I have.
- I changed my job last week.
- John didn't go to work last month, he was ill.


EXERCISE 1.- WRITE PRESENT PERFECT OR SIMPLE PAST.
1.- ___________(you, read)  this book before?
2.- Yes, I __________(read) it last week.
3.- Do you know where Rachel is? She's at home. I _________ (see) her yesterday.
4.- _____________ (Peter,go, ever)  to Scotland? No, he__________.
5.- I __________(go) to seven different schools when I was a child.
6.- Ann __________(be) to a lot of parties this year.
7.- Joe __________(crash) his car four times since Easter.
8.- The weather ______(be) very hot last summer.
9.- This summer _________(be) nice and warm.
10.-She __________(never, learn) to drive.

EXERCISE 2.- WRITE IN THE BLANKS:  for/since/ago. 
FOR: durante (indica periodos de tiempo real) for eight hours:durante 8 horas.
SINCE: desde (indica momentos) Since my birthday: desde mi cumpleaños.
AGO: hace. Se coloca siempre al final de la frase. I went to China one year ago.

1.- We've lived in Madrid ______ 26 years.
2.- I've been working _____ four o'clock this morning.
3.- I haven't seen Michael ____ weeks.
4.- Mary phoned a few minutes _______.
5.- She has been a teacher _____ seventeen years.
6.- It has been raining ____ four days.
7.- I've only know him _____ yesterday.
8.- I first went to Africa about seven years _____.

READING.
What do you dream about?
Most of us dream for two hours each night and almost always about people: for 45 per cent of the time about people  we know and 55 per cent those that we do not.

Men are twice as likely to dream of men as of women and for both sexes only 30 per cent  of dreams about individual characters.

Apparently we rarely dream about people in the public eye but some 20 per cent of our dreams include our family.  Mothers appear 34 per cent of the time, fathers 27 per cent, brothers 14 per cent and sisters 12 per cent.  On the whole, the themes of our dreams tend towards the unhappy, with fear occuring in 40 per cent, anger in 18 per cent and sadness in 6 per cent.
                                                                      (from Vital Statistics by Gyles Brandreth)

AND YOU, WHAT DO YOU DREAM ABOUT?


 SOLUTIONS

EXERCISE 1
1 have you read
2 read
3 saw
4 has Petr ever gone  /  hasn't
5 went
6 has been
7 hasn't crashed
8 was
9 has been
10 has never learnt

EXERCISE 2
1 for
2 since
3 for
4 ago
5 for
6 for
7 since
8 ago

**THANKS YOU FOR BEING THERE!!!

**SEE YOU!

FASHIONABLE SUMMER BALCONIES AND ROOFTOPS/Terrazas y azoteas de verano y a la moda.

Hi my dear friends, here I am again and this time to tell you some of the nicest summer balconies in different Spanish cities.  Afterwork, to have lunch or dinner or simply to have a drink with your friends.  Enjoy all these suggestions if you are living or visiting Spain.

Hola queridos amigos, aquí estoy otra vez y para contaros algunas de las terrazas más bonitas y a la moda de diferentes ciudades españolas.  Para después del trabajo, para comer o cenar o simplemente para tomar una copa con vuestros amigos. ¡Disfrutad de todas estas sugerencias si estáis viviendo o visitando España!


In summer it is very much sunny  and we like to be in the street to go for a walk or to have a good time with our friends, so what about a drink and a talk in a beautiful summer balcony or a rooftop ?  Some hotels and restaurants have this kind of places  so here you are some ideas!

En verano hay mucho sol y nos gusta estar en la calle para dar un paseo o pasarlo bien con nuestros amigos, así que ¿qué tal una copa y una charla en una bonita terraza o azotea  de verano?  Algunos hoteles y restaurantes tienen esta clase de lugares  así que aquí tenéis algunas ideas.

**MADRID

**THE PENTHOUSE:  A beautiful place in the centre of the city.  The best moment: "the dusk". From this "roof" you will see the typical houses and the whole city.
Hotel Me, Pza. Santa Ana, 14
http://www.memadrid.com/

**SANTO MAURO.  A wonderful garden in which you can have breakfast, lunch or snacks.  Dinners afterwork under the stars are the best! A really beautiful place!
36, Zurbano street.
http://www.ac-hotels.com/

**LAS LETRAS.  Almost the best "mojitos" and "caipiriñas" in the city combined with Spanish ham! Situated in the marvellous Gran Vía street. A perfect place to have a good time!
11, Gran Vía street.
http://www.hoteldelasletras.com/


**PALACIO DE CIBELES.  This is a restaurant with a summer balcony directly to the Cibeles square cause it is located in the same building as the Madrid  City Hall.  An impressive building with a lot of history! From here you can reach "La Puerta de Alcalá" , "Gran Vía" , "The Prado Museum", etc.
Plaza de Cibeles, 1.
http://www.grupoadolfo.com/



**BARCELONA.

**WET. A hotel with one of the best  Mediterranean sights!  You can find a "theme party" and the best DJs until 3 a.m. in the morning.  A good suggestion is "The Indian summer cocktail" which you can have next to a marvellous swimming-pool!
Plaza de la Rosa de los Vientos, 1.

http://www.w-barcelona.es/

**OPIUM.  A bar situated in "La Barceloneta" beach in which you can have a coffee in the morning, a light snack in the afternoon or a "fideua" in the evening.  The DJs and their music are excellent too!
Pº Marítimo, 34
http://www.opiumbar.com/

**LAIE. This is the Picasso Museum restaurant.  Situated in the Gothic Square, this building is one of the nicest in Barcelona.  Perfect to have a rest, have a drink and get inspired.
c/ Montcada, 15.
http://www.museupicasso.bcn.es/

**IBIZA  (Balear Islands)

**LA PLAGE.  Here you can find everything!  A beer, lunch, dinner, or wait for the dusk on a Bali bed! Then, music and dance! What else can you ask for?
Playa d'en Bossa.
http://www.laplageibiza.com/

**USHUAIA. We could say that this is a disco-hotel.  David Guetta can play here or you can see Dennis Rodman or Paris Hilton hosted here too.  Its parties are one of the best on the island! 
Playa d'en Bossa.
http://www.ushuaiabeachhotel.com/



MÁLAGA (Andalucía)

**LA TERRAZA DE LARIOS.  This hotel and its bar is nowadays one of the most famous places in Málaga at night!  Excellent cocktails!  Nice people!
Marqués de Larios, 2.
http://www.laterrazadelarios.com/


MARBELLA (Málaga) - Andalucía.

**CALIMA.  Excellent restaurant! Delicious dishes!  Marvellous sights!  A beautiful balcony!
c/ José Meliá, s/n.
http://www.restaurantecalima.es/

ALTEA (Alicante) Comunidad Valenciana.

**LA COSTERA.  It's a typical French bistrot! Next to the sea!  A beautiful garden!  A real marvellous place to enjoy its "cuisine" and its sights!
c/ Mestre de Música, 8.
http://www.lacosteradealtea.com/



SEVILLA (Andalucía)

**CAFÉ DEL CASINO.  The place is an ancient theatre which has become a fashionable balcony with marvellous sights directly to "El Parque de Maria Luisa". It's perfect to have a drink and dance at night!
Av. Maria Luisa,s/n.
http://www.cafedelcasino.com/



SANTANDER (Cantabria)

**EL MACHI.  A typical tavern with the best fish dishes in Santander!  To have lunch, dinner or a drink until 2 a.m. 
c/ Calderón de la Barca, 9.
http://www.elmachi.com/



FOR MORE INFO:  http://www.beachbookelle.com/

"ELLE MAGAZINE" livingBEACH.

These are only some ideas if you are visiting some of these Spanish cities or if you are living in some of them and you don't know these places  either! You'll find many more summer balconies and roofs on the ELLE MAGAZINE website marked above. 

EN JOY YOUR HOLIDAYS MY FRIENDS!!!

SEE YOU!

SUMMERTIME IS PERFECT TO GO OUT!!!!

TRAVEL/CANARY ISLANDS / SPAIN /A PARADISE IN EUROPE/ Viaje/Islas Canarias /España/ Un Paraíso en Europa

Hi again my dear friends, at last ,I'm back and as I promised some days ago, I'm going to tell you about a paradise in Europe, "THE CANARY ISLANDS" in Spain.  Seven marvellous islands where you will find all you need for your holiday!  Relax, gastronomy,  beaches, nature, culture, Natural Parks, Green Forests,  volcanoes, a unique sky, etc.  Are you going to miss it?

Hola otra vez queridos amigos, al fin he vuelto, y como prometí hace días, voy a hablaros sobre un paraíso en Europa, "LAS ISLAS CANARIAS" en España.  Siete maravillosas islas donde encontraréis todo lo que necesitáis para vuestras vacaciones. Relax, gastronomía, playas, naturaleza, cultura, parques naturales, bosques, volcanes,  un cielo único, etc.  ¿Os lo váis a perder?


THE CANARY ISLANDS
Are you thinking of a special trip, a different place, a unique site, a paradise on Earth?  Don't think any more, I'm going to give you the solution, go and see  the Spanish Canary Islands.

Would you like  spring weather all the year? The possibility of bathing into the sea all the year? No matter the season? Good climate and a better gastronomy? Hiking and  trekking ? The Spanish Canary Islands is your DESTINATION!

ADVANTAGES
** It's one  European destination.
**Current money:  the Euro.
**Language:  Spanish
**22º C all year (average)
**7 different islands.
**Friendly people.
**Volcanic landscapes.
**Quality and variety accomodation hotels.
**Spectacular gastronomy!
**Culture, traditions, festivities.
**Microclimates.
**Wonderful beaches.
**Great volcanoes.
**Unique forests

LET'S GO...



GRAN CANARIA ISLAND
This island is described  as a "miniature continent".  Microclimates and incredible landscapes are found there. 
The western half of the island is A Biosphere Reserve.  You can also find 33 protected areas. 

Its capital "Las Palmas de Gran Canaria" offers you a lot of museums, restaurants, bars, etc.  If you prefer the beach, "Las Canteras Beach" is in the capital . A beautiful white sand beach with a lot of hotels, places to have lunch or dinner, nightclubs, etc.

Go to the centre of the island, and visit "The Roque Nublo rock", the village of FATAGA and TEJEDA.  A marvellous landscape sometimes desertic sometimes full of palm trees. Unforgettable!

If you go to the south, the weather is hotter than in Las Palmas which is in the north and you will see "LA PLAYA DEL INGLÉS" and "MASPALOMAS beach" with its immense dunes.

I advise you to cross Gran Canaria Island from North to South and from East to West and you will understand why we say that it is a MINIATURE CONTINENT!
website: www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/gran-canaria-island

Gothic architecture, aborigin ruines and exotic food!

Don't forget to visit "Cueva Pintada" (VIth century) or The Cenobio of Valerón (350 caves).

The Colonial Neighbourhood (XVth century) is a "must" really beautiful!

TENERIFE ISLAND
The Highest mountain (and peak) in Spain is here, "THE TEIDE" which is a majestic volcano.

Tenerife island has got 2 World Heritage Sites, one National Park and 42 natural protected spaces.

Spectacular cliffs, wooden areas of the typical Canary pine that you will see going  up to the Teide. At that very moment you will experience the sight of "The Sea of Clouds" !  Incredible!

The theme park "LORO PARQUE" with a huge diversity of animals.

Beaches like "Los Cristianos or Las Teresitas"  will make you enjoy your holiday plans!

The capital "Santa Cruz" offers museums, shopping centres and a lot of cultural events.

website: www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/tenerife-island


LANZAROTE ISLAND
All the island is a volcanic place! 



Lanzarote has got a National Park ,12 natural protected areas and a Marine Reserve.

"THE TIMANFAYA PARK" is "a must".  You go around it  riding on a camel and looking at the moon landscapes which are simply incredible!

A visit to "LOS JAMEOS DEL AGUA" created by the architect and sculptor César Manrique (unfortunately already dead) is a special experience for the senses like sight and sound.  Anyway, César Manrique's presence is everywhere in the  whole island.  He loved his island and preserved it until his death.

In this island of volcanoes, you will see how the peasants of Lanzarote have cultivated their crops by covering them of black volcanic sand and for example, they have obtained a typical Canary wine which is well known and appreciated around the world.

**Lanzarote has been declared one of the universal models of sustainable development.

**Beaches like:  "Caletón Blanco", "Guacimeta" , "Las Coloradas" ,  "Janubio", "Las Cucharas" or "Famara"
http://www.turismodecanarias.com/
http://www.turismolanzarote.com/

FUERTEVENTURA ISLAND

Long, untouched beaches but also surprising landscapes, volcanoes and lava flows, sand dunes.

Discover THE SACRED MOUNTAIN which was considered by the aboriginal as "a magic place".

Traditional architecture, fishing villages,  and charming villages in the interior of the island.

The oldest rocks of the archipelago were found here.

Surfing and windsurfing can be practised as well because of the winds.

LA PALMA ISLAND
  

This island is called "LA ISLA BONITA" because of the multitude of colours that you can see there!

It is considered one of the best skies in the world in terms of astronomic observation so the most important astrophysics observatories are situated here.

A Biosphere Reserve with paths, forests and vegetation from the dinosaur's age!

Charming beaches!  One of the biggest craters in the world which is also the  National Park Caldera de Taburiente!
www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain-tourism-office/la-palma-island

EL HIERRO ISLAND

El Hierro is a paradise for diving!

A Biosphere Reserve with unforgettable volcanoes and lava fields, fertile valleys, forests, reptiles that were thought to be extinct...

It's impossible to find so much diversity in such a small territory!
www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/el-hierro-island

THE GOMERA ISLAND

This island is described as "a jewel of nature".

The National Park of Garajonay is a surprising forest and ideal for people who like hiking.  You will be impressed by the ravines which drop into the ocean!  A landscape sculpted by the erosion over million of years! 

In La Gomera you will see the cultivated terraces on steep slopes created by the human intervention. 

Bays of black sand and crystalline waters!
www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/la-gomera-island


HISTORY   -  THE GUANCHES

**I would like also  to speak  about the first pre-Hispanic inhabitants of  The Canary Islands called "The Guanches" who first appeared in TENERIFE ISLAND.
**It is believed that they were "bereber" origin and when the Kingdom of Castilla began the conquest of the Canary Islands firtly they resisted but then they integrated.
**Some of the first famous Guanches were:  Bencomo, Bentor and the Princess Dácil (Bencomo's daughter) who fell in love with a Castilian captain "Fernán García" and finally they got married.
**The Guanche language soon disappeared and today it's almost impossible to know somebody who could speak it.
**However, there are many archaeological artefacts from the Guanches that have povided a valuable information of history about them.

ACCOMODATION AND GASTRONOMIC INFO



**GRAN CANARIA > Maspalomas Beach > RIU HOTELS, http://www.riu.com/
Maspalomas Beach > SEASIDE PALM BEACH HOTEL > http://www.hotel-pal-beach.es/
THE ENGLISH BEACH > Bohemia Suites and Spa > http://www.designhotels.com/

**LANZAROTE> LA CASONA DE YAIZA > www.casonadeyaiza.com  in Yaiza, it's a hotel,a  restaurant  and a cellar.



A restaurant: "CASA GINORY"  in Arrecife . you will find an excellent fish, sead food, "la ropa vieja" that is a typical dish. http://www.ginorylanzarote.com/
A special  bar and restaurant situated in the former  Omar Shariff's residence : "LA CUEVA DE LAGOMAR"  http://www.lacuevadelagomar.com/

**TENERIFE> BAHÍA DEL DUQUE HOTEL in Costa  Adeje, it is a hotel, a beach club and an excellent restaurant. http://www.bahiadelduque.beachclub.com/


**The Typical "Mojo Picón Sauce" with potatoes is a "must" and it's delicious. You can find it "red" or "green".  Taste it, please!!!

**Canary bananas are famous all around the world!  They are the best!

HOW TO GET THERE...
**Low cost companies such as EASY JET, VUELING AND RYANAIR can offer you flights at an excellent prize!  Look at them on the Internet!

**From your country, city or place of origin, you can consult flights, airlines and offers on the Internet too.

I HOPE YOU'LL LIKE THIS VIRTUAL JOURNEY THAT WE HAVE JUST DONE! AND I HOPE YOU'LL FLY TO THE CANARY ISLANDS  AS WELL!

SEE YOU! 

TRAVEL/ HAWAII / Viaje/ Hawaii

Hi again my dear friends, I'm here again to start with the first of our islands "HAWAII" .  As I told you some days ago, I'll post about different islands around the world as a suggestion for your  summer holiday plans.

Hola mis queridos amigos, aquí estoy otra vez para empear con la primera de nuestras islas !HAWAII". Como os dije hace algunos días, publicaré sobre diferentes islas del mundo como sugerencia para vuestros planes de vacaciones de verano.

HAWAII the Land born from fire.

HAWAII, la Tierra nacida del fuego.

Photos:  buenavibra.es  /  felicesvacaciones.es

Would you like to live a unique experience?  Would you like to bathe in transparent waters?  Would you like to know a different culture?  Would you like to enjoy spectacular sandy beaches? Would you like to relax and get amazed at the same time?

Hawaii is your destination!!

KAUAI - Hawaii's Island of Discovery
OAHU- The heart of Hawaii.
MOLOKAI- Hawaiian by nature.
LANAI: Hawaii's most enchanting island.
MAUI: The magic island.
HAWAII ISLAND:  The Big Island.

**Hawaii is the youngest of the USA's states and it is in the Pacific Ocean.  The country is a chain of volcanic islands with a wonderful ecosystem almost unique in the world!

**Hawaii is  isolated and remote! It is located 3,500 kilometres west of Los Angeles.  The islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

**Hawaii volcanoes are still alive!  Kilauea (on Big Island)  has been erupting since 1983.  Mauna Kea is dormant at the moment and Mauna Loa is the largest and most active volcano in the planet.

**Hawaii is a laboratory of time for visitors and scientists.  You can see the formation of the Earth looking at Hawaii!

**Near the coast, the road is overwhelmed (cubierta) by the lava that still flows (fluye) into the ocean. What a spectacle!

**On Hawaii a whole ecosystem has evolved to live in this environment!  It is a spectacular place for wild life!


IF YOU GO ...

**KONA and  HILO have both international airports.

**The Volcanoes National Park,  is situated in the southern part of Big Island. It will take you about 3 hours to drive there from either Kona or Hilo.  This World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve is open 24 hours a day, all year round.  Admission costs $10 per vehicle.  More info: www.nps.gov/havo-www.gohawaii.com

**Coconut palms, white sand beaches, crystalline waters are waiting for you if you want to relax far away from the rest of the world!  http://www.gohawaii.com/

**Ancient petroglyphus left by Polynesian settlers (pobladores, colonos) can be seen near the coast road by a walking trail (sendero).
According to the legend, "Pele" the goddess of fire and creation, lives in the caldera of Kilauea volcano and hides beneath (bajo) the slopes (laderas) of Mauna Loa.

**On the Mauna Loa volcano, the last eruption was in 1984 and it is expected an eruption any day!  There is a Mauna Loa eruption every 20 years so ...

ENJOY MY FRIENDS!!

SEE YOU!!

PREPOSITIONS / ENGLISH GRAMMAR / Preposiciones/ Gramática Inglesa

Good morning everybody, today we're going to look at  prepositions "AT   /   IN " .

Buenos días a todos, hoy vamos a ver las preposiciones AT / IN .

**AT   /    IN  are prepositions of PLACE ( son preposiciones de LUGAR). The meaning of AT is as you don't enter a place and IN shows that you have already entered.  (El significado de AT es como si no entráseis en un lugar y el de IN muestra que ya habéis entrado.  In Spanish we usually translate both "EN" (en español solemos traducir las dos por EN).

**SOME EXAMPLES:  at home (en casa) , at school  (en el cole), in my house (en mi casa), at the door (en la puerta), in hospital (dentro del hospital), etc.

**However, we can find some typical expressions with At or In that we have to learn and not to think of the meaning or words that are with them.

Sin embargo, podemos encontrar expresiones típicas con AT o IN que tenemos que aprendernos y no pensar en el significado o palabras que van con ellas.

EXERCISE
Write  AT  or  IN   in each blank.
Escribid  AT  o  IN en cada hueco.

1.- Miss Connor is _______ a showroom.      She is ______ a meeting.
2.- Mr Smith is ______ a reception desk.      Mary is ______ home.
3.- You are ______the airport and Mr Fisher is _______ a restaurant.
4.- Mr Harris is living _____ 2, South Street.
5.- My friend lives _____ an appartment _____ the top of a building.
6.- It's the highest building ______ the city.
7.- You'll find her ______ the service desk.
8.- Don't waste too much time trying to repair the TV _____ the house.
9.- Just put it _____ the van and bring it back here.
10.- _____ work, _____ Madrid, ______ September.
11.- _____ the park, ______ the zoo, ______  Miami.
12.- ____ front of the window,  _____ 6 o'clock,  _____ bed.

                                 *********************************************

SOLUTION
1 in  /  at
2 at  /  at
3 at  /  in
4 at
5 in  /  at
6 in
7 at
8 in
9 into
10 at  /  in  /  in
11 at  /  at  /  in
12 in  /  at  /  in


READING
A DOCTOR'S STORY

A doctor was once teaching a class of medical students at a famous hospital in Edinburgh.  An injured man was brought in and the doctor turned to one of the students and asked him:
-"What's wrong with this man"?
-"I don't know, sir", the students answered.
-"Can I examine him and find out"?

-"There's no need to examine him", said the doctor.  You should know without asking questions.  He has hurt his right knee.  Didn't you notice the way he walked?  He hurt it by burning it in the fire.  You see his trouser leg is burnt away at the knee.  This is Monday morning.  Yesterday was fine, but on Saturday the roads were wet and muddy.  The man's trousers are muddy all over.  The man fell down on Saturday night.

The doctor then turned to the man and said:  "You had your wages on Saturday and went to a bar and drank too much.  You got wet and muddy on the way home.  You tried to dry your clothes by the fire when you got home.  Because you had drunk too much, you fell on the fire and burnt your knee.  Is that right?

-Absolutely right!, sir, said the man.

**Why do you think that the doctor has guessed the man's problem?


THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE!!!

HARD ROCK CAFÉ HISTORY / La historia del Hard Rock Café

Hi my dear friends, today we're going to speak about "The Hard Rock Café" a global icon in which you have surely been!  We'll see its beginnings and history! Let's go!

Hola queridos amigos, hoy vamos a hablar sobre "El Hard Rock Café" un icono global en el que seguro que habéis estado.  Veremos sus comienzos y su historia. ¡Vamos!

WORLDWIDE FAMOUS  (famoso en el mundo entero)
The first Hard Rock Café opened on June 14th, 1971 in London and immediately, it was a great hit!  Its American décor, loud music and friendly service helped to this!  After 40 years, it is a global icon with 150 venues (locales) in over 50 countries.



FOUNDERS (fundadores)
The Hard Rock Café was founded by Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett, two  entreprising young Americans and at once, it became the trendiest (a la moda) café in the British capital. It was a stop for rock stars like Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney.

Eric Clapton donated his Red Fender guitar to the café in 1979.  He asked the staff to hang it on the wall above his faourite bar stool (taburete).

Peter Townshend of "The Who" donated one of his guitars too and so this marked the start of a collection of music memorabilia (recuerdos) that contains right now more than 73,000 items (objetos):  photographs, instruments, clothing and costumes, platinum and gold records and posters of Freddie Mercury, Michael Jacson, Jim Morrison, Madonna, Prince, Elton John, etc.

The Hard Rock Café also has the first guitar owned by Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistosl and a Madonna's bustier.

The success of the fists Hard Rock Café expanded it in Europe and the United States.

LET'S PARTY
The Hard Rock Café chain (cadena) was sold to the Rank Group and today it is owned by the "Seminola Native American Tribe of Florida". 
The most recent café was opened in Florence in June last year.

THE HARD ROCK CAFÉS IN SPAIN
The successful chain of restaurants extends its reach to Spain where franchises exist in Madrid (since 1994), Barcelona (1997), Mallorca (since 2008) and Marbella (since 2009).  The restaurants do not only serve food, but they also stage concerts and even screen football matches, such as the popular clash of the two great rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona!

For more information about Hard Rock Cafés around the world, visit: http://www.hardrock.com/

 Don't doubt it!  If you want to visit a curious place, The Hard Rock Café is a marvellous one!

Photo: tripadvisor.es

SEE YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY!!

PARIS, L'Île Saint-Louis et le Quartier Latin / París, La Isla de San Luis y el Barrio Latino.

Salut tout le monde, aujourd'hui nous allons voir un peu plus de Paris, L'île Saint-Louis et le Quartier Latin.

Hola a todo el mundo, hoy vamos a ver un poco más de París, La Isla de San Luis y el Barrio Latino.

L'ÎLE SAINT-LOUIS

L'Île Saint-Louis est un des sites les plus intéressants de Paris avec son architecture classique et ses quais tranquilles.

Cette île est le résultat de l'union de deux îlots, l'Île Notre-Dame et l'Île aux Vaches, où , au Moyen Àge , les duels avaient lieu.

Sous le règne de Louis XIII,  les deux îlots ont été unis et l'on a construit  deux ponts en pierre pour relier l'île au reste de la ville.  Les travaux ont commencé en 1627 et ont fini en 1664.

La plupart des bâtiments ont une architecture classique et sont du XVIIème siècle.

Sur le Quai d'Anjou, l'Hôtel de Lauzon est fameux car y habitèrent Baudelaire, Théophile Gautier et Wagner.

Le Quai d'Orléans, en face de l'île de la Cité, offre une des plus belles vues de la cathédrale Notre-Dame et la rive gauche.

Cette île est calme, provinciale et très particulière au centre de la ville.


LE QUARTIER LATIN

Ce quartier se trouve sur la rive gauche de la Seine, sur les 5ème et 6ème arrondissements, de part et autre du boulevard Saint-Michel, appelé familièrement le Boul' Mich'.

Le Quartier Latin est, avec la Cité, la partie la plus ancienne de la capitale, qui comprend la montage Sainte-Geneviève (Sainte-Geneviève est la patronne de Paris), le rue Mouffetard au sud, les Jardins des Plantes à l'est, les quartiers Saint-Séverin et Maubert au nord.

On l'appele "latin" parce que la langue officielle de l'enseignement a été le latin jusqu'en 1789.  En plus, ce quartier est depuis sept siècles celui de la Sorbonne, des écoles napoléoniennes et des lycées prestigieux comme Louis-le-Grand, Henri I et Saint-Louis.

Ce quartier a une très intense activité culturelle non seulement à cause des maisons d'édition et des librairies, mais aussi grâce aux terrasses des cafés célèbres comme le Flore, Aux Deux Magots, etc.  centres privilégiés pour l'échange d'idées et rendez-vous littéraires.

LA SORBONNE qui est la plus célèbre université de France, doit son nom au collège de théologie fondé en 1253 para Robert de Sorbon pour 16 étudiants pauvres.  Louis XI fit installer ici la première imprimerie de France en 1469.

Aujourd'hui les bâtiments de la Sorbonne sont les sièges des universités de Paris III et Paris IV.

                           *************************************

***Avez-vous déjà visité Paris?
***L'été est proche, alors allons-y!
***C'est une ville qu'il faut visiter, au moins, une fois dans la vie!

AU REVOIR ET À LA PROCHAINE!

TRAVEL/ DUBLIN (Ireland) VIAJE / DUBLÍN (Irlanda)

Hi my dear friends, do you like travelling?  What about Dublin? A four or five days travel to know everything about the Irish capital!  Here we go!

Hola mis queridos amigos, ¿os gusta viajar?  ¿Qué tal Dublín?  Un viaje de cuatro o cinco días para conocer la capital irlandesa! ¡Vamos allá!

DUBLIN
**If you are in Spain or in an European country, you can take a low cost flight with Ryanair or Easy Jet Airlines and it will be cheaper !  Regular flights are flying to Dublin too and you can choose the one you like most.

Si estáis en España o en un país europeo, podéis coger un vuelo de bajo coste con Ryanair o Easy Jet y será más barato.  Vuelos regulares vuelan a Dublín también y podéis escoger el que os guste más.

**The Irish capital is famous for its hospitality.  Visitors soon discover that the local people are happy to talk about their city and its great history.

 La capital irlandesa es famosa por su hospitalidad.  Los visitantes descubren pronto que la gente local es feliz hablando de su ciudad y su gran historia.

**Dublin has got its origins back over 1,000 years.  From a small viking village, it has evolved into one of the most vibrant capitals in the world.

Dublín tiene sus orígenes 1.000 años atrás.  De un pueblecito vikingo, ha evolucionado hasta una de las capitales más vibrantes del mundo.

**Dublin is a city with a great cultural heritage.  You have to walk the streets and so, you'll see its Georgian architecture,  art, nightlife...



**The most important things to see are:  Dublin Castle, Christ Church, the Liffey River, Saint-Anne Church, St. Patrick's Cathedral , The Trinity College , The Temple Bar (the most famous Irish Pub in Dublin) , The National Gallery, the Town Hall, the National Library of Ireland and the Guinness Factory, of course in which you will see the fascinating story of Guinness beer.
**Phoenix Park (one of the Europe's largest parks).
**National Botanic Gardens, founded by The Royal Dublin Society in 1795.
Glasnevin, Dublin 9
**The Grand Canal.
**National Leprechaun Museum, located in the heart of Dublin, on Jervis Street.  Leprechauns (duendes) are an Irish national symbol. Full-price tickets €10,
**St. Audoen's Church, in the heart of Dublin, it is the only medieval church in the city.



**DUBLIN LITERARY PUBS.  DAVY BYRNE's pub (the James Joyce favourite pub), THE DUKE, MULLIGHANS'S, McDAID'S and THE PALACE.
http://www.visitdublin.com/


**MARKETS
-GEORGE STREET ARCADE
South Great George Street.
It's a much loved landmarket for Dubliners and visitors.

-BLACKROCK MARKET
19 Main Street, Blackrock, South Dublin.
A unique mixture in new and second-hand and antique goods.

-DUBLIN FLEA MARKET
The Co-op, Newmarket, Dublin 8.
A live music, food and interesting things.

**SHOPS
In High Street, you will find unique boutiques, shopping centres and more markets.

INTERESTING INFO
**DUBLIN BUS TOURS
www.viator.com/dublin-bus-tours

**Bed and Breakfast  Dublin
rooms from €48
http://www.townhouseofdublin.com/

**The Inn On First Bed and Breakfast
http://www.theinnonfirst.com/

**Bed and Breakfast (B&B) near the Airport
http://www.pebblemilkinsalcy.com/

**Taxi at Dublin Airport
http://www.ecotaxisdublin.com/

**Airport Car Rental
http://www.autoeurope.com/

**Dublin by bike
http://www.dublinbikes.ie/
You can rent a bike to get around the city.  The three-day card is €2.
http://www.dublinbybike.ie/
3-hour Dublin by bike "City Tours" (€28)  daily at 10.30 from Merrion Square.

**FOR MORE INFO:  the following websites contain information on travelling to and from Dublin and offer advice on accommodation and sightseeing:
http://www.irlanda-travel.com/
http://www.visitdublin.com/
http://www.ryanair.com/
http://www.aerlingus.com/ (low cost flights)

If you have more days and you want to visit some more places the following wesites can help you:
http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/  Step up to the Atlantic Edge and explore a unique landscape.
http://www.cullinansdoolin.com/  Enjoy a peaceful stay at Cullinans guesthouse  in Doolin. B&B from €32.50.
www.discoverireland.com/it
http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/
http://www.connemara.ie/
http://www.aranisland.ie/


ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!!

HOLIDAYS / HOLIDAY ENGLISH / VACACIONES /Inglés para las vacaciones

Good morning my dear followers, today we're going to know more about Holiday English.  If you visit an Anglo-Saxon country this summer, this could be very interesting!  Don't miss it!

Buenos días mis queridos seguidores, hoy vamos a saber más sobre el Inglés para las vacaciones.  Si visitáis un país Anglosajón este verano, ¡esto podría ser muy interesante! ¡No os lo perdáis!

HOLIDAY ENGLISH
So you are off on holiday to an Anglophone country and have packed a separate case full of phrasebooks and survival kits!  My advice is:  leave that suitecase in your house and take it with you instead!  It's here everything you need to say!  It's to guarantee a fun holiday in either the UK, USA or no matter the country!

A GUIDE TO THE BEST GUIDE BOOKS (una guía de las mejores guías)
If you plan to stay in a big city, it is a good idea to book ahead (reservar).  However, there are plenty of travel guides that give you the prices, adresses of hotels and hostels that they have personally inspected and assessed.  If you are going to London or New York, THE EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES are really useful.  If you are going to the country (campo) THE ROUGH GUIDE or THE LET'S GO series is perfect.

Most hotels want a deposit of 10 to 20% of the total when you book (reservas). 

Nowadays, the low cost flights and the Internet can help you  find the best option!!

WHERE TO STAY
**England has a large number of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets, divided into five categories, from the luxury five-star hotels to the basic one-star variety.
Bed & Breakfast establishments are often cheap and friendly.
Guest houses, inns and pubs offer less amenities (servicios) than a hotel but the price is lower and includes breakfast.

**In the USA there are thousands of motels just off the interstate roads which are a cheaper alternative to the downtown hotels as well as a good reason to travel across the States by car.
Bed and Breakfast here are an option too. At the theaper end of the scale YOUTH HOSTELS (hostales para jóvenes)  can provide dormitory beds for around $15/20 a night although if you are travelling in a group of three it might be cheaper to share a triple-bedded room in a two-star hotel.

IN TOWN / Where?  What?  When?
If you want to discover the town, first  you can go to the local information centre or tourist office.  Most hotels have information too. 

IN THE HOTEL
**Is there a conducted tour ...?  ¿Hay una visita guiada para...?
**Where do we leave from?  ¿De dónde salimos?
**Will the bus pick us at the hotel? ¿Nos recogerá el autobús en el hotel?
**How much does the tour cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta la visita?
**Do we have free time? ¿Tenemos tiempo libre?

IN THE STREET
**Excuse me, could you tell me where the tourist office is, please? Perdone, ¿podría decirme dónde está la oficina de turismo?
**Is there a currency exchange office in this part of the town? ¿Hay alguna oficina de cambio de moneda en esta parte de la ciudad?

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
**Is the museum open on Sundays? ¿Está abierto el museo el domingo?
**What are the opening hours? ¿A qué hora abre?
**What is the entrance fee? ¿Cuál es el precio de la entrada?
**Is there a reduction for children? ¿Los niños tienen descuento?
**Is it all right to take pictures?  ¿Se pueden hacer fotos?

MEALS /  TIMES  (comidas y horarios)
**BREAKFAST is usually served between 7.00 and 10.00 and most hotels offer either full English breakfast (tea, coffee, cereal, milk, fried or grilled sausages, bacon, fried eggs, bread, butter and jam or a Continental breakfast with orange juice, coffee, rolls, bread, butter and jam.
**LUNCH is served from 12.00 to 14.00.
**TEATIME is served from 16.00 to 17.00.
**DINNER is served between 18.30 to 22.00 (the very latest).

RESTAURANT  AND BARS LANGUAGE.
**Waiter! ¡Camarero!
**Do you have a set menu? :¿Tienen menú?

A Typical Scottish Pub
 (a photo of my own)

**Are there any vegetarian dishes? ¿Tienen platos para vegetarianos?
**What do you recommend? ¿Qué me recomienda?
**Is there anything already prepared? ¿Hay algo ya preparado?
**Where are the toilets, please? ¿Dónde están los servicios, por favor?
**May I change this? ¿Puedo cambiar esto?
**Our food is cold, I'm afraid. Me temo que la comida está fría.
**The bill, please! ¡La cuenta por favor!
**This is really delicious! ¡Esto está realmente delicioso!

DIRECTIONS
**Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the town hall? Perdone, ¿podría indicarme el camino al ayuntamiento?
**Which way to the Cathedral, please? ¿Cuál es el camino hacia la Catedral por favor?
**Excuse me, where is the nearest underground/subway station? Perdone, ¿dónde esta la estación de metro más cercana?

TAKING A TAXI
**Is there a taxi rank  near here? ¿Hay alguna parada de taxis cerca de aquí?
**Where can I get a taxi? ¿Dónde puedo coger un taxi?
**Could you help me carry my luggage? ¿Podría ayudarme a llevar el equipaje?
**To the airport, please. Al aeropuerto por favor.
**How much is that?  ¿Cuánto es?
**Keep the change!  ¡Quédese el cambio!

HAVE A NICE DAY MY FRIENDS!   NEXT POST MORE INFO!!

SEE YOU!

PARIS, La Place de l'Étoile / París, La Plaza de la Estrella.

DÉDIÉ À MA CHÉRE   Juana Benet



Salut mes chers amis, aujourd'hui on va lire à propos de la Place de l'Étoile de Paris, tellement ronde, tellement parfaite!  Et je vous donnerai plus d'autre information qui va vous plaire!

Hola mis queridos amigos, hoy vamos a leer sobre la Plaza de la Estrella de París, ¡tan redonda, tan perfecta! Y os daré más información que os va a gustar.

Photo: paris.es

LA PLACE DE L'ÉTOILE

**Cette place  à Paris est caractérisée par douze avenues qui rayonnent  (convergen)  autour d'un imposant Arc de Triomphe  construit pour évoquer l'épopée de Napoléon 1er.

**L'Arc, dont la construction a été ordonnée para l'empereur, présente des sculptures de sujets guerriers et ne fut terminé que sous le roi Louis-Philippe.

**Il abrite la Tombe du Soldat Inconnu (première guerre mondiale  1914-1918).

**C'est sur cette place que,  le 14 juillet  1919,  on a assisté au défilé des troupes de la victoire.

**Le 26 août 1944, ce fut le tour des troupes du Général de Gaulle après la libération de Paris de l'occupation allemande, d'où le nom de Place Charles de Gaulle.

**On peut accéder au sommet de l'Arc de Triomphe d'où on jouit  (se goza)  d'une vue superbe sur la place et les douze avenues.

                                 

PLUS D'INFORMATION À PROPOS DE LA VILLE DE PARIS

Paris comprend 20 arrondissements (distritos) numérotés de 1  à  20 et disposés selon la forme d'un escargot (caracol).

Les quartiers (barrios) du centre (du 1er  au 9ème arrondissements) comprennent:
*Les bords de la Seine, où se situent le Palais-Bourbon, siège de l'Assemblée Nationale, l'Institut de France, l'Hôtel de Ville (ayuntamiento),   des musées comme le Louvre, le Musée d'Orsay...

*La rive gauche qui comprend le Quartier Latin et la Sorbonne.
*La rive droite  où il y a des rues marchandes (comerciales) comme la rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré et des magasins (almacenes) comme les Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, etc.

Les quartiers de l'est sont les plus étendus et les plus peuplés (poblados).

Les quartiers de l'ouest sont des quartiers résidentiels, avec des immeubles et des jardins élégants.

                              ***********************************


LE MARAIS

**Le Marais, situé entre le 3ème et 4ème arrondissements, est né au XIIIème siècle quand les Templiers décident de défricher (desbrozar)  les marécages (terrenos pantanosos)  autour de la rue Saint-Antoine, sur l'ancien lit de la Seine.

**La rue Saint-Antoine, ancienne voie romaine, devient la rue des fifres  (pífanos)  et des tournois (torneos).  Aprés la mort accidentelle d'Henri II  blessé (herido) par une lance en 1559, sa femme Catherine de Médicis a fait démolir l'Hôtel des Tournelles, la résidence royale.  Sur les ruines, Sully  a construit la Place Royale, future Place des Vosges, achevée (acabada) en 1612, où résideront Richelieu, Corneille, la Marquise de Sévigné.

**Sous les Bourbons la rue Saint-Antoine est la plus belle de Paris et le quartier devient le centre de la vie élégante.

**Aujourd'hui le Marais compte toujours ses vieilles demeures (moradas) du XVII et XVIII siècles, ses hôtels particuliers.  Parmi (entre)  eux (ellos), l'Hôtel Salé qui abrite le Musée Picasso  et l'Hôtel Carnavalet qui abrite le Musée de la Ville de Paris  avec une importante collection de l'époque de la Révolution francaise.


BONNE JOURNÉE À TOUS!

À BIENTÔT!!

LANGUAGES AND SCIENCE :THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING LANGUAGES /IDIOMAS Y CIENCIA: La importancia de hablar idiomas.

Good morning my dear friends, today I want to share with you a very interesting article from a Spanish magazine called YO Dona  because I think people don't know  how important  learning other languages is not only for culture or  our work but for our brain!  So, pay attention please!

Buenos días queridos amigos, hoy quiero compartir con vosotros un artículo muy interesante de una revista española llamada YO Dona porque yo creo que la gente no sabe lo importante que es hablar otros idiomas no solo por cultura o por nuestro trabajo sino para ¡nuestro cerebro! Así que,  por favor, tomad nota.

SCIENCE  INFO

Learning other languages is a tool to get  a job, to meet people or  to improve our creativity but there is much more!

Many  Spanish people spend a lot of their time on learning English, however, our level is quite low according to a Human Resources Company  Report called Randstad.

47% of the population says that  they can manage only in one language, their mother tongue;  35%  knows another one and only 18%  can speak two languages or more  despite the possibility of finding a job increases 44% if you speak other languages.  In fact, to speak English is essential if you want to apply for a job.

Moreover, a study has been done by a group of European Scientists  from Jyväskylä University, Finland, in 27 countries and finally they have demonstrated that to learn other languages is the basis to develop skills such as intelligence!

To become bilingual , trilingual or polyglotal  increases the capacity for processing complicated thoughts;  improve learning, creativity, mental flexibility and social abilities and it could slow down our mental ageing.

People who can speak languages are better at solving  difficult subjects or problems because when you are learning a new language, brain processes activate and modify the electrical activity of your brain.

People who are able to speak different  languages, model their brain and make it more connected because they are noticing what it is around them in a lot of ways and alternatives.

Dr Ellen Bialyostok, from York University in Canada, claims that if you  can speak other languages, you will solve important problems better and the best thing is that  you don't  have to  study many foreign languages, you obtain the advantages from the first one that you have already learnt!

The Magazine "Nature" has published a hypothetical theory  about this that explains that adult people who are learning a second  language have got different zones into  their brains dedicated to each expression. However, bilingual children activate the same area for all of the expressions what demonstrates that a child can learn earlier and better than an adult person and for this reason adults always say that it's really difficult to learn no matter the subject.  But it is not impossible!

But, what does really happen into our brain? An investigation which has been done by scientists from Northwetern University, Chicago (USA) suggests that a structure called Heschl Circunvolution would be exactly the point where the ability to recognise new sounds is located.  Other structure, the left angle circunvolution is the one which is activated in bilingual children.

Conclusion:  You can educate and improve your brain even if you are an adult and it is demonstrated that learning other languages is one of the most useful  tools to get it!

So, don't be afraid no matter your age and LEARN OTHER LANGUAGES!  It will be useful and healthy for you!!

SEE YOU SOON!!



  

VISITING LONDON 2nd Part, MONUMENTS AND PLACES / Visitando Londres segunda parte, Monumentos y lugares

Good morning my friends, the 2nd part of "Visiting London" is already here. I hope you'll like it!

Buenos días amigos, la 2ª parte de "Visitar Londres! ya está aquí.  ¡Espero que os guste!

LONDON
I'll give you the information depending on the zones of the city and  the underground stations to make your visit easier and more comfortable.

Os daré la información dependiendo de las zonas de la ciudad y de las estaciones de metro para haceros la visita más fácil y cómoda.

**PLACES TO GO   /  Sitios donde ir.
1.- Underground Station:  HYDE PARK CORNER.   Here you will see: Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch and Hyde Park.  At 11,30 in the morning you can see the Guard Change every day at Buckingham Palace.  The Palace can't be visited but in August and September it's possible to see some of its chambers.

2.- Underground Station: Charing Cross.  Here you will visit: Tha National Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church (iglesia), The Canada House, The South Africa House and Trafalgar Square.
You can walk for a while and you will find 10th Downing Street (Prime Minister's Residence), The Houses of Parliament (Westminster underground station)  and Westminster Abbey (Abadía de Westminster).

If you are at Trafalgar Square,  you can take St. Martin Lane Street and  try to go and see a beautiful ,  typical and Victorian style  English pub called "SALISBURY"  where there are a lot of mirrors and crystal objects.

3.-   Underground Station:  Victoria.  Here you will see "Westminster Cathedral".  It is the Londoners Catholic church.  It's really beautiful with its pink brick outside and black-grey marble inside. 

4.- Underground station:  Tower Hill.   You will visit here "The Tower of London".  It is a group of buildings (more than 40)  that was unfotunately famous because of Henry VIII and his orders of beheading (decapitar).  You will also visit "The Crown Jewels" (Las Joyas de la Corona) etc.  It's a real interensting visit.  You will spend all day.  The timetable is:  From Monday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. until 18,00 p.m.  Sundays from 10:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m.

5.- Underground Station:  Tower Hill.  If you are visiting the Tower of London, you can also see Tower Bridge because it is very near.  Really wonderful!  Don't miss it!

6.-Underground Station:  St Paul's.   It is The City District  and St. Paul's Cathedral is here.The timetable is:  from 8:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m.  Nowadays, it is the Financial Centre of London.

7.- SOHO.  Underground Station:  Picadilly.
Visit Picadilly Circus Square with the Eros Statue and  go to Carnaby Street.  You will find here  a lot of shops, pubs and curious things to see and buy.  And take a photo at the same place that The Beatles did!

8.- SHOPS
The most popular streets for shopping are Knightsbridge (on Wednesday you can buy things until 20:00 h), Brompton Road, Regent Street, Oxford Street , Picadilly, Kensington High Street.

**Oxford Street.  Underground Station: Hyde Park Corner.  Although this street isn't what it was, it is "a must" to go and see it.  If you are in Marble Arch or Hyde Park you can go on foot because Oxford Street is very near.

**Covent Garden.  Underground Station: Covent Garden.  It is a covered market which was a food market in the past.  Nowadays, it has become a nice place not only to buy but to see  music shows and have a rest.

**Petticoat Lane.  Underground Station:  Liverpool Street.  A curious street full of curious shops that are opened on Sunday.  It is in Middlessex Street.

**Portobello Market.  Underground Station: Ladbroke Grove.  It is in Portobello Road  and it's opened on Saturday.  It is located in Notting Hill district close to Bayswater Road.  Very beautiful and lovely.

**Harrods.  Underground Station:  Knighstbridge.  The most typical English store.  Beautiful building to see but a bit expensive to buy.

9.- MUSEUMS.
**The British Museum. Underground station:  Russel Square.  It is the biggest museum in England.  It is free.
**The National Gallery.  Underground Station:  Charing Cross.  It is at Trafalgar Square.  More than 2,000 impressionist pictures.  It is free.
**The London Dungeon.  Underground station:  Tower Hill.  It is situated  in Tooley Street and you have to cross  Tower Bridge.    It is a terror museum.  It isn't free.
**Madame Tussaud's Wax museum.   Underground station:  Regent's Park. It is situated in Marylebone Road near Regent's Park. This wax museum is famous for its face's perfection.  It is not free.

10.- PARKS AND GARDENS.

**Hyde Park.  Underground station: Hyde Park Corner or Lancaster Gate.  This is the biggest garden in London.  It has got a lake called The Serpentine. Close to Marble Arch it is the "Speaker's Corner" where everybody can do a speech.
**Kensington Gardens.  You can pass from Hyde Park to Kensington Gardens through Rennie Bridge and there you could see Peter Pan Statue.
**St. James' Park.  Underground Station:  St. James' Park.  This garden is near Buckingham Palace.  It is smaller but the most beautiful too!

11.- NEW ATTRACTIONS.
**The London Eye.  It is a giant wheel (noria) that was made to celebrate the year 2000.  The views are excellent but it is very expensive.
**Helicopter tours.  You can fly on a helicopter with CABAIR HELICOPTERS.  It's a half an hour flight and you have to go to Elstree Airfield.  You reach this airfield from EDWARE underground station by taxi.  The flight costs about 200€  per person.
**You can also go for a sail on the river Thames.  Ask at your hotel because these boats only work in summer or good weather.

I HOPE YOU'LL LIKE THIS INFORMATION AND YOU'LL GO TO LONDON!!!

AND, PLEASE,  IF YOU FINALLY GO , TELL ME YOUR EXPERIENCE

See you soon!!