Looks like I managed to stump you last week as no one guessed the correct location. Looks like Tess, Roger and Ella all got the country right, but the building is actually Kufstein Fortress, in Kufstein, Austria. Good guesses though! Now for this week’s trivia…

Q: What body of water is featured behind the city in this photo?
Good luck?

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We get a lot of questions about car sizes, so here is some information that may be helpful to you when planning your next vacation in Europe. The cars you see on our website may not be as large as you are used to here in America. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first reason is that the streets in Europe are very small compared to our roads. In many European cities the roads were designed with horses and pedestrians in mind. These tiny streets and roads are barely large enough for two lanes, so having the smallest car possible is always advisable. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not impossible to drive a minivan if you need to. But in cases where there are only two passengers, having an economy or compact car will usually work out great.

The second reason a smaller car might not be a bad idea is due to the cost of fuel. While steps have been taken to already be more fuel efficient, Europe has some rather high gas prices. Use internet resources to find out average prices. This will at least give you an idea of what to expect on your next vacation in Europe.

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Congratulations to Damien who had the first correct answer, and to Kat, who also guessed correctly. The location was in fact Castel Nuovo in Naples. Those two seem to be winning a lot lately, I wonder if anyone different will get this week’s trivia!

Q: Where is this Gothic building located?

Good luck to everyone! Answers will be posted next week!

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Congratulations are in order, as somehow, Kat remarkably knew the answer to last weeks travel trivia, which was Avignon, France. Way to go!

This weeks photo comes from Robert Todd Felton, a full-time freelance writer and photographer specializing in literary and cultural travel. You may click the photo for a link to his work.

Where was this photo taken?

Hint: The city where this photo was taken only has about 1,000 year round residents, and is home to a large wooden pipeline.
Good luck everyone!
-Hans

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The art of bullfighting, known as corrida del toro (running of the bulls) or fiesta brava (the ferocious festival), dates back as far as Roman times. The bullfight as it exists today was first conducted in 1726 by Fransisco Romero from Ronda, Spain. It is a subject that has spawned much controversy over its almost 300 year history and one that continues to do so to this day. There are those who would argue that it is a time honored tradition, and a cornerstone of Spanish culture. Others would say that it is a cruel and callous sport to be despised despite its cultural heritage. It has been banned by Popes, and praised by Kings, and still there is no clear answer as to how we should view this poetic, yet always brutal sport. I thought I would offer a few quotes that I think capture the sentiments of both sides:

“Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honour.”

-Ernest Hemingway

Death in the Afternoon

“While I normally don’t take pleasure in other people’s misfortune, I have to admit that injury to people in the act of tormenting an animal gives me great joy.”

-Animal Rights Activist

Both effectively make their point, and I think that both sides certainly have good arguments on the matter. Over the years, the population of Spain has increasingly turned away from the bullfight, but it still persists as much as ever. 30% of Spaniards say that they are “somewhat” or “very interested” in bullfighting, while the other 70% show little to no interest.

In Barcelona, a symbolic vote was cast against bullfighting, and yet it still continues. A huge part of this results from 71% of tickets being purchased by tourists. What then does this say to the contention that bullfighting is an elemental Spanish tradition?

The fact that the matadors do put themselves in very real danger compels me in some senses. The renowned and celebrated matador Manolete was killed by the bull Islero in 1947, ending his illustrious career. And goring, although relatively infrequent, does happen. That being said, 30 matadors have died in the last 200 years of bullfighting, a miniscule number in comparison to the number of bulls that have perished in the ring.

At base value, I have a lot of respect for the skill and daring that it takes to be a successful and popular matador. I think that I can speak for most when I say that the prospect of having to kill a 1000 pound angry bull with nothing but a sword and a cape is fairly terrifying. Not to mention that the sport has undeniably been a part of Spanish culture for centuries. However, does that make it right? I couldn’t presume to say. I think perhaps bullfighting is one of those things that you actually need to see before you can truly pass judgment. For those of you planning to go to Spain, think about going to the fiesta brava, you might be surprised how you feel, one way or the other.

I’m sure plenty of you have opinions on this matter. It’s one of those subjects that tend to produce adamant, and often opposite reactions. I would like to hear some debate on the subject if people want to weigh in.

Safe Travels,

Ted Phelps

Customer Travel Consultant

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As my tours begin, I consistently hear the same questions from nervous travelers;  “how do you say ‘please?’” or “how do you say ‘thank you?’” or “how do you say ’sorry?’” No matter which country we are in, I answer these questions the same way, every time. I say, “please, thank you and sorry!” It’s really that easy, because just about everyone in Europe knows at least those English words, if not many more.

That being said, I understand the desire to speak a few polite words in the local language, and it’s really rewarding to see how much even the smallest amount of effort is appreciated, but if worst comes to worst, you can always resort to the comfort of your English words to communicate a simple gesture or need. Of course, it’s great to know basic phrases, but if you are truly nervous, using English and some telling hand gestures can usually get your message across. Human emotion and basic needs are without language, so if you are in a tight situation, chances are a kind local will understand the problem and come to your aid.

Often, though, you won’t need to communicate in distress. This is a vacation, after all! So, when you feel like ordering a croissant from a neighborhood café, a verre de vin from a romantic restaurant, or a kebab from a roadside vendor, do throw in the few polite phrases you have learned in that country’s tongue.

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