His formative stage began in the Sevillian club entity in which also began the legend Carlos Marchena joined Valencia CF in August 2024 after his time at Deportivo Alavés and after accumulating more than 200 games in Spanish football Rioja has been one of the most outstanding players in the team at the start of LALIGA EA SPORTS 24-25 He talks about his formative stage in VCF MEDIA RADIO “I'm very happy that Luis is at Valencia CF because I know the affection and respect and I hope that Luis can achieve almost the same or at least that respect from the fans affirms the sporting director of CD Cabecense The Sevillian town of Las Cabezas de San Juan has a special link with the Valencian club but also because the legend Carlos Marchena is a native of this Andalusian village with more than 16,000 citizens “Marchena feels like another Valencianista He holds Valencia CF above any club he has played for.” says Valladares Rioja started in the world of soccer at CD Cabecense the club where he was formed and began to stand out His great performance led him to form part of the youth academy of teams such as Real Madrid CF or RC Celta de Vigo Related news Ver todas The pitch has been restored thanks to donations from LALIGA EA SPORTS and contributions to the ‘FILA CERO SOLIDARIA’ Latest news Ver todas The defender talks over the win in Gran Canaria The Valencia CF coach analyses the win over UD Las Palmas Reyes Carrasco was born in Los Palacios y Villafranca She is the daughter of the singer María José Carrasco and is a descendant of Joaniquín and Curro Malena Her paternal grandmother is from Las Cabezas de San Juan and is related to the Carrasco families of Lebrija and Jerez Reyes began singing even before she could speak clearly she participated in a television casting and was selected to join the children’s artists on the Canal Sur program Menuda Noche she shared the stage with artists from various musical genres Although Reyes does not frequently compete in contests, she has received numerous significant accolades for her passion for flamenco at a young age where she became the youngest artist ever to win the award She has also been honored with the prize from the Federation of Peñas of Seville she won the grand competition “Tierra de Talento,” attracting significant interest from critics and the public Reyes has been invited to perform at numerous festivals and flamenco clubs she was awarded the title of Revelation Artist at the Festival de Jerez becoming the youngest artist to receive this honor In her first album, Cantes de Reyes (2023) reflecting the depth and character Reyes has developed despite her youth Her interpretations bring a fresh touch to flamenco making it accessible to younger generations “La Niña de los Peines,” by featuring some of her iconic songs Please enter an answer in digits:one + 5 = Eleven Fredonia students traveled to the Universidad de Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras with faculty to study the Spanish language and culture and Puerto Rican society in an intensive three-week cultural immersion during J-Term who is director of the J-Term in Puerto Rico Program and assistant professor of Hispanic Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition in the Department of World Languages and Cultures students were able to earn 6 credit hours in this annual study abroad program In addition to the program’s rigorous class work students gained first-hand experience of Puerto Rican biodiversity in the Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Preserve and Icacos Island in Fajardo as well as in El Bosque Olimpia in Adjuntas students were engaged in Puerto Rican art at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Puerto Rican dance at a salsa workshop and also visited Juana Díaz to experience a traditional celebration of Three Kings Day Also on their itinerary was the opportunity to experience trips to the historic town of Coamo to enjoy the thermal baths and to El Yunque the only tropical rain forest in the United States Contact Us | 716-673-3111 © 2025 State University of New York at Fredonia - 280 Central Avenue - Fredonia and FOX Entertainment are encouraging travelers to enter for a chance to win a trip for two and experience a "fantasy" of their choosing With sweeping views of turquoise waters and luscious terrain Puerto Rico is spotlighted as an enticing backdrop for the series with scenes filmed at various locations throughout the Island including Old San Juan; Río Grande; Reserva Natural Las Cabezas de San Juan Carolina;  Escambrón Marine Park and Luis Muñoz Rivera National Park Puerta de Tierra; Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras and Julio Enrique Monagas National Park The premise of FANTASY ISLAND takes place at a luxury resort where any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled the winner of the sweepstakes will have the opportunity to stay and enjoy a fantasy of their choosing at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve "The new FANTASY ISLAND series offers a fantastic opportunity to transport people to Puerto Rico from the comfort of their home and give a participant the chance to live out a true Island escape While Puerto Rico offers the allure of an exotic destination it's also an accessible location that offers ease when traveling "We're proud to set the scene for a talented cast and a leading actress who shares the same love and passion for Puerto Rico as we do." and songwriter Roselyn Sanchez as Elena Roarke The show's production has greatly contributed to the Island's economy generating over $54 million in economic impact and driving hotel occupancy to more than two thousand nights for the entire production team and I'm ecstatic to share a piece of our beautiful destination with fans through FANTASY ISLAND," said Sanchez "I hope that you get caught up in the magic of the location and see for yourself why Puerto Rico is truly a dreamy destination worth exploring." For full details and contest rules, and to enter the sweepstakes visit www.FantasyIslandSweepstakes.com; terms & conditions apply FANTASY ISLAND is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television Liz Craft and Sarah Fain ("The 100," "The Shield," "Lie to Me") serve as executive producers and showrunners Anne Clements and Adam Kane serve as executive producers the Island's official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) The PGA TOUR has arrived for the 17th playing of the Puerto Rico Open this week when 132 players – including four Puerto Ricans – will compete for.. Travel Entertainment New Products & Services Do not sell or share my personal information: Alicea isn’t drinking guava juice or eating crunchy tostones the phrase is not necessarily related to taste—it implies the sensation of sweetness she’s relishing the essence of a mangrove tree “This is just…” Her words hang in the heavy, damp air as she pats the trunk of the tree, leaving me to infer her reverence for this place, Cabezas de San Juan, a nature reserve home to mangrove trees, a coral reef, and a bioluminescent lagoon. Alicea, a marine biologist and environmental interpreter for the nonprofit organization Para La Naturaleza (which translates to “For Nature”) teaches visitors about the reserve’s history and significance Alicea is on a mission to educate people from all walks of life about the value of listening to nature “Nature is trying to teach us how to survive,” she says “The mangroves are fighters for us,” she says with a hint of drama as we walk through the reserve She’s alluding to mangroves’ survival skills These small shrubs manage to thrive in muddy salty conditions thanks to a filtration system that keeps out the salt as well as a root system that holds the mangrove upright—this environment would kill most other plants mangroves’ bud-like “propagules,” which they drop into the water Dinoflagellates are tiny: 200 to 300 of them could rest atop the head of a pin The presence of billions of them creates the blue-green glow that you see when you swish your hand through the water there are a few such bioluminescent bays or lagoons that glow year-round: three in Puerto Rico astounding factors comes together to create a perennial nursery for a diverse community—fish Bioluminescent bays are vastly understudied a research biologist at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography “They’re excellent natural laboratories to look at ecosystem competition and the impact of environmental conditions,” he says Embedded in the mystery of bioluminescent bays is their extraordinary resilience Hurricane Maria tore through both Laguna Grande (the bioluminescent lagoon at Cabezas de San Juan) and Mosquito Bay Mosquito Bay and Laguna Grande responded differently to Hurricane Maria The heavy wind and rain pushed water out of the bay lowered the salinity of the water (an unfavorable change for P and decimated the mangroves surrounding the bay the small island of Vieques is still reeling from year-old wounds its residents worn and weary despite living in what might seem like paradise But their bay’s bioluminescence is slowly recovering arguably more quickly than the island’s electrical system it may even be in a better state now than it was before the storm What do these strange and beautiful phenomena have to teach us about the dynamics of tropical ecosystems Scientists are still on the hunt for answers but one thing’s certain: It’s hardship that brings to life nature’s capacity to repair and renew At the highest point of Cabezas de San Juan sits the oldest lighthouse in Puerto Rico it’s even older than the lighthouse atop Old San Juan’s popular historic fortress Alicea and her colleagues moved their offices there to direct community efforts—including distribution of supplies like diapers The community work wasn’t a one-time thing: Cabezas de San Juan still checks up on these neighborhoods every three to four months to see how they’re doing The activities that collectively take place atop this gorgeous sanctuary make the lighthouse a sort of headquarters for all that Cabezas de San Juan represents “The office is the reserve,” Alicea tells me She displays equal parts sass and tenderness as she shows us around Behave yourselves!” she snaps at a pair of fighting roosters outside the lighthouse; just a few minutes later she is waxing poetic about the value of the reserve’s lagoon “The lagoon is a fresh book to read,” she says “Sometimes you can have bioluminescence when the conditions are not supposed to be good for it And sometimes you have the good conditions but you don’t have bioluminescence.” Biologists hope to figure out how and why these anomalies occur Alicea herself was drawn to marine biology through storytelling She recalls seeing a book when she was 12 that depicted a “monster” (really it was a manta ray) hanging out near a mangrove forest she watched a TV show called “Man from Atlantis,” which featured a female marine biologist as one of its protagonists Alicea fell in love with the idea of giving back to nature the riches she had received “Sometimes we don’t think about how we can pay back nature for all the things it gives us.” Alicea says that Laguna Grande has about the same number of dinoflagellates floating through its waters now as it did last year before the hurricane and the conditions are stable—but the bioluminescence just isn’t the same “It’s a kind of shock therapy—sometimes we need this shock to react and then take action.” a professor emeritus at University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez and the “father of bioluminescence,” says that Puerto Rico is in the process of establishing a unified conservation plan for all three bioluminescent bays “Bioluminescent bays are very sensitive,” Lagoa says Their model elucidated the mechanics of just one particular bay—Phosphorescent Bay at Puerto Rico’s La Parguera nature reserve—but scientists agree that in general there’s a special recipe for making an environment hospitable to glowing dinoflagellates and a particular type of current that “traps” the dinoflagellates some bioluminescent bays have other distinguishing characteristics what makes Laguna Grande special is that it’s partially protected by the reserve’s coral reef That’s what makes it a lagoon as opposed to a bay Jamaica’s bioluminescent bay is unusual because a fresh water river flows into it The water in the bay is stratified as a result with fresh water on top and saltier ocean water underneath it The dinoflagellates simply avoid the upper or wind direction could turn out the lights “That’s one of the things about bioluminescent bays that is incredible—how many things have to be in sync,” says Mark Martin-Bras the director of research for the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust “If you have the right shape and the right size and the right flow He uses the word “magic” for a reason—there’s long been superstition related to bioluminescence which “was one of the world’s special effects,” Martin-Bras says look—your hand just becomes a wizard’s hand.” Out on Mosquito Bay with Martin-Bras I lean over the edge of the small boat and dip my hands into the dark The dinoflagellates’ blue-green glimmers emerge in a stunning dance that mirrors the night sky as the bay breeze envelops us The feeling is both serene and otherworldly—bewitching the absence of light pollution post-Maria gave conservationists like Martin a chance to capture bioluminescence in the bay more readily He and his colleagues want to introduce covered amber lights that will replace other downed sources of light and other sensitive regions of nocturnal flora and fauna “People come to the bioluminescent bay and they’re like too…I don’t know where to look,’” Martin-Bras says “It’s a combination that gives [you] a better perspective of the world and the universe—from the microscopic to the universal.” Martin-Bras recalls feeling similarly when he was eight and his father and uncle took him to see the bay Martin-Bras is focused on jotting down his observations and taking detailed samples of the water to determine temperature he takes us to a several locations in the bay including a real-time monitoring station equipped with telemetry that the United States Geological Survey installed in 2014 The 90-milliliter samples at each site are mixed with formaldehyde which kills and preserves the phytoplankton so that Martin-Bras and his teammates can count them—as well as compare various aspects of water quality to other time periods The behavior and size of phytoplankton blooms can tell scientists a lot about the condition of an ecosystem a bloom of toxic phytoplankton near a chicken farm might suggest there is some anthropogenic (human-caused) activity at bay Or unusual amounts of phytoplankton could help us understand the relationship between ocean acidification and biodiversity The prevailing characteristic of year-round bioluminescence in coastal bays is that one species of dinoflagellate this is very unusual—and it’s a rule that holds true even after large-scale disturbances like hurricanes that could push bioluminescent bays past a tipping point biologists and conservationists see an increase in phytoplankton communities based on observed chlorophyll levels But that increase is due to the sudden proliferation of other phytoplankton and a simultaneous decrease in P the system restores itself to equilibrium—to typical conditions in which it’s dominated by P “It’s incredibly interesting that this single-celled extremely delicate microscopic plankton is able to dominate at incredible levels and stay that way,” Martin-Bras says nor why faster-growing phytoplankton don’t out-compete it If there’s an increase in frequency of storms or if storms become stronger—factors that could be influenced by climate change—that might push the P bahamense-dominated stable community past a tipping point “Then you may have a regime shift where other organisms become dominant and then it doesn’t restore itself,” Latz says Scientists don’t yet know what the tipping point is for bioluminescent bays; to know the answer would mean witnessing the difference between light and dark—between resilience and death But just before we reach the monitoring station Crests of radiant bluish silver surround us and the shadows of tarpon fish glide beneath the water’s surface you are able to see what would be foam or movement transform into blue magic,” Martin-Bras says He notes that there are probably something like 75,000 dinoflagellates per liter in the water at this moment this corner of the bay is glowing incredibly Receive emails about upcoming NOVA programs and related content as well as featured reporting about current events through a science lens As it becomes clearer that bioluminescent bays could be beacons of light for researchers many are lobbying for more detailed studies of how severe storms affect them Latz and his colleagues have unpublished results showing the importance of wind speed and direction as an environmental factor affecting bioluminescent bays; further studies will address the impact of Hurricane Maria One of the studies looked at Mosquito Bay over four months and determined that during storm events then the bay saw changes in dinoflagellate populations—and which is known to affect population growth because it interferes with the process of cell division,” Latz says Although it’s hard to uncouple these factors from other measurements like salinity and rainfall the studies do signify a step in the right direction Rising sea levels pose a threat that conservation efforts may not be able to solve Mosquito Bay sits side-by-side with Ferro Bay a deep bay with a very strong pattern of circulation we may see them connect eventually,” Lagoa says Lagoa says the pattern of circulation in the bay will change and “that will be the end of it the response of bioluminescent bays to Hurricane Maria shows us that the climate change problem is not just one of warming temperatures—it’s a problem of nonlinearity a problem of refereeing when the direction of things is unclear but beauty is stable How do we come together as a team to maintain a home that is always changing—that always needs repairs—when we’re fractured and broken ourselves “That’s the hand we’ve been dealt,” Martin-Bras sighs “That you can go through life without being a nature person I saw that we were just trampling through it.” “If we destroy just one thing in this spot we are going to have consequences on the other side of the island Photo credits: Michael Rivera, Phil Hart / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust For a grand yet rustic escape to the Andalucian countryside Hacienda San Rafael lies in Andalucía’s agricultural heartland, midway between Seville and Jerez de la Frontera private driveway off the old Seville to Jerez road brings you to the heart of the estate and the 18th century hacienda its façade painted white with yellow trimmings Ancient trees and vibrant gardens immediately surrounding the old farmhouse create the sense of an oasis amidst vast and rolling fields of sunflower where the horizon stretches unblemished for miles in all directions and the twinkling lights of distant villages appear after nightfall A door within a door of the Hacienda’s traditional wooden entrance leads to an inner sanctum – an exquisite arcaded courtyard festooned with bougainvillaea has been owned by the same family for the last 150 years passing through the generations to Kuky Mora-Figueroa and her English husband having watched the estate fall into an increasing state of dilapidation they decided to breathe new life into old bones Though they have since handed over the running of the hotel to their two sons Kuky’s and Tim’s imprint still defines the look and feel of the place which overflows with family heirlooms and treasures – photographs decorative trinkets – uniting a combined Spanish/English heritage and a life of travel under one roof The hotel feels like a veritable home from home and visitors are welcomed like honoured guests at a private house party there’s no requirement for guests to mix and mingle The family also owns Corral del Rey, a small converted palacio in the heart of Seville which makes for a perfect twin-centre stay mixing city and countryside A handsomely designed six-bedroom private villa opened during the pandemic which can also be divided in half to create two three-bedroom villas if the property is not rented as a whole every meal is a moveable feast that can be taken wherever you choose – on your terrace in the garden – but tables tend to be set up in the courtyard (on warm nights) or in the dining room (on cooler nights) unfussy and delicious but some might find the menu slightly limited Continental breakfast is brought to your private terrace at a time of your choice; a light lunch of salads and tapas is available for guests who aren’t out and about; and dinner is a set three-course menu (including wine) discussed at breakfast and tailored more likely than not from one of Jerez’s famous bodegas best sipped beneath the jacaranda tree at the front of the Hacienda with a golden view over fields of sunflowers Or head to the outdoor bar for a more convivial atmosphere Hacienda San Rafael has no spa. Massages and yoga There is a padel tennis court for the energetic and a boules pitch for the less so Due to the isolated location of Hacienda San Rafael it is essential to have a car and the area is rich in places to discover Beyond obvious excursions to Seville or Jerez (ask the hotel to secure entry to the Royal Alcazar palace or the best of the bodegas) are many of the famous pueblos blancos (white towns) – Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema are two of the closest and the best or twitch and tweet in the Donana National Park The staff are super-friendly and go out of their way to make guests comfortable and happy Chief amongst them is co-owner Anthony Reid who knows the area inside out and has put together a curated package of local experiences Be sure to mine him for insider tips on the best places to eat the best place to park your car should you drive to Seville He has access to the top specialist guides in the area and his willingness to help his guests is astonishing Children are welcome at Hacienda San Rafael but the hotel is better suited to babes in arms or toddlers than older children who may not find quite enough to keep themselves entertained extra beds or cots can be placed in the rooms and babysitting can be arranged in the evening Various initiatives have been employed at the hotel to embrace more sustainable practices including a small solar plant to power up the Hacienda the most precious commodity in the region is water Underground cisterns collect every drop of rain that falls and the garden is carefully watered via a drip irrigation system A future project is to phase in the replanting of olives throughout the estate – a less thirsty option than the crops currently grown there The whole hotel is on ground floor level and where the occasional step exists ramps are provided for wheelchair access. Two rooms – one deluxe room in the hotel and one in the private villa – have been adapted for guests with limited mobility. The gardens are accessible to wheelchair users. The garden is one of the highlights at Hacienda San Rafael, having grown and matured over the last 30 years. Since the heat in this part of Spain can be intoxicating in high summer, the garden is always a welcome place of refuge. Jasmine, jacaranda, bottlebrush, olive, lavender, rose and bougainvillaea run riot throughout the property in a profusion of scent and colour. The birdsong is pretty good, too. If you have only a day (or even less) to visit eastern Puerto Rico, make a beeline for El Yunque (Route 3 is the quickest way). This rain forest has hiking trails of various lengths leading to secluded waterfalls and mountaintop towers with spectacular views. It’s wonderful to explore even if you never get out of your car. If you are staying overnight, your best bet is nearby Río Grande. They report that this was a "life-changing excursion," as Puerto Rico opened the young minds of these members through culinary, geological and historical experiences. Some of the highlights they experienced were a visit to Fort San Felipe del Morro and the Museum of the Americas, Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve on the Northeastern tip of the island, and an evening kayak tour, where the participants observed the phenomenon of the Bioluminescent Dynoflagellates. They also ventured to Rio Camuy Cave Park and traveled down a zipline adventure in La Marquesa Nature Preserve. They say that it was "without a doubt, awesome," as club members flew through a rain forest canopy. On their last day, they took a visit to El Yunque National Forest, which covers 28,000 acres of tropic rain forest land. There, club members hiked 1.7 miles to la Mina Falls, where they swam in the waterfall. While there on June 21, it was also United Way's National Day of Action, making it befitting that on that day the club members assisted in preparing and serving lunch to 25 homeless men and women. This was a joint project between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico and the local youth in attendance. Club members came home with a greater understanding of poverty, an appreciation for nature, a greater tolerance for different cultures, and returned as better citizens for the Polk County community. Duncan said, "The experience these teens had could not be duplicated in a classroom. I believe it was life changing for each of them and it was an honor to go as their guide." "I overheard one club member telling a friend that they needed to pay better attention in Spanish class. That's what the trip was about. They have new reasons to make education a priority," commented Lane. The Taco Bell grant was geared to increase graduation rates through real world experiences. Club members left commenting about studying harder this upcoming school year and having a greater interest in science and geography. On that note, the chaperones say, "mission accomplished!" It is often said that firefighters are better cooks than many housewives. During this year's hurricane expo, Polk County Fire Rescue firefighters proved that thought to be true. Polk County Professional Firefighters Local 3531 volunteered their time and set up a booth where they grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and sold chips and drinks to raise more than $500 for the purchase of smoke alarms. "The men and women of Polk County Fire Rescue have a true heart for the communities in which they serve," said Rosa Driggs, public safety education officer. "They give of their own time to ensure every home in Polk County has a working smoke alarm. No matter where you live or how big your home is, a working smoke alarm can save your life." For information on how to get a smoke alarm, call Driggs at 534-5608. Davis organized the fundraising drive. "Originally I was going to challenge our kids to help raise money for the Children's Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Guatemala, where I had visited on a mission trip with the Florida Baptist Children's Homes," Davis said. "However, when the earthquake in Haiti happened, I realized that we needed to shift our focus, and our kids really responded." "This was an excellent activity. It helped students make a connection to things that are happening in other parts of the world. It also taught our kids about doing good things for those who are less fortunate," said Cheatham. "The media rarely report about the conditions in Haiti anymore, but let me tell you, conditions are still extremely difficult. These funds will be used to meet critical and urgent needs of children and families in Haiti, and will be put to use immediately," said Jerry Haag, president of the Children's Homes. Haag also publicly thanked Diaz and his wife for their generous matching gift. Diaz said that they were excited to be involved in such a special opportunity to help others. "Our family has been so extremely blessed, and this opportunity lines up perfectly for what we feel called to do as a family," Diaz said. PACE Center for Girls of Lakeland, the non-profit program for at-risk girls ages 12-18, recently held "Portraits of PACE" at Grasslands Country Club. Poetry was read and testimonies were given by the girls assisted by the program. The girls also passed out handmade origami hearts to the guests, who included former Lakeland Mayor Buddy Fletcher and his wife, Weetsie; Deputy Superintendant of Schools Bruce Tonges; Don Selvage; Lester Wishnatzki; Neil Combee and Melony Bell. PACE Center for Girls is gender responsive, and has become a national model for results-based intervention. It is a non-residential program where girls have school, counseling, academic advising, and a "Spirited Girls" program. The girls are also followed for three years after they leave the program. PACE number show that 90 percent of their girls remain crime-free one year after leaving, and 88 percent remain crime free five years after leaving PACE. Table hosts and hostesses were Michele DeLoach, Eleanor Gardner, Gay Finkleman, Jean Wright, Lisa Lott, Marilyn Black, Mygnon Evans, Rick Massiah, Dale Terrell, Vickie White, Becky Joyce, Danielle Fagan-Taylor and Janet Bartuska for this butterfly-themed event. The master of ceremonies was Jennifer Holloway of Brighthouse Networks. Speaker was Bob Max and the disc jockey was Melvin Rios. Brighthouse was the event sponsor and pictures were done by Gil Williams. Board members include Michele DeLoach, Executive Director PACE; Eleanor Gardner, president; Jean Wright, trustee; Gay Finkleman, newsletter; Janet Bartuska; Lisa Lott; Marilyn Black; Mygnon Evans; Rick Massiah; Sandra Owens and Dale Terrell. Members of the PACE staff are Debbie Moroney, Administrative Office; Danielle Fagan-Taylor, center support coordinator; and Michelle Godwin and Jesilyn Drakeour, counselors. Nancy Hale Hoyt of Lake Wales held a reception at her home to welcome Susan Howarth to Polk County. Howarth is the new president and CEO of WEDU, the primary PBS station for the Polk County market. Happy anniversary to Audley and Susie Cragun (55), Friday; Dawn and Dennis Flynn (34), Jessica and Rusty Carroll, Sandy and Bart Greer (45), Saturday; Alex and Lonni Van Duyn (35), Sunday, Denise and Ed Crenshaw (32), Wednesday. Happy birthday to Brandon Canez (32), Joey Warren, Amanda Johnson, Bryce Williams (13), Saturday; Douglas Melton, Sunday; Anna Blackwelder, Ken Griffin, Elmer Crespo, Monday; Lisa Yerton, Zachary Hansen, Edna Bottoms, Tuesday; David Clark, Darlene Muszynski (60), Robert Morris (67), John Staffieri (50), Wednesday; Dennis Faas, (47), Laura Bosselman (25), Britanney Kimbel (20), Thursday. [ Send your news regarding civic groups, social clubs, religious organizations, special events and community news to Paula Stuart at pstuart@peoplepc.com or to The Ledger, 455 Sixth St. N.W., Winter Haven, FL 33881. Fax is 863-401-6999. Photos are welcome. ] SpainChevron SevilleChevron Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links Seville is ready for a true return to form. The city whose splendor has inspired countless works of music, art, and poetry is in the beating heart of Andalucía with its enchanting streets lined with orange trees and Moorish highlights It’s a flavor that infuses the city’s architecture which is also full of colonial influences due to the wealthy merchants that traded across the Spanish Empire Saturated with various styles and cultures many of the city's age-old properties have been carefully converted into cool places to stay Whether you're in search of a rooftop pool to dip into or classic Moorish architecture this is your ultimate guide to the best hotels in Seville Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date The 25 rooms and suites here have an uncluttered and those facing the square are filled with natural sunlight The onsite restaurant offers reliably good Nobu classics as well as a menu of smaller bites in the adjacent bar it’s worth heading up early to secure a spot for sundowners among the city’s rooftops You’ll also find the hotel’s plunge pool up here not big enough for laps but perfect for cooling off from Seville’s hot summer sun this majestic establishment was commissioned by the then king of Spain Look out for the monarch’s mahogany and bronze throne: This was originally used in the royal office of the premises which is where the restaurant Ena now sits executive chef Brian Deegan had just launched a new menu including grilled Iberian pork with escalivada and scallops with cauliflower foam The hotel’s 148 rooms alternate Andalusian and Moorish decorative styles; with grand stairways and ornamental patterns everywhere the eye can see a countryside ranch with six acres of gardens about 45 minutes drive from Seville—a dreamy rural escape to disconnect after a few days in the city while touches of terra-cotta found throughout are earthy and warm; decorative pieces range from Swiss icons Le Corbusier and Vitra to contemporary Scandinavian brands like Ferm Living and Skagerrak The hotel welcomes locals at its trendy cafe (one of the few in the city serving specialty coffee) a relaxed drinks bar and—across the street—its restaurant which serves fresh it has quickly established itself as one of the best hotels in Seville whose outdoor spaces on the roof extend across various levels Unuk’s personalized concierge service will help you get to know not just Seville but all of Andalucia be sure to visit the nearby Setas de Sevilla an undulated overhead wooden structure made up of six parasols resembling giant mushrooms; climb to the top for a 360-degree view across the city located in the Santa Catalina neighborhood that color is a turquoise blue found in the painted wooden railings and columns that line the central courtyards with cobbled stone floors and creepers climbing up the whitewashed walls A communal building like this—a corral de vecinos—would historically have been residence to families of workers who served in Seville’s many aristocratic palaces and stately homes The hotel is named after the king of the taifa of Baeza a medieval kingdom that existed for just two years in the 13th century Al Andalus Sisters Zaida and Cristina run this charming hotel and an homage to their family’s love of classical music: Find it hidden away in the Santa Cruz neighborhood The 42 rooms are named after classical greats from Puccini and Liszet to Monteverdi and Maria Callas which can be plucked from the walls for a fiddle and you can’t miss the grand piano and harp on the main patio There are also rehearsal rooms where guests can brush up on their symphonies and stretch their vocal cords and—most importantly— some of the world’s best flamenco dancers and singers In tribute to one of its strongest craft traditions the property features ceramic tiles made by local artisans A small but exquisitely decorated property opening a new seven-bedroom boutique hotel just next door whose opulent aesthetics represent Andalusian grandeur with Cordobán leatherwork and gold leaf details This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world PUBLICIDAD / ADVERTISEMENT PUBLICIDAD / ADVERTISEMENT Pastora Galván has one foot in the best of the past, and the other in the freedom of tomorrow. She fascinates and enthralls, and will leave you breathless if you let yourself be carried away. dancer Pastora Galván ceased being “the sister of…” I know this because I wrote it myself after attending Israel Galván’s brilliant work “La Francesa” at the Teatro Central within the program of the 14th Flamenco Bienal of Seville It was the definitive kick-start of Pastora’s professional journey a dancer who knew how to express her own personality within the creativity of Israel with whom she shares a similar yet unique emotional vibe It was one of these shows that demands cerebral processing (aka thinking) it’s almost impossible to stop searching for the elusive purity which some artists are in the virtual waiting room of our flamenco screening area until such time as they are finally understood and their names are no longer linked to tired phrases like “pushing the envelope” or “risk-taking” we recently saw Pastora Galván at the Yerbabuena Festival in Las Cabezas de San Juan and the lady seems to have found her personality after years of cultivation despite emitting a strong whiff of old Triana it’s the suggestive African dance known as “twerking” and some closed minds don’t quite accept it (perhaps because of the “pure” notion).  For others Pastora Galván is a free spirit who delivers her dance wrapped in a bold statement of “here I am It’s a sparsely populated creative field and there’s an association with beauty suggesting subtlety with a dose of courage and nobility of spirit Like the so-called Seville school of flamenco dance perfectly represented in all its splendor by the grand dame Matilde Coral But Pastora doesn’t refrain from using exaggeration that recalls Israel’s fascination with Butoh a style of contemporary Japanese dance known for its grotesque movements we have a case of avant-garde inherited from her brother Israel which leads back to the traditional (pure?) style of her father passing through a flamenco zone where we feel right at home Others go topless or undress on stage with no further ado mischievously shakes her rear at the audience her twerking appears to be harmless child’s play with the unmistakable mark of her brother The siblings are light-years apart while sharing a parallel path Pastora Galván has one foot in the best of the past and will leave you breathless if you let yourself be carried away Perhaps this was the purity we were looking for all along Sus artículos han sido publicados en numerosas revistas especializadas y es conferenciante bilingüe en Europa and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Knowledge and passion The depth and the grief EXPOFLAMENCO connects Flamenco communities around the world This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Support non-profit journalism and perspectives from around the world. See all those languages? The Lingua project at Global Voices works to bring down barriers to understanding through translation. Though they are not endemic to Puerto Rico, green iguanas have flourished here due to the absence of natural predators They were introduced to Puerto Rico through the exotic pet trade and today are considered an invasive species so much so that in a few decades the 4 million strong population now outnumbers the entire population of Puerto Rico Known colloquially in Puerto Rico as gallina de palo which loosely translates to “chicken of the trees” these herbivores can grow to about 1.5 meters in length though they can reach lengths of up to 2 meters and can live between 10 to 15 years in the wild In some countries of Central and South America, green iguanas are part of the local cuisine, which is why they are protected by laws that regulate their hunting. Because they are such a popular part of the diet in some areas and are much sought-after by the exotic pet trade, they are listed in the CITES Appendix II (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) even though they aren't quite considered an endangered species trade has to be controlled in order to make sure their numbers don't go down too much In Puerto Rico, some people have decided to hunt the iguanas for free in order to help farmers protect their crops. A group called Los iguaneros de Aguada not only hunts them but also encourages people to try them as food showing how to prepare and safely cook the meat Some environmentalists have formed teams of volunteers to help control the population of green iguanas in natural reserves Because one female can lay as much as 75 eggs —more than 90% of which will hatch successfully— the best way to do this is to harvest the eggs from the nest This short three-and-a-quarter-minute documentary produced by National Geographic shows biologist Rafael Joglar and environmental interpreter Carlos Rodríguez explaining why the green iguana is such a serious problem in Puerto Rico Carlos Rodríguez sums up the scope of the work that must be done to successfully control the population in the Las cabezas de San Juan Natural Reserve: We've eliminated since the year 2008 to the present approximately 13,000 eggs from the population but this is something that we're gonna have to do for the next 15 ERROR: SECURITY TIMEOUT - Please copy your message to a backup location Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders Please consider making a donation to help us continue this work Donate now […] by Ángel Carrión · comments (0) Donate · Share this: twitter facebook reddit […] […] En Puerto Rico habitan cuatro millones de iguanas verdes aseguran expertos del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) en un cortometraje producido por la cadena National Geographic […] Video: How the Green Iguana Came to Outnumber the Human Population of Puerto Rico Though they're not endemic to Puerto Rico green iguanas have flourished here due to the absence of natural predators They were introduced to Puerto Rico through the exotic pet trade and today are considered an invasive species Much so that in a … Read more on Global Voices Online […] Authors, please log in » Stay up to date about Global Voices and our mission. 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For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders Categories Mesoscale Discussion Archives The Spanish heatwave has verified across the Iberian peninsula this weekend as a large omega blocking pattern has established and is resulting in a significant warm advection into southwestern Europe Many weather stations reported mid 30s peak afternoon temperatures yesterday It was 33-35 °C in parts of Portugal and up to +36 °C in Cordoba and Sevilla regions Another very hot day is today and possibly also tomorrow Here are the peak temperatures across Spain and Portugal yesterday Tabular data by the Spanish meteorological AEMET agency: Tabular data by the Portugese meteorological IPMA agency: Also southern France has experienced very warm day There are three more days with very hot weather ahead – today this first heat wave of 2020 diminishes while the ridge moves east into the Mediterranean With the changes in the pattern in the coming days it could also deliver higher threat for severe storms into parts of western and central Europe later this week – we will keep you updated soon See the primary discussion and forecast for this Spanish heatwave: Heatwave with up to +35 °C in Spain next week – the first of 2020! Week 09-2020 (Feb 24th – March 1st) Contest Winners Ice Saints 2020 – An intense Arctic cold outbreak is likely next week RSS Feed Any time.” © Severe Weather Europe 2023 have died after a lorry smashed into a Guardia Civil checkpoint on the AP-4 motorway near Los Palacios in Seville during the early hours of this Tuesday morning (19 March) who was given signals to stop by the Guardia Civil swerved abruptly onto the hard shoulder of the road and hit three police vehicles of the Guardia Civil's Rapid Action Group (GAR) and two other civilian vehicles about 4.40am The cause of the incident appears to be accidental 📢⚫️En #Sevilla, por #accidente, cortada la AP-4, en Los Palacios y Villafranca, hacia Sevilla capital.➡️Vehículo accidentado en el km 24.➡️Desvío debidamente señalizado en la AP-4, en el km 45 (Las Cabezas de San Juan) pic.twitter.com/mI3Ln4kz44 He was uninjured and returned negative results after being tested for alcohol and drugs Two of the deceased were officers of the GAR unit and three were injured The affected stretch of road is currently closed as police investigations in the area continue at kilometre 45 in Las Cabezas de San Juan Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain located on Calle Soria in Las Cabezas de San Juan They invited their Instagram followers to take on a unique challenge: devour a 1.5 kg ‘super serranito’ in under 20 minutes Almundaina posted the challenge on Instagram: ‘We bring to you all a challenge A challenge anyone of you can get involved in ‘Eat this 1,5kg Serranito consisting of: alioli ‘Prize: commemorative challenge bib and €50 voucher to use on @ivanfoodchallenge plus your winning photo next to @cerv.almudaina several daring souls have stepped up to the plate One such individual was YouTuber IvanFood Challenge who uploaded his latest video this past Sunday night he not only conquered the original challenge but did so in spectacular fashion Estefania from the Almudaina Bar prepared an exclusive dish for him weighing in at a staggering 3,050 kilos—double the original challenge The content creator not only proved he could eat just about anything in under half an hour—27.58 minutes to be precise—but also showed he still had room for dessert Ivan is a separate case,’ Estefanía clarified in the video it will be enough to finish the seven-layer ‘montadito’ (alioli French omelette and chicken or pork fillet) accompanied by potatoes in less than 20 minutes.’ A commemorative bib and a £50 voucher to spend at the Almudaina Bar plus your winner’s photo displayed next to IvanFood Challenge’s on their wall of fame you’ll need to book in advance by ringing the establishment at 955 870 265 you’ll be footing a £15 bill for the serranito If competitive eating isn’t your cup of tea you can still enjoy the serranito without the time pressure for £35 The serranito sandwich is a popular Andalucian dish, typically consisting of a pork loin, green pepper, and a slice of Serrano ham. As for competitive eating it’s a sport that has its own governing body which oversees all professional eating contests do you think you have the stomach to tackle ‘the biggest serranito in history?’ Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish His parents’ friends owned a villa by La Herradura’s curving bay and we grabbed the chance to stay there for a week in high summer sitting beneath lemon trees at sundown and strolling through bougainvillea-filled gardens for seafront dinners of fresh fish That year we were students without the means to choose our destination. But perhaps Andalusia chose us, for we returned, inexorably, to this most quintessentially Spanish region, finding ourselves next in sultry Seville quaffing red wine and burrowing down narrow streets in search of the best tapas bars Later we were dazzled by the sensual Moorish architecture of Granada’s Alhambra its striped arches forever etched in our minds Spain’s southern charmer has further unveiled its treasures to us over the years when Andalusia is larger than the island of Ireland and has both mainland Spain’s highest peaks (the Sierra Nevada) and its best-known beaches Many visitors stick to coastal resorts — Marbella Nerja — but the hinterland above and behind these has olive and almond groves ● 16 of the loveliest hotels in Seville● Marbella’s most swanky villas About 12 million people visited in 2019 and they can be a discerning bunch Some of Spain’s best lodgings are thus found here and hip bolt holes now tempt you to stay awhile even in previously overlooked Malaga home to Andalusia’s busiest airport – the one generally most useful to Brits Sign up for our Times Travel newsletter and follow us on Instagram and Twitter The Junta de Andalucía's Ministry of Health reported on Monday that eight new cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) have been confirmed this week in people in the Seville municipalities of La Campana There is also one person in the Cordoba municipality of Fernán Núñez and in the Cadiz municipalities of Medina Sidonia and Vejer de la Frontera The regional government has also confirmed the death of a person from Seville with previous pathologies bringing the number of WNV deaths in Andalucá to eight according to a press release from the Junta de Andalucía the presence of WNV has been detected in the mosquito captures made in the municipality of Vejer de la Frontera in Cadiz and the result of the Junta's remaining traps in the provinces of Seville The results of the additional traps installed last week in Jaén and Cordoba are not yet available the public health department has reported that the number of captures of Culex perexiguus remains "low" in most of the traps in the municipalities of Puebla del Río This information is available within the Arboprevent Project virus circulation has been detected in the transmitting mosquitoes captured in the traps located in Valdelamusa (Cortegana) and Almonaster la Real the presence of West Nile virus has been detected in eight equids: one in Arjona all in the province of Jaén; one in the Huelva municipality of Villalba del Alcor; two in Carmona one in La Puebla de los Infantes and one in El Viso del Alcor; the latter in the province of Seville; and reported by the regional ministry of agriculture Th eJunta has informed the municipal authorities of the public health actions to be taken in accordance with the programme for the integral surveillance and control of vectors transmitting West Nile fever (WNF) in Andalucía in order to significantly reduce the probability of transmission to the population based on the analysis of the weekly results of species it is continuously monitoring the mosquito surveillance and control actions being carried out by the pest control companies contracted by the Cadiz and Seville provincial authorities the weekly public health report confirms that according to the data obtained from the different sources of information it can be concluded that the populations of transmitting mosquitoes maintain the low densities observed during the first two weeks of September in most of the traps with population densities of females of potentially transmitting mosquito species at high levels (Grade IV) in Los Palacios y Villafranca (Seville) and in La Puebla del Río in the Brazo del Este (Seville) and at medium levels (Grade II) in Las Cabezas de San Juan (Seville) Villamanrique de la Condesa (Seville) and Vejer de la Frontera (Cadiz) a slight increase in the number of transmitting mosquitoes was observed in the Barbate and Vejer de la Frontera traps the entomological surveillance system using the new traps installed by the regional ministry detects low densities and the detection of West Nile virus in the female mosquitoes captured is still undergoing analysis The Junta de Andalucía's Ministry of Health confirmed on Thursday the death in Navarre of a woman infected with the West Nile virus (WNV) She had visited Utrera (Seville province) and This brings the death toll from this virus to six just this summer all of them in the one Andalusian province or related to it in some way Ministry sources confirmed that the woman had visited Utrera in Seville province on 12 August and had then travelled back home where she eventually died due to this virus that can only be transmitted to people via mosquito bites To the death of the woman infected in Utrera are added the deaths of three people from Coria del Río one of them an elderly woman over 87 years of age (also with pre-existing medical issues) and another elderly person aged 71 The other two were another 71-year-old woman from Dos Hermanas (with pre-existing conditions) and a woman aged 86 who was infected in La Puebla del Río There are also dozens of cases of infection via mosquito bites the only way of transmitting the virus to humans with the regional health ministry reporting a total of 60 cases this summer in Coria del Río Specifically in relation to the Carmona resident infected with the virus it has emerged this Thursday that he had died after having his case of infection confirmed The councillor in charge of health matters at Carmona town hall said in statements to Canal Sur Radio that this resident of El Corzo housing estate was already suffering from other ailments and died "from other medical complications" unrelated to WNV itself Currently the Junta's PEVA plan (Andalucía's strategic plan to monitor and control all bugs and insects that could impact health) obliges all municipalities affected by the problem of mosquitoes transmitting WNV to deploy their municipal plans for preventive fumigation of these insects the affected municipalities are demanding greater "involvement" from the Junta in this problem especially that the costs of fumigation and disinfection should not be borne exclusively by the individual town halls Seville's provincial authority (Diputación) has contracted two specialist pest-controlling companies to strengthen the efforts required of the municipalities The towns listed by the Junta as needing this additional infected residents have also been confirmed in Alcalá de Guadaíra This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page idyllic destinations in themselves ideal for slowing down and immortalizing memories the ingredient you need to enjoy a captivating experience with your partner The Parador de Camona dominates from the heights of this historic town near Seville. A haven of peace full of charm, stunning architecture and spectacular views Built in the parade ground of the Alcazar of King Pedro, this parador has elegant inhabitants, exquisite cuisine and a dreamlike swimming pool its picturesque courtyards and the viewpoint terrace it offers guests make it one of the most romantic hotels in the province of Seville Waking up in front of the Cathedral of Seville might be reason enough to stay at this well-known luxury hotel Architect Juan Pedro Donaire restored the 14 16th-century houses that made up this property and the result is celebrated with a visual feat just steps from the Sevillian monument In total, 60 rooms make up this refined hotel with Almohad motifs, minimalist touches and nods to the Golden Age. The hotel has a terrace and an extraordinary swimming pool with views of the Gothic temple Suites Murillo’s dreamy apartments are equipped with all the necessities where you can revel in a private Jacuzzi overlooking Murillo’s gardens and its historic liana trees When thinking about romantic hotels in Seville it is inevitable to take into consideration this 17th century palace turned into an Eden of good taste Its interior offers valuable manifestations of civil baroque architecture in Seville and courtyards of an inhospitable beauty it is said that the Patio de las Conchas was the original starting point of the Jacobean Route Vía de la Plata in whose fountain the pilgrims had to wash their hands before starting their journey The hotel that houses the Palacio Villapanés has many other benefits: a wellness area and an attractive terrace that overlooks the city from above the interior design and the incorporation of design pieces was in charge of GCA Arquitectos and Patricia Urquiola The Sevillian countryside that connects the city to Jerez de la Frontera is home to one of Andalusia’s best-kept secrets: the Hacienda de San Rafael Five acres of land that once served as a thriving olive oil producer are now home to a select little corner in the middle of nature Brothers Anthony and Patrick Reid are behind this project that integrates a delicate decoration with a rustic air and modern touches The pool presides over the central bathroom although guests will find among its offer succulent suites that are pure luxury with marble bathrooms and private pools that will delight any couple A hideaway to retire among olive groves and orange trees and one of the best romantic hotels in the vicinity of Seville Five people have died so far this summer in Spain's Andalucía region as a result of the West Nile fever virus The regional ministry of health reported the most two recent deaths both from Coria del Río in Seville province one who was a 71-year-old resident of the town are in addition to the previous death of a 71-year-old woman from Dos Hermanas an 86-year-old woman infected in La Puebla del Río and an 87-year-old woman from Coria del Río there have been two new cases of people becoming infected with the virus one person from Gerena and another from Carmona Three of these cases have already been discharged from hospital The presence of the virus has been detected in mosquito captures carried out in the Seville municipalities of Almensilla and Villamanrique de la Condesa (Seville); in the Cordoba municipalities of Montalbán and Puente Genil; as well as in Benalup Casas Viejas and Vejer de la Frontera in Cádiz The CSIC Doñana biological station has also located the presence of the virus in mosquitoes captured in the Seville municipalities of La Puebla del Río The virus was also detected in a horse in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz province) and a horse in Écija (Seville) and in an imperial eagle chick in La Carolina (Jaén) Regional authorities have alerted municipal personnel of the public health actions to be taken in accordance with the programme of surveillance and control of vectors transmitting West Nile Fever in Andalucía in a bid to significantly reduce the probability of transmission to the population Pest control companies contracted by the Cadiz and Seville provincial councils are monitoring the situation and carrying out controls in peri-urban areas as well as holding meetings with town officials The weekly public health report concludes that the population densities of females of potentially transmitting mosquito species are at high levels in Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz) and Los Palacios y Villafranca (Seville) and at medium levels in Almensilla Gelves and Villamanrique de la Condesa (Seville) WNV infection is a zoonosis disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culex The virus is transmitted among birds through the bite of infected mosquitoes Humans and other mammals can be infected collaterally About 80% of WNV infections in humans are asymptomatic WNF is the most common clinical presentation Elderly and immunocompromised persons are at increased risk of developing WNV neuroinvasive disease The regional ministry of Health insists on the need for the population to maintain preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites during the hours of greatest activity of the species that transmit this disease (around dawn and after dusk) both individual - with the use of registered repellents for topical use and light clothing that covers most of the skin - as well as domestic situations - with the use of mosquito nets or environmental repellents - especially for the vulnerable population with compromised immunity These recommendations include avoiding stagnant water accumulations (gardens etc.) to prevent them from being used for the development of mosquito larvae The province of Seville hosts various events around the festival of San Juan and the surrounding beaches do the same to welcome the summer Midsummer’s Eve welcomes the summer with its traditional festivities around the municipal squares and beaches A celebration to welcome the summer around bonfires which congregate those who want to get away from bad energies There is a whole mystique surrounding this festivity although there is no doubt that this day still has something magical about it we bring together all the parties for the Night of San Juan that you can not in Seville Beyond the coastal zones, which we will review in the following lines, the night of June 23-24 will be celebrated in the following zones sevillian localities It is not only Utrera that can boast of hoisting its dolls above the flames In Cadiz the burning of ‘Los Juanillos’ is a classic which undoubtedly has its roots in the humor social criticism and shrewdness that characterizes its emblematic carnivals Those who like to go to the beach on this day marked by bonfires and festivities should be aware of the following these beautiful beaches the closest to Seville and also Of course, there is no need to give up the appetizers and caps that always accompany us as well as summer drinks such as sangria and I can tell you that it doesn’t have to be expensive I can also tell you that there might be a lot of confusion but hopefully my recent experience can clarify some of it If you’re trying to narrow down your list of things to do let me help you out by sharing seven things I did that weren’t just totally awesome—they were also budget-friendly Las Cabezas nature reserve offers multiple tours they tell you which ones are okay for kids and which ones require some experience; they also have the option to take the tour in English or in Spanish When I was there I went on two separate tours the first of which was the reserve and lighthouse tour and gets you a trolley ride through the reserve to three special locations Our first stop was the mangrove swamp boardwalk Our guide led us through the mangroves explaining the ecosystem and other facts about the reserve as we wound around back to the trolley a mesmerizingly beautiful beach only accessible via the reserve some of which were small and some of which were very large Side note: The only way to see the reserve is through their tours, and you have to make a reservation. The gates don’t open until a half hour before each tour, and it is recommended that you arrive a half hour early. You can reserve spots by phone or through their website it was interesting to see that Chicago is one of the biggest light pollution sources in the country we were taken down the boardwalk that veered off toward the lagoon we stopped to pick up some long plastic poles we faced the lagoon and used the poles to stir the water around us but I can tell you that a soft white glow trailed the poles when we moved them The theory is that these organisms glow in defense so the water lights up when it is disturbed Another interesting thing to see was that even though we were about an hour from San Juan we could still see the light coming from the city in the distance there’s parking near the start of each trail; Big Tree itself goes on farther than the falls but getting to La Mina takes about a half hour it will likely rain while you’re in the rainforest so bring a raincoat.) It winds up and down There’s nothing in Puerto Rico that’s poisonous or that will chase you I hardly saw any wild life except stray cats What you will see are trees bigger than any tree you’ve seen in your life and colorful flowers and other tropical plants (Fun fact: Because they’re about the size of your thumbnail some of the wildlife you won’t see are the coquí frogs native to Puerto Rico—but you will hear them high-pitched noise that sounds sort of like a whistle Coqui!”) You hear the falls before you see them There’s a bridge going over the rocks that continues the path but there are also some stairs that go down to the falls because this one has a bit of a pool before all the rocks be careful because these rocks are super slippery At the end there was a guy selling really good It’s easy to navigate and walk around and the different-colored buildings and architecture are endlessly unique and fascinating Just taking a walk around and visiting different shops and cafes is well worth your time and as a bonus there are trolleys that take you around town for free Just in case you’re interested in some more free tourism there are some popular sights in downtown Old San Juan you can explore free of charge Side note: Since there aren’t trolleys through the rest of San Juan I recommend taking a bus instead of a taxi It costs 75 cents a person and the bus station is on the same street as trolley stops 1 and 2 these National Historic Sites come two-for-one By that I mean you get admission to both for $5 Park Service.) I recommend going to San Cristóbal first You can watch a short historical video before heading out to explore the fort Give yourself plenty of time because it is huge I love history so I especially enjoyed this but the architecture is also unique and very similar to that of its sister fort El Morro is about a 15-minute walk away if you’re up for walking and to be admitted you just show your receipt from San Cristóbal this would be vice versa if you go to El Morro first.) It is the older of the two forts and holds Puerto Rico’s oldest lighthouse (It burned down at some point and was rebuilt which is why I said the Fajardo lighthouse is technically the oldest.) El Morro is also significantly smaller but no less magnificent and though you can’t go into the lighthouse Visiting these forts should be at the top of your list Side note (especially for parents): The legal drinking age in Puerto Rico is eighteen all of which come with a complimentary glass and a token for a free drink which you can enjoy on their outdoor pavilion before or after the tour The cheapest tour—the Historical Tour—is $15 a person The other two tours—the Mixology and Rum Tasting tours—are both $45 a person The tour that I went on was the Mixology tour Our guide took us to each building on a trolley and our first stop was the visitor center museum and then our guide explained more of the history and special facts about each of the rums (Fun fact: Bacardí reuses barrels from Jack Daniels to minimize waste.)