Local Expert
Abha Malpani
I'm an Indian girl living, loving and lost in Madrid -- I've been here almost two years now. Here I write and rant for a handful of travel-blogs, and teach English to pay my rent. When I'm not trying…
I'm an Indian girl living, loving and lost in Madrid -- I've been here almost two years now. Here I write and rant for a handful of travel-blogs, and teach English to pay my rent. When I'm not trying to work, I'm normally at a bar eating tapas and drinking beer, or shaking it on some dance floor in the city.
I have previously lived in India, England, Dubai, Australia, and Valencia in Spain. All the cities I've lived in are awesome but Madrid takes the cake. I can be contacted at abha.malpani@gmail.com
Other blogs I write for: www.gadling.com, www.vagablogging.net, www.writtenroad.com, www.mapmagazine.com
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October 12: Spain National Day
12 October 1492 was the day Christopher Columbus found America. He was commissioned by the Spanish Monarchy to find a naval route to India, but he found the Americas instead -- this was when the European colonization of the Americas began, and marks the beginning of a large and widespread Spanish speaking community. Its anniversary is therefore also celebrated in Latin America and the USA, and has been ever since 1918.
In Spain, this day is celebrated by a large military procession in Madrid's Plaza de Colón. The Royal Family presides the event and the King (Juan Carlos) is presented with a laurel leaf from veteran soldiers as a tribute to all the Spaniards who died in battle. This is often accompanied by air shows.
October 12 is also the day of Spain's patron saint -- Virgin de Pilar, so celebrations on this day are also of religious significance.