Yet another crazy Spanish fiesta is held in Pobla Del Duc in Valencia on the last Friday in August. In La Raima, 90 tonnes of ripe grapes are tossed around by the townspeople in a celebration of the end of the picking season. If you had just spent the last few weeks bent double, picking bunches of grapes in temperartures in the low 40's, you might be rather pleased too! And as with all fiestas in Spain, there's plenty of noise from the people, the music, the fireworks and drinking.

Revolution is in the air in Ibi, Alicante between each Christmas and New Year. On the 28th of December, the local council is overthrown, with the weapon of choice being flour bombs. In such cases, where an uprising is desired, I recommend the use of self-raising flour. It makes the job of usurping those in power so much easier! Anyway, enjoy the latest in our series of articles on Spain's Mad Fiestas.

In our series of articles on Spain's Maddest Fiestas, we have seen goats being thrown from a belfry, coffin racing, dead rats being celebrated, and grown men jumping over new-born babies. But now I can bring you something really weird. It's a fiesta that dates back more than 1000 years, and is held in the wild badlands in the depths of Galicia. Welcome to La Farrapada.

Bullfighting is probably the most contentious topic that anyone can raise regarding Spain. People are either fierce supporters for bullfighting, or they regard it as little more than torturing animals to death. Rarely does one sit on the fence with regard to the subject of bullfighting - (probably a dangerous place to sit!) Yet the story behind the bullfight is both tragic and beautiful. Find out more about what bullfighting symbolises, in Spain's real-life Beauty and the Beast.

Do you know from where the gypsies of Spain migrated? Where their distinctive style of music and dance originated? Do you understand what Jaleo and Duende mean to the aficionado of Flamenco? In this, the first in a series of articles concerning Andalucia's most famous cultural export, Flamenco, we explain the origins of the people and their exotic and evocative music and dance. We will follow up with more articles on Flamenco, to describe the various styles of the music of Andalucia and the stars of the genre, both from yesteryear and today.

The combination of being on holiday in sunny sunny spain and huge measures of alcohol at practically giveaway prices can become problematic for those who jus' cain't say no. The Spanish have yet to learn what it means to us Brits to go out and see how drunk you can get in as short a time as possible. Consequently, their reaction to your state of utter Blooteredness may be a bit...well...foreign, Luckily though, we have compiled a list of things not to do when you are roaring drunk. If you're still sober enough, click the 'read more' bit below

Some people just attract bad luck. Some people have a dream of living in Spain that turns into a nightmare. What with the corruption, the wildlife and the Lothario populace, its a surprise that anyone lasts the distance. But if any of the following has happened to you, do try to buck up and keep that stiff upper lip that we British are famous for!

Britain's fourth estate - the press. Not content with listening to everyone's phone messages, they also tend to have a somewhat negative view of the Ex-Pat lifestyle here in Spain. The smallest of stories is blown completely out of proportion. Perhaps they all prefer the delights of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Loire Valley, or sipping a good Chianti in Tuscany rather than enjoying a beefy Rioja and sundry bits of roast pig. Who knows? But see if you agree with the following

Spain isn't everyone's cup of tea. Some people make the move to their new life in the sun, only to find out that they just don't fit in with the way of life here in España. Maybe it's their reluctance to change the habits of a lifetime. Maybe not. Old dogs can't learn new tricks, and leopards can't change their spots - but how many of the following apply to you?

There are certain phrases that you will nee to learn when you move to Spain such as "Excuse me Barman. Can you make the next drink not quite so strong please" Others, (which have become second nature to those living in Britain) can be tossed into the dustbin of history, never to be spoken by you ever again. This is good because it leaves some space in your head to store all the new stuff you're going to learn. Anyway, on with the show... ten redundant phrases for the expat in Spain.