NEW ZEALAND SEASONS.

Because New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August.

In summer days are long and sunny, nights are mild. Summer is an excellent time for walking or doing outdoor activities like water sports during summer.

In autumn, temperatures are a little cooler but it is possible to swim in some places until April. Colourful changing leaves make autumn a romantic time for walking.

In winter, mountains in both islands become snow-covered, providing beautiful views and excellent skiing.

Finally, New Zealand's spring weather can range from cold and frosty to warm and hot.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE THE EIFFEL TOWER IS???

The Eiffel Tower is located on the Champ de Mars in Paris and it is a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It is the tallest building in Paris, so do not forget to visit it when you come to France. You will have a great view of the city from the top of the tower, and you can go upstairs on foot or using the elevator.

If you are in Lafayette Galleries and you want to visit the tower you have to follow this street to Opera Square and turn left. Go straight ahead and take the underground at the end of this street. Remember to take lines 6 or 9 in direction to the Tower and jump off in Trocadero stop, so you can go walking to the Eiffel Tower about 15 minutes while you enjoy the gardens and the fountains of the Chaillot Palace.

But if you are by the Senna River, you can also go to the Tower by boat, which in French is known as Bateaubus. And it is a good way to have a different point of view of the city.

However, the best way of knowing Paris is on foot, so buy a good map and turn left or right or go along the streets as you come nearer the tower, you will see it all the time as it is the tallest building.

If you have problems with the map, ask; French people is really nice and they speak a very good English!!!

SAMHAIN, THE EUROPEAN HALLOWEEN.

Samain is a celtic festival with a pagan origin. It celebrated the end of the Harvest and was considerated as the beginning of the Celtic Year.

It disappeared with the Romans but nowadays this festival is again celebrated in areas or countries with a strong celtic heritage or origin. It can be considered the equivalent of the American Halloween.

In Galicia we are recovering that tradition of the Samahin which hasn´t got a negative meaning. It is a time to reaffirm the believing in the unity of all the spirits (alive and non-alive souls) and to think that death is not the end of human existence.

Important symbols for this festival are similar to those for Halloween: apples, pumpkins, black cats, and the colours black, orange, white, gold and silver.

THE SKYSCRAPER, A VERY TALL HOUSE??

A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building. There is no minimum height to be one of them and in many big cities you can see a skyscraper. One famous city for its skyscrapers is New York, with a very popular skyline many times seen in the movies.

Maybe the most famous there is The Empire State Building, built in 1931. It has more than 100 floors and was finished in 1932. Another famous skyscrapers in this city were the Twin Towers, which were destroyed in 2001 in a terrorist attack. Everybody remember the planes crashing against the towers. It was a very sad moment for the entire world.

Today, the skyscrapers are more modern as for example in Dubai where those building are made with the newest materials, although they will be used mainly as offices.

ARE YOU FROM CANADA?

Canada is the second country in size in the World. It´s capital is Ottawa. It was a colony of the UK and France and there you can speak French and English.

In its flag you can see the leaf of the maple as a symbol of the country. Canada is famous for its large forests and mountains and the great variety of wild animals that live there (for example: bears, wolves, red linx, reindeers…). It is recognised too by its Royal Mounted Police and products such as the maple syrup.

There are many students from many different countries that come to Canada to study English or French during the summer.

A SPANISH PARTY: LAS FALLAS.

The “Fallas” is a very well-known holiday celebrated in Valencia, in Spain, from the fifteenth to the nineteenth of March. This holiday is in honor to San José, boss of the carpenters.

The name of “fallas” comes from the artistic sculptures made with inflammable materials. They represent famous figures called “ninots”.

There are many different groups of people called “falleros” in Valencia who make those “fallas” or monuments to participate in a quiz. Each year the winner is taken to a museum while the others are burnt in the streets. At night one can watch the fireworks as this holiday is strongly associated with fire.

During the holiday, people dress with the traditional clothes of the valencian autonomous community and participate in parades and there are music and dance concerts. Each year, a young lady is elected as “queen” and she participates in the party in a very special way. Many young girls have the dream to become queen of the “falleras” some day.

IT´S TEATIME!!!

My name is Cyril and I am from Ireland. I´m doing my homework in my bedroom, it is raining outside and…. I can hear my mum calling me for tea. It´s 6 o´clock in the evening. It´s teatime!!!! I run downstairs as I hear the teapot boiling in the kitchen. Did you know…????

Ireland is the largest tea consumer in the world. They take their tea VERY seriously! You won't find a convention, work meeting or other event that does not allow for a morning or afternoon tea break on the schedule! Everybody has tea in Ireland.

To have a nice cup of tea you add the milk to the tea cup first and then you pour in the tea.

Irish tea is served generally three times a day; 11:00 in the morning, 3:00-5:00 for afternoon tea and a high tea at 6:00 pm, serving as the evening meal. Afternoon tea is the more "fancy" of the three teas- the one with scones, breads, jam, curds and other dainties.