Whirlpool Aero Car
Do you know which place can be called motherland of whirlpool aero car? It’s Spain. History starts its root in 1913, when a few Spanish businessmen decided to build a car for easy transportation of people across the terminuses. They had got an agreement from Niagara Parks Commission to start this construction. Besides, they needed an acceptance to begin this operation from the State of New York and US Government, which wasn’t so easy. But finally they’d got it. They’d started the new promising project.
The target of all this was to build a convenient car to transport passengers from one terminus to another. The inventor of this comfortable vehicle was Spanish engineer Leonardo Torrequevedo (1852-1939). He was working in a small town Bilbao; he owned a design from a similar cable car at Mount Ulia, the same Spanish auto for 14 people with a difference that the new one was cheaper to use and more comfortable.
The target to build this new kind of transport was to carry 40 people from one terminal at Colt’s Point to another to Thompson’s on the 76meter’ height. It was better than all previous cars, because being at a height of 250 feet passengers could enjoy the beauty of surroundings for a journey lasting 539meters.
The engine of this clever cable car has 60 horse powers and can take the weight of 60 tones of people through 6 cables attached.
There is no doubt, that this car can be called the safest in the world. During many years of its use there were no accidents and no injuries at all. But I can’t say it was popular from the beginning of its use. The most successful moment was in 1916, when the initial price of this machine was $120,000.
In 1961 the owner changed, the new one, A. Blake Robertson, installed electromagnetic system, which was more functional and after only 45years of use changed the cables.
Now this car belongs to the Niagara Parks Commission. It’s still working, but for sightseeing. It’s a visiting card of Spain, which people are proud of.
Of course, if you are looking more for speed without limits, you can rent a car, but don’t waste an opportunity to see the Whirlpool Aero Car.
Festivals in Murcia
The city of Murcia in Spain, a blend of great beaches, attractive sights and great food, is one of the finest places that make the tourists to visit the place again and again for a holiday vacation.
And of course the festivals which are also among one of the attractions are held all year round. Choose a month and you will definitely find some type of festival being held in the city.
The International Festival de Mediterranean Folklore is a famous festival held during the month of September for every 3 days. Several dance performances, and music are played by many artists from all over the world to educate and to provide entertainment to the visitors of the festival.
International Festival of Theater, Music and Dance, is another awesome festival that takes place in August every year in Almansa. This festival includes some of the Spanish and international figures in music, dance and theatre to perform classical works across several disciplines.
La Fiesta de la Cuadrillas is a festival that happens in the month of January and celebrates the current and the modern culture of the city of Murcia while emphasizing the music which is common to the area. In the month of February several carnivals are hosted that contains a 200 year old tradition. Several people of the city take part in these carnivals by dressing up in various colorful costumes and masks.
The month of March has Las Incursiones Berberiscas which is a three day festival that takes place in Los Alcazares in Mar Menor, containing various entertaining performances relating to music and dance and also has games and medieval market.
Holy Week is celebrate in the town of Lorca every April and is Murcia’s one of the most famous religious festivals. The festival includes many colorful processions that give a closer look of the city’s religious traditions to the tourists.
The Holy Week processions are followed by the Fiestas de Primavera in the month of May, the time when the city is filled with the crosses made from flowers for the Dia de la Cruz.
Car hire in Murcia is available from Hertz, Avis, Holiday Autos, Car Hire 3000, Economy and Argus car hire.
Some information about car companies in Murcia
Murcia airport in Spain is one of the largest and heavily crowded places in Spain as during most of the time in a year, this airport is flooded with either tourists or business delegates who come from all around the globe and gather here.
For this very reason, Murcia airport is very well connected with roads and rails. One of the most convenient option and also the most comfortable option that most of the tourists coming to this place opts for is hiring a car for rent.
Companies like Avis, Alamo, Budget, Thrifty etc. have concentrated their business area in and around the Murcia airport and hence provides the facility of hiring a car right from the airport itself.
Most of the car companies in this region are well reputed and the rents that they demand are also quite reasonable. Generally one does not complain about the class and the quality of services that these car companies have to offer to the tourists. Only few have complained that they have been unduly charged. The only reason behind the allegation is that the tourists were themselves at fault. Most tourists in this region do not even bother to read the rental contract carefully and lands up with problems while making payments.
The car companies like Avis, Europcar and Budget have a huge arsenal of splendid cars of spectacular designs that are available from 5 passenger cars to 7 and even 9 passenger luxury cars.
The car rent starts from some thing around 20 euro and extends to 250 euro or even above that.
Among the luxury class cars, the most popular cars are Mercedes Benz C and E class cars. Few also go for large vans that can cost you some thing around 70 to 150 euros per day. It is totally upon you to weigh your financial strength and also your needs and then hire the car.
Car hire in Murcia airport
In the land of painters and sculptures, a place so rich in its culture and heritage, Spain is one of the most favorite tourist spot for people living all around in Europe, America and Asia. The Murcia airport is one of the busiest and largest airport in Spain and most of the time, this airport is crowded by tourists or people who come here for some business venture.
Murcia airport is connected to several modes of transport including buses, cabs and trains. But none is as popular as rental cars are, in this part of the country. Murcia airport is the primary base for some famous car rental companies in the entire Europe. Some of the names are Hertz, Europcar, Alamo, Thrifty, Budget, Dollar, Discovery and Avis.
These rental car companies provide eat pick facilities right from the Murcia airport and hence one does not have to take the hassle of roaming around the city in s4arch of rental cars.
One can get a free shuttle right from the airport itself and the shuttle will take him to the car parking lots of the car companies. The car companies in this region have a great feature to flaunt about. That is, the car rental companies located near Murcia airport gives you the benefit of avoiding the long crowd and line for filling the documents related with car hiring. You can directly go to the car parking lot of the respective car rental company and get the car of your choice. After you have selected your car and booked it, then fulfill the legal formalities and get set go for your journey.
The car companies in this region are well reputed and are known to provide quality s4rvices at affordable rates. These cars range from economic class to the luxury class and satisfaction is guaranteed.
Advantages of Car Hire in Murcia
Begin your journey to Murcia by opting for the most flexible and convenient mode, that is car hire. It is suitable for travelling in a group or with a family. Make sure you find the best car hire deal in order to avoid extra costs and to benefit from it some of the discounts and special offers.
Many travelers have found out by their experience that hiring a car is the top most option to make one self occupied during their holiday trip, starting from the time at the airport to the time to travel back to home. Opting for other means like the public transport, cabs and taxis etc, enables you to pay more besides suffering inconvenience throughout the journey. So, in order to keep up your pace at your planned schedule, find out for the great car hire deals.
You can find car hire in Murcia very reasonable in offering the costs or prices that is much low when compared with the prices of the cabs and public transport. It not only saves your time spent for waiting for the public transport but also it is easily flexible and hassle free.
You can browse the internet, search and can choose the best suitable car among a wide range of vehicles that meets your travel and budget needs. San Javier airport which is just 45 km from Murcia has many international car hire companies with its offices located at the airport. Some of the major companies are Budget, Holiday Autos, Hertz, Thrifty, Alamo, National, Easy car, Sixt, Auto Europe, Net Flights, Car hire 3000, Argus car hire, Economy car hire, 121 and eRentals. These car rental companies offer variety of vehicles categorized of large, economical and luxury besides affording extra space and comfort.
Make sure to book your car at the earliest and check out for the other travel arrangements. No matter what type of vehicle you select, but you will ultimately find out that car hire enables your visit to the wonderful attractions of Murcia, much easier and enjoyable.
Hot n Sunny Murcia
75 km south of Alicante about 30 km west of Torrevieja, Murcia is the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. The city can be accessed by car using the E15 from Alicante or using the C415 from the Madrid direction.
Sharing the waters of the Mediterranean and the Menor Sea and its region having over 200 beaches, many places rich in history and culture, Murcia is a tourist haven
Due to the large and sophisticated watering system the city’s municipal area’s landscape most dominant aspect is the orchard.
Main Sights:
The Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena built in the Castilian Gothic style between 1394 and 1465 shows a blend of architectural styles, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical influences.
Also in the Plaza Cardenal Belluga near the cathedral are the 18th century Bishop’s Palace and an extension to the town hall.
The Glorieta is a pleasant, landscaped city square which lies on the banks of the Segura River and was constructed during the 18th century. It houses the City Hall.
Platería once a focus for the commerce of rare metals and Trapería for garment trade of the Jewish community are mostly pedestrian areas, now housing the Casino, a social club erected in 1847.
From the eighteenth century stone bridge with a Lady Chapel on one of its side; to modern bridges, several bridges of different styles span the river Segura.
La Fuensanta sanctuary and adjacent El Valle regional park, the Malecón Boulevard, Los Jerónimos monastery, Almudí Palace, the Romea theatre, Monteagudo Castle and the Salzillo Museum are all worth a visit.
Portraying the events which lead up to and include the Crucifixion the Holy Week procession is among the most famous festivals throughout all of Spain. The Huerta parade and Burial of the Sardine follow a week after the Holy Week.
Christians, Jews and Muslims celebrate the Three Cultures International Festival each May to overcome racism and xenophobia through music, exhibitions, symposiums and conferences.
Car hire companies found offering their services in this region are Solmar, Europa, Avis, Hertz, Auriga, Atesa and Centauro.
Manifesta 8; the European Biennial of Contemporary Art
Manifesta is a biennial visual art even that is held in a different location each time. The event was first conceived in Rotterdam in 1996.
The main office of the International Foundation Manifesta is located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This roving, contemporary art event showcases the most innovative work by artists and curators from Europe and beyond. Kicking off in Spain on October 9th 2010 and running for a period of 100 days, Manifesta 8 will be taking place in historical buildings, museums, unconventional spaces, archaeological sites and other suggestive settings in the ancient cities of Murcia and Cartagena.
Manifesta 8 highlights the very best of creative thought, research and experimentation, involving individual artists and artistic communities through exhibitions, performances, multi-media experiments and broadcasts.
Manifesta 8 is an initiative of the International Foundation Manifesta in collaboration with the Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia (CARM) and Murcia Cultural.
The International Foundation Manifesta is supported by the European Commission Culture Program, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands.
Government of the Autonomous Region of Murcia · City Council Murcia · City Council Cartagena are the sponsors and collaborators for the event.
For more information and assistance, please contact:
Phone: +34 868 950 750
Email: contact@manifesta8.es / accreditation@manifesta8.es
Website: www.manifesta8.es / www.manifesta.org
Meanwhile car rental agencies have warned of summer shortages due to widespread fleet reductions forced upon car rental companies in the midst of the global travel downturn of 2009. So book in advance.
Dining at Murcia
There’s no doubt that the culinary delights of a city provide one of main appeal for tourists to visit it. Like many Spanish cities, Murcia inherits a rich culinary tradition that comes with its centuries-old history that has evolved to blend with modern cooking styles.
Murcia is the least known Spanish City but is well known around Spain for its tasty tapas dishes. The many restaurants and hotels in the Murcia offers a wide assortment of traditional Murcian tapas and local delicacies prepared in the traditional way. The coastal restaurants on the other hand, offer Mediterranean sea harvest of fish and seafood dishes that take advantage of its Mar Menor and Mar Mayor.
Some of the restaurant may require reservation for the night especially if it falls during special holidays of the year. So it is best that the visitor make a call first and their numbers are often listed in the hotel’s directory of fine restaurants. Again, just like visiting any of the tourist spots, getting a car hire, whether chauffeured or not, is a visitor’s best transport option in getting around Murcia with your family or friends.
To the Restaurants for fine Gastronomic Experience
Some of the best tapas dishes are served in Rincon de Pepe along Aposteles. Then there’s the Hispano along Arquitecto Cerdan which is a favourite watering hole among Murcianos for its traditional dishes served in a rustic cozy ambiance.
The Palacete Rural la Seda along the Vereda del Catalan in Santa Cruz is a good 10-minute ride from Murcia which serves modern Catalan cuisine using only the finest local ingredients and is considered one of the pricey restaurants in the city. The restaurant itself is well worth the sight as it is a 17th century edifice originally built as a wine cellar and then a silk factory.
The Monteagudo restaurant situated at Av. Constitucion in the Montequdo suburb is well worth the 3 mile drive from Murcia along its motorway. You get to learn about the traditional local dishes served with a modern flair and ends with a generous serving of warm chocolate soufflé.
The Restaurante El Sordo along Alhorbona is situated in the Valley of Ricote, just a 15-minute drive from the city and should be no problem reaching with a rented car for an evening of fine dining experience. It’s an enormous restaurant that’s quite popular and you will need to get yourself booked beforehand. GP
Exploring the Spanish City of Murcia
Getting around a historic city can be most gratifying on foot if the local is small and the places of interests are clustered in an area like the Vatican. But as you visit grottos and cathedrals, museums, art galleries and the public squares and markets scattered over 340 square miles, you better get a car hire to get you to the place you want to visit. So when in Murcia, it pays to hire your private care to afford you and your family the comfort and privacy you need while getting your way around the city.
- The Museums
- Savoring the history of a nation and its people starts with a tour of any of its famous museums and if you rented a car, you could be on your way to all of them in a couple of days. The Salzillo Museum at the Plaza de San Agustin is a good place to start. It holds the most important processional religious images by the noted wood carver Francisco Salzillo. The Museo de la Archicofradia de la Sangre holds a permanent exhibition of the works of the Most Precious Blood of Christ movement with sculptures from Nicolas de Bussy and Roque Lopez, to mention some.
- A church turned into a museum is what the San Juan de Dios Church is. It houses a permanent exhibition of 18th to 18th century religious images and wood carvings. Then there’s the Las Claras Art Center which is built on the remains of 12th to 13th century Islamic houses. The Fine Arts Museum showcases prestigious Spanish artworks from the 16th to the 20th century.
- For a more modern approach to reliving the country’s past, the City Museum along the Plaza da las Agustines uses interactive technologies t showcase the city’s 2000-year history.
- The Festivities in Murcia
- One of the many colorful sights of a city is its traditional festivities that really bring to life the cultural values of a nation. In Murcia, the solemn Catholic commemoration of Holy Week is embodied in the Murcia Holy Week procession considered as among the most famous throughout all of Spain. Life size finely adorned religious sculptures by the noted sculptor Francisco Salzillo (17-7 – 1783) are taken out from cathedrals and museums and paraded on elaborately festooned floats adorned with flowers and in the evening, the parade glitters with candle lights stopping at various churches meant to re-enact the Calvary route of Christ before crucifixion.
- But the most colorful festivity comes a week after the solemn Holy Week in the traditional Bando de la Huerta on the following Tuesday when the locals don the traditional Huertano get-up to celebrate the Huerta parade. Then the following Saturday gets another colorful parade treat with the Entierro de la Sarina or Burial of the Sardine.
Then there’s the Three Cultures International Festival which occurs every May organized to overcome racism and foster understanding and reconciliation between Christians, Muslims and Jews who have contributed to enriching the traditions of the country for centuries. The festival showcases the three great cultures in exhibitions, symposia, conferences, music and the performing arts. GP
Visiting the Spanish Mediterranean City of Murcia
With a semi-arid weather and a dash of Mediterranean breezes, the City of Murcia situated on the south eastern region of Spain quite near the coast facing the Mediterranean waters enjoys a semi Mediterranean clime that provides year-round opportunities for the visitor to explore its many historic and cosmopolitan sights, tastes and sounds.
For so long the city is known to the rest of Europe as the Huerta de Murcia or Europe’s orchard mainly due to its long tradition as a source for the continent’s fruits, vegetables and flowers.
The city stretches to cover 340.5 square miles and is Spain’s 7th largest city and enjoys a varied terrain ranging from the mountainous southern Cordillera regions mountain ranges.
These two regions are known as the Field of Murcia and the Orchard of Murcia separated by the steel hilly Monteagudo range. The historic central Murcia is about 1 square mile wide comprising the urbanized downtown proper. While taxis can be hailed easily, it is still best for the visitor to get a car hire to get around the city for faster transport access and privacy.
Most of the wonderful places to visit are scattered around its 340.5 mile land area and a private car or SUV is a fast and expedient way to get from place to another.
Main Places to See
- Starting with its splendid historic architectures in landmark buildings, Murcia offers a wide variety of sights that can charm the visitor. Its cathedral is one such landmark. Built between 1394 and 1465, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena is a majestic example of Castilian Gothic architecture that blends Renaissance with baroque styles with Rococo and Neoclassical influences. In the same square where the Cathedral stands (Plaza Cardenal Belluga) is another noteworthy edifice, the 18th century Bishop’s Palace.
- From the Cathedral, you can reach the Plaza de Santo Domingo, a bustling commercial town market centered around the Plateria and Traperia streets. These two streets got their names from their commercial roots with the Plateria noted for its commerce of silver (plata) and other rare metals while the Traperia is noted for its commerce in cloth, both by the city’s Jewish communities.
- Along the banks of the Segura River that crosses the country is the Glorieta, considered the traditional city center constructed in the 19th century and is home to the ayuntamiento, or the city hall. Other places around Murcia worth visiting In the metropolitan area are the Noria de La Ñora water wheel and the Azud de la Contraparada reservoir. Then visit the Malecón boulevard, the La Fuensanta sanctuary and adjacent El Valle regional park, the Almudi Palace, the Monteagudo Castle and the Los Jerónimos monastery. Noted museums include the Salzillo Museum and the San Juan de Dios church-museum. For traditional entertainment, there’s the Romea Theater.