Spain

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    Google news: Spain

  • Royal Navy patrol off Gibraltar accused of firing at Spanish flag - Times Online

    20 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm
    BBC NewsRoyal Navy patrol off Gibraltar accused of firing at Spanish flagTimes OnlineBritain and Spain were embroiled in a diplomatic row yesterday over claims that a Royal Navy patrol off Gibraltar fired on a buoy bearing the colours of the UK 'sorry' for shooting at 'Spanish flag' buoyBBC NewsUK apologizes to Spain for buoy colorsUnited Press InternationalSpain protests to Britain over incident off GibraltarMonsters and Critics.comeTaiwan News -Telegraph.co.uk -Overseas Property and Investment Newsall 20 news articles »

  • Spain overtakes Brazil in FIFA Rankings - MiamiHerald.com

    20 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm
    Times OnlineSpain overtakes Brazil in FIFA RankingsMiamiHerald.comBy Sports Network Spain has regained the top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Rankings, which were released on Friday for the month of November. European champion Spain regains first place in fifa's monthly world rankingsThe Canadian PressSpain back to world No. 1 rankingUnited Press InternationalThierry Henry's handball lifts France as Spain replace Brazil as Fifa No1guardian.co.ukReuters South Africa -Fifa.com -USA Todayall 91 news articles »

  • Alcohol Cuts Risk for Heart Disease by One Third - Medscape

    20 Nov 2009 | 11:54 am
    Hindustan TimesAlcohol Cuts Risk for Heart Disease by One ThirdMedscape"Spain is the world's third largest wine producer and ninth largest beer producer. In 2003, Spain was also in sixth position in the world ranking of alcohol Heavy drinking cuts risk of heart diseaseExaminer.comStudy: Moderate Alcohol Consumption Helps HeartNBC4i.comAlcohol May Reduce Men's Heart RiskWebMDABC News -decanter.com -RedOrbitall 155 news articles »

  • Spain mandates affordable broadband for all - CNET News

    20 Nov 2009 | 11:45 am
    CNET NewsSpain mandates affordable broadband for allCNET News happening in Finland and Spain, it's important to note that the US is a much larger country by population and geography than either of these countries. Free broadband comes to Spain and FinlandFierceTelecomall 3 news articles »

  • Spain sees no more than 900 job cuts at Opel plant - Reuters

    20 Nov 2009 | 10:37 am
    The Canadian PressSpain sees no more than 900 job cuts at Opel plantReutersMADRID, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Spain's industry minister on Friday said after meeting with a top General Motors [GM.UL] executive that no more jobs would be cut GM's Reilly Says Opel Must Slash Capacity 20% to 25%Ward's Auto (subscription)GM to present Opel restructuring plan in DecemberReutersall 180 news articles »
 
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    Costa Tropical News

  • 50,000 apply for jobs at new Ikea store in Jerez

    Captain Chaos
    4 Nov 2009 | 11:03 pm
    There are only 300 jobs on offer A new Ikea store is due to open in Jerez next spring, whose area of 36,000 square metres, La Voz de Cádiz reports, will make it the Swedish multi-national’s largest store in Andalucía. Their two other stores are in Sevilla and Málaga, which opened in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Jerez is a city which has been suffering rising unemployment, where more than 27,000 people are registered as out of work. El País gives the unemployment rate in the city as 27% of the population. The application period for the 300 jobs on offer at Ikea’s new store closed on…

  • Sevilla qualify for the Champions League last 16

    Captain Chaos
    4 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm
    Barcelona failed to score in Russia and now face a tough qualification Despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Stuttgart, Sevilla have become the first Spanish side to qualify for the last 16 in the Champions League. Manolo Jiménez’s side went ahead with a goal from Jesús Navas in the 13th minute, and qualify despite the equalizer which came after the local side relaxed. They may end up first in group but Sevilla are through. Things are now more complicated for Barcelona who could not break the 0-0 deadlock against Rubin Kazan in Russia. The Catalan side now has to win its last two remaining…

  • Salobreña in November

    Captain Chaos
    2 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am
    3rd to 13th: Romania Exhibition, Municipal Library, Monday to Friday 17.00 to 20.00h Friday 6th: Cinema: Vacaciones de Ferragost (Romanian film), Auditorium 21.00h, entrance 3 euros. Saturday 7th: V Autumn Polyphonic Conference 2009, Motril Choir, La Maison de France and Salobreña Choir. Auditorium, 21.00h Free admission. Friday 13th: Road Show, (theatrical representation of a road accident, Auditorium, 12.30 to 14.30h Free admission. Friday 13th: Children’s Theatre, Mariposas en la Barriga (Butterflies in the stomach) Auditorium, 19.00h 2 euros admission. Wednesday 18th to 1st: XI…

  • Almuñecar in November

    Captain Chaos
    2 Nov 2009 | 5:45 am
    Monday 1st: Procession Cristo del Castillo, held in the old town. Thursday 5th: Conference: Darwin and the Theory of Evolution by Pedro Gómez García Professor of Philosophy, at the Casa de la Cultura 20.00h Monday 9th: Concert, flute duet, Casa de la Cultura 20.00h 11, 12th & 13th: Talks on Alcoholism. Casa de la Cultura 20.00h Friday 13th: Flamenco, El Niño del Cerval, Casa de la Cultura 21.00h Saturday 14th: Concert: choir and two soloists, main church, 20.30h Sunday 15th: Same as above, but in San José church, La Herradura at 20.30h Sunday 22nd: Municipal musical school young band,…

  • Family win 45,000 Euro for their noisy second home

    Captain Chaos
    2 Nov 2009 | 2:28 am
    The family have suffered noise from a pub from the past 15 years in Pulpí, Almería A family which lives in Pulpí in Almería province have been awarded 45,000 € compensation in the Andalucía High Court of Justice after suffering 15 years of noise from a pub. The court said the amount would have been far higher were not the home concerned a second residence. The venue played music at more than 50 decibels volume and also failed to meet closing time legislation. The establishment opened with a licence for a merendero beach bar, but Europa Press reports was in fact a pub with music open…
 
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    LosGigantes.com

  • Christmas Fayre - Nov 21st - Los Gigantes

    dolly diver
    15 Nov 2009 | 12:52 am

  • Latest update on Los Gigantes Beach

    Sam
    13 Nov 2009 | 5:20 am
    Santiago del Teide mayor, Juan Damián Gorrín, has announced that the beach will remain closed for at least four months this announcement is yet another nail in the coffin of the area small business sector, already suffering from the fall in visitor numbers. Mayor Gorrín repeated claims that the council had previously submitted plans to stabilise [...]

  • Collection of Toys for Underprivileged children

    Sam
    13 Nov 2009 | 5:09 am
    From the 9th of november to the 22nd of december there will be a collection of toys for the under priviledged children run by town hall of Santiago del Teide. You may also donate the toys by dropping them into the youth hostles in Tamaimo, Puerto de Santiago and Santiago del Teide, with this campaign [...]

  • Great success for Saintiago del Teide Fair!

    Sam
    13 Nov 2009 | 5:07 am
    Santiago del Teide Fair was held in Puerto de Santiago square last Sunday 08th of november with huge numbers passing through the 42 strong stands of an array of goods on sale. The prices were low and there was lots of fun to be had for the kids, with bouncy castles and games to be [...]

  • Swine flu jabs begin this month in Spain

    Sam
    13 Nov 2009 | 5:05 am
    Last Tuesday the Spanish health authorities believe swine flu epidemic will reach its peak in late November before it starts to decline. Health authorities believe “the peak” will be “in the last days of November,” Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez told reporters. But she admitted that it was “difficult to predict” how the epidemic would develop. Spain announced [...]
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    News in the Sun

  • Good News For Booze

    Peter Jay
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:47 am
    Drinking alcohol every day cuts the risk of heart disease in men by more than a third.  It Gets Better… Drinking large quantities of alcohol could be even more beneficial (Don’t you just love the Spanish?) (more…)

  • Body Found In Tacaronte Barranco

    Peter Jay
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am
    Local police have revealed some details of a body found in a Tenerife barranco on Tuesday. The man’s body was discovered around 1.15pm in the Barranco San Juan, Tacaronte. (more…)

  • Canary Islands’ Lost Generation

    Peter Jay
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:16 am
    More than 47 per cent of under-25s in the Canary Islands are out of work, while unemployment in the islands overall stands at 26 per cent, the highest in Spain. (more…)

  • Eight-Car Pile Up In Tenerife

    Peter Jay
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:59 am
    A landslide in Tenerife this morning resulted in an eight-car pile up on the TF-5. The rock fall, which has been attributed to the recent torrential rain, (more…)

  • Spain’s Army Of Foreign Workers In Decline

    Peter Jay
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:57 am
    The number of foreign workers making social security payments in Spain fell in October by more than 16,200.  The numbers have now fallen for three months in a row (more…)
 
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    The Olive Press

  • Cadiz housing protest

    Jon Clarke (Editor)
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:05 am
    HUNDREDS of expatriates living in Spain will take to the streets this weekend in protest against the ongoing housing abuses taking place across Andalucia. Spaniards and Britons alike are set to unite in the town of Chiclana to vent their anger at local government housing policy. Some 20,000 homes within Cadiz province have had their licenses revoked and are now on the demolition list.

  • Sustainable Spanish retreats

    Jon Clarke (Editor)
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:46 am
    La Cabana Rated by the Guardian as a “funky little casita”, Casa la Dehesa is located between Chiclana and Conil, only 15 minutes away from the nearest Costa de Luz beach. The owners use solar energy to power the electricity, use water pumped from a well and re-use as much rainwater as they can. La Cabana, in the grounds of Casa la Dehesa, sleeps two but can accommodate three for an additional five euros per night. It costs from 35 euros per night. Go to www.casaladehesa.com or call 678367850/679638074. Casa la Dehesa The Lodge For a quiet getaway with fantastic views – over to the…

  • Fresh campaign to boost Amy hunt

    Jon Clarke (Editor)
    17 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am
    NEW billboards have been erected to aid the on going search for missing Irish teenager Amy Fitzpatrick. Funded by a family friend, an Irish businessman, the billboards – written in both Spanish and English – have been put up around Mijas Costa. Fitzpatrick, then aged 15, disappeared close to her home in the Riviera del Sol urbanisation more than 22 months ago on January 1 2008. Anyone with information should call 617561319.Fresh campaign to boost Amy hunt

  • Mass graves to be excavated in Ronda

    Jon Clarke (Editor)
    17 Nov 2009 | 10:21 am
    FAMILIES of victims buried in 19 mass graves in the Serrania de Ronda have demanded their excavation. More than 1,700 people are believed to have been buried in the graves in the San Lorenzo cemetery in Ronda. The newly created Association for the Historical Memory in the Serrania, has applied to exhume the bodies buried there during the civil war. The numbers in the mass graves, the majority of whom were shot by General Franco’s troops, could be even higher than initial estimates. Those killed were trying to defend Ronda from Franco’s regime and were taken prisoner by his troops when the…

  • Brits Costa-bound again!

    Jon Clarke (Editor)
    17 Nov 2009 | 10:11 am
    SPAIN should see overseas investors returning in large numbers with experts predicting the market has overcome the worst. Huge UK agent Knight Frank estimates that the market has now stabilised, although prices will have to wait until 2011 to go up. Meanwhile property website Kyero.com estimates that investors have stopped waiting for further price drops. It estimates that there will be a “wave of foreign investment” flowing into Spanish property in the next few months, although at prices 30 per cent below the peak in 2007. This comes while a number of leading websites reported increased…
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    Thinkspain.com

  • Fifth arrest in Polop mayor murder case

    Police arrested another two people this morning in connection with the October 2007 murder of the mayor of Polop, Alejandro Ponsoda, bringing the total to five. The police have declined to name either of the two new suspects or confirm...

  • Iberia cabin crew call off strikes

    Iberia cabin crew have called off their strikes planned for November 30th and December 1st, 2nd, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th after reaching a verbal agreement with Iberia's management. The trade unions involved, CTA and SITCPLA,...

  • Two Spaniards missing after Egyptian dive boat sinks

    Two Spanish tourists are still missing in the Red Sea after their dive boat sank off Egypt's Sinai coast, a popular beach holiday and diving destination. The married couple, Israel Pérez and Maria Lourdes González, both 33, whose home...

  • Variety Magazine tips Penélope Cruz for second Oscar

    According the American magazine, Variety, Penélope Cruz, who won an Oscar last year for her role in 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', is one of the favourites for the coveted prize again this year. Variety magazine was impressed by...

  • 13-year-old girl goes missing on way to school

    A 13-year-old girl from the Magraners district of Lleida has gone missing whilst on her way to school. The Mossos d'Esquadra have confirmed that the minor disappeared yesterday morning after leaving her home to go to school. ...
 
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    Big News Network

  • Madrid proud to be in final spotlight

    20 Nov 2009 | 2:11 pm
    In the midst of towering images of some of Spain's UEFA EURO 2008™ heroes, the 2010 UEFA Champions League final logo was launched to rapturous applause at the aptly named City of Football in Madrid ...

  • Spain mandates affordable broadband for all

    20 Nov 2009 | 1:38 pm
    Spanish officials said earlier this week that the government will require service providers to offer broadband with speeds of at least 1 Mbps at regulated rates to residents living anywhere in the cou...

  • Spain mandates affordable broadband for all

    20 Nov 2009 | 1:38 pm
    Spanish officials said earlier this week that the government will require service providers to offer broadband with speeds of at least 1 Mbps at regulated rates to residents living anywhere in the cou...

  • Spain overtakes Brazil in FIFA Rankings

    20 Nov 2009 | 1:23 pm
    Zurich, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Spain has regained the top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Rankings, which were released on Friday for the month of November. Brazil was on top of the ta...

  • Spanish man convicted of drug smuggling in lay jury trial

    20 Nov 2009 | 1:15 pm
    CHIBA — A Spanish man was given a 10-year prison term and a 5 million yen fine in a lay jury trial Friday for smuggling illegal stimulants to Japan in May, despite his plea of being innocent. O...
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    News from Spain

  • Hijacked Spanish fishing boat freed

    17 Nov 2009 | 6:12 am
    Spanish president José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has just announced that the fishing trawler hijacked by Somali pirates 47 days ago had been set free earlier this morning and was sailing towards "safer waters" on the first part of its journey home. He said that all the crew were safe and well.The Spanish tuna trawler Alakrana was hijacked in the Indian Ocean six weeks ago and all its crew were

  • Wind power in Spain

    9 Nov 2009 | 12:12 am
    For the first time ever this weekend Spain's wind turbines produced more energy than the Spanish electricity grid. Thanks to strong winds throughout Spain, the wind farms produced a record-breaking amount of energy and on Sunday morning 53% of electricity produced in Spain had been generated by the turbines (the previous record, 44%, was registered last week).Yesterday at 14.30 a record 11,546

  • Flemish Day in Altea, Costa Blanca

    2 Nov 2009 | 2:21 am
    The Foundation Flemings in the World has announced the celebration of Flemish Day to be held in Altea on Saturday the 7th of november 2009 in the hotel Villa Gadea. The press release sent to Euroresidentes reads as follows: In the elegant hotel Villa Gadea in Altea you can discover during the Flemish Day the Flemish companies and organizations on the Costa Blanca. There are informative stands

  • Iberia strike

    26 Oct 2009 | 6:52 am
    Iberia has cancelled over 430 flights this morning due to the strike called by two major cabin crew trade unions today and tomorrow. Over a third of Iberia's domestic routes have been cancelled and 70 international flights have also been affected by the strike.Passengers expecting to fly from Madrid airport are the worst affected, followed by passengers on flights to and from Barcelona.Domestic

  • Student bus crash in Girona

    19 Oct 2009 | 3:59 am
    A Dutch student aged sixteen died this morning and 25 of her fellow passengers were injured when their bus crashed in the L'Escala exit of the AP-7 motorway in Girona. The coach driver lost control at a bend in the exit road, and the bus turned over.The bus was transporting a group of 60 Dutch students and teachers on a school trip to Calella in Barcelona.Police are still investigating the cause
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    World news: Spain | guardian.co.uk

  • Belfast high court rejects Spain's bid to extradite Eta suspect

    Henry McDonald
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am
    A judge at Belfast high court has thrown out an attempt by Spain to have a suspected member of the armed Basque separatist group Eta's youth wing extradited. Judge Tom Burgess ruled that a European arrest warrant issued against Arturo Villaneuva Arteaga, 33, was invalid. Arteaga, who has lived in Northern Ireland for six years running a tourism business, is accused in Spain of carrying out violent and coercive actions from 1994 to 2000. The judge said there was no reference on the warrant to dates, locations or targets of any alleged attacks which would allow anyone to link them to…

  • Somali pirates free crew of Spanish trawler 'after $3.3m ransom'

    17 Nov 2009 | 8:05 am
    Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero evasive on whether Spanish government involved in paymentPirates freed 36 crew members from a Spanish trawler today after holding them for more than six weeks off the coast of Somalia. A self-proclaimed pirate said the hostage-takers were paid a $3.3m ransom.Spain's prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, said the tuna boat Alakrana "is sailing toward safer waters. All of its crew members are safe and sound".A Somali villager, Ali Ahmed Salad, said 12 armed pirates left the ship shortly after noon and joined colleagues in the…

  • Western Sahara activist Aminatou Haidar on hunger strike at Lanzarote airport

    Xan Rice
    17 Nov 2009 | 5:42 am
    Aminatou Haidar, campaigner for indigenous Sahrawi rights, expelled over refusal to accept Moroccan nationalityWestern Sahara's most prominent human rights activist has gone on hunger strike at a Spanish airport after being expelled from her home country by Moroccan authorities.Aminatou Haidar, who is viewed by her supporters as the "Sahrawi Gandhi", was deported to Lanzarote from the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Saturday. Morocco has occupied the former Spanish colony since 1975, refusing a say on independence to the indigenous Sahrawi population, including some 100,000 people…

  • Drug clans take control in shanty town where Madrid's politicians fear to tread

    Giles Tremlett
    16 Nov 2009 | 10:44 am
    10,000 addicts a day visit sprawling settlement as lawlessness takes overTwo men are asleep on a filthy mattress under the weak autumn sunshine. Another, in ragged clothes with his skin stained dark by the sun and dirt, lies motionless on the concrete strip surrounding the small church of Santo Domingo. In the dusty, rubbish-filled esplanade in front, dozens of addicts sit among the garbage, shooting up doses of heroin.On the outskirts of Spain's capital city, Madrid, one of Europe's biggest drug supermarkets thrives in a precarious settlement of some 30,000 people strung along an old…

  • Iberia losses drive home logic of British Airways merger

    Dan Milmo
    13 Nov 2009 | 3:32 am
    Large scale combined airline will appeal to investors keen to see both carriers stave off the effects of a deep recession and increased competition from no-frills operatorsIberia underlined why it needs a £4.3bn merger with British Airways this morning by reporting a loss during its profitable summer trading period.The Spanish national carrier, which announced last night it will merge with BA by the end of next year, reported a pre-tax loss of €30.4m (£27.1m) in the three months to September, compared with a €30.4m profit in the same period last year. BA has also suffered heavy losses…
 
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    Notes From Spain

  • Notes in Spanish Video (Worth Watching)!

    Ben Curtis
    17 Nov 2009 | 6:11 am
    Marina and I have some very special free content coming up this week at notesinspanish.com – the first video is up now, on 3 of the biggest and best newspapers in Spain! Watch the video here!

  • Life and Presidencia

    Ben Curtis
    16 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pm
    Been very very quiet over the past week or two as we prepare a big new project for our Spanish site, Notes in Spanish, and Marina deals with her Presidencia (more on that in a second…) It’s been ages since Marina and I have consistently created new content, and it’s wonderful to be recording new audio again. But with only half a day to work each (we are lucky enough to each spend the other half looking after the baby), everything else – blogging, eating, sleeping – goes out the window. …Except of course for Marina’s thrilling enjoyment of her new role…

  • Spain’s Eco Future is Bright!

    Ben Curtis
    5 Nov 2009 | 6:41 am
    This ad pains me on so many levels I’m not sure where to start… Roughly translated as: “It’s name is the BioExplorer Insect Spy: Developer of Future Eco-Responsables” – I can’t even translate ‘eco-responsables’ but I guess the meaning is obvious – as the last line says, Suena muy cientifico, “Sounds very scientific”… Sounds more like “very optimistic” to me – putting poor butterflies etc in small plastic tubes wouldn’t be my first approach to saving the planet, but who knows, good luck to…

  • Madrid Retiro Autumn Trees

    Ben Curtis
    4 Nov 2009 | 2:53 am

  • Avoiding Pickpocketing / Mugging in Madrid – Link

    Ben Curtis
    2 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am
    Here’s an interesting article by Richard Morley about the increasing problem of pickpocketing in Madrid. It starts out by describing the experience of a new and more sinister approach I haven’t heard of before, the ’show me your passport, I’m a policeman’ intimidation approach, which sounds most unpleasant. Madrid is getting a deserved, and bad, reputation of this sort of tourist-targeting street crime now, which is a real shame (we used to say, “Oh, that sort of thing only happens in Barcelona…”) It’s about time Spain got tough on this.
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    AlmerimarLife - Online Blog & Community For Expats In Spain

  • The Price Of Cauliflower & A Full English!

    Chris Marshall
    20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am
    Had a couple of conversations this week about the price of cauliflower. I know sad eh? I remember not to long ago that the topic of conversation amongst the guys in the bar was football, golf, cricket, woman and what strength of curry you ate! Well before you think that old age has finally caught up with me, let me explain …… we also discussed the price of brocolli, the difficulty of getting good cucumbers and aubergine, and don’t get me started on the price of RAF (Resistant to Fusarium*) tomatoes at the moment! Although it must be said that regular tomatoes are really…

  • Children In Need 2009

    Chris Marshall
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:24 am
    Tonight it is the Children In Need 2009 on BBC1. If you want details on how to donate check out Pudsey’s Site Here.

  • P&O New Day Trip Offer

    Chris Marshall
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:05 am
    P&O have just announced a great new day trip offer. Details as follows: - book from now to 16th December - travel from Friday 20th November to 17th December - day trip from £20 return for car and up to 9 passengers including a free bottle of wine (collect on board – voucher supplied at port) - lead £20 (tues, wed or thurs travel), £25 (mon and fri), £30 (sat or sun) To take advantage of this and other great offers from P&O just click here

  • What To Do With Your Old Pesetas

    Chris Marshall
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:38 am
    Remember when you were a skint student and Friday evenings started off with a delve down the back of the sofa for any old change? Should the urge, or need, arise to do that now and you come across some old Spanish Pesetas what can you do with them? The only option now is to take notes and coins to the Bank of Spain to have the exchanged. You wont be alone thoigh as somewhat surprisingly it is estimated that there are still 1.746m€ stuck down the back of sofas in Spain (literally in many cases!) In September 2009 over 2m€ of Pesetas were exchanged, down for 3m€ worth in August 2009…

  • Currency Direct Daily Rates: 20th Nov 2009

    Chris Marshall
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:16 am
    AUDEUR AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – EURO 0.6159 AUDGBP AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – STERLING POUND 0.5525 AUDUSD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9211 CADUSD CANADIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9403 EURMUR EURO – MAURITIUS RUPEE 41.3200 EURUSD EURO – US DOLLAR 1.4905 EURZAR EURO – SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 11.1899 GBPAED STERLING POUND – UAE DIRHAM 6.1010 GBPAUD STERLING POUND – AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 1.8082 GBPBGN STERLING POUND – BULGARIAN LEV 2.1789 GBPCAD STERLING POUND – CANADIAN DOLLAR 1.7697 GBPCHF STERLING POUND – SWISS FRANC 1.6849 GBPCZK STERLING…
 
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    Life in Catalonia - Catalonia Spain

  • ALAKRANA AND ALL 36 CREW FREED IN SOMALIA

    admin
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pm
    So, the pirate saga has ended and Spain has paid the bounty of 2.6M dollars to a group of Somalian pirates. Nice. First of all let's get one thing straight, it's not very nice to be held at gunpoint on a ship out in the middle of nowhere by some Gung-Ho pirates who have boarded your fishing trawler.

  • Man dies trying to flee from fire in El Raval in Barcelona

    admin
    16 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am
    A 32 year old man died last night falling from a balcony trying to escape a fire in his flat in Calle Robador in Barcelona. The victim, a Pakistani man was on the fifth floor balcony trying to escape the flames when he fell. Apparently he was trying to reach the roof to escape the fire. A [...]

  • Custo Barcelona and his psychedelic fashion

    admin
    13 Nov 2009 | 2:25 am
    You can instantly recognize his fancy t-shirts, dresses and jackets at once. His use of strong colours, geometric shapes and wonderful animal prints has created a unique style, one which everyone wants to wear! Custo Dalmau draws his inspiration from the city of Barcelona, the city where he grew up.

  • The Shadow of the Wind – a story set in Barcelona

    admin
    10 Nov 2009 | 3:24 am
    The Shadow of the Wind, the bestseller by Carlos Ruiz Zafón that has conquered the hearts of readers the world over is set in the Catalan city of Barcelona, in the years after the Spanish Civil War and shows us a wonderful Barcelona full of dark alleys, hidden places and intriguing inhabitants.Follow the footsteps of Daniel Sempere and Fermín as they try to resolve the mystery of Julián Carax.

  • Extreme sports in Barcelona – LG Snowboard FIS World Cup 2009

    admin
    3 Nov 2009 | 4:01 am
    Barcelona doesn’t only offer sun, sea, sandy beaches and cool night clubs with a typical laid back ambience. Next weekend on 7th and 8th November Barcelona is hosting for the very first time the super cool LG Snowboard FIS World Cup event.
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    Blogging Loja

  • EL Pais Digital

    Teapotmonk
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:10 am
    If you don´t already have access to this online version of Spains best selling daily then now is the time to bookmark it here.If you use an RSS reader or an iPhone (ok, thats probably not too many of you)....but IF you do, then there is a free App on the APP Store for the daily newspaper that is excellent and makes an excellent daily read.In todays edition there was a couple of articles of interest, the first being that the only two major Europeans  countries still in recession are the UK and Spain. Interesting. Whilst the rest of the economic world is lurching forward, embracing growth…

  • The Abyss

    Teapotmonk
    14 Nov 2009 | 3:22 am
    Listen! via AudioBoo Posted via web from Paul's posterous For More on Andalucia and Loja visit the Site: www.thecityofwater.com or the Portal at www.teapotmonk.com

  • First Step

    Teapotmonk
    9 Nov 2009 | 9:12 am
    Last week the AAPL (Associacion de Anglo-Parlantes de Loja) met with the Department of Cultura and the Alcalde - Miguel Castellano -  to sign the long awaited CONVENIO. In this important document the AAPL and Cultura commit themselves to work together over joint projects during the next 24 months with the aim of assisting the members of AAPL to be better informed of local issues, better informed of local cultural events and to to have the opportunity to participate for the first time in the cultural agenda of the town.The President, Vice President and Treasurer were all present as well…

  • As the Week Unfolds...

    Teapotmonk
    27 Oct 2009 | 1:01 am
    4 Items of news this week....all pretty good stuff for the City of Water Dweller as the nights draw in and the autumnal colours replace the monotone glare of summer in Andalucia.The Artifice Prize Competition for Artwork on paper is now officially open. Details can be found at this excellent site on local art by Wild Cherry. Anyone interested in submitting should pick up a form now. This Thursday 29th October at 1pm at the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) in Loja, the AAPL ( Asociacion de AngloParlantes de Loja) will be officially signing a Convenio with the Department of Culture and the Alcalde…

  • Revenge of the Dragon

    Teapotmonk
    20 Oct 2009 | 4:31 am
    Listen! via AudioBoo Posted via web from Paul's posterous For More on Andalucia and Loja visit the Site: www.thecityofwater.com or the Portal at www.teapotmonk.com
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    spain dad, a baby blog

  • Teo's 1st Bath

    spain dad
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am
    As a form of self redemption, I post this video of me giving Teo his first bath. Some of my oldest blog readers will remember how painful it was to watch me as a new dad give Alleke her first bath back in 2006. Well, if you're willing to give me a second chance, watch the video below...Alleke thought Teo's bath looked like fun, so she took a bath too.Rewind back to 2006 and watch me as a new dad give Alleke her first bath...

  • Teo photos

    spain dad
    18 Nov 2009 | 11:51 am
    Watch slideshow fullscreen...

  • Alleke, Meet Teo

    spain dad
    17 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm
    Alleke meets her baby brother for the first time.Alleke, Meet Teo from Kelly Crull on Vimeo.

  • More photos on the way tomorrow...

    spain dad
    16 Nov 2009 | 2:24 pm
    Update: Wednesday, 8:03amClick here to see photos of Teo as I upload them...

  • It's a BOY!

    spain dad
    16 Nov 2009 | 12:03 pm
    SATURDAY6pm we went for a walk8:45pm we called the midwife10:20pm we called the midwife again10:30pm we left for the hospital11:10pm we checked into the hospitalSUNDAY12:00am April labored on a yoga ball12:30 April moved to the bathtub for a water birth1:35am Teo was born11:20am Alleke met her baby brother6:00pm we arrived home with Teo
 
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    two crumblies and a cat

  • Glossy

    15 Nov 2009 | 10:27 pm
    I do like a glossy magazine. In the good old days, when I had disposable income, they were one of my little luxuries. I could sigh over beautiful clothes that would never fit me, wonder if the £100 moisturiser would indeed give me a new head and rub the scratchy and, it has to be said, usually disgustingly stinky carboard perfume sample up my arm. Nowadays, having wrinkles, jowls and poverty – all the signs of age, in fact – I can no longer afford to buy magazines. So I am deeply grateful to M, whose flat I look after, and who also has a glossy magazine fetish which she has to deal with…

  • All Souls

    8 Nov 2009 | 8:54 pm
    I love getting comments on my posts. Not that I’m needy or anything – well I am, actually - and I know I should just be writing for writing’s sake. Apparently. But I am ridiculously pleased if something I’ve written strikes a chord with a stranger, and they take the trouble to tell me. In my world, writing is for being read. And then I’d like a nice pat on the head, please.The reason I’m telling you this is because I have just had a very unexpected comment on an old post of mine about cemetaries. (See label Santa Maria del Cami. Or Death) It came from a cemetary lover, who would…

  • Winter draws on

    1 Nov 2009 | 9:46 pm
    Despite the fact that we are having the loveliest Indian Summer here, I am getting that slightly melancholic Autumn feeling. You know, the days keep drawing in, the clock’s gone back, I’ve swapped the summer fripperies for darker, warmer clothes. Mind you, it has been so balmy, I’ve had to retrieve a few bits. It’s the warm-weather version of “ne’er cast a clout till May is out”. I knew I shouldn’t have done early clout-casting; I’ve now got my mother in my head, nodding sagely and saying “I told you so” in tones of triumph.We have also been preparing the flat for the…

  • Father Jack

    25 Oct 2009 | 9:46 pm
    The other day, on a certain notoriously narrow (and until recently, two-way) street we have to negotiate on the way to coffee and comfort in the square, Significant Other found himself not only flattening himself against the wall against the approach of the manic four-wheel drive monster bearing down on us, but tripping over a doorstep and backstepping into an open entrada. (Entrada – Big entrance hall with uncomfortable but shiny chairs arranged down each side, and large and coffin-like blanket chests with aspidistras perched on them. Floor made of pebbles or flagstones, all polished. Yes,…

  • Purrfect Vision

    19 Oct 2009 | 6:53 am
    I’m not being immodest here, but I have interesting eyes. Check the profile photo if you don’t believe me. People are always commenting on them, which is slightly embarrassing, because I’m never quite sure what to say. “Oh, these old things”, maybe? One of the husbands never quite trusted me because my pupils didn’t dilate when I looked at him lovingly (he had read a bit too much about body language if you ask me. He should have been grateful I was looking at him lovingly). Honestly, if I could make them go all black and swimmy, I would. But I’m stuck with ice blue and…
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    Lloret de Mar Stuff

  • Free Tour of Girona !

    Jackie
    13 Nov 2009 | 1:03 pm
    Girona can now be viewed with Google street view. For new users of this application this means you can go to Google mapsand take a virtual tour by using your mouse to guide you in whatever direction has been covered by the cameras. Once in Google Maps, type in 'Girona Spain' and zoom into the streets, then with your mouse drag the little orange man (see him in the top left of the map) onto your selected street and the map then turns into photo clear images of the street. You then click on the arrows to take your tour!At the moment its not possible to see the old quarter as the streets are too…

  • Lloret de Mar Weather

    Jackie
    8 Nov 2009 | 9:04 am
    Now that the clocks have gone back one hour and we are seeing the nights drawing in the weather does seem to be much cooler, especially when the sun goes down. Snow has been falling in Andorra (good news for the skiers!) and we have had some heavy spells of rain in Lloret but not too prolonged.These photos were taken last Thursday evening, after a fine clear sunny day the clouds started to roll in then we had a thunderstorm, but the next morning we were back to normal with the sun!.

  • Costa Brava Rally

    Jackie
    7 Nov 2009 | 2:45 am
    It looks as though its going to be a fine week - end for the Costa Brava rally. There are a few clouds about this morning and it does feel quite cool in the shade, but I think this will be ideal driving conditions out on the Cost Brava roads.Here's a few photos of the cars which were preparing for the start near the Olympic Hotel this morning.

  • Spanish Mobile Phone Switch-Off

    Jackie
    6 Nov 2009 | 2:27 pm
    All Spanish 'pay as you go' mobile phones which have not been registered by Sunday will be permanently disconnected. The deadline is set at midnight on Sunday, after which the phone number and any unused credit will be lost forever.The full story along with the reason behind this can be read on the Typically Spanish site.

  • Costa Brava Rally

    Jackie
    5 Nov 2009 | 8:24 am
    Its time for the Costa Brava Rally again !This will be the 57th rally and its taking place in Lloret during this week-end 6th & 7th November. Three championships are up for grabs, these are the National, Catalan and European.The base for the rally drivers and cars is near the Olympic Park Hotel and the podium is, as usual on the sea front near the Town Hall.
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    Photos from Spain

  • Seville Cathedral

    7 Nov 2009 | 10:54 am
    One of the greatest sights in Seville is the Cathedral. These photos of the interior show just how lavishly its decorated, in some places with large quantities of gold. Construction began in 1402 on the site of a former mosque and was not completed until more than 100 yrs later. It was declared a national monument in 1928 and granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1987. The area of the Cathedral covers 11,520 square mtrs and the central nave rises to 42 mts high, making this the largest church in the world- even larger than St Pauls in London and St Peters in Rome.

  • Port Bou

    27 Oct 2009 | 1:28 pm
    The small Catalan town of Port Bou is the last stop in Spain before reaching the nearby border with France. Because of the lower prices for certain goods in Spain, Port Bou is a very popular week-end destination for quite a few French. The local shops here cater for the visitors by selling the most sought after goods, mainly tobacco, cigarettes, alcohol and clothing. Some foodstuffs can also be bought for much less than in France.Owing to Port Bous location in a valley it will always keep its small town status, and with an excellent train service to get you there its a very worthwhile place…

  • Barcelona

    15 Oct 2009 | 12:50 pm
    One of the picturesque narrow streets just off the Ramblas in Barceona. Walking through these is almost like going back in time!

  • Barcelona Market

    6 Oct 2009 | 1:08 pm
    While walking round the Spanish markets you can always be sure of seeing a wide variety of fresh exotic fruits and vegetables. These colourful photos are from the indoor market just off La Rambla in Barcelona.There's far more choice for your '5 a day' here!

  • Lloret de Mar - Gardens

    2 Oct 2009 | 11:53 am
    Views of the Italian styled gardens in Lloret de Mar, Santa Clotilde is perched on the cliff tops overlooking the Mediterranean on the Cost Brava. Sadly this is a part of Lloret which many visitors seem to miss out on, and its only 10 mins from Lloret centre on the bus.
 
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    hello from hispania

  • Habemus Papam

    20 Nov 2009 | 12:52 am
    I know you're sitting there going duh! And you have every right to be. I know we have a Pope; we've had one for quite a while. In fact, I remember sitting in class, staring at the small television suspended above the right-hand corner of the room, watching as Benedictus XVI came out to greet the people. The truly shocking thing about that experience was that I was watching the election of a new Catholic Pope during school hours, in a public, American high school, in a class taught by a Jewish woman. There are so many reasons that probably should never have happened.Anywho, I'm actually…

  • Ahoy Matey! Part quatre

    18 Nov 2009 | 1:25 am
    Thankfully, this may just be the final instalment of my 'ahoy matey' series. I wanted to write this post as soon as I heard (14:25, yesterday) but my internet connection being what it is... Anyway, the good news is that it's all good news! President Zapatero gave a press conference yesterday, where he announced that the Basque fishing ship, the Alakrana, had been set free after a devastatingly long period of negotiations (almost 50 days!).The government has admitted that a ransom was paid (2.3 - 2.5 million) but that doesn't really matter at this point. The important thing is that the crew…

  • Gallegos and Catalan Nationalism

    13 Nov 2009 | 12:46 am
    I don't like to get into the topic of nationalism, mostly because I'm not sure I support the idea of Galicia (or any other part of Spain) being considered a nation just because it has its own language and culture. After all, almost every autonomous community has its own traditional, latin-based language (except the Basque provinces) and unique culture but that doesn't mean Spain should break up into 17 separate countries. The same, come to think of it, could be said of Italy or France.Anywho (before I let myself get carried away by the previous thought), I have had a few interesting and…

  • Comment Moderation

    11 Nov 2009 | 5:17 am
    This is just a short post to let everyone know that comments will now be moderated. I've never really liked the idea of comment moderation. I've always been the kind of person who is interested in the opinions of others. None of my posts have ever been purposefully written to incite a comment war or anything of the sort and I've never tried to impose my views and opinions on anyone. Obviously, as this is my blog, it is my opinions that are found here. Sometimes, people have disagreed with those opinions and they have let me know it. I've never had a problem with this, as long as it was done…

  • ¡Ay cappuccino de mi corazón!

    11 Nov 2009 | 4:47 am
    Photo taken from Taringa.The classmates and I have a sort of after-class ritual that, admittedly, can sometimes turn into a before-class or even during-class (read: instead-of-class) ritual. We like to walk over to a small café behind the Facultade de Filoloxía, sit a spell and take a warm, delicious coffee. Sometimes, there is poker involved. They (the classmates) say there's nothing to do in Galicia but play card games. They should know, as they are all native Galicians, but I disagree; I've been here just over a year and haven't had the need to play any.Most of the time, I just go for…
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    The Very Best Blog Ever!

  • Views to the west.

    16 Nov 2009 | 2:44 am
    One of the reasons we live here in the village of Torre del Compte is for the fantastic views, we love them. Although we have views in all directions our favourite is to the west, across the valley of the Matarraña river, towards the village of La Fresneda.Click on any photo to see it full size. The view of La Fresneda which we usually see is the one above which I took this morning. On top of the hill in the left hand half of the picture is the village ermita. The highest point to the right is the old castle which has the church immediately in front of it. All three buildings are lit at…

  • The new road!

    5 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pm
    The "new road" from the bridge over the Matarraña at Torre del Compte to the main road, the A231, is nearing completion, having been only 6 months, (so far), in the making. It has been widened, had bends straightened and a major bypass to "dead man's curve".See it by clicking on the link below:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvPUGZeBOScWith all this straightening and bypassing the length will have to be changed from 3.5 kms to only 3!It will be great when it is finished!

  • Hallowe'en!

    1 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am
    "La noche de los muertos" or "The night of the dead", "víspera de Todos los Santos or "eve of All Saints". Whichever form you go for, it's Hallowe'en! To see the photo full size, click left on it.15 ghouls, zombies, witches and vampires gathered to celebrate this event in Torre del Compte last night.I don't know what the neighbours thought if they had seen us gathering.The grim reaper and Dracula himself turned out for the occasion.The special ingredients no doubt went into the cauldron for the meal ahead......and what a feast it was! This was just during the first course and there was so…

  • How to Give a Cat A Pill

    28 Oct 2009 | 7:53 am
    Since posting the piece about giving Maxxy his pills, a friend has sent us some advice. I thought I should pass this on so here it is... How to Give a Cat A Pill1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby.Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy…

  • A day at the races!

    25 Oct 2009 | 10:56 am
    You have no doubt heard of Silverstone, Le Mans and the Nürbürgring. Well this weekend, having been to these other venues during the season, the Renault World series came to Alcañiz, or to be precise, Motorland, which is just outside Alcañiz. Quite a catchy name isn't it?To see any photo full size, click left on it.It was so packed out and there were no seating places left in the tribuna, the stand, although we got a good view from the top of the paddock building and saw what was happening just after the home straight as the cars roared off over the hilltop and then returned on the long…
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    Spain Dreams

  • Japanese erotic prints at the Picasso Museum Barcelona Spain

    SpainDreams
    15 Nov 2009 | 11:33 am
    For the first time and until February 14, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain, shows 19 erotic Japanese prints which belonged to the private collection of the unique Spanish artist, forming part of an exhibition called Secret Images and which counts more than hundred works of International artists.

  • Live music from Sudan in Mieres, Asturias, North Spain

    SpainDreams
    11 Nov 2009 | 1:07 pm
    Live music - Wafir from Sudan with his band Nilo Azul at Centro Cultural Cajastur in Mieres, Asturias, Spain. Friday, 13th of November of 2009, 8 pm. Free entrance. Wafir’s career along his 17 years in Spain has gone trought so eclectic experiencies like ancient music with Eduardo Paniagua, celtic pop with Hevia, Galician folk with Luar Na Lubre, Castilian folk with La Musgaña, Jewish music with Klezmer Sefardí and Radio Tarifa’s rich fusion. Even the most commercial pop, like Amistades Peligrosas’ has took advantage of his versatility and know how. Information supplied by…

  • Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao - Spain

    SpainDreams
    1 Nov 2009 | 11:38 am
    Until Saint Valentine´s Day on Febuary 14, 2010, you can see over 60 projects and aprox. 200 photographs, drawings, models and books during the Exhibition of American Frank Lloyd Wright, shown at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, in case you are in the Basque Country during this time. It is the largest exhibition in Europe dedicated to Wright. The projects of the architect include public and government buildings, religious buildings, offices, private houses and auditoriums. The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright is most likely to be one of the architects who revolutionised the concept of…

  • Feria de turismo rural en Valladolid, España - Intur

    SpainDreams
    30 Oct 2009 | 12:05 pm
    Feria de Turismo Interior 2009 en Valladolid, Castilla y León, España. El próximo mes de noviembre se celebrará en Valladolid la decimotercera edición de INTUR, un certamen en el que se dan cita empresas privadas, entidades y organismos de carácter público que promueven el turismo de interior en sus distintas facetas. Tanto los nuevos expositores como las compañías que acuden regularmente a la feria incorporan contenidos que enriquecen la oferta global de este salón, que abrirá sus puertas el jueves 19 de noviembre. Conceptos como el enoturismo, el turismo cultural y de salud…

  • Music from Sudan and Bulgaria in Madrid - Spain

    SpainDreams
    19 Oct 2009 | 1:46 pm
    A musical meeting of Wafir and Nasco, between Sudan and Bulgaria, at Cafe Teatro Arenal, Mayor, 6, Madrid on Thursday, 29th of October of 2009, 11.30 pm.     The meeting between Wafir Shaikheldin and Nasco Hristov gets together two musical cultures of strong personality: on one hand, the afro-arabian gentleness and sensuality, with reminiscences of Al-Andalusí music and, on the other hand, the vibrant virtuosity and the overflowed emotion of Balcan music. At the same time it is an unique meeting between people from different cultures, that germinates and grows up at the Iberian Mainland.
 
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    Spanish Teaching

  • Salsa!

    Lauren
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:28 am
    Image credit: http://bellavistapego.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/salsa.gif Although many Spanish speakers out there will recognise this word as meaning "sauce", it is more widely recognised for its other use, which is to describe a music and dance genre. Salsa music has taken the world by storm and is recognised by its up-tempo beats and fast-footed dance steps. Although some argue that it is a type of music in its own right, others claim that it is a generic term for a number of Latin American dances, including the mambo and the cha-cha-chá. It is a "tag that encompasses a rainbow assortment…

  • Special Christmas Offer: 2x1 Accommodation!

    Stacey
    12 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am
    Give the gift of Spanish this Christmas. Take a Christmas course with a friend and save 50% on accommodation! We want you to enjoy your Spanish course this Christmas with your best friend!.Christmas course dates: 21/12/2009 to 3/1/2010 Cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Tenerife, Valencia, Alicante, Granada, Marbella, Sevilla and Guanajuato (Mexico) Duration: 2 weeks Discount: 50% off on accommodation price in double room, shared flat Enroll before: 17 December 2009Conditions:- Accommodation in shared flat. Double room only.- Offer valid on reservations for 2 people…

  • Special member offer: no enrollment fee!

    Stacey
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:42 am
    don Quijote is offering an exclusive discount for our members:When you book a Spanish course with us, we´ll waive your enrollment fee saving you 65€/USD$100!!!It’s our way of saying thank you for being a member!This offer is valid for Spanish courses in the following don Quijote schools in Spain and Mexico: Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Granada, Valencia, Tenerife or Guanajuato.To benefit from this special discount you must log into your member account and book your course online.Contact your Course Counsellor nowfor information about our courses.(Remember to request the member’s…

  • Save with don Quijote's Online Booking!

    Stacey
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:42 am
    From now until November 27, when you register online for your Spanish courses through don Quijote's Online Booking, you’ll save yourself:enrollment fee* or  accommodation fee ...depending on the destination you choose, which are listed on the registration form. Get to know all the details (and discover our other offers) in the Special Offers section!  Conditions: - Offer only applies to one: Enrollment fee OR Accommodation fee, NOT both. - Offer not valid for phone registrations or bookings done by post/mail. - Offer not cumulative with any other offer. - Offer not applicable to…

  • Living Spanish in Barcelona celebration: 10% DISCOUNT OFFER!

    Stacey
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:40 am
    The grand opening of our brand new school in Barcelona and the 2009 20th anniversary of the opening of the first don Quijote school in Spain are HUGE reasons to celebrate this year!To get the party going, we’re offering away a 10% discount on our Intensive Spanish course in BarcelonaHere's how easy it is to enjoy an unforgettable Spanish course in Barcelona at a discounted price:Just book our most popular course, Intensive Spanish, with don Quijote accommodation with an arrival date between now and November 27 of 2009. Yep... that’s it!So if you’ve been dreaming about a Spanish course…
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    MadridMan.com: BLOG Madrid Spain

  • Swine Flu Fear Fuels Economy

    MadridMan
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:13 am
    Fear stimulates the economy - and the H1N1 Swine Flu virus "pandemic" scare is helping a lot during this worldwide economic crisis. In other times wars were started to pull us out of recession and put people to work.The big "winners" of such a scare are the pharmaceutical companies. Other big winners are the media outlets themselves, many of which have never had higher TV ratings, higher newspaper sales, or greater circulation. Secondary winners go to those in the health care-related industry, whether privately or publicly driven institutions, hiring more personnel, opening up new health…

  • Late Night, Cold Air, Open Windows

    MadridMan
    2 Nov 2009 | 2:34 pm
    If there's something I love it's cool, fresh air late at night. Sure, it's only about midnight here in Madrid but after the recent time change it seems even later. And now that we're well into autumn the night time low temperatures are lower and the typically nonexistent humidity is even less nonexistent. Say, is it possible to be less than non-existent? Regardless, the skies are clear and the stars are staring down at me as bright as can be.That's why I love autumn and even winter - particularly when the heat's turned off. In the USA, and many other parts of the world, when the heat's turned…

  • Last Day of October 2009 in Madrid

    MadridMan
    31 Oct 2009 | 2:20 am
    Today's Halloween, we've already changed our clocks back 1-hour, and the temperatures are getting a little cooler - but only a little. Some of the leaves have gone from green to brown, seemingly overnight, bypassing the oranges, reds, and yellows we would see in many parts of the USA.NFL football is in full-swing although it's hard to notice from Madrid. I catch a game or two each week, whether live on Sunday afternoon or as tape-delayed on a weekday, but it's not the same. NCAA football games come and go an there's nary a whisper about them here. I actually had 2 tickets to today's Ohio…

  • Halloween in Spain

    MadridMan
    29 Oct 2009 | 2:51 am
    Don't anyone tell me that Halloween doesn't exist in Spain. IT DOES! And the wave of popularity becomes higher and higher with every passing year - world economic crisis or not. A recent visit to Carrefour Supermarket/Store proved that Spain is very aware of the "holiday". There, they were selling artificial Jack-O-Lanterns with scary faces, Halloween makeup, costumes, loads of accessories and even some candy (although I didn't notice any candy corn).Nearly every day for the past week there have been daily reports on morning news programs about the upcoming "American Holiday" - as it's often…

  • Helping a Fallen Neighbor - LITERALLY!

    MadridMan
    27 Oct 2009 | 12:48 am
    "If you live long enough you'll see nearly everything."I'm sure this quote is true for average people. Today I came another step closer to realizing it as I was walking through my Madrid neighborhood this morning at 8am.Only one block from my building was where the elderly 80-plus year old woman, no taller than 4 foot 10 inches, shouted in my direction in such a hushed voice I wasn't sure she was even talking to me. Then I turned to see her looking my way, walking slowly and asking for something. I was sure she was panhandling. But when the surrounding traffic noise passed, her slight voice…
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    Barcepundit (English edition)

  • 19 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pm

    José M. Guardia
    19 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pm
    WHAT A GREAT IDEA to raise the EU's stature: put two virtual unknowns in charge!

  • 19 Nov 2009 | 8:33 am

    José M. Guardia
    19 Nov 2009 | 8:33 am
    A TOAST FOR THAT! "Drinking alcohol every day cuts the risk of heart disease in men by more than a third, a major study suggests."

  • 17 Nov 2009 | 12:22 pm

    José M. Guardia
    17 Nov 2009 | 12:22 pm
    ANOTHER GOOD ONE by The Onion. Obama's Home Teleprompter Malfunctions During Family Dinner

  • 17 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am

    José M. Guardia
    17 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am
    I CAN'T BELIEVE someone like Bruce Bartlett could manage to write such a stupid thing: In 1944, the Austrian economist F.A. Hayek published an extraordinarily influential book, The Road to Serfdom. In it, he argued that liberalism eventually leads to totalitarianism; that is, once a nation has embarked on the creation of a welfare state, there is no natural limit to the size of government until it controls everything, socialism becomes pervasive and political freedom evaporates. It is an argument that made sense at the time Hayek made it. Liberals were indeed soft on communism in those days…

  • 7 Nov 2009 | 4:22 am

    José M. Guardia
    7 Nov 2009 | 4:22 am
    YOANI SANCHEZ, the heroic Cuban blogger, was arrested and beaten with a friend by Castro thugs yesterday. They finally let her go and she's reasonably OK now, fortunately.
 
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    About.com Spain Travel

  • Strange Christmas Traditions in Spain

    19 Nov 2009 | 2:06 am
    The Spanish are famous for their odd traditions. Tomato fights, running in front of a heard of angry bulls - Spain surely tops the list of countries with strange customs. But Christmas, that most holy of holidays - surely the Spanish don't stray from orthodox traditions like Christmas trees, midnight mass and re-runs of It's a Wonderful Life? Well, the do. Check out this list of Strange Christmas Traditions in Spain and find out about Catalonia's two excrement related Christmas customs, flour fights and the multiple times you can celebrate New Year's Eve in Spain. See also: Christmas in…

  • Iberia Strikes - More Due in November and December

    11 Nov 2009 | 11:41 pm
    Spain's national carrier, Iberia, is set to plunge many travel plans into further chaos, with the announcement that there will be more strikes later this month and in December. After a two-day strike this week, Iberia will ground flights for three days (from November 30 to December 2) and then for five days (from December 14 to December 18), reports the BBC: Iberia set for more strike action. Mainly short-haul and medium-haul flights will be affected. The airline is prevented by law from canceling any flights when there is only one per day. Routes with multiple flights will still have at…

  • Train Now Most Popular Way to Get from Madrid to Barcelona

    7 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am
    Spain's high-speed train service, the AVE, continues to go from strength to strength, with the announcement that it is now the most popular means of getting between Madrid and Barcelona, according to The Olive Press. The achievement is particularly impressive considering this route is one of the most popular in the world. The Olive Press says it is the fifth busiest in the world, though I've seen several conflicting reports on this. Why has the AVE become so popular? Because it is (usually) cheaper than flying (especially on short notice), always quicker (when taking into account check-in…

  • New Guggenheim in the Basque Country?

    4 Nov 2009 | 12:19 am
    There are rumors that developers in the Basque Country are planning to open a new branch of the famous Guggenheim museum, to complement the existing one in Bilbao. Plans are afoot to build a new museum in Guernica, the former capital of the Basque country (and still seen as the cradle of the Basque culture). According to The Art Newspaper, "The concept is to create a modest-sized venue for temporary exhibitions and to commission artists' interventions in the landscape." Guernica already receives a moderate amount of tourism, due to its painful place in European history as the site of a…

  • Best Things to Do in Seville

    2 Nov 2009 | 1:50 am
    For visitors to Andalusia, Spain's most southerly region, Seville is an essential stop (along with Granada). Unfortunately, as everyone else has the same idea as you, the city can easily feel like a tourist trap. But if you can get away from the cathedral and the Barrio de Santa Cruz, you'll find the city has a lot more to offer than just these sights. I've made this list of the 50 best things to do in and around Seville to help you get the most out of your trip: 50 Things to Do in and Around Seville Best Things to Do in Seville originally appeared on About.com Spain Travel on Monday,…
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