Live from Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, at the beginning of the Christmas fair. A look at the cultural delights ahead in the festive season.
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I was sitting in a bar having lunch today, a place I go about once a week for a menu del dia, quiet, mostly full of local residents and ‘obreros’ (workmen). I always sit at the back, facing everyone else, so I can do some people watching while I have my lunch.
Two young guys came in wearing paint-splattered overalls, and made their way towards the last empty table, next to mine. As they crossed the room they said ‘Que aproveche’, enjoy your meal, to every table they passed, finishing with me before taking their seats. And they really meant it. It may not sound like much but ‘back where I come from’ people avoid speaking to strangers in public places. They’ll talk to their friends but stuff everyone else.
So courtesy, decency, respect – all still alive and well in Spain (stop thinking about it, just move here for goodness sake!) When I finished my meal the painters’ first course was just arriving. ‘Que aproveche,’ I said to them, as I left my table, though I didn’t manage it for the other diners as I made my way out of the bar. Even after 7 years the Englishman inside me still has a long way to go…
And by the way, for all of you eating Turkey today across the pond (well, yesterday now), que os aproveche tambien!
Thirty years ago today, two days after Franco’s death in 1975, Juan Carlos de Borbon was proclaimed king. His work in the immediate aftermath of the coronation was vital in helping secure the smooth transition to democracy that followed the end of the dictatorship.
Wikipedia has a quick rundown of his life and El Pais and El Mundo have each put together short commemorative albums.
Amazing, for once common sense has prevailed. The ‘majority’ of the hotel mentioned in the post below will be demolished, with work beginning almost immediately. The government claims that the land on which it is built “belongs to everyone”, whilst the Mayor of Carboneras, where it has been built, claims that lasting damage will be done to the area’s economic growth. Perhaps he is right, and I am sorry for that, but there are other ways to manage areas of outstanding natural beauty whilst still keeping the local economy alive and well.
Live from woodland near the Valle de los Caidos, site of Franco’s tomb, not far from El Escorial – on the 30th anniversary of Franco’s death.
Wikipedia has a concise history of Franco’s life and death.
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Two photos from the podcast (click to enlarge):
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“1,500 sheep crossed the streets of the centre of Madrid observed by curious on-lookers, to celebrate ten years of the law that protects the royal flocks (ed. see first comment below – thanks Luis), and to defend their rights to seasonal livestock migration.” Photo – El Mundo.
Raul, Real Madrid Captain, has had twins, which apparently means they’ll win tomorrow…
Update: Barcelona amazing, Ronaldinho finest player on the planet, Real Madrid – Rubbish navel-gazing has-beens!
Update 2: Raul out for 3 – 4 months with knee injury. That’s nice, he can spend some time with the new borns! Might even improve Real Madrid as well…
Technorati Tags: Real Madrid, Derbi, Football
Fog has collapsed city traffic and flights into Barajas, yet another gangland shooting is discovered, train strikes are ruining half a million people’s month, and heroin is being sold over-the-counter in marginalised neighbourhoods.
But hey, none of that really counts as ‘news’ in Madrid this weekend. Far more important events are afoot. It’s ‘Clasico‘ time this Saturday night, the great Real Madrid-Barcelona football match at the Santiago Berbabeu stadium, and absolutely nothing is going to divert the city’s (or indeed the nation’s) attention from that. Forget all the recent political wrangling over Catalonia’s attempts to secure even more independence, this match is where the nation’s political, emotional and cultural pulse can truly be measured.
Bars city-wide will be packed, the police will be out in force around the stadium, on the alert for high-profile terrorist attacks and the usual hooligan nonsense, and once again the city’s most famous fountain, Cibeles, will be barricaded against the marauding celebrations of Madrid fans. With the way Madrid have been playing recently, however, it is more than likely that Cibeles will be spared any trouble this year, and real news will be allowed to trickle back through a city-wide hangover on Sunday morning.
Greenpeace are demanding the demolition of a monstrosity of a hotel built right on the shoreline of Almeria’s spectacularly wild Cabo de Gata National Park.
The activists claim that the position of the hotel is illegal, as it should be at least 100 metres from the sea. A hotel was once demolished on the Costa de la Luz in not dissimilar circumstances, but this time the construction company has building permission. For this one to be demolished the owners would have to be repaid the entire cost of the project, and that seems unlikely to happen.
But all my support goes to Greenpeace. There isn’t much unspoilt Mediterranean coast left here in Spain and what there is should damn well be left untouched. If I didn’t have ten thousands translations to finish before next week I’d be down there with them….
Anyway, my advice is to see the Cabo de Gata Park while you can, looks like it’s going to be one big Apart-Hotel golfers paradise before too long.
Notes from Spain by Ben Curtis 