This morning at 10.56 there was a total solar anular eclipse over Madrid, leaving just a ring of sunlight poking out from behind the moon. Still impossible to look at with the naked eye, but sungalsses over the camera lense made these shots possible. The sky darkened a little, a bit like dusk on a summer’s day. Very bizarre to behold.
The Retiro Park, Madrid, this afternoon. Click here for more photos from the park and last week’s trip to the Basque country.
Just look at that water! This is Cala Saona in Formentera. One of the few crowded beaches on the Island but stunning none the less. The fisherman’s shacks on the left still hold working boats that are pulled up out of the water after every use.
Formentera is said to be in a magic triangle that also includes Ibiza. I’m not usually convinced by that sort of thing but the Island does have an amazing calming effect that I can still feel over a month later. Can’t wait to return…
A wonderful trip to Zarautz in the Basque country, where we are shown fantastic hospitality at a traditional Basque Gastronomic Society right in front of the beach… Don’t miss it!
In February 2006 I will be joining 100 other riders to cross 2,500 km of Southern India on a Royal Enfield Motorbike.
The total cost of the trip is 3,500 UK Pounds, half of which, 1750 UK Pounds, goes to charities (see link below). It is this half that I need to raise with your help, with your sponsorship. The rest of the trip, flights, accommodation, spending, etc, is paid for by me.
All the details of the trip, and how you can help by sponsoring me to raise the charity money, are here:
http://www.benjamincurtis.com/enduro_india/
Marina, my wife, says that the Spanish don’t really get the idea of sponsored charity events – I don’t know how this works in the US or other countries, but back in the UK we spent our childhoods doing sponsored walks, runs, bike rides.
The charities which benefit from the ride are:
Mother Teresa Educational and Charitable Society – Funding for literacy projects, and HIV in children awareness programs, in the Southern Indian state of Kerala.
Rainbow trust – Founded to provide respite and support at home to children with a life threatening or terminal illness and their families.
WWF – Worldwide Fund for Nature. Funding projects that benefit the well-being and survival of India’s forests, tigers and people. This charity basically gets the bikes.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can make a donation. The podcasts will always be free, and I will not be asking for money on a regular basis – maybe just a charity event like this once a year. This trip is a way of fulfilling a long-term dream for me, whilst being able to help some charities out at the same time. And of course I’ll be podcasting the trip all the way!
Saludos,
Ben
Expatica reports that over 9 percent of the Spanish population now consists of foreign immigrants. That’s compared to 1.6 percent in 1998, the year I arrived in Spain.
I remember being amazed during my first months in the country by the lack of demographic diversity on the streets of Madrid – everyone was Spanish. The government’s recent drive to legalise unregistered immigrant workers, and thus bring in a lot more revenue in taxes, has certainly done a lot to boost these statistics, bringing legal status to a huge number of South American and Moroccan immigrants. A wise move, culturally and economically. Spain, at long last, is coming to terms with its status as a somewhat plural society – now it’s just a question of waiting to see how long the more dominant aspects of Spain’s traditional monoculture prevail (gastronomy, arts, press, TV etc – still all as Spanish as Spanish can be…)
GMTV reports that over a third of all holiday makers that have fallen victim to crime overseas have done so in Spain.
Wow. You do see the occasional wallet snatch here in Madrid but the problem is apparently much worse in Barcelona. If you are travelling to Spain watch out – the most common ploy involves one person distracting your attention while another lifts your bag. So, whenever a stranger asks you directions, bumps into you, asks you to pass them a menu, gets a little too close – make sure have your bag close or know what’s happening with your wallet. It’s a shame this goes on – nothing to be too worried about, but bear it in mind if you find yourself looking a bit touristy in one of the big cities. Finally, bags on the floor, rucksacks on the back and wallets in back pockets are asking for trouble, no matter how long you’ve been in Spain.
El Pais reports that Cataluña is to be granted it’s own .cat domain name extension in 2006. This is great for their drive for further cultural independence, and I can’t help thinking, an opportunity waiting to happen for lovers of all things feline. How long before we see pussy.cat, ilovemy.cat, kitty.cat etc etc.
Live Flamenco from La Solea in Madrid, a fantastic bar on Cava Baja. Also mentioned in the podcast: Casa Patas, the best place to see a full show with dancers, and Duende, a great read by Jason Webster.
Spain drew 1-1 with Serbia last night, putting their chances of playing in the next world cup in serious jeopardy. They have the best domestic league in the world, but when it comes to international games, they are rubbish.
I’ve even heard this blamed on the old inter-regional problems polemic – the Basques don’t like the Madrileños, who don’t like the Catalans etc., meaning that it is impossible for them to play well together – but that sounds a little far-fetched…
Notes from Spain by Ben Curtis 