Marina and Ben are in the UK for the weekend marveling at the amazing number of England flags draped everywhere in honour of the world cup. Why, they wonder, are there none to be seen on the streets of football-loving Spain?
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Marina and Ben visit the Feria del Libro (book fair) in the Retiro park and discuss the rise of the book in post-Franco Spain. The image above is of Mario Vargas LLosa, author of the extremely powerful ‘Feast of the Goat’. Other titles mentioned include ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ and ‘The New Spaniards‘ by John Hooper.
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Marina has a birthday, Notes from Spain celebrates its first birthday – sounds like an excellent excuse for a trip to Ibiza!
Ben and Marina head off to their old stomping ground, the wonderful Madrileño barrio of Lavapies, for a look at how things have changed since they lived in a flat on Calle Lavapies over 3 years ago (as described in Ben’s Errant in Iberia). If you are ever in Madrid and want to take a look around the neighbourhood, the leafy terrace bars on Calle Argumosa are a great place to start.
Ben and Marina sit in Madrid’s Plaza de Oriente discussing Easter celebrations, life in the UK, and Fiestas in Madrid.
Ben and Marina visit El Escorial and fulfill a rather special listener request from the plaza in the picture below (click to enlarge).
3 more photos here.
Update: She said yes! Congratulations Eric and Sara on your engagement, we’re honoured that you thought of us to help you out!
NB: This should be 22.40 mins (approx) long. (Some of you may have downloaded a 14 minute version in the first few hours due to a server error.)
Don Justo is a man who has spent the last 40 years building a cathedral in Mejorada del Campo, a village about 20 kilometres from Madrid. Marina and I, accompanied by her mother and (architect) father visit and attempt to describe this incredible building, and tell the story of Don Justo’s life.
Flickr Photo Set Here
Mejorada del Campo on the map
Forum post: Are there any other Don Justos out there?
Technorati Tags: spain, podcast, Justo, architecture, cathedral
Ben and Marina talk about today’s historic decision by the terroist group ETA to call a permanent ceasefire and seek solutions via democratic means.
Please join in the discussion via the post on the Notes from Spain forum.
Forum post: What do you want to hear on Notes from Spain?
At last, the India podcast. I hope it conveys the outstanding time I had in those two weeks.
Click here to see the photos.
Thanks again to all that sponsored me – all the money I raised through your generous donations, 1750 pounds sterling (half the cost of the trip), went directly to the charities you hear about at the end of the podcast: The Rainbow Trust, The Mother Theresa Educational And Charitable Society, and the World Wild Life Fund.
Let me know what you think in the comments below, and if you are interested in taking part in Enduro India, then see their web page.
Notes from Spain by Ben Curtis 