Category: Spanish Culture and News

Before Christmas I reported on a hotel that had been mistakenly built on the Cabo de Gata coast in the province of Almeria. The developers had been erroneously granted permission to build on protected land.

Good news today as its imminent destruction has been confirmed by Manuel Chaves, President of the region of Andalusia (El Mundo article here). It cost the region 2.3 million euros to pay off the owners, but reports confirm that the deal is done and the beach shall soon be returned to its original form.

This is fantastic news for the coast of Spain, and in particular the Cabo de Gata national park, one of the few remaining stretches of Spanish coast not plagued by mass-tourism and concrete monstrosities.

Thanks to lumpsuckerpig for the heads-up on this in the forums.

Summer is coming and every self-respecting Spaniard will be sharpening their siesta skills to get through the long hot days ahead. Here is a quick outline of a method practiced by millions all over Spain every weekend:

1. Enjoy a large, long, and probably loud lunch with the family.

2. Declare to the table, whilst stifling a yawn, that you intend to go and lie down for a while – Creo que me voy a echar un rato…

3. Lie on the sofa in front of the TV and select a badly dubbed nature documentary about life on the African plains. Substitute nature doc. with bad made-for-TV movie as necessary.

4. Wait…. wait…. wait…. you’re gone.

Easy, isn’t it? The real trick is to know how long to stay out for:

20 minutes – this is the power siesta, the professionals’ model. You will wake up feeling 5 years younger and be able to work like crazy for the rest of the afternoon. This is the method I apply in the working week from June ’til September.

45 minutes – the rejuvinator, ideal before a late night out, but not without it’s problems. The 45 minute siesta can leave you feeling heavy and slightly disorientated for up to an hour afterwards.

90+ minutes – where am I? What day is it again? The after-effects of 90+ miuntes out cold on a baking afternoon are often worrying to say the least: bafflement and confusion are common – you will need to be alone for a while to get back on terms with the world again. A long shower helps. But you have just done your body the favour of the month, and you will feel more in tune with the universe (once you remember which planet you’re on!)

Do you siesta? Any tips to share with the NFS crowd?

The Basques and the Catalans have always been very clear about their separatist intentions, but Andalucia? That most Spanish of regions? Home to Flamenco, burros, proud men on magnificent horses, fino drinking fiestas and dashing señoritas with jet-black eyes, flowery dresses and long dark hair… Andalucia also wants to cut herself off from Spain? Madre Mia…

What will be left of this country in fifty years time? If Andalucia becomes a nation as well, then surely the Valencians, Gallegos and Asturians won’t be far behind… ‘What is Spain?’ has always been a difficult question, but I fear that in the not-too-distant future the answer may simply be: (the kingdom of) Madrid.

Story picked up at Expatica (English) and El Mundo (Spanish)

I’ve managed to get the books and films transferred over to this site at last (thanks to a few days off in the UK). Click here to see the selection. It will grow as the months go by, but we’d love to know if you have any recommendations. Head over to the forum and tell us about your favourite books and films on Spain.

A good summary of important reactions to the ceasefire on the BBC news site.

ETA have announced a permanent ceasefire in a video emitted on Basque Television – “The aim of this decision is to promote a democratic process in the Basque Country… The end of the conflict is possible here and now. This is the desire and wishes of ETA.”

My first reaction is one of amazement. I’ll be researching the story more today and Marina and I will report on it tonight in a podcast. Certainly this must be the most historic moment in Spain since the end of the civil war.

BBC story here
El Mundo coverage here
Comment in our forum here
ETA in books and film

The majority of female politicians walked out of the Spanish parliament on Wednesday after remarks by PP spokesman Eduardo Zaplana towards the deputy prime minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega.

Referring to her donning traditional African costume as part of an official visit to Mozambique, he said, ‘How much parliament would gain if you, as one who is so fond of dressing up from time to time, would for one day, even just a day, dress up as the deputy prime minister and do your duties.’

What amazed us though, is that despite the very reasonable demonstration by the women in the face of this chauvinist diatribe, not one male politician had the ‘huevos’ to get up and leave in support as well. It’s obviously still very much ‘us and them’ in Spain, even when there is political gain to be made…

Those naugthy Spanish teenagers are planning a macro-botellon (mass outdoor drinking session) across Spain tonight as a two-fingers up to the authorities. These ‘botellons’ were outlawed several years ago after complaints from residents that were fed up with raucous behaviour, and vomiting and urinating all over their neighbourhood plazas and parks.

Police are ready to fight back with 300 Euro spot fines and the parliarment is even considering an emergency change in the law to ensure the minimum drinking age is set to 18 all over Spain. But is this all media hype? Only tomorrow’s papers will tell…

Y aqui en español.