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notes

“Spain Shared” – ‘by Ben’ – new writers at NFS

The idea behind NFS has always been to make one of the best websites on the net about Spain. And to involve you lot as much as possible – hence the forum and the Flickr group. With this in mind there was one clear winner in the recent forum discussion on a new motto for this site: Notes from Spain – “Spain Shared”. Thanks Greytop! I’ll add it to the header pic soon.

You may also notice that this post now says who wrote it. That’s because Marina and I recently decided that another great way to keep moving in the right direction was to get more talented people involved in putting great posts on this, the front page of the site. After all, much as we’d love to, the two of us can’t give you an idea of everything that’s happening in this wonderful country all on our own – we just don’t get out of Madrid enough!

So, we’d like to welcome our first contributor, Dave Hall, who will be sending us his own notes from Barcelona. Dave, who many of you know as Pepino in the forum, recently arrived in Barcelona and has a great eye for the fascinating side of life in Spain. Keep an eye out for Dave’s first post later today, and for more contributors in the coming months.

Categories
notes

If you are in Madrid this weekend… “Mercado Palma 69” Christmas market

1. It should be a lovely sunny weekend so it’s a great excuse for a walk around the wonderful barrio of Malasaña…

2. … where you’ll find a great little market run by local shops from the barrio, at Calle la Palma 69, full of wonderful home made clothes – far classier than anything you’ll find at on the Calle Serrano.

3. It’s open from 12 pm until 11 pm, until Sunday 17th

4. Say hi to Chris, a friend of mine, at the Frutas de Estacion stall, and get some more of your Christmas shopping out of the way!

Categories
Spanish Culture and News

Now I understand why Telefonica doesn’t give a damn.

Just about every dealing I have had with Telefonica has ended in extreme annoyance, large bills, or infuriating delays. I know I claimed in the expat manifesto that it is no good complaining about life in your adoptive country, but Telefonica has pushed more than the occasional expat and just about every telecommunicating Spaniard to the limit of their patience at one time or another.

And today it became crystal clear that this may never change. Why bother with the angry little consumer who should have had his ADSL line installed last week when you are busy buying your way into China? Why worry about honouring that 2 week domestic line installation promise when you are the largest corporation in Spain and the fourth largest telecommunications company in the world (source: wikipedia)? It’s all about infrastructure. If you own the wires – and they do in most of Spain and much of South America – then you call the shots. As Borat would say, ‘Nice!’

Categories
Living in Spain

The end of an affair? Brits may stop moving to Spain…

Yes, I find it hard to believe too, but I’ve spent the last 10 mins (unsuccessfully) trying to research the source of an article on Expatica.com that claims the UK Government is warning Brits about the realities of growing old in Spain.

“British officials in Spain are devoting more and more time to elderly Britons who cannot manage alone. Many of those who come for help have neither learnt Spanish nor learnt about how the welfare system works.”

Note to Expatica, please link to your sources! Like this!

Anyway, the result of the googling was very a interesting article on thisismoney.co.uk entitled ‘We don’t love Spain anymore‘. According to the article:

“Britain’s long property love-affair with Spain is going cold. UK nationals who emigrated with dreams of a carefree retirement are returning home in increasing numbers… Experts say there are several factors behind the change of heart. These include:

• Widespread corruption among planning officials that could result in properties being repossessed.

• Rising crime and noise pollution.

• Reports of older expats living in squalor because of the lack of care provision.

• An influx of too many Brits destroying the local culture.”

Of course the comment about Brits destroying the local culture, which in turn stops other Brits from moving here, is ironic to say the least. Or maddening. But, there is a valid point here, and one that has been made before: make sure you know just what you are letting yourself in for before you leave for a knew life in Spain. Or more importantly, make sure you have an “exit stratergy” in case things don’t go as planned (don’t mention the war!)

Categories
Cuisine from Spain Podcast Spanish Food and Drink

Pollo en Pepitoria – Cuisine from Spain Podcast 18


[Download MP3]

This wonderful Castillian chicken dish seemed to go down quite well in the Catalan kitchen!

Ingredients:

2 Kg (4.4 Pounds) of Chicken (Drum sticks and thighs)
1 Chopped onion
3 Garlic cloves chopped roughly
3 Boiled eggs
2 Bouquet Garnis (or 2 bay leafs)
White wine (1 ½ glasses)
Water (1 ½ glasses)
White Flour (Enough to cover a plate)
Olive oil
Salt

Preparation:

Start by sprinkling salt over each piece of chicken and coating them in flour. Cover the bottom of a cast-iron frying pan with olive oil and let it heat up. When the oil starts to smoke, fry the pieces of chicken lightly in two lots for about 5 minutes each, then take them out and leave them on one side on a plate.

Using the same oil (or if there is too much oil get rid of about 1/3) cook the onion and garlic over a low heat with the bouquet garni for about 15 minutes. Next add the wine and water and leave to boil for 10 minutes, allowing the flavours to come out. Then add the chicken, check it is completely covered by the liquid (if not, add some more water), and cook everything very slowly for 30 minutes. Finally, chop the egg whites and crumble the egg yolks before adding them to the stew, and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Serve with boiled potatoes and a green vegetables.


Above: Bouquet Garni from Terrasa market

Categories
Spanish Food and Drink

Anyone for a Scorpion Lolly?

I know the Spanish are supposed to have invented the lolly pop, but isn’t this going too far? They’ll sell anything in Barcelona’s Boqueria Market!

scorpion lollies

More random Boqueria photos here.

Categories
Spain Glossary Spanish Culture and News

GRAPO: Spain’s other terrorists – NFS Spain Glossary

Grapo emblemWith ETA so much in the news as Spain’s major national terrorist threat, it is easy to forget that there is another theoretically active terrorist group operating here as well: GRAPO. The Grupos de Resistencia Antifascista Primero de Octubre formed in 1975, aiming to drive American forces out of Spain, to otherthrow the post-Franco government, and to install in its place a Marxist regime.

So rare is GRAPO activity these days, that it was only an article in yesterdays newspaper about the capture of one of the group’s members, that reminded me of their existence at all. Their last major ‘attack’ involved the hold up of a Caixa Galicia bank in Santiago de Compostela, on July 4th 2006. Two young members of the gang accosted the director of the branch on his way to work, gaining access to the bank by holding a pistol to his head. They got away with just 20,000 Euros.

More info on GRAPO can be found in the MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base, and Wikipedia (Spanish).

Categories
Notes from Spain Podcast Spain Travel

Back Street Barcelona – Notes from Spain Podcast 52


[Download MP3]

A wander through the back streets of Barcelona. Who needs Gaudi?

So much of the city was left unpodcasted, and I am really keen to return. The city cast a spell on me this time, and I think it was because we didn’t once think about doing anything really touristy (no Sagrada Familia for example). Being a good tourist can be so exhausting – Florence nearly killed me when I tried! – but just wandering around the back streets of any unfamiliar city is one of the greatest joys on earth.

To see all the fantastic Barcelona recommendations sent in by you lot, click here.

Categories
Spain Travel

Flickr Pic of the month: Madrid’s roofs

You really have to see the full size version of this image to do it justice. Richardksa took it on a dull, overcast day, from the 8th floor of an office building on Gran Via, in the centre of Madrid. Looking out towards Moncloa, you see the peaceful city roofs, a privileged site that’s hard to come across as you move about in the hustle and bustle below.

Thanks to all of you that submitted pictures to the NFS Flickr Group this month, please keep them coming! The standard was very high as usual, and it was very hard to pick a favourite!

Categories
recommendations Spain Travel

How about recommendations for Barcelona?

Marina and I are off to the other capital of Spain (no offence to the Catalan nationalists) soon, what shouldn’t we miss? (We’ve done most of the Gaudi stuff in the past). What we really need is a list like the one below 😉

Update: Wow, I never knew Barcelona was so popular, just check out all the great recommendations in the comments below. No guidebook is as good as this! Thanks to all and keep them coming!