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Never a better excused to tell you about my other love, my beloved Spain. The weather is going down even minus Celsius degrees here and over there the water still is scarce and the weather is better at 9C now and looking sunny with high of 9C and lows of -3C the rest of the week ,partly cloudy to sunny days.

Now the latest finds and good stuff from Spain, everything under the Sun ::)

At the Guggenheim museum of Bilbao. There is an exposition on the work of David Hockney, the artist that revolutionize the world of arts on the 60’s and recognize as one of the most influential painters of the 20C. His work at the  Academy of Arts of London, is brough over with 82 paintings on the this exposition call ’82 retratos y un bodegón’ or 82 portraits and a tavern. It will be open until February 25 2018. See more here: David Hockney

The auction house of Christie’s sold this past week for 450,3M USD a portrait done by Leonardo da Vinci five centuries ago!!!, The  ‘Salvator Mundi’, the only work of the Italian artist now in private hands.  The portrait used to be part of the collection of king Charles I of England (1600-1649), and later came to several hands  before the final sale a world record for a work of art of any kind ever. “Salvator Mundi” is considered the artistic re discovery most important of this century.  It was in 2011 that after a process of restoration and analysis the experts determine that it was the work of Da Vinci. More here: The last Da Vinci

The enigmatic vision of reality of Giorgio de Chirico arrives this week at the Caixaforum Madrid, where you can see until February 18 2018. De Chirico has passed in history as an inventor of the metaphysics painting that shows dreams, memory and time in suspense and he is considered the precursor of Surrealism but also a return to Classicism and was even criticized. The work can be seen on 142 works the majority oleos but also drawing, lithographs sculptures of his trajectory from 1913 to 1976.  In the 40’s the artist born in Greece of Italian parents dedicated his efforts in bringing back the values of the paintings tradition in the renaissance and baroque styles as well. More in Spanish here: Giorgio at Caixaforum Madrid 

Considered one the groups most famous of clasical ballet oldest and prestigious Bolshoi , from their visits to London from the 50’s onward. Now La Fábrica  is publishing in The Bolshoi  one of the works most famous of Sasha Gusov  translated into 110 pictures of white and black with memorable moments on the trips of the company to London. More here: La Fàbrica, the Bolshoi

Now the front causing many traffic problems and several friends having to be rescue in Madrid due to the taxis strikes.  Several thousands taxi drivers are protesting in Madrid coming from all over Spain due to the ubersation that according to them is doing public transport a run for their money.  The general strike of the UBER types or VTC of the companies Uber and Cabify and the disloyal competition that they are causing according to the taxi drivers protesting. Traffic was cut from the Paseo del Prado direction Cibeles with police protection along the way. The strike started at 6h or 6am and has cause enormous traffic jams in Madrid  and the gated roads such as the A-6 with 14 kms of traffic jams ;other roads affected were the A-1n A-3,  A-42.  By 12h they were already inside Madrid at different points claxoning all over without accepting passengers. The strike will go on until Thursday by 12h. The main association of taxi drivers such as the Fedetaxi, Antaxi, Elite, and TNT , Caracol etc. There is another march by 11h around the Atocha train station to the door of the Congress. So bear the traffic if in Madrid now or planning to be there by tomorrow morning.

I like to tell you about the heritage cities of Unesco that I like the most in Spain.

ALCALÁ DE HENARES  ; the first city made to have an university and a model for others in Europe and America. Here Miguel de Cervantes, was born in 1547  and in 2018 it will celebrate the 20th anniversary of world heritage site as well as the market or Mercado Cervantino.  ÁVILA ; the wall ramparts are unique in Europe, try to get lost on its streets to live the experience of a medieval town in the 21C. In 2018 , it is celebrating the Theresian jubilee and medieval feasts.  BAEZA  in the center of the province of Jaén, near the park or Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and las Villas, with its wonderful University in the 16C . Also, in 2018 it is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the declaration of world heritage site as well as the festival of antique music or Festival de Música Antigua de Úbeda y Baeza.  CÁCERES , the third monumental complex in Europe with towers, palaces , squares and churches of  Cáceres. In 2018 will host the Festival WOMAD ,and the San Jorge feasts. CÓRDOBA Córdoba  Two thousand years of history mixing Arabs, Romans, Jewish ,and Christian life; its Mezquita-catedral  or Mosque Cathedral an universal symbol of this magical and unique city.  In 2018 come for the flower patios festival or Festival de Los Patios as well as the white night of flamenco. CUENCA  a view of nature with its fortress and walls .Lookouts and the canyons beauty as well as hanging houses or Casas Colgadas ; its museums with the contemporary spirit. In 2018 see the religious holy music week or Semana de la Música Religiosa , and the summer festival of Cuenca.  MÉRIDA , founded on the first years of the empire of Octavio Augusto with the imprint of its bridges, aqueducts, walls, theaters and temples showing what it was in antiquity , an empire.  Also, in 2018, it is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the World heritage site as well as the classical theater or Festival de Teatro Clásico. SALAMANCA , epicenter of the old Europe way of thinking on which University was raised in the 15C and 16C with a splendor like nowhere else. A city of two Cathedrals , a  Plaza Mayor  as the center of the world and glorious past of palaces and churches to show. In 2018 it is celebrating its naming as world heritage site already 30 years ago.  Also, celebrating the 800 years of its University.  SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA LAGUNA , Tenerife, built on ramparts of previous to the those founded in the New World;  colorful houses with palaces with tropical vegetation.  In 2018 see the celebrations of Saints such as San Benito Abad ,and the white night.  SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTEL A jewel at the end of Europe and destiny of all routes of pilgrimage  of Christianity since the 10C. Santiago de Compostela is an open city, cosmopolitan, and university town on which center lies the square or Praza do Obradoiro, an extraordinary stone monument. During 2018 see its Apostle feast and the event  Santiago é Tapas. SEGOVIA , here you taste time and the history of Spain walking around its aqueduct Alcazar, Cathedral, and palaces in a wonderful natural surroundings.  The children will enjoy in 2018 the event Titirimundi , and the adults the music festival in the garden of the king or Festival Músicas en el Jardín del Rey. TARRAGONA , the streets and buildings around the squares keep the splendor of the antique roman Tarraco, from which the city center was built.  In 2018, the city will celebrate the Mediterranean Games as well as live history of Tarragona or  Tarragona Historia Viva.  TOLEDO , what can I say about its historic legacy with the mixing of cultures Arab, Jewish, and Christian that have left along the centuries a wonderful monumental complex such as making the city of El Greco ,an icon of Imperial Spain.

Indeed wonderful Spain. Go see them now.

And we have a wonderful chocolate tradition, having introduce it to Europe from the Americas; some of the best chocolates stores in Spain are in my opinion as well as many here:

Leónidas , a Belgian chain and one of my favorites anywhere. It sells over 100 different types of cacao and in Spain has stores at Calle Casanova, 100 (Barcelona); Calle Padilla, 61 (Madrid); Calle Uría, 8 (Gijón); Calle Easo, 4 (San Sebastián); Calle Felipe Gorriti, 33 (Pamplona).  Chocolat Factory , a varied choice trying to create original creations; with stores in many cities but the two I know are in Madrid at calle Zurbarán, 17 , and Avenida del General Perón, 40.  Cacao Sampaka ; trying to make cacao a social habit and it has innovating chocolates with 3 stores in Spain at Calle Orellana, 4 (Madrid); Calle Consell de Cent, 292 (Barcelona); Calle Conde de Salvatierra, 19 (Valencia).  Pomme Sucre  ; chocolates and breads with vintage furniture and iron columns; it has plenty of choices on chocolates at its stores ,especially fruits and chocolate pastes; they are at Calle Barquillo, 49 (Madrid,  and  Calle Libertad, 26 (Gijón).  Moulin Chocolat , this is a small store specializing in macaroons and French pastries as well as chocolates, truffles and tarts using the French chocolates of Valrhona, prefered by the great chocolatiers of the world.  The store at my beloved old street in Calle Alcalá, 77 (Madrid). Oriol Balaguer , makes tarts and chocolates homemade, the store looks like a jewerly store and it has catering service .  It offers boxes of chocolates refilled with figurines of all types and nougats as well. They are at Calle Ortega y Gasset, 44 (Madrid); Plaza de San Gregori Taumaturg, 2 (Barcelona). Chocolalabelga , another Belgian with excellent choices, tablets and truffles with many flavors to choose from and you can see making them at the store. They are at Calle Bonetillo, 1 (Madrid).  An all time favorite of the family are the Chocolatería Valor , a brand now all over Spain very famous for its churros chocolates . My favorite stores are at calle del Postigo de San Martín, 7 (Madrid).  And, Pasteleria Torreblanca Cero ; an assortment of chocolates, truffles, and artisanal candies compare many times with the best Belgian chocolates .  You can buy over the internet and the store I know is at Calle Alt de Guisop, 1, (Petrer, Alicante). Enjoy the chocolates!!

Again , enjoy Spain, everything under the Sun and more ::) Enjoy your week easy on the weekend is almost here. Cheers!

And I am back rather quickly as too much info on my posts do not like.  Spain is everything under the Sun, and I need to tell you more of my beloved Spain. Here are some places you should stop by on your lifetime visiting or living in Spain.

We have to visit Oviedo in the Principality of Asturias, name after the heir to the throne of Spain, the Princess of Asturias currently is Leonor de Borbon y Ortiz oldest daughter of King Felipe VI. On the trip to this wonderful region it is best to leave two days; one day for the west part of the capital city of Oviedo and another for the east side. Most of the trip will be in the Camino de Santiago also call Camino del Norte. Road to St James or the North walkpath.

The road to the west takes you to visit the Church of  San Juan de Priorio, about 10 kms away by taking the road N-634 until the path that takes you to the thermal city of Las Caldas.  This is a Church from the 12C to 13C and additions later from the 18C to 20C. You can continue for 6 km to see the Church of San Esteban de Sograndio, also from the 12C. Following our road, this is all by car of course…. you leave the Valley of the Trubia river that in roman times was the old road between Asturias and Léon to extract minerals; you will reach the Teverga at about 32 kms on the road AS 228; here you will see the Church Collegiale of San Pedro, from the 11C with deco of pre roman style; go on for 5 kms towards the town of Villanueva de Teverga,where it is worth the detour to the Church of  Santa María from the 11C and 12C; come back to Villanueva de Teverga towards Arrojo, at about 23 kms on the road AS-229 and see the rural style Church of San Pedro  from the 12C.  Continue for about 40 kms and reach the town of Cornellana, here you should visit the Benedictine monastery of San Salvador, with a roman Church from the 13C and a monastic complex in baroque from the 17C to 18C.

In the second day, you can do the town of Villaviciosa with its Churches of San Esteban de Aramil and  Santa María de Narzana both of rural style and modest proportions. Continue onwards passing the Alto de la Campa, taken the road leaving the Valley of Valdediós. At the end of the road you will reach the monastery of Santa María de Valdediós, a nice monastery complex in the Cistercian tradition from the 13C and next a Church of San Salvador de Valdediós, pre roman style. Back to the road to Villaviciosa, another road takes you to the Church of San Andrés de Valdebárcena, 12C a rural temple; and finally at the doorsteps of Villaviciosa you need to see the Church of San Juan de Amandi ,13C of the Asturian roman style. You come back to Oviedo our starting and ending point for a total of about 45 km trip.

In Oviedo itself you come to the old Ovetum that since its foundation in the 8C by the Asturian monarchy reaching to be the Capital of the kingdom. The old town is left with a medieval look with an easy modern tracing of the streets.  The old town is pedestrian and easy to walk from the University to the Cathedral and from the Palace of  or palacio del Marqués de San Félix to the  Camposagrado (holy field). The tower of the Cathedral of Oviedo is the start of any walks in Oviedo , done in flamboyant gothic style with a tower, rosary, and arch gate entrance guarding the biggest Asturian symbols.  The Chapel of San Miguel, or Cámara Santa,keeps the holy coffer or Arca Santa, the cross of the angels or Cruz de los Ángeles, and the victory cross or Cruz de la Victoria, also visited by the pilgrims that continue on to Santiago de Compostela.  These symbols are shown in the shield of the city of Oviedo as well as the Principality of Asturias.  Around the Cathedral you see the most important heritage of the city such as the Church of San Tirso, the fine arts museum or  Museo de Bellas Artes or the archeological museum or  Museo Arqueológico. The square or plaza de la Catedral  takes us to the square or Plaza de Alfonso II el Casto, where you can see the palaces of  Valdecarzana and de la Rúa. At Cimadevilla, the oldest part of the old town you find the peculiar square of plaza de Trascorrales, where the old stock house or lonja is located as well as the nice square or Plaza de la Constitución.  The latter has colorful houses that continue into the squares of plaza de Daoíz y Velarde.

At the University of Oviedo the last building before reaching the river  with a plateresque facade of the 16C giving to a cloister hosting cultural events all year. The closeby facades of the palaces of  Toreno and Camposagrado are worth a visit.  From here starts the Oviedo of the end of the 19C around the square or plaza de la Escandalera and the park or parque Campo de San Francisco.  Here are the Palacio Regional,home of the council of the Principality, the bank or Caja de Asturias, and the old bank or Banco Herrero.  All of the latter are in a French style.  Here near, we find the theater or Teatro Campoamor, where each year the prizes of the prince of Asturias are given (Príncipe de Asturias). Also, the modern arts center is located here or Centro de Arte Moderno. You have to continue on the street or Calle Uria to come to the more commercial Oviedo following one of the ending streets such as Gil de Jaz, you reach the provincial hospice or Hospicio Provicial from the 18C today is the luxury hotel or Hotel Reconquista. Nice Oviedo!!!

Some of my favorite Cathedrals in Spain, and there are many nice ones, are these.

The one in Oviedo of course, call the Sancta Ovetensis for the amount and quality of its relics. The Santa Iglesia Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador de Oviedo is of a Gothic style; from the the road to St James/Santiago in the times of king Alfonso II el Casto, the Cathedral started to be built in the 12C and lasted until the 16C even if later in the 17C  some Chapels were added to the lateral nerfs. More info : http://catedraldeoviedo.com/en/

In the year 916 king Ordoño II gave its royal palace to built a Church thanking God to allowed him to beat the Arabs/moors in the battle of San Esteban de Gormaz ; and here his remains lies.  The stained glass are from the 13C to 20C and add up to about 1705 meters of superficie; the Cathedral of Leon is the best and purest example of gothic in Spain. More info here: https://www.catedraldeleon.org/

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the last trip of the pilgrims that covers their pathways or caminos.  The construction in the roman style started in 1075 and has a latin cross and three nerfs with amplications later on in gothic, baroque, plateresque and neo classic styles.  Its porch or Pórtico de la Gloria built in 1188 shows 200 figures of the Apocalypse. More info here: http://catedraldesantiago.es/en/

The only Cathedral declared world heritage by UNESCO was built between 1221 and 1765 with a predominant gothic style added to others. The gate or Puerta del Perdón is located in the façade of the Catedral de Burgos, where you can see a rosary on both sides two towers of 84 meters high, crown by arrows from the 15C. More info. http://catedraldeburgos.es/

The Cathedral of Sevilla was built over that which in the 12C was the great Mosque or Gran Mezquita, of which still is preserve the prayer tower or alminar, known as the Giralda , the patio de Abluciones and the gate or Puerta del Perdón.  It was converted Christian in 1248 after the conquest of the city by king Fernando III.  In the Cathedral there are five nerfs, with elements of the moorish or mudéjar, gothic, renaissance, baroque, and neo classical. More info here: http://www.catedraldesevilla.es/

Converted to the Christian cult in 1236 after the conquest of the city by king Fernando III, the Cathedral of Córdoba is built over the old mosque ; the most important Islamic monument in town.  The Cathedral shows the complete evolution of the Omeya style in Spain including other styles such as gothic, renaissance, and baroque. It was in the 16C that in the middle of the mosque a great renaissance Christian nerf was built. More info here: https://mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es/

Built over a mosque, that at the same time was raised a Church in the times of Recaredo, the Primate Cathedral of Toledo or Catedral Primada de Toledo began to be built in 1226. The floorplan has five nerfs on which ceiling hold 88 columns and 72 coffins as well as stained glass polychrome from the 14C 15C and 16C. In a gothic style with French influence, its choir is considered the biggest in Christianity. More here up once maintenance is done to the site: http://www.catedralprimada.es/

Attach to the old, the new Cathedral or Catedral Nueva de Salamanca started building it in 1513 and open in 1733.  The construction began in the tardo gothic style but has elements of newer periods.  The Cathedral is rectangular with 3 nerfs and oven style Chapels cover with coffins etc. More here: http://catedralsalamanca.org/

OF gothic architecture style and related to the Anglo Normand arts as well as Franco Normand of the 12C, the Cathedral or Catedral de Santa María y San Julián de Cuenca began to be built from 1196 and finished in 1257.  The Cathedral has three nerfs, five sloping absides ,transept and triumphorium with windows decorated with statues of angels. More here: http://www.catedralcuenca.es/inicio

Known as the dame of the Cathedrals or La Dama de las Catedrales for its dimensions and elegance, the Cathedral or Santa Iglesia Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y de San Frutos de Segovia was built between the 16C and 18C in gothic style with renaissance influences.  It was built after the old Cathedral or Catedral de Santa María de Segovia was replaced during the war of communities or Guerra de las Comunidades in 1521,works began in 1525.  It has three nerfs with windows and gothic coffins of 30 meters high as well as a tower that reaches 90 meters. More info here: https://catedralsegovia.wordpress.com/

IT is considered the first marian temple in Christiniaty, the Cathedral or Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza with a baroque style of three nerfs ,covers with coffins and canon, cupolas and pillars.  At the same spot there was already existance of another Church in a moorish style dedicated to St Mary , therefore its origins goes back to the 9C.  The Basilica has four towers built between 1715 and 1961. More here: http://www.basilicadelpilar.es/inicio.htm

Hope you enjoy the ride brief but essential to indulge in the history and beauty of Spain, now it’s your turn to seek them out. It will be worth your time. Happy travels to all, Cheers

And another week starts and the season of the best season is near. Well talking about my beloved Spain again, temps is about 52F or 11C and nice in Madrid tonite.The rest of the week is shown to be sunny highs of 63F and lows of 35F.

The latest from Spain are

Some great Spanish movies in the Film Festival of Sevilla; ‘Niñato’, of Adrián Orr, ‘Algo muy gordo’, of Carlo Padial, and ‘Tierra firme’, of Carlos Marqués-Marcet; they draw always from a different spot on Earth and the retina look the possibility of the new.. More here: http://festivalcinesevilla.eu/es/

You have a tour of secluded nice Cabrera the Mediterranean of Ulises and only one hour from Marbella.  From this lookout you see in your imagination the scenery of the Odyssea in the archipelago of  Cabrera.  An unique natural space that preserve almost intact the Mediterranean essence.  It is only 10 nautical miles south of Mallorca and are a group of 19 islets; with the two biggest are Cabrera and Conejera. All the great civilization passed by here from the primitive Talayotic peoples to the Phoenicians , Carthaginians , Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs.  For centuries the Barbarian pirates ransacked , burned and, stole from this natural harbor in the big islet of Cabrera and started attacks on the embarkations that sailed on these waters.  The rocky Castle on the high hill that welcome the new arrivals to Cabrera; passing centuries and finished the war of Independence it was also the place of prison for almost 9000 Frenchmen.  Now you can enjoy snorkeling, and scuba diving in spectacular waters, and see a blue cave, go up to the castle, or go to the beach at s’Espalmador, visit the museum of ethnography of Celler or the archeological site of Pla de ses Figueres; go up to the hill of Miranda, where you can see the magnificent panorama in the Sierra de Ses Figueres; Bellamirada; or the longest possible on the islet that takes you from one extreme to the other in the lighthouse of  n’Ensiola. You can come to this Idyllic place on tourist boats of Colonia Sant Jordi (Tel +34  971 64 90 34), Palma (Tel +34  971 717 190), and  Porto Petro (Tel +34 971 657 012. More in Spanish here: http://www.mapama.gob.es/en/red-parques-nacionales/nuestros-parques/cabrera/

Who still looking for vinyl records? Well you can find them in Madrid, the favorites according to my family ther

Radio City at calle Conde Duque, 14; tel +34 915 477 767 . You can find vinyls here as well as CD on wooden stands alternationg between jewels of the folk,rock, soul and pop of yesterday and today from the 1960’s to today. The majority of prices are between 15-25 euros .

Another is  Molar Discos y Libros, calle Ruda 19, tel +34 911 725 740. Upper level you find the literary finds and specials next to the records section always in vinyls a complete selection. Domestic and imported like the joint venture of Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnette ,26€. The street level is used for presentations, expos, concerts of small formats.

And the very best  La Metralleta , Calle Postigo de San Martin, 1, tel +34 915 318 264 . The megaclasic of Madrid record shops. The store is divided in various spaces where you can find LP’s, CD’s, cassettes, and other formats of the lost generation; you come here to get your fingers dirty searching the stands. You can find the collection of Serrat for 3€ or a copy of Pink Moon, of Nick Drake for 150€; but the most expensive record is that of Tangerine Dream for 1500€.

Something typical from a very nice historical town , Burgos.  This is the spoonful’s of Las cucharas de Burgos; it will start Thursday November 9th with a dinner entitled El cocido de las estrellas, where you will be serve some of the rounds from various creations and interpretations of the culinary delight of the city from renown chefs such as Mª José San Román (Monastrell), Macarena de Castro (El Jardín), Yolanda León (Cocinandos), Bea Sotelo (A Estación), and  Pedro Morán (Casa Gerardo), Fernando Canales (Etxanobe), as well as Miguel Cobo (Cobo Vintage). Other activities will be music concert as well as a championship of spoonful’s from the 21C delights from the students of the school or Escuela de Hostelería de La Flora; as well as the prizes from the Académicos del  Cocido from the restaurants Lhardy of Madrid , and Los Claveles de Ibeas of Juarros, and guests like  Viri Fernández (El Llar de Viri) representing the stews of Asturias and Cristino Álvarez (Caius Apicius) for the spreading of these dishes and articles in the Hispanic world. More information here: www.burgosentrecucharas.com

A new done place changeover complete. In the famous Cava Alta street of the centro and next to the Cava Baja the oldest spots in Madrid you come to  Matritum . After 20 years it has been transformed with a complete new decoration and menu, even a map of the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. Plenty of wines here from all over. They offer menu of the day, of the market day, or outside the carte; however, one dish never fails is the costilla de vaca gallega rubia deshuesada y estofada  ( ribs of Galician beef stuffed and without bones ….) They have ice creams from Alicante and desserts such as brownie of Chocolate, and orange. The sommelier is a passionate about wines by the cup or the bottle,and rare great wines such as from Primitivo Collantes, white wines from  Mario Rovira, red wines from Olivier Rivière and international wines like for company a riesling from the  Rheingau, a  pinot noir from Rheinhessen, or the Clos Pepín. There you have it is Matritum, Cava Alta, 17 Tel +34  913 658 237. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays at noon ; more info here http://www.tabernamatritum.es/

Concerts that I like coming up at the Wizink Center of Madrid are

Vanesa Martin : https://www.wizinkcenter.es/eventoinformacion?evento=vanesa-martin-2017-12-06

Raphael ,for the Young at heart : https://www.wizinkcenter.es/eventoinformacion?evento=raphael-2017-12-21

La Térmica at Avenida de los Guindos, 48. Malaga city; will have until January 7 2018 the gallery head by Topacio Fresh with a very fresh presentation of the last years; a showing of bad taste with pop represented by filmmaker  John Waters, known for films such as Pink Flamingos, the king of trash gave the ok to this presentation showing the effigy of Divine of Ana Obregón going out of shell of Botticelli. It has some invited artists such as Octavio Terol and Valeria Vegas ; to match the myths of the  La Movida like those of Las Costus or Fabio McNamara. More information here:  http://www.latermicamalaga.com/

Ok on good weather someone would like to do this; but me never, just recommended by my crazy cousin of Aluche ,Madrid.  Go see the historical towns of the region of Extremadura. Especially in the valley or El Valle del Jerte  known for the well place showing the discoloration of a million and a half cherry trees flowering at the same time on the arrival of Spring. The valley towns in the two ranges of mountains of the range of  Gredos,is covered with a mantle of white flowers thanks to the flower that comes out from this fruit tree.  The biggest however, is the festival of El Cerezo en Flor, the cherry tree in flower organized by the 11 towns of the municipality. Upon the arrival of Autumn this trees give a new spectacle when the leaves are turn into reddish, occre and maroons colors bringing about a new festival ,that of the La Otoñada del Valle del Jerte, (the autumn of the valley of Jerte) that is now coming to its 15th edition. The 11 towns of the municipality  also provides an ample opportunity for enjoying traditions be it cultural, sports, expositions,  contests, festivals and tastings fairs of local products ,theater, etc etc. All this until December 10 2017. Coming up there is an imperial market or Mercado Imperial Carolus Imperator, held in the town of  Tornavacas, November 11-12 ; recreating the arrival of emperor Carlos V and his court to the valley. The festival dates back to the 16C with street animation as well as theater plays , concerts of old times music, tasting of local dishes, talks, and guided visits on the town and the great roasted chestnuts. You have also, the Toñá Piornalega from November 17-19 in the town of Piornal, takes typical local traditions around the local dessert; and the Dulce Otoñada from December 1-3 in the town of Navaconcejo, with pastry ateliers, cooking   shows and desserts markets.  However, the best known are the gastronomic pastoral days or the Jornadas Gastronómicas Pastoriles, available in different restaurants of the municipality in its 12th edition and the festival of the tapas or the IV Feria de la Tapa.  On the first, there are 12 of the best restaurants of the valley offering weekends until December 10 the possibility of tasting exclusive menus, from products of the autumn season at a fix price from 18-38 Euros; the listing of the participating restaurants are in  http://vallecereza.com. In the other one, Tapas festival on November 25-26 you can taste  several creations of the season on the restaurants of the valley.  There is ,also, the plate shooting championship or  Campeonato de Tiro al Plato in the town of Rebollar on November 24,  the festival of contemporary arts or the  IV Festival de Arte Contemporáneo in the town of Jerte from November 24-26 ; the theater festival or Festival de Teatro in the town of Barrado,on December 1-2; and the traditional musical encounter or the  III Encuentro de Música Tradicional in the town of Cabrero,on December 8th. All the programming can be found here:  www.valledeljerte.net).

Something to wet your senses from the bounty of Spain’s wines.

A wine to try which I know the property and have tried them all ; El Rincón from the  Bodega Marqués de Griñón  Vinos de Madrid, 2013,  Tinto con  Syrah (95%), Alicante Bouschet (5%) ready to drink now or to 2022 price is about 16€ ;notes of light violets deep black fruits, opulent, rich, with more ending on black fruits, silky ,a bit freshness. More here: http://www.marquesdegrinon.com/

La Maliciosa from Bodega Vinos Jeromín Vinos de Madrid 2013,  Tinto 100%  Garnacha , ready to drink now and to 2022 price about 20€ Notes: blackcurrants, prunes,peaches dominance; intense with heavy materials and fine tannins , very delicious in the mouth, evolving and long; a garnacha from a hotter zone but light. More here: http://www.vinosjeromin.com/

A curiosity point: the clock tower of La Berenguela  high of 75 meters ,call like this because in the middle ages there was a bishop name like this that built the tower to defend the Cathedral of  Santiago de Compostela.  You can see it from several points in the city as it has the same height as the towers of the Obradoiro.  You will see that the clock built in  1831 the needle is like a tower of a castle and then it more decorated as you move up with a baroque style added.  The clock has one needle because the hours is mark by the bells. The biggest is in the tower it is also call Berenguela and weights 6.433 kgs. According to legend, that if on one midnight it does not ring 12 times and do 13 the devil will have a magic hour to stay loose in the city and raise havocs.

The Royal collections museum or the Museo de Colecciones Reales de Madrid has an opening date for January 2020, in the Palacio Real, you will see wonderful things as 64% of the  700 works that will house are today outside the public eye and only 35% are shown elsewhere.  The different palaces, historical buildings that are part of the National Heritage are works that are not shown to the general public and that for the first time will be shown here.  This is the case of the tapestries collection from the 16C in the glorious period of emperor Carlos V and king Felipe II. More news in Spanish here: http://www.patrimonionacional.es/museo-de-las-colecciones-reales

Back to Malaga to show you that on a wall of the 13C in the gate or Puerta Buenaventura,houses over 120K volumes of books in a building now 120 yrs old remodeled in 2004 and known as the library or libreria  Proteo/Prometeo in four levels. Proteo has a space of 150 sq meters, the top part is a large shelves of books in archives from  A-Z. There is even a lithography of  Antonio Tapiès from 1978 , and a work by Enrique Brinkmann  of 1992. Single out here because it has been awarded the  XIX edition of the Premio Librería Cultural 2017, ( prize of the cultural library of 2017) just in time to celebrate the Day of the library in all of Spain on November 10th. More on it here: https://www.libreriaproteo.com/

And last but not least, the wonderful beautiful National library of Spain or the Biblioteca Nacional de España has open now with free admission, an exposition dedicated to maps and what they have fascinated the world since its history. The expo is call  «Cartografías de lo desconocido» or cartography of the unknown; and its drawn from the inventory in the national library since  its foundation in 1711. You will see high middle ages maps, nautical atlas, renaissance atlas, unique pieces such as «Geografía», from Ptolomeo, 2C, or finds such as “Carta sincronológica de la historia universal» A sincronisation map of the history of the world. In this impressive map of 7 meters you can see the history of humanity from Adam and Eve to our modern times.  All this shown until January 28 2018 . The objective of this exposition is to define exactly ,what is map! More here: http://www.bne.es/es/Actividades/Exposiciones/Exposiciones/Exposiciones2017/Cartografiasalodesconocido.html

As said ,enjoy Spain, everything under the Sun and I must add the Moon ! Cheers!!!