Paris1972-Versailles2003

In my new life as retiree my blog is my biggest entertainement and before anything else, I like to thank everyone of my readers and followers to stay with me over the years since November 26 2010 !!! Thank you !!! Especially my first likes from former travel forum friend Jeannette I decided to trim some of my older posts in my series Some news from Spain and condense them as not to lose the most important parts, me think, of them, Therefore, this is my new work, the condense news of my dear Spain, Hope you enjoy it as I.

Some news from Spain I April 17, 2011

he new Madrid Rio project is off and running opening the park areas from Friday by 11H Madrid local time. It has  952.000 square meters of park area including a promenade of pine trees call  Salón de Pinos ,which will run from the forest of El Pardo to the Nudo Sur or south knuckle on the beltway road M30. Therefore a total of 53 kms  (32 miles) of walkers paradise right in the city. Also, 18,5 kms (11.4 miles) of bicycle lanes available! The whole complex park will have  35,963 trees from  47  species, and  470,844 bushes of  38 species coming from forests in the mediterranena, atlantic and coasts.

And yes Holy Week or Semana Santa is  from today ! in Spain its a tradition that still holds true to its origins. If you want to be here, its crowded, maybe loud, but its darn worth it all.  Malaga,Cadiz,Granada,Cordoba, and Sevilla  In Madrid at the colegiata de San Isidro calle Toledo 37 there will be a procession, April 21 at 20h starting from calle Toledo and passing many streets including Calle Cuchilleros near Plaza Mayor.

The Marathon de Madrid was today and its 34th version ,and the winner is the Kenyan Moses Arusei, the one with the best mark in the of the 10,500 runners that took part today. He is ,also, the first one to lower the mark under 2 hours and 11 minutes . on the women side the winner was the Ethiopean Girma Tadesse with  2h35:28.

In Alcala de Henares, you will see a great work of art with drawing from July 8 to 28 2011 at the Antiguo Hospital Santa Maria la Rica, Calle Santa Maria la Rica, under the title “Los desastres de la guerra de Francisco de Goya” done by Francisco Goya ,and on about 80 portraits done by him between 1810 and 1815, show the disasters of the war of Independance in Spain.

Some news from Spain II April 22, 2011

The news is my beloved Mahou beer of Madrid brewery is finally demolished to make way for improvements in the project Madrid Rio. So many years of loyalty to its Cinco Estrellas with a glass or caña in hand, memories that will linger forever.  THis is the one next to Stadium Vicente Calderon where the other Madrid team Atletico de Madrid plays its football matches, well not for long either, they will be demolished too.

And the biggest news out of Spain is …..Real Madrid 1 barcelona 0 CAMPEONES EN LA COPA DEL REY. We are the Champions of the Kings’ Cup 2011 in Spain with a wonderful headed goal by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 102nd minute.

And according to 20minutes.es the most conflicting points for traffic in Madrid are Moratalaz by Camino de Vinateros intersection with Arroyo de la Media Legua. Barajas  by avenida de Logroño with Bahía de Cádiz. Fuencarral,  between  Ventisquero de la Condesa and Collado Tirobarra , as well as between avenida  de Betanzos and avenida  de la Ilustración. Villaverde, by avenida de Andalucía with avenida  Rocafort. Moncloa-Aravaca, between  Arroyo Pozuelo and Húmera.Also access to the bus  bus- VAO  interchange. Chamberí, between avenida Filipinas and  Jesús Maestro. Chamartín , at the intersection of  paseo de la Castellana with  Rafael Salgado. Latina , by the avenida de los Poblados with the parking of  Aluche. Retiro-Salamanca , by Doctor Esquerdo with O’Donnell. For peatons the most difficult is the Puerta de Alcala, according to RACE the Royal Automobile Club of Spain. Very little time and space to cross the street there, of course is a round about archway in the middle of the street. And as for motocycles, these are the worse offender with little respect for the traffic signal or pedestrians;  Bravo Murillo-Ríos Rosas (Chamberí) , Plaza de Cibeles,intersection with paseo de  Recoletos and calle Alcalá (Centro). Pº de la Castellana-Profesor Waksman (Chamartín). Plaza de Lima, intersection with paseo de la Castellana with General Perón (Chamartín). Plaza de la Independencia, coming towards Calle  Serrano with Calle Alcalá (Centro).

Some news from Spain III April 24, 2011 

The Tamborrada de la Resurrección or drum beat of the ressurection closed today the Holy Week at the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. Many were there to witness despide the thread of rain, this is a tradition re started in 1996 that dates back to the 16C. The traject took the group from the  plaza del Conde Miranda, calle del Sacramento, Calle de Cordón, plaza de la Villa, calle Mayor ,and  Ciudad Rodrigo until coming back to the Plaza Mayor.

Great exposition at  the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza entitled ” Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904)”  This is a  project of the museum in Madrid with  the  J. Paul Getty Museum, and the  Musée d’Orsay , this is the first expo dedicated to the French painter/sculptor since one 30 yrs ago in the United States . running until May 22nd , Another work at Teatros del  Canal is “Le Poème Harmonique “, under the direction of  Vincent Dumestre, offering the play comedy ballet ” Le bourgeois gentilhomme “,it was the 11th of Moliére and Lully, and is recognised as the best success amongst the many works in the comedy ballet section for the theater and the dance. It will be shown on May 6, 7 , 8

For another entertainement option in Madrid away from the usual movida places, try a night of bowling with friends. My favorite is the chamartin location by the train station. entrance on Calle  Agustín de Foxá 26

Some news from Spain IIII April 30, 2011 

Now there is a holiday in Spain on Monday May 2nd.  Its Spain independance day from Napoleonic France The Feria de Abril in Sevilla is undergoing just wonderfully  ,The feast of San Isidro the patron saint of Madrid, will begin on May 11,2011.

The brewery of Mahou in Madrid an institution since 1890 is gone, demolished for the plan Madrid Rio of urban renewal of today. My favorite Spanish beer presence in Madrid is gone, Mahou Cinco Estrellas a fixture since 1969 and my first beer taste is gone.  The brewery still there tied in with San Miguel now.

Some news from Spain V May 4, 2011

My stories went way back on this but just today I can confirm it as reading my new Madridista magazine of Real Madrid read the article that when Real Madrid was founded in 1902 four members of the team were of Cuban origins. The brothers Armando,Mario,José Giralt and Antonio Sanchez Neyra. Many others follow, and now there is even a peña or supporters group in Havana that meets at the Hotel Nacional with 250 members!!! One of its members is the actor Jorge Perugorria, a Goya winner and the group was form in his house in Santa Fe (near Punta Brava my native town) so there you go even Football/soccer was strong, and I knew it.

The feast of San Isidro is coming just a week away, The Gran Via will be of honor this year,on May 15 all the Gran Via will be in blue carpet that will go from Calle Alcalà to Plaza de España or almost 3000 square meters for a trip of 1,5 kms.  For a nice walk in a nice park try El Capricho at Alameda de Osuna, metro Canillejas/Camo de las Naciones. A French flavor of the 18C in Madrid on a baroque layout; includes a number of squares and fountains . The wonderful Botanical Gardens of Madrid, many times there ,love it. Now during the month of May 9, 16,23 ,and 30th showing your metro ride ticket you can get in for free,

Some news from Spain VI  May 7, 2011

tour Bernabeu to see the Real Madrid stadium for 16€ a museum of the best team in history per FIFA and IFHHS of the 20C; loaded with memories and more each day, including a basketball section. tickets by Puerta 7 or door 7 at the stadium.  In another sad story the passing of Severiano Ballesteros a great golfer, one of the pioneers in Spain, not much into golf but know he was a nice guy. RIP.

For something different in Madrid go eat at Centro Cubano de España , (now closed) is the oldest Cuban restaurant in Europe founded in 1967 at Claudio Coello, 41. Its an oasis in Madrid, At Parque del Oeste in Madrid you can see throughtout 3 bunkers from the Spanish Civil War.

Spain has use up all their fishing quotas for 2011 and now need to depends on imported fish/seafood for the rest of the year.  This is according to studies from New Economics Foundation (NEF) ,and  Ocean2012.  In the UE, the fishing only covers 50% of its needs, and in Spain the consomption of fish is 44.8 kgs per year per person while the worldwide average is 17,1 Kgs !!! yes bring on the seas to our tables lol!

And Expomanga in Spain ,who wants to know the nominees of Naruto, etc. Started yesterday May 6  for 4€ admission in the Palacio de Cristal, Casa de Campo, metro line 6,9 runs until May 8th

Some news from Spain VII May 12, 2011

The biggest news is the quake that just hit twice the town of Lorca in the province of Murcia. Richter scale of 5,2, already about 10 deaths and over 170 wounded, and many more on the streets without a home.  The A7 road has been cut direction Almeria for precaution, and many building some historic has been destroyed. It is estimated that 80% of the houses have been damage to some extend. The Army and Civil Guard has sent renforcement for the law and order and to help on the cleaning. The National govt has promised help in any way possible no matter the expenses. I hope the locals are able to be ok and pull out of this one.

The XXVIII Festival de Otoño en Primavera or Festival of Fall in the Spring has this year 34 shows of  Theater, Dance, and Music plus Circus. There will be about 30 companies from 13 countries, 26 international shows and 31 grand opening shows unique. You will see it from May 11 to June 5 in various places in Madrid and province of Madrid.  Some of these places will be Teatros del Canal, Circo Price, La Casa Encendida, Teatro Fernàn Gomez, Matadero-naves del Español, Teatro de La Abadia, Teatro Español, and Sala Cuarta Pared

The history and sound of the Flamenco art of living from its birth at the end of the 18C top today will be shown at the Caixa Forum, Paseo del Prado,36, Madrid. From now until June 6th.

 Some news from Spain VIII  May 17, 2011

I lived right on Calle Alcala for four years, it was magical, times never to be forgotten. It is with nostalgia and pleasure that I will tell you some bits of history and things to see right on it.  Real Casa de la Aduana (Royal customs house) at no 5,7,9,and 11 The Palacio de la Equitativa or Banco Español de Credito at Calle Alcala no 14. Casino de Madrid, calle Alcala 15 Banco de Bilbao, Calle Alcala no 16 corner with Calle Sevilla. Edifico de La Union y Fenix Español at Calle Alcala,23 next to the church of Calatravas, and the building done from 1928-1930 The Casa del  Párroco de San José  at  Calle de Alcalá, 41  corner with Calle del Marqués de Valdeiglesias. Built between 1910-1912 Perhaps the most famous building of all is the Metropolis at Calle Alcala 39. Teatro Alcazar, Calle Alcala  20 built in 1921, in 1924 it is shown the work of Madame Pompadour, and from 1940 its a cinema. (the one I went the most in my youth)  Real Academia de Bellas Artes, Calle Alcala 13. modeled after other fine arts academies in Europe king Felipe V (born in Versailles and grandson of  FRench king Louis XIV) founded the one in Madrid in 1744. 

The market of San Anton ,in the popular district of Chueca has reopened after four years of renovations. 38 stands now offering anything from flowers to fish to meats. parking for 80 cars, and even a supermarket.  Located between the streets of  Barbieri and Augusto Figueroa near Plaza de Chueca and metro Chueca. line 5.

Some news from Spain VIIII May 22, 2011

A agreement has been reach with the mayor of Madrid for Apple inc to occupy an emblematic building in the Puerta del Sol, the Tio Pepe building that was teh Hotel Paris and some stores that long gone for lack of rent payment. The hotel Paris was ,also, abandoned.

There you go folks, a big task but a work of love to keep the best, me think of these wonderful older posts over the years, These are what I think worth keeping of my older Some news from Spain series, and I thank you, Again, hope you enjoy this post as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!