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 XIII August 6, 2015
The Cies Islands are an archipealogo located in the ria of Vigo, consisting of 3 islands; San Marino, O Faro, and Monte Agudo. They are part of the Atlantic Islands National Park, and are the main tourist attraction of Vigo. There are nine beaches in the islands, and they are all beautiful. You can spent a wonderful day at either Rodas, the Chapel of Areinas or practicing nudism in Figueiras. On the islands you have the largest colony of seagulls in Europe with more than 20 thousand pairs of their species. You ,also, will find woodpeckers, and other birds in large numbers such as cormorants, and small communities of gannets, doves, birds, as well as rich sealife in crab, octopus, lobsters,a nd turbot as well as urchins, barnacles, and mussels. If you are lucky you may see dolphins.
And now go to my ancestors island of Tenerife. The Teide mountain (volcano) or Cheide, as the original inhabitants the Guanches call it is awesome. The Reloj de las Flores or clock of flowers giving by Denmark over 50 years ago,and in the Parque Garcia Sanabria , a cultural center designed by Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes ,TEA) ,the square or Plaza del Principe conquered by skaters, and an auditorium overlooking the sea modeled after the Calatrava. To add, there is great nightlife on the surrounding beaches, with shops, market, and the Church of Nuestra Señora de Africa as well as the Castillo de San Juan. At San Cristobal de Laguna , the first capital of Tenerife (1723) you see nice architecture still present in the old town with narrow streets that resemble a checkered chess board. You should not missed in the Center, the Casa del Corregidor, Alhondiga, and Palacio Lercaro , amongst other buildings; The beaches, you have the quiet Abama, Duque,and Las Eras or the surfing wild Agua Ducel, La Pelada, and El Cabezo, the emblematic las Teresitas the marine environment of los Cristianos, the volcanic such as las Mujeres,and the to go with children such as the Camison. The garden or Jardin del Teide, starts on the slopes of the volcano and reaches the coast at Puerto de la Cruz, peaceful life and great seafood. The top here is the Lago Martiànez with more than 13 000 square meters of artificial lakes of salt water. The Dragon tree is a national monument since 1917, and the giant and longevity of it is amazing. The millenium dragon by the town of Icod de los Vinos in the north of the island has 18 meters with a trunk of 30 meters diameter and about 300 branches. You reach Garachico ,where a Genovese merchant founded it in 1496 and since then ,began to fill it with palaces, churches, convents and castle fortresses. The castle of San Miguel has the arms of Charles I of Spain and the same Charles V of Germany, and it is still there. See the paradise of Tenerife.
Some news from Spain XIIII December 17, 2015
Where to spent your Christmas Eve in Madrid,(my city) ;for the moderate budget we have some of my favorites there Ayre Gran Hotel Colon Pez Volador, 1 | Tfn.: 91 400 99 00 | Price: 93 euros (dining and confettis).Chlidren Menú (Under 12 ): 34 euros. This is where I have stayed lately in the city great hotel , friendly service and all central. Real Café Bernabeu Avenida de Concha Espina, 1 (Puerta 30. Estadio Santiago Bernabéu) Puerta 57 Padre Damián, s/n (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu) Intercontinental hotel Paseo de la Castellana, 49 Gran Melià Fénix Hermosilla, 2
Then, you have the heritage cities to hold such a nice occassion, such as Alcalà de Henares and the year of Cervantes ,The best guide to choose your Spanish wine, is Guia Peñin , for years the best.
Some news from Spain XV February 1, 2016
Until Feb 26 2016 you can go see Paz Erràzuriz at the Sala Barbara de Braganza, mondays 14h to 20h , Tuesdays to Saturdays 10h to é0h Sundays and holidays 11h to 19h. at Barbara de Braganza ,13. Part of the Fundacion MAPFRE; Kandisky, a retrospective on the 150 anniversary of his birth. Wassily Kandinsky the abtract art. See it Until February 28 at CentroCentro Cibeles, Palacio de Cibeles, Plaza de Cibeles, 1 Titanic exhibition , see it until March 6 at the Fernan Gomez Centro Cultural de la Villa, Plaza de Colon , 4. The Jules Verne exhibition until February 28 at the Espacio Fundacion Telefonica, Calle Fuencarral, 3 See Ingrés at the Prado Museum, until March 27, Paseo del Prado See Cleopatra and amazing Egypt at the Centro de Exposicion Arte Canal, paseo de la Castellana, 214. New Babylone now at Museum Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Until February 29th,Santa Isabel 52 See Mujeres de Roma (women of Rome) until February 14 at the CaixaForum Madrid, Paseo del Prado 36 Again , great Historia de las Comunicaciones; (history of the communications) at the Espacio Fundacion Telefonica, Calle Fuencarral 3 Hurry up to see The illusion of the far west,(La Ilusion del Lejano Oeste) at Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado 8. From February 12 to June 12 2016 see at museo del Prado, the great show of George de la Tour, one of the most important French painter of the 20C , From February 9th to May 22 you will see the Realists of Madrid;(Los Realistas de Madrid) beginning with Antonio Lopéz. Historical painters and sculptors who lived and worked in Madrid; at the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza
You can see a great theater at Lluvia Constante ( constant rain) at Teatro de Bellas Artes, Calle Marqués de Casa Riera, 2 You can see a wonderful comedy El Nombre, about a group of friends who dine together to celebrate the arrival of the baby of one of the couples, very funny, widely acclaim. At my all time favorite theater Cofidis Alcazar, Calle Alcalà 20 And another historical theater at the Teatro Nuevo Apolo, Plaza de Tirso de Molina,1 you can see the story again of Carmen; From March 23 to April 3; this time done the Ballet of Puerto Rico. And on the historical Teatro Lope de Vega, Gran via 57, The Lion’s King (El Rey Léon) until May 29th And do not forget ArcoMadrid,the great international fairs on contemporary arts in Madrid this time with 35 galleries presenting the 35 years of the Fairs. This as part of the 169 galleries taken part in this year’s event. February 24-28 ; Go there on buses 112 and 122, and interurban bus 828,and metro line 8, all at IFEMA.
Some news from Spain XVI March 13, 2016
Museo del Ferrocarril or train museum you get there on Paseo de las Delicias, nº 61 metro Delicias. This is the market of engines or Mercado de Motores with more than 200 stands with almost anything on sale from antique vintage products to second hand clothings or design items that is held the second weekend of each month
Now is time for the Fallas of Valencia from March 15 to 19, 2016. This is believed to have started from the 18C when carpenters burned in squares the parot wooden instrument holding a candlestick that wood masters worked at night. One thing is sure, all started by burning a simple estoreta of wood instrument and now the entire city burns. The city hall mayor declares the festivities by saying in Valencian provençal “. Senyor pirotècnic, pot començar the mascletà”. This is the phrase the the Fallera Mayor says from the box at City hall . The dialy march starts at 14h (2PM) and roar after the sky is stained with smoke, vibrating the city like an improvised earthquake with shiny powder on the roofstops of buildings In the city proliferate premises and stalls that sell churros, Donuts, hot chocolate and other gastronomic delights, try them at Horchateria Santa Catalina or the Horchateria Fabian, Calle de Ciscar ,5 no web; both located in the Centre of the city As well as the usual giant Paella which takes place every year at this time The Nit of the Foc , takes place in the early morning of March 19, ahead of San Jose and so little expected Cremà (little expected because it means that the fallas are over), and is the most impressive castle of fireworks that soars into the sky and that has one duration greater than the rest of those who are released on any other day . It is a magic show that you should not miss You will appreciate a chair to watch the offering of the Virgen de los Desamparados (Virgin of the Homeless) patroness of Valencia, affectionately known as the Cheperudeta is another of the highlights acts .. A wooden Cheperudeta awaits the arrival of the falleros carrying bouquets of flowers in the Plaza de la Virgen. They have the Mission of forming a blanket of flowers on the body of the Virgen , and it takes place on March 17 and 18 by the Calle de la Paz and Calle de San Vicente
One of the emblematic cafes just reopen again the Café de Oriente, a colonial decoration of the 1930’s with the soul of the 21C! You have the bistró style in the upper floor, where you can have breakfast, lunch, tapas, or enjoy an after work or a great cocktail. It has a Chester sofa in front of a chimney, a long wonderful bar counter now of marbre, the painted walls with colonial style and huge mirrors with plenty of corners to just fade away. The nights the bistro change with its lighting and DJ’s with a rising main deck for dancing as well as live Jazz nights. Lovely place at Plaza de Oriente, 2
Some news from Spain XVII April 7, 2016
Some of the wonderful Roman ruins and not so ruins in Spain are here some of my favorites spots: Going to the villa Olmeda and the La Tejada in Quintanilla de la Cueza;You can continue the route by going to Fuente Alamo, Puente Genil, Cordoba as well as the nearby El Ruedo, Almendinilla Following on we arrive at Villa Arellano, Navarra another wonderful manifestation of mosaics and walls decorated from Roman Times! We arrive by Carranque, Toledo visiting the Casa de Materno; and going over to nearby province of Cuenca for visiting the places of Segóbrida and Valeria Following our story we get to see Centcelles, Constanti ,Tarragona; and the nearby formation of Dels Munts in Altafulla Following our trails we reach Veranes, Gijon, Asturias; and not to missed the Roman spas of Campo Valdés in the center of Gijon and also visit the Parque Arqueológico Natural de la Campa Torres We move on to Villaricos, Mula, Murcia and see the Fuente Caputa looking at the Roman site of Cerro de La Almagra,in the same Banks of the river Mula. Next , we stop by Brunel , Quesada, Jaén ,just in front of the mountains of Sierra de Quesada.
Now changing the subject how about those good deal restaurants including one of my all time favorite from my district in Madrid. Plaza Quintana, Docamar! here since 1963 claiming the best patatas bravas of Madrid And of course , more like Casa Mingo and the Asturian connection in Madrid, here since 1888.
At the Attraction park in Casa de Campo you will find the wonderful Parque de Atracciones de Madrid. I came here when a kid and then my kids came here nice memories always;these days it is held the Comic Fan, an event that will bring you to the park and the world of fantasy, science fiction and images. You will learn how to use a laser sword and do comic shops and maquillage FX or pose for a theme photocall so you look like a real actor/heroe. You will go into the world of Warcraft and do your own trailer of a movie with a visual experience. There will be expositions, collection pieces, boutiques, and animated spectacles .Of course, as well as enjoying the rides In the park from April 9,10,16,17,23 and 24, The great exhibition of French painter George La Tour continues in the Prado. The baroque painter will have presented 31 works from his total around 40+.Showing at the Museo del Prado The exhibition will be on until June 12 2016.
Some News from Spain, XVIII April 9, 2016
Many of us try to get into attractions, monuments, muséums for the least possible cost ,meaning Free. Well ,Spain has many opportunities for this, and I will name most of them below Castilla-La Mancha: Toledo, Museo del Greco, Saturdays from 14h and Sundays is free Communidad de Madrid: Museo del Prado, only museum collection Mondays to Saturdays from 18h,Sundays and Holidays from 17H.
Museo Reina Sofia, Mondays to Saturdays from 19h Sundays from 13h30 (from 14h30 only open for the collection 1 and some temporary exposition. Museo Thyssen -Bornemisza, only the museum collection; Mondays from 12h (Mastercard Mondays) and the exposition of the program ‘Miradas cruzadas’,every day. Museo de America, on Sundays. Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, Sundays and Thursdays from 17h (from September to June), some temporary expositions and extraordinary openings. Museo Cerralbo, Thursdays not holidays from 17h (extraordinary opening), Saturdays from 14h and Sundays. Museo Làzaro Galdiano, Wednesdays to Saturdays from 15h30 ;Sundays from 14h ,and first Friday of each month (From October 2nd 2015 to September 2016. Palacio Real de Madrid, Mondays to Thursdays from 18h (April to SEptember.) and from 16h (October to March). Real Monasterio de El Escorial , Palacio Real de Aranjuez, and Palacio Real de El Pardo , Holidays and Thursdays from 17h(April to September) ,and from 15h (October to March). Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales , and Real Monasterio de la Encarnacion. Holidays and Thursdays from 16h. Also, the mayority of these sites name above usually give free admission on dates such as April 18 ( International Day of Monuments and Sites),May 18 ( International Day of Museums),October 12 (National Day of Spain), December 6th (Constitution day in Spain), and as well on the anniversary of the museum.
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 !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 