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, XVIIII May 3, 2016
You want to see volcanos in Spain, well I can tell you of mine but here are some others to check out La Garrotxa (Gerona): El Croscat ; Olot (Gerona): el Montsacopa; Fuencaliente (La Palma): el Teneguía; Castilla La-Mancha: el Peñarroya y el Cancarix. Ok I will tell you about mine, Tenerife: el Teide (if you have read my blog , I am guanche tenerife from all four grandparents and back ¡) 3718 meters the third highest in the world at sea level with last eruption in 1798 but continue active with many times burst of fire and lava coming down for a bit. You know the A3 or carretera de Valencia was started by the public works order of February 28, 1857 from the Puerta del Sol, given no 3 on the road A-1, the road past by Las Cabrillas, follow Carrera de San Gerónimo, Plaza de las Cortes, calle de Tragineros towards the Puerta de Atocha. Do you know Spain has the 3rd biggest red of expressways in the world, behind China and the USA, yes indeed, Spain is moving fast
A bit of history of Madrid, and I stay near there when in town nowdays. The Red de San Luis started from a food market from the 17C to the 19C , the food items came mostly from Vallecas, and there was a Church of Saint Louis by Montera that was burned out in 1936; therefore the folks became to call it the Red de San Luis or Saint Louis. The metro station San Luis from 1919 was done by the Gran Via it was the calle Montera corner with Gran via, Hortaleza and Fuencarral, there was an elevator/lift there until 1970 when I arrive in Madrid!
Some news from Spain XX June 15, 2016
The Canal of Castilla (Castile) was one of the more ambitious dreams of Spain in the middle of the 18C Under King Fernando VI and the Marquis of the Ensenada, his most influential Minister, devised a project to connect the plateau with the Bay of Biscay through a pharaonic network of channels and locks that would extend more than 400 km. the arrival of the railroad ended up with this dream whose construction lasted almost 100 years ,from 1753 to 1849 – and stopped at 207 kilometers, distributed primarily by the provinces of Valladolid and Palencia , with a brief passing by Burgos. The Canal of Castilla lived his best years between 1850 and 1870, when they sailed nearly 400 boats carried by mules from the towpath roads on both banks of the canal, whose width varies between 11 and 22 meters, and its depth between 1.80 and 3 meters.
Castillo de Buen Amor (castle of the good love!) (in Villanueva de Cañedo, Salamanca) one of the best-known hotels and charming castles of Spain. It stands on an 11C fortress, converted into a stately home in the 15C. It is a singular and unique, building of Renaissance style, built in sandstone. It has five floors, numerous corners and mezzanines. It has a large Tower of honor, three towers and a moat, which houses the gardens, swimming pool and a small lake. The Castle of Sigüenza (Sigüenza, Guadalajara), It belongs to the network of paradores de Turismo. It is an impressive medieval castle from the 12C, installed in a fortress of Arabic and built on a Roman settlement. It was the residence of bishops, Cardinals and Kings. Everything inside maintains the medieval atmosphere, with its traditional Castilian furniture. In its spacious rooms, four poster beds will make you to feel housed in an authentic Palace Chamber. This Royal fortress, thick walls, has a paved courtyard, a stately dining room, large function rooms for meetings and celebrations and a beautiful Romanesque chapel from the 13C
The Feria del Libro or the Madrid book fair saw this past Sunday goodbye to its 76th Edition with expected sales of around 8,2M €, which will mean an increase of 3.5% over the previous edition. The 76th edition of the fair, which opened on May 27, has had 367 stands and 479 exhibitors (26 official bodies, 10 distributors, 63 specialist booksellers, 56 General booksellers, 177 publishers in Madrid and 147 publishers outside of Madrid). At the lovely Retiro park! AND France was this year invited country!
The Fernan Gomez theater and the Teatros del Canal are the main stages of great programming coming up. In the first, Flamenco Madrid celebrates its second edition , directed by Ángel Rojas and already reaching its Equator after the performance Juncal Demaria and his work Ana Frank (day 17) closure, is the turn of Antonio Canales, who will be on Saturday 18 June with Bailaor, where it picks up its main root accompanied by the flamenco dancer Mónica Fernández and other singers and musicians , Juañares, Gabriel de la Tomasa and Paco Cruz.
La Esquina del Bernabeu Avenue Concha Espina, 1. On the terrace of this bar, located in the bleachers of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The National team of Spain is staying at the Atalante Relais Thalasso of île de Ré near La Rochelle, France (I will be there Saturday!!!) in Sainte Marie de Ré and the practices held at the Marcel Gaillard Stadium in Saint Martin de Ré. .From June 10th to July 10th 2016. As part of the Euro16 European Football/Soccer Championship.
Some news from Spain XXI June 21, 2016
Some about my Tenerife of heart: It is possible to plunge into the forest of laurisilva in the Anaga massif to connect with nature Recommendation: take a dip in the refreshing waters of Benijo Beach and watch a spectacular sunset. At La Orotava; there are several restaurants that combine local food with an exquisite atmosphere. Nearby is one of the culinary gems of the island: El Calderito de la Abuela. A cosy restaurant in which taste typical delicacies that make your mouth water ,And contemplate spectacular views over Mount Teide and the sea. Speaking of the Teide, there is an original way of living it. What better way to enjoy the sunrise or sunset from the highest point of Spain . The ravine of Masca enjoying views that take away the breath. El Medano, vibrant place and picturesque filled with bars where relax and drink a beer or two. Located facing the Bay of Los Cristianos, Live it !
Chorrera de los Litueros or Chorro of Somosierra at Puerto Somosierra (Madrid) the highest in the community of Madrid. Both the vertical descend, as it is located at higher altitudes in the province: slightly less than 1,500 meters above the sea, at its highest level. Las Pedrizas, resulting in the birth of the Duratón, Segovia River known for harboring the colony of Griffon Vulture most important in Europe. It was here at Chorro de Somosierra, where occurred the famous charge of the Polish cavalry, integrated into the French army led by Napoleon, approaching to take Madrid. Considered the greatest success of that elite corps, took place at the battle of Somosierra, on November 30, 1808. Napoleon entrusted to take the Spanish positions to the Polish horsemen. These, eager to show their worth before the Gallic Emperor, made a suicide charge up the hillside ; they lost two-thirds of its forces, but they were able to take the enemy positions and put into flight the Spaniards. It was the most legendary of their heroic military deeds which passed to the history. Caminito del Rey (Malaga) was built between 1901 and 1905 as a service road for the dam of the Conde Guadalhorce, whose inauguration was done by King Alfonso XIII – hence the nickname of the road. It was reopened on March 28, 2015. The impressive journey runs 7.7 kms – 4.8 kms accesses and 2.9 kms gateways, along the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Gorge, a natural cut made by the Guadalhorce River in the Sierra de Huma, and that in some stretch leads suspended at more than 100 meters high. Plunging down this trail is a great experience which can take about 3-4 hours, depending on the physical state you are in. See the Mezquita of Cordoba, first islamic and then temple of Christian, the Cathedral. One of the oldest European buildings in use and the most notable example of the symbiosis between yesterday and today which is part of the city of Cordoba.
At Adolfo Suarez Barajas-Madrid airport a taxi will take on average 30 minutes drive and within the M30 beltway road of inner Madrid the price is fix at 30€; you need to determine your distance to see if taken a regular taxi comes out cheaper than the new fix price rule. For areas closer to the airport side arriving in Madrid will be cheaper on the regular taxi, but to the Centro, the fix rate is a winner. You have the bus Express takes about the same on average 30 minutes and cost 5€ stopping at Cibeles, Atocha which are convenient to city transportation. The Metro (subway/tube) is on line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios for 4,50€ and you can get off as I do often before in Colombia for city connections.
Some news from Spain XXII July 1, 2016
Just what I needed more controls on the roads, announcing a new wave of checkpoints and security on the roads of Spain getting ready for the Summer avalanche on the roads. 60 new radars, more surveillance helicopters Pegasus in motorways and highways and signage for 300 sections of conventional roads where there is frequent excess of speed are part of the conditions the traffic department has prepared for the exodus of the summer, which will support 84 million trips! . It is predicted a 3.5% increase in the number of vehicles on the road expected for July (41 million) and August (43 million). And increase surveillance in those sections where there is high accident rate and speeding.
The great Gloria Gaynor (Newark New Jersey, 1949) Her new tour name “Never Can Say Goodbye”, as well as her first big hit of 1974, “I Will Survive” version of the Jackson 5, with two stops in Barcelona (July 27) and Madrid (July 29). The latter, as a closing of the cycle nights of the botanical garden of Madrid ,that is since yesterday occupied the Royal Botanical Garden Alfonso XIII in the Ciudad Universidad (universary city) and which also will have shows by Wilco (2 July), Patti Smith (July 8), M83 (July 10), Robert Plant (July 14). John McLaughlin (July 19), Seal (22 July) and the Festival Charco (pond) (16 and 17 July), with Jorge Drexler, Xoel López, Molotov or Toundra. Universal Music Festival has become everything a reference for the cultural life of the capital in the summer. The majestic Teatro Real (Royal Theater) opens its doors to all kinds of genres in this cycle which in its 2nd edition and will feature Rufus Wainwright, Rod Stewart, Diana Krall, Enrique Bunbury, José Luis Perales and Archangel. Festival Frinje 2016. Friday 1 to Sunday 17 July in Madrid (Matadero). Several years which has been celebrating this traditional version of the Scottish Fringe. Like that, it offers a tour of 23 contemporary spectacles that include Theater, music and performanceand which boasts the presence of companies and international artists such as Teatro Sotterraneo, map Theatre, Voadora, Soledad Vélez, Grumelot, Aurora & The Betrayers…
Some news from Spain XXIII July 22, 2016
Skytrax World Airline 2016 just published their best Airlines of the year ranking and they were: 1.- Emirates 2.- Qatar Airways 3.- Singapore Airlines 4.- Cathay Pacific 5.- ANA All Nippon Airways 6.- Etihad Airways 7.- Turkish Airlines 8.- EVA Air 9.- Qantas Airways 10.- Lufthansa . Iberia of Spain came in at no 52 moving four slots from 2015 but still unfortunately way behind. I am still waiting for credit on my miles on a Partner airline Latam for almost 3 months now lol!
You want to be in a nice pool with great views of Madrid then head for these hôtels and escape the heat of August: Hotel Emperador (my favorite), Hotel Santo Domingo, Gymage Lounge Resort, O2 Centro Wellness Manuel Becerra, Room Mate Oscar, Holiday Inn Bernabéu (for the games I stayed here always) ,Hotel NH Colón, hotel Índigo, Hotel Urban, Hotel The Principal, and Hotel EXE Moncloa.
For the centenary celebration you can see the exposition until September 11 2016 in the Museo del Prado. For more of the painter you can come to the Monasterio de El Escorial to see more of El Bosco ( until November 1st 2016) with the royal collection of Spain. This year celebration of the IV centenary of Cervantes’s death :You can see it in August at the Espacio de Arte Contemporario de Almagro, Ciudad Leal en Miguel en Cervantes until September 15,2016 In the Church of San Agustin, Almagro, Ciudad Real, “Escenificando a Cervantes” extended until September 15.
In the Museum of Bellas Artes of Granada you have the expo Zuloaga and Falla , history of a friendship until September 18 see the wonderful ‘El retablo de maese Pedro’. And at the Royal Palace or Palacio Real the work of “from Caravaggio to Bernini” until October 16 including paintings and sculptures of the royal collection done by artists from the Italian Seicento At the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, see the expo ” Caravaggio and the painters of the north” until September 18. An opportunity to see the barocco artist and Caillebotte, the painter gardener until October 30th to see the them of gardens from the impressionist artist And to follow up with the Phillips collection on Impressionists and modernistes until October 23 showing work of Manet, Courbet, Sisley, Van Gogh, Degas, Picasso, Modigliani, Kandinski, Pollock ,and Rothko. At the CaixaForum:
The summer wonders of the Cine Garden Conde Duque until September 18 in Centro Comercial Conde Duque, Madrid. A giant screen of 300 m2 with space for 800 spectators with drinks, foodtrucks to the rimes of a DJ at the end of the movie.
Some news from Spain XXIIII July 29, 2016
The aquatic park at Siam Park of Tenerife is great for the families with 11 tobogans and Dragon, Vulcano or Kinnaree, and for the parents the Siam Beach or the Mai Thai River.
At Madrid there is a snow zone even in summer. the second biggest covered slope in the world ,Madrid SnowZone has 18000 M2 and constants -2C; the main slope is 250 meters long ;all in the Centro Comercial Madrid Xanadú (Autovía A-5, Km. 22. Arroyomolinos, Madrid),
Solmarket Foodstrucks Festival , near where I am going too, and on until August 15 at the El Puig, Valencia (Passeig Maritim). 30 meters from the beach all the best food trucks from the area will be here The 64th edition of the San Sébastian Festival is on by September 16-24,2016
Be aware the police is out in force on these holidays, and Spain had a record year of fines in 2015. The record speed was on a Porsche 911 at 297 kph ! or about 184 mph on the toll road outside Madrid the R-4 connecting with the M-50.
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 