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, XXX September 7, 2016 

Spain has over 275000 bars restaurant-hotels and people asked the question why go to a bar? There is a study done by the beer brand Mahou San Miguel that shows some interesting facts. People go to them for meeting with friends (88,9%), parties (88,4%) or lower the daily stress (86,6%) are the principal reasons. The ages old question that we go to connect with the opposite sex is not confirm as only 15,3% said they do , the highest response was in La Rioja region with 19,9% . The motives for going are in no specific order: get together with friends, lower the daily stress, party for special occasions, meet colleagues from work, watch a football/soccer game, so do not have to cook, to do network or close business, to study or work with colleagues, to find the opposite one or connect to WiFi , The best out of it according to this study about 85% says the most important segment for the economy and to bring in tourists to Spain by (83,9%) especially in the region of Navarra (90%). The survey tell us that they come to bars for its quality of food (70,3%) the good time and terraces (67,5%) are the ones most preferred by the tourists way ahead of variety of offers (58,8%),Fairs and routes of tapas as well as regional celebrations (58,1%), the quality price ratio (57,8%), the good service (57,7%) and where they serve free tapas (with a drink) (53,1%). And what about the old question of tips ? You give it for good service (61,8%) or always no matter what (20,4%) or never no matter what (17,8 (%). There you go.

And how to drink that beer ! or Caña the best is to be really cold for about (47,8%), of Spaniards but higher in some regions such as Murcia, Canarias, Andalucía, Castilla-La Mancha ,and Extremadura. Of course, the women wants it colder than the men 52% vs 43,8% . However, for 25,6% of those in the survey the key is that the beer is well serve and 70% of them agreed in their regions is done well with Andalucia (82,5%), Madrid (80,4%), and Extremadura (77,3%) as the most satisfied. And how to tell which beer goes with what meal . by general in Spain 62,6%. Can tell the variety and match with the food. However, about 36,2% has basic idea on how to do this. Here the best match is done by Asturias (46.3%), Andalucia (42%) and the less adapts are Extremadura (24.4%) and Balearic islands (23.9%).Secrets of my Madrid, do you know that on Calle de Amaniel, 29. was the original Mahou beer company of Madrid brewery built in 1892-94.  The brewery was transferred to Paseo Imperial and , then further to the Ramirez de Prado on El Aguila beer  brewery ,and finally the building was in decay until rescue by the Comunidad de Madrid that renovated and now houses the Regional Archives.

And on something different you know the Vuelta de España cycling race is going on now. It went to places that I past by before by car Lol The 18 stage will be in Valencia country tomorrow. Then down to Alicante and up to Madrid on the 21th stage to finish on the paseo del Prado

Selena Gomez will be in concert at the Palacios de los Deportes in Madrid on November 14 it has been announced as well as others coming up like Laura Pausini on October 7th. And do not missed the quaint Mercado de San Ildefonso in Calle Fuencarral , 57 ,barrio de Malasañas. 700 M2 and 18 stores to serve the typical Madrid ambiance, great!

Some news from Spain XXXI October 22, 2016 

The restoration work being carried out in the South Tower of the Cathedral of Santiago

 have allowed to locate a sculpture from the school of master Mateo ,the statue is coming from the  medieval facade  of the Pórtico de la Gloria, which is semi buried in a small  cabin on the base.  The  sculpture, 1.85  meters  tall and  probably representing a prophet,  could be placed  in this location in the 16C,  when the medieval  facade that then covered  the Pórtico  de la  Gloria was removed. In this place it was covered of dirt  and it has remained lost until  now. The figure, which has no wings but a Nimbus holder, also a large figure and barefoot,  so experts, dating it from  around the year 1200, believe that  it could be a  prophet.  The piece is complete with the exception of the head, which is missing, since it was  common  that when the figures were disintegrating it was withdrawn the head.

A comprehensive exhibition that will take place in the Thyssen Museum,  until January 22,dedicated  to the Impressionist master ,Renoir, a sample of its evolution and its sensitivity to treat female intimacy.  If we are to believe Henry James, the  women in 1890 (which are  contemporary to  the painted  by the Impressionists),  despite the gloves,  parasols, boas, corsets, hats with  feathers and skirts that graze the  ground, they had a public life  surprisingly released in comparison with that of  our  grandmothers or mothers in the 1950s. But, how were those women in their privacy?  The marriageable,  lovers, mothers, girls…?  That is the fascinating question that is Renoir exhibition:  intimacy  through five sections titled: Impressionism, portraits, landscapes, family and domestic scenes and bathers.

The Festival Movistar + Series, which you can enjoy in the capital from 28 to 30 October. It has  change  their usual enclosure to relocate, this time in the Chamartín train station. The admission, as always, is free. Noteworthy are the exclusive pre-premières of Buena Conducta, with  the Colloquium of Juan  Diego  Botto,   and the  Medici: Lords of Florence,  with the visit of its creator,  Frank Spotnitz.  David Trueba  and  Manuel Jabois, among others, will talk about the limits  of humour and we see  Mad Men, Twin Peaks , The Big Bang Theory, Mr. Robots or game of thrones, among a host of options.

For the first  time Irene Escolar (Madrid, 1988)  climbed to a stage  was to interpret  Mariana Pineda, of Lorca.  She was nine years old. Last season, already with 27,she show it to the public. It is clear their “intimate relationship” with the poet from Granada. Just doing it at the Residencia de Estudiantes, within the Festival of (Otoño y Primavera)  autumn to  spring, reading  Lorca, a recital which will lead  to  the  to  the  Teatro Pavón Kamikaze  in November.

The Festival of the Trashumancia will be in Madrid this weekend The sheeps will enter the  Friday 21  October in the evening  by the Casa de Campo. They will leave by the King‘s gate (Puerta del Rey)  at 10h (10AM). At Sunday 23 October, they will go on the gardens of Virgen del Puerto, then  walk the paseo of Ciudad de Plasencia (Athens Park) and go up Cuesta de la Vega, Calle Mayor,  Puerta del Sol and  calle de Alcalá to the Cibeles Palace.  Between 12h30 and 13h a  greeting will take place in front of  the  Palacio de Cibeles to the representatives of the Municipal government and payment of the maravedis, in compliance with the  Concord of 2 March 1418,  the good men of the  Mesta and the procurators of the Council of the town,

Vascongadas of Sorolla.(Basques) .Intimate Sorolla. Until January 8 in A Coruña (Museum of fine arts).  For the first time, shows 32 sketches made by Joaquín Sorolla (do see the museum of his work in Madrid superb) for his work Vision of Spain.  The work was one of the most demanding  of his career and ended up becoming one of its most emblematic products. This set of drawings and gouaches was the result of trips of the Valencian throughout Spain, which attempted to capture spot colors,  traditions, customs, festivals and work from different parts of the country.

And Halloween is coming and even in Spain lol! Skulls and pumpkins ( Calaveras y Calabazas). Up to Tuesday 1 November in Gijón (Botanical Garden). The Halloween party is just around the corner and to celebrate it as it deserves. These activities, which will take  place in various forms until  1 November  include  gastronomic  workshops on  pumpkin, chestnut  and Apple; children‘s Theatre,  concerts,  gymkhanas, exhibitions and much more. 

A Jazz festival in Madrid!  JazzMadrid 2016; from October 25th to November 30th. Playing at different places all over Madrid, with the main one at Conde Duque 11. Of course, why not take a tour of the best soccer/football stadium of the world and the world’s best club, Santiago Bernabeu stadium (Real Madrid FC And how about visit to the tomb of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra at the Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians in Madrid, the author of from best the Spanish language is known literally. From 2015 it is a new thing to do in Madrid and well worth the detour.

Last but not the least, see the changing of the Royal guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid!  On Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11h (except in the month of July and August that will be from 10h until 12h), always and when permitted by official acts or weather) at the Puerta del Principe (Prince’s gate).  The sentinels of the Palace (two on foot and two on horses) dressed with gala – blue, white and red – uniforms similar to that used by the Spanish army in times of King Alfonso XIII, make a changing of the guard every  30 minutes – until 14h-, accompanied by a Fife (piccolo‘s high-pitched  tone used in  military  bands) and a drum to interpret military marches following orders and regulations voices.

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 !!!