And back at you with my series of some news from Spain !!! thanks to you all. There is lots of things going on in my beloved Spain, and it seems we will have a wonderful summer season. I am eagerly looking forward to that!! Let me tell you the latest tidbits of news chosen by yours truly, Enjoy it as Spain is everything under the Sun!
And tonight is the Champions league final , in Stade de France, near Paris, My Real Madrid vs Liverpool, two great teams and a grand finale. If in Madrid, where to see it ,these new finds will do, Of course, you have to be a Real Madrid fan ! Real Madrid fans know this well, a team that Saturday May 28th will play its 17th Champions League final, Of them, it has lost three and won 13 ! See it at Bareto with its opening at the end of 2021, it was possible to recover the mythical Cervecería Correos (where the Generation of 27 was conceived) with a proposal of cañi tavern, bar, cold beer and tapas very Madrid. My memorable Calle de Alcalà, 55.webpage : https://www.baretomadrid.com/
And why not with entertainment at ZIELOU Madrid, A cooking concept that adds spicy touches and mixes from around the world accompanied by live music and cocktails wrapped in red Nike Air. The party can also continue in the LAB room, also in the Chamartín penthouse facilities. Chamartín Station, s/n, Attic Floor. Webpage : https://www.zielou.com/en/
The La Feria del Libro de Madrid ,81st edition, kicks off with the hope of sustaining the growth in sales of the Retiro Park booths, which will remain open until June 12, 2022. The 378 book sales booths will be acting up as usual, In addition to the stalls at the Cervantes y Compañía, Remo, Desnivel and Polifemo bookstores, one has been added at Graduados, a Parla book store that makes its debut at this edition of the fair. The tour around should include the different pavilions, the Portugal booth, which celebrates the centenary of José Saramago, and the meeting with the Greek writer Theodor Kallifatides, who dedicated his novel Timandra to him at the publishing house and bookstore Desnivel, which maintains the oldest book store in Madrid in Plaza de Matute, they had prepared Cuerdas rebels, a volume on women climbers, by Arantza López Marugán, and she also picked up Yoga and Climbing, by Elieen Jubes, The figures of the book sector in Spain they continue to rise in this 2022. According to data from the GFK consultancy, sales have risen 5.7% so far this year compared to the same period in 2021, with especially marked increases in comics, graphic novels and manga (22%) and children and youth (9%). While in the book fair to protect yourselves from the sun and take your time, and highlights the activities that, beyond the 3,223 signatures of authors scheduled will dot the calendar with tributes, talks and debates. Without a public address system or printed maps, a mobile application and orange-clad fair staff will offer information, but perhaps this is a good opportunity to get lost among the books and booths. Indeed, a wonderful event in my Retiro Park, webpage : https://www.ferialibromadrid.com/flmadrid22/firmas-2022/
At 270 years old, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando is committed to the renovation of its spaces and a new museography of its impressive collections of more than 1,400 paintings, 1,300 sculptures, 22,000 architectural drawings and plans, 40,000 prints and around 9,000 engraving plates, which will be carried out progressively,and has allowed it to double the exhibition space dedicated to Goya, which now occupies the two main rooms on the first floor of the Academy museum. The first is articulated around the commissions received by Goya with official portraits such as those of Godoy, ‘Fernando VII on horseback’ and ‘La Tirana’. In addition, they hang his ‘Self-portrait at the easel’, which has a new frame; the ‘View of Calle de Alcalá’, by Antonio Joli, and a gallery of sculptural busts of characters portrayed by the artist. The second room brings together five splendid small-format panels, considered cabinet paintings (‘House of Fools’, ‘Bullfight’, ‘Inquisition Scene’, ‘Procession of Disciplinants’ and ‘The Burial of the Sardine’), portraits of his friends (Moratín, Juan de Villanueva and José Luis Munárriz), a bust self-portrait, as well as a copy of the portrait made by Vicente López, signed by Rosario Weiss. The room is completed with his mausoleum in Bordeaux, painted by Antonio de Brugada, and what, according to Federico de Madrazo, was the last palette of the painter from Fuendetodos. The world of Goya, in the house of Goya. This museographic renovation is included in the first phase of an ambitious restoration and conservation plan for the Academy’s collections, Webpage : https://realacademiabellasartessanfernando.com/es/goya/la-academia-y-goya/
The Hotel Wellington ,the emblematic five-star Madrid hotel has 70 years of bullfighting vocation. Nobody knows better the liturgies, superstitions and moments of waiting for the matador before heading towards the square. 90% of the great figures of Las Ventas dress here !. In times of pandemic, some things have changed at No 8 Calle Velázquez. The former Gabana nightclub has been converted into a glamorous spa. The reception has been completely remodeled, the Bar Inglés or English bar is the only space that continues exactly as it was conceived in 1952. Some of the great names of bullfighters such as Curro Romero, who lived in the hotel in the 1950s as a promising novillero, is a good example. Along with him, bullfighting icons from before and now such as Paco Camino, Jaime Ostos, Rafael de Paula, El Niño de la Capea, Ortega Cano, El Cordobés, Manuel Caballero, Finito de Córdoba, Fran Rivera, Diego Urdiales, Sebastián Castella, and Alexander Talavant have stayed here. The renovations covers the Hall good for a ‘Photo call’ for tourists, liturgy for bullfighters, Bar Inglés, Wood, dark leather… the mythical bar has remained the same as when this hotel was opened, by the way, with the quality seal of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. The roofstop top floor hides the only urban vineyard in Madrid. The Spa Suites attached rooms feature a private terrace and pool access. The Art , well see ,Verónica the cow, bullfighting queen of Calle Velázquez, designed by Pilar Oñate, the XXL-sized sculpture at the hotel door attracts all eyes, Webpage : https://www.hotel-wellington.com/en/
Campo de Criptana , is the destination of the Tren de los Molinos, which connects Madrid with the town of La Mancha, in the middle of the land of the wine mills, The proposed new tourist train will ride the next few days June 11 and 18, September 10 and 24 and 8 and October 22, 2022. An hour and a half journey enlivened by a group of actors who will give life, among others, to Miguel de Cervantes himself, who will explain to travelers the magic of the destination that inspired him to write chapter VIII of his universal novel. Castilla-La Mancha is home to the largest area of vineyards in the world. For this reason, at mid-morning, a stop is made at the Castiblanque winery for a wine tasting accompanied by bites of traditional La Mancha cuisine. From there it is possible to see the Pozo de Nieve, an example of popular architecture from the 18C that was used to store and preserve ice for distribution and sale. Up to 190 tons of ice and frost, obtained from the snow that fell on this plateau, were housed in this construction in order to better preserve food. The Sanctuary of the Christ of Villajos, patron saint of Campo de Criptana, La Sierra de los Molinos is the third stage of the trip plan. It is the image that puts this La Mancha town on the world map, because this is where the ingenious hidalgo fought against the giants. The Interpretation Center of the Manchego Mill, where the traveler can learn about its history, the different types that exist, the machinery used to grind the grain, its elements, the importance they had for the economy of La Mancha and its link with Don Quixote, The town of Campo de Criptana on the train : https://www.campodecriptana.es/actualidad/2922-el-tren-de-los-molinos-visita-la-gran-via-de-madrid-para-promocionar-campo-de-criptana-como-destino-turistico-de-interior
Spain leads the world ranking in number of sandbanks with the blue flag in the world with 621, six more than last year and 18 that premiere the seal. We must add the 103 marinas in which the Blue Flag will also wave this summer (seven more than 2021) and five in the case of tourist boats (three more than last year). The Valencian Community is the region that has the most blue flags: 139, two more than last year , follow by Andalucia reaching 122, seven more than in 2021 ,Blue flags in Spain webpage : http://www.banderaazul.org/playas-bandera-azul-2022
In Spain there are nearly 10 million people who have a dog in the family and more than a thousand hotels that allow pets. The three Basque capitals ,Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gazteiz are among the most dog-friendly Spanish cities. In San Sebastián, for example, there are up to three urban beaches (La Concha, Ondarreta and Zurriola) open to canine pets from October 1 to May 31. Stately manor houses, leafy gardens with camellias, beaches like those of O Grove (Pontevedra), charming stone towns and cities, small villages full of charm… the Rías Baixas are another destination where you can enjoy a lot. Walking through its towns and natural landscapes with the dog is free, but there are places like the Cíes Islands where it is not allowed to go with pets. On the other hand, you can navigate the estuary and enjoy the landscape on the boats between Vigo and Moaña, as long as the animals are tied up and calm. Malaga is one of the best destinations in Andalucia to travel with dogs: there are cafes, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions that accept pets. At Gijón (Asturias) was one of the first Spanish cities to welcome tourists with dogs with open arms . Many bars, cider houses, cafes and shops allow well-behaved pets to enter. In Oviedo, on the other hand, the possibilities are more limited, both on beaches and in establishments. Barcelona is one of the Spanish cities that has many of its parks , do not allow access (or tethering) to animals, and others prohibit them from running loose. In compensation, there are tourist places that do allow them, such as Poble Espanyol, Casa Batlló or the Fran Daurel Foundation. Dogs can travel on the metro or tram with a short leash and muzzle, and even in Rodalies (Cercanías de Catalunya) but respecting certain rules. In Spain there are 110 dog beaches, a fairly small percentage ! Of the 16 Spanish national parks, only nine can be visited with dogs (on a leash) such as Picos de Europa (in Asturias, León and Cantabria), Teide (Tenerife), Garajonay (La Gomera), Sierra Nevada (Granada and Almería) , Cabañeros (Ciudad Real and Toledo), Monfragüe (Cáceres), Sierra de Guadarrama (Segovia and Community of Madrid), and Ordesa and Monte Perdido (Huesca). I will just have the Madrid tourist office on dog friendly places : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/dog-friendly-madrid
Some beautiful gardens near the sea, some I like are : The Ciudad de Flores or city of flowers Jardines de la Marquesa and municipal park, Arucas (Gran Canaria), Here you have 8 hectares owned by the descendants of the Marquisate of Arucas. Anyone who walks at the foot of the mountain of the same name will have the retina crowded with 500 species of palm trees; botany from Southeast Asia, with the extremely rare breadfruit tree; black bamboos; Araucarias that double the height of the 1880 mansion, erected in the characteristic blue stone from Araucanía. The meandering impression, with a romantic flavor, comes off passing through the bougainvillea tunnel and photographing peacocks. Webpage : http://jardindelamarquesa.com/en/
Jardín Botánico-Histórico de La Concepción or Botanical-Historical Garden of La Concepción, Málaga (Andalusia), Tropicalist and luxuriant, with plant tradition and historical experience. This is how this forest from 170 years ago manifests itself, the fruit of the botanical desires of the Marquises of Casa Loring. It is a miracle that this 19C English romantic landscape garden has been preserved intact. And its easy access next to the A-45 highway/motorway is appreciated. From the historic garden, wisterias are preserved, which, not content with upholstering the iron gazebo (from 1860), climb through the trees to reach 25 meters in height. Nearby is the Museo Loringiano, an imposing Doric temple that served as an archaeological museum for its owners and that today houses copies of the Lex Flavia Malacitana and the mosaic of Hercules. The historic garden is embraced by the botanist, in which hyperbole prevails ; the tunnel of giant bamboos, corpulent palm trees, the largest aquatic plant in the world ,the Victoria cruziana amazónica, when not the tallest tree in the province from Malaga, a 48 meter high monkey puzzle tree. Webpage : https://laconcepcion.malaga.eu/en/
My beautiful natural Spain and nice seen in Cantabria, The most beautiful view that can be obtained from the promenade of Santander, the Pier, on the horizon you can clearly see the snow-capped Picos de Europa, even as far as the western massifs of Asturias, and, in the opposite direction, the seven km of beach that range from El Puntal to Somo and Loredo. from the peninsula of La Magdalena, or circumnavigate it in a boat, to find the impressive succession of beaches of El Camello, the great sandbank formed by the three beaches of Sardinero or the hidden one of Mataleñas, under a cliff, On the coastline of the Jardines de Pereda to enjoy the beautiful views of El Puntal, the Bay of Santander and the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains. At the Los Reginas pier, you can choose from a good number of short excursions to different points in the bay, sailing between 20 minutes and two hours. the excursion that borders the Magdalena and reaches Mataleñas, beyond the Sardinero. Other options available all year round lead to El Puntal, the town of Somo or Pedreña. Santander, in the heart of the city, is home to one of the best collections of Upper Palaeolithic remains in the world at the Museum of Prehistory and Archeology of Cantabria ,Calle Hernán Cortés, 4, next to the Mercado del Este, The Santander tourist office : https://turismo.santander.es/en
The mythical soul of the Camino of Santiago de Compostela. The marking history is recent, since it was devised in 1984 by a priest from O Cebreiro, Elías Valiña, who marked the entire Camino Francés or French Way with it from Roncesvalles to Santiago. And its popularity is maximum: the yellow arrow is today one of the most international symbols of the Camino de Santiago. We cannot forget that welcoming pilgrims is one of the founding characteristics of the Camino de Santiago and also a reflection of the spirit of solidarity that has traditionally prevailed in Galicia. Such great hospitality takes shape, today, in 70 centers and more than 3,000 public places that make up the 22h Public Hostel Network. And you must leave them before 8h the next day and leave the space clean and tidy. Of course, to access the hostels you will need your pilgrim credential. You must not forget your pilgrim credential, which has its origin in the document that, during the Middle Ages, was given to pilgrims as a safe-conduct. You can get it at the International Pilgrim Reception Center, the headquarters of pilgrims’ brotherhoods, shelters and parishes. It is a kind of passport that must be stamped at each stage of the route, at least twice a day in the last 100 km (for pilgrims on foot or on horseback), in the last 200 km (for cycling pilgrims) or for 100 nautical miles sailed, completing the last kilometers of the Way on foot from O Monte do Gozo. Only then can you request, at the end of your pilgrimage, the Compostela. Where? At the Pilgrim’s Office, located in the International Pilgrim Reception Center, at no 33 Calle Carretas , a few meters from Praza do Obradoiro. To get it, you do not need to have walked the Camino continuously over time, but you do need to have done it geographically. In other words, you can plan your route, for example, on weekends, but you should always return to the place where you left off, since skipping a section of the Camino would invalidate the achievement of the Camino de Santiago certificate , In Galicia. they open at 13h and close at 22h are the Jacobean routes that reach the cathedral of Santiago: coastal or inland, longer or shorter, and with different entrances to Galicia from the Peninsula. The Camino Francés or French Way enters Galicia through the Bierzo region and begins in Ocebreiro, a village of pre-Roman origin that belongs to the City Council of Pedrafita do Cebreiro and to the province of Lugo. The Camino of Fisterra and Muxia ; this Jacobean route has its origin in the city of Santiago and its goal in Cape Fisterra and the Sanctuary of the Virxe da Barca de Muxía. If you comefrom Andalusia and Extremadura, enters Galicia through the Portelas do Padornelo and A Canda ,where it begins, and passes through the northern sector of the Monterrei valley and A Limia until it reaches Ourense. This is the Camino or Via de la Plata. Very little known, this Jacobean route was followed by Icelanders and Scandinavians who made a pilgrimage to Santiago. The Camino Inglés or English Way has two alternatives in Galicia: the itinerary from A Coruña is shorter (73 km) than the one starting from Ferrol (112.5 km), The Camino Primitivo or Primitive Way, links Oviedo with Santiago de Compostela and runs largely along Roman roads. It is 166.9 km through San Xoán de Padrón and 168.1 km through A Proba de Burón ; and is UNESCO, World Heritage Site. The Camino del Norte or the Northern Way , runs along the Asturian coast and, after Castropol , the last town in Asturias ,enters Galicia by crossing the Cantabrian Sea through the beautiful Ribadeo estuary. That is why its starting point in Galician lands is Ribadeo, in the province of Lugo, Also, Unesco, World Heritage Site. The Pilgrims webpage : https://www.pilgrim.es/en/routes
There you go folks, another dandy tour of my beloved Spain ! Summer is practically even if officially is June 21st. Time to enjoy sunny Spain once again, and we are gear up for it! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember ,happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
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