Paris1972-Versailles2003

Ok so far away in Breton lands here is my latest on my beloved Spain, here it is 13C or about 59F while in Madrid it is now about 62F or 14C.  We have cloudy skies and dark days no sun, no rain. Same in Madrid but tomorrow should be better.

Some ideas to get away for Father’s Day in Spain : You go to Consuegra (of Quijote windmill fame) where you have the Casa Rural El Retiro de La Mancha, a great complex for a great weekend. It has many gastronomic offers and guided visits to the castle or Castillo de la Muela. More information here: www.elretirodelamancha.com

Another is the Casa Rural Juliana, province of Cuenca . Here you will learn about the wonderful olive virgin oil and the honey of  Alcarria. You can go on the route of Olives of the Mancha and Colmenas with tasting of olive oils and honeys.  You can do ,also,  a guided visit to the famous monastery or Monasterio de Uclés. Something I will do next summer. I will be in another house nearby but this one is a good one too. https://www.escapadarural.com/casa-rural/cuenca/casa-rural-juliana

And why not visit a traditional Galician winery in Castro Rei, of the denomination of D.O. Ribeiro, where they will explain the process and processing the wine as well as tastings .  Also, there is a thermal spa in  Termas de Prexigueiro with pools of hot natural water treatment with vinotherapy, partial message. More information here: www.pazoalmuzara.com

And on one we visit last summer and post here in Chinchon you have the Hotel Rural La Graja. It has a thermal circuit of one hour and a message of 30 minutes. At night, you have a gourmet tasting in a nearby restaurant. You can have more information here: www.lagraja.com

And on the balnearia Parque de Alceda in Cantabria you have a place to relax with great local cuisine. It has outdoor thermal pools with the water coming from a spring at 26C or about 78F. A great getaway place ;more info here:  www.balneariodealceda.es

We continue on the world of Arts and culture by visiting the museum or Museo Guggenheim of  Bilbao; tourist bus to see the city in one shot. See the museum here: https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/

And why not another wonders in a lovely city , visit the Hotel Rural las Treixas in Zamora. It is at the Puebla de Sanabria, a rural hotel to relax in style. They offer anti stress treatment with the best gastronomy of the region. More info here: www.treixas.com

More in arts see Faces a showing of more than 50 photographs in black and white of movie director Isabel Coixet done from her 22 movies. This expo is free until June 30th in the Espacio Cultural La Térmica, avenida de los Guindos, 48 Malaga. It has shots from artists like Time Robbins , Juliette Binoche, Rinko Kikuchi or Candela Peña. You can see the passion of the moviemaker for the publicity world, expressive of the human body and the photography. More here :http://www.latermicamalaga.com/isabel-coixet-recoge-su-fascinacion-por-el-rostro-humano-en-la-exposicion-faces-en-la-termica/

And we are back in Madrid ,where  Alberto Álvaro  traces the places of Madrid walking and photographing in the Barrio de las Letras, Malasaña or Lavapiés districts. Walking by with the small of freshly baked bread and seafood in all the places of a  bygone era. My Madrid. He once walked by the street Calle de Echegaray and took aim at the small businesses of Madrid  to have them in photos.  Two years and hundreds of instant photos with all label and square format he present it in an expo call Reliquias de Madrid or Madrid relics. He has taken seafood stores,restos, bakeries, chicken fast food ,steakhouses and even videoclubs taken you to the nostalgia and memories . He tells the story of walking by street or calle de los Tres Peces ,and feeling like seeing a scene from a movie. There he found three relics , one printing store, shoe store, and creamery store that are not longer there. More here:  https://www.instagram.com/reliquiasdemadrid/?hl=es

You run to the Círculo de Bellas Artes and see the work of Francis Bacon with more than 100 works on paper by the artist coming from a collection of more than 600 drawings of Cristiano Lovatelli Ravarino, partner of the artist for many years that are put together in the Francis Bacon Collection of the Drawings Donated to Cristiano Lovatelli Ravarino. They all belong to the last decade of the artist painter, including the parents of  Velázquez, clergy portraits, auto portraits and those of friends ,and images of his eternal obsession, such as cruxifiction, addomens, heads etc to put the figure into a space.  The expo is “En Francis Bacon. La cuestión del dibujo”, there are works in black and white to rend homage to Van Gogh, atelier shops of  Guercino or Leonardo Da Vinci,  more auto portraits, and painting of his friends, etc . Circulo de Bellas Artes, Calle Marqués de Casa Riera 2, showing until May 21 2017. More info here:  http://www.circulobellasartes.com/exposiciones/bacon-la-cuestion-del-dibujo/

One of Madrid best icon cafés closed since last July is making a comeback under new ownership. This is one of my favorite and we discussed with friends there its closing so sad, now I am thrilled to read and tell you that from March 21st it will be open again! Café Comercial part now of the Grupo Escondite who also owns Lady Madonna, El Escondite de Villanueva ,and Bárbara Ann. The Café Comercial in the Glorieta de Bilbao is 130 years old founded in 1887 with the name El Comercial, giving light to the novel “La Colmena”,  of the Nobel prize winner Camilo José Cela, and here many famous came to meet such as the writers  Antonio Machado, Enrique Jardiel Poncela, Rafael Azcona ,and Rafael Sánchez-Ferlosio. Be there from March 21 I will be back in summer.

Flamenco the history of the jonda culture is having a show in the Biblioteca Nacional or national library . You will see 150 works coming from the  Biblioteca Nacional de España ,and Museo Reina Sofía, Museo Picasso de Barcelona, the Fundación Cante de las Minas de la Unión and many private collections.  A trip thru 400 years with books, manuscripts, recordings, drawings and paintings as well as fragments from film, photographs and record label covers as well as posters ! It will show one of the earliest manifestation of flamenco in work like the La Gitanillla of Cervantes or stamp paintings such as El Vito of  Goya, to arrive of the films of Saura, etc. Literature and books , newspapers articles from Chaves Nogales, Gómez de la Serna, Caballero Bonald or Félix Grande, and movies from directors Val Del Omar, Rovira Beleta, Serrano de Osma, Carlos Saura,and Tony Gatlif, capturing artists like Carmen Amaya, Antonio El Bailarín, La Paquera ,and Enrique El Cojo. Until May 2nd, more info here: http://www.bne.es/es/Actividades/Exposiciones/Exposiciones/Exposiciones2017/PatrimonioFlamencoLahistoriaculturajonda/Index.html

The cycle Andalucía Flamenca is in vogue in Madrid.  You can still catch up with Rocio Marquez March 17, Marina Heredia y Dorantes ,April 21st on the camara room and on May 7 in the sinfonia room Arcangel with Miguel Poveda, Estrella Morente and Manolo Sanlùcar. More here: http://www.cndm.mcu.es/ciclo/andalucia-flamenca

How about Charles III king Carlos III; in his 300 year anniversary of his birth. In the museum of history you will see over 200 pieces part of the collection of the city of Madrid,  Museo del Prado,National Heritage, National library ,and the museum of natural sciences or Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, this in addition to those already exhibit at the Museo de historia,which is in the former hospice of San Fernando, calle Fuencarral,78 : more info here:  http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/Cultura-ocio-y-deporte/Cultura-y-ocio/Museo-de-Historia-de-Madrid?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=ab18a1ead63ab010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=c937f073808fe410VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&idCapitulo=10206017

 The XXXIV del Festival de Otoño a Primavera de la Comunidad de Madrid or the fall to spring festival of the Community of Madrid is on. You have the calendar from March onwards here: http://www.madrid.org/fo/2016-2017/calendario.html

Big sporting events coming up such my better ones of Real Madrid FC (my team OK).  Real Madrid vs Barcelona European league game admission from 35€ on March 27 at Wizink Center, more info here:https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/wizink-center

The Madrid half marathon is back; April 2nd and will be run from Paseo del Prado (between Neptuno and Atocha),and finish line at the Paseo de coches in the parque de El Retiro. More info here: http://www.mediomaratonmadrid.es/

Then, you have the match between Real Madrid FC and Atlético de Madrid (the derby) on April 9 in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. A game part of the Liga Santander, 1st division football/soccer in Spain. More here: http://www.realmadrid.com/en/santiago-bernabeu-stadium/virtual-tour-3d

And the El Clàsico game of the liga Santander between Real Madrid FC vs Barcelona on April 23rd  at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Another angle from the tourist office of Madrid and more info here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/real-madrid-fc-barcelona-liga-santander-santiago-bernabeu-stadium

Then, we have Heroes Manga festival as well lol! At the Feria de Madrid complex will have the XVI edition of the Salón del Manga y la Cultura Oriental; at this edition it change its name to Héroes Manga Madrid (before it was  Expomanga),a must for all lovers of illustrated stories from Japanese origins. On April 22-23 2017 and more info here: http://www.easyfairs.com/es/heroes-manga-madrid-2017/expomanga-2017/

I love the Feria del Libro de Madrid  (book fair of Madrid) and this year is no exception. A must for all readers abound on earth.  From May 26 to June 11, 2017. Since 1933 in the Paseo de Recoletos, and my parking is just off Cibeles lol! Then, it was moved to the bigger Retiro park . The coming one will the 76 edition and will have about 365 chalets and 480 exposing members amongst them, official organisms, distributors, specialist bookman, general libraries, editors from Madrid and beyond. From 1982, the event is call as today the Feria del Libro de Madrid and always opens up with a member of the Royal family walk in the morning. More info here: http://www.ferialibromadrid.com/#

And another big event in Madrid as anywhere in Spain is the Holy Week or Semana Santa. This year from April 9 to 16. marching virgins and saints on the streets of Madrid with drums and trumpets with a sacred song. And time to taste those Torrijas! More info from tourist office and official web of the event here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/easter-madrid

The next one is wonderful and roots of Madrid, the Fiestas San Isidro from May 12-15, the castizo soul and the spirit of Madrid come together each year to honor the city Patron Saint. Again more here from the tourist office and webpage of official event here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/sanisidro-madrid

In my time there I always enjoy these festivities and lucky to be there again in summers and the next. The zarzuelas or operettas or feast of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo, and my favorite the Paloma  are held from August 5-16 this year. This is the history of Madrid by its Verbenas.  This is the theater presentation of la Verbena de la Paloma, https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/la-verbena-de-la-paloma-teatro-Victoria

And on the Summer feast here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/august-fiestas-madrid

And do you know we are celebrating 400 years history of the Plaza Mayor of Madrid all year long!  It is a huge program with its own webpage in Spanish here; https://plazamayormadrid4c.es/agenda/

The  above will be huge so much schedule will take a blog of its own to tell you.  The tourist office of Madrid has plenty in English here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/4th-centenary-plaza-mayor-Madrid

Some in the area of Plaza Mayor even older you ask, well there is. Here are some: the oldest business is not far, just at Calle Mayor ,59, call the Antigua Farmacia de la Reina Madre founded in 1587 by a Venecian chemist with fame as he provided medicines to king François I of France while prisoner in the tower or Torre de los Lujanes in the Plaza de la Villa. The original was in the Calle Sacramento in 1914 when it was translated to the current place with structure, furniture and medicines and all! More here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/shopping/botica-la-reina-madre

While it is call the Posada del Peine ? because it was a gift that offer the proprietor to their guest , a comb=peine and posada a hotel type. It was given tied up to a cord in the bathroom so it will not be taken from the room.  Those that walked by the street Calle de Postas, next to the Plaza Mayor, will have notice the beautiful façade that you see today in the modern hotel of the chain Petit Palace that opened in 2006 at the same spot that one day occupied the Posada del Peine that worked as one from 1610 to 1960! More here: http://www.petitpalacemayorplaza.com/

And we have more, that are from about the same age as the Plaza Mayor. these are the Posada de la Villa in Cava Baja, 9  that opens by 1642 where it was a windmill once of flour,the only one in the city. It welcome all visitors to the city and today serve an excellent roasted lamb in wood oven! More here: http://www.posadadelavilla.com/index_en.html

The other place and one of my favorite corners in Madrid is the Libreria San Ginés , attach to the Church of same name next to street Calle Arenal at Pasadizo de San Gines, 2 (and you know what’s on that street too ::). It’s origins go back to 1650 when Diego Logrono worked as a librarian. Here, you will find old books and used, with post cards, posters etc. You can take a picture with its stalls outside; and you too can come up with stories like mine. More here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/shopping/libreria-san-gines

And that is all folks, Spain is everything under the Sun! Enjoy your week. Cheers!

Back on Spain, looking forward to the visit end of May, and Real Madrid on the Liga and Champions run, great.

The site wine routes of Spain has a survey that shows the most visited wine routes in Spain in 2015 no surprise to me these are the wine route of wine and sparklers of Cava del Penedès Enoturisme Penedès , and the ones of the Sherry or Marco de Jerez Other routes in the ranking are the Ribera del Duero, Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, Rías Baixas, and Empordà.(the most growing one in terms of popularity). Other areas growing in following are the Bierzo, Bullas, Montilla-Moriles ,and Ronda, with more than 30% growth vs past years! http://www.wineroutesofspain.com/

How to drop a tapa in Madrid, you can reserve on the next stop with Mahou the beer of Madrid, my beer ! here: http://www.mahoudrid.com/taller-tiraje/

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.

Wilfredo Lam a Cuban Painter is on at the Museo Reina Sofia with 250 of its works, he died in Paris in 1982. Learned a the Academia de Bellas Artes de Madrid . His work is with the working class and best is Cmpesino (1926)  and Campesina castellana (1927);siding with the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War he goes into exile in Paris in 1938 , returned to Cuba in 1941 but the events there did not like and comes back to Paris. The work will be showing until August 15 2016. http://www.museoreinasofia.es/exposiciones/wifredo-lam-0

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. 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

Palacio de Congresos RiojaforumC/ San Millán, nº 25 Logroño , the June 12 will have the Feria de los Vinos de la Rioja from 11h to 15h ; admission is 10€ (includes a glass and  3  wines from the fairs with tastings or 30 EUR with train from Bilbao More in Spanish here: http://www.lariojacapital.com/elriojaylos5sentidos/evento/8-olfato/248-feria-de-los-vinos-de-la-rioja/

And you know the official weather of Spain, AEMET; http://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/provincias?p=28&w=&o=pais

And the best route planner for Spain Guia Repsol  : just enters your destination here : http://www.guiarepsol.com/en/map/

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 here is the ranking in Spanish, http://www.autopista.es/noticias-motor/articulo/espana-tercer-pais-mundo-kilometros-autovias-autopistas

Last but not least, Atlético de Madrid is playing as I write the Champions league football/soccer semifinal vs Bayern Munich in Munich Germany. 15 minutes first half 0X0 which will make the Atlético advance to the final. Tomorrow is my team the Real Madrid vs Manchester City at the Bernabeu in Madrid. We have tied 0X0 in Manchester so in good seat to advance at our beloved home. Meanwhile, in the Liga BBVA we have made great advances from a while back behind 13 points to just one behind the leaders. Stay tune two games remaining in the Liga will be hot indeed!

Enjoy Spain, everything Under the Sun ::)

This is time to write about Spain, its been a while but when you are far ,well busy…..

My team the Real Madrid , that have written so much on it here, is now in third place but will have that change at the end of the season ::) They are getting ready for the next Liga BBVA match vs Almeria;in the 14 game of the season in Almeria.  We have 31 points with 13 matches ,10 wins,1 tied,2 losses ,35 goals in favor, and 17 goals against (poor).

We play the first round of the King’s Cup (Copa del Rey) vs Olimpic de Xàtiva, on Dec 7 and the return on Dec 12 2013. And the bigger Champions league of Europe, we are playing the group rounds in Group B, vs Galatarasay of Turkey, Copenhagen of Denmark, and Juventus of Italy. We are in first place with 10 points our seconds only have 4! so we will go thru the next round.

In basketball, we are in first place undefeated 6×0, in the Liga Endesa with our next match Nov 24 vs our derby Estudiantes at home. In the Euroleague or basketball equivalent of the Champions league we are in Group B with Milano Italy, Efes Pilsen Turkey, Zalguiris Lithuania,Brose of Germany, and Strasbourg of France.

The sorting of the groups for the World Cup in Brazil next June 2014 will be held on december 6, and Spain will not be with France for the group ::)

In a contest in metropoli of El Mundo newspaper they had chosen as the best souvenir boutiques of the muséums in Spain as the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemizra, both of Madrid, then Alhambra of Granada, Fundacion Joan Miro , Barcelona ,and the Guggenheim of Bilbao.

In Spain we rendered honor to the 50 years of the Pirelli calendar;you know the one with the beautiful women…http://www.pirellical.com/50years/

And now that its about the time to be Christmas i missed most my times in Spain, Castilla y Leon, Zamora, Leon, Salamanca, Valladolid, Segovia, Soria, Avila y Palencia. memories….

The Centro Cubano, 41-1º Calle Claudio Coello, Madrid, the oldest Cuban restaurant in Europe (open in 1967) closed in 2011. Now I hear that members of the family are trying to open a new one in José Ortega y Gasset street. no name yet. Stay tuned. http://www.elcentrocubano.es/

I will be back again early December 2013 ::) Have a great weekend.

Well been letting this tag kind of alone lately but its lively in Spain always. My latest finds to share with my readers are,

First , you have concerts from some of my all time favorites such as Merche, April 18 at Joy Madrid, 20€, at a nostalgic place whre Iused to go for theater plays when young, then a disco, then a nightclub of all, and the famous of Spain, more info http://www.joy-eslava.com/Joy_Madrid/Bienvenida.html

 Top it off with Alejandro Sanz, June 26/27 at palacio de los deportes, from 33€ to 235€ on sale at ticketmaster or El Corte Inglés stores.http://www.palaciodedeportes.com/eventos_detalle.php?id=524

You have Chenoa playing May 24 for 25/35€ with sales at El Corte Inglés and at Teatro Compac Gran Via, http://www.gruposmedia.com/teatros/teatro-compac-gran-via-madrid/

of course in the Palacio de los deportes of Madrid you can see many things and I used to do fencing and volleyball there when young, now you can see the Real Madrid basketball team 7 times European Champion and on top of group in the euroligue this year. In the league official page, you can see the history of Real Madrid baloncesto or basketball, http://www.euroleague.net/competition/teams/showteam?clubcode=MAD&seasoncode=E2012

Tabacalera, la Antigua Fábrica de Tabacos de Madrid, or the old cigars factory of Madrid was built between  1780 and 1792, Initially it was set up as  Real Fábrica de Aguardientes y Naipes or Royal factory of eau de vie  and game cards.  It served this way for a while before been change to a Fábrica de Tabacos y Rapé or factory of cigars and snuff in 1809 ,and kept the manufacture until the end of the 20C. Now from 2007 onward it is handle as a center of visual arts on the street level and basement the rest is used by other centers for diverse exhibitions.  It is located at Calle Embajadores,51 metro embajadores line 3 or cercanias train C5. It is open Tuesdays to Fridays from  12h to  20h. Saturdays, Sundays ,and holidays from 11h to 20h. Mondays closed.  You have a wonderful expo on painting,and architecture by José Manuel Ballester  until April 28;more info here http://www.mcu.es/promoArte/MC/Ballester/exposicion.html

Do stop by Casa de América, at Cibeles 2 metro banco de España open from Mondays to Saturdays from 11h to 19h30, and Sundays from 11h to 15h,free admission. http://www.casamerica.es/

Casa Europa at the old and wonderful Circulo de Bellas Artes or beaux-arts circle at calle marques de Casa Riera,and Alcala , metro banco de España,  more info here http://www.circulobellasartes.com/visitas.php

Some of the best places to see Madrid my youthful city are, museo de Antropologia or Anthropology museum, Calle alfonso XII, http://mnantropologia.mcu.es/  ,and the Biblioteca National or national library, http://www.bne.es/en/Inicio/index.html  ;Casa de Lope de Vega, when young his were the books and stories we learned Spanish and our history; here is where the writer lived and died from 1610 to 1635, at Calle Cervantes 11 in a very Madrilene district nearest metro Anton Martin. free admission at the regional gov site, sorry its long and in Spanish,  http://www.emes.es/VivirenMadrid/MuseosdeMadrid/FichaMuseo/casa-museo-lope-vega/tabid/608/itemid/1/type/Museo/Default.aspx

The Cathedral of Almudena, guided visit for 6€, visit apart the chapel of the bishop for 2€; http://www.archimadrid.es/catedral/  the wonders of monasteries, such as monasterio de la Encarnacion, plaza de la encarnacion, metro opera, admission 7€ painting of Madrid and the Bourbons, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Monasterios-y-Conventos/Real-Monasterio-de-la-Encarnacion.aspx and the more popular Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, plaza de las descalzas, metro Sol, admission 7€ more info here http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Monasterios-y-Conventos/Monasterio-de-las-Descalzas-Reales.aspx

Museo de Cera or wax museum with nice history of Spain inside, near Colon Plaza. at paseo de los recoletos, metro Colon. 16€ more info here http://www.museoceramadrid.com/  The Lazaro Galdiano museum at Serrano 122, one of the most brilliant private expositions of paintings in Spain, http://www.flg.es/museo/museo.htm Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes, this is where it is claimed Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born (the wter of Don Quijote)  at Alcala de Henares, more info http://www.museo-casa-natal-cervantes.org/

The palace of El Pardo, including the casa del principe Don Carlos, paintings including one of Queen Isabel the Catholic, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Palacio-Real-de-El-Pardo.aspx ; the palacio Real, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Palacio-Real-de-Madrid.aspx, and the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Real-Sitio-de-Aranjuez.aspx ,and the palacio Real de la Granja at near Segovia, the Versailles of Spain, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Palacio-Real-de-La-Granja-de-San-Ildefonso.aspx

The Planetario or planetarium of Madrid, http://www.planetmad.es/horarios/horarios.html ; Real Monasterio de El Escorial, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Real-Sitio-de-San-Lorenzo-del-Escorial.aspx  the Real Observatorio de Madrid, or astronomy with telescopes meridian, clocks, and mirrors including a pendulum clock from Foucault, http://www.ign.es/rom/visitas/index.jsp

I won’t need to tell you about the triangle of arts that includes the Prado, Reina Sofia,and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. But do take a look at the Museo Sorolla, general martinez campo, 37 metro Iglesias; free admission,and the best collection of this Valencian painter; wonderful place, http://museosorolla.mcu.es/informacion.html  and do visit the museo Taurino behind the Ventas monumental bullfighting ring, metro ventas line 2 and 5, where I lived for four years nearby.  Calle  Alcala ,  237  just from the gardens,  http://www-2.munimadrid.es/guia/visualizador/login.do?externalApp=true

And one of favorites areas for the cable car or teleferico to Casa de Campo, where you have a zoo,aquarium, attraction rides park,and just great. http://www.teleferico.com/ and http://www.parquedeatracciones.es/  and http://www.zoomadrid.com/ right from paseo del pintor Rosales on the parque de la Montaña more known as parque del oeste you have the temple Debod, egyptian gift to Spain in 1968, from the gods Amon and Isis. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/temple-of-debod

And last, I ate at Dehesa de Santa Maria, Calle Mayor, 88  a franchise chain all over Spain with tapas, hams,sausages, and beer/wine right at old Madrid near plaza Mayor ,slow service for a plate of four tapas and two beers 13,90€ the price was right, but not one I will be going back ::) http://www.dehesasantamaria.com/paginas/restaurantes.htm

Enjoy Madrid and you know it life is beautiful, more so in Madrid ::)

Well the biggest news out of Spain nowdays is the sitting by Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Long time coming as I hear my family and friends there talking about the economic problems there ,and especially the high unemployment rate. The demontrators have been told by the Supreme court it is illegal to camp out there, but they have vow to continue for at least a week more until reforms are brought in. Naturally the present govt of is not going for re election as if they knew already the outcome. the voting is still going on today in the Communidad de Madrid with higher voter turnover than anticipated about 35,7%  by 14h according to El Mundo newspaper.You can follow the voting in Spanish here http://www.votosycifras.com/

In more lighter news the football league or Liga is over after 38 games, the winner of course is Barcelona, with Real Madrid close in second again. They ,however, can feel some reliefs as winning the King’s Cup this year for the first time in 18 yrs. The team finish with 102 goals and Cristiano Ronaldo tops all time scorer with 41 goals !!! In other the Deportivo La Coruña will say goodbye to the first division Liga after 20 years there, and also ,will go down to second Hercules and Almeria.  Sevilla and Atletic Bilbao will play next year in the Europa League and the Champions league contenders will be Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, and Villareal.

In Germany our beloved Raul Gonzalez Blanco, our my Captain of Real Madrid won what was missing from his record a Cup, winning the German Cup competition with Schalke 04 against Duisburg 5×0!!

While in the Liga ACB basketball playoffs, the Real Madrid goes to semifinals after beating Fuenlabrada again last night. Next opponent will be Baskonia Bilbao in the semifinals while the other will pit Barcelona vs Caja Laboral. Depending on the TV choices of the chains, the dates for the five game semifinal series will be May 26 , 27 , 28 , and 29, the second games will be May 31 and June 1 and if goes to four games then June 2 and 3 , if a fifth game is needed it will be June 4 and 5.

In the second divisio or Liga Adelante, and after the news of  Betis of Sevilla to move up next year to the big game, the second team is a soft nostalgic for me, it will be the fourth Madrid team in the first league or Liga BBVA (others are Getafe, Atletico de Madrid, and Real Madrid) , Rayo Vallecano from the district of Vallecas.olé Congrats. There is still two games remaining to see who else will accompany them to the top contenders are the Barcelona B and Granada.  In Segunda B or like the third divison already the Real Madrid Castilla is in third place and qualified for the playoff to move up as the top 4 goes into a complicated system to bring 3 to the second division.  The first playoff game vs Alcoyano was lost 0X2 in Madrid now they need to overcome this deficit to continue in the competition. Hala Madrid chicos !!!

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.

And all under sunny skies great to be out, and they are ::) Cheers ,and have a great week.

Well here I am ready to go out but not without letting you know a bit of my old street Calle Alcala in Madrid.  Temps there will be from 9° to 25°C in the next few days.

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.

First you have the magnificent Real Casa de la Aduana (Royal customs house) at no 5,7,9,and 11. Built in 1645 on the Léña now call Calle de la Bolsa. It was in 1761-1769  that king Charles III ordered Sabatini to built the one on Alcala street. It was dotted with 3 huge patios of which 2 were made apart by a huge hallway that linked with a star of two tears and had large rooms that later served as warehouse . In 1848 the ministry of Hacienda ( treasury) . In 1944 new additions were done, and as of today the Treasury dept of Spain is still there.

The Palacio de la Equitativa or Banco Español de Credito at Calle Alcala no 14. Banks were growing in Spain and by the 1882-1891 right around Calle Alcalá  and Calle  Sevilla, it was built the Sociedad de Seguros La Equitativa (insurance company la equitativa or equitable) .  It went thru several occupants until 1910 it was housing the dependancies of the Casino de Madrid; later it housed the Embassy of Japan , and finally the seat of the  Círculo de Bellas Artes until its transfer to the new building in Calle Alcala. then in 1920 it was the  Banco Español de Crédito .

Casino de Madrid, calle Alcala 15, it opens its door in January 16,1837 at Calle de la Visitación no 7,and rooms adjacing to the Café del Sólito. In 1840 it was translated again to calle del Príncipe,next to  Teatro de la Comedia. Then it was moved to the corner of calle de Alcalá and Calle Sevilla in the same building as the  Café Suizo. Shortly afterward razed to built the building of the Banco de Bilbao. The casino was moved again in 1891 to a building at the corner of the before mentioned Sociedad de Seguros La Equitativa, at the same area. in 1903 the company of the Casino bought land to the  Veloz Club at Calle Alcalá 15, and on 1905 the construction of the new Casino was begun.

Banco de Bilbao, Calle Alcala no 16 corner with Calle Sevilla.  Built from 1919-1923. Banco Central built in 1925 at Calle Alcala 49. Banco Mercantil Industrial at Calle Alcala 39 built 1933-1945. Banco de Vizcaya, Calle Alcala 45 where it was once a convent or  Convento de San Hermenegildo, built between  1733-1742 , then Teatro Apollo in 1873 to 1929, here the most famous zarzuelas and opera plays of Madrid were first shown such as La verbena de la Paloma, La revoltosa, Doña Francisquita, that gave it the name of Cathedral of the small genre.  The new buiilding dates from  between 1931-1934.

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 tower is shown with an ave Fenix or a bird fenix on top, and has American building characteristics such as glass in its concrete design.

The Casa del  Párroco de San José  at  Calle de Alcalá, 41  corner with Calle del Marqués de Valdeiglesias. Built between 1910-1912.  To give a line to the new Gran Via that was to be built. Part of the church of same name.

Perhaps the most famous building of all is the Metropolis at Calle Alcala 39. The insurance company La Unión and the Fénix made a contest to Spanish and French architects for the building of its head office. They had acquired land between the Calle Alcala and Calle  Caballero de Gracia.  The French team won the contest and building began in 1907 with a Spanish architect finishing them in 1910.  It is beautifully done with a tower or  torreón,in which second floor has a wonderful rotonda of pairs of corinthian columns holding a third floor decorated with statues and artistics designs.The dome  was crowned by a ave fenix that represented the company that owned the building but in 1975 a new company replaced it with victory symbol.

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) . Nuevo Teatro Alcala, Calle Jorge Juan 62 ,corner with Calle Alcala, done in 1925 and it was here that the theatrical work of Jesus Christ Superstar was first shown in Spain. Today it serves as a cabaret with very modern equipement.

The Aguirre School at Calle Alcala 62, built from 1881-1886 , by 1911 the school stop, and today it has out offices of the Mayor of Madrid, mostly for statistical information departments.  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. king Charles III, transfer the academy to its present location in 1773. In 1873, during the First Republic it took the royal out of it calling it  Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, and when the royal restauration of king Alfonso XII it change the name to the one today as Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.  However ,the building was built in 1725.

Some building to note in addition to those mentioned in my previous posts here in paris1972.

One eternal favorite and old standing now gone  is the  El Parnasillo, Calle Principe 33  at the Cafe del Principe, next to Teatro Español , the site of gatherings of some of Spain literary gentiles from 1829. Some of the names you might recall are José de Espronceda, Ventura de la Vega, Patricio de la Escosura, Mariano José de Larra, Ramón Mesonero Romanos, Juan Eugenio Hartzenbusch, José Zorrilla, Enrique Gil y Carrasco,Fermín Caballero, Bravo Murillo, Juan Donoso Cortés,Madrazo, Rivera, Villamil,  and the theater entreprenur Juan Grimald amongst many more. Today you can continue this tradition at Cafe El Parnasillo, Calle San Andres 33 ,no web ,Tel +34  91 447 00 79 ;almost corner with Calle de Carranza at metro Bilbao ,lines 1 and 4.

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.

There is one more game remaining in the Spanish Liga, with Real Madrid vs Almeria and Barcelona vs Malaga in week 38 and last. the Liga has been decided in favor of Barcelona, but but Real Madrid has shown some good vibes finally. The Liga will end only four points behind, the Champions we went this time to the semifinals before been robbed, and the Kings cup was won against the same cules, so all in all , its a good year under wonderful new coash Mourinho of Portugal. Muito obrigado.

And lastly, wont be surprise to hear nonsense coming out of Spain especially the Madrid area where elections are heating up and canditates use all form of tourist or cultural mediums to tell their broken stories of old.  The show is in the huge demonstration been carry out at Puerta del Sol by many young people tired of the same routine and no jobs, etc  etc. chao por ahora.

Hasta pronto. cheers