Spain: The Blog

Diverting Discord in Barcelona

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:16:00 +0000

One of my favorite spots in the Barcelona has a rather awful sounding name, despite being a thing of beauty. I'm speaking of La Manzana de la Discordia (The Block of Discord) at Paseo de Gracia numbers 35-45. Here the dramatically clashing styles of the three great architects of Catalan Modernism are on display in buildings that stand practically side by side: Lluís Domènech i Montaner' s Lleó Morera, Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Casa Amatller, and and Antoni Gaudí's Casa Battló. Directly in front of the latter is a tile with km. 0 embedded on it to mark the beginning of the European Route of Modernism, also known as the European Route of Art Nouveau.

The Barcelona Modernism Route is an itinerary that takes you through the Barcelona of Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch, the architects who, together with others, made Barcelona the world capital of Modernism. This Route enables you to get to know thoroughly impressive palatial residences, amazing houses, the temple that has become a symbol of the city and a huge hospital, but it also includes humbler and more everyday buildings and items such as chemists’, shops, lampposts and benches - 115 works in all which show that Art Nouveau put down strong roots in Barcelona and today Modernism is still an art that is alive and part of life in the city.*

There is an official Modernism Route Guidebook available at Barcelona tourist offices and in many local bookstores. The book includes discount coupons for sites along the route that charge entry fees. If you aren't interested in getting the book, you can find a list of the 115 sites included on the route here, as well as a briefer list of the thirty most recommended modernist monuments here.

Discord has never been so much fun!

Chao amig@s,

Carloz

*From What is the Modernism Route?

Spain behind the eight-ball in 2008

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:34:00 +0000

It looks like eight is Spain's number lately, for better or for worse. On the better side, that number was Spain's "well-being" ranking among 22 European countries the New Economics Foundation's 2008 National Accounts of Well-being report. Indeed, Spain and Cyprus were the only Mediterranean countries to make the top 10.

According to the NEF, governments should directly and regularly measure people’s subjective well-being: their experiences, feelings and perceptions of how their lives are going, as a new way of assessing societal progress, instead of only focusing on economic indicators. So according to this measure, Spain is not doing too bad. Well, that's good to know, especially in view of the worse side of number 8.

Spain's unemployment rate rose to an eight-year record at the end of 2008 -- at 14%, the highest rate in the European Union. Spain's high unemployment rate, helped to bring the the overall Eurozone unemployment rate up in December to ques what -- 8%.

I think these statistics sum up 2008 in Spain, a mix of better and worse -- as in much of the world. However, people here seem generally positive and hoping for a better year without so much time "behind the eight ball."

Suerte amig@s,

Carloz

Spain joins the world in celebrating the inauguration of President Obama

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:24:00 +0000

The photo on the right can be found on the El Pais web site with the words: "El sueño americano accede al poder," or "The American dream comes to power." And today I have found Spaniards to be optimistic about President Barack Obama and expressing good will towards the USA.

An American friend and I took time off from work this afternoon to come to my apartment for a "multi-media" observance of the inaugural event. We watched Spanish television, saw an American web-cast on my computer and listened to NPR's live radio broadcast. We cheered, laughed, teared up, clapped and felt hopeful for our country and the world.

At the same time, in Madrid Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero reportedly watched the inauguration and listened to the new American President's speech in his home -- Moncloa Palace. The media reported that he claimed to believe that the ascension to office of President Obama "opens an opportunity" that the Spanish Government will not "waste." The PM, who did not exactly have a good relationship with former President G. W. Bush, was quoted as saying that Spain and the United States are "on a good road for a smooth and and fruitful relationship."

Zapatero described the American President's inaugural speech to reporters as something "very positive, that corresponds to the project that he advocated during...his campaign. A speech...that keeps alive the hope to achieve a more just international order, and for peace and dialogue to find a place in the conflicts that exist in the world today, and that the distribution of wealth is fairer."

Obama and Zapatero spoke on November 7, when the then President-elect returned the PM's congratulatory telephone call. On November 17th the then Vice President-Elect Joe Biden telephoned Zapatero to inform him of Obama's intention to tour Europe, and stop in Spain, sometime in early 2009. Zapatero and Obama will also have a chance to meet at the international economic summit to be held in London next April, and then again a few days later at the NATO summit in Strasbourg that will mark the 60th anniversary of that North American-European organization.

Meanwhile, I joyously join Spaniards and people around the world in saying "¡Bienvenido y buena suerte Presidente Obama!"

Carloz

P.S. Almost immediately after Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the USA, the White House web site reflected that change had come. Visit the site's home page here -- and the site has a blog! That's right, A BLOG!!

Is Pedro Solbes misreading, or misleading? That is the question.

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:41:00 +0000

In case anyone who follows this blog hasn't guessed by now, I have very little faith in Spain's Economy Minister, Pedro Solbes -- not that I have much faith in any of his colleagues, either. However, he holds a special place in my disdain because of what can only be his misreading of, or misleading about the economy

When he served in Brussels as European Commissioner for Economic & Financial Affairs (1999-2004), he denied that the introduction of the euro contributed to inflation. Then in December 2007 he said, "When I was in Brussels, I said the opposite, but now I can say that the euro has had an inflationary effect on low cost items." Was that a misreading, or was he misleading?

At that same time he predicted that Spain's inflation rate, which was 4.1%, would go below 3% by March 2008. Solbes was wrong again, as by April it had risen to 4.6%. By May it was 4.7%. Misreading, or misleading?

Solbes continued to deny there was an economic crisis through the first half of 2008, as people lost jobs, the cost of living soared, the real estate bubble burst, and the economy just generally went into the toilet. In May Solbes equated "crisis" with "recession," and added, "To talk about recession is exaggerated." Misreading, or misleading?

It seemed like he might be ready to admit the truth when it was leaked to the media that he used the word "crisis" in a June 10th closed door session of parliament. However, on June 11th he qualified that by saying, “Yesterday, the only thing I said was that we need to prepare for a crisis, but I never talked about 'the crisis.'” The official line from the Socialist Party spokesperson, José Antonio Alonso, was that Solbes had had a “slip of the tongue.” Misreading, or misleading?

Then to muddy the water further, he said on June 13th that while the Spanish economy was experiencing an “abrupt adjustment” he didn't use the word “crisis” because that would be "abusing a false affirmation. Crisis means that everything is going badly and that every other thing is going well, neither one thing or the other.” Misreading, or misleading?

By July he had finally started using the "C" word publicly, even declaring in one interview, "For me, this is the most complex crisis we have ever experienced because of the number of factors that are on the table." But around then he had moved on to avoiding the "R" word. In an interview in August he said, "We think there will be very low or flat growth in the coming quarters, but we are not thinking of a recession." Misleading, or misreading?

Last summer Solbes and Company forecast that Spain would avoid recession and that the GDP would actually grow a full 1%. This was very different from what most other economists were saying. Then yesterday he and the Government belatedly acknowledged the country is in a recession when he announced that his ministry was changing the forecast from one of GDP growth to one with a 1.6% drop. Misreading, or misleading?

Of course, there are still many non-government economists who are not as confident as Solbes, with some predicting the Spanish economy will contract as much as 3% this year. Neither the dire views of others, nor his lousy performance so far, seem to have given him pause. Indeed, while finally admitting he was wrong yesterday, he also had the temerity to make yet another prediction. According to his crystal ball (which must be what he uses in lieu of economic theory), 2009 will see the worst of the crisis, 2010 will witness GDP growth of 1.2%, and 2011 will experience a jump up to 2.6%. Misreading, or misleading?

Of course, people here say that Solbes is only delivering the information Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero wants him to, and I don't doubt it for a second. Certainly the buck stops with Zapatero, but it would be nice to have an Economy Minister who told the PM and the people what they needed to hear.

Instead what is it exactly that he offers? Is it misreading, or misleading? Double-speaking, or misspeaking? Denying, or lying? Call it what you will, but it does not often resemble the truth.

Finally, one more question: if you were running a business, would you hire someone with a track record like this?

Dios nos ayude, amig@s,

Carloz

Mexican food in Barcelona? Pues, claro ¡a Casa Mexicana!

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:17:00 +0000

As I've written before, Barcelona's cosmopolitan nature is reflected in the menus on offer in the city's many and diverse restaurants. In addition to dining establishments serving the richly varied cuisine of Spain (Andalusian, Basque, Catalan, Galician, Valencian, etc.), there are many places offering food from other parts of the world; this includes more than a few Mexican restaurants. My favorite of these by far is Casa Mexicana.

Located in the Porto Olimpico, Casa Mexicana is right next door to the Chinese restaurant I wrote about in July 2007. Like that place, there is a comfortable interior dining room filled with lots of natural light, as well as open air terrace where diners can enjoy a harbor view while eating.

The reasonably priced menu includes a wide range of items such as nachos, tacos, quesadillas, flautas, tamales, chilaquiles, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas, chicken mole, BBQ chicken, grilled steak and even Tex-Mex lasagna. Vegetarian varieties of many dishes are also available. For dessert choose from buñelos with whipped-cream and/or chocolate sauce, a slice of the cake of the day, or fresh fruit.

Interestingly, Casa Mexicana is the only Mexican restaurant in Barcelona that serves breakfast, Every weekday morning diners can enjoy either huevos rancheros with bacon, huevos a la Mexicana, huevos con papas, huevos con chorizo or a Mexican omelet. And serving sizes are very generous, whether its a breakfast, lunch or dinner dish.

From Monday through Friday Casa Mexicana offers excellent lunch specials for only 8.95 euros, plus tax. As an example of these mid-day specials, let me tell you about what I frequently order -- creature of habit that I am. Usually I begin with a tasty starter of nachos with cheese and guacamole. For the main plate I typically choose one of their huge beef burritos, which bulge with meat, veggies, cheese and sour cream. This comes with a fresh green salad, half of a baked potato and pico de gallo. For a follow up to this hearty and scrumptious meal I almost always go with a helping of their delicious buñelos, which I prefer with whipped-cream, but sans chocolate sauce. Of course, like most "menus del día" in Spain, the price of the lunch includes a choice of wine, beer, water or soft drink. It all amounts to a delectable deal, indeed.

The owners of Casa Mexicana are a friendly couple named Miquel and Carina. If you ever visit the restaurant, ask for one of them and mention to him or her that you learned about their restaurant from Carloz's blog and you may just get a free tequila!

Buen provecho amig@s,

Carloz
.

Casa Mexicana

C/ Marina 16-18

08005 Barcelona

Hours:

Breakfast Weekday Mornings 8h - 12h

Lunch Weekdays and Weekends 12h - 17h

Dinner Weekdays and Weekends 19h - 24h

Reservations accepted:
Email info@casa-mexicana-bcn.eu
Phone (+34) 932 215 645

A White Kings' Day = Un Día de Reyes Blanco

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Incredible as it may seem, it has been a white Kings Day (aka Epiphany) here in Barcelona! Although it was more like heavy sleet than snow, enough of it accumulated on local sidewalks, streets and plazas to cover the city in a dazzling white blanket. Drivers panicked and pedestrians tread carefully, but children may have interpreted it as one more gift from the Three Kings. All in all, it's been a nice holiday for this big kid, too.

Yesterday evening I walked in near freezing temperatures down to the most central of Barcelona's marinas to see the Magi arrive. To cheering crowds of children, parents and tourists, the Three Wise Men disembarked from the historic schooner Santa Eulalia, and accepted the keys to the city from Mayor Jordi Hereu. After various speeches, the Kings and their Pages walked through the throngs to collect letters from the little ones, so that they would know what gifts to deliver that night.

Eventually Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar split up into separate cream-colored convertible Rugby's from the 1920s that had been waiting to drive them to another location, where they were to meet up with Father Christmas (Papa Noel), and get on their respective floats so that the official 2009 Parade of the Kings (Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos) could wind through the city's avenues. I read in the newspaper today that nearly half-a-million people lined the streets to see the Three Kings, Santa and various other holiday luminaries roll by -- and throw candy and/or "coal" at the kids.

Today I headed out in the snowy cold to a Norwegian friend's for a Kings' Day get together. After stuffing ourselves with a scrumptious meal of homemade Mexican food, we settled in for a good Japanese film on DVD -- with Spanish subtitles, of course. (Talk about an international observance of the day!) We also enjoyed a colorful and sweet King Cake (Roscone de Reyes) for dessert -- and this year I got the piece with the King!

Feliz Reyes amig@s,

Carloz

P.S. You can see a colorful photo slide show of the arrival of the Kings and the parade on ElPeriodico.com.

P.P.S. For more on Holiday Season traditions in Spain, see my Dec. 23, 2007 post, Christmas, New Year and Kings Day Traditions in Spain.

Hispanic Film: the blog

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:14:00 +0000

I started a new blog today! It is about movies that have a connection to the Hispanic world. For the most part it will focus on films in Spanish, but occasionally will also have have information about English language films made by Spanish-speaking directors, starring Hispanic actors, filmed in Spain and/or Latin America, etc. It will include reviews of pictures currently on release in cinemas and DVD, history of Hispanic cinema, news about upcoming productions, reports on film festivals, sample movie trailers and other relevant items from the world of Hispanic cinema. Today I wrote two posts: an introduction to the blog, and a brief film review of El Nido Vacio (The Empty Nest), which includes a short video clip. Check it out at HISPANIC FILM: The Cinema of Spain, Latin America and more.

Happy movie watching, amig@s,

Carloz

P.S. I will, of course, continue my ramblings on this blog, as well as my rather infrequent additions to the somewhat tongue-in-cheek Spanish Phrasal Verbs.

Welcome 2009 with Carloz' Broad Beans and Sausage in Wine

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:58:00 +0000

In the part of the USA I come from, the Deep South, it is a tradition to welcome in the New Year with a heaping, hot dish of black eyed peas. Aside from being sturdy fare that is attractive in winter, it is supposed to bring good luck in the year ahead. Here in Spain, and in other Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece, another legume is traditional in New Years recipes -- lentils. They are supposed to bring luck, prosperity and health.

Is it just a coincidence that such starchy items are New Year's food staples in various places? I doubt it. As Nigella Lawson noted in that NPR program I referred to in my previous post, it makes perfect sense on a winter holiday, when many people drink late into the night, to have a meal that is largely made up of carbohydrates.

Since I could not find any black eyed peas here in Barcelona, and I am not crazy about lentils, I took inspiration from Lawson's recipe for Italian Sausages with Lentils, as well as a common local plate, Catalan Broad Beans (or "Habas a la Catalana") and prepared the following for a friend and I to welcome in 2009:

Carloz' Broad Beans and Sausage in Wine

Spicy chorizo sausage
Broad beans
Chopped onion
White wine
Water
Olive oil
Teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Thyme
Paprika

Put the sausage in a pan with a little water, cover and bring to a boil over a high heat. Then lower the fire and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Drain and cut the sausage.

Put the olive oil, broad beans, and sausage in a pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion, salt, pepper, thyme and stir. Then pour in the wine and water. Bring to a boil over a high heat. Then reduce the heat to low and simmer partially covered for about 20 minutes.

Add paprika and serve.

I thought it was delicious, but I was the cook, after all. However, my friend agreed. I think she was being honest -- especially as she went back for seconds, and cleaned her plate.

Feliz 2009 amig@s,

Carloz

When the clock strikes midnight in Spain...

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:25:00 +0000

..it's time to eat grapes – very quickly! One for each chime of the bell. Why is that?

The 12 grapes represent the months of the new year, with the hope being that each month will be as delicious as the grapes you gulp down. Therefore, the ideal thing to do is to pop 12 sweet grapes into your mouth, because that will mean 12 pleasant months to look forward to. If you're unfortunate enough to have a sour one in the bunch, then that month will be as bitter as the fruit. So, for example, if grape number 6 is off, then your July will be, too! God forbid that there are multiple unsavory ones, as that could spoil much of your luck for the year ahead. And should you miss out on the grape eating altogether, you are quite simply courting bad luck for the entire 365 days.

That is one of the reasons why tonight throughout Spain people will welcome in another New Year with a mouthful of grapes. It's quite funny, too, because as you see those around you hurriedly trying to wolf down 12 grapes in a row, the laughter starts, which in turn makes it difficult to swallow, which causes more laughter, and then more of a panic as everyone tries to finish devouring their grapes while the chimes are still ringing.

After that, many Spaniards will wash down the grapes with one of Spain's other great vintage products, cava! Then for some people it will be dancing and celebrating in the streets, while others will watch and toast one of the festive programs on TV.

As to the roots of this “oral” tradition, I have heard different things. One of the more fanciful stories is that it started long ago at the end of a year when there was such a bountiful grape harvest that on New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja) the King generously distributed the fruit to everyone throughout the land. On the more mundane side is the report that in 1909 a group of Spanish grape growers created and promoted the idea in order to sell more product. The truth probably lies somewhere else.

It is interesting to note that similar traditions exist in other Mediterranean countries, as well as in Latin America. Cook and writer Nigella Lawson observed on a radio show on New Year food traditions broadcast by NPR a year ago that a tradition of eating exactly 12 grapes also exists in Malta, whereas Italy's midnight grape consuming tradition involves manically eating as many grapes as possible to ensure good health in the coming year.

Lawson also mentioned what she thought were deeper meanings of such customs. She saw a connection to folk wisdom, in that people in grape growing regions have always known that grapes are healthy, whereas science only discovered relatively recently that grape skins contain resvesterol, which may prevent cancer and heart disease.

But perhaps just as significant is the fact that, as Lawson said, “you’re doing something year in, year out, that your antecedents have done as well. And I think that’s such an important part of human ritual.”

So, here in Spain the old year ends and the new one begins with laughs, hugs, kisses, good wishes and, most of all, the tradition and hope symbolized by 12 guileless grapes.

Feliz año nuevo amig@s,

Carloz

South Pole Unlimited = Polo Sur Sin Limites

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:29:00 +0000

The Spanish savings bank La Caixa's Social Service foundation is sponsoring a unique expedition to Antarctica. Called South Pole Unlimited, it is the world's first polar expedition made up of disabled individuals who will have no “external aides.” One of the adventurers is from madrid, Jesús Noriega, and the other two, Xavier Valbuena and Eric Villalón, are from Catalonia.

While there has been a bit about this in the Spanish media, I have been surprised to have not seen anything about it in the English language media. Perhaps that is because although the “La Caixa” Social Service foundation has an English language version of its website they seem quite behind on the translations of their releases.

The last English language press release of theirs I was able to find was something from last April about “La Caixa” leading a business alliance to collaborate with the GAVI Alliance on child vaccination. While that certainly was news worth releasing in any language, I counted 20 subsequent Spanish language press releases that have not had English language versions done. So, as my Christmas gift to the South Pole Unlimited expedition, below is my translation of the information about it that I found on the “La Caixa” Social Service website's press page. (By the way, “sin limites” could also be translated as “without limits” but I prefer the sound of “unlimited.”)

The world's first expedition of a group of people with physical disabilities who, without any type of external aid, will travel across 250 km of the Antarctic plain, one of the most inhospitable areas on the planet.

South Pole Unlimited.

“La Caixa” Social Service, the abilities of people with disabilities

Barcelona, 29 December, 2008

Jesús Noriega, Xavier Valbuena and Eric Villalón are the three team members with disabilities, who along with two expert polar guides, Ramón Larramendi and Ignacio Oficialdegui, will spend three weeks on the remote Antarctic plain, on the expedition South Pole Unlimited, organized by “La Caixa” Social Service. They will have to travel across 250 km, pulling a 60 kg sled, and withstanding temperatures of 40º C below zero and winds of 300 km /h.

Even more than overcoming their physical challenges — Jesus has been missing a hand since birth, Xavier lost a leg eight years ago and Eric only has 5% vision —, what has motivated them to participate in such a high-risk expedition is to demonstrate the ability that disabled people have to surmount any challenge.

In addition to a great sports challenge, the expedition will carry out a unique scientific project. For the first time, samples will be taken along the 250 km it takes to reach the geographical South Pole. The analyses of the data will provide evidence regarding levels of organic and inorganic contaminants, as well as confirmation of bacterial life trapped in the Antarctic ice. All of this data is of great relevance to the conservation of planet Earth.

In the 21st century the conquest of the South Pole continues to be a great challenge. Despite current technical advances, it is difficult to to live and to move around this frozen continent. It continues to be a place where the limits of human ability are put to the test.

Expedition members will leave Barcelona tomorrow, 30 December, bound for Punta Arenas [Chile] and from there they will go to the proximity of Patriot Hills, 88º S, the starting point for the objective of the geographical South Pole, latitude 90º S, where all lines of longitude meet.

South Pole Unlimited, “La Caixa” Social Service is an initiative in collaboration with the Social Integration and Environment Area of “La Caixa” Social Service. However, this project is not only a sports challenge, but also a social, human and scientific one, with the goal of demonstrating to society the abilities of people with disabilities.

¡Que les vayan bien!

Carloz

P.S. In the video below, there are shots of expedition members practicing on Barceloneta beach.

That well known Spanish singer -- Nat King Cole?!?

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Until I moved to Spain and stumbled across some of Nat King Cole's Spanish language recordings, I never knew he recorded songs in anything but English. In fact, he recorded three albums in Spanish: “Cole Español” (1958), “A Mis Amigos” (1959) and “More Cole Español” (1962) and at leas one additional song (“Tu Eres Tan Amable”- “You're So Nice”), which was posthumously released in 1983 on an album called album "Unreleased."

Although Spanish was the only other language he recorded entire albums in, he also recorded songs in Portuguese, Italian, French and at least one non-Romance language -- Japanese! And he did all of this without speaking anything but English! Instead he did what Tejana singer Selena did before she learned to speak Spanish – he memorized the songs phonetically.

His daughter Carole Cole said in an on-line chat with fans of her father that, “my father didn't actually speak Spanish. But...he recorded three albums in Spanish which he learned phonetically. He certainly had a deep admiration for Latin culture. And a number of friends from Mexico, Brazil and Cuba. In fact his manager, Caroles Gastel, was Cuban.”

She also agreed with a fan who claimed that Cole was one of the first English speaking singers to record in Spanish by adding, “this was another area in which I believe my father was a pioneer. You might be interested to know that in his travels throughout Latin America he was received with opened arms and an enormous amount of affection. For instance, when he first toured Brazil it seemed the population of Rio de Janeiro turned out en masse throwing roses at his feet to walk on, and he and my mother were asked to stay with the then-president of Brazil in the Brazilian palace. It's also interesting that he attempted to record in a number of other languages which needless to say, further endeared him to other cultures. He recorded Autumn Leaves in Japanese, which you can see in the documentary. I believe he recorded a tune here or there in Italian, French. And I imagine he would have done more in this area if he'd had the time.”

To me the history behind these recordings is a testament to Nat King Cole's ability to break down barriers. He obviously had to fight racism all of his life, and perhaps part of the reason he wanted to record in other languages was to extend that fight on some level. Two years before his first Spanish language recording he went to Cuba to perform at the Tropicana. He had wanted to stay at Havana's best hotel, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba , but was told it was fully booked. Although he discovered that he had been lied to and that in fact the Nacional had a White's only policy, he did not leave the island, but decided to honor his contract.

His engagement at the Tropicana ended up being so successful that he agreed to return the next year. In the mean time he applied himself to adding Spanish songs to his repertoire, with the help of Armando Romeu, a Cuban musician and arranger. After another successful appearance at the Tropicana in 1957, he again traveled to Havana in 1958 to record “Cole Español,” which was the first step towards a string of Spanish language hits – Acercate Más, Ansiedad, Aquellos Ojos Verdes, Perfidia, Quizás, Quizás, Quizás, etc.

The result was that long before the likes of Julio or Enrique Iglesias, Nat King Cole became the first truly "international" singing star. Today he is known in Spanish speaking countries as a singer of English and Spanish songs – and the Hotel Nacional de Cuba has a special “Nat King Cole Corner,” with a bust of the singer and a jukebox full of his songs. (See photo above.)

I've met many Spaniards who are familiar with these Spanish recordings, either because the songs were popular when they were young or because they discovered them through their parents or grandparents. One of my students remembers hearing the songs as a child and does a perfect imitation of Nat King Cole, including his pronounced gringo accent. Even I sometimes have to smile when I hear how strong his North American accent is – and I have a pretty strong one myself.

Despite the non-native accent, the songs are lovely, with lush arrangements and, of course, that beautiful, buttery baritone. As the title one of his songs goes, Fantástico!

Saludos amig@s,

Carloz

P.S. Enjoy the 3 songs from YouTube! / ¡Disfruta las 3 canciones desde YouTube!

Sunny Barcelona? Often, but certainly not always!

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:34:00 +0000

In all my time in Barcelona, I had never seen the local beaches closed until recently. The city has partitioned off all local beaches due the worst storm to hit the Catalan and Valencian coast in 50 years. On Christmas day the weather was typically lovely -- sunny, clear and bright. Then by the night of the 25th everything changed!

The rain started Thursday evening, eventually accompanied by very strong winds. That night I could feel the building I live in swaying! The storm was so bad on Friday that I stayed in all day. The awful weather continued on Saturday morning, but calmed down later in the day. When I walked to the seafront that afternoon I was shocked by what I saw: objects large and small strewn across the sand, restaurant terraces destroyed, and police tape running along the beach to block entry. (See the incredible photo slide show on the El Periodico web site; photos 4 and 5 were taken at Barceloneta beach, with the high rise buildings of Port Olimpico in the background. The photo above is of Bogatell beach, which is on the other side of Porto Olimipco.)

Saturday night there was a light rain when I went out, but by the time I came home storm conditions had returned. I have never seen the Mediterranean's waves crashing so hard and the only times I have ever felt such strong winds were during hurricanes.

The result of this awful weather is that businesses and homes suffered damage from wind and water, rail service was interrupted, traffic problems abounded and some individuals even lost their lives. So far, four people have died as a result of the inclement weather on the coast, including a Port Olimpico worker who was swept away by a wave. Two other people were killed when their cars were washed away by waves! The fourth person died while scuba diving near Valencia when the storm hit. (I think the storm hit there a little earlier in the day than it did in Barcelona.) Of course, there were also many injured people.

As I write this on the night of Sunday the 28th, it's not raining at the moment, but the skies are still covered with clouds and the weather forecast is for storm conditions to return.

Oh, what a Christmas!

Saludos amig@s,

Carloz

Minimum Wage Spain = Salario Mínimo España

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:19:00 +0000

Some years ago I asked a Spanish colleague what the minimum wage was here and was met with a puzzled look. When I explained what I meant further, he said he didn't think there was such a thing -- an average, perhaps, but nothing guaranteed. This person was a professional with a post graduate degree, so I thought if he did not know, then there must not be such a thing in Spain.

Eventually, I learned that there is indeed such a thing, but that it is not a guaranteed hourly wage, but a monthly salary. The Spanish minimum wage is called the Salario Mínimo Interprofesional or the SMI and has existed since 1963. It supposedly pertains to all occupations, businesses and economic sectors. It is adjusted at regular intervals, usually each year, although the law allows for bi-annual adjustments. It is based on "normal working hours" (whatever that means), and is established according to various economic indices such as productivity, retail-price index, etc., and is protected from seizure by creditors.

I've read that since the SMI is so low, only about 0.7% of the employed population is affected by adjustments to it -- or 140,000 people. However, it is said to have an important indirect impact because the SMI is used as a reference point for establishing pensions and for collective pay negotiations. Spanish unions claim that it effects the remuneration of one million employees. That leaves about 18,860,000 people who are not affected.

In addition, before moving here and since living here, I have continuously heard and read that employers are supposed to pay their contracted employees 14 monthly payments a year, not 12. In the 9 years I have lived here, I have never received the two extra payments.

Anyway, I write all of this as background to the news that Prime Minister Zapatero announced yesterday that the SMI would go up 4%, to 624 euros a month. It is the lowest increase in the past five years. It is also much lower than the 7.5% a year that would be necessary for Zapatero to reach his campaign promise of a monthly SMI of 800 euros by 2012. So, now he's promised to raise it by 8.6% a over the next 3 years.

Yesterday the Government also approved a 2.4% raise in pensions for 2009. The average pension will be 741.62 euros a month.

It is estimated that the cost of living in 2008 went up 5.3%.

I suppose many Spaniards will be counting their pennies as well as their grapes when the clock strikes midnight next Wednesday.

Let's hope that 2009 is a better year in Spain and everywhere!

Saludos amig@s,

Carloz

Main sources: European Employment and Industrial Relations Glossaries and El País (Un final de ciclo amargo and El Gobierno eleva un 4% el salario mínimo, a 624 euros.)

Only in Spain?

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:38:00 +0000

A Spanish friend recently emailed me a series of photos by a photographer who goes by the name of Jafotillo. Her message to me read, "Estas fotos solo podrían estar hechas en España." (These photos could only have been taken in Spain.) I don't how accurate my friend's statement is, but some of the pictures are very funny. I've posted the ones I found the most amusing below, accompanied by my own translations and/or explanations.

Disfrutadlos amig@s,

Carloz

...........

..............The Always Open Restaurant............Liquidation (of) Children at the other door

....................

Ball Playing Prohibited ...........................Don't park in this space

Plaza of Freedoms ..................................Not even for a second

....................

...... ... ............. ........SPECIAL OFFER:

........ ..... .........Solid Color Cotton T-shirts
............ .....................1 for 6 euros
............. ........................2 for 15

....................

BUTCHER SHOP:....................................Inoffensive Smokes

........................ .......Ignatius "The Whore"

....................

........... ...... ...Casa Manolo's Refreshment Stand

... .. ...... .....................Conil Boats Beach
.... ... .............We do not allow rushing of any kind.
... ........... .........The food does not come in cans.
........... .... ...........Relax, you're on vacation.

....................

...........................Don't smoke joints on the terrace.................(It should say perros/dogs, not porros/joints.)

No, No, No and NO, WE DO NOT KNOW where the GOATHERD TEXTILE SHOP IS!!!

(Cabrera is a common family name that literally means goatherd.)

Castile is not Spain.

(Get it?)

Was it a bird? A plane? No, it was a Christmas meteorite!

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:23:00 +0000

In the early morning of Christmas Eve, "people in the streets, on the roads and in the fields saw a magnificent globe of fire appear, dazzling with extraordinary brilliance, shining with the colors of the rainbow, overpowering the light of the moon and descending majestically from the sky."

This is the account of Rafael Martínez Fortún, a farmer from the town of Molina de Segura, Murcia, who witnessed the impact of the largest meteorite ever to fall in Spain. The object fell on his property on December 24, 1858. Fortún's story, and that of other witnesses, appears in the most recent issue of Astronomy & Geophysics, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the event.

One witnesses said that at 2:45am the sky was suddenly lit by “a huge star of a brightness that eclipsed the moon, and it moved directly overhead towards the north.”Someone else described, “a ball of such brilliant fire and beautiful colors, that it looked as if one of the stars was falling to the Earth from the sky." Another passage mentioned that, "it passed so low over this city, so close to the cathedral tower" that those who saw it thought it was going to hit the steeple. Although it missed the church and landed several kilometers away, its impact caused such a tremor that it woke up the town's residents.

Interestingly, there seem to be no references to people thinking at the time that the event had anything to do with Christmas or might be a religious sign of some sort. Indeed, the quotes that I've read seem all very matter of fact and rational. Of course, this may be because Fortún collected the testimony and prepared the original report to accompany the meteorite as a gift to, "one of the scientific museums of the Kingdom so that it can be made available to men of science, who can study it with all due attention.” So, who knows what unscientific sounding reactions he may have omitted.

The bulk of the meteorite (112.5 kilograms of the original 144) is on display in Madrid's National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), where it has been exhibited since 1863, when Fortún made a donation of it and his report. Other parts of the object were given to such institutions as Britain's Natural History Museum, the Field Museum in Chicago, and (finally, a religious connection of some sort) the Vatican’s meteorite collection.

Chao amig@s,

Carloz

P.S. Read the articles I based this post on at the SINC (Servicio de Información y Noticias Científicas / Scientific Information and News), and city of Molina de Segura's websites. The Molina de Segura website has a photo of the meteorite, as well as an audio version of the article.

I'll bet that in this year's Christmas Speech the King will...

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:44:00 +0000

Like many people in Spain tonight, I will be watching television at 9pm to see King Juan Carlos' give his annual Christmas speech. To be honest, since it is broadcast on all channels, it is kind of hard to avoid. However, I actually seek it out because I always enjoy it.

One simple reason I like to watch it is that the King speaks so clearly that it's very easy for me to understand everything he says. Another is that after listening to his warm words I always feel a little more integrated into Spain -- especially since he usually expresses welcome to foreigners who have chosen to live here. In addition, since my home country has neither royalty nor a national Christmas speech tradition, this event holds more than a bit of curious charm for me.

Of course some Spaniards love the custom, some hate it, some are indifferent and some find it amusing -- especially comedians and cartoonists. For example, because the King usually starts the speech by saying "La reina y yo" (The Queen and I), that little phrase is consistently used when parodying Juan Carlos. There is even a weekly comic strip by that title which appears in the magazine El Jueves.

In his speech the King typically mentions significant accomplishments of the preceding year and touches on the challenges the nation faces. Other topics usually include Spain's transition to Democracy during his reign, the Spanish Constitution, the country's commitment to European integration, and calls for unity, equality, non-discrimination, and mutual respect.

Perhaps because each year he touches on similar themes and repeats certain words and phrases, this year an enterprising group has created a web site where people can place bets on what the King will say in his Discurso de Navidad-- and how he will say it. On KingandWin.com you can wager money on such pressing matters as:

Whether or not His Royal Majesty will say the word "pride" or "satisfaction" first.
Precisely how long the speech will last.
Will "Eurocup" crop up in the discourse?
Will the Sovereign sport a striped or a solid tie?
Exactly how many times will His Illustrious Highness utter "Spain"?
How many Royal Family members will be in framed photos on his desk?
Which word will His Royal Highness repeat more often: diversity or majority?
Will the European Union flag be part of the background?
How many times will His Excellency use the preposition "de"?
Will there be a nativity scene on the scene?
Will His Serene Highness use the word "drugs"?
Will the Spanish flag be to the Monarch's left or right?

The web site offers a total of 15 questions, with each one having three possible answers. The player who gets the most correct answers will win a cash prize of 1,500 euros; if there are ties, the prize money will be evenly distributed.

So, tonight, besides listening for the usual expressions of warmth and encouragement I look forward to each year, I will be paying special attention to hear whether or not El Rey uses the word "crisis" once, more than once, or not at all.

Chao amig@s,

Carloz

Barceloneta's La Fraternitat

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:42:00 +0000

Aside from Barcelona's public library system being excellent, many of the neighborhood libraries are located in interesting buildings. Some of these are in attractively designed new structures, whereas others are in historically significant buildings. The library in my neighborhood is an example of the latter.

As you can see from the photo, Barceloneta's La Fraternitat library is in a lovely old building. Its interior has been remodeled to adapt to the needs of a modern community resource, while its facade has been restored to its Art Nouveau grandeur.

Although no one seems to know exactly when the original building was constructed, undoubtedly its foundations were laid out when Barceloneta was begun in 1753. Like the other neighborhood buildings of the time, it would have had only one or two stories, since taller structures were not allowed in the district until the 19th century.

What is known is that in 1879 a progressive workers' organization called the Cooperativa Obrera La Fraternitat (The Fraternity Workers' Cooperative) began operating in Barceloneta. It initially ran a low-cost neighborhood store for workers and their families, and eventually developed into a social and cultural center that included a library.

In 1910 the cooperative moved to the building which today is known as La Fraternitat. In 1917 remodeling of the edifice was begun by the architect Francesc Guàrdia i Vial, who was a disciple of Barcelona's Lluis Domenech i Muntaner and Vienna's Otto Wager. The following year the work was completed and the cooperative's headquarters inaugurated.

At that time the ground floor held a neighborhood store and bodega, the first floor, a cafe and library, the second floor, an assembly hall, and the third floor, a boardroom and offices. The cooperative continued to offer services there until 1974. Eventually a savings bank took over part of the space, while the rest of it fell into disuse.

In 2001 the city of Barcelona converted the building into a public library. Initially only a small portion of the ground floor was used as a little lobby, with the upper floors housing the library itself. While it was a very nice, modern library, the majority of the bottom floor was inaccessible and dull concrete slabs filled in the spaces where large windows once looked out onto the street.

Then last year local architects Josep Maria Rovira, Orlando González and Antoni Soler used Guàrdia i Vial's original plans to reconstruct the main floor. As a result the facade has regained an open, inviting appearance. The ornate building's Doric columns and exposed brick exterior once again frame large windows, that today pour natural light onto the library's ample public reading area.

It's a beautiful spot to visit for residents and tourists alike.

La Fraternitat Public Library
C/ Comte de Santa Clara, 8-10 (on the corner of C/ Sant Carles)
Barceloneta
Tel: 93 225 35 74

Autumn, Winter and Spring Opening hours:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 15:30 – 20:30
Tuesdays 10 – 14 and 15:30 – 20:30
Thursdays 10 – 20:30
Saturdays 10 – 14

Summer Opening Hours:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 16 – 21
Tuesdays 10 – 14 and 16 – 21
Thursdays 10 – 21

Ciao amig@s,

Carloz

The Spanish Constitution is 30 years old

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:11:00 +0000

It's a typical Constitution Day - Immaculate Conception "puente" (long weekend) here in Spain -- lovely weather, Christmas decorations everywhere, people milling about, restaurants packed with diners, politicians talking nonsense, etc.

On this 30th anniversary of Spain's Constitution, opposition leader Mariano Rajoy has accused Prime Minister Jose Rodrigo Zapatero of destabilizing Spain. In case anyone might think he was mincing words, he threw in terms like irresponsible, frivolous and disturbing.

Rajoy has assured everyone, however, that he did not want to cast a shadow over the country's celebrations. I suppose he simply wanted to get as much press coverage as possible -- which he seems to have done, as he's right up there on most front pages, along with reports on the Royal family's plans for today and Zapatero's revelation that in his opinion the Spanish Constitution, "has been, is and will be useful."

I'm not sure if Z's remark was an example of faint praise or faint oratorical skill.

We can only hope that no politicians will feel a need to comment on the Immaculate Conception.

Chao amig@s,

Carloz

100,000 protest against English classes in Valencia!

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:31:00 +0000

The largest street protest in Valencia since 2003's march against the War in Iraq occurred yesterday in response to the regional government's plan have the school system's new Civics classes taught only in English. A crowd that organizers estimated at 100,000 converged on regional government headquarters. Many carried signs with slogans in English, such as, "No, we can't," and "[Education Minister Alejandro] Font de Mora go home!"

However, Valencians are not up in arms about English, but rather about what many see as an effort by the regional Valencian government, which is controlled by the conservative Popular Party, to undermine the Civics curriculum. The national government, which is led by the Socialist Party, developed the Civics course for students who want to opt out of the Roman Catholic Religion course that is taught in schools across Spain.

Valencia is the only autonomous region that has mandated that the new course be taught in a foreign language, which is what led to the call for protests by the organization Plataforma por la Enseñanza Pública. (Platform for Public Education.) For the past three months parents, teachers and students have been taking to the streets throughout the region. Until yesterday's march the largest had been a gathering of 30,000 people on November 10th. In addition to this local reaction, many school officials and education experts across the country have criticised the Valencian government's action.

It is interesting that at the same time that this is happening there have been increasing demands for religious icons to be removed from schools and other public places. Two national police officers (guardias civiles) recently sued to have images of the Virgin of Pilar removed from their headquarters, while a city of Seville police officer has requested that two religious images be removed from the local police station.

Meanwhile, this month for the first time ever in Spain, a court ruled that crucifixes in a public space must be removed, when a judge in the town of Valladolid ordered a school to remove its religious symbols. The judge found that the presence of religious symbols in the school seemed to convey the idea that the state is closer to Roman Catholicism than to other religions. The school board had rejected the request from a parent in 2005 to remove the icons.

These things are happening 30 years after the end of the Franco dictatorship, which had previously made Roman Catholicism the state religion. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 guarantees a secular state.

Alex Ubago + Craig David = Spanglish

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:39:00 +0000

One of my favorite Spanish singer-songwriters, Alex Ubago, recently collaborated with Craig David on a Spanish translation of David's 2001 hit song Walking Away. The result is a bilingual version that is being released as a duet on David's Greatest Hits CD in Spanish speaking countries.

In an interview with them that I read in today's ¡Que!, they claimed to have communicated in Spanglish while working on the new version. David said that was because he really only knows a little Spanish. However, Ubago added, "That is until he sees a pretty [Spanish-speaking] girl, when he lets loose with perfect Castellano."

Both singer-songwriters are 27 year old Grammy winners with well established careers. Craig David, with more than 13 million CDs sold worldwide, is one of the most successful recording artists to come from Great Britain so far this century.

Alex Ubago, who accompanies himself on the guitar, is from Vitoria, Spain and has sold more than three million CDs. He has won numerous awards in Spain, Latin American and the USA. He will soon release his sixth disc, which was recorded in Argentina. I have not heard if the duet with David will be included on Ubago's CD.

David also recorded new bilingual versions of "Walking Away" with artists such as Lynnsha from France, Nek from Italy, Monrose from Germany, and Bonnie Pink from Japan for his CD's release in their respective countries.

Glossalian marketing, anyone?

World Press Photo winners on exhibit at The Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona (CCCB)

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:46:00 +0000

Through 14 December CCCB is showing 185 winning photographs of the 2007 World Press Photo competition. The exposition collects the best photographs published in the press last year. This year's winning image of an American soldier resting in a bunker in Afganistan was taken by Briton Tim Hetherington.

The competition had over 5,000 works submitted by photographers from 125 countries. 177 Spanish photographers participated in the contest and four of those were awarded prizes: Emilio Morenatti, Miguel Riopa, Cristina García Rodero and Lorena Ros. (Lorena Ros is a Catalonian photojournalist who currently lives in New York City.)

The World Press Photo exhibition will travel to some 90 cities around the globe. Approximately two million people will have seen the exhibition by the time the tour ends.

Here is a link to 12 slides from the exhibition: World Press Photo montage.

Here is a link to the CCCB website's page about the exhibition: World Press Photo 2007 International professional photojournalism exhibition.

CCCB
C/ Montalegre, 5
08001 Barcelona
Tel: 93 306 41 00
Admission: 4.50 (Free admission on the first Wednesday of each month. If you have a Barcelona library card, entry is free between 11am and 14pm daily.)

Chao amig@s,

Carloz

A sample of things to do in Barcelona for 5 euros and under

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:14:00 +0000

There are always cheap things to do in Barcelona, including some that are free. For example, the web site BarcelonaGratis.com provides up to date listings of free activities, including exhibitions, concerts, festivals, cinema, sports, children's events, etc. (By the way, the site is only available in Spanish.) It also maintains a list of the days of the month when local museums offer free admission. (Most museums in Barcelona are free on the first Sunday of each month, but a few are free on other days. Check the list for details.)

And believe it or not, it is still possible to find a full meal for 5 euros -- at least one day a week, that is! I noticed recently that Charleston's, one of the restaurants on Paseo Joan De Borbon, now has a 5 euro lunch menu on Fridays; the rest of the week it's 8.50, which is still a good price. As I mentioned in an earlier post, don't let the name Charleston's fool you, as it's Spanish food that's on offer there -- although, no paella.

Charleston's
Paseo Joan de Borbo, 2
Barceloneta
Barcelona
Open from 7h to 22h daily

For more examples of free and low cost things to do in BCN, below is a list of things to do on the weekend I am writing this. It's taken from an article in today's La Vanguardia newspaper called: 10 Citas culturales por menos de 5 euros. (10 cultural events for less than 5 euros.) Here's my translation of the listings in the article:

-Free-

Raval Culture Festival
a hundred or so neighborhood organizations offer a constellation of activities all weekend long. Concerts ranging from gospel to Pakistani music, hip-hop to Brazilian batucada. Photography expositions, too. Sunday Nov. 15th at 16.30h a series of videos made by residents on the topic of the Raval neighborhood will be shown at the CCCB. Through Sunday. http://www.totraval.org/

Joan Petit in concert
Mallorcan singer / musician Joan Petit in concert at Heliogabal Musical Bar. Petit, who worked with the British group The Wedding Present in 2006, is on the verge of releasing his first CD. Saturday the 14th at 22h. www.myspace.com/welovepetit ,

Macba Collection
Macba exhibits 17 works of minimalist artists, their influencers and some they've influenced, including Buren, Wharol, Flavin, Mangol, Bell, Sonnier, Haacke, Saws, Matta-Clarck. The video artist John Baldessari adds a brushstroke of humor to the exposition space through his video "Baldessari Singing". http://www.macba.es/

Transglossador Slam Festival
The art of improvisation to music is not the unique providence of Rap and Hip-hop. Artists such as Abd The Malik can slam to a Brel song. The third Transglossador Slam Festival offers slam workshops, as well as performances and improvisations of various of groups, such as De Caláis and Rapsodes. Saturday from 18,30. http://www.farinera.org/

La Felpa
BTOY Exposition
Ilia Mayer and Andrea Michaelsson, two art illustrators, with exhibitions at the BAC (Barcelona Art Contemporaneo) show their their work in Gracia's La Felpa on Saturday from of 12.30 to 21.30. http://www.thisisbtoy.com/

-4 euros-

American Modern at the Joan Miró Museum
A showing of works by more than one hundred 20th century American artists, including George Bellows, John Singer Sargent, Arthur Davies, Marsden Hartley, Joseph Cornell, Thomas Hart Benton, John Sloan, Edward Hopper, Milton Avery, Mark Rothko, Willem of Kooning, Cy Twombly, Richard Diebenkorn, Martin Puryear and Robert Mangold.

-4.10 euros–

Palau de La Virreina
De facto: Joan Fontcuberta 1982-2008 -- photography as documentation.
A sample of 50 of the photographers images at the Palau of the Virreina. The photos are somewhere between documentary and fiction, with humanist and philosophical inspiration. Until February 8. www.bcn.cat/virreinacentredelaimatge/castella/home.htm

-4.50 euros-

Ciné Mélies
Several movies showing in the original language with Spanish subtitles. One movie now playing is L'Heure d'été (Las horas del Verano / Summer Hours), directed by Olivier Assayas; starring Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, and Jeanne Balibar, who won the best actress award at this past September's San Sebastian Film Festival. http://www.cinesmelies.net/

CCCB Independent Film Festival
More than 78 movies from 33 countries. http://alternativa.cccb.org/2008/ct/

-5 euros-

Mostra de Teatre del Raval (Raval Theatre Presents)
The Raval Theatre itself is the epicenter of this festival, with 15 plays selected for presentation. This weekend a play by children for adults premieres: "Un día, una hora..." is based on numerous stories told by children to Argentine Javier Villafañe in 1980s. Until December 7. http://www.mostradeteatredebarcelona.com/

Disfrutadlo amig@s,

Carloz

Artist to create massive Obama portrait near Barcelona beach

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:54:00 +0000

Sorry I have not written in a while. I was very busy with the beginning of the new school year and then I got addicted to reading, commenting on, seeding and writing articles on Newsvine. Have you heard of it? It's a site for discussions about news stories. Part of my addiction has had to do with the hottest topic on Newsvine: the US Presidential race. So, I think I will be able to taper off after November 4th.

Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from a story from CNN that I found on Newsvine:

Artist to create massive Obama portrait near Barcelona beach

"[An] artist plans to create a gigantic face of Obama sculpted from gravel and sand, which will cover nearly 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of Barcelona beachfront before the U.S. elections.

" 'The size of the piece is intrinsic to its value," the artist, Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, said Saturday.

"He hopes it will be big enough to be seen on Google Earth.

" 'Obama's personality -- his youth, personal history and message of a new politics -- has fused with the historical moment to create someone larger than life,' says the artist's dossier about the work, titled "Expectation.'

"The huge size also alludes 'to the global impact of this election,' the dossier adds.

"Rodriguez-Gerada, 42, is a Cuban-born American who grew up in North Plainfield, New Jersey, near New York, and now lives in Barcelona."

The project is known as EXPECTATION and the artist is seeking donations from the public to fund it.

I'll let you all know if I come across Senator Obama on the beach!

Chao amig@s,

Carloz

P.S. I use another "nom de plume" on Newsvine, not Carloz. If you happen to look at Newsvine and see some of the "authors," can you guess which one I am?

I'm back!

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:03:00 +0000

Where've I been? Well, here in BCN mostly. So, why haven't I written anything in almost two months? Well, at the end of June I was busy moving into a new apartment (I'm still in lovely ole' Barceloneta, but in a slightly larger place); then in July I had lots to do in order to wind down the school year and settle into said apartment; then it was August, with more settling in, a house guest and of course V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Let's see, since my last post I have been to Ireland (that was work -- I escorted 30 Spanish teens to a summer English course they were to participate in in Cork!), travelled to Italy (that was pure vacation!!) and done a lot of reading, resting, reading, eating, reading, relaxing and reading. Now the last week of my summer break is about to begin and I've got to get ready to gear up for the new school year that starts in September. I have to say, I am definitely up for it!

I'll write more soon. Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of August!

Carloz

One Year On!

spaintheblog@ownmail.net (Carloz) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:51:00 +0000

It's been a little more than a year since I started blogging, so I thought I'd provide updates on some of the topics I've written posts about:

BICING

I've written a bit about Bicing, which also celebrated it's first year anniversary recently. Well, today's El País newspaper ran an article about the service's increasing growing pains: El Bicing genera 600 reclamaciones diarias por mal funcionamiento. (Bicing receives 600 complaints a day about technical problems.)
.

This was based on information included in a report that City Hall made public yesterday, but which apparently had been making the rounds of municipal offices for a while. Perhaps the most damning part of the report was the revelation that a majority of users are dissatisfied with the functioning of the computerized stations where bikes are parked. Aside from some stations habitually not having bikes available, and others seeming to hardly ever have empty spaces for leaving-off a bicycle, other problems include system overloads which cause the whole computer network to fail. When this happens bikes cannot be removed from the stations and bikes that are left-off are not recognized as having been returned. Therefore, some people have been wrongly penalized for returning bikes late or fined for not returning bikes at all.

More than 150,000 people currently subscribe to Bicing. Apparently a total of over 250,000 people have joined the program in the last 14 months, but more than 150 people drop out each month. Today Bicing has 367 stations and a fleet of 5,500 bicycles, with about 28 members for each bike. The plan is to grow the program to 6,000 bikes and 400 stations by September and then to postpone more growth until the operation of the service can be improved, for example, by installing a back up computer system to take over when the main one goes down.

.
Who will pay for the improvements? The city will, although Clear Channel, the company that has the contract to run Bicing, was fined 22,000 euros this past January for not meeting the minimum quality indices that had been agreed to.

Other statistics from the report included:

.
- An average of 39,500 trips daily - 7.8 per bicycle.
- Each bicycle is ridden some 10,000 kilometers per year.
- As of last June 18, users had completed a total of 50,178 trips - 9.2 per bicycle.
- An average of six traffic accidents involving Bicing users are registered each month.
.

If you are a Bicing user and want to have your voice heard, you can participate in a survey being conducted by researchers with Telefónica Investigación y Desarrollo (Research and Development) and the University of Washington. Click here to take the survey, which is available in English, Spanish and Catalan.

By the way, I still hold a generally positive view of Bicing and am so glad that it exists. While not even close to perfect, it certainly has been a positive addition to my life -- and I bet it's better than anything they have in Paris!

NEWSPAPERS / PERIÓDICOS
.
A new daily newspaper appeared on the Spanish scene this past year. Público hit the stands in September, with the aim of attracting left of center readers in the 25-45 year old age group. The editor is 32 year old Ignacio Escolar, who is the son of journalist Arsenio Escolar, the editor of the free daily 20 minutos. The younger Escolar previously worked in television, radio and as a musician in the groups Meteostat and Dedcodek. He's also writes a popular blog called Escolanet.

.
Of course, Público seems to be going head to head with El País, the country's other left leaning daily, which bills itself as, “the global Spanish language newspaper.” (El periódioco global en español) One of El País' directors, Juan Luis Cebrián, told the New York Times and International Herald Tribune, "We don't even see them as a competitor. It's like comparing The New York Times and The New York Post." So, I guess it was just a coincidence that the publishers of El País felt the need to revamp the paper last October, with the stated purpose of appealing to younger readers.

.
Well, I still like El País, but I find that I like Público, too, and have been buying it pretty frequently. Anecodotically, I can say that many people I know seem to be doing the same.
.
THE SUMMER SOLSTICE AND LA NOCHE DE SAN JUAN
.
Another summer solstice / noche de San Juan came and went yesterday. Fantastic fireworks and thousands of party goers on Barcelona's streets and beaches. I read today that the local police estimated that there were 85,000 people on the city's “playas” last night. Of course the symbol of the year's shortest night is the bonfire, and so flames and firecrackers colored my neighborhood as usual, as well as all of Barcelona.

However, it's not just Barcelona that celebrates la noche de San Juan. In towns in the Pyrenees there were traditional torchlight processions, Madrid saw urban bonfires and on Spain's islands there was fireside dancing in the moonlight.

In Alicante, where one of the biggest San Juan festivals is held, the dazzling climax of the festivities won't happen until tonight. Larger than life wooden and paper maché figures are built by neighborhood associations as part of a city-wide competition and then are burnt to the ground at midnight on the 24th, setting the entire city aglow. What a way to welcome in the summer!
.
THE ECONOMY
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Well, PM Zapatero couldn't quite bring himself to use the “c” word but at least he stopped using some of his favorite euphemisms (difficult scenario, period of adjustment) when he finally admitted yesterday that Spain's economy was in serious trouble. He couldn't let go of one ambiguity, however -- economic deceleration. At least he shuffled it along from a “deep deceleration ” to a “strong deceleration -- almost a sudden stop.”
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Better late than never? We'll have to wait and see if the 21 new proposals his government plans to make to address the CRISIS will do any good. So far the reaction has been muted to negative, with the governor of the Bank of Spain describing them as "insufficient." I wonder if that was a euphemism?
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Chao amig@s,
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Carloz