Madrid Teacher

Although I am a guirri I am a crap Guirri not only do I live about 20 miles away from any other northern european, but at the Giggling Guirri last night in madrid I only knew the people I went with whereas all my friends seemed to know everybody else in the room, it was like been a member of a club but knowing no-one in the club. There was a great commedian who entertained us with his views on guirris and foreigners abroad, his foot and general observations on life. He was playing to a packed out audience at TEATRO ALFIL. My brother had told me about this guy he has seen him on Paramount comedy in the UK, Adam Hills.

He has a very good take on languages and national characteristics.

Its the first time I have seen a comedian in the last 7 years in Spain (well a standup one anyway). And the great news is that there are plenty more to come at this theatre.

Comedy in Spain Site is well worth a look, its great that the people who run the Giggling Guiri comedy club have such enthusiasm and energy. I hope they realise that they make a difference for foreigners living in Spain and that people appreciate it.

Here are some clips of him I found on youtube.





I just hope he comes to town again, and I must try and get to know more people

Labels: life in spain

I have just found another incentive to continue with my epic adventure of trying to develop my Spanish, being bi-lingual keeps the brain sharp according to the BBC. This is quite handy because I need to phone Jazztel tomorrow to explain to then it is the router NOT our tele that is on the blink.

Labels: life in spain

Just had our holiday in Benidorm. We love it, English breakfast for 2.75 euros, tetley´s bitter and sticky vicky who does stuff with razor blades you can only find in peep shows, beautiful beaches and its the only place where I actually look trendy (not wieghing 25 stone and having to buy XXXXL t-shirts). R who is Spanish just thinks that all we do is drink ourselves legless but I actually got him to try Bitter and he asked "do you think they have it in Carrefour?", however he just couldn´t face the belly buster full english

Our hotel was 17 stories high and the views were amazing, its our Las Vegas.



Sunset



Just look at the state

Labels: life in spain

My attempts at being Percy Thrower have been quite limited although the roses on the balcony are just about surviving and the avacado plant is showing healthy adolesent growth as the before and after pictures below show.

Before



Current state of affairs



However, a more impressive array of flowers can be found in the parks of Madrid and Alcala through out the summer. I was really impressed with the rose garden in the Retiro. It was interesting to see the names of the roses such as French Revolution (red obviously) and Cosmos (white which triumphs over the rest because its the symbol of Yorkshire). here are a few of the pictures taken yesterday in the park.

One of my first memories of Spain was walking at about 5:30 am in benidorm of all places back to a rented Villa in about 1994, the car pollution had subsided and the smell of the flowers and shrubs was in the air. Every so often I sometimes regain a sense of that aroma when returning late and walking through the park near our flat

Labels: life in spain

I once read that the murder rate drastically increases in Spain during the summer, I presume due to the heat. A physicist friend of mine told me that in Valencia a persons brain swells due to the humidity so is this the reason why?

However I find that people seem much more jayquilo during the summer. I have experienced functionarios actually being polite and useful this week, I would go so far as to say that one of the education civil servants I met this week, went the extra mile and directed us to the correct building. The whole Dr House persona evaporated in the ministry of education this week, and although we still had to savour the queing, I actually left the building with a big cheesy grin on my face satisfied that my objectives de jour had been met.

Everyone seems happy in Alcala, there has been more drunk revelers but less car beeping at 7 in the morning, which demonstrates energies are being diverted in preparation for the August break and the fiestas.

Even the bulls in Pamploma have been generous this July only a couple of gorings so far.

To top the last week, R won a holiday in a four star hotel for us after he appeared on a cooking program. Things can only get better, soon I will be able to find parking outside my flat when everyone else goes on their holidays.

I love summer in Spain and not just because of the weather, everyone and everything feels content. Just watch out for the swollen brains!!!

Labels: life in spain

Move to a city where the football team wins the league. It happened a few years ago in Valencia. Only downside is that you can´t get to sleep the night before

Labels: life in spain

I now feel like a proper expat, we have had three days of the runaround by telefonica: I have been telefonicasriseated. Threatened them with a denunciation and hey presto workmen came around tonight. On monday in the hospital again I was asked to queue for the registration for the second time in a month because the first time after queing for an hour and half, they made a mistake, I refused to and held my ground for half and hour or so, and then they let me push in. I have the key to bad customer service, dont move and hold your ground don´t threaten a reclamation and again hey presto problem solved. Although it can lead to a headache lasting for a couple of hours after. My new philosohpty is reply with the bad attitude and they will give in.

Some update on the ETA from two other great sites.

The Bad Rash
South of Watford
It seems to me that it is either black or white with regards to the ETA issue. If people are blocked from voting in a democracy, and today is the 30th anniversary of the return of democracy, where do people turn to. If you cut out a tongue the person must find another way of communicating and its not always hand signals.

On tele 5 breakfast programme this morning they interviewed several of the old party leaders at the start of the democracy, the Communist seemed really really happy and quite content, does this tell us anything?

Labels: life in spain, Politics

Just spent a wonderful weekend in Jaen, we stayed where we usually stay with R´s family in Menjibar (more on Menjiibar in the next few days and why it is worth a visit when driving through Andalucia), but paid a visit to Jaen capital. We often visit this provincial capital but usually a night because although blessed with Olives and the best people, it doesn´t have the greatest nightlight except in the capital. We have been to Jaen castle in the past which has been renovated and possesses an excellent visitor sentre with a google earth type computer which allows you to focus in on the houses in the town (this must break EU privacy law).This time we visited Jaen Cathedral. It was magnificent. It has a beautiful, well maintained borroque facade which enters into a Cathedral which is unlike another in Spain which I have seen, it is ornamental but not fussy. The stone work is a browny sandy colour which reflects the lighting well, so it seems to be a more jolly rather than sombre religious monument. The alter table is actually quite plain, but the backdrop the Main Chapel is a neo classical delight. In fact every chapel in the Cathedral is a unique example of Church art.

We drove back through the old town by mistake but we couldn´t have made a better error. It contained several churches and convents, a jewish quarter and lots of lovely traditional houses. Apart from the cars it could have been from fifty years ago. We had already eaten in Menjibar so we just has coffee and ice cream at La Columbiana, which had an amazing variety of gout bombs.

We had only intended to go shopping so I didn´t have a camera, so here are some stolen from the Internet


The facade




The Cathedral (I assume photo taken from the castle where the views are spectacular)



The Dome

Labels: history, life in spain

Having been near two terrorist acts in my life one in Israel when a bomb was discovered on my bus going into the airport and another when I was young in London on Oxford street, I am a peace process person, I believe that while people are talking no-one is being killed or maimed. So my view on the ETA announcement is that it is sad. The bombs in Barajas were a sign of a lack of seriousness on the side of ETA. Here is what the well respected English speaking blogs in Spain have said so far.

Notes from Madrid

Big Chorizo

Iberian notes

I don´t think that the Government has given into ETA since they were elected, I genuinely believe that Zapatero wanted a peace process, but it takes more than one side to reach anagreement.

Labels: life in spain, Politics

Myself and a friend visiting from Valencia had a real pheonix nights garlic bread moment. Pizzas in a cone. A cone with a pizza. I was about to say only in Spain and then we spotted a sign for franchises which said that they are already available in the UK, and they were designed by an Italian.

You probably couldn´t write a restaurant review of them, but they seemed popular one couple next to us were eating six of them. What will they think of next yorkshire puddings on a lolly stick?

Labels: life in spain

I am going to seriously be dissappointed with the weather devil. He seems to have spent all year in the Madrid Community, with only a few days break. Notes from Spain discusses the weather

Still I have felt really English at work discussing the weather.

The rain is a good excuse to visit museums and shopping centres (something we never do in Summer)

Interesting story on BBC : US 'sex addict' sues over firing

Found this about the Greatest Spaniards

Labels: life in spain

I have enjoyed this Spanish election, because the last time I voted in Spain I was influenced by the Americas Cup, so I voted PP in Valencia (probably a big mistake). This time we both decided long ago that we would vote Green, and yesterday I found an extra reason for placing my cross next to them, well two reasons really. One the Greens candidate in Alcala anglicanised name is Julius Caesar (one of my favourite historical figures), secondly because yesterday while in carrerfour, a man dressed as a chicken came up, although in Spanish I always say duck after several times I have pronounced Pollo the wrong way, I once informed R´s mum that I really really love cock, and the Duck man spoke English. Who could not vote for a English speaking green duck? I must admit though, I did feel a bit guilty driving past them when leaving the store pumping who knows what into the air.

My friend Alison also saw the Chicken in the Plaza los Santos Niños in Alcala (click here)


Los verdes website
Apart from environmental concerns the Greens sign is a Sunflower, my friends in valencia own a bar called Girasol on Calle Turia, its the best bar in valencia, so if you are there call in say hello to Nicolas and have a smoke ( they sell tea as well. Super).



Seriously, it has been amazing to see how blogsphere in Spain has viewed the elections. I think it shows that Spain has made people welcome and people feel attachment to the country in such a way that they want to partake in the political process to build a better Spain.

Labels: life in spain, Politics

We went to our first fiesta this summer last last. We are fiesta groupies. Every town village and city has fiestas throughout the year but the summer ones are the best, they are free mini open concerts. It is not that we are cheapskates but R seems to have family in at least 1 out of every ten villages ( a slight exaggeration but not by much), so we feel it is our duty to go. Last night we saw Soraya (cheated out of winning OT two years ago). She has a brilliant voice and is much more prettier in real life than on the tele. An added benefit for me was that most of her act was in English, she used to be an air hostess and I was saying to R that when we are old duffers she will still be around and we can foxtrot to her in the Plaza in the Alcala fiestas like the pensioners do now to pasadobles. The photos came out dodgy again.

These fiestas are a great way to see bands and singers upclose, and if not alergy striken by the tons of pollen in the air, you can try local food and enjoy the particular customs which apply to the town or village.

My favourite fiestas are what I call the daddy of them all, Fallas. I believe that once you have seen this none can match. I lived through three of them in valencia and have yet to feel the same about any other, my joint favourite in the Romeria in Menjibar in Jaen, this is R´s village. There is a fun fair, loads of booze and food and Andalucian people. It isn´t as extravagant and camp as Fallas, but it encapsulates, fun, spirituality and friendship all in a period of a few days.

Labels: life in spain

Spotted on the web. You really couldn´t make this up.

I think its them wot dun her in

Labels: life in spain

Here is a story Mr A works near the centre of Madrid where it is possible to park, it is a place which has probably not fallen foul of the Councils parking bye law through the convention of continued usage. The owner of the establishment concerned asked the Council to stop his workers parking there. Now Mr A and others have to spend at least 30 minutes looking for parking or pay. Now I have my moments but b*gger me.

Labels: life in spain, work

X factor has come to Spain on Cuatro. The programme ID is the same as in the UK but for sure the format will be very very different. Spanish Stars in your Eyes nearly satisfies the format criteria except for the panel they have who spend a good 40 % of the programme pronouncing and denouncing. Personally I feel anybody who is prepred to sing in front of millions deserves to be a famoso. The programme is about to start, they have just introduced the Judges, two of them look like the stereotype showcase inquisitors, the other looks very wierd, still will be able to catch up on his picadillos on Dolce Vita. Supposedly I am still sounding like Vera Duckworth with my throat problem, so I won´t be appearing for at least a while.

Labels: life in spain, tele

While strolling through Toledo yesterday with a friend we noticed that one of the magnificent entrances to the Cathederal has been obscured by netting. We assumed it was to protect the masonary from Pidgeons. My friend said where is the logic in covering a beautiful piece of architecture. I replied that there is no logic in Spain, this was in earshot of a couple of fellow tourists, the problem was one of them was Spanish and understood English, "thanks mate" he replied. My get out of difficult situations emergency button was quickly pressed, laughing I meekly said "ohhh its a joke my partners Spanish". I think its my first "slagging of Spanish" faux pas. Should I develop a code or even learn Klingon???

Labels: life in spain

We are trying to work out who to vote for in the elections. We will weigh up all the positives and negatives of each party. At the moment the PSOE van is belching out fumes and informing us through incredibly loud speakers that someone called Simicas is coming to town. They are telling us about the environment in Alcala while simultaneously polluting the air with carbon and noise, so thats a tick in the negative column there then. My bus stop has a lovely picture of a blonde Joan Collins asking us to have confidence or faith in the future, someone has drawn a lovely protruding nose on la Esperanza can´t decide whether she should be in positive or negative column. I bet her Avon lady makes a mint with her order.

UPDATE

I have seen him on the Posters, Simicas is PSOE.

Labels: life in spain, Politics

Last wednesday I visited Salamanca with my dad and a friend, so far out of all the cities I have been to in Spain it was the most beautiful, even more so than Cordoba. It remnded me a little bit of a larger Alcala. We did get caught out my an hailstorm and downpour but it was actually quite nice to see the city without the sun bleaching all the walls. The Palacio Monterry was an architectural delight, although the truely square plaza was impressive. However for me the pearl of the city was the Cathederal, it was the most beautiful and serene religous site I have ever had the pleasure to enter. From the outside it was superb and even fussy, but inside it felt calm and spiritual. One of my students said the Cathederal in Burgos can beat it so I will have to ensure that I visit. During my last 6 years in Spain I have neglected the North except Catalunia and have concentrated on the South and Valencia. I think many of my future excursions will be Northwards.

Coming back from Salamanca I thought that this is a place where I could live. I studied in Maastricht in Holland as part of my degree and Salamanca reminded me of why these Old University Towns are really worth a visit.

Again my camera was broken so some of the photos are a bit wonky.



These shells were a sign of love ( I wish I had a Valentines present like that)






This is beyond words.



Entrance to the Cathederal




My favourite Palace




The Plaza Mayor with rain

Labels: history, life in spain

During the puente I visited Avila and Salamanca.

Avila is a city that could get any medieval history fans pulse racing, walking up the sloping road to the walled town can transform a person to the days of Sir Galahad. All of sudden you see the length of the walls as they snake around the town inside. It is impressive. Unlike the walls in Carrick Fergus where you can see Plastic Knights dotted around the walls trying to create a disney style historical perspective, the Walls in Avila let the mind do the thinking and the imagining.

The town inside the walls is pretty and contains the usual fare of palacios for the Dons and Duques, we had Nova so we could only peer around the door taking glimpses into the touristic sites. There are plenty of places to eat and drink, and the prices seemed reasonable, we had a lovely tortilla just outside the walls. The Tea Room (Coffee in reality) Run was acceptable, we didn´t see any bars that really stood out. Avila is a beautiful place, there was no reference to Cervantes being from there, and is a great place for an History buff. My only concern was that dogs can´t go up on the wall so we didn´t have a chance to see the spectacular views at their best.

The screen on my camera broke so all the photographs are taken blind, so they are a bit wonky, but they do give an idea of what Avila is like (I hope)


The impressive walls



Gateway



The Cathederal ( A bit wonky )




She couldn´t walk on the walls but she found a nice number plate to sniff

Labels: history, life in spain