Saturday, October 11, 2008

GAUDÍ - BARCELONA



Sublime surname around part of the well-fed world. I was about to post some Barcelona snapshots when I suddenly noticed that 'GAUDIR' means in Catalan 'TO TAKE PLEASURE, TO ENJOY'. And this is what we did for a few days in August last. The Majestic Hotel was the best choice I coud have ever made as I wanted to feel at home away from home.

Thanks to EL PAÍS for the aerial photo I was not able to take. The others come from my camera as usual.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

MADRID







The Spanish Capital City may not be the prettiest one in Europe but we must thank the gods for that particular Avenue named El Paseo del Prado. You can start your walk from Atocha train station and visit the Reina Sofía Art Gallery (on your left), the Prado Museum (on your right) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Gallery (left again). Do not do it on the same day unless you are an insensitive replayable hard-drive than never pees.
The Caixa Forum hall would be an appropiate place for a cuppa and pee anyhow, as the nearby Botanical Gardens are properly watered by expert gardeners.

England my England


My students have asked for

more pictures about Britain.


Their wish is my command.





MIQUEL MARTÍ I POL


Miquel Martí i Pol (do listen to some of his poems
sung by Lluís Llach), Gabriel Ferrater and Vicent
Andrés Estellés. Three greatest Catalan
Language poets you cannot miss out. Google for
them (as usual) and let yourself go.

'Estimada Marta' is a must-have.

(Picture: Hotel Majestic - Barcelona, July 2008)

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder


















Doesn’t time fly? My last post is already 6 months old and so are all of us, the summer is over and after some ups and downs the autumn seems to be here to stay.

Over the last few days the weather has brought us unexpected squalls, unforeseen hot days and loads of forecasts about an alleged return to a usual wet season.


In the meantime, the wealthy are wealthier whereas mortgage holders are poorer or homeless and those of us who thought that capitalism needed no rules have started thinking that we were wrong. Why greedy speculators don’t try and fall for something (someone, rather) different than money they will never be able to spend or enjoy? Life’s so short!



Anyway, in order not to forget our good habits there you have some more pictures I took while in England and Ireland. And as to my long absence remember that this blog only intends to make you read a few lines in English peppered with slight hints and suggestions on Beauty because ‘Truth is Beauty and Beauty is Truth’ (Isadora Duncan). Copying the March 9 news on Zapatero from El País was a sort of ‘poetic license’ I must apologize for.

Friday, March 14, 2008

ZAPATERO (2)







Many thanks to GOYA, EL JUEVES and EL PAÍS (English Edition).



The Socialist Party secretary, José Blanco, last night (March,9)claimed victory in Sunday’s general election, a result that would give Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero a second term in office.

Shortly after polling stations closed at 8pm, all the exit polls for the general election pointed to a Socialist victory, with the gap between the incumbent party and the PP ranging between 11 and 26 congressional seats.

Three of the four polls had the PSOE near an absolute majority
of 176 seats, up from its current 164, predicting a more convincing
win than had been expected. At press time, with 56 percent
of votes counted, PSOE was set to win 171 seats, with the PP on 150 — just three more than it won when losing power in 2004. The United Left (IU) and the Catalan
Republican Left (ERC) looked set to be the big losers, with half as many seats as last term.


A new party with an anti-regional nationalist program led by former Socialist Rosa Díez, Unión
Progreso y Democracia (UPyD), appeared set to obtain a seat in Congress, while the Basque nationalists of PNV and the Catalan nationalists of CiU looked like they would keep their seven and 10 seats, respectively.


Turnout figures at the polls were high throughout the day, generally lagging slightly behind
the extremely high figures of 2004, an election which took place three days after the March
11 terrorist bomb attacks in which 191 people died. All parties urged voters to again turn out in
force as a response to the murder of a former politician in the Basque Country by ETA on Friday.


The final turnout figure was expected to be around 74 percent, four percent down on four
years ago. Historically, a higher turnout favors the Socialist Party, which
had urged voters to turn out en masse throughout the campaign. Over 35 million Spaniards were eligible to vote yesterday, including 1.2 million living abroad.
In 2004, the Socialists beat the PP by a million votes, representing a 16-seat difference in
Congress. As the largest minority, the governing Socialists had to seek support from nationalist
parties such as the ERC. In a significant rise from 2004, over 1,100 candidates were running
for a seat in Congress, while another 1,220 fought for one of 208 Senate seats, an increase of
around 30 percent in both cases. Another marked difference was a 75 percent increase in the number of female candidates, the result of new legislation aimed at gender equality in politics. Many, however, were relegated to the bottom of their party lists, where they were unlikely to secure a seat.


In any event, the 10th elections to Congress and the Senate in Spain’s modern democratic era will be remembered for the polarization and fiercely partisan politics displayed during the
race for office. Immigration, the economy and terrorism were the main focus of the campaign, while others such as health, corruption or constitutional reform—once considered “hot” issues — were conspicuously absent from both main candidates’ speeches and
their head-to-head televised debates in the two weeks prior to the vote. Instead, both Zapatero and Rajoy focused on the economic downturn by embarking on a race to offer voters the most money, either directly or indirectly. Besides promising higher pensions, family subsidies and all
sorts of assistance in the repayment of home loans, Zapatero directly promised 400€ to every citizen in tax breaks, while Rajoy said he will eliminate personal income tax altogether for people who earn less than 16,000€ a year.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

ZAPATERO


Many non-speaking Spanish people know that the word ZAPATO means SHOE and I am sure they can easily guess what ZAPATERO means ... ... ... SHOEMAKER.


Well, as I am not supposed to be trying to persuade my hordes of Spanish readers to increase the expected turnout on March 9, allow me to recommend this vintage song written and sang by my most admired BRIAN ENO ('Another Green World' album).


I'LL COME RUNNING (TO TIE YOUR SHOES)


I'll find a place somewhere in the corner I'm gonna waste the rest of my days Just watching patiently from the window Just waiting seasons change, some day, oh oh, My dreams will pull you through that garden gate.


I want to be the wandering sailor We're silhouettes by the light of the moon I sit playing solitaire by the window Just waiting, seasons change, ah hah, you'll see Some day these dreams will pull you through my door


And I'll come running to tie your shoe I'll come running to tie your shoe I'll come running to tie your shoe I'll come running to tie your shoe


Oh, oh oh-oh-oho-oho-oho-oho-oho-o-o-oOh, oh oh-oh-oho-oho-oho-oho-oho-o-o-o I'll come running to tie your shoe I'll come running to tie your shoe I'll come running to tie your shoe...


And then what?

I will be your Zapatero, seeing that GODOT has failed to arrive.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Interrail


Travelling by train may be a dazzling experience if you just feel like it. It was for me as I chose visiting Britain up and down without worrying about queuing or fares. Money is important, but if your choice is an interrail ticket, everything will look quite different. Second or first class will take anywhere expectable, even if you are the most adventourous traveller. I tried first class this time and it was worthwhile: I never stood on line nor did I have to worry about drinks or food. Anyway, if you want to get to your destination properly attended, Virgin trains are the best. The others are ...just different.