The recent joint Nobel Prize winners the IPCC, are holding their annual meeting in Valencia this week from the 12th-17th of November so expect traffic jams and lots of extra security.
They are preparing to release their annual report which will point out areas where urgent action needs to be taken. Why is this positive? Well, they are seen to be doing something and Valencia has been chosen for this major event.
Saturday 10 November 2007
Saturday 3 November 2007
You Know You Have Lived in Spain When...
Thought it would be good to put a few light hearted things on here. I particularly like 3, 20, 28, 38 and the last one.
This list comes from a great group on Facebook. Here Join the group.
1) You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable. Especially at lunch time.
2) You can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they're shutting just as you should be going out?
3) You aren't just surprised that the plumber/decorator has turned up on time, you're surprised he turned up at all.
4) You've been part of a botellon.
5) You think it's fine to comment on everyone's appearance.
6) Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.
7) You're shocked by people getting their legs out at the first hint of sun - surely they should wait until at least late June?
8) On msn you sometimes type 'jajaja' instead of 'hahaha'
9) You think the precious aceite is a vital part of every meal. And don't understand how anyone could think olive oil on toast is weird.
10) You're amazed when TV ad breaks last less than half an hour, especially right before the end of films.
11) You forget to say please when asking for things - you implied it in your tone of voice, right?
12) You love the phenomenon of giving 'toques' - but hate explaining it in English
14) You don't see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they're just what all the cool kids eat.
15) You know what a pijo is and how to spot one.
16) Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'coño,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'...
17) You know what 'resaca' means. And you probably had one at least once a week when you lived in Spain.
18) You know how to eat boquerones.
19) A bull's head on the wall of a bar isn't a talking point for you, it's just a part of the decor.
20) You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.
21) You know that after 2pm there's no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.
22) If anyone insults your mother, they better watch out...
23) You know how to change a bombona. And if you don't, you were either lazy or lucky enough to live somewhere nice.
24) It's not rude to answer the intercom to your flat by asking 'Quien?' (or maybe that was just my flatmate...)
25) You don't accept beer that's anything less than ice-cold.
26) The fact that all the male (or female) members of a family have the same first name doesn't surprise you.
27) The sound of mopeds in the background is the soundtrack to your life.
28) You know that the mullet didn't just happen in the 80s. It is alive and well in Spain.
29) You know the differenc between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao, pollo and polla...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!
30) On a Sunday morning, you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.
31) You don't see anything wrong with having a couple of beers in the morning if you feel like it.
32) Floors in bars are an ideal dumping ground for your colillas, servilletas etc. Why use a bin?!
33) You see clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.
34) You know ensaladilla rusa has nothing to do with Russia.
35) When you burst out laughing every time you see a Mitsubishi Pajero (thanks Stuart Line for reminding me of that one!)
36) You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion...
37) You know that 'ahora' doesn't really mean now. Hasta ahora, ahora vuelvo...etc
38)When you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, the first person turns up at 3.15...if you're lucky!
39) Central heating is most definitely a foreign concept. In winter, you just huddle around the heater under the table & pull the blanket up over your knees...and sleep with about 5 blankets on your bed!
40) Most women under 30 own a pair of those attractive 'Aladdin' style trousers with the crotch around the knees (you know what I mean!)
41) Aceite de oliva is 'muy sano', of course. So you help yourself to a bit more.
42)When women think that clear bra straps are in fact invisible.
43) When it's totally normal for every kitchen to have a deep-fat fryer but no kettle.
44) Te cagas en la leche....
45) To avoid that cheap Eristoff vodka you have to ask for 'un esmirnoff'
46) When you know what a guiri is / have been called one
47) When you add 'super' in front of any adjective for emphasis
48) When it's completely normal for men and women to have at least one facial piercing
49) When you pay for something that's, say, 8.50, you always ask, 'Quieres el cincuenta?'
50) Blonde girls actually start to think their name is 'rubia'
51) When you accept that paying with a 50 euro note is going to get you a dirty look if you're buying something that costs less than 40 euros
52) If something is great, it's 'de puta madre'
53) You can eat up to 5 times a day - first breakfast, 2nd breakfast around 11.30, almuerzo, merienda, cena
This list comes from a great group on Facebook. Here Join the group.
1) You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable. Especially at lunch time.
2) You can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they're shutting just as you should be going out?
3) You aren't just surprised that the plumber/decorator has turned up on time, you're surprised he turned up at all.
4) You've been part of a botellon.
5) You think it's fine to comment on everyone's appearance.
6) Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.
7) You're shocked by people getting their legs out at the first hint of sun - surely they should wait until at least late June?
8) On msn you sometimes type 'jajaja' instead of 'hahaha'
9) You think the precious aceite is a vital part of every meal. And don't understand how anyone could think olive oil on toast is weird.
10) You're amazed when TV ad breaks last less than half an hour, especially right before the end of films.
11) You forget to say please when asking for things - you implied it in your tone of voice, right?
12) You love the phenomenon of giving 'toques' - but hate explaining it in English
14) You don't see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they're just what all the cool kids eat.
15) You know what a pijo is and how to spot one.
16) Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'coño,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'...
17) You know what 'resaca' means. And you probably had one at least once a week when you lived in Spain.
18) You know how to eat boquerones.
19) A bull's head on the wall of a bar isn't a talking point for you, it's just a part of the decor.
20) You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.
21) You know that after 2pm there's no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.
22) If anyone insults your mother, they better watch out...
23) You know how to change a bombona. And if you don't, you were either lazy or lucky enough to live somewhere nice.
24) It's not rude to answer the intercom to your flat by asking 'Quien?' (or maybe that was just my flatmate...)
25) You don't accept beer that's anything less than ice-cold.
26) The fact that all the male (or female) members of a family have the same first name doesn't surprise you.
27) The sound of mopeds in the background is the soundtrack to your life.
28) You know that the mullet didn't just happen in the 80s. It is alive and well in Spain.
29) You know the differenc between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao, pollo and polla...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!
30) On a Sunday morning, you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.
31) You don't see anything wrong with having a couple of beers in the morning if you feel like it.
32) Floors in bars are an ideal dumping ground for your colillas, servilletas etc. Why use a bin?!
33) You see clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.
34) You know ensaladilla rusa has nothing to do with Russia.
35) When you burst out laughing every time you see a Mitsubishi Pajero (thanks Stuart Line for reminding me of that one!)
36) You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion...
37) You know that 'ahora' doesn't really mean now. Hasta ahora, ahora vuelvo...etc
38)When you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, the first person turns up at 3.15...if you're lucky!
39) Central heating is most definitely a foreign concept. In winter, you just huddle around the heater under the table & pull the blanket up over your knees...and sleep with about 5 blankets on your bed!
40) Most women under 30 own a pair of those attractive 'Aladdin' style trousers with the crotch around the knees (you know what I mean!)
41) Aceite de oliva is 'muy sano', of course. So you help yourself to a bit more.
42)When women think that clear bra straps are in fact invisible.
43) When it's totally normal for every kitchen to have a deep-fat fryer but no kettle.
44) Te cagas en la leche....
45) To avoid that cheap Eristoff vodka you have to ask for 'un esmirnoff'
46) When you know what a guiri is / have been called one
47) When you add 'super' in front of any adjective for emphasis
48) When it's completely normal for men and women to have at least one facial piercing
49) When you pay for something that's, say, 8.50, you always ask, 'Quieres el cincuenta?'
50) Blonde girls actually start to think their name is 'rubia'
51) When you accept that paying with a 50 euro note is going to get you a dirty look if you're buying something that costs less than 40 euros
52) If something is great, it's 'de puta madre'
53) You can eat up to 5 times a day - first breakfast, 2nd breakfast around 11.30, almuerzo, merienda, cena
Sunday 28 October 2007
The Real Truth About the Market
If you believed all the hype about what is happening in the Spanish property market then you would be looking for the blood letting everywhere. While it is true that the market has slowed considerably compared with five years ago, we at Valencia Property said for many years, rises year on year of over 20% in property values were not sustainable. However bear in mind the following. Foreign investment in Spain in the first six months of 2007 went up by 30% compared with the same period last year.
My explanation is that Russian money is flowing into the country and all of the immigrants from South America and Eastern Europe are now starting to settle into jobs here and want to buy property. Short term prices may start to fall but long term the future looks pretty stable due to the increasing immigration and disparity between demand in large cities and availability. It is also a good time to rent out properties that you may have bought some time ago as demand is growing because higher interest rates are moving some people out of the possibility of buying. Expect rates to start dropping next year.
My explanation is that Russian money is flowing into the country and all of the immigrants from South America and Eastern Europe are now starting to settle into jobs here and want to buy property. Short term prices may start to fall but long term the future looks pretty stable due to the increasing immigration and disparity between demand in large cities and availability. It is also a good time to rent out properties that you may have bought some time ago as demand is growing because higher interest rates are moving some people out of the possibility of buying. Expect rates to start dropping next year.
Monday 1 October 2007
Levante Win A Trophy
Levante are the other team in Valencia. The one supported by thos living in the port and beach areas. They do not have a great history but now their only ever trophy is to be remembered. Could this be a sign that finally the Spanish are coming to terms with the stupidity of the divisions caused by the Civil War from 1936-9? Hopefully it is.
The article is taken from the Guardian newspaper and the url is here.
Levante pick up football trophy - 70 years on
Levante sit bottom of the Spanish football league, with a single point, and were thrashed 4-1 by Barcelona on Saturday. But Levante will be picking up one trophy this year - even if it is 70 years overdue. The Spanish parliament has voted to recognise Levante's victory in the Republican Cup final of July 18 1937, a game that had long been wiped from the official records.
In 1937 Spain was divided; the fascist forces of Franco occupied just over half of the country, while the republicans were besieged on the other side. Football still had its place, and the eight clubs on the republican side organised their own league, with the four top-placed teams competing for the Republican Cup, an offshoot of the King's Cup, the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup. That year Barcelona, having won the league, went on a tour of the US and Mexico to raise money for the republic, allowing fifth-placed Levante to take their place in the cup. Levante went on to beat their cross-town rivals Valencia 1-0 to lift the only trophy the club has ever won.
But Franco's regime rejected the republican league and cup, removing all mention of Levante's victory from the record books. The only evidence of Levante's win comes from newspaper reports and their fans' memories. One fan in particular was desperate to get the history books rewritten. Xavier Rius appealed to the Spanish football federation to reinstate their victory, but initially met with little success. He went to the Valencian MP Isaura Navarro of the leftwing IU-IVC, who took the issue to parliament. Success was achieved last week, with the help of a rebellious centre-right People's party MP. Parliament approved a call for the football federation to recognise the Republican Cup. Seventy years on, Levante's long-suffering fans can finally celebrate their one trophy.
Saturday 25 August 2007
A Positive Turn On Immigration
The Spanish secretary of state for EU affairs, Alberto Navarro, claims that over the last six years Spain has become the second emigration destination country in the world, after the US.
He said there are some five million legal migrants living in Spain, more than half of whom are from EU countries. Two million are from Latin America and the rest are largely from North Africa and Eastern Europe. He added that it is estimated there are a further 700,000 people who are living in Spain illegally.
He did not say how many immigrants are only here on a temporary basis, on their way to a third country.
“It is this government’s opinion that immigrants should accept and assume the culture and traditions of the host country and I consider immigration to be a wholly positive phenomenon,” he said.
“Statistics show that 50% of Spain’s economic growth can be attributed to the effects of immigration and half of all jobs being created here are being taken up by immigrants. Every year 600,000 immigrants join our labour force.”
Thursday 16 August 2007
All Eyes On Valencia
A great article taken from the San Francisco Chronicle. The original can be viewed here.
All eyes are on Valencia, Spain, vibrantly transformed by native architect Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences. It's an extraordinary complex of futuristic buildings surrounded by shimmering water and sweeping green spaces.
Architect Frank Gehry put Spain's northern port city of Bilbao on the map when his curvaceous Guggenheim Bilbao Museum opened 10 years ago. Valencia's newfound panache extends to its port, elegantly rejuvenated to coincide with the America's Cup competition, which the city hosted in June. Befitting the jet-set yachting event, the seafront has chic restaurants, glittery hotels and broad promenades of palm trees and lavish flower beds.
Yet long before the media began trumpeting the America's Cup, Valencia's Turia Gardens attracted international attention. The project goes back to 1957, when floodwaters devastated the Ciutat Vella, the historic district, and threw the province into chaos. In an effort to avoid another such deluge, the government diverted the Turia River. Rather than turn the dry riverbed into a highway, a proposal rejected by Valencia's residents, the city made it into a public "green zone."
Architect Ricardo Bofill led the gardens' planning during the 1980s. Bofill imagined a greensward meandering through Valencia toward the sea. The former dry riverbed - a 105-square-mile expanse - comprises sports facilities, bike paths, exercise stations and lush gardens. Visitors can stroll eastward around the heart of old Valencia's serpentine streets and plazas, rich with Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic architecture.
Here, running parallel to the riverbed, is the 19th century Alameda, a leafy, Moorish-inspired walkway. In contrast, a series of evocative bridges define the newly landscaped Turia spaces, unfolding as you amble toward the site of the City of Arts and Sciences.
Approaching Exposition Bridge, you'll observe its startlingly contemporary white-bowed form, playing off the tactile stone wall of the riverbed, resonant of centuries past. The iconic span, designed by Calatrava in 1995, is affectionately referred to as "the comb" by locals.
The old wall continues to embrace the walkway with a view to Flower Bridge. A popular pedestrian crossing constructed in 2002, its masses of colorful blooms are replanted seasonally.
Bofill's modernist aesthetic characterizes the Turia area, linking the 16th century Bridge of the Sea, where a spacious, circular pool below evokes the river, to the Bridge of the Guardian Angel.
Bofill laid out the parcel in a symmetrical, rectilinear arrangement, softening the straight lines with a lush green oasis that incorporates groves of orange trees with an orderly progression of fountains set into the ground and enlivened by red-tinted walls.
The fountains serve as a gateway to Valencia's Palace of Music, where concrete colonnades articulate the palace's formal courtyards. Characterized by olive trees, emerald lawns and elaborately patterned carpet bedding, the popular spot is animated by a vast reflecting pool with dancing water jets synchronized with music from the concert hall.
The mirror image of Bofill's design is restated in the path beyond, its soothing geometry leading directly to the recently completed urban complex of the City of Arts and Sciences.
The gleaming white buildings of glass, steel and concrete have risen in a formerly depressed industrial area near the sea.
Exhibitions and performances take place in the arts center, science museum, oceanographic park (designed by Felix Candela) and combined planetarium, IMAX theater and Laserium. The vast, undulating grounds are densely planted with swathes of fragrant herbs and trees, which will braid together as they reach maturity.
This mecca of art and technology has some magical effects. One concept involves pencil cypresses breaking the surface of the pale blue water encircling L'Hemisferic, the planetarium building inspired by the human eye.
The domed entry pavilion, L'Umbracle, stands atop the parking garage. Designed as a public space, the innovative open-air structure captures the imagination with its clarity of light, illuminating allees of palm trees, ornamental vines and aromatic specimens.
Adding to the impact, Calatrava created emphatic sculptural forms sheathed in mosaics to house elevators and mask air-conditioning units.
The scope of the Turia is growing. Recent additions include the 86-acre Cabecera Park at the western boundary, which formally connects the diverted river to its former site. The parkland's reconfigured terrain gives rise to naturalistic hills and a lake, threaded with winding paths culminating in a series of overlooks.
Plantings emulate a Mediterranean pinewood and natural wetland habitat, enhanced by enclaves of exotic trees. And work goes forward on the Bioparc, a natural zoo reserve adjoining Cabecera.
A few hours south of Barcelona, perched on the Mediterranean coast, Valencia is drawing garden lovers to neighborhoods vivified by 21st century landscapes.
More secret gardens both old and new await. The achingly romantic Monforte Gardens hold sway in the city center and are not to be missed. A classical, mid-19th century gem encompassing magnificent statuary, murmuring fountains and a pool shaped like a water lily, its garden rooms are given form by clipped hedging, while a canopy of cypresses, laurels and pines offers a haven from the sun.
All eyes are on Valencia, Spain, vibrantly transformed by native architect Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences. It's an extraordinary complex of futuristic buildings surrounded by shimmering water and sweeping green spaces.
Architect Frank Gehry put Spain's northern port city of Bilbao on the map when his curvaceous Guggenheim Bilbao Museum opened 10 years ago. Valencia's newfound panache extends to its port, elegantly rejuvenated to coincide with the America's Cup competition, which the city hosted in June. Befitting the jet-set yachting event, the seafront has chic restaurants, glittery hotels and broad promenades of palm trees and lavish flower beds.
Yet long before the media began trumpeting the America's Cup, Valencia's Turia Gardens attracted international attention. The project goes back to 1957, when floodwaters devastated the Ciutat Vella, the historic district, and threw the province into chaos. In an effort to avoid another such deluge, the government diverted the Turia River. Rather than turn the dry riverbed into a highway, a proposal rejected by Valencia's residents, the city made it into a public "green zone."
Architect Ricardo Bofill led the gardens' planning during the 1980s. Bofill imagined a greensward meandering through Valencia toward the sea. The former dry riverbed - a 105-square-mile expanse - comprises sports facilities, bike paths, exercise stations and lush gardens. Visitors can stroll eastward around the heart of old Valencia's serpentine streets and plazas, rich with Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic architecture.
Here, running parallel to the riverbed, is the 19th century Alameda, a leafy, Moorish-inspired walkway. In contrast, a series of evocative bridges define the newly landscaped Turia spaces, unfolding as you amble toward the site of the City of Arts and Sciences.
Approaching Exposition Bridge, you'll observe its startlingly contemporary white-bowed form, playing off the tactile stone wall of the riverbed, resonant of centuries past. The iconic span, designed by Calatrava in 1995, is affectionately referred to as "the comb" by locals.
The old wall continues to embrace the walkway with a view to Flower Bridge. A popular pedestrian crossing constructed in 2002, its masses of colorful blooms are replanted seasonally.
Bofill's modernist aesthetic characterizes the Turia area, linking the 16th century Bridge of the Sea, where a spacious, circular pool below evokes the river, to the Bridge of the Guardian Angel.
Bofill laid out the parcel in a symmetrical, rectilinear arrangement, softening the straight lines with a lush green oasis that incorporates groves of orange trees with an orderly progression of fountains set into the ground and enlivened by red-tinted walls.
The fountains serve as a gateway to Valencia's Palace of Music, where concrete colonnades articulate the palace's formal courtyards. Characterized by olive trees, emerald lawns and elaborately patterned carpet bedding, the popular spot is animated by a vast reflecting pool with dancing water jets synchronized with music from the concert hall.
The mirror image of Bofill's design is restated in the path beyond, its soothing geometry leading directly to the recently completed urban complex of the City of Arts and Sciences.
The gleaming white buildings of glass, steel and concrete have risen in a formerly depressed industrial area near the sea.
Exhibitions and performances take place in the arts center, science museum, oceanographic park (designed by Felix Candela) and combined planetarium, IMAX theater and Laserium. The vast, undulating grounds are densely planted with swathes of fragrant herbs and trees, which will braid together as they reach maturity.
This mecca of art and technology has some magical effects. One concept involves pencil cypresses breaking the surface of the pale blue water encircling L'Hemisferic, the planetarium building inspired by the human eye.
The domed entry pavilion, L'Umbracle, stands atop the parking garage. Designed as a public space, the innovative open-air structure captures the imagination with its clarity of light, illuminating allees of palm trees, ornamental vines and aromatic specimens.
Adding to the impact, Calatrava created emphatic sculptural forms sheathed in mosaics to house elevators and mask air-conditioning units.
The scope of the Turia is growing. Recent additions include the 86-acre Cabecera Park at the western boundary, which formally connects the diverted river to its former site. The parkland's reconfigured terrain gives rise to naturalistic hills and a lake, threaded with winding paths culminating in a series of overlooks.
Plantings emulate a Mediterranean pinewood and natural wetland habitat, enhanced by enclaves of exotic trees. And work goes forward on the Bioparc, a natural zoo reserve adjoining Cabecera.
A few hours south of Barcelona, perched on the Mediterranean coast, Valencia is drawing garden lovers to neighborhoods vivified by 21st century landscapes.
More secret gardens both old and new await. The achingly romantic Monforte Gardens hold sway in the city center and are not to be missed. A classical, mid-19th century gem encompassing magnificent statuary, murmuring fountains and a pool shaped like a water lily, its garden rooms are given form by clipped hedging, while a canopy of cypresses, laurels and pines offers a haven from the sun.
Tuesday 7 August 2007
Horse Racing on Sand. Red Rum all over again
Hi Again and welcome to a story of tourism that is positive because it is so unusual, and no I don't mean the Tomatina, that is next week in Buñol. Thanks to Typically Spanish for the story.
Along the shore of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, these are the oldest official horse races in Spain
The oldest officially-regulated horse race which still exists in Spain today was held on the beach in 1845 in one of the three towns of Cádiz province which, together with Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa María, make up the world-famous sherry triangle: Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Lying in the northwest of Cádiz province, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Sanlúcar de Barrameda has a long history which dates back to pre-Roman times. It was later the site of a defensive fort during the Moorish occupation, and, once retaken by the Castilian monarchy, was first a major trading port and then one of the points of departure for the conquistadores after the discovery of the New World.
Christopher Columbus set sail from Sanlúcar on his third voyage in 1498. Another historical departure came in 1519, when the explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, set sail with 270 men on his attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
According to tradition, the Carreras de Caballos owe their origins to the informal races which used to take place between the owners of the working horses which were used to transport fish from the former port of Bajo de Guía to the local markets and other nearby towns.
The first race was organised by an association which was set up specifically to promote the Andalucía breed of horse, the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It has been held almost without interruption ever since, and now straddles the festivities held in honour of the town’s patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad Coronada.
This annual race on the flat southern sands of this part of Andalucía is today renowned all over the world, and has been classed as International Tourism Interest since 1997. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is Honorary President of the Racing Club.
The races take place every August, and are spread over two separate three-day events.
At low-tide at the mouth of the Guadlquivir River, just as the sun is setting, and with the marshes of the Doñana National Park as the backdrop across the other side of the river.
The racehorses run for distances ranging between 1.2 and 2 kilometres, while a crowd of thousands watches jockeys from Spain and elsewhere in Europe resplendent in their racing colours as the horses’ hooves pound across the wet sands. There is official betting, with an unofficial system run by children on the side, and total prize money running into the millions.
The largest purse is awarded during the last weekend of the races, for the first horse to cross the line in the two kilometre stretch in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Sanlúcar.
Along the shore of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, these are the oldest official horse races in Spain
The oldest officially-regulated horse race which still exists in Spain today was held on the beach in 1845 in one of the three towns of Cádiz province which, together with Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa María, make up the world-famous sherry triangle: Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Lying in the northwest of Cádiz province, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Sanlúcar de Barrameda has a long history which dates back to pre-Roman times. It was later the site of a defensive fort during the Moorish occupation, and, once retaken by the Castilian monarchy, was first a major trading port and then one of the points of departure for the conquistadores after the discovery of the New World.
Christopher Columbus set sail from Sanlúcar on his third voyage in 1498. Another historical departure came in 1519, when the explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, set sail with 270 men on his attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
According to tradition, the Carreras de Caballos owe their origins to the informal races which used to take place between the owners of the working horses which were used to transport fish from the former port of Bajo de Guía to the local markets and other nearby towns.
The first race was organised by an association which was set up specifically to promote the Andalucía breed of horse, the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It has been held almost without interruption ever since, and now straddles the festivities held in honour of the town’s patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad Coronada.
This annual race on the flat southern sands of this part of Andalucía is today renowned all over the world, and has been classed as International Tourism Interest since 1997. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is Honorary President of the Racing Club.
The races take place every August, and are spread over two separate three-day events.
At low-tide at the mouth of the Guadlquivir River, just as the sun is setting, and with the marshes of the Doñana National Park as the backdrop across the other side of the river.
The racehorses run for distances ranging between 1.2 and 2 kilometres, while a crowd of thousands watches jockeys from Spain and elsewhere in Europe resplendent in their racing colours as the horses’ hooves pound across the wet sands. There is official betting, with an unofficial system run by children on the side, and total prize money running into the millions.
The largest purse is awarded during the last weekend of the races, for the first horse to cross the line in the two kilometre stretch in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Sanlúcar.
Sunday 5 August 2007
Spanish farmers modernize water control
Fantastic Article in a newspaper in South Carolina, The State, about how Spanish farmers are leaving behind the traditional Moorish irrigation methods.
VALENCIA, Spain --
The Moorish invaders who once ruled Spain brought with them a clever irrigation system that helped turn arid land into verdant fields. A millennium later it is still largely in use, and Spain remains one of Europe's breadbaskets.
But after years of chronic drought coupled with vastly increased water use, not to mention worrying climatic change, farm groups have realized it's high time for change.
Spain's federation of irrigators, known as Fenacore, is promoting an initiative to computerize Spain's irrigation system by 2010, connecting some 500,000 farmers to an irrigation network headquartered outside Madrid.
The scheme should allow valuable water to be monitored and controlled by computer, drop by precious drop.
"We're jumping from the 13th century to the 21st century," said Juan Valero, Fenacore's secretary general.
While computer-assisted irrigation is not new, Fenacore believes no other country is organizing it at a national level. So far 200,000 farmers have signed up for the project, Valero said.
"The only way to manage water is to measure how much enters each channel, and computer technology is the best way to do this," he said.
Farmers are being encouraged to move away from outdated, wasteful Moorish-style flood irrigation systems toward drip and dispersion irrigation. They are also asked to lay highly efficient telecommunications cables alongside main water conduits so that the irrigation grid can be monitored from a national computer center.
"In almost half of Spain, the irrigation technique used is flooding, which uses up to three or four times more than the water that is necessary," Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said recently.
Fenacore estimates computerized irrigation will mean up to 20 percent water savings.
VALENCIA, Spain --
The Moorish invaders who once ruled Spain brought with them a clever irrigation system that helped turn arid land into verdant fields. A millennium later it is still largely in use, and Spain remains one of Europe's breadbaskets.
But after years of chronic drought coupled with vastly increased water use, not to mention worrying climatic change, farm groups have realized it's high time for change.
Spain's federation of irrigators, known as Fenacore, is promoting an initiative to computerize Spain's irrigation system by 2010, connecting some 500,000 farmers to an irrigation network headquartered outside Madrid.
The scheme should allow valuable water to be monitored and controlled by computer, drop by precious drop.
"We're jumping from the 13th century to the 21st century," said Juan Valero, Fenacore's secretary general.
While computer-assisted irrigation is not new, Fenacore believes no other country is organizing it at a national level. So far 200,000 farmers have signed up for the project, Valero said.
"The only way to manage water is to measure how much enters each channel, and computer technology is the best way to do this," he said.
Farmers are being encouraged to move away from outdated, wasteful Moorish-style flood irrigation systems toward drip and dispersion irrigation. They are also asked to lay highly efficient telecommunications cables alongside main water conduits so that the irrigation grid can be monitored from a national computer center.
"In almost half of Spain, the irrigation technique used is flooding, which uses up to three or four times more than the water that is necessary," Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said recently.
Fenacore estimates computerized irrigation will mean up to 20 percent water savings.
Wednesday 1 August 2007
Spanish scientists use maths to cure terminal liver cancer
This is a story that appeared in 2005. Steps have been taken since but it is quite fascinating.
By using a mathematical formula designed to strengthen the immune system, a team of scientists in Spain have succeeded in curing a patient who was in the last stage of terminal liver cancer.
The team of researchers from the Complutense University in Madrid believe that this discovery could open new doors for the treatment of solid cancerous tumours.
The new treatment was developed in 1998 by a team led by Antonio Bru, a physicist who bases his theory on the idea that the evolution of solid tumors depends on a mathematical equation which defines their biological growth. An equation is then obtained in the laboratory and used to design a therapy to destroy the tumor.
The scientists, who have carried out successful tests on mice over the past few years, announced yesterday that the only human experiment they have carried out so far has been a complete success.
Apparantly the patient was suffering from liver cancer which had been diagnosed by his doctors as terminal and in its final stage. The scientists used a mathematical formula to create a treatment based on neutrofiles that strengthened the patient's immune system. The patient responded well to the treatment immediately and has since made a total recovery and has returned to work.
The treatment produces no side effects.The Spanish scientists believe that their theory could be applied to treat all kinds of solid tumors although they will need to carry out many more tests on human patients before they can be sure.
By using a mathematical formula designed to strengthen the immune system, a team of scientists in Spain have succeeded in curing a patient who was in the last stage of terminal liver cancer.
The team of researchers from the Complutense University in Madrid believe that this discovery could open new doors for the treatment of solid cancerous tumours.
The new treatment was developed in 1998 by a team led by Antonio Bru, a physicist who bases his theory on the idea that the evolution of solid tumors depends on a mathematical equation which defines their biological growth. An equation is then obtained in the laboratory and used to design a therapy to destroy the tumor.
The scientists, who have carried out successful tests on mice over the past few years, announced yesterday that the only human experiment they have carried out so far has been a complete success.
Apparantly the patient was suffering from liver cancer which had been diagnosed by his doctors as terminal and in its final stage. The scientists used a mathematical formula to create a treatment based on neutrofiles that strengthened the patient's immune system. The patient responded well to the treatment immediately and has since made a total recovery and has returned to work.
The treatment produces no side effects.The Spanish scientists believe that their theory could be applied to treat all kinds of solid tumors although they will need to carry out many more tests on human patients before they can be sure.
Thursday 12 July 2007
Closed for Holidays
We are closed from today until the 26th of this month for holidays. If you need to get in touch, want to offer up an article for consideration or anything else then feel free to get in touch on grahunt@gmail.com. There may be a delay in replying but anything urgent will be answered asap. Leave email address and phone number to contact.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Valencia From Above
Fancy a look at what Valencia has to offer from above. Well this is just a lovely compilation.
Friday 29 June 2007
Spain vs India
I just love this. We are always reminded that driving in Spain is like taking your life in your hands. Well recently with the new points licence apparently driving has become a lot safer despite the police being rather zealous in their approach to the new law. Deaths, accidents and cautions are all down and apparently speeding is drastically down.
However even without the new laws driving in Spain will never be like driving in India and that is the positive news story for today. Enjoy the video.
Inspiration and Favourite Places
My life in Spain is differentiated into two different parts. Firstly, the wet North and Asturias, one of the most beautiful areas in the World (In my very humble opinion). Then down to the Mediterranean lifestyle of Valencia, a fantastic place to live and work. The landscapes are different, the people are different and the lifestyles are different.
However there are also other places in Spain that are special to me and here I have included some photos of the most impressive places I have been to in Spain, for whatever reason, nostalgia, wow factor or simply put pure beauty.
Have a good look. If you have any questions about any of the places or would like to know where they are then get in touch with me on devanio66@gmail.com
However there are also other places in Spain that are special to me and here I have included some photos of the most impressive places I have been to in Spain, for whatever reason, nostalgia, wow factor or simply put pure beauty.
Have a good look. If you have any questions about any of the places or would like to know where they are then get in touch with me on devanio66@gmail.com
Tuesday 26 June 2007
Spain's National Anthem to Get Words
Thanks to the Washington Post for this story, an oldie but goody. This story has been going around the place for some time now but it has just been picked up by the Americans. So here it is in all its glory. For a more irreverant view on the story go to the following link.
The picture is of a confused looking Spanish national Team in the 98 World Cup humming and making it up as they go along. If you have any suggestions (And they must include the words "Going home in the quarters" I think) then send them into Marca.
ARTICLE
Spaniards never have to worry about forgetting the words to their national anthem. It has none.
Now, however, the country has embarked on trying to come up with lyrics _ a task that some see as leading to a perilous fight.
The wordless anthem has often caused consternation among onlookers from other nations at international events such as soccer matches and Olympics because all Spaniards can do is hum along to its tune.
"It gives me a very odd feeling that people should sing 'La, la, la,' or 'Chunda, chunda, chunda,'" said Alejandro Blanco, president of Spain's Olympic Committee. "Spain is a country with cheerful people who sing at any opportunity, so why shouldn't they be able to sing the words of a national anthem?"
Staunchly Catholic Spain has for centuries intoned religious rites such as the "Angelus devotion" instead of rallying round an anthem, although one existed mainly for use at military occasions.
Paradoxically, during the 1939-75 military dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, the national anthem was rarely heard and it has only re-emerged with a return to democracy in 1977.
Franco's iron grip on government and the destructive civil war that preceded it have left a nation that is divided not just along traditional regional lines _ based on the ancient kingdoms that united centuries ago to form modern Spain _ but also politically.
"I doubt very much anyone will be able to come up with words that everyone will be happy with," said Jose Guzman, a 42-year-old businessman.
Although the idea of setting words to the national anthem was first voiced by the Association of Victims of Terrorism, a group linked to the conservative opposition Popular Party, Blanco said the current initiative is free of politics.
"The politically independent Spanish Olympic Committee put forward the idea," said Blanco, who added that many sectors of society have responded with enthusiasm.
Some observers think trying to find words most people will have no qualms about intoning at public functions is going to be a near-impossible task.
"Look, Spain has so many languages, what are they going to do, set each stanza in a different tongue?" said Juan Suarez, presenter of musical radio show "La Ciudad Invisible" _ "The Invisible City" _ on national station Radio 3.
Spaniards speak at least five regional languages _ not including dialects _ and share the distinction of having no words to their anthem with a handful of countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose anthem was written in 1985, and tiny San Marino, whose tune was penned in 1894.
The competition to write words to the anthem is open to anyone, said Blanco, who expected the first 300 suggested lyrics from sports daily Marca on Wednesday.
Blanco said his committee expected more than 5,000 suggested lyrics to the anthem by September, when the candidates are to be assessed by parliament.
"The final choice will be left to lawmakers in government," said Blanco, who said he was convinced the outcome would unite rather than divide the country.
The picture is of a confused looking Spanish national Team in the 98 World Cup humming and making it up as they go along. If you have any suggestions (And they must include the words "Going home in the quarters" I think) then send them into Marca.
ARTICLE
Spaniards never have to worry about forgetting the words to their national anthem. It has none.
Now, however, the country has embarked on trying to come up with lyrics _ a task that some see as leading to a perilous fight.
The wordless anthem has often caused consternation among onlookers from other nations at international events such as soccer matches and Olympics because all Spaniards can do is hum along to its tune.
"It gives me a very odd feeling that people should sing 'La, la, la,' or 'Chunda, chunda, chunda,'" said Alejandro Blanco, president of Spain's Olympic Committee. "Spain is a country with cheerful people who sing at any opportunity, so why shouldn't they be able to sing the words of a national anthem?"
Staunchly Catholic Spain has for centuries intoned religious rites such as the "Angelus devotion" instead of rallying round an anthem, although one existed mainly for use at military occasions.
Paradoxically, during the 1939-75 military dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, the national anthem was rarely heard and it has only re-emerged with a return to democracy in 1977.
Franco's iron grip on government and the destructive civil war that preceded it have left a nation that is divided not just along traditional regional lines _ based on the ancient kingdoms that united centuries ago to form modern Spain _ but also politically.
"I doubt very much anyone will be able to come up with words that everyone will be happy with," said Jose Guzman, a 42-year-old businessman.
Although the idea of setting words to the national anthem was first voiced by the Association of Victims of Terrorism, a group linked to the conservative opposition Popular Party, Blanco said the current initiative is free of politics.
"The politically independent Spanish Olympic Committee put forward the idea," said Blanco, who added that many sectors of society have responded with enthusiasm.
Some observers think trying to find words most people will have no qualms about intoning at public functions is going to be a near-impossible task.
"Look, Spain has so many languages, what are they going to do, set each stanza in a different tongue?" said Juan Suarez, presenter of musical radio show "La Ciudad Invisible" _ "The Invisible City" _ on national station Radio 3.
Spaniards speak at least five regional languages _ not including dialects _ and share the distinction of having no words to their anthem with a handful of countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose anthem was written in 1985, and tiny San Marino, whose tune was penned in 1894.
The competition to write words to the anthem is open to anyone, said Blanco, who expected the first 300 suggested lyrics from sports daily Marca on Wednesday.
Blanco said his committee expected more than 5,000 suggested lyrics to the anthem by September, when the candidates are to be assessed by parliament.
"The final choice will be left to lawmakers in government," said Blanco, who said he was convinced the outcome would unite rather than divide the country.
Monday 25 June 2007
Solar Tower
Spain is starting to lead the world as it really should on Solar Energy production. Just look at this new project in Sanlucar, Andalucia.
ARTICLE
http://www.positivenews.org.uk
A dramatic new feature dominates the landscape in the arid south of Iberia. Europe’s very first, commercially-run, solar energy plant was recently opened in the Spanish town of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville. Surrounded by an area as big as 300 football fields covered in mirrors, a cylindrical, 115 metre high solar tower showcases the latest technology.
624 huge mirrors called ‘heliostats’ circle the structure from the ground and automatically track the sun as it moves from east to west. Each 120 square metre mirror reflects the sun’s rays, beaming them back to converge on a receiver at the top of the tower. Intense temperatures of up to 250 degrees centigrade generate steam, which is blasted into turbines to produce electricity for up to 6,000 homes – all without emitting a single whiff of greenhouse gas!
Over the next six years, another 300 megawatt solar platform will be built on the Sanlúcar site, producing power to light up some 180,000 homes, enough for a city the size of Seville. The wider project is expected to prevent annual emissions of at least 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The BBC science correspondent, David Shukman, reported being amazed by the spectacle. “From a distance, I couldn’t believe the strange structure ahead of me was actually real,” he says. “A concrete tower, 40 storeys high, stood bathed in intense white light – a bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian country-side. The tower looked like it was being hosed with giant sprays of water or was somehow being squirted with jets of pale gas. I had trouble working it out.”
With the most available sunshine of any European country, Spain is leading the way in developing solar energy with projects happening across the country.
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings as part of the Spanish government’s efforts to meet its 12 per cent objective of energy from renewables by 2010. Another solar power plant is to be built near Granada later on this year, and a gigantic 750 megawatt solar tower near the capital, Madrid, is in the planning stages.
Positive News is a great website promoting just that, positive news. It will help you to cheer up so go there regularly.
ARTICLE
http://www.positivenews.org.uk
A dramatic new feature dominates the landscape in the arid south of Iberia. Europe’s very first, commercially-run, solar energy plant was recently opened in the Spanish town of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville. Surrounded by an area as big as 300 football fields covered in mirrors, a cylindrical, 115 metre high solar tower showcases the latest technology.
624 huge mirrors called ‘heliostats’ circle the structure from the ground and automatically track the sun as it moves from east to west. Each 120 square metre mirror reflects the sun’s rays, beaming them back to converge on a receiver at the top of the tower. Intense temperatures of up to 250 degrees centigrade generate steam, which is blasted into turbines to produce electricity for up to 6,000 homes – all without emitting a single whiff of greenhouse gas!
Over the next six years, another 300 megawatt solar platform will be built on the Sanlúcar site, producing power to light up some 180,000 homes, enough for a city the size of Seville. The wider project is expected to prevent annual emissions of at least 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The BBC science correspondent, David Shukman, reported being amazed by the spectacle. “From a distance, I couldn’t believe the strange structure ahead of me was actually real,” he says. “A concrete tower, 40 storeys high, stood bathed in intense white light – a bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian country-side. The tower looked like it was being hosed with giant sprays of water or was somehow being squirted with jets of pale gas. I had trouble working it out.”
With the most available sunshine of any European country, Spain is leading the way in developing solar energy with projects happening across the country.
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings as part of the Spanish government’s efforts to meet its 12 per cent objective of energy from renewables by 2010. Another solar power plant is to be built near Granada later on this year, and a gigantic 750 megawatt solar tower near the capital, Madrid, is in the planning stages.
Positive News is a great website promoting just that, positive news. It will help you to cheer up so go there regularly.
Everybody Likes Dolphins
Eveyone likes dolphins don't they! Anyway it seems the Spanish are getting on this particular bandwagon with this extremely positive news story.
ARTICLE
(Taken from http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/529214)
Scientists from Earthwatch, the global environmental organization, are celebrating this week after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to divert shipping lanes off the southern coast of Spain in order to avoid important bottlenose dolphin foraging grounds.
When passing through the Alboran Sea, merchant ships and fisherman will now be required to travel 20 miles further south off the coast of Almeria. This diversion will reduce acoustic and water pollution in the area and should help to mitigate the impact of accidental oil spills on coastal habitats and tourist beaches.
“This is very positive news for the bottlenose dolphin,” says Earthwatch scientist Ricardo Sagarminaga van Buiten. “Cargo ships, often carrying dangerous substances, regularly pass through the Alboran Sea’s primary dolphin feeding grounds.”
He continues, “Bottlenose dolphins have suffered a sharp decline in the Mediterranean over the last decade, so diverting the shipping route should give the species an opportunity to recover.” *
The Alboran Sea is a gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. It provides an essential migratory corridor for a large variety of marine species and attracts an abundance of fish. This high productivity makes it one of Europe’s most valuable feeding sites for dolphins and sea turtles. However, almost 30 percent of the world’s maritime traffic currently passes through these waters.
Together with maritime experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Earthwatch scientists made recommendations to the Spanish Merchant Navy and IMO, following five years of research in the area for the European Commission LIFE Nature project.*
Since 2002, they have spent more than 700 days at sea, surveying 10,000 miles in order to develop conservation management plans for marine protected areas. In this time, over 500 international Earthwatch volunteers have given up their time to support them.
This long-term research project confirms that throughout the Mediterranean the bottlenose dolphin population is fragmented; their migratory activities have decreased and local populations are genetically isolated. The Almeria dolphin population is currently the only healthy one in the Mediterranean; dolphin groups average 30 individuals here, compared to 2 to 5 individuals in other regions.
Conserving this site and providing safe access between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean basin is therefore crucial for the survival of the species.
ARTICLE
(Taken from http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/529214)
Scientists from Earthwatch, the global environmental organization, are celebrating this week after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to divert shipping lanes off the southern coast of Spain in order to avoid important bottlenose dolphin foraging grounds.
When passing through the Alboran Sea, merchant ships and fisherman will now be required to travel 20 miles further south off the coast of Almeria. This diversion will reduce acoustic and water pollution in the area and should help to mitigate the impact of accidental oil spills on coastal habitats and tourist beaches.
“This is very positive news for the bottlenose dolphin,” says Earthwatch scientist Ricardo Sagarminaga van Buiten. “Cargo ships, often carrying dangerous substances, regularly pass through the Alboran Sea’s primary dolphin feeding grounds.”
He continues, “Bottlenose dolphins have suffered a sharp decline in the Mediterranean over the last decade, so diverting the shipping route should give the species an opportunity to recover.” *
The Alboran Sea is a gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. It provides an essential migratory corridor for a large variety of marine species and attracts an abundance of fish. This high productivity makes it one of Europe’s most valuable feeding sites for dolphins and sea turtles. However, almost 30 percent of the world’s maritime traffic currently passes through these waters.
Together with maritime experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Earthwatch scientists made recommendations to the Spanish Merchant Navy and IMO, following five years of research in the area for the European Commission LIFE Nature project.*
Since 2002, they have spent more than 700 days at sea, surveying 10,000 miles in order to develop conservation management plans for marine protected areas. In this time, over 500 international Earthwatch volunteers have given up their time to support them.
This long-term research project confirms that throughout the Mediterranean the bottlenose dolphin population is fragmented; their migratory activities have decreased and local populations are genetically isolated. The Almeria dolphin population is currently the only healthy one in the Mediterranean; dolphin groups average 30 individuals here, compared to 2 to 5 individuals in other regions.
Conserving this site and providing safe access between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean basin is therefore crucial for the survival of the species.
Spanish Lynx Stops Motorway Building
Here is a great story which would definitiely not have happened a few years ago here. As people become more aware of the environment we may well get more of these stories. (On a side note compare this with one of my favourite "Only in Spain stories" which you can see after the article.)
ARTICLE
(Thanks to Earth Times for the story)
The Spanish Environment Ministry has decided to stop the construction of a 300-kilometre motorway to save the Iberian lynx, the world's most threatened feline species. The motorway would link Toledo with Cordoba, passing through two nature parks containing two of the country's three most important lynx populations, the daily El Pais reported.
"It does not make sense to spend millions in a programme to raise lynxes in captivity... if a motorway then divides the most important lynx areas," ecologist Miguel Angel Hernandez said.
The construction of the motorway has already started, though that stretch will also form part of another motorway.
The Environment Ministry delayed its announcement until after the May 27 local elections for fear of protests from the regional authorities.
Environment Minister Cristina Narbona has blocked nearly half a dozen large infrastructure projects for environmental reasons, according to El Pais.
There are only about 100 Iberian lynxes left. The cat, also known as the Spanish lynx, has distinctive, leopard-like spots on its yellowish coat.
ONLY IN SPAIN
A few years back, 1991-2, the AVE fast train link from Madrid to Seville was inaugurated (AVE means bird so bear that in mind). It went through several important ecological sites of special scientific interest but the government made a special play as to how the line hadn't ruined any natural habitats and all precautions had been taken to make sure that natural laws were not affected. One of the protected areas was for a rare type of Vulture. One day a deer was knocked down on the track and became carrion for the vultures. The next train came along at over 200kmph and sent eight of the vultures to meet their maker thus reducing the wild population by 66% at a stroke. Four were left. Hopefully they didn't spot a bit of carrion on the line as a result of the incident!
ARTICLE
(Thanks to Earth Times for the story)
The Spanish Environment Ministry has decided to stop the construction of a 300-kilometre motorway to save the Iberian lynx, the world's most threatened feline species. The motorway would link Toledo with Cordoba, passing through two nature parks containing two of the country's three most important lynx populations, the daily El Pais reported.
"It does not make sense to spend millions in a programme to raise lynxes in captivity... if a motorway then divides the most important lynx areas," ecologist Miguel Angel Hernandez said.
The construction of the motorway has already started, though that stretch will also form part of another motorway.
The Environment Ministry delayed its announcement until after the May 27 local elections for fear of protests from the regional authorities.
Environment Minister Cristina Narbona has blocked nearly half a dozen large infrastructure projects for environmental reasons, according to El Pais.
There are only about 100 Iberian lynxes left. The cat, also known as the Spanish lynx, has distinctive, leopard-like spots on its yellowish coat.
ONLY IN SPAIN
A few years back, 1991-2, the AVE fast train link from Madrid to Seville was inaugurated (AVE means bird so bear that in mind). It went through several important ecological sites of special scientific interest but the government made a special play as to how the line hadn't ruined any natural habitats and all precautions had been taken to make sure that natural laws were not affected. One of the protected areas was for a rare type of Vulture. One day a deer was knocked down on the track and became carrion for the vultures. The next train came along at over 200kmph and sent eight of the vultures to meet their maker thus reducing the wild population by 66% at a stroke. Four were left. Hopefully they didn't spot a bit of carrion on the line as a result of the incident!
Sunday 24 June 2007
What is Positive Sp(a)in?
This site is a response to all of the negativity in the media about living in Spain and Spanish property and lifestyles. Prices have risen amazingly in Spain over the last six or seven years both of property and lifestyle but in the end it is still a great place to live with fantastic people, remarkable natural wonders, superb cultural offerings and just the best modern architecture where imagination runs wild.
Just take a look at the pictures and compare with the staid offerings in other parts of the World. You have images of the City of Arts and Sciences here in Valencia, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, a Market in Barcelona and a hotel roof in Alava. These buildings act as emblems for the areas where they stand and create tourism. And just to show that Spain is starting to think at the micro level aswell as the Macro have a look at the article reprinted below, taken from Reuters the standards mentioned are now in place.
ARTICLE.
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings in Spain as part of the country’s efforts to bring its building rules up to date and curb growing demand for energy, ministers said on Monday.
Until now Spain’s building standards have dated from the 1970s and have done little in seeking to improve energy efficiency.
“We have to make up the time we have lost,” Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said, inaugurating a seminar on the new technical building code.
The code will come into force fully next March but the energy saving element was implemented on Sept. 29.
This means new homes have to be equipped with solar panels to provide between 30 and 70 percent of their hot water, depending on where the building is located and on its expected water usage.
New non-residential buildings, such as shopping centers and hospitals, now have to have photovoltaic panels to generate a proportion of their electricity.
Solar power has not yet taken off in Spain, largely because subsidies have been directed at wind energy, and it provided a negligible amount of the country’s electricity in 2005.
Other measures in the new building code enforce the use of better insulation, improve the maintenance of heating and cooling systems and increase the use of natural light.
“The new standards will bring energy savings of 30 to 40 percent for each building and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy consumption of 40 to 55 percent,” the Environment and Housing Ministries said in a joint statement.
The Housing Ministry is trying to rein in the amount of new building, although it is Spain’s local and regional governments that are responsible for planning permission.
“In the last decade we have built the equivalent of a quarter of all the urban area that existed until then,” Housing Minister Maria Antonio Trujillo told the seminar.
The building standards code should limit the damage of continued new construction and is the most significant legal change for the sector in the last 30 years, she said.
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