Bringing The Youth To Pontevedra
The roads of Pontevedra, Spain, once invaded by traffic and city squares, are now often filled with baby strollers and the city council has redesigned Pontevedra from the viewpoint of a child.
Bringing The Youth To Pontevedra
The roads of Pontevedra, Spain, once invaded by traffic and city squares, are now often filled with baby strollers and children playing. By restricting traffic and eliminating physical barriers, the city council has redesigned Pontevedra from the viewpoint of a child.
This trend is reflected in the demographics of Pontevedra. The city has attracted young families from throughout Spain’s northwest region to settle in the city, even as Spain continues to struggle with declining birth rates. Beginning in 2000, the population of children age 0 to 14 increased by 8% in Pontevedra and has continued to expand the pedestrian area from the center to the outskirts, liberating a total 669,000 square meters previously dominated by cars.
Car use in the inner city has dropped by 77%, and carbon emissions have dropped by 66%, according to the city council accompanied by a dropping crime rate (its lowest crime rate in a decade with 34 offenses per 1,000 citizens, and last year it reached a new low of 27).
Surprisingly, cars are not strictly banned inside the city. Residents with a private garage can bring their cars in, and traffic is open to delivery services, emergencies, and even to private drivers who need to stop by the center for a pick-up or drop-off.
“It is like building a nest,” said Carmen Fouces, Pontevedra’s culture councilor. “If you put some fluff and straws on a branch, a bird will soon make it its home.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how a Spanish city counsel is Bringing The Youth To Pontevedra! Ready to make your trip to the revitalized city? Our culturally immersive classes and native instructors are sure to put you on the path to fluency faster than you might think! Click below to learn more.
Climate Change & Tourism
There is one big change facing the country that could doom the system…
Climate Change & Tourism
Any country that relies on a tourist economy will always be subject to many factors out of it’s control. Tourism still secures the most jobs in Spain, even though the country is dealing with a higher the usual unemployment rate. Because of this, the tourism sector has been given priority to be supported in any possible way by the Spanish government. However, there is one big change facing the country that could doom the system if not addressed: Climate change.
At the moment, Spain still has to import $45 billion worth of gas and oil annually, mainly from Algeria and Saudi Arabia, but it is believed it could save a portion of that cost by investing in solar energy with it’s 3,000 hours of sunlight per year. Energy costs are also crucial for the tourism sector, being one of the largest energy consumers and accounting for 15% of GDP.
A lot of energy is consumed in the roughly 750 desalination plants, which pump the salt back into the ocean, thus changing the underwater landscape near the coasts to keep tourist destinations running year-round.
In the north of the country, there's mounting soil erosion along the 3715 miles of coast where 90% of all tourists spend their vacations.
Inigo Losada, research director at the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of Cantabria, warns that vacation homeowners and hotel chains will inevitably feel the effects. Diving will become less attractive for tourists if coral reefs disappear, and the danger of coastal areas being flooded will put a burden on all tourist based companies on the coastline.
Losada says German holiday homeowners in Spain should do the same. "I have no way of knowing whether we'll be able to stop climate change," he warns, indicating that in his opinion some people should already relocate to be on the safe side.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Climate Change & Tourism in Spain! Do you think the reduction of energy consumption will help the impending situation for Spain’s tourist economy? Join the conversation below!
Stifiling Rising Spanish Rent
The new rules are meant to counteract Airbnb-type rentals…
Stifling Rising Spanish Rent
The effort by Spain’s Socialist government to control apartment rents is off to a rough start. Just 2 months after imposing rent-suppression measures, rents rose at a 7.5% annual pace
The new rules for privately owned apartments in Spain were meant in part to counteract Airbnb-type rentals, but this isn’t a struggle just the Spanish are experiencing. In the United States, the government is struggling to remedy how to keep tenants from being priced out of their neighborhoods. Germany is going even further than Spain, with plans to freeze rents for 5 years and give tenants the opportunity to demand reductions.
In Spain, the new rules limit annual rent increases for five years to the inflation rate much to the distain of landlords, however after that period is over they can raise, or lower, them as they wish, in a new contract.
“The big institutional investors are specialists, they’re opportunistic and will focus on where the outlook and conditions are most favorable,” said Joe Lovrics, who runs Citigroup Inc.’s Iberia markets desk in Madrid. “They look at these rules and say: ‘If this is permanent, we’ll look elsewhere.”’
What are your thoughts on the measures the Spanish government is taking. Do you believe they will successfully keep the rent prices down? Join the conversation below!
Showcasing The Movida Madrileña
A new exhibition about counter-culture during the Spanish transition to democracy previewed this month at a contemporary art museum in Madrid…
Showcasing The Movida Madrileña
For anyone that would consider themselves a fan of French art, a groundbreaking new exhibition about counter-culture during the Spanish transition to democracy previewed this month at a contemporary art museum in Madrid.
Photo: Antonio Mercero, La cabina, 1972. Image courtesy of RTVE
The exhibition, titled "The Poetics of Democracy: Images and Counter-Images from the Spanish Transition,” draws from an event that took place in 1976 at the Venice Biennale - also known as the Red Biennale - when organizers used the event as a platform to showcase art oppressed by Spain's former military dictator Francisco Franco as a way of reshaping the historical narrative of Spain's art scene since the regime took hold in 1936.
In 1968, global youth and art movements radically transformed the world and a counter-culture emerged in Spain as a parallel narrative to the official one. During this cultural revolution, a network of creatives across Madrid garnered enough momentum to push an organized movement through not only collectives but media including magazines, radio shows, and even graffiti art. This paved the way for the "Movida Madrileña," a cultural movement that started after Franco's death in 1975 that represented the emergence of a new Spanish identity characterized by freedom of expression, transgression of the taboos imposed by the Franco regime, and drug usage.
The exhibition showcases images across various disciplines that bring Spain's counterculture of the 1970s out of the shadows and runs at the Reina Sofia from Dec. 5-Nov. 25.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how the Venice Biennale is Showcasing The Movida Madrileña! Want to pay the exhibit a visit in person? Be sure to check out our culturally immersive group classes before you book your tickets! Click below to learn more.
Tossing Tomatoes In Bunol
Have you ever had the inclination to revive the fabled school lunch room food fight in your adult years? Well, if you happen to make your way to Spain in the late summer, your dreams just might come true…
Tossing Tomatoes In Bunol
Have you ever had the inclination to revive the fabled school lunch room food fight in your adult years? Well, if you happen to make your way to Spain in the late summer, your dreams just might come true.
This past Wednesday, 20,000 Spaniards could be found tossing tomatoes at one another for Spain's Tomatina festival which was made possible by nearly 30,000 pounds of tomatoes. The World’s Biggest Food Fight” began at 11 a.m. local time with just over an hour of constant pelting.
While the splattering unfolds each year on the last Wednesday of August in Bunol, its origins remain unclear. The tradition dates back to the 1940s with some speculating that it was started by angry townspeople who hurled tomatoes at city councilmen, while others believe it was started by a food fight between friends.
The now major tourist attraction has only become more popular (except for the 30 years under Francisco Franco, the Spanish dictator who banned it for lacking a religious connotation).
We hope you've enjoyed Tossing Tomatoes In Bunol! Looking to join in on the fun next year? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors are sure to help you make the most of your tomato soaked vacation! Click below to learn more!
Savoring The Sobremesa
It may come as a surprise to say that the most important thing about a Spanish meal, in particular, lunch, is not the food. It’s the time you spend with those around you…
Spain is well known as a paradise for those who LOVE food, but it may come as a surprise to say that the most important thing about a Spanish meal, in particular, lunch, is not the food. It’s the time you spend with those around you.
In Spain, the purpose of going out for lunch isn’t just eating, it’s catching up with friends or family, so if all you’re looking for is a simple meal, you might want to look up take out menus. Lunch in the land of tapas doesn’t end when everyone has had their fill, in fact, it’s at that moment that the sobremesa starts. While there is no equivalent word in English, the concept is simple: sobremesa is the time you spend at the table after you’ve finished eating.
There are only a few guidelines to sobremesa with the most important is that nobody gets up from the table (unless of an emergency). You must stay at the table where you ate, amid the post-lunch assortment of empty plates and used napkins, and if you leave the table, is it as if the spell has been broken.
The sobremesa often lasts as long as the meal itself, and sometimes, if it’s going well, even longer. While the all-day lunch is not an everyday occurrence, the long sobremesa is a fixture on occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries and Sundays with the family. During the week many people still take the time to have a big lunch, and when it’s finished nobody is in too much of a hurry to leave.
While it’s not unheard of to have a sobremesa after dinner, it is typically more of an afternoon event making for an easy excuse to lazily enjoy the beauty of the day, especially in the summertime. In fact, one could look at lunch in Spain as just an excuse for a sobremesa, and as far as excuses go, it’s a pretty good one.
We hope you've enjoyed learning how the Spanish are Savoring The Sobremesa! Looking to experience your own sobremesa in it's native country? Our culturally immersive group classes and native teachers are sure to prepare you for all of your post-tapas conversations! Click below to learn more.
The Euskera Resurgence
There is a resurgence of linguistic tradition brewing in the Basque region of Spain...
There is a resurgence of linguistic tradition brewing in the Basque region of Spain. A 2016 study concluded that 34% of people in Spain’s Basque region spoke Euskera, the native language of the Basque region of Spain, which is an increase from just under 25% in 1991. The more impressive increase is of Basques under the age of 25 who speak Euskera from 25% to now over 70%.
Euskera was banned throughout much of the four-decade dictatorship of Francisco Franco, whose determination to impose a uniform culture on the country included ensuring the use of Castilian Spanish, to the exclusion of regional languages in areas such as the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia. During that time, Euskera was confined to smaller towns and villages and used cautiously.
It wasn’t until the 1960s, as the end of the dictatorship approached, that the policy became more lenient. Basque schools, or ikastolas, were created and the language started to enter the mainstream. Today there are 2 entire generations who can communicate with their children in Euskera as the school system has made the push ensuring its survival. The standardization, at the end of the dictatorship, of a language with many dialects also boosted its use and the nationalist governments that have dominated Basque politics in recent years have made the study of Euskera to the forefront of the culture.
The origins of Euskera remain a matter of debate to this day. Its unusual syntax and reliance on a barrage of prefixes and suffixes make it distinct to the Latin-based languages prevalent in southern Europe. Its shrouded history has given way to some odd theories including the claim by historian Esteban de Garibay that Noah’s grandson, Tubal, brought the language to the Basque Country. That notion has long been ruled out, but links have also been made with Caucasian and Berber languages of North Africa.
But while Euskera has enjoyed a steady resurgence in recent years, it has also been the cause of political discord. On June 2nd, thousands of people demonstrated on the streets of Pamplona, against what they saw as the imposition of Euskera in the region’s public institutions. The opponents of the language’s spread have linked it to extreme nationalist politics, but Basque nationalists insist there is room for both Spanish and Euskera.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The Euskera Resurgence! What are your thoughts on the reemmergance of popularity of the Euskera language? Do you believe it can exist side by side with the Spanish language? Join the conversation below!
The Red Line For Music
The conflict between music publishers and SGAE could be reaching a boiling point…
The Red Line For Music
The conflict between music publishers and SGAE (The Spanish Society of Authors and Publishers) could be reaching a boiling point. As you may remember from our previous article, “The Wheel of Royalties,” a number of Spanish TV broadcasters and music-publisher affiliates have schemed to play more of the songs they own themselves on the air and collect the royalties, thus leaving tens of millions of dollars less each year for everyone else whose music is played on Spanish TV.
Music publishing giants Sony/ATV, Universal Publishing, Warner/Chappell, Peer Music, and BMG may leave Spanish rights’ society (SGAE) by the beginning of next year as the argument over “mistreatment” of broadcast rights rages on. Momentum for this shift picked up late last year when reps for Warner/Chappell, Peer Music and EMI, were ousted from the board of directors for surpassing their term limits. SGAE then replaced the publishers on its board with reps of publishers owned or affiliated with Spanish television stations, in a scheme opponents dubbed “The Wheel.” The publishers took up the issue with the courts, which rejected their appeal, Billboard reports.
Now, the publishers are looking at other options to manage their authors’ royalties. According to local media reports, the companies last Friday effectively handed in their six months’ notice and requested the PRO remove their international repertoire in relation to broadcasting.
Those companies at war with SGAE collectively represent nearly 60% of broadcasting music rights in Spain, including the famous artists Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, and Radiohead to name a few.
SGAE collected 246 million euros in royalties last year, with television and broadcast royalties accounting for more than 12% of the total. While they do not necessarily desire to leave, the collective of publishers have stated that that "if things changed before January 2019” that they may reconsider their decision.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The Red Line For Music! Do you think the publishers will have to resort to leaving the SGAE? Join the conversation below!
Spain's Lost City
On July 1st, The UNESCO list of world heritage sites added the medieval Spanish city of Medina Azahara, to the growing list of Spanish sites honored…
Spain's Lost City
On July 1st, The UNESCO list of world heritage sites added the medieval Spanish city of Medina Azahara, to the growing list of Spanish sites honored.
The site, which houses the ancient ruins of a city founded by the first caliph of Al-Andalus had remained buried for nearly 1000 years before its discovery at the beginning of the 20th century. It houses the ancient ruins of a city founded by the first caliph (a person considered a religious successor to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, and a leader of the entire community) of Al-Andalus.
Built beginning in 936-940, the city included reception halls, mosques, government offices, gardens, barracks, and baths with water supplied through aqueducts. The main reason for its construction was politico-ideological: "the dignity of the Caliph required the establishment of a new city, a symbol of his power, imitating other Eastern Caliphates." A Legend also states that it was built as a tribute for the Caliph's favorite wife: Azahara.
According to the official WHC entry, “The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archaeological site of a city built in the mid-10th century CE by the Umayyad dynasty as the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After prospering for several years, it was laid to waste during the civil war that put an end to the Caliphate in 1009-10. The remains of the city were forgotten for almost 1,000 years until their rediscovery in the early 20th century. This complete urban ensemble features infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, buildings, decorative elements and everyday objects. It provides in-depth knowledge of the now vanished Western Islamic civilization of Al-Andalus, at the height of its splendour.”
It is Spain’s only candidate this year but replaces France as the third country with the most sites on this list following China and Italy.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Spain's Lost City! Before you book that ticket to witness the sunken city, be sure to check out our culturally immersive group classes! Our native instructors are sure to equip you with all of the knowledge, culturally and linguistically, you may need to navigate Spain's newest "world heritage" site.
Monumental Misfortune
In late June, the statue of St. George at a church in Estella in northeastern Spain was experiencing higher than regular visitation numbers. Unfortunately, it was due to a badly botched restoration…
Monumental Misfortune
In late June, the statue of St. George at a church in Estella in northeastern Spain was experiencing higher than regular visitation numbers. Unfortunately, it was due to a badly botched restoration.
The statue is believed to have been completed sometime in the 1500s, and the new coat of paint has had locals wishing that they could turn back the clock. A local bishop said that the priest did not want to restore the statue just to have it cleaned.
The company behind the St. George project, Karmacolor, had published a video about the restoration process but has since taken it down as outrage has mounted against them.
"We cannot tolerate more attacks on our cultural heritage," Spain's art conservation association (ACRE) said in a statement. "It shows a frightening lack of training of the kind required for this sort of job” and that it showed “dreadful lack of previous training.” The association is currently pushing for criminal charges for the destruction of a cultural symbol.
The final product has been compared to the “Ecce Homme” disastrous restoration that occurred in 2012, which made headlines around the world and was dubbed the “worst restoration in history” for making the figure of Jesus look much like a monkey.
But the move has enraged local officials who are demanding to know why they were not informed of the church's plans.
Some positives did come from her efforts however, as the town drew thousands more visitors eager to see her "restoration" and she even had her own art exhibited. Whether the controversy-driven traffic to the statue of St. George turns out nearly as positive still remains to be seen.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about this Monumental Misfortune! Before you book that ticket to witness the statue of St. George that is causing so much controversy, be sure to check out our culturally immersive group classes! Our native instructors are sure to equip you with all of the knowledge, culturally and linguistically, you may need to describe this "monumental" misfortune.
Bizarre Fashion With Balenciaga
The Spanish fashion company, Balenciaga may have come up with the most absurd article of clothing produced this year…
Bizarre Fashion With Balenciaga
The fashion industry is well known for composing outfits that may not make sense to the average consumer. However, the Spanish fashion company, Balenciaga may have come up with the most absurd article of clothing produced this year.
Balenciaga’s “T-shirt Shirt” is part of the luxury’s fashion house’s Fall ‘18 collection. Essentially it’s a T-shirt with a shirt draped on top of it, and it can be yours for only just $1,290. If you’re not already frantically searching for the website to purchase, just remember: you’re getting a T-shirt and a shirt, it’s basically buy one get one free.
(insert cry-laughing emoji followed by actual crying emoji).
Photo: Balenciaga
It may come as a surprise, but Balenciaga are the masters of selling somewhat (if not extremely) odd clothing at astronomical prices. After creative director Demna Gvasalia took the helm of the Spanish fashion brand, they have created many viral pieces.
Photo: Balenciaga & Ikea
Who could forget the $2,000 Ikea-inspired bag made waves online last year. Even Ikea put out a tongue-in-cheek guide helping you tell a genuine Frakta bag from an imposter: “if it rustles, it’s real.”
Photo: www.neimanmarcus.com
Then there was Balenciaga x Crocs that were released at Paris Fashion Week last year. Despite costing $850, they sold out before they were even officially for sale. Don’t worry, we’re just as shocked as you are.
Trolling the entire fashion world seems to be working out well for Balenciaga as the chief executive of Kering said that Balenciaga was the fastest growing brand within its group which includes Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, and Gucci. This is due to millennials most of whom aren’t actually buying the more outlandish items but Balenciaga’s more down-to-earth designs like the $395 leather wallet with “leather wallet” stamped on the front. Who would’ve guessed?
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Bizarre Fashion With Balenciaga! What is your take on the virally (in)famous brand's marketing strategy? Join the conversation below!
5 Spanish Drinks You Must Try
Discover these popular drinks from Spain, the perfect recipes for hosting friends and family!
5 Spanish Drinks You Must Try
The Spaniards are to thank for their delicious Sangria which people across the world can appreciate on a hot day, but did you know that they also have a large repertoire of great receipes for other cocktails? In the land of the "siesta", there is nothing better than a comfy hammock, a fresh (Spanish) drink, and a room full of friends and family. Glasses up amigos. Let's dive into a world of wonderful thirst quenching drinks. Salud!
1. Clara De Limón
Spaniards will associate this drink with girls. Whether you care about these stereotypes or not, Clara de Limón is the most refreshing alternative to a simple pint of beer. And, lets face it, if it tastes good who cares! Super easy to make at home:
Mix: Beer and Lemon Soda (to taste)
2. Kalimotxo
Very unique to Spain, look no further than Kalimotxo. Originally made popular in the Basque country, It is a mix of red wine and Coca-Cola. The drink is common among young Spaniards for its sweet but tart flavors. It is also extremely easy to make at home, and very budget friendly,
Mix: (cheap) Wine and Coke
3. Cava
Cava is a refreshing, bubbly beverage that can be served in white or rosé. The drink is served cold and is commonly mixed with a variety of fruits. It is pretty much like a Sangria Royale...
Mix: Champagne, white or rosé wine, fruits
4. Rebujito
In Andalucía during the festival season you should drink Rebujito. Rebujito is a mixed drink made of white sherry and lemon soda or Sprite. It is a perfect drink to resist the heat and sun of the Andalusian life...
Mix: White sherry & Lemon Soda / Sprite
5. Agua de Valencia
This is not your traditional mimosa. You will need cava or champagne, orange juice, vodka and gin. Perfect for your next brunch or midday party; mix together all the ingredients in a large jug or pitcher and share with all your friends!
Mix: Add 250ml cup orange juice, 2 shots of gin, 2 shots of vodka, and one 700ml bottle of cava into a large pitcher. Add in sugar and lemon slices until you reach your desired sweetness!
We hope you enjoyed these 5 Spanish Drinks You Must Try! While these cocktails are easy to make at home, we must admit that they are best accompanied by the gorgeous landscape of the streets in Spain, Mexico or South America. We'd love to hear about your travels and good times while drinking these tasty cocktails, so please leave a comment below. Looking to learn how to speak Spanish? Don't forget to check out our Spanish Group Classes & Private Lessons at JP Linguistics. Gracias!