Living the Dream: Part 1.

6/5/2013

What possesses anyone to buy a house on the Internet, on top of a mountain, with only an upside down wheelbarrow for company?

And why would you drive the whole morning, every morning, just to get a tin of cat food?

Listen to the whole story on itunes podcast: Speaking of Spain, and immerse yourself deep inside the heart of Andalusia.....

Has Orwell Still Something to Say About Spain

22/4/2013

George Orwell lived just 46 years, always ill, always poor. Always it appeared, under criticism and suspicion. Yet in his brief lifetime he managed - almost uniquely amongst those of his time - to deconstruct the newspeak of imperialism. Stalinism. And fascism.

But more than this, orwell’s criticisms of the role of the intellectual left, the forces of Fascism in Spain and the blind adherence to party policy amongst Stalinist supporters, has a relevance and bearing for us even today, over 65 years later as Spain reels from pillar to post - from EU policy cuts, to self-imposed austerity measures - like a headless corpse on the battlefield of the Ebro.

No one today seems clear why we travel the roads we do any more, no-one seems any longer clear if the journey is worth the effort. For many look and see a failed and bankrupt system before their eyes.
What steps should we take to initiate real change and is it even possible, Orwell asked back in 1937 and his croaking and bullet damaged voice echoes still unanswered from the past - is it even possible, he said - to ever create fundamental changes by democratic methods alone?”

Listen to the full podcast above or download it for free from iTunes.

The History of the Humble Tapa

11/4/2013

Spring is in the air and with it comes a host of fiestas and celebrations in Spain. One of the most important for my town is the Feria de la Tapa where participating bars create special tapas for the weekend.

To participate all you need to do is turn up and join in. You collect a "Passport" and in each establishment it is stamped after you have consumed a drink and a tapa. Prizes are offered for those that complete the route.

Listen to the podcast here, or download it direct to your player using the download button above.

Better still, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and get it delivered automatically each fortnight.

Want to find out more about the world of fiestas?
Get the Inside story in Inside the Tortilla

What is Semana Santa all about?

26/3/2013

Pointy hats, incense burners and discordant brass instruments. But Semana Santa is more than just an assault of the senses, it is an participatory experience for the religious and the agnostics amongst you.

Live a moment or two with the Gazpachomonk as he witnesses the ebb and flow of candle wax on wet ground in this weeks podcast episode.

Listen below, download it to your MP3 player or subscribe for regular free updates in the iTunes podcast store: Speaking of Spain.

The return of contrast

See all of Spain in a Weekend

19/3/2013

Speaking of Spain Podcast

This weeks episode is feature full of travel stories.
The Gazpachomonk does the impossible by offering a unique new Tour Option to see the whole of the peninsula in less than 24 hours. Listen to the details of this whirlwind excursion - breakfast on the Basque Country, Lunch in Barcelona, Fish 'n chips in Andalusia. (Apologies for sound levels in first part - more microphone issues!)

Also in this weeks episode, A trip to Torcal to see the rocks and sky of this amazing park in the center of Andlausia.

Finally it's tech time and a look at how WhatsApp can help with Phone-Phobia in Spain.

Change, Renovation and the Coming of Spring

4/3/2013

Todays theme is Change. There are four short parts to this weeks program: Changing Seasons, Changing Italy, Changing your Fridge contents, and Change in the Air. Yes Change is in the air and as a tribute to Bowies comeback album, this epìsode focuses on ch…ch…ch changes and how Spain fits or doesn't fit into the wider scenario.

1: Changing Seasons looks at spring, change and the idea for renovation.
2: Changing Italy looks at how the results of the elections there may have repercussions for Spain too.
3: Change in the fridge looks at what to do when everything is rotten. Argue about the extent of rottenness - or just put it all in the bin!
4: Finally, Olives and how to find marination heaven with a touch of chilli and garlic.

El Secreto de la Abuela

See posts on:

* Perez del Alamo
* DIY Obsessives
Tomate Aliñado & Corgollos a la Cordobesa are to be featured soon.... Meanwhile you can find them listed in the recipes that appear in each chapter of Inside The Tortilla

Black Monday and Satan's Footprints

19/2/2013

Episode 3 of Speaking of Spain looks this week at the History of Black Monday in Spain, tracing the origins from the transition to democracy up until the present economic and, some may say, moral crises. Listen to the story of what happened and why it reverberates even to this day.

Also on the podcast this week is the second App review: Abbey TextGrabber - the OCR and translation tool. With this cheap mobile application you not not only have a translation tool always with you, but a mobile scanner too. Find out why that just may be what you are looking for.

Finally, as the weather still appears a tad grey as this podcast is uploaded to iTunes, the Monk digs out an old classic warming recipe to keep our toes warm until the spring arrives and finds what role Satan's footsteps played in this traditional warming soup recipe.

Listen to the post here, download it using the blue arrow in the top corner or subscribe via iTunes.

AND.....
Snapguide: Garlic Soup for Cold Mondays
Free Book: Shadows and Silhouettes of Spain

CCMIXTER
Muisc by the excellent……."I dunno" by grapes http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626
Black Rainbow by Pitx http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=40665 is licensed under a Creative Commons license:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Culture, the Clash and UFO's: Speaking of Spain Episode 2

5/2/2013

Episode 2 of Speaking in Spain is now available to download. You can use the blue arrow icon in the right hand corner of the player, or by simply subscribing to the podcast: Speaking of Spain in iTUNES.

This weeks episode looks at the ever shifting subject of Driving Licenses in Spain, the uncertain future of olive oil and the Granadino Presence of Joe Strummer.

We interview Sylvie Matter from CYD - Cama y Desayuno about languages, motivation and living an International life.

This Episodes Show Notes and Links:
CYD Cama y Desayuno in Loja: http://www.el-cyd.com
Shadows and Silhouettes in Spain
Expat Interview with CheapInMadrid

Speaking of Spain: Starts Here

10/1/2013

This episode is simply an introduction to the series and to give an idea of what future podcasts will - in theory at least - contain:

* 1. Las Noticias: (News)
* 2. Lessons from a Lapsed Linguist: (Language tricks and tips)
* 3 Integration issues: (The law and our status)
* 4 Cultural Corner: (Fiestas, food and flavours)
* 5 Other Insights: (The Illuminating Immigrant Interview)

So, will it be a show about Coastal life and an opportunity to rent a rural villa with pool that sleeps 6 ? On the contrary, I shan't be peddling the coastal or tourist image of Spain, something that has been - and continues to be - promoted to the point of nausea. Instead, I shall be probing from just inside the interior, from the very geographical centre of Andaluisa. Don't expect tidal forcasts, blue flag reports or the state of the autovias towards Matalscanas on a popular puente weekend. Dont expect airport baggage handling updates, or or exposes on mis-treated donkeys. Instead, expect only the unexpected.

So, how do you get to listen to the podcast?
1) If you have a mp3 player, smart phone, tablet or PC you can subscribe to the podcast in itunes here.
2) Or you can listen to it using the player below.
3) Want to download it but don't use itunes? No prob, grab the file below here, or use the button above and on the right

And, Join me in 2 weeks for the first full episode of Speaking of Spain....

Contact:
Keep up with all the weekly events by following gazpachomonk on Twitter, gazpachomonk on Instagram, and gazpachomonk on foursquare and of course by visiting the web site. Got a question or just want to give feedback, then email me directly GazpachoMonk@gmail.com

Listen here....

or...download here...

speaking_of_spain_intro.m4a
File Size:	3568 kb
File Type:	m4a

Download File

MUSIC IN THE SHOW:
Resources: Muisc - "I dunno" by grapes (http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626) and Black Rainbow by Pitx
(http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=40665) Licensed under a Creative Commons license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The 'Speaking of Spain' Podcast Starts 2013

26/12/2012

At last the Gazpachomonk begins his fortnightly investigation into the sights and sounds of Spain.
News, interviews, languages issues, cutural and historical investigations feature in each episode and all with that particular gazpacho perspective that comes from living and working on the peninsula these last 20 years.

Subscribe to the podcast feed over on the right by copying the link and adding it to your feed reader. Then you´ll get notified when the first episode leaves the shelves. Or hang on, and come back soon when the itunes and podcast link will be available and the first episode will be playable directly from this page.

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