Speaking of Spain
  • Home
  • Civil War & Volunteers
  • Anarchism in the Spanish Civil War
  • Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Radical Recipes
  • Library

Pomegranates and Skin Uplifting

10/27/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today's Updated Recipe includes a tale of pomegranates from Granada.

Read it in the recipe section here...

What happens when you mix the fruit with yoghurt and honey? What happens when you don't know how to peel the skin? What happens when you confuse a TV channel with a health giving seed?  Read on.
0 Comments

Why You need to Listen to The A to Z of Spanish Culture

10/20/2014

0 Comments

 

A to Z of Spanish Culture: Audiobook Review.

Picture
I do not usually do reviews here. Mostly, because I think so much of what we like or do not like is subjective. Additionally, my personal choices are not only personal, but often affront the delicate tastes of others. However, recently I had the opportunity to review the audiobook version of the A  to Z of Spanish Culture by Pilar Orti,  and three things occurred to change my mind. 

  1. It's unusual to find books in English about living and understanding Spain by a Spanish Author. Most are by deluded expats.
  2. The format of an audio book lends itself to the subject matter, given Pilar is Spanish and her intimate knowledge of the country and the language proved to be not just a novel factor, but one of great help in drawing you into the ambience of each section.
  3. Finally, any book that has a chapter on the background and use of the verb Joder, was worth an extra look at. 
So, I gradually became engrossed in the stories of Spanish Culture. Subjects that rolled effortlessly from one to another, and even after 20 years in the country, I quickly realised that there was so much I still did not know: From food, Saints names, art history, immigration, politics, puentes, pateras and zarzuelas - to  alcohol, sport and of course, theatre, arts, cinema and literature. 
Picture
In one of my favourite parts she recaps seven Spanish language authors that she suggests we might find of interest. Such were her descriptions and explanations that I had to stop the audio several times to write down those authors I wanted to hunt out immediately. And this is something I think you will find yourself doing again and again. Suddenly there is an explanation of a phrase, or the use of a certain refran. 

And, as someone fascinated by Spanish history, the accounts of some of the most significant events in the 20th century - such as the transition to democracy and the attempted military coup in under Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero were told with such drama, that I felt I was reliving the whole episode.

If someone was to ask me if I would recommend this 3.15 hours length audiobook, not only would I say yes, but I would add it should be obligatory listening to anyone who rents, buys or visits Spain for longer than a weekend. You have been advised. 

At the very end of the book, Pilar concludes that she hopes her book will have made you at least smile or think. Well I did both  - and often. I'm sure you will too. The A to Z of Spanish Culture is available on Amazon Audible. Get it from this link here. 

0 Comments

The Slow Route Home: Living In Spain at Another Pace

10/5/2014

0 Comments

 

Transport Yourself to Another World

PictureLike the Poster? Then Pinterest it!
Take 15 minutes out. Go on, do it now. 

Take out a quarter of an hour, plug in your headphones, put your feet up and transport yourself to the very center of Andalusia for this ambient, audible short story on how to live life at an altogether different pace. 

Just don't rush it. Savour the moment. Laugh, sip your tea and just relax. 


For there is another way of looking at the world  - a view that is rapidly disappearing.  But there is one man that is carving another route home: The Slow Route, and in his time-consuming way, he is showing the rest of us another path.


Take The Slow Route Home 

Picture
Based on Gandhi's belief that we should live the way we wish the world to be - Miguel displays a wisdom that others have forgotten,

Download the audiofile to your phone or mp3 player, listen to it here on this webpage, watch the video introduction below, or go the whole way, find out how to step forward with a slower pace and grab the whole story on Amazon here for 99c or less. 

Listen or download the Audio Story...

Want more audio? Subscribe to Speaking of Spain podcast in itunes or here. 
Don't want to miss another episode? Then subscribe to the mOnks mailing list and get a free Photo book on Spain. Find out more here. 

Watch the Slow Video

0 Comments

    BOOKS

    1984 and Spanish Civil War
    Available Now
     Why Orwell is essential to understanding Spain today. More here - Forgotten Stories From Spain
    Follow @GazpachoMonk

    Norman Bethune and the Spanish Civil war
    The Ambulance Man and the Spanish Civil War (2nd Ed)
    Find out More about the ebook and audio
    Forgotten Stories From Spain Book HERE
    AND WATCH THE TORTILLA VIDEO HERE
    Inside the tortilla book cover
    Listen to an audio sample here

    POSTS

    CNT newspaper
    Spain 1936: The Silenced Revolution
    Did Laurie Lee Lie - a 2 part investigation
    Did Laurie Lee Lie? Listen to the two part investigation.


    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2019
    June 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

Store

Books
Videos
Audio

Free PDFs to Download

Anarchist Car Designs from Civil War
​Anarchism & the Death of an Idea


Free Stories

The Bullfight
The early Morning Hours
​Laurie Lee

Contact

Contact

The gazpachomonk
© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Civil War & Volunteers
  • Anarchism in the Spanish Civil War
  • Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Radical Recipes
  • Library