Madrid
Any and everything about the fascinating capital city of Spain — and the Autonomous Community of Madrid — from its rich history through its vibrant present to what the future holds, recounted from every angle imaginable.
This category, however, goes beyond Madrid; it embraces stories of what occurred, are occurring, and will probably occur in the Spanish nation whose capital is Madrid.
SUNDAY, GRIM SUNDAY »
The leftist parties suffered a debacle in the recent local elections thay they were not prepared for. The elections were a dress rehearsal for the upcoming parliamentary elections which were advanced by President Pedro Sanchez to 23 July of this year and from which a new President of the Government will emerge. As such, it's not quite likely that the "pregressives" could rise from their ashes even when that second defeat could mean the dismatling of Spain's welfars state.
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “The Valley of Lozoya: Rascafría & El Paular,” 14 August 1970 »
The pine forest of El Paular in the Valley of Lozoya is the most beautiful of all Spain, so the people who live there claim. Thousand-year-old tales, as romantic as any ever told in Spain, originated in the valley which lies just behind the Guadarrama Mountain Range, visible from Madrid. Not only tourists and historians find a store of history here, but fishermen, hunters, hikers, skiers, bird watchers, swimmers and mountain climbers too. The visitor’s first surprise is a luxuriant green valley dotted with vegetable gardens, a contrast to the bleak Castilian plateau. But there was a time in the long history of Lozoya when, despite the prodigious gift of beauty from Nature itself, the valley lay in ruins.
MADRID’S MACHISMO ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY »
Madrid is reputed to be the Capital of the Land of Machismo, home to the hotheaded Latin Lover who, self-serving, acts as though -- if not thoroughly convinced that -- he knew what was good for women and expects his womenfolk to take note. Whether this is pure myth in today’s modern Madrid or there’s a lingering truth to it, it should be interesting – elucidating – to see how Madrid celebrates International Women’s Day.
SNAPSHOT: NATURE TURNED INCANDESCENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS »
Here's an option for you this Holiday Season: spend an evening among Nature (the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid really). Could be enchanting!
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WAY UP HIGH! »
Looking for Christmassy fun up in the clouds? You’re in the right place if you’re in Pozuelo de Alarcon, northeast of the Autonomous Community of Madrid. Because that’s where Madrid’s tallest Ferris wheel goes round and round this Season. On descent, it whirls at the heart-stopping speed of 126 km/h. And you get a memorable view of Madrid for miles around into the bargain. Who knows, you might even bump into Santa, with sackful of gift on his sleigh, when you're up there in the sky!
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, CHRISTMAS IS HERE! Free worshop on Ceramic painting for Christmas Decor »
Join!
SNAPSHOT: PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA & CHORUS, MADRID-BORN! »
Meet Filarmonía de Madrid, an orchestra and chorus ensemble of the highest standards of professionalism AND a social conscience to top it off: This is the Philharmonia that went out of its way in 2021 to render homage to the victims of COVID-19 at Spain’s Auditorio Nacional de Música, in celebration of the first anniversary of the State of Alarm that faced down the pandemic with amazing courage and efficacy.
FRUIT ATTRACTION 2022: AS FABULOUSLY FRESH AS YOU’D WANT YOUR FOODSTUFF TO BE! »
Fruit Attraction is held every October and has become the indispensable sales component for the demand cycle for fresh products, providing a major platform and meeting point for fruit and vegetable operators, growers and agriculturists. Breaking all past records, Fruit Attraction 2022 has enshrined Madrid as the World Fruit & Vegetable Capital.
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “Alta Batik,” 20 May 1969 »
“Batik” is a complicated design-dyeing process that has been on the Fashion scene for over 2,000 years. The “número uno” rage in Paris and Rome for several seasons, the technique only just reached Madrid and has caught on so quickly that when Argentinian Inez Lezama Ovejero moved to the Spanish capital and went into the batik business she enjoyed immediate success.
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “WHERE JOURNALISTS JUNK IT,” 25 April 1969 »
"Be it ever so humble, there´s no place like your own office. I´m proud of my office. It is not really grand, I suppose, less esoteric, you might say, than Mr. Heffner´s penthouse suite in Chicago. We haven´t—as yet—any sunken Pompeian swimming pools, color stereophonic TV, or a heliport with built-in cocktail cabinets. And there is a grim shortage of nude bunny rabbit girls scurrying around the joint and twitching their cute little furry tails. To tell the brutal truth, neither Harry nor I have made a fortune out of our profession of journalism. I suggested to Harry that we might change our trade, and enter a profession even older than our own."
