THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE: THE WHY, WHICH AND HOW OF IT »
The concept of the European Capital of Culture puts culture at the heart of European cities. It highlights the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe and celebrates the cultural features that Europeans share. To date, more than 60 cities across the EU and beyond have been designated European Capital of Culture four of which were Spanish cities.
HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD, AND MORE TO COME! »
Without human-induced climate change, heatwaves would have been extremely rare. In China it would have been a 1-in-250-year event while maximum heat like in July 2023 would have been virtually impossible to occur in the US-Mexico region and Southern Europe, including Algeria, Greece, Italy and Spain, if humans had not warmed the planet by burning fossil fuels.
EUROPE’S SAHARA: HOW SPAIN IS TURNING INTO A DESERT »
Heatwaves are but one of climate change’s serious “offenses” responsible for the devastating droughts that go hand in hand with desertification. In the European Union, Spain is the most threatened by desertification. Thirty-one point percent of its land is affected by desertification while 20% is already desertified. One may not put all the blame on climate change, though. Human activity is a major offender. And people in the country are guilty of abusive use of natural resources..
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 SECOND OPINION: A Year to Ponder »
Three Kings • Energy Independence • Migrants • Bail Reform • Green Agenda • Ukraine • China • US Presidential Election • Blizzard
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “The Semana Grande of Saint Jean-de-Luz,” 26 September 1969 »
A Semana Grande in Saint Jean-de-Luz? In France? Mais oui! The Semana Grande of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a festival with a cultural purpose that outstrips the festivals in most Spanish cities on which it has been modeled. Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the Pay Basque is a French commune. And yet its ties to Spain is infinitely closer than its ties to France. The first Semana Grande of Saint-Jean-de-Luz was a commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the marriage of Louis XIV of France to the Spanish Infanta Maria Teresa. The tenth Semana Grande was a powerfully Spanish festival that wowed all those who came to attend.
BLACK FRIDAY or VIERNES NEGRO? »
Is Spain getting jaded about Black Friday so soon? There was a time, not so long ago, when embracing Good Friday was some sort of a mark of the cosmopolitan. Or at least a mark of someone who was open to new ideas.
SNAPSHOT: ART AND ANTIQUES ON THE EVE OF THE YEAR’S WONDERFUL HOLIDAYS! »
FERIARTE 2022, the only ART & ANTIQUES FAIR in Spain: 12 - 20 NOVEMBER 2022
SPAIN’S LATEST EFFORT TO HELP UKRAINE DOWN RUSSIA »
On the first week of October 2022, the Spanish Ministry of Defense sent a new land convoy of eight light vehicles, two ambulances and five tons of diverse medical material to Ukraine which were provided by the Army, the Navy, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME). The shipment will serve the logistical and health needs of Ukraine, considered by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense as the highest priority. Further shipments are scheduled in the next few days.
PLAZA ESPAÑA: IT WON’T BE THE FINAL LEG OF HISTORY’S FIRST GLOBAL JOURNEY »
There's an ongoing party at the Plaza España in Madrid, the “La Hispanoamericana”. A festival of the cultures, gastronomies and artisanal traditions of the Spanish-speaking countries in the New World, along the (accidental) route of the first circumnavigation of the earth. In anticipation of Día de la Hispanidad. On 12 October 2022, the Día de la Hispanidad will burst forth into a very special celebration, marking as it does the quincentenary of The Circumnavigation.
