Culture Spain – for all things Spanish

So, over the past couple of weeks the true state of the Spanish property market is becoming apparent and confirms what I have been saying for a long time.  In short, average property prices across Spain have fallen by around 40% since the height of the boom in 2007 – not the 20% that the Spanish government has been steadfastly [...]

One aspect to Spain that is often overlooked is its world class heritage.  In fact, it may surprise you to know that Spain is second only to Italy for its UNESCO World Heritage sites, of which it has 42 to Italy’s 47.  By comparison the UK has 28. I say that Spain’s World Heritage position may be a ‘surprise’ because, [...]

As the son of Spanish immigrants, born and raised in the UK but having spent most of my working life doing business in Spain and the last seven years living here, I have given a lot of thought to trying to understand what gives the Spanish the character they have – loud, opinionated, proud, autocratic, confrontational and individualistic. Yes – [...]

  In any word association game concerning Spain, the same few words are bound to come up and they are, of course, Flamenco and bull fighting – with perhaps sangria as an afterthought.  This must infuriate the Spanish, not least because Flamenco has nothing to do with most of Spain and is restricted to the culture of Andalusia – just [...]

Few people know the complexities of Spain better than Jason Webster, who has written five books about Spain – four of which have been factual.  In fact, Jason is an acknowledged expert on the complex and fascinating culture of Spain and writes for a number of quality newspapers in the UK, as their expert on the country. Jason’s first book [...]

My mother was born in Barcelona but left, never to return, when she was a child just before the Spanish Civil War.  That makes me half Catalan and I’ve visited Barcelona many times over the years, but mainly only for 1-2 days on business.  I’ve spent much more time in Madrid, home of my father. My first real exposure to [...]

As an Anglo-Spaniard with a long history of living and working in Spain on and off over the last 40 years, I was keen to read this recently re-published book of Pritchett’s views and opinions about Spain and its people based on the 4 years he spent in Spain in the 1920s and subsequent visits in the 1940s and 50s. [...]

So, 2011 gradually ebbs away – a year that many people in Spain will be pleased to see disappear, hoping that 2012 will herald better times ahead.  Unfortunately, I fear that may not be the case and there are compelling arguments to suggest that 2012 may be more difficult and challenging for Spain than 2011. So, how does one round [...]

One thing that always saddens me about living in Spain is the level of corruption in Spain – despite the country priding itself upon its First World standards. Certainly, no-one who has lived in Spain, or tried to work here, would ever deny that corruption in Spain exists and that it is a malign influence upon many aspects of life. [...]

Recently I lay awake suffering from one of my regular bouts of insomnia and in search of sleep I turned to my latest birthday present, a Kindle e book reader. Stored on my Kindle was the ‘The adventures of Brigadier Gerard’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – the celebrated author best known for his Sherlock Holmes tales. Brigadier Gerard was a [...]

It will come as no surprise to you to hear that the dreadful economic crisis in Spain is damaging the arts culture of Spain.  This is taking two forms namely a dramatic reduction in governmental (and commercial) grants for arts related institutions, exhibitions, festivals and shows and a genuine questioning by Spaniards about the endemic corruption (moral and financial) within [...]

Yesterday I was sent a link to a very old film of the great Flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla.  I am not sure of the precise date of the clip below but Camarón de la Isla (considered one of the all time greats of Flamenco) looks as though he is in his late teens/early twenties – so the clip [...]

Like most countries, Spain relies upon a ten yearly national census to provide an update on the country and the evolution of the population in Spain.  The last census in Spain was in 2001 so, of course, a further national census is due to occur this year.  Indeed, if you live in Spain you may receive a census form to [...]

An institution that makes me consistently proud to be British is the wonderful Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) which has just produced a fascinating portrait of Spain as part of their new and quite extraordinary Hidden Journeys series.  If you like spectacular views of the Spanish landscape – then you really must have a look at what the RGS/IBG has [...]

Just occasionally I am deeply ashamed of Spain and utterly appalled by some aspects of the culture of Spain – with the annual Tordesillas El Toro de la Vega bull hunt a dreadful example of animal cruelty in Spain that casts a deep shadow on Spain as a modern, liberal society. The El Toro de la Vega bull hunt occurs [...]