SpanishUnlimited.com - Spanish Culture

Luis Fonsi

Jessica — Thu, 6 Aug 2015 10:30:00 GMT

Luis Fonsi is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, producer and instrumentalist with 17 years of experience in the music world. He is seen as a model of Latin American music, and has spearheaded the success of Latin music into the mainstream. A multi-award-winning artist, Fonsi has had an incredibly successful career, with 8 album releases and 7 tours across Latin America, the USA and parts of Europe to date.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Orlando, Florida, Luis Fonsi has always had a strong interest in music having studied it at University
A pioneer of the recent success of Latin music, Luis Fonsi has won many awards and has even turned his hand to acting on occasion

Shortly after his graduation from Florida State University, Luis Fonsi received a record deal from Universal Music Latino. His first album "Comenzaré" was released in 1991, and brought Fonsi success immediately as it reached number 11 on the Top Latin Album Billboard charts. This album was also very popular across other parts of Latin America, such as Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. In 2000, not only did Fonsi record a single with Christina Aguilera for her Spanish-language album, but he also released his second album "Etorno" which proved even more successful than his debut. It was in this year that Fonsi began to conquer the European market, as his music was becoming more and more popular in Spain in particular.

From this point onwards, Fonsi continued to release albums and singles in the Latin music world. His fifth, sixth and seventh albums debuted at number one on the Latin Music Billboard charts, and stayed there for long periods of time, which just shows his widespread popularity. In 2008, Fonsi broke into the pop Billboard Charts with his single "No Me Doy Por Vencido" for the first time, and while it only reached number 92, his fame in the United States was growing. This song also received the accolade of becoming the Latin Pop Song of the Decade. Fonsi received his Latin Grammy in 2009 for "Aqui Estoy Yo".

As well as these Billboard successes, Luis Fonsi has had many gold and platinum albums across numerous countries such as: Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Colombia, as well as several countries in Central America. Aside from his Latin Grammy, he has also received eight Lo Nuestro awards, five Billboard Awards, ten Juventud prizes, an ASCAP Voice of Music Award, as well as several others, and he has also received honours at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival for his performances on three separate occasions.

Luis Fonsi gained some success in acting, and this is something he wishes to pursue further. His first acting role was in Corazones al limite, a Mexican telenovela, in which he played Roy, and he featured in a two-week run of Forever Tango on Broadway in 2013. Aside from this, Fonsi also represents the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that is based in Memphis; he is the Spanish-speaking representative.

The Marimba

Jessica — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 10:00:00 GMT

A Traditional Percussion Instrument in Central America

A member of the percussion family, the marimba has a long history dating back to the African slaves that came to Mexico in the 17^th Century. The marimba was originally constructed with planks of wood balanced over a hole to act as a resonator and played with sticks; nowadays it is of course rather more sophisticated with planks of wood resembling piano keys balanced on metal tubes as the resonators.

A traditional percussion instrument in Central America dating back many centuries, the marimba is still incredibly popular today.
Marimba music is an essential part of many Hispanic American festivals; indeed no festival in Mexico or Guatemala is complete without Mexican music being played on a marimba, showing how traditionally important this instrument is.

Although the original roots of the marimba are often debated, it is an important musical instrument across the whole of Central America, and has deep connections with the area. It was first constructed in Chiapas, Mexico, and it quickly spread across Central America. Mayan populations also built marimbas to play music on, and the first record of a Mayan marimba dates to 1680. After 1680, the marimba grew in popularity with indigenous populations constructing them for use in festivals. Today these percussion instruments are still incredibly popular, having been named Guatemala's national instrument in 1821 and remaining a significant part of Mexican culture in particular.

Strongly resembling a xylophone, the marimba has a deeper, more resonant sound and has a greater range. The keys are traditionally made out of wood, although they are also on occasion made out of synthetic materials; when the bars are made from synthetic materials the instrument makes a slightly different sound that is less true to the traditional resonance. The structure of the keys resembles a piano, with the equivalent of both the white and black keys, giving this percussion instrument a true musical range. The keys sit atop metal tubes that are designed firstly to ensure that the note lasts for as long as possible, and also to match the pitch of the key on top. The whole structure is fixed to a frame, normally made from metal or artificial materials, allowing the marimba to be easily played standing up. Sticks, known as mallets, of various hardnesses are used to hit the keys; those with softer heads are better for lower notes, and those with harder heads are ideal for the high notes. The more experienced marimba player can hold 3 mallets in each hand, which allows for many notes to be played simultaneously, however the norm is 2 mallets in each hand; less experienced players of course just use two mallets.

A very famous instrument in both Guatemalan and Mexican music, the marimba is also popular in other Central American countries, such as El Salvador and Costa Rica. The marimba has also become internationally famous thanks to its unique and attractive sounds. Many jazz musicians such as Steve Nelson and Joe Locke have featured the marimba in their music, while musical superstars such as Elton John and ABBA have featured this percussion instrument on their tracks as well.

Malaga Football Club

Jessica — Thu, 2 Jul 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Lying on the south coast of Spain, the Andalusian city of Malaga is home to Malaga Football Club, or, as it is known in Spain, Malaga Club de Fútbol. Founded in April 1904 and based at the La Rosaleda ground, the club currently plays in the Spanish La Liga, and in the 2013-2014 season they finished 11^th. The club has not always enjoyed its position in La Liga, but over recent years, Malaga Footbal Club has gone from strength to strength.

Having enjoyed 33 seasons in the Spanish La Liga, Malaga Football Club is a prominent team in Spanish football that has grown in success in the past few years
Malaga Football Club has an Academy and a youth team, and the club aims to improve football provision for young people in the city itself, as well as in the province of Malaga

In former times, the club was called Club Atlético Malagueño, and was intended to be the reserve team for Club Deportivo Malaga. However there were several years in which CA Malagueño was performing better than CD Malaga, who also had financial difficulties, which sparked the need for a referendum in December 1993. Consequently in 1994 the club's members voted in favour of becoming Malaga Club Fútbol, which remains today.

At the start of the Millennium, Malaga were in the middle of La Liga, and nor were they contenders for a place in the Champions League. Nevertheless they certainly rose to a higher level of prominence in the Spanish football world under the leadership of Joaquín Peiró at this time, and the club did reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2003, following their victory in the since-disbanded UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002. A particularly memorable moment in the club's history was a 5-1 victory against FC Barcelona in 2003 under the management of Juan de Ramos, who unfortunately left soon after.

This success in 2003 was followed by several years of disappointment for Malaga Football Club in which they were relegated, and struggled to re-enter La Liga. However in the 2007-2008 season, the team managed to be promoted to the top league as runners-up following a victory over CD Tenerife, and have managed to comfortably stay there ever since.

The club was bought by sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani in 2010, and has enjoyed much success since. In the 2010-2011 season Malaga FC won five of their Spanish La Liga matches in a row; a previously unheard of feat, and finished the season in 11^th position. The following season, in 2011-2012, Malaga were particularly successful, having finished 4^th in La Liga and, for the first time, qualifying for the 2012-2013 UEFA Champions League, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals. More recently, Malaga Football Club has struggled due to a ban from the UEFA League for debt problems which resulted in the club not being able to compete in the 2013-2014 UEFA season, although they finished strongly in La Liga.

Malaga Football Club is hugely successful, particularly when making the sport more accessible. They not only have their reserve team, but also at least six youth teams who play regularly. La Academia, the Club's organisation that takes responsibility for training the youngsters, is also planning to build a new sports complex in the city-centre, as well as various training grounds around the province to increase the number of people playing the sport. The aim is to make Malaga a principal training facility for youths both nationally and internationally.

Huevos de Oro - Bigas Luna

Hannah — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Starring the internationally renowned Javier Bardem as its protagonist Benito González, Huevos de Oro or Golden Balls as it's known in the English speaking world, is a 1993 fast paced Spanish film depicting the rise and fall of its central character and to some extent reflective of Spanish Society in the 1980s.

Golden Balls is amongst Bigas Lunas' most famous films, and an important example of a Spanish movie with a deeper cultural and metaphorical value; often grouped together with Jamón, Jamón and La teta y la luna.
The film follows Javier Bardem's character as he seeks power, domination and success, and explores the reasons behind his eventual substantial demise.

Packed full of imagery and metaphor, the narrative sees Benito, an eccentric engineer, seeking to construct the grandest and largest building ever to have existed in the region of Barcelona. On cutting ties with his girlfriend Rita on discovering she is involved with his coworker, he puts his emotions aside and becomes intensely focused instead on marrying a billionaire's daughter, with the aim of obtaining sufficient funding for his envisaged project. The life that follows, outlandish, excessive and hedonistic, ultimately becomes his downfall, and Benito brings to light an array of contributing internal struggles.

The film is packed with symbolism; the most obvious being the construction of the building, which alludes heavily to masculinity, sexuality and power. Benito aims to own multiple Rolex watches, to have any women he wants, and scrambles his way to the top via methods of deception and corruption. He uses questionable means to get the necessary support and money for the building of his "Gonzalez Tower', using women with wealth. Indeed, many critics consider the narrative to be based on the format of a Greek tragedy.

The film is often viewed as a personification of Spain during the 1980s, where many were seen to be obsessed with power and status, driven by greed. Luna deconstructs the myth of the powerful macho masculine identity, a concept once widely existent in many Spanish-speaking countries, whose priorities are revealed to be fundamentally flawed. The objectification of women is interestingly reversed at points in the film, with the focus of the lens instead on the male body, again parodying the power associated with the idea of "machismo'.

The cultural references threaded throughout the film make it difficult to fully appreciate without some grasp of Spanish culture. The stereotypes associated with Spain, most obviously the macho male, are parodied such that the characters embodying these ideas are both instantly identifiable and seemingly ridiculous. References to Spanish artist Salvador Dali are also present throughout, with Javier Bardem's character drawing Dali's well known "drawers' on the naked bodies of the women he is involved with. Other less sophisticated cultural references include the song "por el amor de una mujer', played and sang throughout. Luna uses space to explore the different landscapes in Spain, in particular the evolution of areas such as Benidorm, and ties these in with cultural allusion to truly encapsulate and represent Spanish society at a variety of levels.

The Castle of Xativa

Hannah — Thu, 4 Jun 2015 10:00:00 GMT

This magnificent castle, located about 40km and an hour away from Valencia, in the city of Xàtiva, is located on the old Via Augusta, which leads down towards Cádiz and Cartagena. Making the journey up to the castle on foot is recommended, and although a reasonably long walk, the views at the top justify the effort.

The Castle is built on Moorish, Roman and Iberian remains, and is set in beautiful surroundings, promising magnificent views over the city.
The origins of the Borgia family, who were particularly prominent in both political and ecclesiastical affairs during the 15^th and 16^th Centuries, can be traced to the old City of Xàtiva, and the family's history is displayed within the castle itself.

On the way up to the castle, the remains of certain areas in the Old Muslim town are visible, to the right of the route lies Xàtiva's old church, the Iglesia de Sant Feliu (1269), and on the opposite side, is the Ermita de San José, which dates back to the 18^th Century. The town of Xàtiva sits in the shadow of its castle, at the foot of a hill, rendering getting lost in the city difficult, with the castle as a consistent point of reference. The castle itself has four gateways and 30 towers, and though widely regarded as one of the best buildings in the vicinity of Valencia, the aesthetic value of the castle's surroundings further add to its value, with herb gardens, orange groves, and a handful of fountains. To the South, the mountains of Grossa, Mariola and Benicadell are visible from the Castle, to the West lies the frontier with Castille, and to the North, the view of the town itself and the gardens and orchards of Xàtiva is particularly impressive. One of the main tourist attractions in the city is the Almudi Museum, which houses the famed upside down portrait of Felipe V.

The Borgia Familiy

Interestingly, the infamous Borgia family actually came from Xàtiva, with Rodrigo Borgia himself, who was Pope Alexander VI between 1492 and 1503, being born in the old town. (The family name was originally Borja before it was Italianized). Each year, a renaissance weekend takes place in the City which transports visitors back to the time of the Borgias; medieval stalls are dotted throughout the town, alongside exhibitions of birds of prey, traditional crafts, and various other themed entertainment. Inside the castle, a chart enabling visitors to trace the genealogical connections of the family is on display; even the Popes of the family went on to have children, and as such the family tree makes for fascinating viewing. In addition, the church of San Pere is the very place Alexander VI was baptized, and within walking distance, the square where he was born may be visited.

During the hotter months of summer, Xàtiva's temperatures have been known to surpass those in other areas in Spain; its valley location coupled with the hill and the castle providing the city with protection from the sea breeze and retaining heat.

My Experience Living in Peru

john — Thu, 7 May 2015 17:00:00 GMT

Peru - Probably One of the World's Greatest Travel Destinations

Peru has so much to offer whatever type of tourism you enjoy from exquisite beaches and beautiful scenery to exhilarating hikes and myriad historical and cultural monuments.
After sampling Peru's delicious gastronomy I was not surprised to find out that it had won the World's Leading Culinary Destination Prize three years in a row ( in 2012,2013 and 2014) at the World Travel Awards.

In the summer of 2012, I was lucky enough to be able to pack my bags and embark on a month long trip to Peru. It was a country that I had long admired and heard so much about and I was very excited to teach English in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Looking back after two years I can say that it was one of the best experiences of my life. In this article I want to give you a flavour of my time in this South American nation and I will explain why I think Peru is probably one of the world's greatest travel destinations.

I want to start by giving my overall impressions of the country. In short, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the privilege to visit. Driving through the Andes Mountains on my way to the Urubamba Valley the view out the window was breath-taking but also mystical. I would soon discover that Peru is a country full of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. These wonders include numerous Inca ruins such as Saqsaywaman just outside Cusco and the Ollantaytambo archaeological site in the town of the same name which all have their own stories to tell taking you back to the Incan Empire and revealing what life was like many centuries ago.

As well as its fascinating heritage Peru also boasts a rich, gastronomic, musical and religious culture where tradition and modernity combine. To illustrate this fusion of the old and the new all you need to do is take a walk around Cusco. The many churches located on or near to the central Plazas de Armas including Cusco's Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus (la Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus) are stunning architectural reminders of Peru's past which are worth visiting to marvel at their intricate interiors and to see the "Cusco School" (a Roman Catholic style of artwork originating in Cusco in the Colonial Period) paintings. But what about contemporary symbols? We could talk about the numerous modern hotels located in Cusco but I think that there is a better example of innovation: the railway. The efficient service provided by PeruRail, which runs several different routes, is a great example of how Peru has kept up with the times and developed infrastructure to meet the demands of sectors such as the tourist industry. However, this state-of-the-art form of transport does not overshadow Peru's historical sites but helps people visit them providing links to famous Incan ruins such as the citadel of Macchu Picchu.

We have looked at how Peru does not just have a rich history and traditional architecture but also 21^stcentury systems and services. Now I want to talk about its people. During my time in this nation I met Peruvians from all walks of life and I can say with all honesty that they are some of the wisest, most generous people I have met. Furthermore they are always ready to offer you a welcoming smile and to tell you about their country. I was able to experience this hospitality first-hand living with a host family in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. As well as introducing me to gastronomic delights such as the colourful cervichemy host parents really helped me to integrate into the Peruvian way of life inviting me to accompany them to family gatherings and showing me around their city.

As well as working in a school and doing things with my host family I also had a lot of time to explore my surroundings with the other volunteers. If you are looking at going to Peru I highly recommend a visit to the Sacred Valley. It is a very tranquil area surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains but within easy reach of Cusco thanks to the numerous buses and cars which make the journey to the former capital of the Inca Empire every day. I got the opportunity to live in Calca which is a bustling city with houses built using traditional materials and a great hub for exploring the surrounding towns of Urubamba and Ollantaytambo and the village of Pisac. I was struck by how all of these place have such close-knit communities whose members join together to celebrate significant events and feast days while also proudly displaying their customs and local products to visitors. Naturally some of these celebrations are religious. For example, I witnessed processions to commemorate the feast of Corpus Cristi but I was also able to take part in a joyful parade through Calca's streets in honour of the opening of a new school building. An example of the locals showing off their traditions could be the Pisac markets which take place daily (the biggest one being on Sunday) where vendors sell handicrafts, ceramics and other typical souvenirs such as Alpaca jumpers.

Teaching English in Peru

I now want to move on and talk about my job while I was in Peru. I have always thought about the possibility of pursuing a career in teaching English and I was able to get experience in this field. I worked in an all-boys school leading classes with students of a variety of ages. In addition to enabling me to develop my pedagogical techniques and my repertoire of communicative and student-centred activities, this project also allowed me to enhance my transferable skills and to learn about Peruvian culture and education. During the lessons I had to clearly explain instructions, listen and respond appropriately to the students' queries and discreetly but effectively supervise them during activities. I also worked with a local teacher and I was able to talk to him about the Peruvian lifestyle and the structure of the education system contrasting it with the English one.

Finally, I want to talk about two unforgettable experiences that I had. One of Peru's most famous sites is the Inca citadel of Macchu Picchu. I found it an amazing and mystical place which I did not want to leave. I would recommend getting up early to trek to the ruins on foot (it takes about 1 to 2 hours) but you will be able to see the sunrise. Also the hike up Huayna Picchu, a mountain overlooking the city, is tough but worth the effort as you will be able to enjoy panoramic views right down to the Urubamba River. Just before leaving the country I was also able to witness the yearly religious ceremony Inti Raymi (the Festival of the Sun) which celebrates the Incan sun god Inti. This festival, which took place in Cusco, was a great opportunity to hear traditional music, watch spectacular dance routines and see authentic costumes.

In conclusion, if you get the chance I would really encourage you to visit Peru. There is something about the country which will make you want to return time and again. Furthermore, you could always go on a volunteer program helping contribute to the welfare and education of a nation where you will have so many life-changing moments. While volunteering, working or travelling in Peru you could also take a course to improve your language skills which I found facilitated my immersion in the country's culture and way of life.

Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

john — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:05:00 GMT

It's nearly that time of the year when people will sit down in front of their televisions to watch 39 countries battling it out in one of the world's biggest singing competition. Eurovision 2015, which celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year, will return to our screens in May with two semifinals on 19^th and 21^st May and the Grand Final taking place on the 23^rd of the same month. As a member of the "Big Five", the countries which contribute the most amount of money to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Spain will automatically qualify for the Final which, this year,will take place in Austria.

Spain has won this contest outright once in 1968 when María de los Ángeles Félix Santamaría Espinosa (whose stage name is Massiel) triumphed with her song La,la, la. Spain has also come in second place on several occasions including in 1971 when María Isabel Bárbara Llaudés Santiago (known as Karina) sang En un mundo nuevo (In a New World), in 1973 when the Folk group Mocedades sang EresTú (It's You),in 1979 when Betty Missiego performed Su canción (Your Song) and in 1995 when Anabel Condetook to the stage with Vuelve conmigo (Come back to me). Spain was also successful last year with Ruth Lorenzo finishing in the top ten with her song Dancing in the Rain. Considering these past successes and last year's high place Spaniards can enter this competition with enthusiasm and expectation. In this article we will explore the background of the singer Spain is pinning its hopes on this year while also looking at the song which could allow Spain to get its hands on the prestigious Eurovision trophy.

Spain also tied for first place in 1969 with Salomé's Vivo cantando (I live singing) gainingthe same number of points as the performers from France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
The state-owned Spanish organization RTVE (Corporación de Radio y Televisión, the corporation which indirectly manages Spain's television and radio) has used several methods to choose their entries for the Eurovision Song Contests including internal selection, used in 2015,and televised and internet voting competitions such as the 2014 Mira quién va a Eurovisión, Operación triunfo,used between 2002-2004, and Eurocanción which helped select the 2000 and 2001 representatives.
The Spanish folk group Mocedades sang Eres Tú (It's you) during a special program entitled Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest which commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Edurne

This year Spain will be represented by an artist called Edurne García Almagro (more commonly known as Edurne). This Spanish singer, television presenter, model and actress first rose to fame on the 2005 edition of the singing talent show OperaciónTriunfo. Although she didn't win, she reached the 12^th live show and following on from her success in this competition, Sony BMG España offered her a recording contract.

Her first album, published in 2006, was called Edurne and included the track Despierta. Both the CD and the single were smash hits soon after being put on sale with the latter coming 5^th in one of Productores de Música de España's (Promusicae, an organization which represents Spain's recording industry) weekly Top 20 Singles Charts and the former reaching number 3 on the Promusicae 12^th weekly Top 100 Album Chart. As well as rising to the top of this list Edurne also received a gold record award for this album, in 2006, due to its more than forty thousand sales.

This Spanish singer's achievements were also further recognized when she was nominated for El Premio 40 Principales al mejor artista revelación nacional at Los Premios 40 Principales, an award show organized by a major radio station called Los 40 Principales which airs in Spain and Latin America. Despite losing out to the singer Mai Meneses (nicknamed Nena Daconte) she went on to win a prize at Los Premios Garamond Nacionales de la música (the Garamond National Music Awards) in 2008.

As well as leading a successful music career she has also had some acting roles. For example, in 2007 she took on the role of Shandy in Grease, el musical de tu vida (Grease, the musical of your life) touring with this production and performing in many Spanish cities including Bilbao, Madrid, Barcelona and Las Palmas. To celebrate her participation in the show she also released her own version of the song Hopelessly Devoted to You(entitled Sigo enamorada de ti) from the movie Grease.

She would reprise this role in 2011 in a new and updated production but after leaving the original musical in 2009 she travelled to England where she took classes to learn the language as well as to hone her singing, dancing and composing skills. In addition to having stayed in England, Edurne has also released some singles in this language and she has worked with an English artist. In 2013, her fifth album Climax was launched which features both English and Spanish tracks including the single Pretty Boy composed by the American producer Michael Busbee. In the same year she also collaborated with the English artist Olly Murs, who gained popularity and became successful after his 2009 performance on the talent show The X Factor. Together they produced a duet of Mur's song Hand on Heart which they sung at the 2013 edition of Los Premios 40 Principales.

This star has also found the time to appear on Spanish television. Her dancing skills came to the fore in 2010 when she progressed to the final and achieved second place in the Spanish talent show Másque baile (based on the British program Strictly Come Dancing). She also won the third season of the talent show Tucara me suena, a program where contestants imitate songs by famous artists as closely as possible.

We have looked at the artist who will sing her heart out in Vienna. However, what song will she perform? The entry is called Amanecer (Dawn)and it is composed by Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson, Peter Boström and Thomas G:son (Thomas Gustafsson). This pop song, which forms part of Edurne's sixth studio album, was released on 2^nd March 2015. Several recordings of the piece have been produced including one with RTVE's Symphony Orchestra and Choir on 3^rd March. On 9^thMarch a music video was also launched.

In conclusion given Edurne's distinguished career, it seems that Spain are in a strong position going into this year's competition. Maybe you have been lucky enough to get tickets. However, if you haven't you can still participate in the action by watching the final and semifinals aired by members of the EBU or on the Eurovision official website. You can also help decide the winner of the final by downloading the official Eurovision Song Contest app on the Eurovision website and by using it to participate in the telephone vote. Finally, if you want to improve your Spanish why not tune in to the RTVE's broadcast and practice and develop your listening skills in a new and exciting way?

Spain's Environmental Initiatives

john — Thu, 2 Apr 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Working Towards a Greener Future

In March 2015 Spain participated in the global Earth Hour initiative. As part of this World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scheme, which aims to raise awareness of climate change ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, some of the major landmarks and businesses throughout Spain including Madrid's Royal Palace, Málaga's Royal Palace and Ronda's New Bridge turned off their lights. We will use Spain's participation in this initiative as a starting point to look at its environmental progress.

During the 2014 European Business Awards for the Environment the Red Eléctrica de España which operates the national electricity grid in Spain won a Business and Biodiversity Award for its work in protecting the avian population using a Geographic Information System to monitor bird flight paths and because of its sustainable energy projects.
Some of Spain's main ecological problems include endangered species, air pollution and deforestation.

At the end of 2014 two official reports painted a dismal picture of Spain's environmental efforts. On the one hand the 2015 Climate Change Performance Index, released by Germanwatch and Climate Change Action Network Europe, ranked Spain as 28^th for its climate protection out of the 61 countries measured and on the other hand the 50^th edition of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species revealed that there are more than 552 endangered species in Spain. However, this article will aim to look beyond these revelations to investigate some of the steps Spain is taking and took in the past to deal with the ecological issues raised by these two organizations as well as other ones which are commonly associated with Spain. We will also look at how it is going beyond findings solutions to its own problems by engaging in schemes to help create a greener planet.

To begin with let's look at the problem of endangered species. In the Iberian Peninsula one of the most critically endangered species is the Iberian lynx. However, in 2002, the Spanish government's Ministry for Agriculture, Food and the Environment together with the Andalusian Government and the European Union launched a Life+ IBERLICENCE project which aimed to maintain the populations of Iberian lynxes in Andalusia and the Sierra Morena by protecting and restoring their natural habitats while also looking at the correlation between the lynx and rabbit, this cat's main food source, numbers. By introducing a captive breeding program the number of captive lynxes grew while the percentage of lynx specimens and territories also increased. Andalusia's hunting association and other organizations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also collaborated on a subsequent, equally successful program, in 2006, which sought to prevent the unnatural deaths of lynxes including those caused by hunting, traps and traffic accidents. Following the outbreak of diseases affecting rabbit numbers efforts were made by the Andalusian regional government to try to stabilize their population by setting up fences. In 2014 another meeting was convened in the Region of Murcia, another autonomous community where the authorities are trying to reintroduce lynxes, to carry out further measures. Recently talks have also been carried out in the municipality of Zarza de Granadilla, where there is a lynx breeding center, looking at how to reintroduce lynxes back into the autonomous community of Extremadura.

Andalusia has also been instrumental in fighting for a greener future by tackling its carbon dioxide emissions. Córdoba is through to the final of the World Wildlife Fund's 2015 Earth Hour City Challenge thanks to its initiative called Córdoba Luze the which aims to make squares, buildings, traffic lights and monuments more energy efficient while also promoting the pioneering use of electric buses and cycle lanes and the installation of solar panels on buildings.

Continuing with the theme of cycling several Spanish cities have released bicycle sharing systems. These include Madrid, with Bici Mad, which is the first completely electric bicycle scheme in Europe, Seville's Sevici and Barcelona's Bicing (which is not available to tourists). This alternative form of transport is designed to reduce the use of cars therefore lowering greenhouse gas emissions and tackling air pollution which is a problem in cities such as Madrid.

It is also worth mentioning the Green-ways (Vías Verdes) program, started in 1993, which involves the transformation of disused railways tracks into cycle and walking paths to allow tourists to explore Spain's spectacular scenery. This restoration work is having and had both a positive ecological and social impact. The renovation of railway stations along these routes and the building of tourist facilities led to the creation of several new jobs, for example thanks to the transformation of two stations into hotels and restaurants along the Sierra Greenway.

As well as trying to promote a more sustainable form of transport with its bicycle sharing system, Barcelona is also attempting to reduce its pollution levels and to address concerns over the smog alert issued at the start of 2015 by the Catalan regional government. A Barcelona architectural firm BCQ has announced plans to redesign the Sarajevo Bridge with smog-eating concrete. This ecological design, supported by Barcelona's City Council, will help to improve the city's air quality and shows that it is committed to working towards a more sustainable future.

Another homegrown agreement is helping to tackle the problem of deforestation. Reforesta (A Spanish forest conservation organization) has collaborated and is collaborating with the Spanish energy company Repsol on a series of measures aimed at combatting deforestation and promoting reforestation. For example, in March 2015 on the International Day of Forests this energy giant and this Nongovernmental organization carried on the work they had started restoring the vegetation in a section of the Cañada Real Segovian cattle route where it passes through the Madrilenian municipality of Soto del Real. This collaboration will also see the planting of trees and the launching of educational activities.

As regards renewable energy Spain seems to be taking some positive steps towards reviving this industry after the 2014 cuts to the subsidies reduced investment. At the start of 2015, Spain's Ministry of Industry announced new targets to increase Spain's renewable capacity from 48 GW to 57GW between 2015 and 2020. Also in 2015 Acciona, a leading Spanish renewable energy company, announced that they had signed a contract to supply renewably sourced energy to 12 hospitals and health centers in Madrid.

As well as devoting resources to renewable energy, the Spanish government also recently promised a substantial investment under its PIMA Adapta plan to preserve the country's coastlines in the face of climate change. Several projects will be set in motion to educate the public and to repair beaches damaged by the February storms. Constructions will also be put in place to prevent erosion.

So far we have looked at Spain's national environmental schemes but it has also been trying to help other countries to develop projects too. In 2008 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Spain formed a partnership under the LifeWeb initiative. One aim of this joint project was to advance the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. For example, Spain helped to strengthen the management of protected areas such the Cape Blanc Satellite Reserve in Mauritania, a Special Area of Conservation, where one of the most highly endangered marine species, the Mediterranean monk seal, can be tagged noninvasively and protected from dangers such as illegal fishing. This project enabled the Monk fish populations to increase in this conservation area and helped to raise awareness of sustainable fishing practices.

In conclusion, from all of the above we can see that Spain has implemented a variety of different programs not only in its borders but also on an international scale to work towards a greener future. However, there is still work to be done especially in some areas such as the renewable energy industry given that in March 2015 the European Commission (EC) told Spain to correctly implement the Renewable Energy Directive with specific reference to biofuels.

Perhaps the ecological events in 2015 including the Bilbao Marine Energy Week and the Barcelona REGATEC 2015 conference on biogas and renewable methane will help Rajoy's government to look at strategies to fulfill the EC's requirements and its aforementioned energy goals. However, it is not just the responsibility of the government to work towards a more sustainable planet. As the architect Richard Rogers points out "the only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved." We can play our part in working towards a more sustainable planet by taking part in ecotourism following the International Ecotourism Society's advice of "travelling responsibly to natural areas," searching for ecological and sustainable hotels in our holiday destinations, looking at incorporating renewable energy technologies into our new building plans and using alternatives forms of transport instead of cars. These are just a few of the small ways we can make a difference but we need to start now to preserve the environment for future generations.

Call me Óscar - With an Accent on the O

Lauris — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 12:00:00 GMT

Versión española abajo

The American cinema industry is experiencing times of change which Sean Penn reflected to a certain extent, during the Academy Awards Ceremony on 22^nd February, when he said something along the lines of "Who gave this guy a green card?" referring to Alejandro González Iñárritu when he was about to award him the Academy Award for Best Picture, which he directed and co-wrote.

It is revealing that in the last two editions of the Óscares (this is how it is spelt in Spanish, with an accent and plural es as it is meant to be), two Mexicans have won the Best Director Oscars: Iñárritu this year, for Birdman and Alfonso Cuarón last year for Gravity.

The momentum of Hollywood's Hispanic sector, notably attributed to Mexicans, who represent the highest percentage of Hispanic immigrants in the United States, is contributing to the revitalization of this seventh art with its creativity, spontaneity and ways of doing things.

From the now legendary figures like the magnificent Anthony Quinn, winner of two Best Supporting Actor Oscars, to the marvelous Kenyan-Mexican Lupita Nyong'o, who we admired in the film 12 years a Slave, for which, it must be said, she rightly earned, the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2013, the Made in USA cinema is becoming full of names and surnames which come from the south side of the Río Grande.

Who does not know Salma Hayek? Who has not been touched by the stories which are the brainchild of Guillermo del Toro? A celebrity who is a prime example of the arrival and subsequent integration of Mexicans into Foreign cinema is Robert Rodríguez ( born in Austin, Texas, of Mexican descent), who made a name for himself with a homemade film, made with an amateur camera and using his friends as actors but who possessed enough energy and star quality to open the doors to Hollywood. That film is El Mariachi, which has become a cult film, together with the two other titles which form the trilogy: Desperado and Once upon a time in Mexico. Now he is one of the favorite directors of someone as respected and different as Quentin Tarantino, who he collaborated with.

The strength and momentum of Hispanic/Mexican cinema in the United States is undeniable. According to the forecasts, in several year Spanish will be the most spoken language in the United States, and that is something to be aware of.

The world of cinema, music, art and television offers us more and more Hispanic names and surnames, and for this reason, it would not seem strange, giving the issue a further twist, if the Hollywood Oscars had to change their name, and came to be known, as we have suggested above, as the Óscares, with an accent.

Llámame Óscar, con acento en la O.

La industria del cine estadounidense está viviendo unos momentos de cambio que de alguna manera reflejó Sean Penn cuando, en la ceremonia de entrega de los premios de la Academia el 22 de febrero pasado, dijo algo así como "¿Quién le ha dado la tarjeta verde a este tipo?" refiriéndose a Alejandro González Iñárritu cuando iba a entregarle el galardón la mejor película, de la que es director y coguionista.

Resulta revelador que en las dos últimas ediciones de los Óscares (así, en castellano, con acento y plural en -es, como dios manda), los galardonados con la estatuilla dorada al mejor director hayan sido dos mexicanos: Iñárritu este año, por Birdman y Alfonso Cuarón el pasado, por Gravity.

El empuje del elemento hispano en Hollywood, en especial de los mexicanos -que son el mayor porcentaje de los inmigrante hispanos en los EE.UU.- está contribuyendo a una revitalización del séptimo arte con su creatividad, frescura y maneras de hacer.

Desde figuras ya míticas como el magnífico Anthony Quinn, ganador de dos premios al mejor actor de reparto en los cincuenta, a la maravillosa keniana-mexicana Lupita Nyong'o, a la que admiramos en 12 años de esclavitud, que la hizo merecedora -justa merecedora, hay que decir- de la estatuilla a la mejor actriz de reparto en 2013, el cine Made in USA se está llenando de nombres y apellidos que vienen del lado sur de Río Grande.

¿Quién no conoce a Salma Hayek? ¿Quién no se ha sentido tocado por las historias salidas de la mente creativa de Guillermo del Toro? Un personaje que puede resultar ejemplificador de esta llegada y posterior integración de lo mexicano en el cine gringo puede ser Robert Rodríguez (nacido en Austin, Texas, pero de ascendencia mexicana), que se dio a conocer con una película casera, hecha con una cámara de aficionado y usando a sus amigos como actores, pero que tenía una energía y calidad que le abrieron las puertas hollywoodienses. Esa película es El Mariachi, que ya se ha convertido en un filme de culto, junto a los otros dos títulos que forman trilogía: Desperado y Érase una vez en México (Once upon a time in Mexico). Ahora es uno de los directores favoritos de alguien tan respetado y peculiar como Quentin Tarantino, con el que ha colaborado.

La pujanza y el empuje de lo hispano-mexicano en los EE.UU. es innegable. Según las prospectivas, dentro de unos años el español será la lengua más hablada en los EE.UU., y eso es algo que hay que tener en cuenta.

El mundo del cine, de la música, del arte, de la televisión nos ofrece cada vez más nombres y apellidos hispanos y, por eso, no sería de extrañar -dándole a la cuestión una vuelta de tuerca extra- que los Oscars de Hollywood se tengan que cambiar el nombre y, como dijimos arriba, lleguen a ser los Óscares, con acento.

Chess in Spanish schools

David — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

If nothing goes awry, Spanish grade school children may be taking Chess class along with math, language and art. The Spanish parliament's education committee has unanimously agreed to push for the incorporation of chess into the Spanish primary school curriculum. If Spain goes ahead with this plan, it will be one of around 30 countries around the world that include chess in their children's school curriculum. This is an important step for Spain since studies have shown that by introducing chess to school aged children help them improve their math and reading skills; two areas that Spanish children have been underperforming in according to the results of standardized European tests.

Chess is a sport that is more than 1500 years old and originated in present day India (although there are some that contend it originated in China) and made its way across Asia to present day Iran where an early version was played called shatranj. From there traders made their way across the continent, most notably into the Iberian Peninsula during the Arab occupation around 900 CE. Within a "short" 100 years, ajedrez, the Spanish transliteration of shantranj, made its way across the better part of Europe. In some other countries of Europe the word chess originated from the Persian word for king or shāh. This difference in origin is due to the different trade routes employed by Arab merchants with some entering from the south while others came from the east.

The game has been largely unchanged since the late 15^th century where rules and modifications took place in Spain and Italy. In fact, in 1497 a chess expert of his day, Luiz Ramirez de Lucena, wrote the earliest treatise of chess in Salamanca called the Repetición de Amores y Arte de Ajedrez ("Repetition of Love and the Art of Playing Chess"). This book presented and anticipated strategies and movements for what today serve as the foundation of play. Later, other Spaniards like Bishop Ruy López de Segura delved deeper into the game and analyzed and proposed openings and endgames in his 1561 book Libro del Ajedrez ("Book of chess") further enriching game play. What made this modern form of chess different form the original Arab version was the inclusion of the queen, the most powerful piece in chess in tribute to Queen Isabella.

Today, chess continues to be one of the most popular games in the world with millions playing it every day and in Spain it is a popular board game for people of all ages. Spain is also a the country where the most international tournaments are held. So it should not be surprising that this game would make its way into the educational system alongside other subjects like math and language. But that is exactly what has occurred here and with support from all across the political spectrum—something surprising since political consensus is extremely rare in the polarized world of Spanish politics.

A Spanish congressional committee has passed a proposal for chess to be included in the standardized primary school curriculum. The reason for this push to include a board game into the school curriculum is largely due to chess' demonstrated ability to help children learn more and better. What may seem like a game of kings and queens is actually a game of "quadrants and coordinates, thinking strategically and making decisions" according to an article published by Johns Hopkins University. In 2000, a study was published that showed that students who were taught chess received higher test scores in all areas of education but students did particularly well in math, Spatial analysis and non-verbal reasoning.

Because of the way the Spanish educational system is organized, it has become a tool used by the governing party of the day to forward their political priorities (much like Spanish national television) which means the educational system lives in a state of constant change where the curriculum is constantly evolving at the whim of politicians. Academics and students alike are helpless to intercede in this process which experiences fundamental shifts in priorities after presidential elections and a new party comes to power. That is why this case is so unique…and positive. In an election year, the political parties are often more obsessed with promoting their differences than with working together. Hopefully this moment of finding common ground will mean that the door is opening to greater dialogue and less partisanship. Or not. Maybe that is asking for too much, at least Spanish children will have the opportunity to expand their learning possibilities and be in vanguard of something positive in a country that until now has been in the vanguard of everything but positive.

Trouble in Badminton Paradise

David — Thu, 5 Mar 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Spain is living a magical moment with regard to sports. Not counting last year's soccer and basketball World Cups, Spanish sport has been surging with momentum thanks to victories in variety of sports like swimming, gymnastics, handball and water polo. While these results are excellent, they are not too surprising since Spain has been advancing in the rankings of these sports the past years and in some cases they have already had great results such as Mireia Belmonte in swimming.

But one sport that has really taken off is Badminton. In August of 2014, with only 21 years of age, Carolina Marín did the unthinkable—she beat an adversary from powerhouse China to become the first Spaniard to win badminton World Championship title. This rise to fame has meant she has received a windfall of sponsorships and opportunities to profit, like any other athlete, from her well earned sporting achievements. But the reality of her situation has changed completely since the Spanish Badminton Federation wants to profit from Carolina's image and will deny her the opportunity to play any longer on the national team if she does not cede the rights to her image.

Badminton is a relatively young sport, first being played in an organized manner in the region of Galicia at the beginning of the 1970's while the first Spanish championship was held in 1982. Spain's trajectory in the world of Badminton has been consistent with one would expect from a country with relatively new players, especially if you compare Spain to China, the country that has dominated world badminton since the beginning of world championship play in 70's. Other countries that have earned gold medals have been Korea, Denmark (the European powerhouse), and Indonesia. Other countries that have also earned gold—but not as consistently as these other countries—have been the US, Sweden and England, among others. In world badminton, only 20 countries have earned a bronze medal or better.

This sport, largely unknown in Spain, has suddenly been cast in the spotlight thanks to Carolina's amazing win and her attractive and easy going manner. Largely unknown in Spain, Carolina is face that people recognize in Asian countries thanks to her presence as a professional player in the Indian league as well as receiving media coverage across the continent where this sport is played and followed by millions of people. This promising athlete coming off of the greatest win of her and Spain's time badminton also promised an excellent result in the upcoming European Badminton Championships in which Spain had classified for the first time ever in mixed doubles.

Unfortunately all of this promise may not come to fruition since the Spanish Badminton Federation will sit down any player that does not sign over their image and publicity rights. At the moment the federation will not call up 7 of Spain's best badminton players, including their best one—Carolina Marín. What's more, the federation will withdraw from their first ever mixed doubles appearance in the European Championships because the players refuse to give in to this type of blackmail.

David Cabello is the genius behind this quick cash marketing scheme, he is also the head of the Spanish badminton federation. In a recent meeting between the federation and the athletes which was mediated by national sports commissioner, Cabello was shocked that these athletes would arrive with a lawyer in tow. It was in this meeting that one reason behind the insistence of the federation behind such one sided deal is succulent new sponsorship deal with a large company whose objective is to use Carolina Marín as their image to break into the Asian market.

With the athletes having already lost the opportunity to compete in the European championships, both sides have agreed to sit down and try to work out a compromise that benefits both the federation and the athletes. But one thing is clear, the athletes have lost all confidence in their president and as such it will be hard for him to continue in his post. Which isn't such a bad thing for person like that.

Electronic or Paper Books?

Lauris — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Versión Española abajo

There's no shortage of opinions out there on the evolution, or the revolution it seems you could call it, that the world of books is experiencing today. Technological advances often threaten the extinction of the old fashioned, or what you might refer to as the outdated. I recently came across the following quote in an article about the open conflict between paper and electronic books:

"If you understand book to mean those countless paper printed editions folded and bound within covers
that announce their title, I frankly believe that Gutenberg's invention will sooner or later fall into disuse
as the interpreter of our intellectual productions."

This opinion perfectly reflects that of those in favor of ebooks, devices with incredible memory and quick access that allows you to reproduce any part of any text almost instantaneously. These e-readers, or portalibros as Darío Villanueva (outspoken director of the Royal Spanish Academy) calls them, found their way onto last Christmas' list of top-selling Christmas gifts. By the way, the quote above was made in 1894 and it was a response to the imminent death of the book in the face of the appearance of the phonograph.

These portalibros offer a series of advantages that conceal their own contradictions. The quality of the screens and the use of digital ink make these books a wonderful tool for reading that can allow people with visual difficulties to enlarge the size of the letter, which makes reading much easier. E-readers also have an enormous storage capacity, which lets us enjoy our favorite books while on vacation without having to load our luggage with extra pounds of paper. Hauling around a weighty tome of some 800 pages while riding the metro or train also makes for a strenuous task, but these lightweight, portable devices make things much easier.

Books however (the paper variety I mean) appeal to the sense of touch (I believe that we don't just read with our eyes but with our whole bodies) and they allow us to underline, jot down notes, go back and reread a paragraph we've just read, and when we finish reading we realize that we don't understand how we've lost all track of time… I know that e-readers also allow users to write notes, but doing it electronically just seems more tedious than simply grabbing a pencil and doing it NOW.

Ebooks also, in my opinion, encourage skipping from one thing to the next, which to my disapproval is what my daughters do on their tablets and smartphones. Paper books tie us to the story, they capture us and guide us to their last page. Leaving off halfway through an on-screen read leaves me feeling much less guilty than closing up a book and putting it back on the shelf.

I don't know, it's just something I can't avoid (or maybe I don't want to avoid it); I like books, the smell of the paper, the sound they make in your hands when you close them. I like physical libraries, with bookcases loaded with books that hide remnants of other readings, of other readers…

Yesterday the battery on my younger daughter's tablet died and she was all upset because her sister had swiped her charger. I observed her with a smile that disguised an unhealthy feeling of triumph as I turned the page of my novel, touched the texture of the paper, and breathed in the subtle aroma of ink -along with the historic build up of dust- and I read on, unplugged.

¿Libro Digital o Libro de Papel?

Hay opiniones enfrentadas en lo que se refiere a la evolución, o quizás sería mejor hablar de revolución, que se está viviendo en el mundo de los libros. Las novedades tecnológicas con frecuencia hacen que la amenaza de la extinción se cierna sobre lo antiguo, aunque quizás sería mejor denominarlo lo viejo. En un artículo que leí sobre el conflicto abierto entre libro de papel y libro digital encontré esta cita:

"Si por libro entendéis nuestros innumerables cuadernillos de papel impreso, plegado, cosido,
encuadernado bajo una cubierta que anuncia el título de la obra, reconozco francamente que creo
que la invención de Gutenberg caerá más o menos próximamente en desuso
como intérprete de nuestras producciones intelectuales".

Esta opinión nos viene al pelo para reflejar la de quienes están a favor de todo tipo de artilugio electrónico que, en una pantalla y con una asombrosa capacidad de memoria y una velocidad de acceso y de conexión que se puede calificar de sorprendente permite reproducir casi instantáneamente cualquier parte de cualquier texto. Estos e-books o portalibros como los ha calificado Darío Villanueva, flamante director de la RAE, se están asentando como uno de los regalos más realizados en las últimas Navidades. El único pero que se le puede poner al comentario que citamos arriba es que se realizó en 1894, e intentaba reflejar la inminente muerte del libro-objeto frente a la aparición del fonógrafo.

El portalibros ofrece una serie de ventajas que esconden, en sí mismas, sus propias contradicciones. La calidad de las pantallas de última generación, el uso de la tinta electrónica hace de estos soportes un instrumento magnífico para la lectura que permiten que algunas personas con problemas de deficiencia visual puedan aumentar el tamaño de la letra, lo que les facilita muchísimo la lectura. También tienen estos artilugios una enorme capacidad de memoria, lo que nos permite disfrutar de nuestras lecturas favoritas durante las vacaciones sin necesidad de cargar con unos cuantos kilos de papel. Llevar un tocho de ochocientas páginas para leer mientras viajamos en metro o en tren a nuestro trabajo es oneroso, y estos dispositivos móviles facilitan la cosa. Claro.

Por otra parte, el libro (de papel quiero decir) nos transmite una sensación táctil -yo creo que no se lee solo con los ojos, sino con todo el cuerpo- y nos permite subrayar, hacer anotaciones, volver atrás y releer ese párrafo que acabamos de terminar y, al llegar a su fin, descubrimos que no hemos entendido porque se nos ha ido el santo al cielo con el menú de la cena... Ya sé que en los portalibros se puede subrayar y hacer anotaciones, pero me parece que es mucho más engorroso que agarrar un lápiz y hacerlo YA.

Además, el portalibros, en mi opinión, favorece el picoteo, el saltar de una cosa a otra, como hacen mis hijas para su satisfacción y mi indignación, en sus tabletas y teléfonos inteligentes mientras que el libro de papel nos ata a la historia, nos captura y nos lleva de la mano hasta su final. Dar un pantallazo y dejar una lectura a medias en una pantalla me produce muchísima menos sensación de traición y culpa que cuando cierro un libro y lo aparco en la estantería.

Lo sé, no puedo evitarlo (o quizás no quiero evitarlo). Me gustan los libros, el olor del papel, el sonido que hacen en tus manos al cerrarlos de golpe. Me gustan las bibliotecas físicas, con estanterías abarrotadas de libros que esconden huellas de otras lecturas, de otros lectores...

Además, a mi hija pequeña ayer se le terminó la batería de la tableta y se cabreó muchísimo porque su hermana había extraviado el cargador. Mirándola con una sonrisa que escondía una insana sensación de triunfo, pasé la página de mi novela, palpando la textura del papel, aspiré lentamente el aroma de la tinta -y el polvo histórico acumulado- y seguí leyendo, unplugged.

Spain Mourns the Passing of Wilfred

David — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Recently a very special soccer player passed away in Madrid. This soccer player never made it to the Champions or a league championship, but he did make an impact on Spanish soccer in a way that few others have done. Wilfred Agbonavbare, Wilfred or just plain old Willy to his legion of fans from Rayo Vallecano was loved by all which is no small feat considering the team he played for and the neighborhood he represented. Willy was a Nigerian football player, a goalie, who overcame racism and poverty to become one the most loved players among the fans of this salty team. His good nature, humility and killer player instincts made him one of the most feared, yet adored players in the Spanish league when he played in the 90's.

Rayo Vallecano is a small team (modest would be too big of a word) from the working-class Vallecas neighborhood in southeastern part of Madrid. After the Civil War, this neighborhood became a magnet for poor people from rural Spain looking for greater opportunities in the capital and ultimately became an area of leftiest resistance to Franco and his dictatorship. When Rayo Vallecano signed Wilfred, coach José Antonio Camacho directed a team that consisted of some players working second jobs to make ends meet. Unfortunately, like many other places across the soccer world, Spain was not free from racist fans and racist chants were all too common then. But Wilfred felt this would not be the case at Rayo the moment Camacho told him that being a starter depended on him "sweating and nothing more" to earn a starting role on the team. He did just that and for five seasons he was the foundation of his team's defense.

Wilfred played like an octopus, stopping everything that came his way and made legendary soccer players like Manolo Sánchez and Iván Zamorano desperate to try to get anything past him. Commenting on a game between Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano (which Atletico won 1-0), Manolo Sanchez said: "trying to shoot the ball by him was suicide. The best we could hope for was getting the ball between his legs". In another game versus perennial powerhouse and cross town rival, Real Madrid, Wilfred played one of his greatest games. Even though the game ended in a tie, for Rayo Vallecano it must have felt like a win. In this game Wilfred stopped just about everything that came his way including a Madrid penalty shot. His ability to get under the skin of rival Real Madrid and its fans due to his great play caused the fans to react with racist chants (that aren't worth repeating here) heard all around the Bernabeu stadium. This shameful display would have caused any normal person to have a reaction but Wilfred centered on his game and finished in excellent form. Afterwards, when asked about what happened on the field, he responded by saying "Today I had a great game and I'm a black goalie. I understand how that can bother them (the fans)".

Wilfred found this out firsthand how life doesn't always work out the way we may plan. After changing teams and other circumstances, he wouldn't be picked up by any team after 1997 and his career came to an abrupt end. With most of the money he eared as a soccer player he spent most of what he had to pay for the best treatment possible for his wife and her struggle to fight breast cancer—which she would end up losing. With little money and few opportunities he became a package sorter for a transport company where he would work until his illness didn't let him anymore. Wilfred passed away on January 27, 2015 due to cancer much to the dismay of people from all walks of life and regardless of team allegiance. Everyone in Spain knows that a great person is no longer among us.

Spain's Most Popular YouTuber

David — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 10:00:00 GMT

El Rubius

YouTube has swept the planet with its ability to offer something to everyone. Not surprisingly some of the most popular channels to be found are channels related to videogames. Spain is no exception and we thought it would be interesting to take a look at what channels people are looking at here. Keeping with the universal spirit of the internet, the number one channel last year was a channel dedicated to the views and opinions of videogames and other online shenanigans. El Rubius takes the award for having the biggest YouTube channel emanating from Spain with over 9 million subscribers.

Considering that in just 2 years he has gone from 1 million to 9 million subscribers, his rise has been exceptionally rapid but it is also a reflection of just how quickly the world of the internet moves. This 25 year YouTuber is half Spanish and half Norwegian and in a video he produced explaining his life in drawings (which you can see below), we are able to see how he his experience has been living between two very distinct cultures. After trying to find his niche he met up with fellow gamer and YouTuber, Mangel, and together they found an apartment together and are now both creating videos and collaborating with one another for their respective channels.

Late in 2014, El Rubius, enjoyed the launch of his newly released book El Libro Troll. This book gives potential trolls (or internet pranksters) tips, exercises and advice on how to be a successful troll. Cervantes it isn't but it, like its author, has had been the center of unexpected success. Number one bestseller for weeks, this book has sold over 100,000 copies and was the center of attention during last year's Feria del Libro in Madrid.

All of this success has also benefited El Rubius economically. Thanks to his internet and literary successes, it is reported that he made approximately 2.5 million euros in 2014. Through YouTube alone he is earning approximately 75,000€ to 100,000€ per month from advertisers. El Rubius is not only a phenomenon in Spain since he is also well known among teenagers throughout Latin America.

In a world largely dominated by English Speaker it is interesting to see how Spanish Language YouTubers are making a niche for themselves in this highly competitive (but also very happenstance) world of YouTube fame. Along with El Rubius there are other Spanish YouTubers among the most popular in the world like Vegetta777, TheWillyRex, Xalexby11 and StaXxCraft.

This world is always changing and it will be interesting how this YouTube centered economy evolves in the future. Like everyone these people are sure to reach their peak and be replaced by a newer generation, what has to be seen is what will become of these pioneers when age catches up with them and the ideas begin to run out. I have the notion that these kids will be alright.

The State of Fine Dining in Spain

David — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 10:30:00 GMT

Versión española abajo

Since the 1970's, Spain has been growing as a culinary powerhouse making a name for itself and its regional cooking. This trend began in with the great Juan Mari Arzak and the birth of New Basque Cuisine. Arzak, which remains open to this day with its 3 Michelin stars continues under the guidance of Juan Mari and his daughter, Elena. The New Basque cuisine trend occurred at the same time the nouvelle cuisine of France was also taking off and the combination of the two drew the world's attention to this part of the Europe. From there, a new cult of food spread across the Spain that emphasized the retaining of traditional dishes but with lighter and more evolved recipes while incorporating new flavors and concepts—but always emphasizing freshness and the local character of the ingredients, especially meats and fish. Today, Spain's Basque Country has more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else on the planet. Recently four of Spain's best chefs hosted a roundtable to discuss Spanish cuisine and the state of fine dining here.

Present for the roundtable were: Paco Pérez owner of 5 Michelin stars which are shared between 3 restaurants, Ricardo Sanz from Kabuki en Madrid and Tenerife with 3 stars, Diego Guerrero from Dstage and Pepe Rodríguez en El Bohío both with one star each. These stars of the kitchen represent the latest generation of cooks defending and evolving classic Spanish cooking (Pepe Rodríguez) along with the most avant-garde interpreters of the Spanish kitchen like Paco Perez and importers of different cuisines and flavors from around the world like Ricardo Sanz.

This roundtable was an excellent opportunity to see how the people on the inside of one of the most successful cuisines in the world view their industry and their challenges moving ahead. Curiously the chefs agreed that they felt that even though Spanish cuisine is considered one of the finest in the world, there is very little institutional support especially when it is taken into consideration the bureaucratic hurdles businesses face when starting a new business—something echoed across all sectors, not just the restaurant industry—and the high tax rates that must be paid. Many of the finest restaurants are located in rural settings or outside of urban areas. El Bohio, for example is located in a little town near Toledo (Illescas)—not the most convenient location for a people from Madrid to enjoy a quick lunchtime meal—which (like many others) means that to reach this restaurant, an investment must be made on the part of customers to not only enjoy a meal but to also enjoy the surroundings. Many hotels and small businesses live off of the attraction these restaurants afford and towns that would otherwise go unnoticed received visitors on a regular basis.

Another area where the four chefs agreed was in the lack of visibility and promotion of Spanish cuisine outside of Spain and in promotional materials and campaigns used to attract international tourists. "Marca España" (or Spain, the brand) is a program directed by the Spanish Foreign Ministry is with the purpose of spreading Spain's positive image as a global leader. Campaigns to improve Spain's image abroad have included Inditex (the parent company behind Zara), SEAT (Spain's domestic auto manufacturer), its internationally recognized business schools and the Banco Santander just to name a few. But the internationally recognized cuisine has, until recently, been largely ignored by this initiative. What better way to show off a country to outsiders than through its cuisine (something Italy and France have perfected). This is why these four professionals consider Spain's inability to project and capitalize this cultural patrimony to be a competitive weakness. This is especially important since the popularity, recognition and wealth this sector generates has been on the rise even in these difficult economic times.

Two topics that arose during the conversation was the benefit of social media en the culture of fine cuisine and the influence of other cuisines and techniques in the Spanish diet. Up to 80% of the clients of top-level restaurant are tourist and in the capacity to attract customers through new media is key to success. Others, like Pepe Rodriguez, pointed out the importance that television (he is one of the hosts of Spain's version of Master Chef) has had recently in the diffusion and popularity of Spanish alta cocina. One trend that has gained traction is the "normalization" of fine cuisine since many people today consider it a form of leisure-time activity while that was not the case only until recently.

The other topic had to do with the importation of foods from around the world. This is particularly interesting since Spanish eaters are very defensive of their cuisine and are often cautious about accepting foods from other parts of the world. Ricardo Sanz is the most prestigious chef of Eastern cuisine in Spain thanks to his Japanese style restaurants and popularizing the eating of Sushi and sashimi in Spain and his Michelin stars attest to his ability to faithfully reproduce those techniques and dishes here in this country. He stated that Spain is a country that presents some difficulties for new ideas and techniques form other places but in the end become accepted and ultimately enrich the cuisine. Maybe for that reason we can find deserts in Pepe Rodriguez's traditionally inspired El Buhio infused with wasabi.

El estado del buen comer en España

Desde la década de 1970, España ha ido creciendo como una potencia culinaria, haciéndose un nombre por sí misma y su cocina regional. Esta tendencia comenzó con el gran Juan Mari Arzak y el nacimiento de la Nueva Cocina Vasca. Arzak, que permanece abierto hasta hoy día con sus 3 estrellas Michelin continúa bajo la dirección de Juan Mari y de su hija Elena. La Nueva Cocina Vasca comenzó a ser conocida simultáneamente al momento en el que la nueva cocina de Francia estaba despegando, y la combinación de ambas atrajo la atención del mundo hacia esta parte de Europa. A partir de ahí, un nuevo culto a la comida se extendió por España, haciendo hincapié en la conservación y recuperación de platos tradicionales pero con recetas más ligeras y más evolucionadas, incorporando nuevos sabores y conceptos pero siempre poniendo el foco en la frescura y el carácter local de los ingredientes, especialmente las carnes y pescados. Hoy, el País Vasco español tiene más estrellas Michelin por habitante que cualquier otro lugar del planeta. Recientemente, cuatro de los mejores chefs de España han organizado una mesa redonda para hablar de la cocina española y del estado de la buena mesa.

Estuvieron presentes en la mesa redonda: Paco Pérez, propietario de 5 estrellas Michelin que comparte entre 3 restaurantes, Ricardo Sanz, de Kabuki en Madrid y Tenerife con 3 estrellas, Diego Guerrero del DSTAGE y Pepe Rodríguez en El Bohío ambos con una estrella cada uno. Estas estrellas de la cocina representan la última generación de cocineros que defienden y evolucionan la cocina clásica española (Pepe Rodríguez), junto con los intérpretes más vanguardistas de la cocina española como Paco Pérez e importadores de diferentes cocinas y sabores de todo el mundo como Ricardo Sanz.

Esta mesa redonda fue una excelente oportunidad para ver cómo los componentes de una de las cocinas más exitosas del mundo ven su industria y sus retos para continuar avanzando. Los chefs coincidieron en que sentían que a pesar de que la cocina española está considerada como una de las mejores del mundo, hay muy poco apoyo institucional, especialmente cuando se tienen en cuenta los obstáculos burocráticos a los que se enfrentan las empresas al iniciar un nuevo negocio, algo de lo que se hicieron eco todos los sectores, no sólo el de la restauración, y las altas tasas de impuestos que se deben pagar. Muchos de los mejores restaurantes están ubicados en entornos rurales o alejados de las zonas urbanas. El Bohio, por ejemplo se encuentra en un pequeño pueblo cerca de Toledo (Illescas) -que no esla ubicación más conveniente para que la gente de Madrid pueda disfrutar de un almuerzo rápido- lo que significa que para llegar a este restaurante los clientes deben realizar un esfuerzo, no sólo para disfrutar de una comida, pero también disfrutar de los alrededores. Muchos hoteles y pequeñas empresas viven de la atracción que producen estos restaurantes, como los pueblos que de otra manera pasarían desapercibidos para los visitantes.

Otra área en la que los cuatro chefs coincidieron fue en la falta de visibilidad y promoción de la gastronomía española fuera de España y en los materiales de promoción y campañas que se utilizan para atraer a los turistas internacionales. "Marca España" es un programa dirigido por el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores español con el propósito de difundir una imagen positiva de España como líder mundial. Las campañas para mejorar la imagen de España en el extranjero han incluido a Inditex (la empresa matriz que está detrás de Zara), SEAT (fabricante automotriz nacional de España), sus escuelas de negocios reconocidas internacionalmente y el Banco Santander sólo para nombrar unos pocos. Pero la gastronomía reconocida internacionalmente, hasta hace poco, ha permanecido ignorada en gran medida por esta iniciativa. ¿Qué mejor manera de mostrar orgullosamente un país a los extranjeros que a través de su cocina (algo que Italia y Francia han llevado a la perfección)?. Por ello, estos cuatro profesionales consideran la incapacidad de España para proyectar y aprovechar este patrimonio cultural como una debilidad competitiva. Esto es especialmente importante, ya que la popularidad, el reconocimiento y la riqueza de este sector genera han ido en aumento, incluso en estos tiempos económicos difíciles.

Dos temas que surgieron durante la conversación fue el beneficio de los medios sociales en la cultura de la buena cocina y la influencia de otras cocinas y técnicas en la dieta española. Hasta el 80% de los clientes de los restaurantes de alto nivel son turistas y la capacidad de atraer a los clientes a través de nuevos medios de comunicación es la clave del éxito. Otros, como Pepe Rodríguez, señalaron la importancia que la televisión (que emite la versión española de Master Chef) ha tenido recientemente en la difusión y popularidad de la alta cocina española. Una tendencia que ha ganado fuerza es la "normalización" de la buena cocina ya que muchas personas hoy en día consideran que es una forma de actividad de tiempo libre, mientras que hasta hace poco no se la consideraba así.

El otro tema tiene que ver con la importación de alimentos de todo el mundo. Esto es particularmente interesante ya que los españoles, cuando comen, están muy a la defensiva de su cocina y con frecuencia se muestran cautelosos y recelosos al aceptar alimentos de otras latitudes. Ricardo Sanz es el más prestigioso chef de cocina de Oriente en España gracias a sus restaurantes de estilo japonés y ha popularizado el consumo de sushi y sashimi en España, y sus estrellas Michelin dar fe de su capacidad para reproducir fielmente las técnicas y platos japonesas en este país. Afirma que España es un país que presenta algunas dificultades para implantar las nuevas ideas y técnicas de otros lugares, pero al final llegan a ser aceptadas y finalmente enriquecen la cocina. Tal vez por eso podemos encontrar postres de inspiración tradicional en El Bohio de Pepe Rodríguez infundidos con wasabi.