In this week’s When in Spain episode I take us on a wander around El Rastro, Madrid’s sprawling outdoor market where you can find almost anything. Whether visiting as a tourist or living in the Spanish capital, El Rastro flea market is a must-see and is one of the most ‘castizo’ things you can experience … Continue reading Spain’s most famous market: El Rastro de Madrid, sights, sounds & history – WIS024
Do Spaniards like the dark despite Spain being one of the sunniest countries in Europe? Maybe you can have too much of a good thing! Spain has between 2,500 and 3,000 hours of sunshine in an average year, compared with just 1,600 in countries such as the United Kingdom. In this episode I ponder the … Continue reading Are Spaniards vampires? Shutters, bars & balconies – WIS023
Spain has fantastic public transport options that make it easy and comfortable to get around the the Iberian peninsular and it’s islands. Spain is a big, rugged country and driving isn’t always the quickest or most convenient option. That’s why in this episode of the When in Spain show I look at how to around Spain … Continue reading Trains, planes & automobiles – Transport in Spain WIS022
…we got to spend a few hours in a bar in someone’s house in a village with a population of eight. EIGHT people. The very local wine was cheap at 80¢ a glass! In this episode, we escape Madrid for a weekend tour of Spain’s northern region of Asturias, the Picos de Europa mountains, a … Continue reading A weekend in Asturias, a cow, a puncture & the most local bar in Spain – WIS021
In this bonus episode I answer a few questions from listeners…Alternative things to see and do in Madrid, advice for moving to Barcelona and a future episode on healthcare and health insurance in Spain. Also, how about some When in Spain episodes in Spanish? Over to you… FOLLOW WHEN IN SPAIN 📺Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2SOrKrL … Continue reading Alternative things to do in Madrid & moving to Barcelona – WIS020
I talk trains – my favourite way to travel. Sit back and enjoy the ride as I take us on a trip from Madrid to Barcelona on Spain’s high speed train, the AVE (Alta Velocidad Española). From Madrid’s Atocha station with its indoor jungle to Barcelona’s modern Sants terminal, I describe the journey as we … Continue reading Trains in Spain and a trip on the AVE from Madrid to Barcelona – WIS019
This week an episode on Spain’s most controversial tradition, bullfighting. During the show I attend a ‘corrida’ at Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring with a Spanish friend to see this ancient spectacle in the flesh. I didn’t enjoy or agree with what I witnessed, that I expected. But I wanted to see if I could understand … Continue reading Bullfighting. Art or bloodsport? A trip to Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring – WIS018
Spanish podcast pioneers, Ben Curtis, an Englishman from Oxford and Marina Diez, a native Madrileña have run the Notes in Spanish podcast since 2006 for all Spanish language learners. They also produced the Notes from Spain podcast series about Spanish life and culture. Ben and Marina and their podcasts were a huge inspiration for me when deciding to … Continue reading Ben Curtis and Marina Diez from Notes in Spanish – WIS017
Evening meals at 11pm! Two-hour lunch breaks! Hitting bars until 7am! In this episode I try to stay awake to look at Spain’s daily routine, timetables, mealtimes and work schedules and try to work out if Spaniards really do ever sleep. I examine the history of the infamous Spanish siesta (Think ancient Rome, Franco and … Continue reading Siesta & fiesta! What’s up with Spain’s crazy daily routine!? – WIS016
Do you have to be mad to open your own bookshop in Spain in this day and age? Well, Terry Craven from Madrid’s Desperate Literature bookshop assures me that if you’re not brave then you must be stupid! I spend a morning surrounded by books while Terry, busy pricing and unpacking boxes of books talks … Continue reading Desperate Literature – Books that explain Spain WIS015