After a six-month break When in Spain is back! And to celebrate we’re taking you on a tour of ten classic Madrid bars. Our guide is Chris Lynch, Spanish wine-buff, former Spanish bar owner, and founder of the Spanish Wine Collective. If you’re on a first visit to Madrid these ten bars are required drinking … Continue reading Ten must-visit Madrid bars with Chris Lynch
Want to sound super Spanish? I run through ten useful and fun Spanish interjections that you can pepper your conversations with to help express yourself even more clearly when you’re chatting en español. ¡Anda! When I first started learning Spanish and hanging around with native speakers I kept hearing these noises that popped up in … Continue reading Sounds that make you sound Spanish – ¡Buah! ¡Anda! ¡Hala! ¡Uy! ¡Puf!
In this episode we look at a fascinating and monumental period in Spanish history – The death of Franco in 1975 and Spain’s transition to democracy that followed in the late 1970s. In this part one of a two part podcast I had the great pleasure of talking to writer and journalist William Chislett. William … Continue reading The death of Franco & Spain’s transition to democracy with William Chislett
Join me for a walk around a little slice of deep Spain, right on Madrid’s doorstep. Located on the Tagus-Jarama river basin, Chinchón is just 45km from Madrid but worlds apart. Although it has grown beyond its village confines, visiting its antique heart is like stepping back into a charming, ramshackle past. Surrounded by vineyards … Continue reading Charming Chinchón – Garlic, Goya, Anis, John Wayne & a picture-perfect plaza
Join me for a day out to the Royal City of Aranjuez, a worthwhile day trip from the Spanish capital. I hop on the Cercanías light-rail commuter train from Madrid’s Atocha Station and make the 45 minute train ride through the middle of the harsh Castilian plateau, to the haven of peace and tranquillity of … Continue reading Aranjuez – A day trip to Spain’s Petit Paris
Part 2 of “ask me anything”. I answer more of your questions about life in Spain from my point of view. In the second part I answer your questions about my favourite Spanish food and restaurants, moving to different parts of Spain, washing machines and Spanish culture.
I asked you guys, the listeners to “ask me anything”! (About Spain that is – and my life here) In part 1 I answer your questions about how and why I came to live in Spain, where to live in Spain, the situation with Covid-19 and why I decided to start the When in Spain … Continue reading Ask me anything! Part 1 – Your questions on my story, moving to Spain, Covid & the podcast
In this episode we take a mini break from Spain as I take you with us on a trip to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon and on to the magical sub-tropical island of Madeira. This summer Karina and I booked our holiday to the Portuguese autonomous island of Madeira to visit our friend who is from … Continue reading Spain side trip special: When in Portugal – Lisbon & Madeira
About 20 km east of Madrid, in the small town of Mejorada del Campo, stands a building that testifies to a former monk’s lifetime of devotion to the Catholic faith. After eight years in a Trappist order at Soria‘s Santa Maria de la Huerta monastery, Don Justo Gallego Martinez was ordered to leave, for fear … Continue reading Spain’s scrap cathedral – An ex-monk’s 60-year labour of faith, devotion & castoffs
In this episode of the When in Spain podcast I take a weekend trip two hours south of Madrid to the town of Valdepeñas with three friends, one of whom spent a year living the Spanish small town life in deep Castilla la Mancha before moving to the Spanish capital. With the help of Matt … Continue reading Living in La Mancha – Valdepeñas, Wine, Quixote & small town life in Spain