The great Spanish city face-off. Yes, it’s the question so many people ask – which city is best, Madrid or Barcelona? And it’s a difficult question to give a definitive answer to! To help me compare these two amazing Spanish cities I speak to Daniel Welsch who has the great privilege of actually living in … Continue reading Madrid vs Barcelona – comparing the incomparable with Daniel Welsch
I have a flick through the best of Spanish TV to bring you 14 of my favourite TV shows and series. I’ve rounded up a bunch of programmes that I find entertaining, useful for learning and practicing Spanish and that have given me an insight into Spanish culture, society and history. Put your feet up … Continue reading When in Spain TV Guide: 14 Top Spanish TV shows to entertain, educate & exasperate
Road trip number two of 2019. Join us for as we holiday across Spain’s Costa de la Luz. First stop, Cádiz, one of my favourite Spanish cities. I describe the faded grandeur of this once-powerful city, soak up the atmosphere of its squares and streets and contemplate the city’s history and geography. Then on to … Continue reading Costa de la Luz Road Trip: From Cádiz to La Doñana & beyond to Portugal
This week I explore the vegan and vegetarian food scene in Spain with vegans, bloggers and full-time travellers Sam and Veren. Sam and Veren run a sustainable vegan travel blog, alternativetravelers.com and have spent time living, working and travelling and of course eating vegan in Spain. They’ve recently published The Madrid Vegan Guidebook and have … Continue reading Vegan & Vegetarian Spain with The Alternative Travelers
Lots of sights and sounds from Murcia as I make a last minute trip to the region in southeast Spain. Using Murcia city as our base we explore the city of Cartagena and its Roman Theatre ( The second largest in Spain), wander around the city’s harbour and go for seafood. Back in Murcia city … Continue reading Murcia Road Trip: Cartagena, Coves, Cathedrals, Cicadas & a Roman Theatre
Author, Kate Boyle talks about her novel Happy as a Partridge – Life and Love in Madrid. Kate spent two-and-a-half years living and teaching English in Madrid. Kate recounts her own experience of living in the Spanish capital which inspired her to write her first book whose protagonist is Evie Fuller, a girl approaching her thirties … Continue reading Happy as a Partridge – Author Kate Boyle on Life & Love in Madrid
An episode dedicated to that quintessential Spanish delicacy, jamón. When visiting Spain it’s a must-try tasty treat. I meet food guide Margit Sperling at Hermanos Benito Jamonería in Madrid’s Mostenses Market. With the help of ‘Jamonero’ José Ignacio Benito we sample Ibérico ham and Serrano ham and compare the differences. Margit gives useful advice on … Continue reading Jamón Jamón! Spanish Ham 101 – Ibérico vs Serrano
What do the Spanish words Hasta, Loco, Barrio, Aceite, Moreno, Ojalá, Chaleco, Tarea and Fideo all have in common? They’re all Arabic origin words that have been absorbed into the Spanish language. Spanish has some 1,000 Arabic roots and about 3,000 derived words, so nearly 4,000 in total, that’s 8% of the Spanish language. In … Continue reading Discovering the Arabic Influence on Spanish Language with David Bowles
I speak to Susan Solomont about her new book Lost & Found in Spain – Tales of an Ambassador’s Wife. When Susan’s husband, Alan Solomont was appointed US Ambassador to Spain under President Obama, she left her career in philanthropy, her friends and family to join her husband for three-and-a-half-years in Madrid. In this episode … Continue reading Lost & Found in Spain: Tales of An Ambassador’s Wife
Giving everyone two kisses, mixing up Spanish and English, drinking coffee in glasses, wearing flip-flops indoors, being more stingy when tipping and buying everyone a drink when it’s MY birthday. All things I never used to when I lived in the UK! These are just a handful of habits I’ve picked up since living in … Continue reading Becoming Spanish – 17 habits I’ve picked up since living in Spain