http://www.sitebits.com/spain/ Spain en Copyright &copy; 1999-2009 Gromco, Inc. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:32:56 EST Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EDT info@sitebits.com info@sitebits.com Next week not one, but two of Madrid's most prominent symbols are going to disappear from its central square. One is the statue of a bear licking (or sniffing) a tree (el oso y el madroño) currently installed a few steps from the Puerta del Sol. The other one, which we wrote about last year, is the Tío Pepe sign perched atop one of the building surrounding the plaza. Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2009/new-puerta-del-sol-moving-63834499.html Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EDT Starting this week, RENFE, the Spanish railroad company, is increasing the frequency of its high-speed train service (AVE) between Barcelona and Madrid by one third. Instead of the previous 19-20 scheduled trains, there will be up to 26 daily departures in each direction. Two of the newly added trains will be direct, making no stops, the others - local, extending the existing Madrid - Zaragoza line service... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/more-ave-trains-madrid-barcelona-0979419.html Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:40:00 EDT If you're the type who just can't leave their work behind, even on vacation, Valencia may be the right place for you. Since July, the municipal government is running WiFi access points on two of the city's beaches - El Cabanyal and La Malvarrosa... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/valencia_beaches_going_wireless.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:30:00 EDT A few weeks ago, a round of renovations was completed at the de Liceu metro station (línea 3) in the Rambla, reported local transportation authority, TMB. All in all, four halls and two platforms were given a complete make-over at a total cost of 2.5 million euro. This phase of renovations took one year... Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/de_liceu_renovated.html Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:10:00 EDT Few makeover projects have been handled with such a degree of architectural audacity as the recent transformation of a disused electric station in Madrid's Las Huertas district into a cultural center La Caixa Forum - Madrid. <br/><br/> The Swiss architects <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/people/jacques_herzog.html">Herzog</a> & <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/people/pierre_de_meuron.html">de Meuron</a> not only gutted the building, removing most of its interiors and changing its shape and size by conspicuously adding a layer of several floors, they also literally lifted it from its foundation, giving the whole structure a tense “suspended” look. <br/><br/> The resulting space now houses a cultural center with its own exhibition space, a large auditorium, a bookstore and a top-floor café... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/caixa_forum_madrid.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EDT One of the most frequently photographed sights in <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/spain/madrid/">Madrid</a> that's nevertheless completely ignored in the city guidebooks is the Tío Pepe sign in Puerta del Sol. Given the number of tourists taking pictures in front of the sign (with many opting for a silly trick where they pretend to be "holding" the giant bottle behind them... very creative, guys, but it's been done before) and consequently, given the sign's status as the city's <i>de facto</i> second emblem (at least in tourists' minds... the first still being the bear, of course), it seems almost unbelievable that no guidebook provides at least a cursory look at the sign's story. Allow me to take the onerous task upon myself.. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/tio-pepe-sign.html Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:00:00 EST If there's one place that symbolizes the quirkiness of <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/spain/madrid/">Madrid</a>'s history for me, it is the Sabatini Gardens next to the Palacio Real. <br><br> Of course, it's not the quirkiness that draws hundreds of people here every day - the gardens are beautiful and for anybody who's tired of the city's heat (in summer), or crowds (all year round) it's a perfect place to chill, relax a little bit, read or just people-watch. And did I mention the location? Quite literally in the shadow of the Palacio Real, perhaps <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/spain/madrid/">Madrid</a>'s most famous landmark: it just doesn't get more central than that. <br><br> But still, that's not the whole story. The whole story would need to mention a few quirky facts. Here's one, for example: the Sabatini Gardens are named after Italian architect Francesco Sabatini who... had nothing to do with them... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/sabatini_gardens_chilling_with_kings.html Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:30:00 EST Located on busy Ronda de Valencia, La Casa is actually a hidden oasis of calm. Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2007/rooftop_la_casa_encendida.html Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:40:00 EDT Only a short year ago, I myself did not know what "horchata" meant, much less what it tasted like. As it turns out, it tastes pretty good. If you're in Madrid, dubious, I'll tell you were to go to order a glass that will remove all your doubts... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2007/la_hora_de_horchata.html Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EDT The Gràcia Fest is an annual celebration in Barcelona that resembles a giant block party. Jessica http://www.sitebits.com/2006/gracia_fest_barcelona.html Sat, 21 Oct 2006 01:05:00 EDT Don't be fooled by the easy access to Roses, Catalonia - there are better places in the province. Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/nothing_is_coming_up_roses.html Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:52:00 EDT Gaudí's legacy in Barcelona is everywhere you go. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/gaudi_barcelona.html Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:09:00 EDT Visit Cadaqués in Catalonia and discover your inner Dalí. Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/dallying_with_dali_in_cadaques.html Sat, 07 Oct 2006 17:15:00 EDT The best thing about Las Ramblas? La Boqueria! Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/seafood_side_of_spain.html Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:45:00 EDT Good fondue can be found in Barcelona, too. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2006/gades_fondue_barcelona.html Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EDT <img ALT="View from Hostal Cristina" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="88" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/hostal-christina-balcony_small.jpg"> When I am at the beach, things that would usually irritate me - communal showers, peeling paint, strange creatures found bedside- take on a certain charm. All I want after a day in the sun is be lulled to sleep by the surf and feel a slight sprinkling of sand between the sheets. And so I like the Hostal Cristina, a simple but adequate hotel by the water's edge in Cadaqués (a small town on Spain's Costa Brava). Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/hostal_christina_cadaques.html Sun, 17 Sep 2006 23:11:00 EDT When you get tired of all the "typical" Spanish food, when you want small dishes (but... please, no more tapas!), when you want to try something eclectic yet vaguely Spanish-themed, you might want to consider eating at Bazaar on the southern fringes of Madrid's Chueca. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2006/bazaar_madrid_2006.html Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:30:00 EDT I've already <a href="/2006/vips-madrid-breakfast.html">talked about</a> my abnormal interest in this very important meal and how those morning calories are hard to come by in Madrid. Well, given that nobody here eats much in the morning, you might as well do as the Madrileños do - that is, eat only <i>un poco</i>. But where?... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2006/1_reason_why_faborit_is_my_favorite.html Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:10:00 EDT <img ALT="Feria del Libro" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/feria-libros-madrid-0608.jpg"> Walking along Paseo del Prado yesterday, I couldn't help but notice all those kiosks and stands filled with books. Bookish types were swarming around them like insects. </p><p> So, I browsed a little bit and even though most of the material on display was clearly junk, I had to remind myself more than once about airline weight restrictions - otherwise, I would already have in my possession various 2€ encyclopedias and sub--10€ hard-cover editions of literary classics published in the 70's. </p><p> I couldn't figure out the exact dates for this event, but it looks like the stalls will be there for at least a few more weeks. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2006/madrid-feria-libros-0608.html Thu, 24 Aug 2006 03:00:00 EDT <div class="oldimagediv"> <img ALT="Breakfast at VIPS in Madrid" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/breakfast-vips-madrid-thumb.jpg"> </div> Don't get me wrong - I love Spanish food. In fact, I adore it. I can't get enough of all that <i>cocido</i>, <i>jamón serrano</i>, <i>chorizo</i> and <i>tortilla española</i>, so whenever I am in Madrid, I basically eat in advance. Madrid is a city where I can go to a sketchy diner, sit on a bar stool at the counter pretending to be a visiting American, take out a French novel from my pocket... and <i>still</i> get friendly service along with a hearty, delicious meal - all for less than 10 euros! <br><br> But that doesn't help me solve the problem I encounter almost every morning. My problem is breakfast... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2006/vips-madrid-breakfast.html Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EST <img alt="Cafe Gijón (header)" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2005/cafe-gijon-header.jpg"> To have a coffee in a literary setting that's oozing atmosphere and tradition in Madrid requires almost no effort. <br><br> Just walk to Pasillo de Recoletos, look for the address plaque that says "21" and open the door to Café Gijón. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2005/cafe-gijon.html Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST <div class="oldimagediv"> <img alt="Madrid: Puerta del Sol: New Year's" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2005/madrid-new-year.jpg"> </div> ¡Feliz Año Nuevo desde Madrid! By the way, this is <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/spain/madrid/">Madrid</a>'s Puerta del Sol on New Year's eve (right around midnight). Did you know that Spaniards eat grapes instead of drinking champagne during the countdown? You're supposed to eat exactly twelve during the last minute of the year - that works out to be one grape every five seconds, if my Bachelor's degree in Mathematics was worth anything at all. If you linger or hesitate then it's bad luck. All grocery shops around Puerta del Sol sell seedless grapes (wouldn't that be cheating?), neatly packed by the dozen. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2005/2005-01-01.html Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST <img ALT="View of the Beach from Hotel Mar de Frente" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="96" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/canos-de-meca-sea-beach-1_small.jpg"> My sister and I arrived at Hotel Mar de Frente (Los Caños De Meca, Costa de la Luz, Andalucía) almost by accident (or, to put it bluntly, by virtue of not being able to back our stick-shift rental <i>coche</i> out of a driveway). All in all, I must say it was a happy accident. <br><br> Having left the stubborn car in the care of a friendly parking lot attendant, we inquired about available rooms at the hotel and briefly surveyed the beach below. The results of both inquiries appeared to be satisfactory.... We checked in... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2004/mar_de_frente_los_canos_de_meca.html Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EDT <div class="oldimagediv"> <img alt="Madrid Bridge" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2004/suicide-bridge-madrid.jpg"> </div> This is a wonderful sunset view of Los Austrias - my favorite neighborhood in Madrid. Of course, my camera gets all weird in such light, but you get the point. It is beautiful. <br><br> If you look closer, youll notice a plexiglass wall separating the sidewalk from the banisters. It is there for a good reason. Many people, perhaps thoroughly impressed by such views or perhaps for some other reason, have chosen to plunge to their deaths from this very point of the bridge - oh, and by the way, there's a street below (Calle Segovia). Imagine how annoying it used to be for the drivers when some suicidal freak would just make a mess right in front of their car! Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2004/suicide-bridge.html Fri, 17 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EDT