Ben and Marina talk to Simon at the Cortijada Los Gazquez, an incredible restored country house in a wild Natural Park in Almeria. The house is totally off-grid, has some amazing eco-enhancements, and tremendous art projects on the go. See www.losgazquez.
The heat returns to Madrid, and Ben has trouble with salad, wonders why shops close at lunchtime in winter, and just can't map his school experiences onto the education system in Spain. www.notesfromspain.com
Ben and Marina discuss the battle to teach their baby their own languages first, and why they want to escape Madrid... for good? See notesfromspain.com for more, and to find the 'Madrid Confessions' audiobook...
Why does no one wear shorts in the street? Will the new Defense minister change the lot of women forever? Is there a housing crisis in Spain? And is Marina going to have to get the police onto the neighbours? Head over to Notesfromspain.com to join in the discussion!
The Ramirez family has been making guitars in Madrid for 126 years. We visited their workshops in Madrid, spoke to Amalia Ramirez, and heard one of the these instruments being played. See notesfromspain.com for photos and more information.
If you would like to ride from the Basque country all the way down to the depths of Andalusia, then guess what, you're invited! See notesfromspain.com for more details.
This week we talk to Jonathon and Rosie, who set up Kaliyoga, a holistic yoga and detox center in the Alpujarra mountains south of Granada. See notesfromspain.com for more details.
Lessons learned living in Spain... and questions for you: What did you last learn? What was the motivation? What did it lead to? See notesfromspain.com to comment!
Retro-casting from our terrace, Ben talks about honesty in bars, gypsies, nickers factories, and the future of tourism in Spain. See notesfromspain.com for show notes and to comment.
One of the greatest fiestas in Spain: fino, horses, and great people watching down in Jerez. Pop over to notesfromspain.com to see all the photos and a short video!
Ben and Marina head down to Valenica for Las Fallas fiestas, and chat to one of the locals before heading off to the most extraordinary Paella cooking events ever seen in Spain! See notesfromspain.com for photos and video.
Many of you will know Alan (AKA 'El listo') and Brian (AKA 'Greytop'), from the forums, and here they are in reality! - See notesfromspain.com for full details.
Not many people put a trip to Vallecas at the top of their birthday list, but it really appealed to me! Another wonderful market lies at the centre of a very traditional Barrio Madrileño. See notesfromspain.com for details and photos...
Ben and Marina wonder what's going on... it's world cup time and although England is festooned with the national flag, the Spanish flag is nowhere to be seen in Spain... see www.notesfromspain.com
Ben and Marina visit the Feria del Libro in the Retiro Park and talk about the rise of the book in Spanish culture. See www.notesfromspain.com for details and to comment.
Full 22 min version. Don Justo is a man who has spent the last 40 years building a cathedral in Mejorada del Campo, a village about 20 kilometres from Madrid. Marina and I, accompanied by her mother and (architect) father visit and attempt to describe this incredible building, and tell the story of Don Justo's life.
Live from Madrid's Plaza Mayor, at the beginning of the Christmas fair. A look at the cultural delights ahead in the festive season. See notesfromspain.com for details and to comment.
Sitting by the river in El Pardo, discussing more culture-clash aspects of life and death in Spain. Plus a request for video-casting inspiration... What would you want to see on a video cast of Spain? See notesfromspain.com for details and to comment.
An evening eating in the mouth-watering pintxo bars in San Sebastian, one of my favourite cities in Spain. See www.notesfromspain.com for details and to comment.
Notes from the Island of Formentera - lazy days... see http://www.notesfromspain.com for details and http://camera.benjamincurtis.com/thumbnails.php?album=30 for photos.
Podcast - 31st May 2005 !
It's another Notes from Spain podcast! First part of a series on living in Spain.
Where to Live and work in Spain - show notes: