It seems that an MBA is a must-have even for a bureau chief at a news agency these days. I would recommend this book:

I know enough to know it's not only made in Catalonia, but Aragón, Valencia (where it's called espencat) and Murcia, too. From my own archive.

In Spain's standard dictionary, it helps describe a type of ostrich, a pineapple or yellow fever.

Side street in downtown Liverpool.

Here's one of my favourities (in central Madrid, a few years ago).

This post (from the other place) just before the 2024 U.S. elections pointed out that Europe's future depends first and foremost on US, regardless of whoever happens to be in the White House.

Since 1931 leaders in the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) have been proud to wear a special pink jersey. Here's this year's winner and isn't he the coolest guy ever?

The following book unpacks that one very fully and I heartily recommend it:

Time for me to post this again (from 2023, in the other place). He thinks Brits should be: allowed to reside in Spain without applying for residency; exempt from the WA because they didn't read it, even if they overwhelmingly voted for it in the Dec. 2019 GE.

OK Garret, here's a pic taken after my latest visit to the local library. I've never posted one before but you've inspired me!

This book gives us a very good idea and we all know what happened to the author.

Never forgotten. #JFT97 #YNWA

So, "Ensh1ttification" has a Spanish translation, as seen at my local bookshop in Madrid. FYI @kathylove.bsky.social Vaya, "Ensh1ttification" ya cuenta con traducción al castellano, por lo menos en mi librería de barrio. A ver cuándo lo acepta la RAE.

#InternationalWomenDay: Imagine being behind bars just for being a woman who writes and speaks out. The Belarusian authorities must release #ValeryjaKaściuhova immediately and unconditionally and ensure she has access to medical care while detained. Stand with her today. #IWD26

I can remember when Berlin was like this. Now you can just stroll across what not so long ago was no-man's land, where the Wall used to be, as well as watch towers, tank traps, mines and machine guns.

Nada mejor que un pisto manchego para aguantar la borrasca Kristin. Veggie stew from the land of Don Quixote, just the job for fending off storm Kristin.

1. The following book gives Spain credit where it's due for wearing down Napoleon, as well as reminding us that Wellesley cut and ran in his first expedition, his troops looting, pillaging and raping as they went:

¡Hola Maica! Acabo de desempolvar mi ejemplar viejo y muy maltrecho. ¡Otro abrazo!

I dare say they do yet they famously let David Davis go empty handed into Brexit talks, for whatever reason:

Attached is a list of all the visa-exempt countries whose citizens should apply for ETIAS. I counted 52 countries IN ADDITION TO the UK i.e. this is by no means aimed solely at the UK and has nothing to do with Brexit.

Whatever the future of its borders, I fear the UK's very social fabric and infrastructure are broken (Dorling gives details) while its political class is complacent and feckless:

Having lived and worked in the USA, I know Britons would get very short shrift indeed if they tried overstaying their visa waiver or using UK driving licences over there after 90 days. In fact, they might well get a visit from these people:

FYI, 10 most-seen stories in Spain's newspaper of record as of now. Four concern the Middle East, UK not mentioned, again.

Kind of you to say so! Just remembered the Uni of Panamá were kind enough to publish this episode as part of a travelogue in 1994. Not exactly a book deal with film and serialisation rights, but kudos nonetheless.

You can eat (allegedly) German sausages served on a hot spade in a theme bar in Madrid's cinema district.

Britain's looting of the Empire over the centuries has been well covered by many historians, a recent and justifiably popular example of which is this book I'd recommend:

¡Salud! Prost! From my archive, an Asturian waitress decanting cider the traditional way i.e. from a height so that it is frothy, and you drink just a little bit at a time from the bottom of the glass, known as a "culín" (= little a**e).

Hace un par de meses leí este libro sobre el tema, basado en testimonios de la familia del autor. Muy recomendado.