Tag Archives: tourism

Another Spanish top ten list (Part II): Art Treasures Galore

Posted on April 27, 2014 by johnkwhi

In the art world, few cities rival Madrid with its three world-class galleries: The Prado, The Reina Sofía, and The Thyssen. There’s the National Gallery in London where one can gaze for free at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or Seurat’s Bathers … Continue reading →

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Happy Frixuelos Day

Posted on March 4, 2014 by johnkwhi

Frixuelo is the Asturian word for crêpe or thin pancake (tortita), and so today being 40 days before the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, I made frixuelos for breakfast for Belén and me. Asturians … Continue reading →

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El Camino de Santiago and The House of Words: Finding our pasts together

Posted on February 2, 2014 by johnkwhi

El Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James is a pilgrimage begun in the 9th century to bring European Christians to the last resting place of St. James, believed to be in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, northern Spain. St. … Continue reading →

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Top 10 things to know in Gijón (out and about so far)

Posted on January 19, 2014 by johnkwhi

I have been here for almost 6 months, so I hope I have a few ideas now to help visitors or those planning to live here. 1. Weather Think Ireland only warmer, typically 5-10 degrees warmer at any time throughout … Continue reading →

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Looking back and ahead: Resumen y más aventuras

Posted on January 12, 2014 by johnkwhi

Now that the uvas (grapes) have been eaten and the cotillón packed away for another year, we can begin enero in earnest. New Year’s resolutions for me: more of the same with a little less sidra and a little more … Continue reading →

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Spanish wine now and in a changing world

Posted on January 6, 2014 by johnkwhi

With record-breaking low temperatures in the United States and Canada, and even minus 13 as far south as Georgia, one wonders what all the fuss is about global warming? It seems to be getting colder not warmer. But colder winters … Continue reading →

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Christmas in Spain: Feliz Navidad

Posted on December 22, 2013 by johnkwhi

Christmas in Spain is celebrated first and foremost on Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), when families gather to eat at home from late evening onwards. The food is more than the regular Sunday fare with plenty of fresh marisco, which in Asturias … Continue reading →

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Madrid, Barcelona, and other short hops from Gijón

Posted on December 16, 2013 by johnkwhi

If Madrid is a city of art, then Barcelona is a city of architecture, even its modern buildings not designed by Antoni Gaudí. In Madrid, Goya, Velázquez, Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and El Greco are on display in three great museums; … Continue reading →

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Help me por favor, más despacio

Posted on October 5, 2013 by johnkwhi

The language learner in a new place is full of doubts, insecurities, and fears – big breaths in through the mouth and out through the nose are essential. As is a big L sign hung around the neck to indicate … Continue reading →

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El Mar Cantábrico (Bay of Biscay)

Posted on September 7, 2013 by johnkwhi

There are 17 so-called autonomous communities* in Spain (what we would call states or provinces or counties), which were formally created in 1978 by the Constitution of Spain after Franco’s 40-year regime ended with his death and Spain returned soon … Continue reading →

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