If someone were to shout out that the mayor of your town was a corrupt so and so, and should be investigated for syphoning public funds into his Swiss bank account what would be your reaction? Would it be to call for a thorough investigation into the accusations or would it be to call up the accuser and ask why he had not had his shoes cleaned recently? Would it be to interview the mayor about the foreign bank account or would it be to question the accuser about his choice of haircut? Then, were...
Nov 19, 2014•19 min
Chapter One from the Slow Route Home: Narrated by Paul Read. Miguel has sold his truck and bought a mule. Everyone in the village believes he is crazy, but Miguel follows a wisdom far greater than those that mock him. Miguel's neighbours, his dog and the strange neighbour with the burnt trees are about to learn the benefits of going slow. This short story is based on Gandhi's desire to 'live the change you wish to see in the world' and takes place amongst the Olive Groves of Andalusia. Miguel's ...
Oct 04, 2014•14 min
www.speakingofspain.com: What was the relationship between George Orwell's writings and Spain in 1936? How far was Animal Farm and 1984 his final attempt to tell the story of the lost revolution in Spain? And why are the seeds of that revolution sprouting once more in Spain today? Visit the website for posters, podcasts and more.
Sep 19, 2014•9 min
This is an update on the podcast for 2014 with an explanation of where it is going for the year ahead. Its also a reminder to come over to Youtube channel: Speaking of Spain with the Gazpachomonk to see the spain history series as well as future videos.
Jan 06, 2014•3 min
Part 2 of the Forgotten First Republic series. See last episode for Part 1. 150 years after the first Republic was declared in the heart of Andalusia, the Gazpachomonk replays the original resurrection canoeing across the lake of Iznajar, and hiking thought the desert landscape with a group of misguided historians in search of meaning in an otherwise meaningless era. Discover the ordeals and absurdities, discover the truth about the king's moustache and listen to the music, the poems that accomp...
Nov 15, 2013•11 min
Many students of Spanish history will know of the 2nd Republic in Spain, some may have indeed heard of the 1st republic, but few will have heard of the Forgotten First Republic of Bread And Cheese. Now, Cuba, China and Russia may spring to mind when the word 'revolution' is bandied about in street demonstrations, but rarely did the name of Loja ever come up in one of Fidel's, Hugo Chavez's or Putin´s marathon speeches. It appears the world has never heard of the 'Bread and Cheese Revolution' of ...
Sep 22, 2013•12 min
Has Spain lost its capacity to protest any more? Has it been reduced to passively taking whatever Brussels and Rajoy throw at it? Today on Speaking Of Spain, the Gazpachomonk digs dip and finds out where the Spine in Spain really is...
Sep 04, 2013•18 min
Yes, summer has arrived and with it, deancing sown the high street hand in hand comes the Spanish heat. When I say heat, I should clarify what I mean: I don't mean warmth, I mean HEAT. Imagine, if you will the oven has been on all day and you didn't realise. "Is that oven still on?” You ask yourself as you cross the kitchen and spot a small red light that shouldn't be on. You open up the oven door to check that it's not just a faulty switch and...too late! A wave of scorching, eye-brow-removing-...
Jun 30, 2013•11 min
Laurie Lee name is synonymous with Spain and travel writing. But how much of what he wrote bears any relationship to the events and moments described in his works? Part 2 of Did Laurie Lie concludes this mini investigation by the Gazpachomonk. In the last episode we traced the background to Lee’s work’s and looked at the 3 reasons why we should question some of the authenticity of his accounts of travelling in Spain. 1. First was the time factor. When I walked out one midsummer morning was writt...
Jun 16, 2013•23 min
Laurie Lee is often cited - amongst English Speakers moving to Spain - as one of the few writers on the country that have managed to portray the real Spain - Lee’s travel stories having inspired and often ignited a passion for Iberia previously unknown amongst Anglosaxons. Yet any cursory inspection into Lee’s autobigraphical travels reveal inconsistencies, inaccuracies and outright inventions. At some point, those of us still treasuring our battered copies of When I walked out one mid-summer mo...
Jun 03, 2013•14 min
Gerald had bought into the Dream. He had been sold a fantasy for what appeared a bargain. With a small investment he could live the very dream that had been pumped out of the unpleasant orifices of British media since the mid 1990's. And one guy called Gerald had not been immune to such pumping , who indeed had been? Who would not want to swap their 2 up/ 2 down for a ramshackle villa on the med.coast? Who would not want to exchange 9 months of cloud and drizzle for 9 months of sun and warmth? W...
May 20, 2013•17 min
What possesses anyone to buy a house on the Internet, on top of a mountain, with only wild goats, wild boar and wild hunting parties for company? Who but Gerald would fall for the Spanish cliché of Living the Dream? But Gerald, had other plans to fulfil..... Follow the mind set, the mountainous life-style and the mysterious musings of Gerald on this weeks investigative 2 part serial: Gerald's Jungle Grab the jungle sounds of the and accompany Gerald on this special 2 part podcast from the Gazpac...
May 06, 2013•18 min
George Orwell lived just 46 years, always ill, always poor. Always it appeared, under criticism and suspicion. Yet in his brief lifetime he managed - almost uniquely amongst those of his time - to deconstruct the newspeak of imperialism. Stalinism. And fascism. But more than this, orwell’s criticisms of the role of the intellectual left, the forces of Fascism in Spain and the blind adherence to party policy amongst Stalinist supporters, has a relevance and bearing for us even today, over 65 year...
Apr 22, 2013•17 min
To coincide with the beginning of Spring, many towns celebrate in Spain by holding different fiestas. Here in Loja, we celebrate with the Feria de la Tapa. But what is a tapa? Where did the idea first come from and what can you expect from attending a feria such as this? Find out this week on SPeaking of Spain with the Gazpachomonk.
Apr 11, 2013•12 min
Semana Santa, or Holy week in Spain is not only an expression of religious faith, it is also an expression of the passion and lust for life that this nation encompasses in all aspects of it's culture. From the varied and iconic costumes, the driving music and the infectious aromas of incense, Holy Week represents Spain at its best. The fiesta embraces all ages, sexes and capabilities. It embraces all the senses and all rhythms of a country still in tune with its history, and it embraces somethin...
Mar 25, 2013•15 min
We live in an increasingly fast paced world. A world in which the time it takes to make an instant coffee in the microwave is still too tediously slow. The world, moves too slow. It still takes 24 grindingly slow hours to simply turnaround once. Each hour still takes 60 long minutes to get through: Surely some bright techno 8 year old can program a new sort-of compressed minute - a Jpeg drink for those of us who find Time is still of the essence in today's turtle banished, terabyte hungry world....
Mar 19, 2013•18 min
In this episode of Speaking of Spain....we look at four issues relevant to Spain in these difficult times: 1. The Italian results This remarkable election speaks to this country as well as to the Italian people. How so? 2. Seasonal Change. Spring is in the air and how to prepare for change..... 3. Corruption, beards and things that begin with R. (Rajoy etc) 4. Olives and marinating heaven.
Mar 04, 2013•17 min
Episode 3 of Speaking of Spain looks thgis week at the History of Black Monday in Spain, tracing the origines during th transition to democracy up until the present economic and moral crises. Also on the podcast is the second App review, this week looking at Abbey TextGrabber - the OCR and translation tool. Finally, as the weather still appears a tad grey, the Monk digs out an old classic warming recipe to keep our toes warm until the spring arrives. Muisc by the excellent……."I dunno" by grapes ...
Feb 19, 2013•16 min
This week we review the changes to driving license regulations for foreigners in Spain, and ask what will become of the future for Spain's tourism and olive oil industries if the present trends continue. We look back to Joe Strummer and his Paloma and we look forward to digital dictionaries and language apps for the mobile techno-mad of the 21st Century. Finally, we interview Sylvie Matter, an international presence in Loja: Check out her web site on www.el-cyd.com. Also we offer a chance to dow...
Feb 04, 2013•27 min
This episode is simply an introduction to the series and to give an idea of what future podcasts will - in theory at least - contain: * 1. Las Noticias: (News) * 2. Lessons from a Lapsed Linguist: (Language tricks and tips) * 3 Integration issues: (The law and our status) * 4 Cultural Corner: (Fiestas, food and flavours) * 5 Other Insights: (The Illuminating Immigrant Interview) So, will it be a show about Coastal life and an opportunity to rent a rural villa with pool that sleeps 6 ? On the con...
Jan 15, 2013•28 min
