Spain: Autumn Art Round-Up
Thursday, October 18th, 2007We don’t know about that “stays mainly in the plains” bit, but we’ll say with certainty that when it rains (in Spain) it pours—at least when it comes to artistic ventures. As bullfighting season draws to a close, the art scene is just revving up. Here are three main events to watch:
1. Thinking takes to the streets: For the first time ever August Rodin’s “The Thinker” has left its home in the Rodin Museum in Paris for an exhibition in the streets. The streets of Málaga and Granada, that is. On October 17, “The Thinker,” along with the six sculptures of the “Burghers of Calais” were unveiled Málaga’s old town. They’ll visit (under the watchful eyes of a 24 hour guard) until December 19; following their tenure in Málaga, they’ll grace the streets of Granada through January 27.
2. Cinema Paradiso: Film critics, mark your calendars! The Seville Film Festival opens on November 2 with The Lark Farm, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani’s World War I drama. The festival, which runs from November 2 until November 13, features only European films in its program of 150 titles from 30 countries.
3. Prado, Prado, Prado: There is much to be excited about at Madrid’s Prado Museum this fall. On October 31, Madrid’s majestic museum will unveil its new extension, and an exhibition of the museums best 19th-century works which have been in hiding for decade. As if that weren’t enough, in honor of its exciting news, the museum will be offering free admission on select dates and at select times.
Ah Spain, how we love thee.
July Air Stats: The Ryanair/SkyEurope Face-Off
Tuesday, August 7th, 2007In July, Ryanair filled their planes impressively, managing a load factor of 90%. This number is identical to the Irish low-cost carrier’s July 2006 load factor numbers. Even more impressive is Ryanair’s 21% increase in passengers carried in July of this year against July 2006 numbers. Clearly, this summer’s fare war helped to fill planes in July.
Earlier this year, SkyEurope had a clear advantage over Ryanair in these monthly face-offs. This advantage appears to have vaporized. While the Slovak low-cost carrier’s load factors are improving—July’s 87.6% load factor is up 3.4% over July 2006’s 84.2% load factor—they now lag behind Ryanair on this measure. And their percentage increase in passengers flown in July against July 2006 is also less impressive, at just 11.8%.
Also of note, yesterday’s FT reports that Ryanair has entered the race to control the Spanish low-cost market with all guns blazing. Shortly, we can expect an announcement that the airline will be setting up two additional bases in Alicante and Valencia.
Tuesday List
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007Here. There. And Elsewhere.
1. Europe A La Carte Blog warns of delays at UK airports. Partially to blame: Spain’s new security rules for air passengers, which seem to us to flirt with violating the spirit of Schengen.
2. Italian somewhat low-cost carrier Volare is hawking a €10 discount on all July flights, if booked by July 2. Worth checking out.
3. UK travel gourmand site Black Tomato tell us about Yotel.com, a new airport-based pod-like accommodation featuring tiny cabin-like rooms with en suite showers. A Yotel is about to open at Gatwick’s South Terminal, where rates will begin at £25 for a four-hour stay in a “standard” cabin. The earliest date taken by the Yotel booking engine is July 1.
Festival Spain: Benicassim Rocks
Wednesday, June 6th, 2007
Photo by gridrunner
Camping. Beaches. Some of the biggest acts music has to offer. What’s not to love? Now in its thirteenth year, the Benicássim International Music Festival has become arguably Spain’s biggest festival draw, serving up four days of bands and plenty of low-cost camping nearby. And Benacássim is a swell location, just north of Valencia and a few hours south of Barcelona.
This year the festival, which will be held July 19-22, will feature Iggy and the Stooges, Amy Winhouse, Kings of Leon, and Bright Eyes among its roughly 100 acts. While the €170 ticket for all four days might strike a few as a little high, the cost also includes nine days of camp site rental. Starting to sound like a Cheapo deal yet?
Check out the full line-up and single day prices at www.fiberfib.com.
Barcelona: Wax Factory!
Monday, June 4th, 2007
Photo by Donavan
Summer is upon us, and a trip to Barcelona should not be without a beach outing. Finding a last minute bikini wax is never easy, and certainly never cheap…until you take a number at Depiline center that is!
This full service esthetic center, specializing in depilation, offers rapid, great service at unbelievable prices! Get beach-ready gams for only €4.90 and a full Caribbean bikini (that’s everything folks!) for €11.
There are no appointments- merely stop by and take a number, deli-counter style, and wait your turn. Now that’s smooth service!
Spanish Room Mate: Style for Less
Monday, May 21st, 2007
Photo courtesy of Room Mate
Offering travelers stylish, modern aesthetics and a collection of bells and whistles you would expect to find in a five-star boutique hotel at mid-range prices, the Room Mate group of hotels is redefining Spain’s hospitality marketplace one city at a time.
So far, the chain has set up shop in Madrid, Granada, Malaga, and Valencia. Each hotel has its own distinctive personality. Equipped with on-site bars and cafes and one-off interior designs, the Room Mates are about as cool and comfortable as you’re likely to find in Spain for less than €100 per night.
Spain: Costa del Sol Outpost
Friday, May 18th, 2007
Photo by virtualworld360
Sure, beach clubs abound on the Costa del Sol. Finding one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and that isn’t staffed with snobby waitstaff, however, can be quite a challenge. To find anything with a bit of raw character on the southern coast, it’s usually necessary to head west to the Costa del Luz, where towns like Tarifa welcome those looking for a more laid-back seaside experience.
This is why the Sonora club outside of Marbella was a such welcome discovery. Decked out with furniture and gear brought back from the owners’ annual jaunts to Bali and India, the club provides a decidedly relaxed alternative to the cookie-cutter chringuitoes (beach bars) that line the rest of the coast. Co-owned by a Spaniard who spent much of the past decade spinning tunes in Barcelona, Sonora will launch a series of evening weekend parties beginning later this month.
Give the club a call if you’re in town (+34 619 318 098) or just drop by the club. Tell your taxi driver to take the N-340 to the exit at km 162.5, between Marbella and Estepona.
Weekend Recap Part Two: WSJ
Monday, May 14th, 2007
Photo by haberlea
In this weekend’s edition of the Wall Street Journal we eagerly lapped up Stan Sesser’s “The New Way To Do Europe.” Sesser’s lengthy service-oriented article is devoted to Europe’s “undiscovered gems”—cities and regions just off the tourist track that can be easily visited from London on budget airlines.
Sesser focuses his article on three cities Girona (Spain), Olbia (Italy), and Wroclaw (Poland—see above), providing transportation, accommodation, and dining suggestions for each. He also produces capsule coverage of an additional ten destinations: Balaton (Hungary), Bari (Italy), Bergamo (Italy), Bilbao (Spain), Carcassonne (France), les Iles d’Hyeres (France), Split (Croatia), Stavanger (Norway), Sylt (Germany), and Westport (Ireland). All lovely, though we wonder what Hamburg’s schicki-mickis might make of the idea that Sylt is in any way undiscovered territory.
While we would have loved to see Sesser go farther east, this type of round-up is exactly the sort of article that makes us happy. Stories like Sesser’s offer essential encouragment for Americans hurt hard by the weak greenback—not to mention budget-hungry travelers of all stripes.
Malaga: Mad for Picasso
Monday, May 14th, 2007
Photo by 703
While Malaga was the last of Picasso’s favored cities to receive an official Picasso museum—following Barcelona and Paris—the artist’s birthplace has wasted no time capitalizing on all things Pablo.
Banners strewn throughout town celebrate the legacy of the city’s favorite son. Other evidence of the time he spent there can be found in an assortment of products and one-of-a kind snapshots on the walls of cafes and bars.
From the official Pablo Picasso Museum, located at the eastern edge of the old town, one can take a short stroll north and find the artist’s family home, now a museum of family heirlooms and early sketches by Picasso. In the same square, the Picasso Foundation has opened a satellite gallery, showcasing a small permanent collection as well as traveling expositions.
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