May News and June events in Spain 2009

Round-up of News for May and Events in June

Barca - UEFA Champions League
Let’s get off to a good start by giving a huge congratulations to the Barcelona football team for winning the UEFA Champions League against Manchester United. We can’t help but feel a little smug – Spain is certainly leading the way in sporting events lately…

Mijas Jewellery Store Robbery
Well our next story sounds like something out of a movie! 4 thieves dressed as road workers armed with hammers, placed no entry signs to stop traffic flowing down a busy street, in order to rob the Mijas Diamond & Jewellery Centre. They forced the three occupants working at the time, onto the floor and smashed various displays stealing jewellery worth over 30,000 euros.
However it sounds like the Jewellery store might have had the last laugh as some of the “diamonds” stolen where actually Swarovski crystals! All that effort…

Traditional Spanish Tradition - El Rocio
Hundreds of protestors stripped down to their underwear and covered themselves in artificial blood to campaign against bullfighting by demanding action from politicians to reflect that the Spanish no longer want to continue with such a cruel and barbaric tradition. The protest took place during the San Isidro festivities in Madrid, at the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas where thousands of bulls are sacrificed every year. One interesting fact is that most bullfights aren’t in fact profitable and are subsidized by public grants and aid. And as a last minute news update – it seems for once the bull has got his own back. Israel Lancho was seriously gored in the same bullring as the protests were held and is still in a very serious condition.

Breaking and Entering and... Getting Stuck!
You’ll probably wonder where we get our stories from but a thief was found dead in a chimney in a town near Sevilla. It’s thought that he got stuck whilst attempting to break in and enter the home. The owner arrived and had a huge fright upon discovering the body. So bad luck or well deserved? What do you think?

Oldest Blogger Dies Age 97 - Maria Amelia Lopez
The oldest blogger in the world has died aged 97 – bless. Her grandson gave Maria Amelia Lopez from Muxia in Northern Spain, the blog as a birthday present two years ago as she was feeling somewhat lonely. Her blog received more than 1.5 million visitors and she was awarded the BoB prize – one of the most coveted between bloggers. Apparently her blogs were particularly interesting as she would reminisce about her past and all the historic events she lived through such as the Spanish Civil War.

And now lets take a look at events in June:

International Festival of Pueblos in Sevilla
The 12th International Festival of “Pueblos” is taking place in Sevilla from the 22nd May until the 6th June with a variety of music performances delivered by both national and international artists. You’ll be able to get a taste of reggae, world music, hip hop and even folk music! As well as the concerts there are a series of photography exhibitions and movie projections – all with the aim of uniting humanity and raising awareness of different cultures.

Granada's International Festival of Dance & Music
The perfect excuse to go to Granada, the International Festival of Dance and Music takes place from the 25th June until the 14th July. The festival originates from the concerts celebrated in the palace of Carlos V in 1883 and reunites top performers in the dance, music and choreography world including the London Symphony Orchestra, Nacho Duato, Tamara Rojo and the Royal Ballet to mention but a few!

White Night of Flamenco - Cordoba
For some real Spanish flavour check out the White Night of Flamenco taking place in Cordoba on the 20th June. The city becomes a platform from which all kinds of representations of Flamenco take place – from the most traditional to fusion, with current acts such as Diego El Cigala paying homage to Flamenco’s greatest – Camaron de la Isla or even a rumoured reunion performance by Ketama!

Tango from Spain to South America
And from Spain to South America! Al Albayt resort is holding a special gala dinner with a tango twist on the 19th June entitled “La Gala Del Tango” – yes, for one night only you can be in Argentina without having to take a plane! The evening will include a 3 course meal, magnificent Tango performances and much more!

Costa Del Sol's Most Magical Evening
One of the most magical nights of the year takes place in June – yes it also happens to be my Saints day… The night of San Juan or Saint Johns night is one of Spain’s most emblematic festivities usually celebrated on the beach. Hundreds of bonfires are lit on coast lines across Spain and in theory you should jump over the fire three times to cleanse the spirit as well as jumping in the water at midnight to bring luck for the rest of the year – I’ll see you there!

One of Spain’s most well known pilgrimage fairs concluded this weekend – El Rocio is different in that hundreds of devotees travel as part of brotherhoods by horse & carriage or even by foot. They are accompanied by drums, singing and Sevillanas dancing all the way to the Natural Park of Doñana in order to take part in what is probably known as one of the largest peregrination fairs in the country. This is in theory a religious affair but there’s much merry making all around with unlimited sherry and tapas!

Madrid - Protest Against Bullfighting
Hundreds of protestors stripped down to their underwear and covered themselves in artificial blood to campaign against bullfighting by demanding action from politicians to reflect that the Spanish no longer want to continue with such a cruel and barbaric tradition. The protest took place during the San Isidro festivities in Madrid, at the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas where thousands of bulls are sacrificed every year. One interesting fact is that most bullfights aren’t in fact profitable and are subsidized by public grants and aid. And as a last minute news update – it seems for once the bull has got his own back. Israel Lancho was seriously gored in the same bullring as the protests were held and is still in a very serious condition.

Father Christmas Caught Stealing!
You’ll probably wonder where we get our stories from but a thief was found dead in a chimney in a town near Sevilla. It’s thought that he got stuck whilst attempting to break in and enter the home. The owner arrived and had a huge fright upon discovering the body. So bad luck or well deserved? What do you think?

Oldest Blogger Dies
The oldest blogger in the world has died aged 97 – bless. Her grandson gave Maria Amelia Lopez from Muxia in Northern Spain, the blog as a birthday present two years ago as she was feeling somewhat lonely. Her blog received more than 1.5 million visitors and she was awarded the BoB prize – one of the most coveted between bloggers. Apparently her blogs were particularly interesting as she would reminisce about her past and all the historic events she lived through such as the Spanish Civil War.

And now lets take a look at events in June:

International Festival of Pueblos in Sevilla
The 12^th International Festival of “Pueblos” is taking place in Sevilla from the 22^nd May until the 6^th June with a variety of music performances delivered by both national and international artists. You’ll be able to get a taste of reggae, world music, hip hop and even folk music! As well as the concerts there are a series of photography exhibitions and movie projections – all with the aim of uniting humanity and raising awareness of different cultures.

Granada's International Festival of Dance & Music
International Festival The perfect excuse to go to Granada, the International Festival of Dance and Music takes place from the 25^th June until the 14^th July. The festival originates from the concerts celebrated in the palace of Carlos V in 1883 and reunites top performers in the dance, music and choreography world including the London Symphony Orchestra, Nacho Duato, Tamara Rojo and the Royal Ballet to mention but a few!

White Night of Flamenco in Cordoba
For some real Spanish flavour check out the White Night of Flamenco taking place in Cordoba on the 20^th June. The city becomes a platform from which all kinds of representations of Flamenco take place – from the most traditional to fusion, with current acts such as Diego El Cigala paying homage to Flamenco’s greatest – Camaron de la Isla or even a rumoured reunion performance by Ketama!

Spain to South America in a Twist or... Tango?
And from Spain to South America! Al Albayt resort is holding a special gala dinner with a tango twist on the 19^th June entitled “La Gala Del Tango” – yes, for one night only you can be in Argentina without having to take a plane! The evening will include a 3 course meal, magnificent Tango performances and much more!

San Juan - Most Magical Evening on the Costa Del Sol
One of the most magical nights of the year takes place in June – yes it also happens to be my Saints day… The night of San Juan or Saint Johns night is one of Spain’s most emblematic festivities usually celebrated on the beach. Hundreds of bonfires are lit on coast lines across Spain and in theory you should jump over the fire three times to cleanse the spirit as well as jumping in the water at midnight to bring luck for the rest of the year – I’ll see you there!