Spanish news June 2008

Lorry Drivers Strike across Spain...

Yep, the month began with a strike by thousands of Spanish lorry drivers, which threatened to bring the country to a standstill. They were protesting over rising fuel bills. Some even blockaded main routes, leading to panic buying of petrol and shortages of fresh food in supermarkets up and down the Costas. They eventually agreed a settlement with the government.

Meanwhile, twenty people were arrested in a national police operation against the Russian mafia in Spain. The arrests were made across Spain, including Malaga, Madrid, Alicante and the Balearic Islands. Police are investigating alleged money laundering and drug trafficking.

Now, you can tell that summer is well and truly here, because the first major forest FIRE of the season took hold just outside a small village near Tarifa. One hundred and eighty people were evacuated from homes and campsites, as the blaze destroyed more than sixty hectares of land.

The world’s largest cruise liner docked in Malaga, after a tour of the Canaries. The Independence of the Seas carries three and a half thousand passengers. Malaga is now the home of no less than ten cruise liners.

And of course the month ended with the biggest party of the year, after Spain’s footballers won the Euro 2008 football championships.

Yes, they beat Germany one-nil with a goal from Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, to claim the trophy, which they last won in 1964!

Yep, bars and town squares across Spain were packed with hundeds of thousands of fans, and let me tell you, the Spanish  know how to party! The celebrations went on long into the night, including of course venues up and down the Costas…. And talking of parties, let’s take a look at some future events here in Spain, dominated by music festivals!

Yes, summer is the time for strutting your musical stuff in Spain. The Rock in Rio festival is still on in Madrid 4th to 6th of July, including Shakira, The Police, and Bob Dylan.

Monsters of Rock in Zaragoza headlines with Deep Purple and Twisted Sister – that’s 11th of July.

The Summercase festival in Barcelona and Madrid features Blondie, The Sex Pistols, and The Stranglers – that’s 18th and 19th of the month.

And on the 17th to the 20th you can catch the Benicassim music festival, with Morrissey and Leonard Cohen.

And for something more Spanish, you can head for the famous Pamplona Bull run takes place in the second week of July – not for the faint-hearted!

Yes, if you’re a tourist I wouldn’t recommend standing in the middle of the street! Elsewhere, Segovia is awash with flamenco shows throughout the month, there’s an international guitar festival in Cordoba, and   
on the 16th it’s the Dia de la Virgen de Carmen, where huge statues of the Virgin Mary are brought to shore by fleets of fishing boats. A very colourful event. 

Well, that’s about it, but congratulations again to Spain’s footballers. The boys done good!
 
Yes, commiserations to all the German expats living here, and maybe next time England will actually qualify! Bye for now!

Bye bye!