Category Archives: MADRID & CENTRAL

Spain’s big, royal, grand city! The Scoop on Madrid travel and Spanish dishes. Here you’ll find local info on Madrid attractions plus information on travel to villages around Madrid. Toledo and more!

VIDEO Scoop: The Two Minute Take on Messy Calçots!

It's that time of year again! Time to put on the bib and gloves and gain ten pounds! It's time for Calçots...

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By admin | Published: February 21, 2012

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST | Tagged calçots, Calçots in Catalonia, Catalan onion, local foods, local traditions, Sweet onions |

Where Everybody Knows Your Name – Not Lonely In Madrid

Every ex-pat gets the blues, misses family and friends and wonders what the hell were they thinking when they decided to move to a foreign culture. Lauren Linzer, our guest writer and Madrid expert, writes about how she deals with feeling lonely. Having your special places to go to are always a way to connect, as [...]

6 Comments

By admin | Published: February 16, 2012

Also posted in MORE SCOOP | Tagged ex pat, guest writer, Lauren Linzer, MADRID & CENTRAL, moving to Spain |

Spanish Love – How Lauren Found Her Man In Madrid

Our expert on Madrid, Lauren Linzer, gives us The Scoop on how she found love as an ex-pat. Better than staying home on Valentine’s Day watching rom-coms by herself, Lauren now does it up for Valentine’s Day with her new boyfriend. She barely spoke Spanish, he could hardly speak English. And they became a couple! [...]

3 Comments

By admin | Published: February 12, 2012

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged boyfriend, guest writer, language exchange groups, Lauren Linzer, love, MADRID & CENTRAL, moving to Spain, Valentine's Day |

Barcelona Street Savvy – Practical Tips for Perturbed Pedestrians

You gotta be able to laugh when figuring out the Barcelona street scene!

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By admin | Published: February 4, 2012

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged barcelona, Barcelona street savvy, cities, GRANADA, MADRID & CENTRAL, map, SEVILLE & SOUTH, SPANISH TRANSPORTATION, street |

The Scoop: Events In Spain – February 2012

While February is viewed by many as a dreary month in Europe, in sunny Spain there’s plenty to celebrate. Here’s what The Scoop likes this month: Calçots: Green onions dipped in romesco sauce, eating Calçots is a tradition, a meal, a hell of a good time. A seasonal food in Catalonia, do not miss Calçot [...]

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By admin | Published: February 1, 2012

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, ISLANDS | Tagged Carnaval, events in Spain, Festivals in Spain, Gastrofestival, green onions, Six in the city 2, spain |

The Scoop Interviews (no. 5): Stephanie Dosch, Blogger – The Viatrix

Viatrix, an odd name for a web site but not when you get to know Stephanie. It means 'female traveler' in Latin. Hailing from Seattle, Stephanie Dosch has made her home in Madrid since 2005.

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By admin | Published: January 26, 2012

Also posted in INTERVIEWS | Tagged (no. 5), interview, MADRID & CENTRAL, malasana, Stephanie Dosch, the scoop interviews, viatrix |

The Good, Bad, and Loco: Moving To Madrid (Part 2)

Moving can be a pain in the wazoo and as Lauren Linzer, our guest writer and expert on Madrid writes, she wanted to feel alive and immerse herself in a new culture despite the challenges. Some people find the transition to a new culture too difficult. Understandable. But for Lauren, the benefits trump the hassles. Check [...]

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By admin | Published: January 23, 2012

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged guest writer, Lauren Linzer, move to Madrid |

The Good, Bad, and Loco: Moving To Madrid (Part 1)

With all my adorable European outfits tightly packed away, the essential paperwork and tickets printed, basic Spanish flashcards in hand, and the tearful goodbyes said and done, there was nothing more to do than board my plane and begin a new, wondrous life abroad in Madrid, Spain.

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By admin | Published: January 19, 2012

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged Lauren Linzer, MADRID & CENTRAL, move to spain, moving, teaching, tips on moving to spain |

The Scoop: Events In Spain – January, 2012

Baby, it's cold outside and quiet on the fiesta front in Spain. You may hear an occasional drum or coronet. Or see a priest in a funny hat and dress (do you think they are really transvestites?) leading an entourage at night with candles. Here is The January Scoop for events in Spain.

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By admin | Published: January 18, 2012

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, MORE SCOOP, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged el rastro, flamenco dancing, flamenco museum, flea markets, food, Kings Day, la tormarrada, MADRID & CENTRAL, San Sebastian, SEVILLE & SOUTH |

Top Mental Institution For 2011: Reina Sophia Museum In Madrid

Is it a prison? Is it a shopping mall in Chicago? As I walked along side of the Reina Sophia Museum in Madrid, bars striped the windows. Turning the corner to the stark front facade, I was fortunately greeted by a Miro sculpture diluting yet more bars on more windows.

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By admin | Published: January 8, 2012

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged art, DALI, gonzalez, gris, guernica, MIRO, paintings, picasso, reina sophia museum in madrid, sculpture, serra, The Blogdog, the spain scoop |

Most Politically Passionate of 2011- Picasso’s Guernica – Reina Sophia Museum In Madrid

At the Reina Sophia Museum in Madrid, silence filled the gallery of about 40 people. There was a sense of reverence. Grieving. Prayer. Some wept. I did. People lingered. Picasso's famous painting, Guernica, continues to teach and inspire. The power of art to affect social change. The power of social change to affect art. This visit to the Sophia Museum in Madrid was one of the most emotionally evocative art experiences of my life

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By admin | Published: January 6, 2012

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged art, bomb, catholic church, fascist, franco, guernica, nazi, painting, picasso, reina sophia museum in madrid |

Kings’ Day Tomorrow – Kings’ Parade Tonight!

The Scoop is that tomorrow is Kings' Day in Spain. Do not miss the Cavalcada de Reyes, or Kings' Parade this evening going on all over Spain, from small villages to big cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

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By admin | Published: January 5, 2012

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged Barcelon, Cavalcada de Reyes, Kings Day, Kings' Parade, MADRID & CENTRAL |

Toast Your Grapes: New Year’s Eve Madrid Style

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, many of us will be kissing our sweetie, clinking champagne glasses, and wishing our loved ones a happy year to come. Spaniards will surely be doing the same, but not before devouring a cup full of grapes (twelve to be specific) and trying not to laugh as they attempt to eat one per chime of the clock and cheer, “Feliz año Nuevo!” (Happy New Year!).

8 Comments

By admin | Published: January 2, 2012

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged grapes, Lauren Linzer, MADRID & CENTRAL, new year's eve, party |

A Christmas Kiss? – Mistletoe Madness with People in Spain

Mistletoe is a hot seller for people in Spain for the holidays and long after.

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By admin | Published: December 30, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged BARCELONA & EAST, christmas, christmas market, good luck, GRANADA, MADRID & CENTRAL, market, mercat, mistle toe, mistletoe, People in Spain, SEVILLE & SOUTH |

Budget Madrid Stays for New Year’s 2011

Images of Spain and Images of Madrid from your Scoopettes. Plus info on Spanish hostels.

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By admin | Published: December 29, 2011

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged BUDGET, CENTRAL HOTELS, cheap, CHEAP MADRID, HOSTAL, hostels, hotels in spain, images of spain, info on spain, lowcostholidays.com |

Blogs from Spain We’ve Loved in 2011!

The Scoop stays informed on all things Spain reading these fantastic, local blogs. We recommend checking out:

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By admin | Published: December 28, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, MORE SCOOP | Tagged 2011, blogs from Spain, links we love, roundup |

Alleluia! For Friends, Family and Travel

If you are lucky in your travels to Madrid, Barcelona, Toledo, etc., you may be met with an Art Attack in the airport. This is almost as good as being met by friends. The travelers in this video were welcomed at Heathrow Airport.

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By admin | Published: December 25, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, MORE SCOOP, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged airport, BARCELONA & EAST, christmas, Flash Mob, GRANADA, heathrow, in spain, MADRID & CENTRAL, SEVILLE & SOUTH, Toledo, travel |

Santa, No Sleigh – Christmas Traditions In Spain

Santas slip into modern Spain with little fanfare. Santas are not in the modern Spanish department stores making promises to little kids. Nor scaring the wits out of babies. Phony elves do not skip merrily vying for expensive photos. Santa Delivering Presents

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By admin | Published: December 24, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged BARCELONA & EAST, christmas, christmas markets, Christmas traditions in Spain, GRANADA, MADRID & CENTRAL, Modern Spain, Santa, santa claus, SEVILLE & SOUTH |

Photo Scoop Of The Month (no. 4) – Christmas Traditions In Spain

In October, the work crews in cities all over Spain start hanging the swooping Christmas lights and putting up trees. The Scoopettes love these lights, glittering, swaying in the wind, long trails of tiny lights swinging back and forth. We give this production a whopping Scoopometer 10.

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By admin | Published: December 22, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, PHOTOS & VIDEOS, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged barcelona, christmas, GRANADA, holidays, lights, MADRID & CENTRAL, photo scoop of the month, SEVILLE & SOUTH |

10 Differences Between Spain and the USA – Revisited

Sometimes I wonder at how my life has changed. I grew up in Portland, Oregon, but after 8 years abroad it is clear that I am no longer that girl from the NW (well, maybe in my heart). Here are some of my favorites differences between my birth country and my adopted country:

9 Comments

By admin | Published: December 21, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged Spanish culture |