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!

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...

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By admin | Published: January 5, 2012

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, Canaries, Festivals & Holidays, Festivals & Holidays, Festivals & Holidays, Festivals & Holidays, Festivals & Holidays, Formentera, Ibiza, ISLANDS, Mallorca, Menorca, More Cool Islands, SANTIAGO & WEST, 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!).

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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:

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By admin | Published: December 21, 2011

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

15 Gifts To Buy On The Spain Euro

You can buy gifts on the Spain euro and be in budget bliss!

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By admin | Published: December 17, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged aioli, chocolate, gifts, ham, in spain, matador travel, pottery, Spain euro |

The Scoop: Events in Spain – December 2011

With the holidays taking center stage, events in Spain are a little slimmer this month. Here's what your Scoopettes suggest:

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By admin | Published: December 15, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, Events, MORE SCOOP, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged Barcelona events 2010, Barcelona Pictures, christmas markets, easytobook.com, events december, MADRID & CENTRAL, Nativity Scene, Royal Botanical Gardens, SEVILLE & SOUTH, tarrones |

Christmas Lights – Spain Images

Magical Spain images are Christmas lights swaying across the city streets.

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By admin | Published: December 7, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged christmas, Christmas traditions in Spain, hotels in spain, lights, Spain images |

4 Christmas Markets In Spain

By Nancy Todd Villages, towns and cities in Spain have staged Christmas markets for centuries. Sad, mournful religious figures are the majority of hot items for sale. It is the tradition that when the children leave the family and start their new family, they buy all new actors for their nativity scenes. We see more people browsing than buying. Markets rise up at the beginning [...]

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By admin | Published: December 3, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged BARCELONA & EAST, christmas markets in spain, GRANADA, MADRID & CENTRAL, SEVILLE & SOUTH |

Yum! Autumn Street Food – Food Culture In Spain

Walking down the street in Barcelona, a smoky, sweet scent draws me to the street vendors, the casteneros. In many cities including Granada, Madrid, Toledo and Seville, the Autumn food culture in Spain is being celebrated.

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By admin | Published: November 28, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, SEVILLE & SOUTH | Tagged autumn, BARCELONA & EAST, cansteneros, chestnuts, fall, food culture in spain, GRANADA, in spain, MADRID & CENTRAL, negu the blogdog, People in Spain, SEVILLE & SOUTH, sweet potatoes |

The Prado Museum In Madrid Does It Again

The Prado Museum in Madrid continues to do it with class. Another big fat "WOW" for The Prado, is a collection on loan from The Hermitage of over 120 works with incredible diversity.

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By admin | Published: November 26, 2011

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged art exhibitions, hermitage, the prado in madrid |

Events in Spain -November 2011

Feel that nip in the air? The smell of roasting yams and chestnuts in the streets? Ladies in sweaters and stockings instead of flip-flops and bikinis? November is here, with its storms, chill and overwhelming schedule of events! Here are a few November Events not to be missed! Kite Festival in Dunas de Corralejo Natural [...]

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By admin | Published: November 24, 2011

Also posted in BARCELONA & EAST, Events, MORE SCOOP | Tagged events in Spain, Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, Jazz Festival Granada, Kite Festival, November 2011 |

The USA Discovers Madrid – By Guest Writer, Lauren Linzer

If you are an American, chances are you are familiar with the popular morning program, The Today Show on NBC. This week, anchor Matt Lauer has been gallivanting around the world, visiting a different mystery location each day

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By admin | Published: November 21, 2011

Posted in MADRID & CENTRAL | Tagged la latina, MADRID & CENTRAL, Retiro Park |