General Elections 2011

Hola again,

first, political science alert! I will be writting about POLITICS, so if you consider it boring just stop reading right now! . . . there will be photos in the next post :)

As political scientist (after being a speaker during a conference, I blissfully consider myself one), I was following the election campaing and the final fruits of it.

Personal surprises:

1. Participation, I thought that much less people would vote. With such a large segment of population dissapointed in politicians and practically only a choice of 2 parties, about 71% of population took their hands and heads to the voting place on a RAINY day, at least in Madrid. It was such a inspiring moment to watch through my window people passing on the way to the  polling station, just perfect inspiration for downloading another Friends episode:)
2. PP (Partido Popular – right wing) received 552 thousand more votes than three years ago or about 4% more of total votes, but managed to push through 32 more deputies to el Palacio de los Deputados! (186 out of 350, clear majority, 44,62%) Viva unchanged D'Hondt?!
3. Amaiur – the party from Pais Vasco. I still haven't figured out: is it a true continuation of the ETA political wing or just pretending to be so. The fact is that they won over PNV, a long-term leader in the region. Oh, changes!

So, all in all, Spaniards will have to get used to their new funny speaking Prime Minister (el Presidente del Govierno) and as some of people say - gay Rajoy. No idea what do they have against gays, it seems like it is here the worst insult that can be given to a man – recently my communist teacher called the Prince of Spain homosexual. Two children, beautiful wife . . . really? And if he is gay, so what?

It seems at times, that I will never understand this macho ideology. Fortunatelly, politics is easier to comprehend.

Mariano Rajoy - New Spanish Prime Minister (in a month)

Pais Vasco

The trip that knocked me off my feet. . .

Second weekend travelling and it could not get any more awesome. Going to Pais Vasco (Basque country) I knew that is was green, beautiful, with delicious food plus the ETA conflict. For the first time I am happy I knew that little, because the country surprised me in so many ways.

Bilbao, the largest city in Basque Country, but not the capital :) has two sides. One is a tough, strong and hardworking - with factories, oil/gas rafineries, wharves and plants. The other one is the old city with its never ending romantic narrow streets and endless bridges (one of them is by Calatrava) and the world famous Guggenheim museum.

The passion and devotion of Vascos which they show towards their land, makes visitors fall in love with this beautiful part of the world. All those feelings inspire me to leave something really large in here, so I can for sure one day come back again.

Calatrava bridge

Guggenheim

Shipyard, close to a museum 

Natural beauty

San Sebastian, a posh version of a sea side spa town

Ikurrina

Very special eskerrik asko (thank you in euskera) goes to Xabi for showing me his country with much love and pride. For sure it would not be the same without you, Xabi.

Now I just have to hope that nothing will happen to me, while I will be wearing "beret" with Basque flag (txapel con ikurrina) in Madrid.

TOP 10

Here is my list of Madrid Top 10. But first, you have to understand that I've been here just for 2 months, so for sure I have not seen everything. Secondly, it is MY list, it is subjective. So when you come to Madrid (and you have to come:), you will have your own list. However those are the places that I love about Madrid, they have something special: a feeling, an action, people and the atmosphere that I cannot grasp right now. At the end of my stay I will make another Top 10 list with a deeper thought to reasons. Here we go,


# 1 Cibeles. Metro Banco de Espana. Just gorgeous. The first place I went  when  arrived to Madrid

#2 Casa de Campo. Huge park, during dry season looks more like a safari. Perfect for sports.

#3 Templo de Debot. The gift from Egyptian government - an ancient temple! :)

#4 Parque del Buen Retiro. A gorgeous park in the center of the city from XVI century.

#5 Lavapies.  A part of Madrid full of flavor: a mixture of immigrants from Asia and Africa, delicious food, great outdoors bars/cafes, galleries. Pictures to come.

#6 La biblioteca nacional. Nacional Library of Spain. Love the building. 10.000.000 of books inside. Beauty and the brains :)

#7 Las Ventas. La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. The largest bullring in Spain.Built in 1931. Check out beautiful statues of toreros outiside. 

#8 San Jeronimo el Real. A church from 16th century on the left side from Prado. 

#9 Estadio de Santiago Bernabeo. what can I say, except that . . . Hala Madrid!!!

#10 Almudena cemeterio. The largest cemetery in Madrid. Was there during the All Saints Holiday. With sun and a lot of people around not that scary. But imagine grey sky, no one around and 120 hectares of a cemetery.

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Madrid Flag

Madrid es verde

Madrid is green. No matter all the desert you see when you fly to Barajas airport (Madrid's main one), or not see rain for two months, or if your park looks more like a safari with lions than a forest with bears :) Here are all the green things that caught my eye in this awesome city:

Museum of Reina Sofia

Telefonica building interior

Drive green!

Atocha

Manzanares+picnic

If political science does not work out. . .

Metro

Run there!

Dizzy stairs

Moncloa

Savior or confusion-maker?

Boom!

Next: My TOP 10 in Madrid . . .