Spain
PIIGS unwelcome in the EU parlour: war of words rocks Eurozone
Despite Silvio Berlusconi’s dreams, the next member of the Eurozone is unlikely to be Israel; even Croatia or Turkey have taken a back seat. The current pan-EU squabble is over who should have been admitted to the eurozone in the first place
spain, economic growth, economical crisis, opinion, portugal, economy, eurozone
Grand Archives: ‘In five years time we’ll probably be bartenders again’
Mat, Jeff, Curtis and Thomas are four friends from Seattle, four musicians from a small city. They’re not easily recognisable - you won’t have seen their faces in magazines or billboards. They don’t seem like typical indie rock stars; ‘nor do we don’t want to,’ says frontman Mat Brooke. We catch the group on their European tour leg in the Spanish capital
spain, music, brunch, grand archives, culture, leonid kuchma
Marc Guerrero: Catalan MEP on Spain, unemployment and van Rompuy
Youth unemployment has become one of the biggest challenges facing the EU. In Spain the figure has reached 43% amongst those aged 15-26. We discuss this problem and the new era that Europe faces with the youngest ever leader of the European liberal democrats (ELDR)
spain, josé luis rodríguez zapatero, liberls, youth, internships, european parliament, internships
Rock climbing Europe: discovering El Chorro in Spain
Every winter, rock climbers from across northern Europe arrange to meet in southern Spain to tackle one of this season’s biggest challenges. El Chorro is a limestone gorge hippy haven and small island of green in the Andalusian desert
spain, backpacking, sport, travel, nature, climbing, mountain
You’re getting on my goat
They say that the French are the biggest moaners in Europe, and it’s no lie! They have several expressions for when they need to let off steam. Whilst the Poles go into a 'white fever', the Spaniards ‘turn black’ – it's the saying of the week
spain, poland, expressions, tower of babel, germany, europe, france
'Erasmus is about discovering Europe'
Like many an old advertising cliché, the erasmus student exchange programme offers a ‘dual action’ experience. After the culture shock, the parties, the multinational encounters and the adventures across Spain, come the trips to visit new found friends, in all corners of Europe. This new European consciousness keeps us coming back for more
spain, european identity, university, friendship, seville, erasmus, society
Spanish EU presidency: Zapatero's pious economic hopes
Spain wants to achieve stronger coordination of the member states' economic policies during its EU council presidency. In his current capacity as EU president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is demanding binding economic targets and has even proposed financial sanctions against EU states. European commentators are less than enthusiastic. The Italian, German and Slovenian press react
Rural Spain: can love really arrive in a wagon?
Since the fifties, villages all over Spain have been losing their inhabitants to the lure of the bright lights of the cities. Over the decades a new curious initiative has arisen to remedy this loss and to console those who have been left alone. If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, the mountain - or in this case the women - will have to come to Mohammed – in a wagon
Olga Rodríguez: 'Journalists tend to be very individualistic'
On a famed terrace close to Madrid’s Palacio Real (Royal Palace) at nightfall, the 34-year-old Spanish award-winning journalist talks about two of her passions, the Middle East and journalism
spain, middle east, brunch, palestine occupied territory, war, european media, israel
Micachu and the Shapes, Emilie Simon: your music for October
Trendy London recommends its top 5 city tracks, we denote a French-flavoured album of the month and find out who Pájaro Sunrise is
spain, bands, music, culture, indie, emilie simon, pájaro sunrise
100 years of Europe's nature parks
In 2009 the first nature parks protected by the European Union will be 100 years old. Cafebabel has spoken with six people linked to these spaces in different European countries. Conservation or development? The debate lives on
spain, development, park, environment, tourism, nature, ecology
Young Europeans remember 9/11
It’s eight years since the attacks which killed 2, 752 people, destroyed the World Trade Centres and damaged the Pentagon on 11 September 2001. The cafebabel.com editorial team share their memories from across the waters on the event which shaped America and the world today
spain, reaction, united states, testimony, anniversary, death, poland
Bun in the oven
According to Eurostat, 5.4 million babies were born in 2008. Lithuanians are the most industrious breeders, while Germans are at the bottom of the chart. Some of Europe's expressions for motherhood
spain, italy, tower of babel, germany, languages, europe, audio
Low cost airlines lend citizens a 'European' identity
Budget travel is a reality for modern Europeans, a part of everyday life. Accounting for its environmental impact may affect the as yet fragile common European identity it lends to flying citizens
spain, european identity, money, identity, portugal, environment, england
Marmite and co: disgustingly debatable foods in western Europe
Travelling around Europe, you’re never safe from a bad gastronomic surprise, be it vegetable yeast spread, bull’s tail, pig’s head paté, mushroom spread and much more ... brace your guts. Plus, a recipe for stewed oxtail
spain, poland, cuisine, yum nyam, gastronomy, austria, united kingdom
Tree huggers
The times in which eco-warriors and nature lovers raged unrest in the downtown areas whilst kitted out in hand-knitted wool jumpers and Birkenstocks are now over. Now that the trend of being eco-aware has come to the forefront of society, the whole of Europe is witnessing a bloom in eco-green ‘cusswords’
spain, bioethics, lifestyle, green cities, idioms, food, poland
Europe's political scandals: Alicante-gate, MP scandals and Berlusconi
Italy's playboy PM, Britain's MP guzzlers and Germany’s 'Minister Shameless' (according to the Berliner Zeitung) are sharing the heat: the lull in the traditional summer silly season has prompted mass media coverage of affairs and scandals
spain, money, ulla schmidt, poland, united kingdom, tax, nicolas sarkozy
Cervantes: torchbearer of Spanish culture abroad
The main function of this institution, created as recently as 1990, is to spread Spanish culture abroad, thanks to the diffusion of its language and its 'hispanidad'. The success of the Cervantes network may well inspire other great cultural nations in Europe to follow suit
spain, education system, culture, cervantes institute, language
European theatre tips of the summer
Sam Mendes subtitled in Greek, Oscar Wilde in the open air in Regent's Park and the British Shakespeare company with Czech director Jiri Menzel in a castle in Prague - the best music, dance and theatre doses in July and August
spain, arts, greece, william shakespeare, theatre, barcelona, croatia
Unrequited love: are you a 'pagafantas'?
Boy is in love with girl best friend who wouldn't look at him twice that way. In Spain, a 'pagafantas' ('Fanta-buyer') is that boy who is relegated to always footing the bill of girl's soft drink. The expression of the week bows in from Spain
spain, friendship, culture, relationships, love, best of cafebabel.com, tower of babel
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