Benidorm is famed as one of the most popular Spanish tourist resorts on the Mediterranean. Situated in the province of Alicante, Benidorm is a coastal town packed full of hotels, restaurants and apartment buildings, which together endow the seaside resort with a particularly memorable skyline.

• Benidorm is naturally a popular beach side destination for tourists on vacation, promising to entertain young and old alike; despite a previous reputation as a party town, the city also has beautiful landscapes, water parks, and an array of cultural and leisure attractions.
• Benidorm has undergone quite a large transformation since its days as a small village, with its main source of income now tourism rather than fishing.

Benidorm is a favorite holiday destination with visitors from all over the world, but the resort draws in a particularly substantial crowd from Ireland, the UK, Belgium and Germany. Offering up a vibrant and balanced mixture between beaches, night spots and quaint bars and restaurants, 60% of visitors to the Costa Blanca/Valencia region choose Benidorm. Since the increase in popularity of the “package holiday”, Benidorm has seen much of its economy focus on the tourist trade. The large concentration of clubs and bars in Benidorm make it the perfect package holiday selection; the array of cabaret acts and entertainment that kicks off in the evening continue until the early hours, making the resort unique compared to other sleepier Spanish coastal towns. Tourists can also make the most of the beautiful landscapes; Benidorm’s three main beaches are Mal Pas, Poniente and Levante.

Although once perhaps tarnished with the reputation of being a prime summer holiday destination for binge drinking, loud and disrespectful tourists, other resorts such as Malia and Ibiza are now more well known for drawing in the younger crowds, and Benidorm is considered less rowdy, though certainly still sufficiently lively. Equally, the town caters for families with young children; its three theme parks, two located in the city’s outskirts (Mundomar and Aqualandia), and the other at the base of the mountain further inland (Terra Mitica) all make for popular holiday day trips.

Although settlements in the town’s region can be traced back almost as far as 3000BC, the population of the area only really began to flourish with the arrival of the Moors. However in 1245, the region was regained by King James I of Aragon, and Benidorm was given a town charter to facilitate Christians moving into the area to replace the Moors in 1325. A turning point for the town came with the implementation of a complex system in 1666 which sent water into the region. Quickly, fishermen in Benidorm became hot property, and the industry flourished, which improved agriculture in the area and built up the economy substantially. Benidorm became a well known center for sea captains; the region became busier and wealthier very rapidly. The decline of the fishing industry in the 1950s was not all bad news for the town; in approving development plans for the tourist market, the council put the foundations in place for what was to become one of the biggest tourist hot spots across Spain, drawing in on average 5 million arrivals each year.

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Built in 1893, the famous Vizcaya Bridge in the port of Bilbao is the connection point between Las Arenas and Portugalete. It crosses the River Ibaizabal, and is the world’s oldest transporter bridge, usually referred to as the Puente Colgante, which can be translated as either suspension bridge, or hanging bridge.

The Bridge was listed amongst the World Heritage Sites in 2006, the only monument with a space on the list in the entirety of the Basque Region in Spain, and the only Spanish monument in the category ‘Industrial Heritage’. UNESCO remarked upon the Bridge’s functionality and aesthetic value. The Bridge is recognized as one of the greatest and most remarkable engineering feats of the 19^th Century.

The original purpose of the construction was to join together two banks at the Nervion River Mouth, in the hope of making the two towns accessible to one another while avoiding any disruption to the traffic along Bilbao’s port. The aim was a construction which would facilitate the flow of both cargo and passengers, but which would not restrict the flow of ships. Ferdinand Joseph Arnodin was one of the engineers called upon for the completion of the project, the designs for which were undertaken by Alberto de Palacio, and the structure was financed by Santos Lopez de Letona. To some extent, its construction was revolutionary; the Vizcaya Bridge was the first to be built using a mixture of steel cables and iron technology, and this technique went on to be internationally copied and replicated. On completion, the iron structure reached 45 meters in height; the girders which run horizontally supporting the rails were supported by pillars based on 4 towers on the banks. The use of iron was representative of developments during the Industrial Revolution, and the flourishing shipping and mining industries. The Vizcaya Bridge therefore stands for many as a symbol of industrial expansion and progress within society, endowing the area with a ‘grandiose and elegant aspect’ in the words of De Palacio himself.

The Bridge spans for an impressive 164 meters, and is still used year-round today, by roughly 500,000 vehicles and around 4 million passengers annually. It operates on the hour throughout the night, and every 8 minutes in daylight hours, with the fares different for either a day or night crossing. Two new recently installed lifts transport visitors up inside the pillars of the construction, allowing people to walk across the bridge’s platform in order to obtain a view over the Abra Bay and entire port.

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Despite the stereotypes surrounding Spanish first names, not every Spanish man is a Pedro nor every woman a Carmen. Indeed, in past generations, Carmen was a firm favorite, extremely common for Spanish girls born in the early 20^th century and for many years afterwards, along with  Josefa and, of course, María. Right up until the 1950s, these names dominated the list of baby names for girls in Spain, and in the same way, Francisco, Manuel, Antonio and José hogged the top spots for boys´ names for a prolonged period.

• The same few Spanish names were seen in the top 10 most popular Spanish first names lists for decades, until new trends were noted in the 1950s.
• Spain is famous for its double barreled first names.

In the 1950s, it quickly became very common in Spain to give a child a double name. For girls, most of these began with María, and frequently seen variations included María Dolores, María Teresa and María Pilar. Unsurprisingly, the same trend was seen with boys´names; while the favorites didn’t vary much beyond Francisco, Manuel, José and Antonio, many double-barreled names incorporating Juan and José were given to boys of the decade. José Luis and José Antonio were firm favorites in the 50s, with even more double names popular in the 1960s; José Antonio, Francisco Javier, José Manuel, Juan Carlos and Miguel Ángel all featured in the top 10.

With the monumental changes to Spanish society during the 1970s and 1980s, popular baby names in Spain suddenly started to change, as the country saw a sort of baby name revolution. The most commonly selected included David, Javier, Daniel, Sergio and Alberto, with Francisco and Manuel being knocked from the top spots. For girls, Beatriz, Sara, Verónica and Patricia were the most common 4 names in the 1980s. The 1990s however saw a wave of simplicity, with the absence of double barreled first names from the most popular; names became simple and short (Ana). In terms of boys’ names, interestingly, the names so common in previous decades were wiped from the top 10 completely, with names such as Javier, Daniel, Alejandro and David firmly cementing their place on the list for a long time to come.

Although double barreled names became less common over time, their popularity can be attributed to the fact that in Spanish naming traditions, there is generally no such thing as a middle name. Furthermore, in Spanish customs the child takes both the mother’s and the father’s surname, making Spanish names longer than is the universal norm in terms of the amount of names per individual. However, the most popular Spanish names and the trends in these all form part of the culture, and are a fundamental part of Hispanic tradition.

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The World's Most Dangerous Road

Several websites have released lists of the roads that they consider to be the most dangerous in the world. Routes in many different countries including China's Guoliang Tunnel Road and the Trans-Siberian Highway in Russia are often mentioned. However, among all of the roads around the world, one stands out as particularly treacherous. It constantly features on the aforementioned countdowns and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the “world's most dangerous road.” Its name is the North Yungas Road but it is commonly known by its nickname Death Road (el Camino de la Muerte). In this article we will answer the following questions: Who built it? Why is it so dangerous? Do people still use it? And finally, is there an alternative if you do not want to put your life on the line?

• This route has featured in several different Australian, American and British shows including in an episode of the British Broadcasting Corporation's program entitled World's Most Dangerous Roads. The first ever commercial on this trail was shot by the car firm Mitsubishi showing their Outlander cars traversing the mountain pass.
• Before driving the road the locals pour beer on the ground and make other offerings to appease Pachamama (Mother Earth).
• The South Yungasor Chulumani Road which runs from La Paz to Chulumani is equally terrifying.

Also known as the Grove's Road this track, perched high in the Andes Mountains, runs between La Paz, the seat of Bolivia's government, and the jungle town of Coroico. In the 1930s Paraguayan prisoners constructed the road during the Chaco War (a war between Bolivia and Paraguay fought from 1932 to 1935).

There are several reasons why this road is so notoriously deadly. Climbing to an altitude of 4,650 meters this steep and winding track demands total concentration as some of its features include hairpin bends and sheer drop-offs of at least 600 meters without the protection of guardrails. Crosses and stone cairns indicate where drivers have lost their lives with many people going over the edge every year. The Bolivian rainy season which runs from November to March makes the road even more perilous as it creates a slippery surface which landslides could wash away at any moment while dust and fog contribute to poor visibility.

Considering the myriad of difficulties and challenges encountered by people who dare to travel this trail you would be forgiven for thinking that it is no longer in use. Admittedly, a lot of the traffic consists of tourists on bicycles however there are still some local trucks and buses whose drivers rely on this lifeline to make a living transporting products and passengers from one of the world's highest cities to the Golden Valley and back the other way.

 As mentioned above, numerous visitors choose to take their lives in their own hands and set out to defeat the road every year. Companies have emerged which offer thrill-seekers the opportunity to cycle down this track.

However, if you do not fancy embarking on this exhilarating and nerve-wracking drive or ride you can use the alternative highway, opened in 2006, which has modern infrastructure including drains, guardrails and bridges.

In conclusion, the Death Road is just one of Bolivia's top attractions. It is a country with so much to offer from the bustling jungle town of Rurrenabaque to the Salar de Uyuni (salt flats) in the department of Potosí and the magnificent Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. If you go to Bolivia and you decide that you want to experience the Coroico road for yourself on a cycling tour, I would recommend that you choose your company wisely. Look at reviews of the different trips, check out what safety systems and procedures are in place and see what is included in the price.  This will make sure that you have a life-changing experience and that you come out the other side proudly stating that you have conquered the “world's most dangerous road” and that you have lived to tell the tale.

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Spain is famous for its strong soccer traditions, particularly after its national team clinched the coveted world cup title in 2010. But fútbol isn’t the country’s only sport; Pau Gasol has slam dunked his way to Spanish basketball greatness, Rafa Nadal has brought great attention to Spain via the tennis court, Ogruu is the father of jugger in Spain, and the Barcelona Eagles competed in the 2013 European Quidditch tournament the “Brussels Muscles Invitational”. Indeed, the European Quidditch tournament. Spain’s also got athletes passionately competing in many decidedly off beat and obscure sports, some of which we’ll take a candid look at below.

So without further ado, don thy bubbles, hop aboard thy nimbus 2000s, and grab thy q-tip staffs: game on!  

Bubble Football

Also known in Spain as futbol burbuja, this new sport born just a few years ago in Norway is alive and “kicking” strong in the Iberian Peninsula. Intense on-pitch action here would seem little different than your everyday soccer game were it not that each player competes enshrouded in a giant plastic bubble. Many observers describe it as a safer variety of the traditional game, where slide tackles are virtually impossible (as is any kind of serious ball control).

Muggle Quidditch

We all know that Harry Potter loves playing quidditch. What fewer people know however is that muggles from many countries have adapted their own fun variety of the magical sport (in which players don’t fly). According to the Spanish journal El Mundo, Spain has 140 players who represent 11 from teams around the country with names like Dementors de A Coruña and Bizkaia Boggars. Madrid Lynx, formed in March 2012 is Spain’s oldest team. It’s an exciting game in which players dodge bludgers, pass quaffles and race to capture the golden snitch in an attempt to prove that they’re wizards on the quidditch pitch.

Underwater Hockey

This sport that dates back to 1954 is surprisingly well established around the world. The down side for spectators is that very few pools have underwater viewing ports, so watching live subaqueous action may involve making use of a scuba mask and snorkel. The Spanish national championship was held in Castellón last year and it looks like it will be held there again this September. For more info you can check out the website of the Asociación Española de Hockey Subacuático. Their Facebook page shows Team Spain heading off to compete in the 18^th World Underwater Hockey Championship held in Hungary.

Jugger

Armed with q-tip staffs, swords, shields and chains, jugger players prepare to “get medieval” on opponents in this eccentric sport that recalls intense middle age combat. The sport is played in Europe, Australia, the US, and Costa Rica. The first national jugger tournament in Spain took place in Zaragoza in 2010. Spain currently has over 500 players and 60 teams who play across the country. For more info, take a look at the Spanish Jugger Association’s website.

Bossaball

This modern sport played in 15 countries looks like volleyball but with the striking presence of a large trampoline and highflying competitors executing spectacular bicycle kicks. Marbella has just become the home to Spain’s first Bossaball club.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this round up of lesser-known sports in Spain.

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When discussing the topic of talent shows in Spain, perhaps our thoughts turn to international franchises such as Masterchef or La Voz. However, this article will aim to go back to the beginning of this television genre in Spain looking at its origins, its development and its success nowadays.

The talent show format appeared in Spain around the same as Televisión Española (TVE), the Spanish national, state-owned, public television channel first broadcast regular programs. Hacia la fama, which could be considered to be one of the first examples of this style of entertainment, emerged onto Spanish television screens in 1957. In this competition, presented by the journalists Ángel de Echenique and Blanca Álvarez, young, talented writers and later musicians, mimes and dancers pitted their skills against each other. Viewers then voted by mail for the person who they thought should win the first prize.

While this program was still running, TVE released another talent show called Cara nuevas (1957).  It involved contestants completing a series of trials with the winner obtaining a job at the aforementioned broadcaster. This contest helped to launch the careers of some of Spain´s most highly regarded television presenters including Miguel de los Santos and José Luis Uribarri. After these two programs were taken off the air, several other series replaced them offering hopefuls the opportunity to demonstrate a wide variety of different skills from singing with Salto a la fama (1963-1965)to dancing with Danzas de España (1966), a show where couples from each of Spain’s provinces competed in elimination rounds introducing the public to their regional dances. All of these shows were aired for varying amounts of time with Spain’s longest running one so far being Gentejoven (1974-1987), a musical program which helped artists such as the Sevillian singer María del Monte and the pop group Mecano become successful.

It was, however, in the 2000s that this type of entertainment started to gather momentum with a notable program being Operación Triunfo (2001-2011).This competition, which gained immediate popularity among Spanish viewers, combined elements of Pop Idol and Big Brother as participants took part in live shows while the audience got to see them interacting during their daily lives. The winner received a recording contract while in the first three seasons, they also had the chance to represent Spain at the Eurovision song contest.

In addition to having their own homegrown talent shows, Spanish channels have also adapted international franchises for their audiences.  For example, in 2007 and 2008 the private television channel Cuatro produced the program Factor X which is based on the British X Factor series and which aims to find the next big singer with a recording contract at stake. Masterchef, which originated in Britain, has also enjoyed and is enjoying success in Spain with adult and junior versions being made by TVE in collaboration with Shine Iberia.  The cooks take part in several different, individual and team challenges inside and outside the studio, with the victor getting 100,000 euros, a recipe book deal and the opportunity to attend the prestigious le Cordon Bleu Madrid cooking school.

One other show which is worth mentioning is La Voz, the Spanish adaptation of the original Voice of Holland. It includes three stages starting with the blind auditions where the judges choose singers for their teams, moving to the battle phase where two members of the same team battle against each other in duets with one advancing into the next round and finishing with the live performances. As in aforementioned musical shows the singers compete for a record deal.

In conclusion, if after reading this article you have been inspired to share a talent you have, just go and do it. You can either apply for a talent show in your own country or look at competing in one abroad. Don’t hide your light under a bushel. Let the world know about your cooking, singing, dancing and writing abilities or any other skills you might have and who knows, one day you might become famous.

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Nowadays there are many admirable, famous figures in the world who as well as leading successful careers have helped and are helping to make a real difference in our everyday society whether it be by campaigning for the protection of the environment orby fighting against poverty, homelessness or other social injustices. Perhaps when we think about great role models our thoughts turn to people such as the late Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, or even Richard Branson,the founder of Virgin Group, for his charity Virgin Unite. However, what about in the Spanish-speaking world? Are there any Hispanic figures whose examples we should seek to emulate? This article will aim to look at just a handful of the Hispanics who are trying to change the world for the better, examining the initiatives they have carried out and are carrying out to help people less fortunate than themselves and to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems.

Shakira

Let’s start with the music industry. Shakira is an internationally recognized artist who has won countless awards. However, she is perhaps less well-known for her tireless charity work. As a United Nations Children´s Fund (UNICEF) Good Will Ambassador she set up “la Fundación Pies Descalzos” (the Barefoot Foundation) in 1997 which aims to help poverty-stricken children in her native Colombia and which is seeking to expand its efforts to other nations. As a result of this charity´s work several schools have opened throughout Colombia funded by the foundation and Shakira including one on her 32^nd Birthday.  Another organization which this singer played an instrumental part in founding is the “Fundacion América Latina en Acción Solidaria” (ALAS- The Wings Foundation Latin America in Solidary Action). This charity, launched in Panama, aims to provide educational and nutritional programs to malnourished and poverty-stricken children across Latin America and the Caribbean. To help fulfil this goal two, free concerts took place in 2008 to educate the public about child poverty in Latin America. Shakira has also been an important figure in promoting environmental initiatives. For example, in 2007 she participated in a Live Earth concert which helped raise awareness of climate change and in 2011 she donated money and contributed to the rebuilding of a school which was damaged by the earthquake in Haiti.

Antonio Banderas

We have looked at one Latin-American role model who has used her money and time to reach out to children in need but Spain also has its fair share of inspiring individuals.  In this article we will look at just one of them, Antonio Banderas. This world-renowned actor from Málaga is known for films such as the Shrek franchise and Desperado. However, he is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme.  As part of this role he acts as a voice for the poor trying to promote the fulfilment of the Millennium Developments Goals, a set of 8 goals proposed at the 2000 Millennium Summit of the United Nations, which aim to halve poverty in countries such as Africa and Latin America by the end of 2015.  In 2013 on International Women’s Day, Banderas also released a video appealing for an end to violence against women.

Furthermore, he has collaborated with an international conservation and advocacy association, called Oceana, which tries to protect and preserve the world’s oceans.  In 2005 he recorded several Public Service Announcements deploring the use of bottom trawling, a commercial fishing method where a net is dragged along the sea floor, and raising awareness of the damage it causes to marine life. 

More recently, while filming the Expendables 3 in 2014, Antonio lent his support to the Bulgarian “I Can Too” campaign which aims to support children with special needs, their families and the centreswhich look after them.

Pope Francis

To finish off this article let us return to Latin America.  The final individual that I want to discuss is the leader of a religion, Pope Francis. However, whatever our religious opinions whether we are atheist or devoutly catholic, I think we can all learn from his humility, simple attitude and efforts to deal with some of society´s toughest problems.  In 2014 the Argentinian pontiff met with fellowworld leaders from many different faithsto discussmodern-day slavery with human trafficking and prostitution being two issues on the agenda. This summit, organized by the Global Freedom Network, a multi-faith antislavery association,resulted in the signing of a declaration aiming to rid the world of slavery by 2020. The pope has also worked hard to defend, interact with and serve Rome´s outcasts. In 2013 news reports suggested that Francis had possibly been sneaking out of the Vatican at night to meet homeless people giving them food and money. Moreover, to celebrate his 77^th birthday he invited four homeless people to have breakfast with him.  A year later, again on his birthday, he instructed his chief alms giver and the head of his charity work to hand out 400 sleeping bags to people on the streets and he also greeted and embraced a group of homeless men and women. Finally, Francis again showed his concern for the poor by commissioning modern, state of the art shower blocks to be built which were opened in 2015. These facilities allow homeless people to get clean and shave while also providing them with basic toiletries.

In conclusion, in this article we have seen just three of the many Hispanic figures who are using their time, money, resources and positions to help downtrodden, impoverished and marginalized people in today’s world. And we can follow in their footsteps. We may not have the time or money to set up our own charities but we can make small donations to existing organizations such as Oxfam and those mentioned in this article.  We can also volunteer for charities and other non-governmental organizations. Just thinking about where and how we dispose of our waste can help to stop our oceans from becoming polluted. Not buying products such as corals and seashells will also go some way to preserving our marine habitats. Or if we want to help the homeless like Pope Francis just some of the things we can do include volunteering at soup kitchens and packing food to give them when we leave the house. These are all small steps but they will make a world of difference. We can be role models, just like the individuals in this article, doing our bit to create a more equal, environmentally friendly, harmonious and peaceful planet while encouraging our family and friends to do the same

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National and International Peace Efforts

In March 2015 the Royal Mint of Spain announced the release of a series of collector’s coins to celebrate “70 years of peace in Europe” with the obverse showing a bust of the new king Don Felipe VI.  However it is the reverse of the coin showing a dove with an olive branch which we want to focus on. To what extent has Spain made an effort to embrace, spread and work towards the concept represented by this universal symbol? This article aims to answer this question by looking at some of the different Spanish initiatives, institutions and paintings which are and were dedicated to promoting and spreading both national and international peace.

• •In 2013 and 2014 Spain remained in the list of the top 30 most peaceful countries in the world based on the Institute for Economics and Peace´s Global Peace Index.
• •It ranked higher than some other European countries including France and the United Kingdom.
• •Two Spaniards, the violin player Jordi Savall and the ballet dancer Joaquín Cortés, are UNESCO Artists for Peace.

What better place to start when talking about Spanish peace than with the iconic “Museo de la Paz” (Peace Museum) itself, situated in the town of Guernica in the Basque Country. This museum aims to educate its visitors about the culture of peace, reflecting on its absence in light of the past events in Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, while also looking at the efforts and tools used to peacefully solve conflicts in today´s society. This foundation also takes an active role in conducting research on this culture with associations such as AIPAZ (The Spanish Peace Research Association) organizing conferences and workshops to inform people of all generations about the importance of learning from the past and working together towards a more peaceful future.

This museum is, however, just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Spain´s work to create a more pacifist society and world. Let us now turn our attention to some of the initiatives which have been carried out in Spain for the good of its people and to aid the relationships between other nations.

The first national peace effort we should discuss is the agreement reached between Málaga football club and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  In 2011 this club signed a four year agreement with the organization under the slogan “Imagining Peace.” According to UNESCO´S Director-General Irina Bokova, this collaboration aimed to fight against drug-taking, racism and discrimination in football.

This scheme used a variety of methods to get its message across including social networks and electronic adverts to promote other values such as the importance of education, intercultural relationships and equal opportunities among young people. The club also offered their football academy as a base from which to carry out campaigns whilst also providing a ready established target audience since 15 youth football teams used the academy to train. Málaga football club also put the UNESCO logo on their kit to promote the message of this agency on a daily basis to the wider public.

However Málaga football club is not the only team to have joined forces with UNESCO. In 2010, FC Barcelona renewed their agreement with this arm of the United Nations collaborating on a campaign also aimed at tackling racism.  Launched during the 2010 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, it involved a series of activities such as a video showing famous players writing the slogan “Put Racism Offside.”

Mention must also be made of another 2014 event involving Barcelona.  In association with the project “Citizens Beyond Walls,” a peace week took place in this city with activities such as seminars, networking opportunities and demonstrations to help combat and raise awareness of xenophobia in Europe and throughout the world.

So far, we have looked at just a selection of the initiatives Spain implemented within its borders to help overcome some of the main obstructions to a peaceful society. However we will now look at how Spain has been a driving force behind combating conflicts between other countries.

A great example of this is the 1991 Madrid Conference, hosted by Spain, which aimed to restart the negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Following on from this peace event significant advancements were made in the reconciliation process between these two countries leading to the signing of the Oslo Accord.  The conference also set in motion negotiations between Israel and Jordan resulting in the signing of a peace treaty between these two nations. However, Spain has been instrumental in the fight for a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine more recently, as in 2006 Jose Luis Zapatero, the then Spanish prime minister, unveiled a Middle-East peace plan with the support of France and Italy.

We have now looked at some of Spain’s peace activities but there is still another area that we should consider when examining this topic. That is, the use of art to express this concept. To do this we can look no further than the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.  His 1937 Guernica painting, created in light of what happened in this town, is an iconic, anti-fascist symbol of pacifism which serves to portray the tragic and destructive consequences of war and the suffering it causes. His later painting entitled “The Dove, ”showing a dove with an olive branch, is another simply drawn image with a powerful message of hope and harmony and as such it was chosen for the 1949 World Peace Congress in Paris and later for the banner of the 1952 World Peace Congress in Berlin.

In conclusion, Gandhi once said “there is no way to peace; peace is the way” and its seems like it is the path which Spanish individuals, the government and foundations trod in the past and are continuing to tread in the 21st century, not only in their society but also  worldwide. And it is a journey which we can embark on ourselves by taking part in the International Day of Peace, supporting organizations such as Guernica´s Peace Museum and attending peace events in our own countries. There is no doubt that achieving a peaceful world will be a difficult task but we can achieve it if, as the 36^th President of the United States Lyndon B.Johnson notes, we take it one step at a time.

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Cork: More than just a stopper

They say that, necessity is the mother of invention. In a period of constant innovation, where traditional products and the pursuit of excellence are changing, it is gratifying to see that there are entrepreneurs who risk embarking, without business connections, on new pathways in the stormy forest of today´s market.

When we think of the word cork, the first image which comes to all of us is of the small cylinder which aims to seal a good bottle of wine thereby preserving its contents. That is true, but it is not the whole truth, at least for the moment.

Spain is the second world producer of this raw material, with Portugal in the lead. Together they monopolize almost 80% of the world production.

The entry into the market of other materials which are increasingly being used in bottlenecks, has created a major crisis in this sector and here is where the phrase which we used at the start of the article: necessity is the mother of invention fits in perfectly.

A pair of Sevillians, owners of a farm with a 1,200 hector cork-plantation, have made a quantum leap forward in the world of new technologies: they have created Rural Cork, a company which uses, we should say reuses, this ancient material giving it a new function. 

As well as producing cork insulation and building materials for sustainable buildings (cork has the following properties: it is impermeable, elastic, resistant to fire and to other external elements and it can withstand temperature changes which makes it ideal for insulation, floors, wall linings, etc.) they have gone further, developing ways to use the material to manufacture stationery, caps and hats, tablecloths, umbrellas and even shoes.   It is worth noting that the firm Nike has designed a make of basketball shoe manufactured with cork, only the sole is made of rubber, in honor of the NBA (the National Basketball Association) star Lebron James.

These Sevillians have developed special techniques to manufacture all types of products adapting the material for each requirement and succeeding in creating a high-quality and carefully designed product range, which is finding a space in the market.

They have also achieved the seal of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which sustainably manages the exploitation of the world´s forests. This guarantees the development and care of the environment. Also by taking advantage of the fact that all the trees from the same family including the cork tree, the holm oak, the kermes oak, the gall-oak and the oak tree, produce acorns which are a perfect food source for free-range Iberian pigs,  they are developing pork products through their company Esencia de Jabugo, with the most well-known one being the famous jamón de patanegra (patanegra ham).

In this way, the meadow where the Black Iberian pigs roam through the cork trees is a method of farming where they can finally extract cork for their new designs (which are being well received in the Japanese, German and British markets as well as in Spain), Iberian ham, charcoal, with a high heat capacity, and durable and high-quality cork wood which they can use to manufacture top-of-the-range furniture.

And all of this in a sustainable environment where tradition and innovation are combined and perfectly complement each other.

Corcho: Algo más que un tapón.

La necesidad agudiza el ingenio, dicen. En un tiempo de innovaciones constantes, de cambios en los productos tradicionales y en búsqueda de la excelencia, resulta gratificante observar que hay emprendedores que se arriesgan a lanzarse, sin red, a nuevos caminos en el proceloso bosque del mercado.

Cuando pensamos en corcho, a todos nos viene a la cabeza el pequeño cilindro que tiene como finalidad mantener el hermetismo y preservar el contenido de una buena botella de vino. Es verdad, pero no es toda la verdad, por lo menos ahora mismo.

España es el segundo productor mundial de esta materia prima, con Portugal a la cabeza. Entre ambos copan casi el 80% de la producción mundial.

La entrada en el mercado de otros materiales que cada vez se ven más en los golletes de las botellas ha traído una fuerte crisis al sector y aquí es donde viene al pelo la frase con la que empezamos este artículo: La necesidad agudiza el ingenio.

Una pareja de sevillanos, propietarios de una finca con 1.200 hectáreas de alcornocal, ha dado un paso adelante en el mundo de las nuevas tecnologías: han creado Rural Cork, una empresa en la que se usa, se reutiliza deberíamos decir, este material ancestral dándole una utilidad nueva. Además de producir con corcho materiales de construcción y aislamiento para edificaciones sostenibles (el corcho tiene unas características de impermeabilidad, elasticidad, estabilidad frente a los cambios de temperatura, resistencia al fuego y a los agentes externos que lo hacen óptimo para aislamientos, suelos, revestimientos murales, etc.) han ido más allá, desarrollando formas de utilizar el material para elaborar objetos de escritorio, gorras y sombreros, manteles, paraguas... incluso zapatos. Hay que decir que la firma Nike ha diseñado un modelo de zapatilla de baloncesto elaborada con corcho, salvo la suela de goma, en homenaje a la estrella de la NBA Lebron James.

Estos sevillanos han desarrollado técnicas especiales para manufacturar productos de todo tipo adaptando el material para cada necesidad, logrando crear una línea de productos de gran calidad y cuidado diseño que se está haciendo un lugar en el mercado.

Además, han conseguido el sello FSC de gestión forestal sostenible para su explotación forestal, lo que garantiza un desarrollo y cuidado del entorno ecológico. También, aprovechando que el alcornoque, como la encina, la carrasca, el quejigo y el roble, todos árboles de la misma familia, producen unas bellotas que son el alimento ideal para los cerdos ibéricos que crecen y pastan en libertad, están desarrollando la producción de derivados del cerdo, de los que el más conocido es el famoso jamón de pata negra, a través de su empresa Esencia de Jabugo.

De esta manera, la dehesa por la que corren libres los cochinos negros entre los alcornoques es una explotación de la que se extraen, al final, el corcho para sus nuevos diseños (que están teniendo una gran acogida en mercados como el japonés, alemán o británico, además del español), las chacinas ibéricas, el carbón vegetal -de alta capacidad calórica- y la madera de alcornoque, dura y de alta calidad para elaboración de muebles de alta gama.

Y todo en un entorno sostenible en el que se unen, perfectamente complementadas, la tradición y la innovación.

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Versión española

“Spain, a desert for jazz.”

This quote by the famous British jazz composer Leonard Feather, paints a rather gloomy and unprofitable picture of the state of jazz music in Spain. It also justifiably raises the question why is it worth writing a whole article about this genre? I think the answer to this question lies not only in the past but also in Spain´s current musical scene.

In this article I aim to look at what Spain has and had to offer in this style of music reflecting on three main questions: How did jazz develop in Spain? What characterized this development? And finally what is the state of jazz music nowadays?

• Jazz in Spain has undergone a roller-coaster ride throughout Spain´s political history.
• This genre can be seen as an important part of Spain´s current musical culture

Spain´s first major contact with this genre can partly be attributed to western influences. In 1929 Samuel Wooding, a famous American jazz conductor, and his “Chocolate Kiddies” performed concerts in Barcelona, Madrid and San Sebastián. However, it was not only this performance but their subsequent recording of discs in Barcelona which gave Spain a real taste of this American music. Another notable musician responsible for increasing the Spanish public´s awareness of this form of music is Jack Hylton who performed, with his British Orchestra, in the Barcelona Universal Exhibition in 1930.

Although these musicians increased the popularity of jazz and revolutionized the public´s perception of this genre, Spain´s indirect contact with jazz can actually be traced back to the 1920s. In ballrooms, in cities such as Barcelona, jazz originally appeared in the form of African-American and Afro-Cuban dances such as the foxtrot, ragtime, rumba and habanera. Famous composers like Debussy further increased the importance of this primitive style of jazz by incorporating it into their pieces. After the introduction of this musical genre, it increased in popularity with Barcelona becoming the Spanish hub for this type of music. Indeed in 1934 the first jazz club opened its doors in this city.

However this so-called “golden age of jazz” music was not to last and with the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and Franco´s reign in 1939 jazz music started to be suppressed. Franco´s “Hispanization” of Spain aimed to get rid of western ideas and influences which included jazz replacing them with Spanish traditions such as folk songs. This censorship of jazz led to the closure of clubs and many jazz musicians left the country.  However, Franco´s reign did not lead to the complete disappearance of jazz music. In fact, in the 1940s and 1950s the jazz industry underwent a partial revival with the opening of a “Hot Club” in Barcelona in 1946 and then one in Madrid two years later.

The focus on folk songs such as flamenco and the comeback of jazz led to a new fusion style called “Jazz-Flamenco.” Pedro Iturralde, a Spanish jazz saxophonist, is considered to be the progenitor of this style. One of his notable works is his collaboration with the flamenco guitarists Paco de Algeciras, the pseudonym of Paco de Lucía and Paco de Antequera. Mention must also be made of Jorge Pardo, a famous jazz flautist and saxophonist, who recorded with the flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and the American jazz pianist Chick Corea.

Considering jazz´s chequered past what is the state of this musical genre nowadays? Although Spain is perhaps not renowned for its jazz music, it does have some important yearly jazz festivals which attract artists from around the world including Jazzaldia in San Sebastián, Barcelona´s International Jazz Festival and Vitoria´s Jazz Festival.

In conclusion, in view of the above is Spain as much as a desert for jazz as suggested by Leonard Feather? In the past there were certain moments where this genre did not flourish but its roots were never completely destroyed and talented musicians nourished them and gave jazz a new Spanish identity by combining it with traditional musical styles. If you like this genre do not miss out on Spain´s jazz festivals and you could even combine them with a Spanish course in an exciting city like Madrid or Barcelona.

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