Spain To Go

The anticapitalist left is still camping out in Plaza Catalunya, and nearby in Raval, the drug scene is just as vibrant as always. (At least I assume it is – I'm just a guy taking a walk.) More about the anarchic scene in Barcelona's old town here: https://spaintogo.substack.com/p/barcelona-anarchyDonate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate(Or you could become a paying subscriber...

I'm recording this on October 12th, which is "el Día de la Virgen del Pilar". So in this episode, let's talk about one of the most important apparitions of the Virgin Mary – Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza. Also, Saint James the Great (AKA Santiago, patron of Spain), the tie-in with Christopher Columbus, a bit about the legacy of colonialism and much more. Read the article here:...

Big news here in Spain! We've got a general election coming up on 29 November, so we'll probably have a new government soon. And before that, on 11 November, the Tenants Unions have called a General Strike to protest the housing situation. So let's talk about Pedro Sánchez's chances in the election (roughly zero), what rights you have in a strike, some of my experiences from previous general...

Big news about Spain's housing crisis this week: the tenants unions have decided to make a woman named Maricarmen symbolic of how evil capitalists want to throw old ladies out of their houses. Only problem is, Maricarmen has been benefiting from a Franco-era rent contract for 70 years now. You and I will never get a deal this good. Anyway, here's the latest from the camping protest in Puerta del...

Today we're talking about the cities of Bilbao and Getxo up in the Basque country, with reflections on competing nationalities, the ongoing Ceuta crisis, what it means to be "from" somewhere, and more. Basque Cuisine is pretty famous, as is the new-fangled cheesecake they're making, and you can learn about all of it in this new episode. Enjoy!Check out my friends over at WalksDevour for food...

Spain needs new babies. If you're having one soon, congratulations! And thanks. In this episode, we've got a report on prenatal care in Spain, and on baby prepping in Barcelona more specifically. Public and private healthcare, where to get secondhand cribs, doulas, midwives, maternity support, Pregnancy Pilates and much more. Check out the article for links and more:...

Well, Ceuta is still a disaster area, so here's an update about that. Also, we've got a protest from Save Europe Act (it's about "remigration" and a counterprotest from antifa. Plus, the 90th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War and the mysterious death of Federico García Lorca back in 1936. Links and more on the Spain to Go Substack:...

I recently went to France (again). In this episode, I talk about Lyon and Montpellier in the south of France, whether backpacking around Europe is dead, slow travel, iced coffee disasters, being an expectant parent, and more. Support the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donateI'll give you a shoutout in my next episode!Spain to Go podcast has a new companion blog over on Substack, check it...

Last week the Spanish enclave of Ceuta was overrun by "migrants" crossing the border from Morocco. Up to 70,000 people crossed into Spain, and were (mostly) pushed back by the military. Details and thoughts from a Spanish local in today's episode. Support this podcast: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/You could also sign up to receive new articles (or become a paid subscriber) on Substack:...

The UK has a small territory called Gibraltar near the southern tip of Spain – or, more accurately, near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula. So today's episode is about Spanish-Gibraltarian relations, the new open border, the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Africa, John Lennon's wedding to Yoko Ono and more. Donate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/These days I'm...