The Bear is at the Door

In this week’s Camino a Ítaca a look at the new policial map here in Extremadura and the negotiations that are taking place between the parties on the right. Click over to read the original piece published in Spanish in el HOY or read the English translation below. (PDF en castellano abajo) It was one…

Placebo

This week’s Camino a Ítaca falls on Election Silence day, the blackout period when parties can no longer campaign before tomorrow’s elections here in Spain. Autonomous communities and towns are up for grabs on Sunday and a particular sign on the street caused me to think. Click over to read the original version published in…

Interior Colonialism

It’s election season here in Spain, with most of the country’s autonomous regions, cities and town up for grabs. The region newspaper I contribute to asked me for my view on the upcoming elections. Rather than examine the promises that are never kept, I looked at the hegemony of the party system here in Spain…

Trapped… in a List

In this week’s Camino de Ítaca a different look at the upcoming regional and municipal elections here in Spain. A long term emmigrant’s perspective on voting here in Extremadura. Click over to read the original article publishhed in el HOY in Spanish or read the English version below. (PDF en castellano abajo) Democracy exists somewhat…

La Virgen de los Guiris

Welcoming the Virgen In this week’s Camino a Ítaca a look at one of the more hermetic aspects of Spanish culture. It’s a facet that is impenetrable and somewhat incomprehensible for outsiders looking in to understand. Click over to read the original article published in el HOY in Spanish or read the English translation below.…

Socks with Sandals

In this week’s Camino a Ítaca a look at an unusual fashion statement, complete with fearsome canines in tow. A Spanish comedian once said that the Spanish would rather give up a kidney before admiting they are wrong and there just might be a bit of truth to this. Click over to read the original…

Sidewalk detours…

A Londoner and a Canadian were walking down the street when… Sounds like the beginning of a joke in this week’s Camino a Ítaca which looks at sidewalk blockades that often take place here on the streets of Extremadura. Click over to read the original published piece in Spanish in el HOY or read the…

Whose Criteria?

Jurramacho carnival in Montanchez In this week’s Camino a Ítaca it’s carnival time in the mountaintop village of Montanchez here in Extremadura. Up among your hanging Jamóns it’s not your average parade though. Click over to read the original version published in Spanish in el HOY or read the English version below. (PDF en castellano…