inVLC August/Sept 2011

the mo st ake M

y la amo.

Free!

1 Aug - 14 Sep t

WITH | the best of Valencia and the Community | essential places to visit | impartial reviews | ÂĄaprende inglĂŠs con nosotros! ...

y!

in

Communi t ian

VLC

1 the Valen f o c

Looking for customers for your business in Valencia or the Valencian Community?

Contact us on invlceditor@gmail.com ÂżEstĂĄs buscando clientes para tu empresa en la comunidad valenciana?

Ponte en contacto con nosotros invlceditor@gmail.com

When you ďŹ nish with your inVLC... pass it on to a friend!

inVLC on...

...is coming like a ghost-town.

August in Valencia may have tourists wondering if something has happened to all the locals. Shops, bars and restaurants close as the Valencianos take leave of the city and head off for (in some cases) up to a month's holiday in their summer retreats.

This tradition may seem at odds with helping Spain out of its current financial crisis, but remember that the work/life split in Spain is very different to other countries and that to the average Spaniard time spent with family and friends is just as important, if not more so, than time spent worrying about working and the economy. And who can blame them? Who wants to work in this heat when everyone else is on holiday?

Intermediate First certificate Advanced

We're already planning what we're going to wear at this year's craziest local festival, La Tomatina on page 9, but we took the time to review the music festival which rocked the East coast, FIB Benicassim, to remind you of what you saw, and if you didn't go, to show you what you missed on page 16.

All this, plus we list what's happening in the community and the city, and essential places to visit as we check out a local new shop on page 13 and the picturesque town of Port Saplaya on page 10.

Keep in touch and have fun, Andy, Kelly & Sean

A lo largo de esta revista encontrarás distintos niveles de dificultad indicados en la parte superior de cada página y recuadros con vocabulario debajo del texto. Para la pronunciación hemos incluido la fonética.

about us inVLC is for all people in the community of Valencia: whether born here, visiting for a day, or living a new life in the sun.

We hope to guide you on what’s going on in the community, help those living in it, and support language learning with a bit of added fun.

Translations Clara and Javier Contact information email invlceditor@gmail.com phone 639 740 746 - English speakers phone 628 831 400 - Spanish speakers facebook inVLC If you have any thoughts, comments or complaints or want to advertise, please email or phone us.

Important numbers & Embassies / consulates Fire | 080 Local police | 092 Medical | 061 General | 112 French | 96 351 0359 USA | 96 351 6973 British | 96 521 60 22 Dutch | 96 341 4633 German | 96 310 62 53 Legal chat We do our very best to strive for accuracy in this magazine but we cannot accept responsibility for unintentional errors or omissions, accuracy of advertisements or contributors’ opinions. We aim at all times not to offend. depósito legal V-816-2006 We use CreatorSilk paper It’s chlorine free & the wood used is from sustainably managed forests. We do this because we’re nice & want to reduce our environmental impact.

index

16 18 19 20 21 22

The latest News keeping you up to date Hotspots Free in Valencia is peckish I heart Valencia enjoys the beaches Holidays and fiestas are tomato orientated Valencia community we wander to Port Saplaya Local interest A bridge too far Shop of the month Pupp-eco local products Let's talk Expat life! Eoghan is considering behaviour Talking teaching is listening to tunes Art & culture Festival we bring the best of the summer Music hot new musical releases The cinema v.o releases in Valencia Sport news Your photos of 'Seaside' Read me Iain loves his books

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Lifestyle Green Declan is weighing up the benefits Artist Laura Clementi paints creatively Art to see visits 2 great exhibitions Recipe Lia is on the La Tomatina theme A day in the life The Fox family take us out Cocktails are minty fresh Charity we get an insight into Casa Caridad Animal it's time for a song Events & classifieds keeps you in the know

4 5 6 9 10 12 13 14 15

01/08/1838. Birthdate of Jules Leotard who not only devised the costume of the same name but the flying trapeze too.

His first show at the Cirque d'Ete in Paris caused a sensation because he did not use a safety net.

Intermediate

3

4

News

Intermediate

Classical music lovers| Plácido Domingo, one of the world's finest operatic singers is coming to work for "at least a season" as Artistic Director at the Palau de las Artes Reina Sofia in Valencia.

He plans to perform a number of times as well to try to help the Opera House see its way through the recession.

Alongside Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, Domingo was one third of the world's most famous classical singing supergroup, 'The Three Tenors', and was praised for bringing opera music to the masses with the incredibly successful 'Nessun Dorma' by Puccini released just before the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

V.O cinema lovers| The long awaited V.O Filmoteca D'estiu 2011 film festival started on 29 July and will continue until 28 August.

The films will be shown in the Jardines Del Palau De La Música, starting at 10.30pm with the ticket office opening at 9pm.

Tickets cost €3 each, or they are offering a book of 10 tickets for only €20!

Films to be shown include Tokio Blues - the film based on Norwegian Wood by writer Haruki Murakami, Changeling by Clint Eastwood and Shutter Island by Scorsese, amongst a selection of other greats. Check the web for more information.

www.ivac.gva.es

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfp9gAmYk9w Francisco Camps | After seven years as the elected President of Valencia Community Francisco Camps has resigned.

He stated his reasons for resigning as being that he did not wish to cause political harm to his party (PPCV or Peoples Party/Popular Party) should he have to stand trial in respect of bribery charges against him.

He stands accused of taking money from a known criminal in the form of payments for suits worth €12,000.

The charges against him and several other elected PP officials were initiated by magistrate and selfappointed law champion Baltasar Garzón.

Garzón is a famous figure here in Spain for high profile cases such as his seemingly relentless pursuit of ETA; for his successful conviction of Atletico Madrid and Marbella President Jesús Gil for corruption; and for the issuing of an international arrest warrant for former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet for the alleged torture and death of Spanish citizens.

Expect this story to run and run.

© mercedesalonso

01/08/1740. Unofficial British Anthem and perennial Proms favourite 'Rule Britannia' is sung for the first time and on the same day in 1859 Gounod's 'Ave Maria' is heard for the first time.

Free/cheap in Valencia

W

5

where you can enjoy Spanish culture, nature and good, cheap fun. This month we'll be:

1| going on a tapas tour. With longer evenings, when better to enjoy the atmosphere sampling different local bars and tasting different foods? Our favourite tapas are in Gran Via and El Carmen.

2| lying in the river during siesta hour, near one of the many fountains. If the breeze is in the right direction, the spray is perfectly cooling.

3| taking advantage of the quiet August streets to investigate the back alleys. It's too hot to be out in the sunlight, we'll be strolling down the shady lanes, and popping into one or two local cafés too.

Spanish tapas (tapar - to cover) have grown from what was once a mere slice of bread, to the variety of delicacies placed before us nowadays. Some venues offer free tapas with your drink, in others you will pay for the experience.

The international flavours now include the African influence of spices, fried delicacies such as cod and squid, and ingenious creations using the restaurant’s own signature style.

Tapas have an unknown past: perhaps introduced to prevent drunkenness caused by the lack of clean water (many drank wine instead), or encouraged by sickly King Alfonso X, whose health improved by eating when drinking, or from Andalusians who covered their sherries with bread to distract fruit flies.

Don't be confused by pintxos, these are essentially Basque tapas, 'pierced' with a toothpick.

01/08/1932. The chocolate bar 'Mars' goes on sale for the first time and, by an almighty coincidence, 37 years later on the same day the first pictures of the planet Mars are beamed back to earth by the unmanned Mariner 6 US spacecraft.

Intermediate

ant to see the Valencian Community on the cheap? Every month we'll list some great spots

6

I heart Valencia

Intermediate

E

ven though it’s summer it doesn’t mean we can’t continue battling it out. Every month we take something from the wonderful world that is Valencia and square it off against something from somewhere else. This month we’ve got the Malvarrosa beach against Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Both favourites for sun worshippers the world over and both equally as golden.

Winner - the Malvarrosa - bigger is certainly better!

Round 3| History The Aboriginal word Bondi (or 'Boondi') means '(noise of) water breaking over the rocks'. The development of the area around the beach can be attributed to two people: Edward Smith Hall & Francis O’Brien, who bought the land in 1851 and developed it as an amusement resort. As popularity of the resort grew, O’Brien decided that he wanted to limit public access, but was overruled by the local council, who understood the need for such a place.

The beach became public on June 9 1882. Between 1935 and 1961 a number of inspectors were put on 'bikini watch' as the two-piece swimming outfit became popular during and after WWII. Nowadays it’s not uncommon to see women go topless on the southern part of the beach.

Round 2| Average Temperature The average yearly temperature in Sydney is 21.7˚ (high) and 13.8˚ (low) with the three hottest months being December (25.2˚, 17.5˚), January (25.9˚, 18.7˚) and February (25.8˚, 18.8˚). Compare this with Valencia’s average temperature of 22.3˚ (high) and 17.8˚ (low) and we have a clear winner. Valencia’s hottest months are July (24.9˚, 20.8˚), August (25.5˚, 21.4˚) and September (23.1˚, 18.6˚) respectively.

Whilst Sydney’s hottest three months are a little hotter, we suspect that the annual temperature in Valencia is consistently better.

The Malvarrosa was named by gardener Félix Robillard in 1848, who was responsible for the upkeep of the botanical garden which included the beach under the supervision of the university.

Robillard had built a factory in order to develop extracts for perfumes. Although the beach was an area where fishing boats set sail back in the day, it soon became popular with the middle-class as a place to meet and hang out. Once tourists began flocking to the Malvarrosa to sample its delights, restaurants and bars multiplied and it started to transform into what it is now.

Round 1| Size Bondi Beach clocks in at approximately 1km long from end to end whereas the Malvarrosa clocks in just under 3km long. Extra points for Malvarrosa for being much easier to measure on Google Maps compared to curvy Bondi. Much quicker (and cheaper) than sending Andy down to both beaches with a metric measuring wheel. Bondi itself can range from 50 metres wide at the north end to 100 metres wide at the south end. The Malvarrosa is consistently 60 metres wide from top to bottom. Add to that the fact that you’ve got a Paseo Marítimo that takes you from one end to the other and you’ve got space for just about everybody.

Winner - the Malvarrosa - ¡que calor!

Winner - Bondi - with a great history.

02/08/1876. The fastest gun in the west, Wild Bill Hickok is shot in the back while playing poker in the town of Deadwood, South Dakota. He was holding two black aces and 2 black 8s, to be forever known as Dead Man's Hand.

Round 4| Fame A simple Google search will give you an astonishing 25m hits for Bondi, but only 857,000 for the Malvarrosa. Bondi also appears in computer game Tony Hawk’s 2, several television dramas and in a series of books written by Robert G. Barrett whose fictional character Les Norton actually lives in Bondi. There is also a yearly Miss Bondi competition, is the home for many tourists on Christmas Day during one of its hottest months and there is also a skateboarding competition called Bowl-A-Rama held there every February. Famous residents include businessman James Packer, who has an estimated worth of $3.6 billion, cricketer Michael Clarke, and bass guitarist Steve Kilbey from rock band The Church.

7

Round 5| Getting tti ting ng tthere herre ffrom he ro om th the he ccity ity Bondi Beach east off h is located lloc ocat ate ed 7km 7km (4 (4 miles) m les) eas mi st o Sydney and requires uire ui re es catching ca atc t hing ng g a bus. bus us. The e buses ru run n from at 10-minute ute ut e in iintervals n nttervvals als duri during ring ng g tthe h d he day ay and d tthen h n he every 15 minutes midnight es until m id dniight during the evening, and then there is a buss ev every e eryy hour at night. A bus er bus from Circular Quay Bondi uay to Bo nd di Beach will take you a good 45 minutes there. Catching a train will es to get there only get you as far as Bondi Junction where you will have to catch a bus. There is also the option of taking a bike from the Sydney Opera House through the botanical gardens and along the harbour where there are some beautiful views.

From the Plaza de Ayuntamiento to the Malvarrosa as the crow flies, the beach is probably about 5km (3 miles) away from the centre of the The film Tranvía a la Malvarrosa (José Luis García city. It will take you about an hour on foot if you’re Sánchez, 1997) tells the autobiographical story of feeling brave during the fiercer months, about 15 writer Manuel Vincent in which the writer falls in love minutes by car and about 35 minutes on the number 4 bus, which also involves a little bit of walking with a girl and follows her to the beach. It has also before and after. You can also take the metro (Line been converted into a training camp for the players 4) to Las Arenas and walk, but this takes a little bit of C.F. Valencia, is the main stage for the San Juan longer due to the distance between the metro stop celebrations (Las Hogueras) with Valencians and and the beach. The easiest, and the most popular tourists flocking from far and wide, plays host to an way, however, seems to be by bicycle, which has international air show each year, and has its very increased in popularity since the introduction own mascletà napolitana during fallas each year. of Valenbisi this year and the number of cycle Famous visitors included the artist Joaquín Sorolla and writer/ journalist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. lanes available between the city and the beach (sometimes combining a little short cut along the Winner - Bondi - for being a big hitter. river bed).

Winner - the Malvarrosa - for being so easy.

OVERALL WINNER - 3-2 An historic win for Valencia.

Give it time and we tip Malvarrosa to be up there with some of the greats.

02/08/1865. Lewis Carroll's masterpiece Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is published for the first time. It was quickly withdrawn however due to bad quality printing and only 21 copies are known to still exist.

Intermediate

I heart Valencia

Learn Better with the British Council

8

T

his summer we’ve moved one of our Young Learner summer courses to the Puebla de Farnals.

Who better to tell you about the course than our students?! Class Junior Pre-3 interviewed some of the other students to get their opinion of the course. Here are their findings.

Question: What do you think of surfing?

Answer: I like surfing because it’s very exciting.

I’d never done it before but I’ve always wanted to learn. I’ve managed to stand up on the board four times and I loved the feeling!

Question: What do you think about having English classes on the beach?

Answer: I like it because all the classes are fun and interesting. The teachers know how to do different exercises- some help you to think in English, some to play in English and others to speak English. The teachers are very kind and know how to explain things well.

Question: What has been your favourite lunch?

Answer: The food is good but I love the Cuban Rice best and if I’m hungry, I can have second helpings!

Question: Do you want to come back next summer?

Answer: Yes, because it’s great fun and you can make a lot of new friends!

Holidays and parties

V

alencia effectively shuts La Tomatina down for August, with no bank holidays - but 10am| battle to climb the community goes wild the soap stick for the ham. with events. Check out the 10-11am| the crowds fill the street listing below, and the tourist ready for the lorries. information for more details.

12 noon| a horn sounds and all The main event will be in the tomato throwing stops. tiny town of Buñol. Celebrations 12.01pm| locals hose down the will last a week in honor of San stinking participants.

Luis Bertran & the Virgin of the 12.02pm| festivities resume, Helpless, the local patrons. with sangrias, sausages The most popular day is and dancing all day. undoubtedly 31 August, when thousands of alcohol and adrenalin fuelled adults hit the streets for a 1 hour tomato fight.

Should you wish to see Buñol in a more festive and civilised mood, pop along on one of the festive days, when there are stalls with hand made products, local foods, family activities, parades, dancing and fireworks.

The best day will probably be on the 28th for the 'day of music', with parades of lively local bands!

In the Community and the neighbouring towns | 1-31 August 1| Segart, Xàtiva 2| Serra, Chera, Segart, Torrella 3| Benifairó De La Valldigna 4| Miramar, Rafelguaraf, Serra, Xeraco 5| Antella, Guadassuar, Rafelguaraf, Riola, Xàtiva, Xeraco 6| Aldaia, Aielo De Malferit, La Font De La Figuera, Millares, Silla 8| Aielo De Malferit, Algímia De Alfara, Marines 10| La Granja De La Costera, Llaurí, Massalfassar, Benirredrá, Quesa, Sollana 11| Real De Gandía 12| Ademuz, Bèlgida, Cofrentes, Benimuslem, Quesa, Teresa De Cofrentes 16| Aielo De Rugat, Lloc Nou De Sant Jeroni, Benissoda, Santo Estivella, Paiporta, Montserrat, Museros, Puig, Albalat Dels Tarongers, Bétera, Bicorp, Bufali, Burjassot, Cortes De Pallás, Faura, Olocau, Sot De Chera, Sueca, San Antonio De Benagéber, Vallanca, Villar Del Arzobispo, Villargordo Del Cabriel 17| Ador, Albalat De La Ribera, Benissoda, Albalat Dels Tarongers, Casinos, Foios, Villargordo Del Cabriel, Villalonga

18| Ador, Casinos, Tuéjar 19| Barx, Beneixida, Fortaleny, Sellent, Torrebaja 20| Benifaió, Jarafuel 22| Alcàsser, Alfarrasí, Benifaió, Faura, Torrebaja, Senyera, Yátova 23| Benimodo, Montaverner, Tavernes Blanques, Villanueva De Castellón 24| Alfara Del Patriarca, Andilla, Benimodo, Godella, Palma De Gandía 25| Alcàntera De Xúquer, Almiserà, Almoines, Beniatjar, Estubeny, La Font D’en Carròs, Fuenterrobles, Llocnou D’en Fenollet, Massalavés, Palma De Gandía 26| Alcàntera De Xúquer, Almiserà, Almoines, Beniatjar, Benicull De Xúquer, Chelva, Estubeny, La Font D’en Carròs, Llocnou D’en Fenollet, Massalavés, Montaverner, Montesa, Montroi, Sinarcas 29| Almàssera, Benigánim, Gilet, Llosa De Ranes, Mislata, Novetlè, Ontinyent, Paterna, Petrés, Vilamarxant 30| Llosa De Ranes, Rocafort, Vilamarxant 31| Albuixech, Buñol, Novetlè

9

Essential information • Take the metro to Valencia San Isidro, then change to the train line.

• Leave early (before 8am).

• Wear clothes that you can throw away as you will never get the smell out - go white!

• Take a change of clothes for the return journey - public showers are near the river (or get showered by a local).

You cannot enter buses with dirty clothes!

• Bring goggles (or protect your eyes but don't wear glasses). Tomato in your eye can be really acidic!

• Wear shoes that have a decent grip. No flip flops as you won't see them again.

• Play nicely - don't throw anything hard or heavy, and don't damage clothing.

www.latomatina.es

1-16 September 1| Titaguas 2| Albuixech, Benicull De Xúquer, Llanera De Ranes, Manuel, Rótova, Sumacàrcer, Titaguas 5| Puig, Benifairó De Les Valls, Sumacàrcer, Agullent, L'alcúdia De Crespins, Emperador, Fontanars Dels Alforins, L'Olleria, Puig, Quart De Poblet, Quatretonda 6| L'Olleria, Rafelbunyol 7| Benisuera 8| Sueca, La Font De La Figuera, Benaguasil, Benisanó, Canet D’en Berenguer, Castielfabib, Torres Torres, Utiel, Xirivella, Alaquàs, L'alcúdia, Alfafar, Alfara De La Baronia, Algemesí, Chiva, Corbera, Picanya, Picassent, La Pobla De Farnals, Puçol 9| Carlet, Torres Torres, Vallada, Alaquàs, Alfara De La Baronia, Algemesí, L'Ènova, Llocnou De La Corona 10| Moncada 12& 13| Salem 14| Riba-Roja De Túria, Higueruelas, Meliana 15| Càrcer, Higueruelas 16| Sueca, Beniarjó, Canals Courtesy of www.docv.gva.es

All information correct at time of print. Check with the local tourist information when making plans.

02/08/1987. Matador Luis Reina shocked bull fighting purists in a ring 130 miles west of Madrid with advertising on his traje de luces (suit of lights) bullfighting attire. Worse still it wasn't even a Spanish brand (Akai Electronics).

10

Valencia community | Port Saplaya

Advanced

I

was sitting on Valencia’s Malvarossa beach, enjoying the winter sun. At sea, three large yachts were sweeping across the skyline, with billowing sails. Nearer the shore, brightly coloured paragliders skimmed the tops of the white horses, and a few hardy souls splashed about in the water – although a closer look revealed that they were mostly under twelve. Hardy chaps, are some kids!

Off in the distance Port Saplaya was shimmering like an oasis so, not being tough enough to be tempted by the sea and never having been a sunworshiper, I set off along the beach to have a closer look. Not a particularly wise move because, as with most oases, it was a lot further away than it looked!

There are lots of well-tended gardens, both private and public, with balconies overflowing with a riot of floribunda. On the sea-facing side two tall, castellated towers keep watch like the entrance to a great castle, although there’s no gate or portcullis between them, and boats enter via a small canal directly into the basin.

Port Saplaya is actually a recently built marina and, to be perfectly honest, drive past it on your way into Valencia from the north, and you could be forgiven for thinking that the architect was in a bit of a Disney frame of mind when he put pen to paper.

Step inside the wall, though, and it’s a whole new world of tinkling sheets against metal masts and gently lapping water.

If you decide to have a saunter around and admire the boats and buildings, don’t be deceived into thinking it’s a 15-minute stroll. Every time you turn a corner another extension to the basin appears, but eventually you will work your way around – only to find you can’t cross the entrance canal and have to either walk all the way back or swim.

The broken skyline of two and three-storey buildings inside the outer higher-rise apartments are painted in pastel shades and vaguely reminiscent of Portmeirion – although there’s no Patrick McGoohan trying to escape as in the cult TV programme, The Prisoner.

Small streets run at angles off the small quayside, with private terraces where families can relax in the sun, having driven no further than fifteen minutes from the bustling city centre. They all have views of the marina – although you may have to twist your neck to an unusual angle to see it.

Port Saplaya fact file Population | 1902 (2009) Patron | Virgen del Carmen Km to Valencia | 4.5km Places of interest | The marina Fiestas | 2nd or 3rd week of July Useful phone numbers | Tourist info | 96 319 02 03 Town Hall | 96 317 17 00 portsaplaya@touristinfo.net

03/08/1492. Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) sets sail in the Santa Maria for the first time accompanied by La Pinta and La Niña. 5 weeks later he reaches the Bahamas and calls the land he finds San Salvador.

11

Car | A3 Bus | Línea 112: Valencia Port Saplaya - El Puig www.emtvalencia.es Metro | Línea 3: AeropuertoRafelbunyol www.metrovalencia.es Walk | Walk along the beach, and paddle across!

If you care to take a break in your meanderings, there are a few places to eat, but they are mostly on the periphery and subject to noise from the motorway (although not much) and the crowds on the beach side, although you do have the view of the Med and the splashing of the waves. There are a couple inside the basin which share a small plaza as a terrace. It’s a pity there isn’t anywhere for that special candle-lit evening, which is always enhanced by the sound of water and gentle movement of boats at their berths – at least it is for me.

Port Saplaya isn’t for those seeking history (it was begun in the 70s), culture (there isn’t any), or even fine dining (sadly) but, as it’s slap bang on the beach and right beside a large commercial centre, it’s a very pleasant place for a peaceful stroll after you’ve done the weekly shop and don’t want to stretch out on the sand.

To discover more about Spain, visit www.derekworkman-journalist.com & www.derekworkman.wordpress.com.

Derek Workman

04/08/1966. "We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock'n'roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary." John Lennon's comments which upset America's religious.

Advanced

Valencia community | Port Saplaya

12

Local interest | A bridge too far

T

he 19 bridges of Valencia not only span the old Turia river bed, they also span the centuries. From the oldest 16th century Puente de la Trinidad to the Puente de la Exposicion also known as the Calatrava bridge (nicknamed La Peineta or the comb), the bridges are all unique and reflect the city’s varied and exciting history.

One of the oldest and best loved bridges is the Puente Real which was built to link the Royal

over it you can imagine all the thousands of people who have walked over the now flaking sandstone tiles. You can sit in the beautiful pock-marked stone benches and think about all those who have sat there before you over the centuries. Sitting in the middle of the bridge you can absorb so much of Valencia, you can see the Arts and Sciences one way and the Bridge of Flowers and the Calatrava Bridge the other. In the daytime you can enjoy the vast expanse of sky with house martins swooping

© Brian O'Connor

Palace of the Kings of Valencia in the Jardins del Real to the Convento de San Domingo in the old city. In fact, it was actually first documented in 1321 in a letter to King James ll. Legend suggests that rocks and earth and even tombstones where taken from the convent’s cemetery to build it. It was given an overhaul in 1598 to celebrate the marriage of Margarita of Austria to the Spanish King Felipe lll.

Two patron saints of the city Sant Vicent Matir and Sant Vicent Ferrer stand guard at the entrance.

The bridges along the Turia range from the Puente 9 de Octubre designed by the young Calatrava to the El Puente de L’Or which at 125 metres high is the highest point in the city. From admiring the Towers from the Puente de Serranos, to relaxing on the Puente de Flores which is always over flowing with beautiful flowers, to marvelling at the two massive gargoyles on la Puente de Reino, the bridges of Valencia have something for everyone.

But perhaps my favourite bridge is La Puente del Mar or the stone bridge with its wide sweep of steps and its sandstone statues in turrets. As you pass

overhead and on summer evenings you can listen to the frogs croaking and watch the bats dive. It seems to me to embrace everything that is so good about the city from watching the teenage groups with their botellones to the old ladies helping each other up the stairs, everyone can enjoy this wonderful bridge.

Polly Churchill

05/08/1962. Death of 'Candle in the Wind' inspiration and Playboy's first covergirl Marilyn Monroe. Her vital statistics are unknown but she is reckoned to have been around 35 22 35 (89-56-89) in her early career. Think Jessica Rabbit.

Shop | Pupp-eco

13

V

Advanced

alencia is a city which is full of new exciting independent ventures at every turn. This month we were lucky to speak to Paz, owner of the stunning shop, Pupp-eco.

This store is still in its infancy, opening only in May of this year. It's based in the heart of Cánovas, Valencia, so can be easily located in the wide open streets which make this area of town so charming.

From the outside it's obvious that this is a shop with a heart. It has been beautifully thought through, with bright colours and designs inspired by nature and applied with passion.

These themes run through the products, which include a great selection of desirable ladies and children's clothing and accessories. Most products are manufactured in-house, and the designs and beautiful illustrations are created by Paz herself.

All accessories, handbags, hats, necklaces, are transformed or customized, and many are crafted from recycled items, such as the necklaces, made with burlap, seeds and stunning lace dyed with onion skins, making for unique products.

The fabrics are soft and brightly coloured, fresh, and all made in Valencia. There is also a small, limited production of garments, that are also sewn locally, helping to support this industry sector.

Designs are casual and feminine, with subtle touches and flirtatious elements, for people who value unique pieces and limited edition work.

Paz explained that this store is the culmination of her dreams, and this shows in the care and attention which has been paid to every fine detail.

If you are looking for something special for you or for your friends, this is the place to go. This is not just a shop, this is an experience to savour.

Calle Joaquin Costa 53, nr Reina Doña Germana, Canovas Mon-Fri 9:30am-1pm, 4.15pm-8pm Sat 9:30am-1pm 963 291 181 www.camisetaspuppe.blogspot.com

04/09/1957. Governor Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to stop 9 black students trying to enter (formerly whites only) Central High School. President Eisenhower had to send in the 101st Airborne to enforce the law.

14

Expat life | The Age of Behaviour

First Certificate

T

he New York Times recently dubbed this, the ‘Age of Behaviour’. In the second half of the last century the idea of Nationality or Ethnicity determined the grouping of people. This then transitioned to Citizenry, multi-ethnic communities united under the flag of citizenry of a nation. More recently, the suggestion is that behaviour has now become a more important determining factor than citizenship or nationality.

The ‘Arab Spring’ (the wave of protests and positives but does it have the potential to limit the demonstrations which have been taking place since extent to which people integrate?

2010) is an obvious example. Across national and ethnic divisions people have found unity based on In the Middle East and North Africa, young people shared desires and behaviour. who feel free online are returning A contributing factor in this to repressed lives offline and this ‘Perhaps, in the age of has been the proliferation of Behavour even labeling engenders feelings of injustice and social media and trans-national ourselves ‘Expats’ does a a desire for change and reform. The activism. disservice to the diversity sense of belonging to a community of shared ideas and behaviour is of the communities of During the uprisings in Iran behaviour and ideas that empowering them to action and so the online world enhances and Georgia a few years ago, the we belong to.’ interaction in the real world. impact of social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter was greatly overstated.

In our community the autonomy provided by Western Journalists were getting their information by online communities and idea sharing might following Twitter and didn’t seem to want to have the opposite effect and increase ask the question, why would Iranians on isolation. If you can get your the ground be Tweeting in English social needs at home then when they speak Farsi? Of the need to integrate is course much of the Tweeting reduced significantly. was going on outside Iran and so was something On the other hand, of a monitoring service perhaps shared rather than a tool to drive matters. behavioural traits and interests will serve as The Arab spring unifying factors within has been different, the greater community demonstrators on the here and can be used ground have spoken to redraw the lines of frequently about how division and to relegate the they used social media to old ideas of nationality to a organise. The actions of those less important consideration. in Tunisia and the domino effect of Perhaps, in the 'Age of Behavour' even labelling ourselves ‘Expats’ across the region showed the power of shared ideas and desires to unite people. does a disservice to the diversity of the communities of behaviour and ideas that we belong Radical movements have been way ahead of the to, which transcend traditional ideas of classification and nationality.

Eoghan Ryan curve in this respect for years. Radical Islam and right wing Neo-Nazi groups to name just two have, for years, used transnational sharing of ideas to unite groups which would otherwise have been so isolated they would have faded into insignificance or disappeared altogether.

Behaviour as a unifying factor in the development of an expat community here in Spain is in its own transitional phase and has a lot of potential 05/08/1962. Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa for sabotage against the apartheid supporting Government. In 2009, the UN announced his birthday, 18 July, would be known as Mandela Day.

Talking Teaching with Orange Language Academy

15

Y

ou’ve bribed them with this all class. It’s kept them in line. It’s been used as blackmail for hours, days, sometimes weeks on end and here it is… But wait, it’s all over, the students look up at you, their pens haven’t touched the worksheet in front of them, their feet have been tapping, but their hands haven’t been writing. You stand up, smile and say to them: “Do you want me to put it on again?” Heads waggle vigorously in agreement and you’re forced to watch them struggle through the song again, trying to fill in the gaps, order the lines in the chorus, delete the incorrect word, eliminate a line that isn’t necessary.

Okay.

So, what is the he key key to choosing cho oos osing g a song so ong ng ffor or y your ou ur Okay Ok ay y. But my musical tastes tasstes are completely comp diff Should I let students to listen isten tto o iin n cclass? lass?? di ifferent to that of my st students. Shou By and large, do song ge, most ccoursebooks oursebooks kss d o have a son ng them choose choosse their own n songs? to give appropriate for level unit or the le evel at the end d of each each hu nitt o ni orr FFair Fa air i point. point nt.. In nt I this thi h s case, ca ase se,, I would woul wo uld ld ask ask them th you choose from as every other unit.

Let’s though, nit. Let’ ’s face it though h, as much h as yo ou a list lii off severall songs so fforr you to ccho fo you probably lov love/ admire ovve// adm dm mir ire the work of John Lennon, only you can decide decid de what is relevant (or sometimes not. what there are onlyy sso o ma manyy ttimes im mes that you can sit acceptable) or n ot. This way they’re getting gett through “Imagine” gine”” th throughout h your TEFL career*. The theyy want, want, but bu utt you still have a certain degree de control over key is, as most musicians st musi icians will often boast, simplicity. of con o trol o on ve er the direction of the class. class This is especially For music in class, simplicity siimp m licity would be a clear espe peci ciial ally lyy iimportant mportant with teenage classes classe (I’ve had to return many a Lily Allen song to stude students with a singing voice,, as minima minimal mal distortion/ distortion on n/ ba background sheepish look on my face). Just use your interference as possible, sl slow, and (preferably) slow ow,, an a nd (p pre refe ferra fe rably) y) common sense. something that often. at repeats itself quite qu uite itte of ften. ten. n I used to use “You will, you won’t” by The Zutons at the end of What if I can’t get hold of the song? a Future Simple class just to get my point across.

You don’t necessarily need the song, just the Got a few ideas. How do I justify this use of class lyrics. You’ll be surprised how many students know the songs by heart and even more surprised time that could be used more efficiently? at how many will actually be prepared to sing the It doesn’t have to be a waste of time. Songs song without music (granted these are normally are full of rich language, metaphor, expressions, connected speech, slang, colloquial language, etc. If the younger ones). You could just get the lyrics from a decent website and work from that. If you’re you choose your song carefully, you should be able to tie it in with something you have been doing with confident enough about your Spanish, sometimes translation of a song for your students is just as your students. Just off the top of my head, “A Day In interesting for them as listening to it, which they will The Life” by the Beatles is great to pick out irregular have done a million times. Sometimes it’s nice for verbs in the past, Nina Simone’s “Ain’t Got No” is them to be able to make sense of the sounds they great for body parts and “As Tears Go By” by the are singing no matter how nonsensical they may Stones is great for Present Simple. A friend of mine had a great class planned around Nick Drake’s “One sometimes be. Procol Harum anyone?

Of These Things First,” which he later got students to * You can simply Google ‘Imagine esl’ and get rewrite with their own ideas using “I could’ve been a a lovely photocopiable gap-fill exercise within ….” The possibilities are endless, but the important seconds. thing is to have a clear idea of what you want the students to be getting out of the song.

Orange Language Academy has been an American run

Friday| Group| Intermediate Fill the blanks - Aretha Franklin The moment I _________ up Before I _________ on my make-up I say a little prayer for you While _________ my hair, now, And _________ what dress to wear now, I say a little prayer for you

language school for the city of Valencia and its provinces since 2005 offering all types of language related services.

They run the Mon language exchange at The Bohemian Café and the Tues and Weds nights at the Portland Ale House. Find out more at www.orangeidiomas.com

Here's your expression this month. meter la pata - to put your foot in it e.g. Creo que haya metido la pata. He hablado con Marta sobre su fiesta sorpresa. I think I’ve put my foot in it. I spoke to Marta about her surprise party.

07/08/1556. UFOs were spotted over the Swiss city of Basel and were captured for posterity by the 'camera' of the day...a woodcutting! "Many became red and fiery, ending by being consumed and vanishing" said the local newspaper.

16

Festival | 2011 highlights

O

nce the domain of crusty hippies and the alternative drug culture, music festivals have come a long way since the Turn On Tune In Drop Out / Don't Take The Brown Acid days of Woodstock and Altamont in the late 60s. They are now a much more professional affair designed for all musical tastes and age groups. Whilst a lot has been written about corporatism, the prices and the fact 'it's not like it used to be' (but then what is?) we decided to head along and see for ourselves just what it is that drives 50,000 people a day to go to the beautiful seaside town of Benicassim.

Day in the Life What makes Benicassim festival (and Spanish festivals in general) different is the timing of it all.

The music didn't start until 7pm, leaving the day free to get over the night before.

Days started with fresh fruit and juices sold in the camping area, followed by a visit to the town, (benefiting business owners & street entrepreneurs), then the beach before catching the dedicated bus back for a shower and the music.

Benicassim organisers had really thought through what the campers would need and this all added to the experience.

dlife got the il w l a c lo e h T best views

No crusty festival smell at Benicassim!

The music The 5 stages try to cater for everyone. The 'Maravillas' main stage was well positioned and despite previous claims of poor acoustic quality the sound this year was fantastic. As with most festivals most of the best entertainment can be found at the other stages so it was always worth taking the time to wander over to them.

This year the 'Fiberfib' stage had some great DJs playing everything from 60s classics to modern day dance-floor fillers, and the 'Jack Daniels' stage played a superb back up to the main stage in terms of band quality.

And let's not forget the 'Silent disco' resplendent with pool & lounging area where you could boogie to your hearts content with your headphones on to great DJ sets.

The people Happy, smiley, red skinned people of all ages is probably the best description when it comes to the crowd. An international mix albeit with a real slant towards English speakers but from what we could see there were still a large percentage of locals enjoying themselves throughout the weekend.

The staff were courteous and professional and all did their best to ensure the safety of the party-goers.

Despite there being so many people there was no sign of any trouble at all which lead to a great atmosphere.

The bands The Streets and The Strokes were the big draws on Thursday and Friday and the Arctic Monkeys on Saturday but for inVLC the best performances of the weekend were from: Primal Scream - wowed the crowd with amazing versions of rarely played songs from their iconic 'Screamadelica' album. Lead singer Bobby Gillespie was as lively as he has been in years and looked ecstatic to be playing to the Spanish crowd with his laconic vocals being backed majestically by an incredible gospel singer.

16/08/1956. Bela Lugosi, famous for his role as Dracula dies in poverty after being released from hospital as a result of his drug dependency. He was buried in his Dracula cloak. It is unknown if he rose from the dead.

Festival | 2011 highlights

17

Portishead - Bristol's Portishead is world renowned and critically acclaimed and, even though their tunes are usually ethereal and relaxed thus not necessarily festival material, were on top form with Beth Gibbons' stunning voice and beautiful lyrics, which had everyone swaying along. Her stage presence was incredible.

Lori Meyers - a Spanish indie group from Granada with a dedicated following, sang bouncy tunes and had a lively musical support, inspiring a sing-along from anyone with a vague grasp of the words. Check out their new tour dates!

Primal Scream rocked the crowd!

The Arctic Monkeys blasted some oldies, & some new tunes!

But first prize goes to the current music media darlings from Canada - Arcade Fire. Most people expected them to deliver the performance of the weekend and they definitely did. Their mix of heartfelt lyrics and catchy tunes combined with passionate live show gave the crowd exactly what they wanted to hear and was a great way to finish the festival.

Portishead caught everyone's attention!

If you are looking for a great gig to go to next year, FIB Benicassim should be on your list. This was well worth the effort of carting a tent and getting on the train to it!

For those who aren't keen on camping there are plenty of small guesthouses and hotels. And it's only an hour and a bit away from Valencia, so you can dedicate a driver/ draw straws for driving, or even catch the first morning train when the fun finishes!

And it's not over yet. Arenal Sound in Burriana (Castellón) is on 4-7 August, so if you want some great tunes, and fun in the sun, get yourself along!

21/08/1983. Exiled Philippine Opposition leader Beningno Aquino is shot dead on live TV when he stepped out of a plane in Manila Airport. President Marcos' assurances of a safe return seemed to fall a bit short.

18

Music

First certificate

M

usic reviewers Chris Kellett and P J Evans have been busy, so you can experience all the enjoyment that true musical talent can give. We're always open to hearing from you, so get in touch with your recommendations!

Album to bop around to | Friendly Fires - Pala LP Friendly Fires' debut was a successful electro-rock which lent itself to festival headlining, dance remixes and even BBC video montages! Although I'm sure this new album won't be quite as successful, Pala LP assures us that the band didn't fluke its predecessor. The tracks verge just on the right side of cheesy with good lyrics and some distinct bass riffs that, for me, typify the group making the band's live sets even more enjoyable. With many great remixes from this album already doing the rounds it may be difficult to miss Pala LP. Standout Tracks | Chimes, Hurting and Hawaiian Air Album to rock out a hoodie to | Brookes Brothers - Brookes Brothers Of all the sub-genres of Drum and Bass music Liquid Drum and Bass, with its ambient harmonies and smoother style, was always the most accessible. Brookes Brothers are a brilliant example of this upbeat melodic style. This album contains many tracks that have been around for a long time, such as 'Tear You Down' and 'Paperchase' but there are some brilliant new tracks that are guaranteed to get even the most ardent non-dancer moving. As its slower younger brother 'Dubstep' becomes less and less popular, Drum and Bass, especially in this form seem to be as popular as ever. This is definitely an album worth listening to, especially if you think that Drum and Bass isn't for you, you'll be surprised.

Standout Tracks| Last Night, Daybreak and Corpse Bride Album To Keep You Guessing| The Antlers - Burst Apart The Antler's second record is a great success, which weaves its way effortlessly through a number of different musical genres. It's a bit like the Arcade Fire meets something more chill-out like The Cinematic Orchestra or Morcheeba. It might also be described as 'fuller' when compared to its predecessor 'Hospice', which for the most part was very stripped down. Burst Apart is bold and varied and they take the best parts of a number of their contemporaries to make something refreshingly unique.

Standout Tracks| I Don't Want Love, Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out Other releases | Limp Bizkit, Beyonce, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wu Tang Clan, Beirut.

Music news| PJ Harvey’s ‘Let England Shake’, Adele’s ‘21’, & Elbow’s ‘Build A Rocket Boys’ are amongst some of the albums which have been nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize. The winner will be announced on 6 September.

Noel Gallagher’s first single ‘The Chief’ has already been released and accompanied by a trailer directed

by Mike Bruce. It’s soon to be followed

by Noel’s first solo album titled ‘The Death Of You and Me’, out 17 October.

Muse are never one for standing still even after their phenomenal rise to stardom. Their next project? To record a song in outer-space aboard a Virgin Shuttle. Matt Bellamy has said that all that remains is convincing Mr. Virgin himself.

Chris Brown has been labelled a ‘nightmare neighbour’ after conducting late-night dog races (!?!?!?) at his apartment complex in West Hollywood.

Oh and he’s also been parking in disabled parking spaces.

Rumour has it that this November Kate Bush will be releasing a new album. An EMI executive then went on to say that “you can never know with Kate Bush. She does things at her own pace.”

24/08/1680. Wonderfully named Irishman Captain Blood dies. He was famous for attempting to steal the British Crown Jewels in 1671. Rumours abound that the nearly bankrupt King Charles II was involved in the crime.

19

I

t seems that when one door closes, another one truly does open. Yelmo Cines has recently taken over the old UGC Ciné Cité premises at Mercado de Campanar and will be showing original version films alongside the usual cinema fare. As usual, here's the best of what’s on in Valencia.

The Hangover: Part 2| (Todd Phillips) Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifanakis, Justin Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti The gang is back after the runaway success of 2009’s most talked about comedy. No surprises there.

And no real surprises in terms of plot as it almost runs parallel with that of the first film, but is set in Thailand.

Substitute tigers for monkeys, strippers for chick boys, and desert for beaches and there you have it!

This time Stu (Helms) is getting married (curiously not to Heather Graham, who gets mentioned in passing), but to his new Thai beauty – Lauren (Jamie Chung).

The night before the wedding involves the wolf pack (Cooper, Galifanakis) and brother-in-law to be Teddy (Jeong) heading down to the beach ‘for a couple’ and the mayhem starts there.

Maybe not entirely original, but definitely entertaining.

Yelmo Cines: timetables vary, www.yelmocines.es for full listing

Win Win| (Thomas McCarthy) Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale Mike Flaherty (Giamatti) is a lawyer working as a part-time wrestling coach.

By taking on an elderly client, Mike finds a legal loophole that just might stop his business from going under. The arrival of his troubled grandson, however, throws a spanner into the works leaving Mike to rely on his wits.

McCarthy’s other films include The Visitor (2007) and The Station Agent (2003), both of which have seen the young director develop an underground following.

Babel: 16:45, 19:00 & 23:00

Transformers 3: Dark Of The Moon| (Michael Bay) Shia LeBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson What’s been missing in terms of a good original version cinema in Valencia has been the lack of blockbusters that seem to be given the ‘V.O. treatment’.

This doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The Autobots return to fight the evil Decepticons in the form of a space race between the USA and the U.S.S.R and, for some reason, need the help of Sam Witwicky (LeBeouf) again. Expect the big explosions, minimal dialogue and maximum special effects that made the previous two such huge box office successes.

This film’s baddie will come in the form of Shockwave.

Yelmo: 16:00

Babel, C/ Vicente Sancho Tello, 10, www.cinesalbatrosbabel.com Yelmo Cines, Avda Tirso de Molina, 16, www.yelmocines.es Filmoteca, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 17 www.gva.es

24/08/1690. A trading post is established in India on behalf of the East Indies Trading Company in the small village of Kalikata. This small village today is better known as Calcutta/Kolkata and has approximately 5 million inhabitants.

First certificate

Cinema

20

Sport

Intermediate ©L.Miguel Bugallo Sánchez

Cycling| Get on your bikes and ride While not as famous as its French equivalent, the Tour of Spain (La Vuelta de España) is still a massive date on the cycling circuit. One of the big three races in Europe, (Giro de Italia being the other) this year's initial three days racing can be seen in and around the Benidorm area of Valencia Community from 20-22 August.

Expect the crowds to be around early to see the first day's time trial circuit round the town of Benidorm itself whilst the 21st sees the race go from La Nucia to Playas de Orihuela and the 22nd from Petrer to Totana.

www.lavuelta.com

Football| Goooooooooooooooooooooooal!

Arguably the world's best league kicks off once again on 21 August. Defending tiki-taka champions Barcelona will again more than likely fight it out with Real Madrid for the top honour leaving all the others to fight for third spot.

Valencia CF will have all the others chasing them so wise decisions in the transfer market will be of the utmost importance.

Villareal will be looking to hop over their Community neighbours after finishing 4th last year, but will be delighted to also have the chance of playing Champions League football this year.

Across town Levante will be aiming to improve on their phenomenal performance last year but will be wary of the regular curse of relegation after the second season of promotion.

Buena suerte a todos.

Valencia fixtures| 02/08 Hamburgo SV - Valencia 06/08 Liverpool FC - Valencia 12/08 Valencia - AS Roma 14/08 U.D. Almería - Valencia

Levante fixtures| 21/08 Levante UD - Real Zaragoza 28/08 Getafe CF - Levante UD 11/09 Real Racing Club - Levante UD

©Frog 17

12/09/1974. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie is deposed by a military coup. Despite being an Orthodox Christian all his life he was the inspiration for the Rastafarian culture. His real name was Ras Tafari Makonnen.

Your photos | seaside

E

21

ach month we’ll give you a topic for the following edition. Email us 1 high-resolution image with a sentence describing the photo by 31st of the month. We’ll choose a few entries to print and the editor's favourite wins a prize. This month's favourite is by Philip!

Angela Connelly | Riding at dusk

Monica F | Working boats

Hugo Fox | Invisible wildlife

Monica F | Under my umbrella

Philip Calambakas | The most northerly point of NZ, Cape Reinga Please send 1 photo per person & only send your own photo for copyright reasons. There are other terms and conditions - email us for them.

Next month’s topic is ‘laughter’.

Look forward to seeing your pictures. invlceditor@gmail.com

27/08/1987. A 13 year old Chinese girl had to have three years of special training learning how to read, talk and sing songs after her parents abandoned her with a family of pigs which she grew up with.

22

Read me | Robert Tressell

Advanced

The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists Written between 1905 and 1908 and published in 1914, Robert Tressells's ‘The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists’ is a classic of the early 20th century – a classic which has been largely forgotten by the people it was written for. Perhaps this is because The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists deals with an ideology that many people feel is outdated, defeated and irrelevant in the modern world – namely Socialism. However, this great novel still has much to say to anyone interested in how society and the world functions, and besides, as literature, it's a great read.

Robert Tressell was a house-painter, living and working in Hastings in the South of England. The book is based on Tressells’s experiences of the exploitation, poverty and iniquities of Edwardian Britain. Remember, at this time Britain was the richest country in the world, with a huge empire spread across the globe and massive revenues from its colonies in Africa, and most importantly, India. Nevertheless, the vast majority of British people lived in terrible conditions of degradation. Housing was poor, public housing nonexistent, child mortality was endemic, education for working-class children minimal and working conditions for ordinary people were (at best) unpleasant or (at worst) horrendously dangerous.

Earning a liveable wage was a constant struggle.

In Russia, conditions like these eventually led to a revolution. In Britain there was a less radical, more evolutionary approach to changing society, led by the parliamentary Labour Party.

With this historical backdrop, Tressell tells the story of a group of house-painters in a fictional English town. The men are hard-working and honest, but totally deluded about their lives – specifically the causes of their poverty and daily suffering – so much so that when one of them called Owen tries to enlighten them by criticising their bosses and the

system of Capitalism itself, they jeer and boo, refusing to listen or take him seriously. The story, consisting of long conversational scenes in which the characters discuss Capitalism and Socialism, or long monologues

by Owen denouncing the system, could be described as a ‘beginners guide to Socialism’.

It has been criticised as being too didactic, too lecturing and one-sided in its perspective on the world. It's true that Tressell can be a bit longwinded and convoluted but this doesn't take away from the novel’s power as a story or as a genuine account of life in Britain at that time.

This is a book of its time. Britain now is obviously not the same place as it was in 1910 – ironically the best and most profound changes to British society were enacted by the Socialist government of 19451951 which invented the National Health Service, began a massive public housing construction project that provided millions of people with decent homes, and committed to protecting people from the worst excesses of poverty and unemployment through the Welfare State. Anyone who thinks that the message of the book is outdated and irrelevant must have been walking around blind for the past three years – whether it is Dublin, Athens, Madrid or Manchester, the reality of our societies hasn’t changed that much in a century. This is an excellent novel which deserves new audiences, especially now in our ‘crisis’ hit times.

Iain Armstrong Bikes| The monthly bike meeting of VLC will take place as usual on the first Friday of the month. This aims to promote bikes and bike safety in VLC. Place| Plaza de la Virgin, VLC Time| 7.30pm

24/08/1814. Under the orders of General Ross, British troops attack Washington DC and set fire to both the White House and Capitol Buildings after American troops attack Canada (notably burning York (Toronto)).

Green living | the price of feeling good

23

A little goes a long way What| Use a water spray.

Why| Cools you down through the night.

Why not| You enjoy high electricity bills from using your air-conditioning and fans all night. And don't forget those summer colds.

Benefits| Reduces your bills by cutting energy needs!

First certificate

L

ast month I did a small survey of the prices of fruit and veg in a variety of local shops.

Using the same list of products, the goods from the local shop cost about 10€, the supermarkets 14€ (Mercadona) and 16€ (Consum), and organic shops cost 26€.

Well, looking at the results, It's obvious that we definitely could buy the cheapest, and that could be the end of it. It has an economic logic to it after all.

But I believe that we are much more than economic units, much more than consumers and market segments. I believe that we need to look at the other aspects of life, which are of equal importance to the economic element.

In our day-to-day living, ask what is fundamental to a happy life? What is the foundation to a healthy life?

Most would say health. Without it, it's difficult to get or enjoy anything else.

For thousands of years we have eaten organic food (it wasn't called organic then, it was the normal everyday food that people ate) and our bodies are accustomed to and need the quality and quantity of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, proteins, etc. that 'organic' foods provide to achieve optimum health.

Yes, our bodies have a great capacity to survive eating rubbish but we want more than just survival.

We want optimal health, we want to wake up in the morning feeling energized, feeling good, full of strength, energy and vitality and this is one of the principle reasons why we should consume organic.

Regarding the economics, on many occasions we have no problem spending money on alcoholic drinks, fast food, crisps, coffee, sweets...without a second thought we can spend euros on junk but balk at the idea of paying more money for quality food.

We can put a price on the lost earnings, cost of doctors and medicines but can we put a price on the 'sick feeling' we have for periods of time? Is there a price for putting residual pesticides in our bodies? Or animal drugs, which impact our own ability to deal with illnesses? Even if you don't get sick, what is the quality of our lives? Is it worth the money we save buying denaturalized, mass-produced, tasteless food?

When we buy 'organic', not only is it good for our health, it's also supporting those who are protecting the environment. People who live in the countryside are putting a lot of effort and time into growing organic and they need our support. Organic production doesn't contaminate the land, the water or the air. As organic farmers use very little fossil fuel on their farms they are also contributing to Spain's reduction of its co2 production and its energy independence, so by buying organic we are playing our part in protecting the environment.

Declan Lehane

Tips to buy organic a little cheaper -Use a 'weekly box' (fresh fruit 'n' veg) for a set price. Contact your local 'herboristería' or health food shop. If the smallest box is too big, consider sharing with a friend.

-Buy in large bulk (5 kilos) of cereals/legumes.

-Grow your own on your balcony/terrace.

-Buy in-season products, and freeze them, or eat something else during off-season.

05/09/1920. Silent screen superstar Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle was alleged to have caused the death of a starlet after a wild drinking party romp when she died of a ruptured bladder caused by the 23 stone actor.

Artist of the month| Laura Clementi

24 24

W

e want to support new and up-and-coming artistic talent in the Valencian Community. Each month we'll choose one artist at random and devote a page to that artist.

name| Laura Clementi logo| TELA Y PINCEL location| Valencia web| www.telaypincel.blogspot.com

inspiration| imaginary beings or animals that inspire lightness & harmony.

Also Art Nouveau, Liberty Style & Modernism in the decorative elements and shapes.

history| born in Rome 34 years ago with almost 5 years in Valencia. Laura studied Audiovisual Communication in Italy and did a Masters in Digital Media in Spain.

Art has been a passion since a young age.

Earlier this year, with the support and encouragement of a friend, she began to give wings to her imagination through fabric and brush.

what's available| hand painted t-shirts for girls, but other work can be designed on request. prices| â‚Ź10-15

phone| 671427222 email| m.appiano@tiscali.it

If you, or anyone you know, would like to feature in our art pages, contact us at invlceditor@gmail.com

25 25

T

his month our art lovers have taken trips to see inspirational art, which has left them both surprised!

While it is hot and sweaty in the heat of the summer, take a wander into IVAM and check them out yourselves. Don't forget Valencia is filled with galleries, so look out for the independent places too.

L

iquorice Artsorts (until 28/8) | Well, it didn’t come as any surprise to discover that the XXXVII Premio Bancaja de Pintura, Escultura y Arte Digital hosts a series of paintings, sculptures and digital art. What did surprise me was how satisfied I felt after my visit. The eclectic nature of this show left me feeling satiated, like having just enjoyed the perfect meal. Different flavours, different textures, different ingredients. Neither a feast nor anything too nouvelle. Something traditional and something unconventional and completely new.

Artwork made from digital graphics, fabric and ink I’ve seen before, but flour and egg paintings, I haven’t. And that huge sardine tin filled with something akin to the contents of my Dyson is simply bizarre!

With too many excellent pieces to single out, suffice to say that each element of the exhibition is quite distinct. The artworks are rousing and strong and the sculptures fresh and ingenious. What a fabulous visual concoction. What a heady brew of textures, styles, media and subject matters. Visceral and at the same time space age, the overall effect of this exhibition will leave you feeling like you’ve entered the nuclear fusion of an artist’s thoughts and emotions.

ML IVAM, Guillem de Castro, 118 | www.ivam.es Tues-Sun 10am to 8pm, | 2€ or Free on Sundays!

M

asterpieces of Painting: Past, Present and Future (11/06-11/07) | Mateo Charris´'Rareza del Siglo' makes for a good starting point when visiting the IVAM´s extensive collection of 'Masterpieces of Painting' spanning nearly a century of art since the avant-garde period up to the present day.

Charris’ painting is an unusual Ferris-wheel, sporting placards in place of its passenger cars which announce the art movements of the 20th Century from Dada to surrealism to realism to pop art to abstract. Of course, in its circular structure the wheel defines no beginning or end but rather reflects upon the ever-moving cycle of progress, flux and renewal characteristic of nearly 100 years of art. Much like the exhibition itself, it is not on a chronological timeline that importance is placed but on the different strains of ideologies, perspectives and techniques that the past century of art exemplifies, shown throughout the exhibition in a layout which spans 3 sections and that merges work from different decades into three spaces entitled Figure, Norm and Action.

From Figure, whose paintings include the Spanish pop-art artist Eduardo Arroyo, to Norm and its emphasis on the defined lines, forms and blocked colours of Geometrical Abstraction, the third and final part entitled Action is by far the most inspiring.

Expressive brushstrokes, splashes and splodges of dripped paint and torn canvas line the walls of Action, whose painters demonstrate an impressive freedom of colour and form which does justice to the title given to their exhibition space.

While initially disappointed, I recommend holding out for the Action paintings Malou Herkes which are well worth a look.

IVAM, as above!

06/09/1522. First circumnavigation of the globe is completed when La Vittoria sails into San Lucar harbour with only 17 of the crew still alive. Magellan had been in command until he was killed in a battle in the Philippines.

Advanced

Art to see

26

Recipe | gazpacho

First certificate

A

t first glance, gazpacho may seem to be a simple dish made with just a handful of ingredients.

However, it has a long and interesting history, and, like many traditional foods, has uncountable variations. It is commonly accepted that gazpacho comes from the south of Spain, namely Andalusia.

Who were the first people to make gazpacho is open to debate. Some scholars claim that the Romans were the first to make gazpacho when they ate bread soaked in vinegar accompanied by olive oil, garlic, and salt. There is also popular belief that it was the Moors who introduced gazpacho to Spain. Either way, tomatoes weren’t included until after they were brought to Spain by the conquistadors via South America. It seems that what can be agreed upon is that it has always been used to replenish and refresh during hot weather, and it is inexpensive and quick to prepare.

As you travel through Spain you will find gazpachos that might not even use tomatoes, such as ajoblanco, which uses almonds as a base.

Or others that use ham and hard-boiled egg as garnishes, like Salmorejo from Córdoba. Also, gazpacho obviously wasn’t traditionally pureed to a smooth liquid. Either a mortar and pestle or basic utensils were used to mash the ingredients into desired chunks or a palatable paste.

With the summer heat upon us this chilled soup is a great way to eat a nutritious meal without standing around a hot stove. (For a touch of gazpacho comedy, check out the movie Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, where the soup plays a main role in delivering the final punch line).

You can make variations with gazpacho recipes without getting into trouble for straying from a traditional recipe because there are so many traditions! If you are in a rush, you can skip the step of seeding the tomato and cucumber. I asked several people how they prepared gazpacho and everyone said something different. My friend Amalia shared her recipe with me. I made some slight changes, but that seems to be the only norm with gazpacho…

Lia Wallon reLIAble eats www.reLIAbleeats.blogspot.com

What to buy| 3-4 plum (roma) tomatoes, peeled & seeded 1 green pepper, coarsely chopped ½ small clove of garlic ¼ onion, coarsely chopped 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded & coarsely chopped 3 spoonfuls of olive oil 1 teaspoon of sherry vinegar 2-4 slices of day-old bread with crusts removed Salt Water and ice (optional)

Wow factor| Intense flavour sensations!

Effort| Seeding veggies is annoying, but worth it.

How to make it| one Blend the first 7 ingredients together using a hand blender. two Add 2 pieces of bread and a little bit of salt (you can always add more salt later!). Blend and adjust thickness by adding more bread to thicken or thinning with water. three Taste and add more salt, vinegar, or oil as desired. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. If you don’t have time to refrigerate it, throw in a couple ice cubes and stir until dissolved and the soup is chilled.

5

The number of Goya Awards won by the 1988 Spanish Black comedy, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) starring Antonio Banderas at his most handsome.

08/09/1664. A small Dutch colony called New Amsterdam surrenders to the British fleet which had sailed into it's harbour. In 1669 the British re-name the colony after the Duke of York and the Big Apple is born.

A day in the life in VLC| the Foxes

27

L

iving in Valencia and the Community is surprising, varied and exciting and everyone sees something dierent. We thought it would be fun to see what other people see. For one day, a reader will take a photo of what they can see on the hour, every hour for 9 hours. This month, the Fox family show us their Sunday. Contact us if you want to have a go. invlceditor@gmail.com

11h

12h

13h

14h

15h

20h

21h

22h

23h

08/09/1886. In the Witwatersrand area of South Africa it is announced that the public can dig for gold. This mining area gave birth to the town of Johannesburg which today is South Africa's largest city.

Minty cocktails

28

W

hat better way to refresh yourself during the sweaty afternoons than with a icy cocktail, filled with whole crushed leaves of that cooling herb, the mint. The menthol in mint is scientifically proven to trick the brain into thinking it is cooler! Savour and enjoy.

Here are some tasty treats for great fun:

one Frozen Mint Daiquiri The drink of the gods.

5 cl. white rum 1 tbsp. lime juice 6 mint leaves 1 tsp. sugar Crushed ice Combine all ingredients with 1 cup of crushed ice in an electric blender.

Blend at a low speed for a short length of time.

Garnish with mint.

Serves 1 Serve in old-fashioned glasses.

two Brandy Julep The sweet kick.

5 cl brandy 1 tsp. powdered sugar 5 mint leaves Shaved ice Slices of fruit garnish Put sugar, mint leaves, and brandy into a collins glass. Fill with finely shaved ice.

Stir until mint rises to top.

Garnish with a slice of pineapple, orange, or lemon and a cherry.

Serves 1 Serve in Collins glasses.

Tip| Refrigerate your mint in an air-tight container to keep it fresh.

Or snip the ends like flowers & put in water.

According to greek Mythology, mint came from the nymph called Minthe, who Hades tried to seduce. Sadly for Minthe, Hades has a wife, Persephone, who intervened and changed her into a herb, to be trodden on forever.

three After eighteen Long and creamy.

5 cl Kahlua® coffee liqueur 5 cl white creme de menthe Chocolate milk to top up.

Pour Kahlua and white creme de menthe into an oldfashioned glass.

Fill with chocolate milk.

Stir gently.

Serves 1 Serve in old-fashioned glasses.

Charity | Casa Caridad

29

U

pon arrival in Valencia I wanted to fulfil an old desire to get involved with an organisation that works with people living rough. I looked for homeless charities in Valencia on the internet and found Casa Caridad, an organisation dedicated to helping the homeless. I made contact through their web site and later went to visit them.

There I met Eva, the volunteer coordinator, who gave me a tour of their facilities. The main area is the comedor, a large dining room offering a lunch and dinner to around 400 needy people every day.

But Casa Caridad also offers many more services including overnight accommodation for 70 people, two children's schools (one in Valencia the other in Torrent), a day centre, washing facilities and a laundrette, all funded by charitable donations.

I started volunteering by giving English classes to the other volunteers and working in the comedor for Friday lunchtimes. I enjoyed teaching English to the volunteers but helping in the comedor was what I extreme illnesses on a daily basis with little support was really interested in doing. and many have slipped through the safety net of The comedor opens its doors for lunch at 12pm the social services. We are often told desperately every day. The volunteer's main task is to help the sad stories and, of course, we have little power to professional catering staff with the management of help. It is not, however, the job of the volunteers to the diners, we help the less able and the families by collecting the food from the serving counters, we help the diners resolve these problems but luckily the Casa Caridad has a large team of council social direct diners to the next available seat, make sure service professionals dedicated to this; they help there is enough water and serviettes on the tables the comedor's users find a place to stay, look for and at the end of their meal we give out a sandwich work and help them get back on their feet again. so that they can eat in the afternoon, including a However, the volunteers can offer a open ear for halal option for our Muslim patrons. those who want to air their problems, which can be Lunch is a healthy three course meal usually surprisingly helpful. consisting of salad, a rice dish with meat and Despite all this, the Casa Caridad manages to vegetables, bread and fruit. There is cold water on maintain an air of lightness which patrons, staff and the tables and also sometimes milk. Today's menu volunteers respect. On one of my first days, while I was gazpacho, arroz con verduras, empanadillas, was handing out merienda sandwiches I described croquettes, a banana and bread. the options as “cheese or chorizo” (so as not to The diners are a varied group: most come from Spain, South America and Northern Africa but some give Muslims pork!), as in "¿hola, te ha gustado la comida? ¿Quieres un bocadillo de queso o uno de also come from Eastern Europe and the south of chorizo?". A queue started forming and so I decided Africa. Most speak Spanish and the majority are to speed up my patter by just stating the contents of delighted by the lovely lunch. the sandwich. That was until a very Spanish looking Today I’m working with four other volunteers, older man approached...given his appearance I Alonso, Lluis and Palmarita all from Spain and make the choice for him: "¡Chorizo!" I said waving Suzannah from England. The work is generally light the sandwich at him. "¡Chorizo tu!" he exclaimed but every now and again we have a rush. We all like back. I was confused until my colleague came to to chat with the diners to check that everything is my rescue, laughing: Apparently ‘Chorizo’ is a very alright (although some diners like to talk more than common way of describing a thief. Luckily he saw others) and so we discover a little about their lives.

Because of the relaxed, informal atmosphere it the funny side but it served as yet another very real is sometimes easy to forget that you only have to reminder that the perspective of my world and that scratch beneath the surface to realise that every of the diners can be very different at times. day Casa Caridad is dealing with very vulnerable Richard Townsend people who are living in desperate situations. So often the reality of the situation gives even the most More information about Casa Caridad and how suspecting, a nasty shock. Some of the regulars are you can get involved, can be found on their website: young families who sleep rough, others deal with www.casacaridad.com 12/08/1883. The last quagga (a zebra-like animal) died in an Amsterdam Zoo. It had zebra stripes on it's front quarters with brown on it's back quarters and was hunted to extinction in Africa for it's meat and hide.

30

Animals| House Martins

©Ómar Runólfsson

Looking for customers for your business in the Valencian Community?

Contact us on invlceditor@gmail.com ¿Estás buscando clientes para tu empresa en la comunidad valenciana?

Ponte en contacto con nosotros invlceditor@gmail.com Foster/ permanent homes URGENTLY required Name| Tansey Age| 6 months Size| Tiny Personality| Happy and playful Health| Sterilized and vaccinated Info| P.E.P.A - 650 304 746 www.pepaspain.com

T

his is the season that House Martins (El avión común) have returned en masse to Eastern Spain, and bringing with them their cheerful song and graceful nature. They are quite fond of clean cities and towns, so seeing many is a good sign!

House Martins are migratory birds and travel from their winter homes in Sub-Sahara to enjoy the Spanish towns from March until September.

Their streamlined bodies and forked tails make them similar to swallows, but don't confuse them with each other - they are part of the same family, but they don't have the same extreme forked tail, fly slower and usually have white bellies.

As birds adapted to aerial feeding, they look for insects while flying, which is the reason you'll see them swooping and circling for a good proportion of the day, as they hunt for their food. Luckily for us they are quite keen on the mosquito, proving to be an effective pest control method. They aren't particular in terms of where to look for food, but the best places to see them in the Community are under bridges, in squares and in grasslands.

The bird's call, the flying and the tail are used to attract a mate, and, once found, House Martins are polygamous - they breed for life, but often have a wandering eye and follow what they like the look of.

Now that the season has arrived for topless bathing, it's other birds that can be seen flying around - namely the tattoo of the traditional swallow. These tattoos come from the belief that swallows are good luck for those who work at sea as they indicate that land is close by.

Sailors used to tattoo one swallow for 5,000 nautical miles completed, and another when he had completed 10,000 nautical miles, to indicate that he was brave and experienced. If the sailor died, the swallows would carry his soul to heaven.

Nowadays they symbolise love, faith and family a positive representation of beautiful birds.

To see more birds in action, visit Albufera!

www.albufera.com 14/09/1927 and 1982. Very near the same spot in southern France two legendary woman are killed in car crashes. Dancer Isadora Duncan is strangled by her scarf and Princess Grace's brakes fail.

Events & Classifieds

31

I

f you’ve got an event coming up or you are buying, selling or donating anything, drop us an email and we’ll try to give it a mention in the next issue.

Markets | Mon-Montroy, Tues-Monserrat & Turis, Weds-L’Eliana Piccassent & Villamarchante, Thurs-Alaquas & Lliria, Fri -Turis, Torrente & Chiva, Sat-Real de Montroy & Torrente, Sun-Alborache Rastros | Rastro Montroy | Sun 7 August | Calle La Pau, Cindy or Nicolas, 960 80 25 13 or 695 100 540.

Olocau Rastro | Sun 28 August | Social Club Centre, Urb. La Lloma, Olocau, 10am-2pm. Spaces free, Tables €1 Carolyn 962555819 or 664809608.

Masia Rastro | 21 August (every 3rd Sun) | Mas Pavia Restaurante, Masia Pavia Urba, nr Monserrat. Free Pitches (2m max), Stallholders from 9am. Amanda 625819734, sparklesinsunshine@gmail.com for directions.

Lliria Rastro| 13 Aug (every 2nd Sat) | Magpies Bar, 10 C/ los Sauces, Camp de Lliria, Lliria. Tables free. 962728708, Lyn 625217777 magpiesbar@yahoo.com Flat for sale| C/ Villahermosa (Monteolivete). VLC. 100 sq/m, 5th floor WITHOUT a lift. 3 bedrooms. Living room with balcony. Bathroom and WC. Large kitchen and 'galeria', A/C, climalit windows and gas ciudad.

Façade recently renovated.

Only one flat per floor. Direct access to the 100 sq m terrace. Very convenient for public transport, shops, parks (the river and Ciudad Ciencias) etc.

105.000€ o.n.o.

Possibility of taking over mortgage about 480 €/month.

Contact Gabriel 651 83 94 20 or lloydschool@hotmail.com

For Sale| Renault Express 1.9D for spares or repair many new parts have been replaced and currently has itv but some mechanical work needed - open to offers for the complete vehicle not prepared for spare parts to be removed. Please phone 678 228 902.

(Cainos/Pedralba location) Musicians wanted| Valencia local area.

Singer, Bass Guitarist, drummer, etc. to get together for jamming & possibly playing in bars. Blues & Rock Music.

962 731 510 IWC | Monthly coffee morning will be 15 September (No meeting in August).

HIPERCOR - C.Comercial Ademuz, Av. Pio XII, 51 Valencia, top floor restaurant. www.iwc-valencia.ning.com In the number puzzle, each letter is represented by a number 1-26. Crack the code! 3 letters are already in place.

In Sudoku, every row & column of 9 numbers & 3x3 box must include all digits 1-9 in any order.

Finished with your inVLC ? Pass it on to a friend..!

32