inVLC February/March 2011

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here's the sound of distant explosions, the smell of smoke in your nostrils and the locals all seem to be running about with enough gunpowder to impress Guy Fawkes himself.

This isn't a report from the latest warzone in the Middle East or Africa - it's a fair description of March right here in Valencia when one of the world's biggest celebrations of fire, firecrackers and fun hits us with the yearly Fallas festival.

So where better to focus our attention this month than details of where you can find out all about the festival and what's on where and when.

We've also got special features on other fiestas around the Valencian Community if you can't make it to Valencia (or just want to avoid it!), a travel piece on Cheste, V.O. cinema releases, new music, where to go out this month and lots more which are all written with our unique Spanish translations for all those language learners out there.

Almost three weeks of noise and hedonism comes to town as the city shrugs off its winter shackles and starts to embrace the coming of Summer. Cameras should be carried at all times to witness the jaw-dropping works of art that are the fallas themselves and to capture the sublime madness of the festival.

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Enjoy the read, 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 Javi Front cover and inside fallas page Marcin 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 4 5 6 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

The latest News keeping you up to date Holidays & parties are everywhere Special - Fallas everything you need to know Valencia Fallas timetable what's on and where Hotspots Free in Valencia takes us dunking Valencia community there's more in Cheste Bar of the month it's all Bohemian Valencia community back to Montserrat Let's talk Expat life! Eoghan is reflecting Talking teaching is asking questions Art & culture Your photos for ‘smiles’ Live music across the community Festival special we've got all the info Music hot new musical releases are back The cinema v.o. releases in Valencia Read me Iain loves his books Artist Miriam's dolls are darlings Lifestyle Sport football information & sports news Green Declan is bartering Recipe Lia loves to share Cocktails it's strawberry season Health fish to eat and to avoid Charity UNICEF kids Animal shop and help in L'olleria Events & classifieds keep you in the know

15/02/1898 - Cuba. US battleship 'Maine' sent to Havana on a goodwill mission. It hit a mine in the harbour and then sank leading to the Spain-USA war. Quite why the US sent a battleship on a goodwill mission is unclear.

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it's all going up in smoke!

News

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C

entral Park in Valencia| After an arduous

Intermediate

process, Valencia has chosen the design efforts of American landscape artist Kathryn Gustafson to design the proposed Central Park of Valencia down at the site of the current Estación del Norte. While no timescales have been given, you can see the impressive winning design at www.valenciaparquecentral.es.

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ever mind the bullocks| Spain's leading

broadcaster has said that bullfighting will no longer be shown on TV in order to protect children from viewing violence.

Spain's state network RTVE says that it has come to this decision as bullfighting times tend to coincide with the times that children watch TV.

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ong Juan Silver| Spain has the world's

greatest proportion of illegal downloaders of music and films according to a new study by the worlds record industry. 45% of internet users in Spain apparently use sites that distribute music illegally. The European average is 23%.

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humbs up for Spain| The UK

Post Office has just published its Holiday Money Report which compares the total cost of eight common holiday purchases – including drinks, sun cream and a restaurant meal – in 36 countries around the world. Since last year the average bill has fallen by an astonishing 49% in Portugal and 18% in Spain.

The eight items cost a total of £32.84 & £36.68 respectively when compared against the USA and Australia totals of £92.47 and £157.51.

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eer - the healthy option| Men and

women who drink moderate amounts of ale & lager reduce their risk of high blood pressure & diabetes, researchers of 1249 volunteers in Spain have found.

Australian experts have criticised the Spanish study's findings, saying alcohol does more harm than good. However, for the time being (i.e. until the next study finds the opposite), you can always claim that your pint is solely for medicinal purposes.

16/02/1989 - UK. A director of the National Kidney Centre is forced to resign after it is found that kidneys used in transplants for wealthy patients had been purchased from poor Turks.

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hey are here. The biggest months in Spain. There are fiestas all over the Community including Carnival and Fallas. Wherever you go you will be caught up in the Spanish party spirit, great food, and a friendly atmosphere. Dates may change, so please check with the tourist information.

16-27 Feb| VEO in Valencia. 9th edition of the festival of theatre, music and dance. www.fundacionveo.com Feb - 19 March| Fallas. Check Page 6 & 7 for more about Fallas in Valenica. There is also a handy timetable on Page 8.

26-28 Feb| Rótova Porrat De Sant Macia. This little town just inland from Gandia offers 2 fun days of traditional 19th and 20th Century markets, crafts, music, dancing, and exhibitions for the whole family.

Now until 19 March| Morella. Take a trip to the yearly truffle fair. The best restaurants will put homegrown truffles on the menu in traditional & creative ways to tickle your taste buds. www.morellaturistica.com 3-5 March| Requena. Last month we mentioned the sausage festival. It has been delayed until March, so you've got time to go to sample their tasty products.

Thanks to Ian & David for letting us know. www.requena.es or www.embutidoderequena.es.

Carnival| Until Ash Wednesday (9/03/11)| Carnival is celebrated until Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday–8 March. Our recommendations are: 4 Feb-5 March| Torrevieja.

Main parades on 27 Feb 4pm & 5 March 10pm. www.torrevieja.com 25-27 February| Requena.

This pretty town can't stop. Direct buses & trains. www.requena.es 25 Feb-7 March| Vinaròs. This northern Valencian coastal town gives Barcelona a run for its money with parades, feathers & dancing. www.carnavaldevinaros.org 3-9 March| Sitges. 40 minutes from Barcelona. Not in Valencia, but it will be one of the biggest Spanish carnivals and is super gay friendly. The main evening parades are on Sunday 6th & Tuesday 8th. www.sitgestur.cat 5 + 12 March| Pego. This inland town loves to party. The carnival is on the 5th followed by the burial of the sardine, which is dramatic and theatrical with coffins, mourning dress, music dancing & bonfires. www.pegoilesvalls.es

February through to March leads us into Lent, and this Catholic country throws itself into full party mode. The festival builds to a crescendo the week before Lent, ending on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday); the day before Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent. Having been banned for 40 years, now anything goes with floats, costumes, fireworks, flesh and sparkles.

Traditionally, carnivals started to use up the food which could not be eaten during lent like meats, sugars and fats, but has now grown into something completely different like so many traditions tend to do.

There are supernatural elements and a general sense of letting yourself go, which you'll see represented by masks, animals and perhaps even body paint. The end of the carnival is marked with the burying of the sardine, a symbolic gesture that the good times are being buried and thus ended, and the fish represents the fasting period of no meat, only fish.

US. Geronimo, a name often shouted by people when jumping off things and last of the Apaches, dies in custody in Forest Still, Oklahoma. Interestingly, Geronimo actually means 'one who yawns'.

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Holidays & parties

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Special | Las Fallas

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allas is celebrated all through the Valencian Community. To enjoy true Valencian spirit, this is the time to go out, soak up the energy and enjoy the spectacle. Many towns around the Community join in this festival (which officially starts in February, but the main dates are 15-19 March), including the smaller ones. To make the most of it, get out into the Community and choose a few towns to see their individual take on the event.

A popular belief is that fallas became a tradition when carpenters started bringing out their old furniture, which they then burned in the street as a symbol of purification and in honour of their patron saint. Whilst there is some truth to this story, it seems to have changed over time almost as much as today's celebrations.

During the 18th century, carpenters used to burn their ‘parots’ (old structures which they hung candles from to see whilst they were working) in Spring as they were not necessary due to the days being longer. Over the years, people began dressing the parots up as people or satirical statues to attract the attention of their neighbours before burning them. Children went from door to door for una alfombra vieja (an old rug), which was a song they sang to get people to give them any old furniture that they might have to add to their parots. These materials made up the first figures (ninots or, nowadays, fallas). At some stage the church got involved and tied the burning in with the celebration of the patron saint of carpenters: San José.

A lot has changed since these humble origins.

Nowadays, the fallas consist of a wooden structure surrounded by moulded polystyrene and card.

However, the theme of purification through burning is still resonant, albeit the fallas themselves tend to focus more on political satire. The burning (or quema) of these gigantic beasts symbolises a hopeful future. Each group (Casa Faller) raises money throughout the year for their particular falla through various fundraisers and social events.

Children also have their fallas infantiles which tend not to deal with anything political, but, instead, have a much more playful tone. Prizes are awarded across various different categories and are sought after for the prestige and recognition. Prizes are dished out on 16 and 17 March.

Fallas is generally considered the ‘carnival of Valencia’ and, for those who experience it, it’s not difficult to see why. The celebration itself is steeped in history, legend, religion, music, gunpowder, fireworks, and, for many, the spirit of Valencia itself.

La planta begins on 15 March, which is when the huge structures are erected (although some have to be begun weeks before). If any falla is not up before the judges arrive, then they are not entered into the competition. Given the money and time invested, there is almost always a frantic rush to apply finishing touches. Throughout the year, teams of professional artists, sculptors and constructors are employed to build and design the fallas.

The history of ‘La Virgen’ goes back to 1409, when a priest, having witnessed a lynching of a young boy with a mental illness, decided to found a hospital for the destitute, mentally ill, and abandoned children. The hospital was called ‘Nuestra Señora de los locos e inocentes’. In 1414, three boys proclaimed that they could make the virgin appear in exchange for food and beds. After four days, nothing had appeared so the door to where they were staying (La Ermita) was forced open. Behind the door was ‘La Virgen’; the boys were nowhere to be found. Legend has it that ‘La Virgen’ turned them into angels. Join the crowds to witness La Ofrenda (the offering) on 17 & 18 March in La Plaza de la Virgen and watch, openmouthed, as the flowers are gradually planted onto the wooden structure of the virgin herself. This is worth the visit for merely the aroma of flowers and the buzz of people pushing and pulling to catch a glimpse of what’s going on.

On 27 February you may witness La Despertà (the wake-up), when bands and fireworks make their way through the streets with the aim of waking any sleepers up.

On 18 March is La Nit Del Foc (The Night of Fire), which should not be confused with the quema when the fallas are actually burnt. Getting down to the river, specifically between El Puente de Flores and El Puente de Aragón is of paramount importance.

Due to the size of this particular fireworks display, you’ll probably see or hear it from miles around whether

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The number of decibels of a normal mascletá.

you want to or not. What you’ll be treated to is around 25-30 minutes of breathtaking fireworks.

On the night of 19 March is La Cremà (La Quema).

The burning begins at about 11pm and always finishes in La Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which is not included in the competition because it is paid for by the citizens of Valencia. One by one, the fallas are burned down. This is carefully coordinated with firemen called in from many of the surrounding villages. A comforting sense of control amidst a city which appears to be spiralling out of it. Rather than run around like a maniac trying to see all of the burnings (an impossible task, trust me!), I’d recommend finding a falla that you particularly like or an area with a few within walking distance and just enjoy the show.

If you get the chance, get down to the Russafa area in Valencia to see some of the most extravagant street lighting you’re likely to ever experience. The sheer heat they generate make Russafa a popular destination for people during colder years. Expect to go everywhere on foot as, during the day, the city is bursting with people. This, coupled with the parades of falleros and falleras heading to make their ofrenda to the virgin, make getting across the city an actual miracle in itself. From the beginning of March you can experience a mascletá – a stunningly loud coordination of fireworks that has attracted famous pyrotechnicians from all over the world to compete each year to achieve the highest decibel count – at 2 o’clock in La Plaza de Ayuntamiento. These are not for the faint-hearted and can also be watched on Canal Nou, where a helpful decibel counter is provided.

For the full timetable of Las Fallas in Valencia, see Page 8. For more details on what's happening in the Community, contact the tourist information.

20/02/1906 - US. The most famous breakfast cereal is created when William S. Kellogg forms the Battle Creek Toasted Cornflake Company. He invented the crispy flakes especially for patients suffering from mental disorders.

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Special | Las Fallas

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Valencia Fallas timetable

The dates and times supplied are correct at time of print. However, there is some discrepancy on the start time of some events. For any event, please check on the official sites or at the tourist information for further details. www.fallas.com and www.fallasfromvalencia.com.

FEBRUARY 14/03 (Monday) 18/03 (Friday cont...)

3pm. Closing ceremony of the Children's Midday. Homage to the Maestro 27/02 (Sunday) 7.30am. Despertà C/ La Paz to Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

12.30pm. Musical parade. Plaza de la Virgen to Plaza del Ayuntamiento followed by the Pasodoble El Fallero (the Fallas anthem) 2pm. Mascletà (fireworks) in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

8pm. Cridà. The official opening of Fallas at Serranos Towers with music and fireworks displays, and the Fallera Mayor of Valencia welcomes you.

MARCH 1/03-19/03 2pm Daily Mascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

5/03 (Saturday) 6pm. Great Mascletà. Las Arenas beach b/w Las Arenas Hotel and the Red Cross First Aid Post.

10.30pm. Ninot Parade. C/ Marques de Sotelo to Plaza del Ayuntamiento, to C/ Marqués de Sotelo. Mascletà.

16/03 (Sunday) 5.30pm. Children’s Ninot Parade. La Glorieta, C/ La Paz, C/ San Vicente, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, C/ Marqués de Sotelo. Mascletà.

12/03 (Saturday) 11pm. International Folk Parade around Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Mascletà.

Ninot Exhibition (children's figurines).

15/03 (Tuesday) 8am. Plantà (setting up) of Fallas Infantiles (children's).

6pm. Closing ceremony of the Ninot Exhibition (adult's).

Midnight. Fireworks on the Paseo de La Alameda (between Exposición Bridge and Las Flores Bridge).

16/03 (Wednesday)

Serrano, at his monument in Ave. Reino de Valencia. Followed by a Mascletà.

4pm. 2nd day of the Flower offering as 17/03.

1.30am. Nit de Foc, the biggest fireworks display in Fallas. On Paseo de la Alameda (between Exposición Bridge and Las Flores Bridge).

19/03 (Saturday & Sunday morning)

11am. Puente de San José (Saint Joseph Bridge). Flower offering by the Fallas Queens followed by a Mascletà.

Midday. Mass in honour of the Patriarch St. Joseph. Valencia Cathedral, Plaza de La Reina.

7pm. Cabalgata del Fuego (Fire Parade) along Colon Street and a firework show 17/03 (Thursday) in Plaza Porta de la Mar. 9.30am. Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

10pm. Cremà or burning of the Awards Ceremony for Fallas.

Children's Fallas.

4pm. 1st day of the Flower offering to our Lady of the Forsaken (Virgen de los 10.30pm. Cremà of the winning Children's Fallas.

Desamparados). C/ La Paz and C/ San Vicente. Thousands of falleros parade to 11pm. Cremà of the Children's Falla in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Plaza de la Virgen until around 1am.

Midnight. Cremà all the remaining 1am. Fireworks on the Paseo de La Fallas.

Alameda (between Exposición Bridge 12.30am. Cremà of the winning adult and Las Flores Bridge).

Falla.

1am. Aerial fireworks in the Plaza del 18/03 (Friday) Ayuntamiento and Cremà of the Plaza 11am. Homage to the poet Maximilano Thous, at his monument at C/ Sagunto del Ayuntamiento Falla. & C/ Maximilano Thous followed by a Mascletà.

8am. Plantà of all Fallas (adult's).

4.30pm. Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Awards Ceremony for Children's Fallas.

1am. Fireworks on the Paseo de La Alameda (between Exposición Bridge and Las Flores Bridge).

20/02/1817 - London. The consequence of J. B. Booth's bad review for his 'Othello' at Drury Lane Theatre is that he decides to move to the US. His son John Wilkes Booth ultimately became infamous in theatre-land for a different reason.

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ant to see the Valencian Community on the cheap? Every month we’ll list some great spots where you can enjoy Spanish culture, nature and have some good cheap fun. We'll be: 1| watching the construction of the statues in the city and the towns. The roads will be barriered off, lights will be erected, and building begun. Half the joy is seeing how these giants stay put.

2| sitting in the sunshine at Gullivers Park in the city (a fun place to go if you have kids). Sue B told us it's a great spot for hanging out, chatting to locals & tourists, and kids love the climbing and sliding.

3| looking for the best Churro vendor (see below).

We found the best ones last year in Russafa, but be prepared for the queues to get to it. © Lia W A Churro is fried dough similar to a doughnut, made into crunchy strips or twists, served sugared and warm, to dip in warm chocolate sauce. There are vendors all over the city at any festival time, especially Fallas. The dough is piped through a churrera: a syringe with a star shaped nozzle giving the Churro its starry shape.

The Portuguese brought the recipe back from Northern China, known as You tiao. It's a little different however as the Chinese pull the dough, a skill which the Portuguese didn't learn, so they altered it to incorporate the push method of piping it through a nozzle.

There are variants all through Spain, made with different types of flour, making smooth, unsugared or filled alternatives.

CALL NOW! 96 131 0522 WE SPEAK ENGLISH! COMPUTERISED SPINAL CHECK IN THE CENTRO QUIROPRÁCTICO DE ROCAFORT

FREE spinal check Plaza San Sebastian, 8 Bajo 46111 ROCAFORT available

Have you ever experienced?

-Stress -Tiredness, lack of energy -Pinched nerves -Migraines, headaches -Stiffness in the neck -Whiplash, neck trauma -Vertigos, dizziness -Tension, shoulder pains -Thoracic or lumbar pain -Chest pain, Asthma -Bad posture -Stomach acidity -Sciatica, pain down the leg -Joint pain, knee pain -Pins and needles, numbness arms or hands -Pins and needles or numbness down the leg If you have experienced one or more of these symptoms, chiropractic could be the solution.

Call now for a free check, it could be the start of a new life!

20/02/1982. Belfast. Back To The Future car maker John De Lorean's business goes into receivership after £17 million had been paid into it by UK taxpayers. On re-entry US customs apparently asked him 'Are you a con-man?'

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Free/cheap in Valencia

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Valencia community | Cheste

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F

or such a small town hovering just off the motorway a short drive from Valencia, Cheste has three major sporting venues: the motor racing track, Circuito de Velocidad Ricardo Tormo, the Valencian Community’s hunting grounds, said to be one of the best in Europe, and the regional Archery centre, used for national championships.

The circuit was opened in September 1999 and is named after one of Cheste’s most famous sons, Ricardo Tormo, twice motorcycle world champion, who died less than a year before its opening, not as a result of an accident on the race track, but sadly of leukaemia.

Prior to the opening of the track, probably the most notable event to have happened in Cheste’s recent history was in 1864, when a collection of coins and gold and silver artefacts dating from the Iberian period were found just outside the town. Not surprisingly it became known as the Tesoro de Cheste, the Treasure of Cheste.

The restoration bug has hit Cheste in a reasonably big way. In the main square, the Plaza del Dr Cajal, the Fuente del Ayuntamiento, designed in 1802 by Vicente Marzo, president of the Real Academia de Bellas Arts de Valencia, spouts forth in front of the elegant town hall. Keeping it company is the splendidly ornate Sindicato Agricola y Caja Rural, the town casino (a kind of gentlemen’s club where the town’s solid citizens socialise) with its sinuously curving Modernista wrought iron work and colourful tiled panels showing agricultural abundance. Sadly, the interior is rather a let down.

The Chestanos are said to be very proud of the hexagonal bell tower of the Iglesia de San Lucas Evangelista. At 51 metres, it matches that of the Micalet tower of Valencia’s cathedral. In 1982, the church was declared a Monument of National Artistic Interest, and has been completely restored, with its rich cream stonework glowing as if it were completed last year and not in 1770. High above the main doorway cherubs perch precariously, praying on a high pointed pediment, while to the left of the main alter is a mural attributed to the 18th century artist, José Vergara (or one of his students).

Car | CV-35 motorway Valencia-Ademuz Bus | Buñol runs buses direct to Cheste. www.bunyol.com or ask at the bus station.

Train | 4 trains a day to and from Valencia.

Check at the train station for details.

21/02/1988 - London. After 2,000 years Queen Boadecia's grave is found under Platform 8, Kings Cross Station. British Rail said that 'due to recent renovation work, anyone wanting to dig it up would have to have a very good reason'.

Valencia community | Cheste

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Cheste fact file Population | 7,200 Distance to Valencia | 25km Places of interest | Circuito de Velocidad Ricardo Tormo Iglesia de San Lucas Evangelista And nearby | Buñol castle Llíria old town Fiestas | Fiestas de la Vendimia, October La Virgen de la Solidadm, April Useful phone numbers | Town Hall 902 12 09 66

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Unfortunately, the charm of the church is somewhat marred by the appalling 80s apartment block that sits beside it, but the Modernista façade of the building that houses the Salon de Te Verdi, opposite, helps restore the ambience of the plaza, and you can nip in to try some of the home-made local specialities such as Tortas de Toros, small pastries with raisins and nuts, or Testaminos, made with sugar, flour, and egg yolk & occasionally with an assortment of fillings such as chopped almonds.

Tucked away behind the municipal market, sensibly placed in the Plaza Mercado, the Ermita de la Virgen de la Soledad Gloriosa, named after the town’s patron saint, was originally built in 1573, but has been considerably restored since, as witnessed by the numerous plaques signifying its various face lifts.

Most notable amongst these is the medallion just below the twin bells that informs the public in bold 3D lettering that the façade of the church was restored in 1904 at the expense of one José Rodrigo Martinez. In such manner do the rich pave their way to heaven.

To the side of the market the rickety hand-made sign for the long closed Cine Goya – a building that looks more like a barn with balconies than a centre of entertainment – recalls a time long before the onset of 16-screen multicines when every tiny village had its own cinema.

As you wander the streets take a glance at some of the tiled side panels that frame the front doors of many of the Modernista houses. In fact the town has maintained quite a lot of architectural gems, although the town architect in the 70s and 80s has something to answer for.

Fortunately most of the new developments, at least in the town itself, seem to be in keeping with the original styles. One oddity is the police station, a combination of public building, garage, water tower and public broadcast system all in one.

Derek Workman To discover more about Spain, visit www.derekworkman-journalist.com and www.derekworkman.wordpress.com.

22/02/1900 Spain. Luis Buñuel father of cinematic surrealism born. 1st film 'Le Chien Andalou' co-directed by Salvador Dali includes a scene where a woman's eyeball is slashed. Lovely! Moved to the US on outbreak of Civil War.

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Bar of the month | The Bohemian Café

Advanced The key to The Bohemian Café is the subtlety.

The lighting is gentle, with uplighters and quirky shaders hanging from the ceiling making for a very gentle atmosphere. The music is more a cool background hum than direct and pumping, allowing easy conversation. The drinks menu is diverse enough to be worth a good look, yet doesn't scream for attention. The artwork is intriguing with modern pieces blending with 20s art deco, giving the eye something interesting to view should you choose to look, or simply an attractive backdrop.

The Bohemian Café currently offers a drinks-only menu, varying from interesting teas, coffees and cream-topped hot chocolates, to devilishly naughty American-style thick creamy milkshakes, to a collection of well thought out cocktails and a diverse international selection of beers at great prices.

The part of The Bohemian Café that makes the experience so pleasurable is the eye for detail. They offer table service, ensuring that you can continue your conversations undisturbed, the drinks are crafted carefully and with love rather than just thrown together, and the drink you receive will be delicious rather than functionary.

Owner Alex will happily chat in English or Spanish and his personality really adds to the feel of the bar.

The Bohemian Café offers the pre-party drinkers a great place to meet up, have a cocktail or two and a chat before heading to th the clubs and an attractive venue for those who want a nice easy place to hang out in and simply chat the night away. As the weather warms up, the terrace outside overlooking the park will be a blessing for enjoying icy shakes and cold beers, and the location means it will be free from car fumes too.

The new intercambio nights on Mondays with Orange Language Academy are already proving to be a success with interest and numbers growing. It's surprisingly easy to get to, with metro stops on both sides, and is handily placed near Plaza Xúquer for a great atmosphere. If you are wondering what to do this weekend, or during the week, get along to The Bohemian Café for an enjoyable evening.

Teas| €2 Bottled beers| €2+ Cocktails| €5.50/6 Happy hour| €4.50 Cocktails until 10.30pm every night.

Paseo de las Facultades, 2, Algirós, VLC Mon - Sat 4.30pm-2am La Carrasca/Amistat 963 935 478

22/02/1797 - UK. A French force lands at Fishguard in south west Wales. They are soon captured however, and this incident is now remembered as the last time that any foreign force has managed to invade the mainland of Britain.

Montserrat, Valencia | P2

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f Climb one o

the local hills

Come for one of their m any fiestas - next one is falla s

ops!

We made a mistake last month (we are only human after all).

The photos and the things to do for Montserrat were lovely, but were for Montserrat, Catalonia.

Thank you to those of you who got in touch for the helpful advice on where to go and what to do in Montserrat, Valencia.

Check out the detail on the church doors

Relax in tranquility and enjoy the view

Buses VLC- Montserrat| Mon-Fri| 8, 10, 12, 14, 17.15, 18.30, 20.30 * Return 6.55, 7.55, 8.55, 10.10, 12.10, 14.10, 15.40, 19.10 ** VLC-Montserrat| Sat/Sun/hols| 9.30, 13.30, 16.30, 20 * Return 8.25, 11.25, 15.25, 16.25. ** *buses leave Torrent 30 mins later **buses arrive in Torrent 20 mins later

22/02/1989 - Finland. Health Ministry proposes people suering stress be given 'sex holidays so they are able to forget their worries and recuperate in an erotic atmosphere'. Doctors suddenly overwhelmed by stressed individuals.

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Expat life | Prohibitive or Proactive?

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e are two months into the smoking ban, and on the surface at least, the transition has been relatively painless. As other countries have shown in recent years, it will become socially normalised quickly and while it will remain a talking point, it will lose its potency with time.

That said, for many, the change is quite profound and will impact the habits of a lifetime.

My Mother, as a former smoker couldn’t sit in a On January 24th, a close family friend died from smokey room and Margaret couldn’t stay anywhere lung cancer. She was diagnosed six months ago but for any length of time where she couldn’t smoke. we suspect that she had known for a lot longer that A friend, who himself battled clear of alcohol and she was gravely ill.

Margaret, was one of those people, that if you substance addiction in his early twenties told me are very lucky, you have had as a constant in your that the hardest part of getting clean was changing life. She was my mother’s oldest friend and my his social habits. sister’s godmother. She was an ever present, loyal, Through rehab and N.A. he came to realise that if he continued to live in the same area and stayed wholehearted friend. friends with the same people, he would never free Margaret was also the most committed, wholehearted smoker I’ve ever met. Smoking was himself from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. not something she did, it was part of who she was.

His breaking ties hurt a lot of people, but it Had she told friends and family that she worked for him. For a while his N.A. crowd became was ill it would have caused friction as we his social circle but with time he moved on and would naturally have tried to get her to quit an addiction free life became normal. smoking. This was not an option.

A significant difference was that This was a woman whose addiction was so he was a young man, the social & strong, that having fractured her skull in chemical habits he was breaking were not decades in the making. a fall, discharged herself from hospital The imposition of the smoking because she wasn’t allowed to go outside ban may seem like nanny-stateism to to smoke. some, but perhaps it can help to make Tuesday nights when I was a breaking the social aspects of the addiction kid meant a fog of smoke in our living that bit easier and we may lose fewer good room, as Margaret and my mother, smoked, people before their time. drank coffee and set the world to rights. I really hated the smoke but such was the Margaret O’Callaghan, 1941-2011 life in those conversations that I stayed Eoghan Ryan there as late as I could get away with.

When I was eventually shooed off to bed I would sometimes sneak back up the hall and lie on the floor outside the door to listen to them talk. More than once I fell asleep only to be woken with a bang on the head when the door was opened.

When my Mother gave up smoking and subsequently moved house she opted to institute her own smoking ban in the new place, and as a result Margaret’s visits became less frequent and shorter, and something was lost.

31 JanuaryLast 1876.

US. All Red Indians had to move into reservations by this date or be deemed hostile.

Many while could not 23/02/1981 attempted coup in W. Europe.

Francoists Lt. Colonel Tejero fires a pistol in Spanish Parliament make it on tanks time and others did notThankfully, even realise this an proclamation had been made. here in Valencia General Milans del Bosch orders onto the streets. it was abject failure.

Talking Teaching with Orange Language Academy

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rossed wires are what we get tangled in everyday. Negotiating meaning is an inevitable part of our job when clarify things. How many students have told you that they weren’t coming to class next Thursday on a Tuesday and then, come Thursday that week, surprise, surprise, there they are, smiling as you’re forced to tippex out the big ‘X’ on your register? El próximo jueves, of course, being ‘this Thursday’ in English. Unless, it is actually Thursday of that week when they tell you. It’s an absolute minefield, but of such an importance that you have to clearly explain it to your adult classes every year consistently. This is often done in Spanish in order to avoid sitting in class on a Friday afternoon like a lemon for an hour. This month I’m going to go through translation errors and explain why they happen: 1.|

A: (Answering the door) Hello, who is it?

B: Hello. I’m me. Can you let me in?

Why oh why do we use ‘it’ to refer to ‘I’ or ‘me’ in English? Arguably, it’s because ‘it’ refers to the unknown thing/ person who is calling. ‘Soy yo’ is something you’ll hear on a daily basis in Spain.

S: Teacher. I’m boring.

T: Yes, you are Pablo. (pat on the head) Yes, you are.

-ing and –ed adjectives. Nightmare. Try to explain that in Spanish they have two verbs for ‘to be’, which let’s face it, we are never really going to understand.

What Pablo wanted to say was Estoy aburrido NOT Soy aburrido.

4|

T: Mario. I need your help!

S: I’m going.

But why are you going? Quite clearly I’ve asked you for help. In Spanish ‘Voy’ means ‘I’m coming’. You can teach ‘come = here’ and ‘go = there’ as much as you like. Thinking about the where at the time of speaking is the problem.

2|

3|

T: What did you do last weekend María?

S: I stayed in Godella.

Okay. At a glance it looks fine, but, after further clarification, it turns out she didn’t ‘stay’ in Godella.

She merely went there to see some friends. Spanish learners often confuse the verb ‘stay’ (quedarse) with the verb ‘estar’ (to be) which looks very similar (and is much easier to conjugate, being a regular verb).

5|

T: Where’s Paco?

S: He’s in your house.

Oh. Is he now? Wearing my slippers no doubt and playing on my Xbox.

T: Who’s he with?

S: Your girlfriend.

Well, well, well. The truth is out! I’m here toiling away at work and Pablo’s lording it up with my girl and beating my top score on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The Spanish possessives ‘su(s)’ and ‘tu(s)’ are a source of constant confusion. Especially considering that ‘su’ can mean ‘his’, ‘her’, ‘their’ and ‘your’ (using the ‘usted’ form).

6|

T: Do you like pizza?

S: Yes. I like a lot.

Orange Language Academy has been an American They love leaving that object out, don’t they? Cue run language school for the city of Valencia and its provinces since 2005 offering all types of language explanation about how, in Spanish, the verb gustar is the wrong way round. It’s much easier to think of related services. They run the Me gusta as ‘it pleases me’ in order to understand Mon language exchange how this verb works. You’ll often hear ‘My job likes at The Bohemian Café and the Tues and Weds me’ for this very reason. nights at the Portland Ale House. Find out more at If you have any ideas that we may have missed out, www.orangeidiomas.com please send them to us at inVLCeditor@gmail.com.

For those of you who really want to get down to learning the language, we’ll be bringing you an expression each month. This is our job. Your job? Get out there and use it! Then tell us how you got on… dar rabia – to annoy/ bother e.g. Hoy en día no me habla. No sé por qué. Me da una rabia.

He/ she doesn’t speak to me any more. I don’t know why. It really annoys me.

26/02/1952 - London. Churchill tells House of Commons that Britain is the world's 3rd atomic power and there are plans to test explode an atomic bomb in Australia 8 months later. This may explain the rivalry between the two countries.

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Learn Better with the British Council n these pages we’ve been looking at things you can do to improve your English outside the classroom. But a common complaint is that “I can’t practice speaking!” This month we’re going ‘Out and about in English!’

Get out of the house, make new friends, learn something new and practise your English!.

>> Take a guided tour in English of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.

This stunning building makes for a truly fascinating tour.

>> Thirsty after all that touring?

You can stop for a drink, but still keep practicing speaking in English while having fun.

Here are a few of the bars in Valencia that offer opportunities to develop your fluency, meet people and just plain enjoy yourself.

The Portland Ale House

C/ Salamanca, 10 Wednesdays 20:00h – Language Exchange Sundays 19:30h – Pub Quiz in English

+Info: www.lesarts.com/ >> Or guided tours of the Almoina are also available in English, if you book slightly ahead.

Sinpy Jo’s

C/ Cádiz, 43 Tel: 670 904 294 Wednesdays 23:00h.– Pub Quiz in English

St. Patrick’s Pub

Gran Vía Marques del Turia, 69 Wednesdays 22:30h. – Pub Quiz in English

Café Las Horas

Conde Almodovar, 1 (Pl .de la Virgen) Tel: 963 917 336 Mondays 20:00 – Language Exchange

Saint Martin Irish Pub

+Info: www.valencia.es/

Abadía de San Martín, 2 (near C/ San Vicente Martir) Tel: 963520024 Tuesdays 20:00h. – Language Exchange

Too shy to practice face-to-face yet? Why not talk to a robot? Or Captain Kirk? Or John Lennon?: http://www.eslall.com/newsletter/Newsletter_nov_05.html Or sign up here to Skype with other English students: http://www.speaking24.com/ So, you see, there really is a lot you can do to practise speaking outsider the classroom!

BRITISH COUNCIL — 70 YEARS IN SPAIN www.britishcouncil.es

Your photos | Smiles

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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 editors favorite wins a prize. This months favourite is by Emma Pettitt!

Rick Garcia | Pretty girl

Emma Pettitt

Christophe Polin | La sunrisa eterna

Philip Calambakas | Vanuatu

Please send 1 photo per person & only send your own photo for copyright reasons.

There are other terms and conditions - email us if you want to know them.

Next month’s topic is ‘time’. Look forward to seeing your pictures.

Gregor Andrews | Emma smiling 26/02/1932 - Arkansas. JR Cash is born. The Man in Black's parents couldn't agree on a name, only on initials. Later becomes John when he enlists for the United States Air Force and was told they would not accept initials as a name.

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Live events

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hristmas, New Year and Kings feel like they happened a lifetime ago, and we're itching to get out into the city and the community to hear great live music. Here's what we're looking forward to this month. If you have any music events coming up, let us know!

MTV Winter| We heard a rumour

El Palau de la Música| C/

that it's coming in March. Keep your Alameda, 30 (VLC) 22/02 Rudolf ears and eyes peeled on our Facebook Buchinder plays some of Beethoven's page for the latest. piano concertos. Tickets from €15.

Benicassim Festival| 14-17/07 25/02 Brahm's violin and piano Additional line up announced! The concertos feature.

Streets and Mumford & Sons have 06/03 Soprano Violeta Urmano sings been added to the line up of Arcade varied works including Rachmnaninov Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Portishead, The and Mahler. Tickets from €15.

Strokes, Beirut, Elbow, Primal Scream.

Check www.palaudevalencia.com Sala Loco| C/ Erudito Orellano, 4-Day ticket €160. www.fiberfib.com Sala Matisse| C/ Campoamor, 12 (VLC) 24-26/02 Sala Loco hosts the 60 (VLC) 17/02 Benefit concert for the Sahara with tickets Emergenza Festival on (all sorts of music). For daily line up see at just €4. Check out Matisse’s ‘So de sons’ nights on www.lococlub.org Excuse me| C/Tomasos 14 Always an eclectic taste here Thursday which showcase Valencian talent and are free (23:00)! You’ll also catch some decent exhibitions and from Northern Soul to rock, pop and indie. Take a chance. independent theatre there too! www.salamatisse.es & Look for them on Facebook.

Café del Duende| C/ Turia, 62 (VLC) A great place to www.wahwahclub.com Qoqoa| C/ Sueca/Les Palmeretes, Sueca 18/02 Hosting catch some decent flamenco from Thursday to Saturday two of the world's most respected and talented house/ from 23:30 onwards. www.cafedelduende.com electronic music DJ's. Vitalic & Soak. It will be messy.

Durango Poligono Industrial La Closa (Meliana) David Knopfler (Dire Straits)| Sala Mirror C/ De Lots of great bands here with an emphasis on real music.

San Vicente Mártir 200 (VLC) 4/03 Brother of Mark and Check their new webpage www.durangoclub.es Palacio de Congresos| Avda/ Cortes Valencianas, original member of Dire Straits comes with a backing band who have worked respectively with Elton John, U2, Rolling 60 (VLC) 11/03 Ismael Serrano - Prolific Spanish Stones, Tina Turner and Chris Rea. Should be good. Tickets singer/songwriter with politically charged lyrics and eclectic music tastes comes to play at 9pm. €37 from www.ticketmaster.com Ambivalencia Festival| 12/03 If your musical www.ismaelserrano.com & www.palcongres-vlc.com Jimmy Glass| C/ Baja, 28 (VLC) This place often features tastes are rooted in old skool hip-hop then you are in for a real treat. Check the next page for more information. some great talent from the local and international scene.

There are duo piano sessions every other Tuesday at 22:15. www.ambivalenciafestival.com Go Team| Sala Mirror (above), 30/03 Brighton based 22 Feb Simon Jermyn / Mikkel Ploug Quartet. 12€. 9.30pm. indie rock sextet similar to Sonic Youth with an innovative www.jimmyglassjazz.net Music Box| C/ Pintor Zariñera, mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood 16 (VLC) & Radio City| C/ Santa soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars.

Asian Dub Foundation| Sala Mirror (above), 25/03 Around since 1993, they are an anti-racism, Mercury Prize nominee fusion of rap, dancehall and ragga music which they blend into their own sound. Having previously played to a crowd of 100,000 you can catch them more intimately in Valencia.

Teresa 19 (VLC) Both are open every day of the week with visiting DJs and are popular with tourists, locals and students alike. On Tuesdays you’ll also find live flamenco music at Radio City (23:00, €7 with free drink). www.myspace.com/themusicboxclub and www.radiocityvalencia.com

27/02/1933 - Berlin. The Reichstag Building (German Parliament) is burned to the ground. A Dutchman is accused of arson but it is later found it was a ploy by the Nazis to suspend all civil rights and freedoms of the press.

Festival special | Ambivalencia

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inally, a bit of hip hop on the peninsular, y encima, in our very own community! Ambivalencia (ambivalence) is a celebration of multiculturalism and internationality within La Comunidad Valenciana. The name for the festival ‘ambi’ which signifies the unison of people and place to produce an atmosphere (ambiente) and ‘Valencia’, which can be translated as valor or even strength.

De La Soul

This is Ambivalencia’s second year and promises to deliver an exceptional musical experience. The festival begins at Midday at Pabellón 5, Feria de Valencia (closest metro stop Benimámet) on 12 March and finishes at 6am on 13 – an astonishing 18 hours of not just music, but exhibitions of graffiti, street ball, skateboarding, dance, art and plenty of other stuff too! Tickets are available from Ticketmaster & Carrefour at €35 (€45 on the day) and buying one early could mean a hefty 50% discount for Ambivalencia 2012.

MC Alberto

If you haven’t seen the posters plastered across the Metro stations, the impressive line up includes the following artists: De La Soul, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Lord (Public Enemy), Arianna Puello, Frank T, El Chojin, Zenit, Payo Malo, La Técnika, Paco Camaleón and many more.

Grandmaster Flash

Expect a long day on an industrial estate listening to fat beats and possibly throwing your hands up in the air from time to time. You can follow the updates to the line up and other news via Facebook and by visiting their blog.

Arianna Puello

Afrika Bambaataa www.ambivalenciafestival.com

28 February 1824. France. Birthdate of tightrope walker Charles Blondin who traversed Niagara Falls on the high-wire in 1859, with later succesful attempts blindfolded, with a man on his back, on stilts, and finally with a wheel-barrow.

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Music

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hether it is flamenco or rap, dance or soul, the beauty of music is its ability to fit into any part of your life. We trek tirelessly each month through the dross to find you some of the best of this month's releases to complement your everyday moments.

Album to listen to with your slippers on | Kiss Each Other Clean – Iron & Wine The fifth release from singer-songwriter Samuel Beam is a mixed bag and a little different to what we were expecting from him. A collaboration with a mixture of experimental musicians sees a change from his traditional folk sound. There are plonky keyboards, drum machines, three note electric guitar riffs and a multitude of different percussion instruments. Beam’s voice is accompanied by some female backing vocals and the results sometimes give the overall sound a real 70s vibe.

Standout Tracks | Tree By The River, Half Moon, Rabbit Will Run Album that takes you back | Progress – Take That Port Vale fan Robbie Williams joins up with the rest of the gang since their break up in 1996. The rift that caused the break was apparently due to Williams not being allowed any creative control. Expect Williams’ input, alongside Barlow’s.

They’ve even let Mark, Jason and Howard write a couple too. Awwww! The ‘Progress Live’ tour for this year has already been announced sadly with no dates planned in Spain as yet.

Standout Tracks| The Flood, Pretty Things Album to put on when your parents are out | My Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West Even the non hip-hop fan has to admit that the variety on this album and the quality of the tunes, along with the number of contributors (too numerous to list here), is nothing short of impressive. This, along with his choice of samples, suggests an encyclopaedic knowledge of musical styles and genres. Sharp, critical, laced with political rhetoric & African-American poetry; West doesn’t take his eye off the ball for even a second.

Standout Tracks| Dark Fantasy, All of The Lights, Monster

Other releases| Cold War Kids, P. Diddy, Gang Of Four, Richard Ashcroft, Avril Lavigne, Pink, PJ Harvey, and a new Pearl Jam live album...

Music news| Bob Dylan has just signed a six-book deal with Simon & Schuster. Two of the books will follow ‘Chronicles: Volume One’ which was released to critical acclaim in 2004. Another title is a collection of thoughts from ‘Theme Time Radio Hour’ whilst the other three titles are currently unknown.

The Strokes’ fourth studio ‘Angles’ will be released on 21 March (UK) and 22 March (US).

Van Halen have gone into the studio with David Lee Roth for the first time since 1984.

Liam Gallagher’s ‘Beady Eye’ have announced a UK tour from April following their new album release.

29 February 1988. England. Lisa Dluchik of Swindon is born in 1984. Her mother Suzanne was born on this day in 1956 so officially she was 7 when she gave birth. Odds of this happening on 29 February are 2,000,000-1.

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ooze, ballet and biological fathers. What a great mix of hard-hitting topics at the cinemas with a variety of films on in the original version (V.O.) language English.

Barney’s Version| (Richard J. Lewis) Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Jake Hoffman.

Documenting the career of Barney Panofsky, we can expect a stalwart performance from Paul Giamatti as usual. Based on a novel written by Mordecai Richler, the story is written as an autobiography of the fictional Barney Panofsky: a television producer and big hockey fan whose memoirs are distorted by the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s.

A hard drinker, foul-mouthed and opinionated, what’s not to like about Barney? Add this together with several wives, an ever-pervasive awareness of his own illness and a distorted reflection of his own past all make for cinema gold.

Black Swan| (Darren Aronofsky) Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey.

Already tipped for Oscar nomination and a cascade of other nominations from various other bodies, I will be shocked, if not upset, not to see Natalie Portman finally get her just deserts. Nina (Portman) wins the coveted role of the White Swan in Swan Lake. With a life dedicated to ballet, an overpowering mother (Hershey) and a rigorous work schedule, Nina and Lily (Kunis) become friends.

Lily herself is the personification of the Black Swan, the daughter of an evil magician representing sensuality whilst Nina embodies perfectly the elegance and grace of the White Swan.

As their relationship develops, Nina begins to get in touch with her darker side, which threatens to destroy her. Check out the cameo from Winona Ryder too!

Black Swan & Barney's Version UGC Ciné Cité: 18 Feb onwards; times tbc UGC Ciné Cité, Avda Tirso de Molina, 16, www.ugc.es

The Kids Are Alright| (Lisa Cholodenko) Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Wasikowski, Hutcherson.

This is another hot Oscar contender and already a favourite amongst critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

The story follows Nic (Bening) and Jules (Moore); a long term couple committed to each other, but in a relationship not without its problems.

They have two children: Joni (Wasikowski) and Laser (Hutcherson) of whom they are each a biological mother respectively. Both children share the same biological father and were conceived through the process of artificial insemination.

A little after her eighteenth birthday, Joni pleads with her mothers to help her find her biological father – Paul (Ruffalo).

Although reluctant at first, they eventually concede and soon find Paul entering their lives in a way that none of them had ever expected.

UGC Ciné Cité: 25 Feb onwards; times tbc Babel, C/ Vicente Sancho Tello, 10, www.cinesalbatrosbabel.com

29/02/1960. Chicago. Bunny girls are seen for the first time as Hugh Heffner opens his first Playboy Club in the city. Famous Bunnies include Debbie Harry (Blondie), Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks) and Jon Bon Jovi's mum.

First certificate

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Read me | Alain de Botton

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onsolations of Philosophy – The British writer Alain de Botton has built a successful career with his thoughtful and intelligent attempts to popularise philosophy as a subject that ordinary people can understand, enjoy and apply to their lives in practical ways. Arguably de Botton’s most successful book is The Art of Travel – an international best-seller – but just as good, though less well known, is his earlier Consolations of Philosophy which was published in 2000.

Consolations of Philosophy describes the thinking of both classical philosophers and modern ones and applies the lessons we can learn from them to common problems or anxieties that most people experience at some point in life. Thus we have Socrates on being unpopular, Epicurus on not having enough money, Seneca on frustration, Montaigne on feeling inadequate, Schopenhauer on having a broken heart and Nietzsche on facing difficulties throughout life.

Now, the problem with much philosophy in textbooks or, as it is taught in some universities, is that it tends to be rather dry, abstract and, yes difficult. Many people dismiss philosophy as something with little relation to their daily lives, or they fear it as something too boring or complex to even attempt to understand. This is a shame, because philosophy is the one subject designed and intended to help us better understand ourselves and the world around us.

This is why I like de Botton – because he tries to return philosophy to its origins, to ordinary people with fears, anxieties and problems, and he does a fantastic job of showing how the so-called ‘Great Thinkers/Geniuses’ were human too with many of the same problems that you and I have, and

furthermore the things they wrote can actually help us to understand how to live in an at times difficult world.

De Botton is not without his critics. People have said that he is a bit pompous, that his work speaks only to a privileged middle-class audience and that – even worse – he is ‘dumbing down’ philosophy, making it digestible for a TV generation that will never actually read the original texts he refers to.

Although I agree to some extent that de Botton has a limited frame of reference I disagree with most of what critics have to say about him. The themes that de Botton discusses are universal – whether you are an investment banker in Tokyo, a teacher in Valencia or a barman in Manchester, you may probably know how it feels to be rejected or disappointed – and de Botton thus deals with the practical problems that real people have in their lives.

Far from ‘dumbing down’ philosophy de Botton challenges us to rediscover the wonderful and important work of people like Schopenhauer or Seneca. He does so in prose that is accessible but articulate. Read Consolations of Philosophy to put it all in perspective – see you next month.

Iain Armstrong

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

01/03/1972. Turkey. Despite British PM's pleas, Tim Davey (14) is jailed for 'conspiracy to sell cannabis'. Any viewers of the film 'Midnight Express' will know that a Turkish jail is not somewhere anyone, let alone a 14 year old, wants to be.

Artist of the month

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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| Miriam Morante location| Valencia what's available| Customized and unique dolls, bookmarks, brooches, jewellery, paintings, Christmas decorations, etc.

inspiration| Art and toys are Miriam's life. This industrial designer does everything with th the illusion illussio on of a girl, stealing hours to create her pieces when iecess w he en she returns home after work. where| Contact her directly for commissions. sio ons. prices| Depending on the item: brooches es att 112€, 2€,, 2€ dolls from 25€ to 40€. web| www.mirisdesignworld.blogspot.com com m email| mirisdesignworld@gmail.com

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

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Sport

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ootball| The push for glory starts in earnest over the next few months and Valencia will be looking for both progression in this year's Champions League and a top 4 finish in La Liga to qualify for next year's competition. The 2nd leg of the this year's last 16 round takes place on 9 March against Shalke 04 in Germany. Amunt Valencia!

Valencia's biggest test in La Liga this month comes from possibly the best team on the planet - Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. It promises to be a fascinating affair (and not one for Valencia fans with heart problems) when Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, someone called David Villa and all the rest of the superstars come bussing it down the AP-7 at the start of March.

Valencia fixtures this month|

Tickets for the general public will go on sale on the Wednesday before the game at the main Valencia CF shops. Although they officially open at 10am, you can expect queues from 8am onwards and a long wait. Tickets €65+.

Buy tickets for other Valencia games from the kiosks at the Mestalla Stadium on Avendia de Suecia, on their web page, on ticketmaster.es, at any of the official Valencia football shops, or even from the La Caixa website. Just ask for una entrada.

The seats at Grada de la Mar are cheap and have a good view.

For information on Levante check the up-to-date information in www.levanteud.com.

Please note all game dates and times are subject to alteration so check beforehand.

19/02 Valencia CF v Sporting Gijón

Levante fixtures this month|

26/02 Athletic Bilbao v Valencia CF

20/02

Real Madrid v Levante

01/03 Valencia CF v FC Barcelona

27/02

Levante v Osasuna

05/03 RCD Mallorca v Valencia CF

02/03

Real Sociedad v Levante

09/03 Schalke 04 v Valencia CF (19.45)

06/03

Levante v Espanyol

12/03 Real Zaragoza v Valencia CF

13/03

Levante v Mallorca

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he city is bouncing| Valencia has replaced Dublin as the new holder of the title of European Capital of Sport after fighting off stiff competition from the 4 Bs of Barcelona, Birmingham, Budapest and Brussels. With no doubt that the ATP Tennis, F1 and Showjumping's Premier Global Champions Tour all helped to sway the judges unanimous decision, Valencia, with over 100 sports centres and more than 1.5 million m2 dedicated to sport, shows its not all just about the glamour but the grass roots too. The city plans to spend an additional €42 million on sports promotion over 2011-12.

01/03/1978. Switzerland. Charlie Chaplin's coffin is stolen from its burial site three months after the funeral and £400,000 was requested for its safe return. The money was not paid and the coffin was recovered 11 weeks later.

Intermediate

Green living | Alternative goals

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uring the 'coralito' in Argentina, when the banks closed down in the late 90s and early 2000s, large numbers (6 million according to a newspaper) managed to survive using 'trueque'.

There were barter (trueque) clubs all over the country and for a fee of $10 you could barter in the barter markets which were held 2/3 times a week using the market money. I attended one in Bariloche, a small town 12 hours (by bus) south west of Buenos Aires. The market (the size of 3 basketball courts) was full of members and everybody was buying and selling for hours. All the food was sold after 2 hours but some other products took a little longer to sell. The organizers said that with $3 a family could feed itself for a week with this system.

Compared to Argentina our economic crisis is relatively small but there are now many families struggling to make ends meet and a new barter market which has just opened in Valencia might be of use to them.

In the past efforts were made to set up barter systems in Valencia, 'Casa del temps' (which has now disappeared) set up one near Avenida del Puerto and Transition Towns in Benimaclet but in the end they all fell through. The new one 'Sol de Valencia' organized by 'Red Sostenible y Creativo' seems to have got off on the right foot with attendances of between 100 to 140 at their first 4 markets.

The virtual money we use is the SOL (value of €1) and each person is given a book when they become members of the club. All the transactions of buying and selling are registered in this book. We use a piece of paper during the barter market and then fill in the final result in the book at the end of the market. We also receive a list of all the members which includes the services they offer & those they are looking for.

Everything (or nearly everything) is for sale: food and drink, tarot card readings, clothes, books, CDs, DVDs etc.

Although this market is not principally for economic survival it does help its members economically, it creates new connections/relationships between people and it also shows that cooperation rather than competition can produce far better results.

For more information www.sostenibleycreativa.es Declan Lehane Top tip for February: What| Use the sun. Open your blinds & curtains to let the sun in and turn off your lights.

Why| Natural light is uplifting.

Why not| You like high electricity bills.

Benefits| Natural sunlight is better for our health, reduces S.A.D, and we use less electricity - a winwin for the environment and us!

03/03/1943. A dark bomb shelter in Bethnal Green, London. A woman & baby fall down a flight of stairs. An elderly man following her trips, falls and dies. Others continuing to enter the shelter keep this pattern going until 178 are dead.

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Recipe | Potato and leek soup

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otato and leek soup is a quick and easy to make dish that’s perfect for cold rainy days or just when you feel like eating something comforting. It can be vegetarian or even vegan so it makes a great dish when you have guests with varying diets. The ingredients are simple and require minimal preparation and since everything in this dish is pureed at the end, there’s no need to worry about cutting picture perfect pieces!

Usually only the white and light green parts of the leek are eaten. The tough, dark green part is edible but it can impart a bitter flavor so it is often not consumed.

It is important to clean leeks thoroughly because they are very good at hiding dirt and sand in their layers.

To prepare the leek, pull off the outer tough layers and cut off the darkest part of the green top, approximately 3-4cm or more depending on the leek.

Cut off 1cm of the root end. Carefully slice the leek in half lengthwise. While holding the leek under running water gently separate the layers and remove any hidden dirt or sand. Shake off the excess water and then slice each half horizontally into half moons.

You can freeze this soup, but the consistency of the potatoes will change and the texture might become slightly grainy. You can add more yogurt and blend again, but it will not have the same smoothness. So when you make this soup eat it up or give it away to your friends!

Lia Wallon reLIAble eats www.reLIAbleeats.blogspot.com

For the soup| (Serves 4) 2 spoonfuls butter or olive oil 2-3 shallots, peeled and sliced in rounds 4-5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 large leek, cleaned and sliced into half moons 1 medium carrot, peeled and sliced into rounds 2 pints (1 litre) of broth (chicken or vegetable) Salt, pepper, and nutmeg Greek yogurt or sour cream (queso fresco) (optional) Cooked bacon or chives for garnish (optional)

Wow factor| Will warm your cockles!

Effort| Easy

The soup| one Sauté shallots and leek in the butter until they start to become soft, about 5 minutes. two Add potatoes, carrot and 1.5 pints of the broth, or enough to just cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil, simmer until vegetables are cooked through. three Using an immersion blender, purée the soup in the pot until smooth. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can add more broth at this time.

Season with salt and pepper and a dash of nutmeg. four To increase the smoothness and add a lovely flavour, add a small container of Greek yogurt or sour cream and mix thoroughly. Or, put a dollop of yogurt in each bowl when you serve it. Crumbled cooked bacon and chopped chives can be used as a garnish to dress up the dish if you so desire.

07/03/1989. South Carolina. A convicted murderer who appealed successfully against being sent to the electric chair is somehow electrocuted accidentally while sitting on the toilet trying to mend a pair of headphones. Karma?

Strawberry cocktails

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W

ho doesn't love strawberries? Now the season has started, it's the best time to get your strawberries fresh from the fields at great prices.

The warmer months mean that we can add a little more ice to our drinks but you don't have to overdo the booze as virgin drinks are easy and fun to make: replace Cava with fizzy apple juice or try coconut cream instead of creme de cacao for a more exotic taste!

Here's some tasty spring treats for great fun:

one Voila!

A new cocktail in town with a hint of something different.

6cl Strawberry Juice (from fresh strawberries) 6cl Vodka 3 Mint Leaves 3 Black peppercorns 1 Lime zest 5 drops of Lime juice

Crush the pepper and mint.

Add all ingredients in a glass with ice and shake well.

two Virgin Colada Drink at lunch and still walk afterwards 8 Strawberries 6cl Coconut cream 6cl Pineapple juice 1 cup ice (crushed) Blend the ingredients in a mixer.

Serve in a hurricane glass (or a highball) with a little pineapple, or a cherry.

three Strawberry shortcake A sweet, delicious smoothie 2cl Amaretto 2cl Crème De Cacao - White 12 Strawberries 2 scoops Vanilla ice cream Cream or nata (garnish) Blend the ingredients except the cream.

Serve in a collins glass with a slice of strawberry and the cream floating on top.

Serve in a highball glass with a slice of strawberry.

Tip| go organic for great tasting strawberries.

200 82

the average number of seeds on a strawberry. mg of Vitamin C per cup (144g) of strawberries.

(That's good - compare to oranges with 64.8mg for the same amount).

Health | Fish for life LEAST MERCURY: enjoy!

Plaice Anchovies Mullet Crayfish Sardine Oyster Hake Herring Perch (Ocean) Whitefish Clam Crab (Domestic) Sole (Pacific) Shrimp* Scallop* Haddock (Atlantic)* Trout (Freshwater) Mackerel (N. Atlantic) Salmon (Canned)** Squid (Calamari)

Salmon (Fresh)**

MODERATE MERCURY: enjoy! s

M

S

6

y

onthl Tuna (Skipjack)* Skate* Monkfish* Lobster Carp Snapper* e r v i ng Halibut (Pacific) Tuna (Canned chunk light) Weakfish (Sea Trout) Bass (Striped, Black) Bluefish Cod (Alaskan)*

Halibut (Atlantic)*

HIGH MERCURY: Eat moderately! s

3

y

onthl Grouper* Mackerel (King) e r v i ng Tuna (Yellowfin)* S

Tuna (Canned Albacore) Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf) Sea Bass (Chilean)*

M

HIGHEST MERCURY: Avoid eating!

Shark* Marlin*

onthl

0

y

Swordfish* Tilefish*

e r v i ng

S

Tuna (Bigeye, Ahi)* Orange Roughy*

s

First certificate

F

or those of you who saw the documentary The Cove last year, you’ll know that the future does not look bright for the world’s fish community.

We have already touched on the overfishing of the world’s oceans in previous issues, but what shocked me most whilst watching this documentary was something far more worrying.

It was the mercury levels in the fish which I had never before even heard of. It turns out that all fish, to some extent, contain mercury in the form of methylmercury, which is an even more toxic compound form of mercury. The presence of this toxin comes from the fat-soluble pollutants in water pollution. The longer that a fish lives, and the higher up on the food chain it is, the higher the levels of methylmercury are.

I developed my love for a good piece of fish from my late granddad, who, even into his early seventies, was known to walk miles to get a decent cod and chips after a hard day’s work.

A quick look on The Cove’s website shows this fish to contain a ‘Moderate’ level of mercury, which is a little disturbing considering how long this fish has been a part of our diet.

Heading to a local bar for some nice anchovies, tuna, cuttlefish or maybe even some tasty swordfish may seem harmless enough.

Yet a quick look on The Cove’s website will tell you otherwise. Swordfish, along with shark, dolphin, marlin, and mackerel are amongst the many fish the website recommends avoiding due to their high mercury content.

The dangers of mercury levels are explored in the documentary and the effects on new born children is simply horrific. A simple search for ‘Minamata disease’, which hit Japan in the 1950s will provide you with all of the terrible details. The Average Joe like you and I, on the other hand, is warned away from fish with higher levels and not to eat more than 12 ounces (2 meals a day) of any other fish (or shellfish) that is moderately contaminated.

M

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* Fish in trouble - these fish are in dangerously low levels. ** Farmed Salmon may contain PCB's, chemicals with serious long-term health effects.

Sources: NRDC.org and thecovemovie.com. The data comes from the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Visit www.thecovemovie.com to find out more.

10/03/1974. Philippines. Lt Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier who believed the Second World War was still being fought is discovered on Lubang Island. By then he was 85 years old and had evaded capture by living on bananas and coconuts.

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“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future" These words were spoken 50 years ago by ex-US President John F. Kennedy yet could be said at any moment in our history and still ring true.

While maybe we shouldn't place our hopes on our children saving the planet and look a bit more towards ourselves there is no denying the part that children will come to play in the future. And while many children are raised in warm and loving environments there are still many millions whose lives are scarred by war, disease and hunger. One of the leading organisations that aims to try to combat these issues is UNICEF. UNICEF is the world's leading charity for children's health and education; formed in 1946 as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to meet the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe and China. The parameters were widened in 1950 and their work has contributed to bettering children's lives in 190 countries around the world since then.

In 1965 they won the Nobel Peace Prize yet despite the name the organisation relies solely on voluntary donations. UNICEF's achievements are incredible. From the ground they work with children and from the top they work on influencing policy to change important social issues.

So what can you do?

Volunteer| Fund-raise or get yourself sponsored for an event.

Donate| A one-off payment, a regular payment or leave a legacy.

Buy an 'Inspired Gift'| Buy life-changing items to be supplied to programmes throughout the year. From £9.50 you can buy blankets for babies, pencils for whole schools or chickens for a family.

Buy a green, ethically produced gift| Bracelets to toys to items for the home from £1.95 upwards.

This buys items & supports international programmes.

Buy environmentally friendly stationery| This includes wedding favours, gift wrap and seasonal cards from £1.99 upwards.

Check out their website to see if there is anything you can do to help.

© UNICEF / UNICEF/NYHQ2006-1637/Getachew

Every hour of every day, more than 1,000 children under the age of five die.

Every 45 seconds, a child dies of malaria.

There are 150 million child labourers worldwide.

1.2 million children are trafficked each year.

There are 250,000 child soldiers.

100 million children cannot go to primary school.

In 2008, nearly 390,000 babies were born with HIV, 280,000 children died of AIDS.

They also became the first name to appear on the front of the Barcelona CF strip in over 100 years and in a twist of fate in these days of mega-deal corporate sponsorships it is Barcelona who currently pay UNICEF to carry their logo.

They have had many successes but this is clearly a charity with their work cut out ahead of them.

First certificate

Charity | UNICEF

www.unicef.org

12/03/1563. Belgium. John Bull, the English composer and organist who composed 'God Save The King', dies after ironically being made to flee the country to escape persecution in England due to his belief in Catholicism.

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Animals - support P.E.P.A. and shop

A

new charity shop has opened in L'olleria!

The second charity shop has been opened by P.E.P.A (the Helping Hands Charity for Animals) giving you more options for where to visit. Following the success of P.E.P.A.’s first charity shop in La Font d’En Carròs, near Gandia, P.E.P.A. has taken the plunge and opened a second shop in L’Olleria (C/ de Isabel la Católica).

The new charity shop opened its doors for business in mid January. Whilst there weren’t long queues waiting for opening time like those which one sees outside Harrods, the first day of opening saw a steady stream of people entering the shop and (even more heartening) a steady stream of people waiting to pay for the bargains they had bought!

The shop sells reasonably priced good quality clothes, bric-a-brac, books, toys, household items, etc. So please do visit it and help support this worthwhile animal charity.

For more information please telephone the P.E.P.A. helpline on 650 304 746 or visit their website www.pepaspain.com Name|Theo Age| 3 years Health| Castrated & health vaccinated.

Personality| A happy, affectionate dog who loves everybody, especially children, and is good with the cats in his foster home.

Size| Small

More info| P.E.P.A on 650 304 746 www.pepaspain.com

3 14

The approximate number of thousands of Kilos of gunpowder (pólvora) used on La Nit del Foc.

Height (in metres) of the ‘Virgin’ at La Ofrenda, in Valencia.

13/03/1961. France. At 79 Pablo Picasso marries his life model Jacqui Rocque in Nice. Jacqueline was 37. At his funeral in 1973 she prevented 2 of his 4 children attending the ceremony before going on to eventually shoot herself in 1986.

Events & Classifieds

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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 6 March | Calle La Pau, Cindy or Nicolas, 960 80 25 13 or 695 100 540.

Olocau Rastro/Table top sale | Sun 27 Feb| Social Club Centre, Urb. La Lloma, Olocau, 10am-2pm. Raising Funds for Charity - Food & Refreshments available - Spaces FREE - Tables available €1 each. Carolyn 962555819 or 664809608.

Masia Rastro| Sun 20 Feb (every 3rd Sun of the month)| Mas Pavia Restaurante, Masia Pavia Urba, nr Monserrat. Pitches are FREE (no more than 2m per stall), just turn up, Stallholders from 9am. Amanda 625819734 or sparklesinsunshine@gmail.com.

IWC| Monthly coffee morning will be 3 March. It's at HIPERCOR C.Comercial Ademuz, Av. Pio XII, 51 Valencia, on the top floor restaurant. It's a group of ladies who get together for Support, Friendship, Business networking, Fund raising and Activities.

See www.iwc-valencia.ning.com for more information.

Language Interchange| We are a group of 4 or 5 Spanish People over 55 years old interested in exchanging English-Spanish conversations with English speaking People. We meet every Monday morning from 10-12 on 1st floor of "Cafetería San Patricio", in Valencia, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 3. For any questions email.- jv.buso@terra.es Language Interchange| We are two retired Spanish people; we want improve our English; you teach us English and we teach you Spanish. (In the city or in the towns) serespcar@yahoo.es For sale| Rotivator €80, Electric Chain Saw €40, Backpack Sprayer €20, Drinks Fridge (cans) €50, Spanish style wooden light €10, 2 cream pvc storage boxes €10 each, 1 large cream pvc storage box €20, 2 Green bar stools €15 each, 1 white bar stool €10, 1 modern cloakroom sink €25, 1 cloakroom sink (new) €10, White plastic twin kitchen sink €30, Hamster Cage €15, Green Display Rack (on wheels) €40, Bag of Irrigation Valves (new) 40, Tel: 637 004 816 For sale| Wooden cot, mattress, bedding,etc €50, bed guard €5, baby listener €5, sterilizer €3, car booster seat €5, bouncer chair €10, child's car seat €25, changing mat & potty €5, high chair €30, playpen €20, stair gate €30, travel cot €25, bicycle (teenager's) €25. Offers considered for multiple purchases. Buyer collects (Lliria).

962 792 168 (Lynne) For sale| Ford Focus/5 door/ Hatchback/silver|1.6 petrol/automatic/ Trip tronic/2008/24,000kms/Spanish/1 owner/ €8,500/Part exchange considered. Pat 637 068 811

New intercambio night: The Bohemian Cafe, Paseo de Facultats, 2, VLC Mondays 8.30pm-10.30pm.

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 7.30pm

Do you want to tell people about your business?

Advertise with us!

Email invlceditor @gmail.com

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

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CURSOS DE VERANO EN EL REINO UNIDO 2011 Durante el mes de julio mejora tu inglés combinándolo con un intenso programa social que incluye excursiones, deportes y actividades lúdicas, en Centros acreditados por British Council y alojamiento en familias seleccionadas con régimen de pensión completa.

CHURCHILL HOUSE. RAMSGATE curso junior (12 -15)

LANGUAGE IN TOTNES curso senior (16 -21+)

Para ampliar información y solicitar reserva: acude al British Council (Avda. de Cataluña, 9) o llamando al teléfono 963 392 980 www.britishcouncil.es

BRITISH COUNCIL — 70 YEARS IN SPAIN