Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

 Valencia  Comments Off
Jul 262011
 
Crem-international-coffee-machine-manufacturers

Coffee in Spain seems to be a ubiquitous drink and one that can be enjoyed virtually wherever you go. Better still, the coffee in Spain is invariably delicious. Certainly, there can few greater pleasures than sitting outside a Spanish bar with a sparkling blue sea in front of you whilst having a sociable cup of coffee. This is bliss – particularly when combined with the fact that rarely in Spain are you ever rushed. So, you can sit with a single coffee (costing around 1.40 Euros) and relax in a way that is quite impossible within the frenetic atmosphere of Northern Europe or the US.

The thing is that, away from the big cities, Spanish life is slower and more relaxed than in Northern Europe and the US. In provincial areas, the word ‘tranquil’ (calm) seems to appear in most conversations and slow, long lunches and relaxed coffee breaks are a way of life. Certainly, I have never been hurried over a coffee in Spain and frequently I have enjoyed every minute of reading right through a newspaper having had a single cup of coffee. To have had more was not expected and, to be honest, not needed.

After all, coffee in Spain is something to be savoured. To have a proper espresso machine is de rigeuer for any bar, café, restaurant or hotel and to be served over-brewed filter coffee or (Heaven forbid) instant coffee would be to insult the taste buds of any self-respecting Spaniard. In fact, after eight years in Spain, I have only ever been offered a cup of coffee in Spain at a Spaniard’s home twice. On both occasions, they had their own espresso coffee machines and I suspect that if this was not the case then no coffee would have been offered. When it comes to espresso coffee machines they are available for the home if you are an aficionado of great coffee – although I prefer not to have the hassle and go out for a coffee. In terms of commercial espresso coffee machines, these are available from a number of coffee machine manufacturers.

Living in Spain, I am biased (obviously) and would recommend a look at the espresso coffee machines made by Crem International in Gandia, Valencia Province whose brand name Expobar you will have seen on many espresso coffee machines in cafes and bars around Spain. These have a good reputation as being both robust and reliable.

Coffee in Spain, Crem International, espresso coffee machines, coffee machine manufacturer, Expobar Great coffee in Spain is de rigeuer with almost every bar having an espresso coffee machine.

Incidentally, if you want your own espresso coffee machine then drop Carolina Arbona a line (she speaks fluent English and Spanish) and she will tell you more…

Nick SnellingCulture Spain

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Jul 192011
 
Monica-naranjo-alexandra-jimenez-malu-roci-madrid

I have just been approached by a very high profile Spanish organization that is campaigning against animal cruelty in Spain.  This, of course, should be of interest to any right minded person and I hope that you will do your ‘bit’ to support them – and the many other organisations in Spain that do so much to help injured or homeless animals here.

Certainly, there is animal cruelty in Spain – just as there is in any country in the world.  However, it would be quite wrong to think that all Spaniards are cruel to their animals.  That is far from the case and you have only to attend a local festival like San Antonio to see that the vast majority of Spaniards love their pets and care for their animals.

However, there are enough Spaniards around who are cruel to their animals to give cause for genuine concern.  Yoquierogalgos (I love greyhounds) is a Spanish organization that highlights monstrous cruelty in Spain against greyhounds – focusing on these lovely dogs to highlight the problems of animal cruelty in Spain.

Certainly, Yoquierogalgos illustrate some stomach churning stories to illustrate cruelty to animals in Spain.  For example, some 50,000 (!!!) greyhounds are dumped every year after the end of the greyhound racing season in January/February.  These dogs have a racing life of two years and then are, quite simply, disposed by their owners, like rancid meat.

Meanwhile, the training of greyhounds is often brutal with tying a greyhound to a car for ‘training’ (‘el galgo a motor’) actually still legal in Andalusia.  In many cases, the dogs concerned die, are run over or go blind from the effort involved in keeping up with an accelerating vehicle.

Needless to say, illicit dog fighting in Spain continues in many areas of the country.  This is a particularly revolting sport that has disappeared from most civilized countries long ago.  Tragically, this is not the case here and many large family dogs are stolen only because they can be used as bait and practice for fighting dogs.  Often the stolen dogs used for ‘practice’ have their teeth removed before being forced to fight, so that they do not damage the valuable fighting dogs.  Disgusting.

Part of the problem is that the sanctions for animal cruelty in Spain are laughable. At best, if someone is found guilty of cruelty to animals in Spain they will receive a fine of 100 Euros!  There are no prison sentences available to the courts to punish cruelty to animals and often the Spanish police are reluctant to take action.

Yoquierogalgos told me of a recent case where a man murdered and tortured a puppy.  This was recorded on video, posted on the Internet and showed the dog being tortured for 29-minutes – during which the poor creature was burned, had its limbs broken and objects inserted inside it.  After months of investigation (following numerous complaints) the culprit was found and identified as a Treasury official in Badajoz who already had a history of torturing dogs.  He was issued with a fine…

As Yoquierogalgos say: “Unfortunately, this is the reality in Spain. If nothing happens to a psychopath like the man in Badajoz then what will exists to punish hunters, gypsies and dog breeders who are also guilty of continuous and terrible cruelty?”

Clearly, something needs to be done and a start would be to have realistic punishments in place for anyone guilty of cruelty to animals in Spain.  This is certainly something for which Yoquierogalgos are campaigning.  They are also, of course, trying hard to change the culture of cruelty that clearly exists in some sections of Spanish society.  Needless to say, this is the long range solution but perhaps the most important one to tackle and one that you can help with – by changing the opinions of those who feel animal cruelty (anywhere in the world) is acceptable.

Interestingly, Yoquierogalgos have some really powerful support for their campaign against animal cruelty in Spain and have enlisted some of the biggest ‘names’in Spain to help them.  These include people like Malu, Alexandra Jiménez, Rocío Madrid, Sandra Barneda,  Mariano Alameda and Monica Naranjo amongst many others.  To put these people in perspective Malu is a major pop star, Rocío Madrid is a TV presenter and actress, Sandra Barneda is a nationally known journalist and TV presenter, Mariano Alameda is a famous actor and Monica Naranjo is a very well known multi-million record selling star.

So, do have a look at the site of Yoquierogalgos (it is also in English) and give them your support.  But, beware – some images are very disturbing. Finally, if you have time, do not forget your local animal sanctuaries (near me in Valencia Province it is SPAMA ) many of whom do wonderful work.

Nick Snelling - Culture Spain

RELEVANT ARTICLES – ANIMAL CRUELTY SPAIN

 Yoquierogalgos magazine    

Yoquierogalgos web site    

Pets in Spain

The San Antonio Fiesta

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

© 2012 Bed and Breakfast in Spain Valencia B&B | Villa Rental | Casa Rural | B&B Spain
Horse Riding | Nature Spain | Bird Watching | Rock Climbing
Mark van Jaarsveld
Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha