Join me for a rainy day stroll along what is probably Madrid's most iconic street. We start off at the bottom end of Gran Vía where it joins Calle Alcalá and follow its 1.3 kilometres all the way to Plaza de España.
Forget chain stores, hotels, and touristy restaurants! Along the way we'll take in the street's most famous buildings and landmarks and explore the fascinating stories behind them. Think clocks, bombs, cocktails, neon lights, theatres, skyscrapers, and a Phoenix.
Locations:
Edificio Metrópolis
Edificio Grassy
Museo Chicote
Gran Via metro station
Edificio Telefónica
Almacenes Madrid-Paris (Now Primark)
Schweppes neon advertisement
Edificio Carrión/Edificio Capitol
Cines Callao
Palacio de la Prensa
Various Theatres
Edificio de España/Riu Hotel
Torre de Madrid
Plaza de España
Monumento a Cervantes
El edificio de la Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas
Casa Gallardo
20 Sept 2023
A guide to churros y chocolate: sheep, a play & Tina Turner
The cool autumn evenings have arrived in Madrid and on a wander down Madrid's Calle de Arenal, I had a sudden craving for Spain's favourite warm, sweet treat — churros y chocolate! This a quintessentially Spanish snack that can be enjoyed at any time of year, but I think during autumn and winter churros y chocolate are a perfect comforting warmer.
Join me as I visit Madrid's iconic Chocolatería San Ginés and pull up a chair at an old marble table in its dining room that dates back to 1894. As I dunk and chomp my way through this sinfully delicious delicacy I take in the surroundings, look at the photos adorning the walls, and take in the basement 'train carriage-style nook'. I also talk about San Ginés's interesting literary connection to modernist playwright Ramón María del Valle-Inclán and his play Luces de Bohemia.
Next stop Los Artesanos 1902 where I see their churrero in action in the kitchen, albeit through a glass window, and explain how churros and porras (the thicker version) are made. Final stop is a very quiet Chocolatería Valor for another round of churros and run-through the curious history of this snack and also when it is usually eaten. (Not for dessert!)
Other must-visit churrerías that I mention in the episode:
Chocolat
La Antigua Churrería
Churrería Camu
Churrería Santa Ana
Here's a bit more background about the play Luces de Bohemia
13 Sept 2023
A postcard from El Puerto de Santa María
Walk with me through the charming city of El Puerto de Santa María. We'll take in the famous sherry bodegas, explore Christopher Columbus's link to the city, take a look at the Castillo de San Marco, where Juan de la Cosa famously drew the first map of the world to include The Americas.
Along the way, a few observations on the crumbling charm of Cadiz's sister city, a stroll through the lively Plaza de España and a stop at an even livelier local sherry bar. To round off, some top tips on what and where to eat, nearby beaches to visit, and what to do when when the Levante wind blows!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
150 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
73 ratings
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