'Jerónimo's' (more than a) year in Spain

Bereid je voor op het concert van Juanes in Amsterdam. Al heel mijn verblijf in Spanje worden platen van deze Colombiaan grijsgedraaid in bijna elke Spaanse bar. Je kent ze vast wel, de hits 'A Dios Le Pido' en de opvolger 'La Camisa Negra'.

Nu ik momenteel voor twee weken terug ben in Nederland, begrijp ik dat deze Spaans zingende artiest ook hier helemaal hot blijkt te zijn. Donderdag 6 juli 2006 geeft de Colombiaan Juanes een openluchtconcert in de Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam.

Of je nu naar dit concert gaat en indruk wilt maken op de overige bezoekers of niet, dankzij de Spaanse songteksten van Spanish Song Lyrics kun je erachter komen wát hij nu eigenlijk zingt. Handig op die momenten wanneer de Spaanse woorden razendsnel van z’n tong rollen. En met een woordenboek erbij, is het tegelijkertijd een leuke vorm van gratis Spaans leren.

Op Spanishsonglyrics.org vind je trouwens nog 3.999 andere Spaanse songteksten van nog een heel stel andere Spaans-zingende artiesten.

Last week I was 'doin' cultural in the City of Gold. Since the 2nd of June Salamanca is conquered by artists from all over the world. From graffiti gurus to fire spitting monsters. Every day different events are organized. Some in theatres for which you have to pay only a few euros, but most of them are for free and take place in the Salamancan streets. Hey come on… it’s still a student town!

The second ‘Festival Internacional de las Artes de Castilla y Léon 2006 is being held until June 17th. The first show I saw was Feu & Metal ( Fire & Metal). On the beautiful Plaza Mayor of Salamanca was a strange act to see, a plaza which is an ultimate location for cultural events. You didn’t had to go for interesting dialogues, because the weird figures on the podium spoke their own language, but the show with flying fire and fascinating fireworks made it a special show.

What followed on the plaza was an unique mix of art and music. With the Mexican Ángel Dust behind the wheels of steel (who played an awesome reggae remix of All the Lonely People by the Beatles) break dancers, percussionist who added some live beats and the famous graffiti artist from Barcelona ‘Suso 33’, this team knew how to entertain the audience.
The last cultural happening of the event I saw was last Monday. Every night they organize a dance party in the patio of the historical building ‘Casa de las Conchas’. Cool lighting, chill music and a good atmosphere, that’s the international art festival of Salamanca.

Olé! It’s summer in Salamanca. Although the weather in Salamanca wasn’t all too bad the last few months, since two weeks it’s clear ‘el verano’ really has started.

Temperatures are rising above the 30 C (86F). And that means you can enjoy the city. Students, locals and giris (foreigners, like me), escape to the typical Salamancan spots, where it’s possible to comfortably enjoy the sun. One of them is the world-famous Plaza Mayor, where bars and ice-cream shops such as Ben & Jerry’s are doing good businesses. They all succeed in their way to cool down the chilling crowd.

Another place to be in Salamanca, when the sun is smiling at you, is along the Tormes river. People study for their tests, read an exciting book, chat with friends or just lay back, relax and obtain a summer-look.

It’s definitely summer in the city, and Salamanca still is pretty.