The last ETA attack?

The terrorist group ETA's will to create their own fireworks and rockets at the new year seems to continue. * Sigh! * Almost exactly two years ago, December 30, 2006, ETA placed a car bomb in the parking garage at Madrid's Barajas airport. Then killed two innocent people, and about thirty people were injured.

Today we go again, this time the attack was directed against the Basque TV and radio station EiTB headquarters in Bilbao. Like a miracle no one was injured, but the facade of the glass was completely destroyed. Car bomb consisting of 100 kg of dynamite was placed in direct connection to the TV station felt in the entire Bilbao when it detonated at 11 o'clock this morning.

When will they stop?

New Year celebrations in Spain

As in many other places in the world celebrated New Year's Eve in Spain with a bang.

Nochevieja, or old the night that we call New Year's Eve for the spanish have a tradition that is different from the Swedish, otherwise it is quite similar. At midnight, one grape is taken for each class bell tolls at midnight, making a total of the twelve grapes, something that sounds easier than it is. The tradition is said to come from the town of Elche in the Alicante region, where some vintners in 1909 began to eat the grapes because they thought it would bring happiness to the next harvest. Those who fail to swallow all the grapes when the last bell ringing hit is said to suffer from bad luck the following year.

Every Spanish town has its own special place to welcome the new year, but the most famous is arguably the Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain's absolute zero where all roads are measured from the country. From the bell tower of the old post office building, built between 1766-1768 and later inhysningsplats the dictator Franco's political prisoners, turning New Year's clock in and the whole square is absolutely packed with people.

New Year celebrations at the Puerta del Sol will be broadcast live on national TV, and when the midnight shows are the majority of the population of Spain glued to the TV, unless they are in place for the event in or on their own square in front of large screen televisions. Of, carrying his twelve grapes and cava, the Spanish equivalent of champagne. The only difference is that Cava can not be called champagne because it is not produced in France's Champagne district, but it is just as good in my opinion.

I have been in place at the Puerta del Sol a few times during New Year celebrations, but nowadays I'd rather sit in front of the TV with my grapes and cava, the photos below are from New Year celebrations in 2004:

With these lines:
Os Deseo un feliz y Próspero año of 2009 - I Want you all a Happy New 2009!

¡Feliz Navidad!

A Merry Christmas - ¡Feliz Navidad! I wish you all, and what is not better than with Jose Felicanos famous Christmas song with the same title:

In Spain are certainly a lot of kids get a Christmas present, but the big day is actually on Twelfth Night, that on January 6. That was when the three wise men, that Gaspar, Melchor and Baltasar came from a distant land to give Jesus their presents. Until then, take care of you and have a wonderful Christmas holiday! Merry Christmas!

Updated 2008-12-26 with a photo of the traditional Christmas market in the Plaza Mayor, Madrid:

Turrón - Spanish Christmas sweets

Traditionally, the Spaniards are not much for sweets, not even for desserts. As dessert is often offered fresh seasonal fruit, by contrast, is always good and much healthier than other options with a lot of sugar.

But when Christmas is approaching turn it on, so far as the eye can see are sold turrón, ie Spanish nougat. Last year it was sold as Asociación Española de Fabricantes the Turrones y Mazapanes (Tuma), candy for 279 million euros, corresponding to an output of 32 684 tonnes.

Turrón introduced back in Roman times in the Mediterranean region, and the city Jijona, north of Alicante as the seat of the tradionella nougat production, began production in 1400. Original ingredients consisting of honey, sugar, egg whites and almonds or other nuts.

There are two main types of classical turrón, the softer Jijona-nougat and the harder Alicante nougat. Genuine Jijona-nougat must contain 64% almonds and Alicante nougat 60% almonds. Over the past decenierna supply has been increased by a large number of variants; chocolate with puffed rice, chocolate with whole almonds or other nuts, with chocolates, flavors of liqueur or brandy, with dried fruit and even sugar free turrón. The Spanish nougat shows significantly more variation than the equivalent we usually find in Swedish chocolate boxes and bags, twist.

Marzipan is another major element in the Spanish Christmas sweets. The use of almonds and honey was introduced to Spain by the Moors in 700's, and they are still important ingredients for sweets, especially in southern Spain. Marzipan consisting largely of sugar and almond.

All images on the page except the bottom of marzipan, copyright © Turrón 1880, Almendra y Miel SA . The images are used with permission from this classic company, which started turróntillverkning in 1646.

If you are passing Jijona so a visit to Turrón Museum , the only of its kind in the world.

Soft almond nougat (turrón the Jijona)

Ingredients:

• 250 gr of sugar
• 250 g runny honey
• 500 gr almonds
• 4 egg whites

Here's how:

1. Blanch and peel the almonds, toast them in oven. Mal finally them down.
2. Heat the sugar and honey in a saucepan over low heat.
3. Beat egg whites until stiff.
4. Add the beaten egg whites into the sugar and honey mixture on the stove. Stir continuously for about 10 minutes or until it got a nice brown color (caramelized).
5. Remove the mixture from the heat, add the ground almonds and stir well.
6. Spread the mixture into an oblong bread pan lined with parchment paper, after just over 2 hours is turrónen finished.

Marzipan (Mazapán)

Ingredients:

• 300 g ground almonds
• 300 gr icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 egg white

Here's how:

1. Mix almonds, icing sugar and water in a bowl.
2. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and made it a lot.
3. Leave the mixture to stand cold for a few hours.
4. Shape the mass into shapes or cookies and place on parchment paper lined sheets.
5. Beat the whites until stiff and brush since the figures with egg white.
6. Bake in 250 degree oven for about 2 minutes or until golden figures.

Some bullshit

Yes, so here after I started on page A different kind of Spain with a whole new look, one can see that everything works. The search engines have begun to find the right again, and I hope that most people who visit the site are happy with the new. Of course, I feel it has become much easier to update and write new stuff, which I promise to continue with them next year.

One small fly in the cup is how visitors find their way here, with the new system, I have much better eye on keywords, etc.. It's a great way for me to get tips for new article ideas, but at this moment, when the new page has been circulated on the Internet for three weeks, it's most popular search word poop. Yes you read that right, shit!
533 people have found their way here with that term so far, and it feels a bit dull. I hope that these visitors have left the pee and poop stage (Anal phase, according to Freud, occurring in 1.5 - to 3 years of age) and find something else of value on the sides.

This page people land on this keyword is my black list , where image thieves that directly links to my photos are up dog poop in place of the original photo
Over the weekend I hope to write about something much more pleasant, such as whether Turrón, the traditional Spanish Christmas candy. See you then!

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