Will international football soon be on its way to Gibraltar?

There are a couple of areas of discussion where a recently arrived Brit in Spain should tread carefully when interacting with the locals: politics and football.

Politics is always a touchy subject for any country at any time, and times right now are pretty tough for the average Spaniard. So it’s best to steer clear.

And football? Well, with Spain current World and European champions twice over – plus boasting arguably the two biggest clubs on the planet in the form of Real Madrid and Barcelona – and England nowhere near their level (and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland even further out of sight), it makes perfect sense to keep schtum…

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Spanish consumer confidence levels are going in the right direction

April saw consumer confidence in Spain improve by 4.6 points, according to the country’s Sociological Research Centre (CIS).

Following the increase, confidence now stands at 56.7 points along the Consumer Confidence Index, which is based on a scale between 0 and 200 points. Any rating over 100 points is considered an optimistic level of confidence, while those below 100 indicate widespread negative or pessimistic opinions…

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Food forethought: Trobado's solution to economic woe is a smart one

It’s an innovation that is both a sign of the times and an encouragement for the future. A restaurant in Spain’s Catalonia region has devised a solution for people who cannot afford to eat out: dine there, then give up an hour of your time to work there – serving, cleaning or clearing up…

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Have people's opinions of the Costa del Sol been tainted by films such as Sexy Beast?

Depending on which circles you move in, it’s either a little- or well-known fact that the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) used to be known as the Costa del Viento (Coast of the Wind) until some sharp-witted marketing man had their bright spark of inspiration.

In truth, the Costa has been the del Boy for all sorts of monikers over the years. A tabloid favourite – exhumed in the wake of the dramatic recent arrest of British fugitive Andrew Moran – is the oft-quoted Costa del Crime.

Evoking images of sun, sex, sangria and ‘Cockernee’ wideboys living the life of Riley on the run, the ‘Costa del Crime’ tag has always carried an element of danger and glamour. Following Moran’s arrest, even the normally mild-mannered The Guardian newspaper has been swept up in the fervour, (mis)labelling the Costa del Sol as the haven to end all havens for UK criminals keen to lay low for a while… Continue Reading

The Spanish poster for Almodóvar's new film, 'I'm So Excited'

He is one of Spain’s most renowned and revered filmmakers, whose opinion and viewpoint is sought on a variety of topics. So when Pedro Almodóvar releases a film that aims to tackle and reflect upon the country’s current economic climate, critics the world over sit up and take notice.

Almodóvar’s I’m So Excited (Spanish title: Los Amantes Pasajeros) touches on debt, deficit, unemployment and despair. A perfect parable of Spain’s current woes, or an overwrought artistic misrepresentation of the situation? That should be for the audience to decide, but it’s a telling new direction for Almodóvar, who has hitherto refused to be drawn on matters relating to politics and the fiscal state of the nation…

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The innovative poster uses lenticular printing to display two messages simultaneously

Spain can be a brilliantly inventive country at times. Despite its image as a laid-back country steeped in tradition and cloaked in centuries-old practice, it has a streak of modernity running right through its heart.

From its high-speed rail network and stunningly swift toll roads to its sleek architecture, Spain is often at the forefront of innovation…

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The stunning wind farms around Tarifa form a spectacular backdrop

Statistics from Red Electrica de Espana (REE) – Spain’s grid operator – have revealed that 54 per cent of the country’s power requirements were met by renewable energy for the month of April, breaking all previous records.

In March, renewable power accounted for 51.8 per cent of all energy production – itself a record at the time…

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Spanish olive oil is one of the country's most important export products

Spain’s economy recently had reason to cheer after the country’s secretary of state for trade, Jaime García-Legaz, announced that Spanish exports are set to head the European Union league table for 2013.

After years playing second fiddle to the construction industry, Spain’s exports now account for 33 per cent of the country’s GDP – a figure that is set to grow over the next few years. García-Legaz’s comments were echoed by the executive director of Spain’s Business Council for Competitiveness (CEC)…

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Spain is unlikely to require EU bailout money this year, according to a Reuters poll

The Spanish government’s market reforms have been successful in diminishing the country’s need for a future EU bailout, according to a Reuters poll taken last week.

The poll, which was conducted among some of Europe’s most respected financial figures and economic observers, reflects a growing confidence in the Spanish economy’s ability to pull through the recession unaided. Instead, other countries in the EU – such as Slovenia – are now seen as the most likely candidates for EU bailout funds…

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Who – apart from stuffy officials – doesn’t love a good flashmob? Their spontaneity brings a dance of joy across the lips of all who see them. The fact they inject a spark of creativity into the day-to-day, the humdrum, marks them out as something special. They’re just good fun.

But they’re usually pointless, too. If it hasn’t been organised by a global conglomerate then it’s usually been constructed by some facile Facebook group looking for a laugh. But there is one flashmob movement in Seville that is not only bringing joy and surprise to onlookers – it also has a serious message behind it…

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