Madrid - Time for a drink

Tired of walking the streets of Madrid then it's time to rest those feet and have a quiet drink in this funky little bar.

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Madrid

What's that at the end of the street ??

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Spain's Tourist Trade

We are all aware from the media of the troubled events in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt.

Problems in the Middle East and North Africa will drive the tourists away from Egypt and Tunisia and assuming they are looking for sea, sun and sand many will head for the relative safety of Spain thus giving the tourist trade a well needed boost.

Looking ahead though the rise in aviation fuel prices which will follow any cut back in oil production will have a negative reaction in the tourist trade - number of tourists will fall.

All very much a two edged sword ...

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Madrid - Reach for the sky

The buildings here in Madrid look as though they are reaching out for the sky ...

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Problems

Problems with the BT phone line have prevented me from Blogging this last week - hopefully the communication problem is now resolved.

More photographs from my archive ( mainly of Madrid ) to follow shortly.

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Iberdrola

With the aid of a Spanish-English dictionary, crossed fingers and an old invoice (Factura de Electricid) we have managed to register online with Iberdrola and in future will be able to access our electricity bills via the internet.

We'll now be able to keep an eye on the bills whilst we are in the UK.

In theory Iberdrola read the meter every other month and alternate months they estimate the electricity that has been used. Unfortunately they do not always gain access to the apartment building and for that month charge only for the "standing charges". Charges for electricity used is to be added at a later date. Consequently each new bill tends to be a surprise - high charges - low charges !!

We've no idea where our own meter is - somewhere in the depths of the block's underground garages in a locked room. So unlike in England we can not read the consumption figures and advise the electricity supplier direct .

It's all good fun ....

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Spain's Unemployed

Bad news from the Statistical Institute - at the end of 2010 there were just under 5 million registered as unemployed in Spain.

This is more than the population of Ireland or Norway.

The figures do not include the long term unemployed or young people still seeking their first job.

Let's hope a solution to the problem is soon found ...

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Madrid

A corner of Madrid - photo taken 2009

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Copa del Rey

Real Madrid are through to their first final of the Copa del Rey in seven years.

A win over Sevilla 2-0 in the second leg with goals from Ozil and Adebayor saw them comfortably through to the final.

Their opponents are Barcelona who beat Almeria last night 3-0.

The final to take place April 20th.

Excitement galore !!!

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