No More Gold For Franco
Last Monday, the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was finally stripped of the honours that on February 20th, 1946, had been bestowed on him, here in Mallorca. At that time, the […]
A Very Long Baleares Day
Next Tuesday, March 1st, the Día de les Illes Balears will be celebrated. As the calendar would have it, the date makes for a splendid puente weekend with plenty a […]
The Parlament de les Illes Balears
Democracy in Spain is a very recent occurrence. After the death of the ruler for near-on 40 years, Francisco Franco, a Spanish constitution was declared and implemented in 1978. With […]
The Ley de la Memoria Histórica
During a recent visit to Campos I discovered that the Spanish Ley de la Memoria histórica (Historical Memory Law) is, slowly but surely, being taken seriously in some small ways. […]
The Crucero Baleares Monument
The controversial monument in Palma’s Plaça de Sa Feixina in memory of the sinking of the battleship Baleares has undergone a complete renovation. The heavy cruiser Baleares (photo centre) was […]
The Conquistador
December 31st is Jaume I’s big day, or so we are told. Mallorca had been governed by Moorish Walís since the year 902. Already in 1205, King Pedro II of […]
The l’Estendard Celebrations
Most everybody is probably way too busy with preparations for a decent New Year Eve’s dinner, or party, or whatever to take notice of a quaint little festivity going on […]
A State of Emergency?
You may be aware that the Spanish government declared an Estado de Alarma (State of Emergency) one week ago in connection with an unofficial walk-out by Spain’s air traffic controllers. […]
The Forgotten War
Boats in Spain and elsewhere often have names that tell a story. Often it is the tale of a loving relationship, often a symbol of pomp or showiness, often no […]
The Human Factor
Spain’s two largest Unions, the Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CC. OO.) and Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT) have called for a Huelga General (General Strike) for tomorrow, September 29th. […]
Women in Black
Yesterday, a peaceful silent vigil was staged in Palma’s Plaça Espanya by the Dones de Negre per a la pau (Women in Black for Peace), a group of female, non-violent […]
Make or Break
July 1st, 2010, is a date with a certain significance for Spain. The Standard rate for IVA (Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido) is being raised from 16 % to 18 […]
The 125,322,801.26 € Swindle
Every time I drive into Palma, I get annoyed about the massive new furuncle of a building site, at the end of the motor way, just at the entrance to […]
Time’s Up
It was time’s up for Gordon Brown yesterday, but also for some of Generalissimo Franco‘s heraldic emblems in Palma de Mallorca. Of course, there is no relation between the two […]
Franco’s Coat Of Arms Is Erased
The monument in the Parc de La Feixina with its origins in the Spanish Guerra Civil has now been cleared of its, for some, provocative inscriptions and in particular, its […]
Happy Blue Year
Molts d’anys and Happy New Year. Or should that be Happy Blue Year? Tonight and tomorrow night, the Castell de Bellver and the Cort (townhall building) in Palma de Mallorca […]
The Mallorca Photo Blog 