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Local Spain
5 days ago
- Business
- Local Spain
Inside Spain: Madrid's closed parks and the new motorway toll plan
Spain is the European country with the most free highway kilometres in all of Europe, something drivers in the country are certainly grateful for. However, for some time the European Union has been pushing Spanish authorities to change this reality, their main demand being that Spain charge drivers for every kilometre driven on its autopistas (highways). So far, the Transport Ministry headed by Óscar Puente has refused to add new tollways to the country's network, even though the EU has threatened penalties if Spain's ruling Socialists didn't implement such a system. But now one of the country's biggest construction conglomerates (Seopan) is also stressing the need for a pay-per-kilometre system. Their argument is that they need the toll money to maintain the existing road network and continue expanding it, and that drivers should be helping to cover the €11.4 billion investment shortfall. Currently, the maintenance of the Spanish road network is financed almost exclusively through the public budget, which means that the entire financial burden falls on taxpayers, even if they don't use the roads, diverting public resources from other areas such as pensions, healthcare and education. Seopan's proposal is to charge drivers on Spain's entire highway network 3 cents/km. That would make a drive from Madrid to Barcelona cost €18 in tolls, or Bilbao to Cádiz - crossing the country from north to south - €30. Heavy transport such as trucks would pay much more, 14 cents/km, which would certainly add to the journey costs of lorry drivers. Seopan also argues that the current model creates "territorial inequality," as Spain is the only major EU nation whose road network is mostly toll-free. In fact, it accounts for 68 percent of toll-free motorway kilometres across the bloc. By contrast, 19 EU countries have 100 percent tolled highway networks. Keeping in mind that Brussels holds the key to billions of euros of recovery funds which are meant to be sent to Spain, it may not be long before Madrid has no choice but to budge. One thing is for sure, the country's 28 million drivers won't be happy about having to pay peajes (tolls in Spanish). In completely different matters, anyone who's been in the Spanish capital during summer knows how suffocating it can get. Even though it's a dry heat, all that concrete and lack of a sea breeze make walking the streets of Madrid feel like being in the world's biggest oven. A must for many Madrileños during summer is to spend time resting under the cooling canopy of Madrid's iconic Retiro Park, a green 'lung' in the centre of the city. Unfortunately, Madrid City Hall has decided to close the gates to the park just as the mercury was nearing 40C on several occasions this week. Neighbours have said that it 'goes against common sense' but mayor José Luis Almeida claims 'it's for people's safety'. The reason for cordonning off not just El Retiro but all of Madrid's main parks is that, rather than trees providing much needed shade, authorities are worried that they could fall on parkgoers. According to the City Council, the Retiro Park is closed 1 percent of the time each year due to red weather alerts, and it is precisely during that short window of time that 80 percent of fallen branches and trees occur. However, reputable media outlets such as news agency Europa Press and news site El Periódico de España have found that Madrid's green spaces have been closed far more often than that, especially during the summer period. If temperatures are above 35C and there are winds above 55km/h forecast, Madrid restricts access to its parks. But that doesn't convince residents of the Spanish capital, who feel that protecting themselves from dangerously high temperatures is a bigger priority during summer than the risk of falling branches. Madrid's opposition have called for a revision of the protocol. The thing is, the current right-wing government of Madrid city and Madrid Community (who has Isabel Díaz Ayuso as its head) have a bit of a negative reputation when it comes to providing shade and chopping down trees. They've preferred to install awnings in the central Puerto del Sol square at a cost of €1.5 million rather than planting trees, and they've previously been accused of , exacerbating the 'heat dome' problem that Madrid suffers from.
Local Spain
06-06-2025
- Local Spain
Seven places to escape the heat in Madrid
Madrid is famous for a lot of things. Its culinary and cultural offerings, for one, and its many parks and public spaces, as well as its metropolitan people and the hustle and bustle of big city living. Speak to any Madrileño about the city, however, and they'll likely remind you of a drawback: the summer heat. As anyone who's lived in a major city before knows, high temperatures hit differently in capitals and summers in Madrid can be especially suffocating. That's why there's usually a big exodus from the landlocked capital every summer, especially in August, when locals head to the costas in the south-east of the country in areas such as Valencia and Alicante. However, that's not possible for everyone and some are stuck in city all summer. Fortunately, both the capital and the wider Madrid region is home to several places – whether separate pueblos, parks or specific spots in town — where you can escape the summer heat, for a while at least. We can't guarantee that it won't still be hot during a heatwave, but they're still likely provide a cooldown or some respite as temperatures drop at night. Cooler places in Madrid region The clue's in the name - Rascafría, a small town of cobbled streets and panoramic views of nearby mountains - is a welcome escape from the city with cool summer temperatures. With average July temperatures of between 26C - 16C, the heat in Rascafría (seen in photo above) is significantly lower than in Madrid and makes a perfect a summer retreat that can be reached by public transport from Madrid. Navacerrada Described in Spanish media as Madrid's 'quintessential mountain village', Navacerrada, in the north of the region, is one of the coolest places you'll find. That's why it has a population of roughly 2,500 during the winter but balloons to 12,000 over summer, mostly Madrileños escaping the sweltering city heat. Nestled in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, the average maximum temperature in the summer months stays around 22 degrees. Cuenca Alta del Manzanares park The Cuenca Alta del Manzanares park, just north of the city, is a protected natural area. Swimming in the river is banned, so you can't take a dip, sadly, but the park his hidden in the mountains and with the nearby water, temperatures are generally lower up there with average August highs of around 30C, which isn't so bad compared to the sweltering city at that time of year. Somosierra Somosierra is particularly desirable in summer as it's the highest village in the Madrid region (1,433 metres above sea level) and a place where average temperatures are a little lower than in the capital, with averages of 21.2C. Another picturesque pueblo, Somosierra is a little over an hour's drive from the capital. Public transport takes roughly two hours and, crucially, the area is surrounded by stunning hiking routes and scenery where you can get out the city and enjoy some fresh air. Sierra del Rincón The Sierra del Rincón mountain range is another protected area with average annual temperatures of between 9 and 12 degrees, making it a perfect destination to take shelter from the heat even in summer. Looking at weather data, summer averages are roughly 8-10C lower than in the capital, and the hundreds of different tree types there provide ample shade. Sierra del Rincón includes the municipalities of La Hiruela, Horcajuelo de la Sierra, Montejo de la Sierra, Prádena del Rincón and Puebla de la Sierra, so it's worth a day out to explores new towns and is just over an hour from Madrid. Cool spaces in city For those braving the August temperatures and staying in town over summer, Madrid capital is also home to a few places where you can escape the heat, momentarily at least. Salón de Baile - Círculo de Bellas Artes The Salón de Baile, an iconic room at the Círculo de Bellas Artes, opens its doors to the public over summer and is transformed into a space designed to combat the 'heat island' effect, which often occurs in big urban centres such as Madrid. Reopened as a 'Climate Refuge', it becomes a large green square full of plants, with free entry, and will be open from 11am to 9pm from July 11th to September 8th. The Círculo de Bellas Artes also has a great terrace, too, which is great for cooling down in the evenings while enjoying views of the city. The Jardín Botánico Madrid's lush botanical garden makes the heat easier to bear. Not only because of the shaded areas and more pleasant temperatures, which tend to be a little lower than out on the street, but because the gardens themselves are worth a visit and a nice distraction from the heat (adult tickets cost €4). It's situated right next to the city's iconic Retiro Park, which is where the a large number of madrileños go in search of some greenery and shade during summer.
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Want to Improve Employee Financial Health? Pay Them More Often
Spain and Portugal top the list of desired destinations for digital nomads and aspiring expats for more than a few good reasons. They have delicious food, temperate climates, fascinating art and architecture, and relatively low costs of living compared to much of the continent. Their worker-friendly employment policies include over a month of paid time off for vacation and public holidays, as well as four months of paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers. Particularly enticing may be the bonus paychecks for employees in both June and December to help families enjoy the summer and winter holidays. But that's not the only payroll quirk that makes these countries unique, and the other one might make some wannabe Madrileños or Lisboetas think twice. If you work for an employer based in either country, you will only be paid once every month. It's a legal requirement that's common not only throughout much of Europe, but also Central and South America. An angled view of a new $100 bill laying on a bed of cash. An angled view of a new $100 bill laying on a bed of cash. Getty Images For those of us accustomed to the more common biweekly pay cycle in the U.S., it's easy to imagine the challenges this may present for family budgets—especially for workers on the lower end of the income spectrum. But monthly pay is more common in the U.S. than you might think. Nearly 11 million American full-time workers still get paid this way, including many public sector employees. But whether you're in Porto or Pittsburgh, there's little reason for unnecessary delays in giving people money they've already earned. Academic research has shown how longer waiting periods for payment hurt workers and shorter ones help them. For example, one study found that retired couples who receive their individual monthly Social Security payments on staggered weeks fare better economically than those who get them at the same time. Another study found that higher pay frequency not only improves household financial liquidity, but it can even reduce credit card borrowing between pay days. There's little doubt that higher inflation, increased housing costs, and other economic factors have exacerbated these problems for many families. All this raises an important question: in an era in which transactions occur instantly, why should one's pay be different? Frankly, why should workers have to wait at all? We recently conducted survey research to better understand the current frequency of pay for full-time workers in the U.S., as well as how decreasing waiting periods between paychecks might help them and their families. We found that over three-quarters of people are paid only once or twice a month, and 8 percent of workers are still being paid monthly. There's a strong sense that this system isn't working for workers and their families. More than half would like to be paid at least once a week. Roughly 7-in-10 individuals in households making less than $75,000 said the same, as did a similar proportion of those in families enduring challenging financial circumstances. Half of workers under 30, and nearly two-thirds of Black and Latino workers, said that increasing their pay frequency would be very or extremely beneficial to their mental wellness. Broad cross-sections also felt that more frequent pay would help them better manage their bills and expenses. To anyone who has worked for a paycheck, none of these findings should be a shock. But what might surprise you is that it's quite easy for companies to pay their people more frequently. It's an outdated mindset, not technology, that keeps paychecks tied to antiquated pay cycles. For example, my company continuously calculates take-home pay, taxes, health care premiums, retirement contributions, and other withholdings for our customers and their employees, regardless of the duration between pay cycles. We also give our customers the ability to offer their employees in U.S., Canada, and the U.K. the option to get paid at the end of every day or shift worked. The argument that more frequent paychecks can help workers isn't new. In 1886, former Governor George Robinson signed the groundbreaking Massachusetts Wage Payment Act, which required employers to pay workers at least once a week. Today, there are pay frequency laws in every state except Florida and Alabama. This includes a requirement in Michigan, New York, and seven other states for workers in certain industries to be paid weekly. At a moment when workers face higher costs of living and other economic struggles are real and rising, it's time for a new paradigm shift. This is especially true for the 44 percent of workers in the U.S. who don't make a living wage. Increasing pay frequency can't solve every ill, but it is a fast and free way to give them greater agency, choice, and flexibility in managing their family's every day and unplanned expenses. It's their money, they've earned it, and they shouldn't have to wait. Jason Rahlan is the global head of sustainability and impact at Dayforce. He has previously held a number of roles in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. This includes time at Chobani, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He is currently a member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Sustainability Advisory Council as well as a board member for the Center for Family Support (CFS) Foundation. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Local Spain
16-05-2025
- General
- Local Spain
Why do they speak 'perfect' Spanish in Valladolid?
It has long been said that that the people in the Castilla y León city of Valladolid speak the most 'perfect' castellano (how Spanish in the whole of Spain. Recently, the mayor of Valladolid Francisco Javier León de la Riva reiterated this when he said that Valladolid is the place in the world where the "purest" Spanish is spoken. The premise for this is vallisoletano Spanish is the most representative of the standard Spanish favoured by the Real Academia Española (RAE), Spain's official language academy. Is there any truth to this, is there such a thing as a more official Spanish? Firstly it's important to distinguish between language and accent. One is referring to grammar and sentence construction, as opposed to how the people pronounce certain words, but of course different regions in Spain use slightly different grammar and phrases anyway. Often a different construction comes with a different accent, but most of the time when Spaniards refer to the best or most 'perfect' Spanish, they're usually referring to the clarity and accuracy with which words are pronounced, something that's usually determined by accent. According to Inés Fernández Ordóñez from the RAE, if it were necessary to determine the linguistic variety that most closely approximates to standard Spanish, Valladolid would not actually be her choice, but rather Soria, also in Castilla y León or Guadalajara in Castilla–La Mancha. So where did the claim that Valladolid's Spanish is the best originate? The current director of the RAE, José Manuel Blecua, has repeatedly stated that the 'perfect Spanish' is a "myth" which comes from the reference made by the Frenchwoman Madame D'Aulnoy in her book Viaje por España (Journey through Spain), written in the 17th century. The people from Madrid (Madrileños) often boast that they speak the best Spanish too. Other linguistic experts say that the best Spanish is spoken between La Rioja and Burgos, because it best conforms to the standards dictated by the RAE. This includes Burgos, Palencia, Salamanca, and Valladolid. Spain's National Institute of Statistics (INE) also conducted its own study and discovered that the best Spanish is spoken in Cantabria and Asturias. They claim that in Cantabria, 98.2 percent of citizens speak Spanish perfectly, while in Asturias the figure rises to 98.4 percent. So who is correct? All of them to a degree. Generally, the most quintessential Spanish is considered to be from the northern and central regions. This is because Castilian, which foreigners know as Spanish, began as a dialect spoken in northern Spain. It became language of the court of the kingdoms of Castilla y León in the 12th century and then when Spain was unified in 1479, it became the language used by the whole country. Other areas of Spain had their own language up until that point and today they still do, such as Catalan spoken in Catalonia, Euskera in the Basque Country and Galician in Galicia. For many of these people Spanish or castellano is actually a second language or second mother tongue. Many foreigners still choose to study Spanish in the region of Castilla y León, and there are many language schools and prestigious universities there, but you'll find Spanish language learners all over the country. If there is an advantage that the northern half of Spain does have over the southern regions is that the people here have a very clear neutral accent, so it's a lot easier for foreigners to understand. They don't have the ceceo (pronouncing a 'th' for an 's', 'c' and 'z', which sounds like a lisp but is not) sound like some places in Andalusia, or the seseo (using the the 's' sound in place of 'z' and 'c') like the in the Canaries do – similar to those from Latin American countries such as Venezuela or Cuba. Spain's national stats body did conclude that the two places where the 'worst' Spanish is spoken are Murcia (southeastern Spain) and Melilla (one of two Spanish city regions in northern Africa). Murcianos are renowned for having the hardest accent to understand and are often mocked for it, so keeping in mind that the claim is a partly based on a survey where people were asked about their own linguistic abilities, it could be that respondents from Murcia were slightly self-deprecating. The truth is that while those in Valladolid and the north do speak very clear and grammatically correct Spanish, there is no one correct answer of who speaks the best or the most perfect Castilian. All the different ways of speaking Spanish in Spain and the accompanying accents are special in their own way and that's one of the aspects that makes Spain so interesting is its linguistic variety. Keeping in mind that the vast majority of the 600+ million Spanish speakers in the world are in Latin America, and they may also have something to say about what constitutes the 'best' castellano.
The Guardian
02-03-2025
- The Guardian
10 reasons to visit Spain in 2025: new holidays, hikes and cultural highlights
It is easy to avoid big resorts in the Canaries – the smaller islands have a handful of little towns with rural hotels dotted around. Hikers love lush La Gomera, with walks through the laurel forests in the Garajonay national park and along dramatic terraced hillsides overlooking the Atlantic. Headwater has a new self-guided walking holiday that goes across the island and explores gorges, valleys, palm groves and seaside villages. For independent travellers, the new Bancal hotel (doubles from £161, in San Sebastián de La Gomera is built into the hillside with views across the ocean. The hotel is partly solar powered and grows its own produce (with vegan options in the restaurant). Headwater's seven-night self-guided walking holiday costs from £1,239pp, based on two sharing, including breakfast and staying in small hotels and La Gomera's parador, To see the elegant city of Jerez at its glorious best, go when the horse fair is on (17-24 May, Women in their finest flamenco dresses and men in Cordovan hats parade in carriages around González Hontoria park, where the broad paths are lined with marquees decorated with flowers and paper lanterns, and packed with partying jerezanos. You do not need an invitation to go into the tents, unlike at the feria in Seville. Make a loose plan to visit a few bodegas and the sherry bars or tabancos in the town centre, where you will be clapping and tapping along with the flamenco performers before you know it. Stay at Hotel Palacio Garvey (doubles from £75 room-only), a grand 19th-century residence tucked away on a little square Anyone who has been to Barcelona knows how good the food is, but there are specialities to discover all over Catalonia, which has been selected as the World Region of Gastronomy 2025. A new holiday with Inntravel, A Stroll in the Pyrenees, combines walking with traditional Catalan cuisine. Stay in a smart rural hotel with a pool and spa near Ribes de Freser for a week, walking along mountain paths at your own pace and taking the rack railway up to Vall de Núria. From £1,050pp for seven nights, including some meals, Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial … there is no shortage of monument-jammed places to visit on a day trip from Madrid. The trouble is that this means other areas get overlooked, despite their many charms. This is certainly true of Guadalajara province, north-east of the capital, which is very popular with weekending Madrileños. This may change with the opening in May of a parador in the small town of Molina de Aragón, which has the second biggest castle in Spain. The parador is a new building, designed to blend into the landscape, with glass walls to give panoramic views of the 12th-century rates not yet released, Warhol, Pollock and Other American Spaces is showing at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum from 21 October to 25 January 2026. The exhibition explores the connections between these two leading figures of 20th-century art, showing work that goes beyond the more obvious styles and techniques associated with them. Across the road at the Prado, temporary exhibitions include sculptures from Juan Muñoz (18 November to 8 March 2026) and Anton Raphael Mengs, the 'German Raphael' (25 November to 3 January 2026).Stay at Room Mate Alba, handy for museums, tapas bars and independent shops, doubles from £139, room-only, Experience a quieter side of Ibiza in spring and autumn by basing a trip on the seven new hiking routes in the north of the island. The walks follow the beautiful coast and go through the countryside, with a soundtrack of soothing birdsong rather than throbbing basslines. The Benirrás hike goes from Port de Sant Miquel to Can Marçà cove and along a path to Benirrás beach, before looping back to the starting point, a distance of 8 miles (13km). All the routes are under 13 miles, and some can be done by bike, with plenty of stops in villages and beach bars. Stay at Can Fuster, an agroturismo with a pool just outside Sant Joan de Labritja, doubles from £147, including breakfast, Although Alicante has been a hugely successful beach destination for decades, it is perhaps less well known as an area with some of the best food and wine in Spain. The laid-back Mediterranean city is this year's Spanish Capital of Gastronomy, providing a perfect excuse for a break eating rice dishes by the beach and tasting wines made in Alicante province. Start by ordering prawns at the bar at Nou Manolín, then move on to Cervecería Carvi (voted best tapas bar in 2024) for fideuà, a local seafood dish made with pasta instead of rice. And finish up at Taberna Alioli with an ensaladilla de alcachofas (artichoke salad). Foodie festivals and competitions will be taking place throughout the year. Stay at Serawa, a hotel that focuses on sustainability, with a shop and restaurant specialising in local produce and wines, doubles from £86, room-only, Rising temperatures mean that in summer Spain's Mediterranean resorts are too hot for many, and they are looking instead at northern Spain, which has a more comfortable climate and some of the country's best beaches. Vintage Travel has increased its range of villas in the Rías Baixas in Galicia to meet this demand. Bellavista, on the hillside overlooking the traditional seaside village of Raxó on the Ría de Pontevedra, sleeps eight and has a pool. With plenty of beaches and the towns of Combarro and Sanxenxo within a 10-minute drive, it makes a great base. A week in June costs £2,198, For a solo adventure around Spain, but in the company of a few like-minded travellers, G Adventures offers a nine-day trip, travelling by train from Barcelona to Seville, and stopping off in Madrid, Córdoba and Granada. There are walking tours, cookery classes and tapas trawls, but with plenty of free time to explore on your own. From £1,899, including accommodation in shared rooms (private rooms available on request) in small hotels, breakfasts and some meals, train journeys and local buses, The Spain Rail Pass has been relaunched this year, enabling foreign visitors to take between four and 10 journeys around the country within a month. Long journeys on high-speed services offer the best value for money. With a 10-journey pass (€450), an epic itinerary for British visitors could be from Barcelona down to Valencia; crossing the country to Córdoba and Seville; heading down to Málaga and visiting Granada; then heading up to Madrid and Segovia; on to Oviedo in Asturias on the north coast, and finishing in Santander, from where you can catch the ferry back to Plymouth or Portsmouth ( if you prefer not to fly.
