Archivos de March, 2010
Fallas 2010 in pictures
Mar 24
I hope you all enjoyed Fallas 2010. While “la crisis” may have meant it was less spectacular than previous years, Valencia still put on a great show.
A friend of mine was visiting from England, and once she got past the initial shock of seeing children being allowed to throw fireworks in the street, I think she had a good time.
Here are some of my pictures from our wanderings around Valencia. Please share yours!
La manta al coll
Mar 23
La manta al coll i el cabasset… O és que encara no coneixes les paraules d’aquesta cançó tan fallera i tan valenciana? No serà perquè no entens bé el valencià, no? Doncs no pot ser: ha arribat el moment de fer-ne un curs, i no un de normal, sinó un dels bons, com els que imparteixen a Route 66.
No és perquè jo en siga un dels professors, perquè les classes siguen actives, participatives i dinàmiques, perquè els grups no comprenguen més de huit persones o per l’adaptació als nivells del marc europeu comú de referència per a les llengües. És que si vols presentar-te (i superar, ésclar) a les proves de certificació de la Junta Qualificadora de Coneixements de Valencià, els cursos intensius de Route 66 poden ser la millor ajuda per a rematar aqueix objectiu. Si només t’abelleix reforçar el teu nivell de valencià, també et sentiràs molt a gust entre els teus companys de l’acadèmia.
Vine a Route i informa-te’n. Els preus són assequibles, els horaris, adaptats a quasi totes les disponibilitats. Les classes, interessants i actives. Els professors, preparats i dinàmics. Els resultats… doncs dels millors de la ciutat de València.
Imagineu si paga la pena, que jo mateix, en una altra vida, vinguí a estudiar a Route 66 i… i m’hi vaig quedar 
Cursos de valencià i preparació dels exàmens de la JQCV, a partir d’abril en Route 66 Idiomas.
Mamma Mia !
Mar 22
Teatro Principal, starts 18 February
Despite liking Abba, and even though it’s one of the most popular stage musical productions in the world, I confess that I was a Mamma Mia! sceptic. I don’t think I can be blamed; after all, explain the “plot” to anyone unfamiliar with it and you’re bound to be answered with a raised eyebrow. However, when watching the film I discovered that my cynicism left me (probably frightened off by Pierce Brosnan’s attempt at singing) and I began to wonder if the sing-a-long version wouldn´t be even more fun.
I haven’t seen the Spanish version, but I imagine it’s as Abba-tastic as the English. When the show comes to Valencia this month why not take a chance on it?
For times and tickets:
Chuggers
Mar 22
Chugger, n. a person who approaches passers-by in the street asking for donations or subscriptions to a charity.
In the last few years before I left London a new breed of fundraiser appeared on the streets of the capital. They would gather in small packs outside underground stations and on busy shopping streets. Wearing cheerfully coloured bibs and matching expressions they would try to stop you and convince you to give them your bank details; all in the name of charity, of course.
Nothing annoys busy London commuters more than anything that impedes their efforts to get home as quickly as possible. And so it shouldn’t have surprised anyone that these new fundraisers were generally disliked and quickly branded “chuggers” – a new word coined from the fusion of charity and mugger (muggers being street thieves, normally who threaten or attack you in order to get your valuables).
Over the last year chuggers have started appearing in the centre of Valencia. Even though I probably would have time to talk to them now, my London-honed instincts still force me to dodge them at all costs. I’m not sure what the Spanish public’s view on them is, but I think the reason why they’re so hated in the UK is that they annoy you while at the same time make you feel bad for being annoyed. Who never feels a twinge of guilt for not giving more to good causes?
