Ghosts of Spain

Walking down the Gran Via towards the Circulo de Bellas Artes last Thursday.



We went to the Circulo de Bellas Artes to see Giles Tremlett present the Spanish translation of his fine new book, Ghosts of Spain. Present at the event was famous Spanish historian Paul Preston and famous Spanish journalist Iñaki Gabilondo. The Spanish title of the book is España ante sus fantasmas, published by Siglo XXI. It is a fascinating cultural study of contemporary Spanish culture as seen from the affectionate point of view of an English journalist. From the cocaine trade of Galicia to the prisons of Sevilla, and from the mass graves left behind by Franco to how the bikini saved Spain, this book has got it all. Seriously.

At dusk today we took a walk through the Retiro and took this fine photo of the estanque.

And towards the northwestern corner of the Retiro, just before you come out at the Puerta de Alcala.