Dream Alcalá Blog Página 1285

Mioceno Park, Regreso al Pasado

Mañana sábado 4 de enero podrás disfrutar en familia de una charla sobre el Mioceno, una aventura que comenzó ¡hace 9 millones de años!

Diviértete este sábado 4 de enero con una charla sobre el Mioceno, una época llena de mamíferos gigantes como el tigre de dientes de sable, jirafas y rinocerontes. Disfrutarás de fósiles en vivo y un recorrido audiovisual en el que descubrirás un mundo mágico y lleno de misterios. Para grandes y pequeños, ¡disfruta en familia!

La charla está organizada por Camitoon en colaboración con los jóvenes investigadores de paleontología del EJIP (Encuentro de Jóvenes Investigadores en Paleontología). El 20% de la caja realizada este fin de semana será donada a estos investigadores.

  • DÓNDE: Tienda de regalos Camitoon, en la calle Luis de Medina, junto al colegio Lope de Vega (ver mapa). Alcalá de Henares.
  • HORA: 11:00 am

 

Más información:

 

Cabalgata de Reyes 2014 en Alcalá de Henares

Como es tradicional, el próximo día 5 de enero se celebrará la Cabalgata de Reyes Magos por la Vía Complutense de Alcalá de Henares. Mapa, horarios y recomendaciones a continuación:

La Cabalgata de Reyes partirá a las 18:00 horas de la rotonda de la Calle Luis de Medina (ver mapa) y finalizará sobre las 20:30 horas. De las doce carrozas que componen la cabalgata, seis son de nueva fabricación y se realizan expresamente para Alcalá de Henares, destacando los espectaculares tronos de los Reyes Magos.

Más de 130 figurantes y 80 músicos participarán en la cabalgata 2014. Se lanzarán 5.000 kilos de caramelos sin gluten, gracias también a colaboración de las Peñas Festivas de Alcalá.

“Esta previsto –ha avanzado la edil de Fiestas Mayores- que Sus Majestades de Oriente lleguen a Alcalá el 5 de enero a las 11:00 horas para ser recibidos en el Ayuntamiento y posteriormente visitarán entre otros lugares a los niños y niñas ingresados en el Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, para repartir entre ellos ilusión y esperanza”.

Recomendaciones de seguridad:

  • Respeta en todo momento las indicaciones de policía local y protección civil.
  • No permitas que los niños y niñas invadan la zona acordonada.
  • Está totalmente prohibido acceder a la calzada por donde discurre la cabalgata.
  • Intenta no trasladarse en tu vehículo por las inmediaciones desde las 17.00 h. del 5 de enero, hasta la finalización de la cabalgata (21:00h.)
  • Estacionamiento prohibido de vehículos a lo largo del recorrido, desde las 7:00 horas del 5 de enero.
  • Deja libres las zonas de paso y evacuación a lo largo del recorrido.
  • Los caramelos lanzados desde las carrozas son sin gluten.

 

Galería de imágenes

[gdl_gallery title=”cabalgata-reyes-2013″ width=”130″  height=”100″ galid=”1″ ]

2014 Three King’s Parade in Alcalá de Henares

As usual, next Sunday January 5 will take place the Three King’s Parade along the Via Complutense in Alcalá de Henares. Map, schedules and recommendations below:

The Three King’s Parade will leave at 6:00 p.m. from the Luis de Medina street roundabout (see map) and will end about 8:30 p.m at Parque O’Donell. Six of the twelve floats that make up the parade are newly and expressly manufactured for Alcalá de Henares, highlighting the spectacular thrones of the Three Wise Men.

More than 130 extras and 80 musicians will participate in the 2014 parade. 5,000 kilos of gluten free sweets will be  launched, thanks to the collaboration of the Peñas of Alcalá.

The Three Kings are expected to reach Alcalá on January 5 at 11:00 am to be greeted at City Hall, and then they will visit among other places children admitted at the Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, to distribute excitement and hope.

Safety Recommendations:

  • Instructions given by local police and civil protection must be followed at all times.
  • Do not let children invade the roped off area.
  • It is strictly forbidden to access the road along the parade.
  • Try not to use your vehicle near Via Complutense from 17.00 h. January 5 until the end of the parade (about 21:00 h.)
  • Vehicle Parking prohibited along the route, from 7:00 am on 5 January.
  • Respect walkways and evacuation areas along the route.
  • The candy thrown from the floats are gluten free.

 

20 tendencias tecnológicas que transformarán el turismo

¿Qué tecnologías se desplegarán o se consolidarán en los próximos años en los diferentes subsectores del turismo? Las Tecnologías de la Información (TI) tendrán un papel preponderante, pero hay otras innovaciones técnicas a tener en cuenta.

El sector turístico vive una carrera tecnológica protagonizada por miles de actores, desde empresas startup a multinacionales, como nunca antes había experimentado. Tales esfuerzos elevan año tras año el grado de sofisticación de la industria turística y no hay día en que deje de presentarse alguna innovación. A nivel global son múltiples las tendencias tecnológicas en curso y proyectos en marcha, de las cuales Hosteltur ha seleccionado 20 para el tema de portada de la revista HOSTELTUR de octubre.

La llegada de turistas internacionales en todo el mundo superó por primera vez en su historia la cifra de mil millones el año pasado y la OMT prevé que hacia el año 2030 el número de viajeros habrá alcanzado un volumen de 1.800 millones.

Ahora bien, la competencia entre empresas y destinos será cada vez más global, así como el nivel de exigencia de los clientes.

De ahí que cada vez haya más presión sobre la industria turística, que busca de manera incesante nuevos sistemas para ahorrar costes, aumentar ventas y mejorar la experiencia del viajero. Debido a esta necesidad de innovación permanente, la inversión en tecnologías cobra cada vez mayor importancia.

Las 20 tendencias que se indican a continuación están desarrolladas en el tema de portada, que puede descargarse como documento pdf:

  1. Uso de móviles en destino: crecimiento exponencial
  2. Las agencias de viajes saltan a la palma de la mano
  3. Dos sistemas operativos dominan el mercado
  4. Social, Local, Mobile: una tendencia transversal
  5. Web móvil y app: ¿cuál elegir?
  6. Fidelización, fidelización, fidelización
  7. Llega la revolución Big Data
  8. Microsegmentación en campañas de ventas
  9. Personalización para mejorar la experiencia del viajero
  10. Oficinas virtuales de turismo a través de redes sociales
  11. Las webs P2P y el vuelco a la intermediación
  12. Tablets y Smart TV en hoteles: nueva relación con el cliente
  13. Automatización del check-in vía móviles
  14. Check-out y pagos por biometría dactilar
  15. Wifi gratis, pero ¿cómo?
  16. Clientes de hotel socializados
  17. El pago por móvil se abre paso
  18. Consumidores multipantalla, el nuevo reto
  19. Gestión digital integral: el hotel sin papel
  20. Soluciones machine to machine (M2M)

 

El tema de portada incluye asimismo artículos sobre las innovaciones en el mundo de los transportes, varios infográficos, una breve historia de las tecnologías del turismo y cómo las startups son la punta de lanza de las tecnologías turísticas, con una docena de ejemplos. Ver también Infografías: actitudes del viajero y el hotelero frente a la tecnología.

They Speak More Than Just Spanish in Spain

Did you know that they speak more than just Spanish in Spain? Did you know that there isn’t just one Spanish language, but perhaps eightSpanish languages? Until I started studying Spanish in college and came here for work, I had no idea myself. But it turns out that Spain is actually home to quite a few minority languages that make the country a very interesting place.

The post They Speak More Than Just Spanish in Spain appeared first on trevorhuxham.com

It makes a lot more sense that the birthplace of español could also be home to half a dozen other languages when you realize that Castilian Spanish began its life as the everyday Latin spoken around modern-day Burgos province in north-central Spain.

During the Reconquista—a 700-year military struggle by the fledgling Christian kingdoms to the north to “re”-conquer the Muslim-ruled (and Arabic-speaking) lands to the south—Castilian emerged alongside Galician, Astur-Leonese, Aragonese, and Catalan, and as the conquerors pushed south into the Moorish states, they brought their respective languages with them.

Reconquista languages of Spain map
(Source: Wikipedia)

Under Alfonso X of Castilla & León (r. 1252-1284), however, Castilian Spanish began to gain the upper hand. Although Alfonso personally contributed a lot to medieval Galician poetry, it was he who first established Castilian as the official language of his courts, replacing Latin. Later on, western Castilla would join up with eastern Aragón when Ferdinand and Isabella got married in 1469, but the two realms remained distinct kingdoms with a single monarch.

After the 18th-century War of the Spanish Succession (a dynastic struggle/civil war), the new king Felipe V issued the Nueva Planta decrees that made Castilian laws universal throughout the country and Castilian the language of government. He did this partly to centralize Spain and partly to punish the regions of Aragón, Cataluña, and Valencia, which had opposed him in the war (and which also spoke Aragonese and Catalan).

The last major threat to Spain’s minority languages came during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, who led the conservative Nationalists to victory in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Although he himself was born in Galicia, his ideology of conformity (called National Catholicism) mandated Castilian Spanish as the sole official language of the state; it became a crime to speak Galician in public, for example.

Languages of Spain map
(Source: Wikipedia)

However, after Franco died and King Juan Carlos I initiated la Transición to liberal democracy, the new constitution enshrined protections for minority languages, four of which are now co-official in their respective regions. Today, once critically-endangered languages are making a comeback and Galician, Basque, and Catalan are stronger than ever before in recent history.

In this post I would like to introduce eight Spanish languages other than what we typically think of as “Spanish.”

Galician

Galician language in Spain map
Native name: galego
Number of speakers: 3 million
Description and status: I always like to describe Galician as an un-nasalized Portuguese, written like Spanish, and spoken with Italian intonation. Galician and Portuguese are actually extremely closely-related languages (some activists argue that they’re merely dialects of the same language), but after Portugal gained its independence in the 12th century, the two went their separate ways. In the Middle Ages, Galician enjoyed prestige as a language of poetry and law, but the creeping influence of Castilian ousted it before long. Although it historically has been stigmatized in the big cities as a rural dialect, Galician experienced a literary rebirth in the 1800s and is co-official in the modern-day Community of Galicia.
Very similar to Galician is Fala (“Speech”), hidden away in isolated valleys of northwest Extremadura. Its tiny but strong community of speakers can easily communicate with Galician speakers, although they prefer to distinguish Fala as its own language. Fascinating stuff.
Example text: Tódolos seres humanos nacen libres e iguais en dignidade e dereitos e, dotados como están de razón e conciencia, díbense comportar fraternalmente uns cos outros.

Astur-Leonese

Astur-Leonese language in Spain map
Native names: asturianubablellionésestremeñu
Number of speakers: Asturian (100,000), Leonese (50,000), Extremaduran (200,000)
Description and status: It’s hard to say whether Astur-Leonese is a language with three dialects or a family of three very similar languages. Regardless, Astur-Leonese has roots in the northern region of Asturias—the only part of Spain never conquered by the Moors. During the Reconquista, it was adopted by the kingdom of León to the south and called Leonese, and was brought later into bordering Extremadura.Today, the language is protected in the Principality of Asturias, and while it’s not co-official, it is taught in public schools and is promoted in the media. In the provinces of León and Zamora to the south, however, Astur-Leonese is extremely endangered and little official work has been done to preserve it. Its situation in Extremadura isn’t much better, and even locals struggle to distinguish between Extremaduran Spanish and Extremaduran proper.
Example text: Tolos seres humanos nacen llibres y iguales en dignidá y drechos y, pola mor de la razón y la conciencia de so, han comportase hermaniblemente los unos colos otros.

Basque

Basque language in Spain map
Native name: euskara
Number of speakers: 700,000
Description and status: Perhaps the most unique language in all of Europe, Basque is a language isolate—it’s related to no living language anywhere! Its current range around the Bay of Biscay on either side of the Pyrenees Mountains would have been much larger during Roman times, when it was one of many non-Latin languages spoken in the area. However, only Basque has survived to the present day and, despite persecution under Franco, is actually growing in its number of speakers. Co-official in the Basque Country region and in northern next-door Navarra, it’s strongest in the provinces represented by Bilbao and San Sebastián. You can recognize the written language by its plethora of Ks and Zs, and Basque and Spanish share many sounds in common.
Example text: Gizon-emakume guztiak aske jaiotzen dira, duintasun eta eskubide berberak dituztela; eta ezaguera eta kontzientzia dutenez gero, elkarren artean senide legez jokatu beharra dute.

Aragonese

Aragonese language in Spain map
Native name: aragonésfabla
Number of speakers: 10,000
Description and status: Like the medieval kingdom of Aragón, the Aragonese language began in the foothills of the central Pyrenees and gradually spread south. However, over the centuries, Castilian replaced its cousin Aragonese in much of this region, and the language is now spoken only in far-northern Huesca and Zaragoza provinces. Aragón is sparsely populated as it is (Zaragoza the capital has over half the population!), so it’s not surprising that just 10,000 or so speak the language. Under Franco, it was sadly ridiculed as poorly-spoken Castilian, but today it’s protected by the regional government as Aragón’s “native language,” although it isn’t co-official.
Example text: Toz os ombres naxen libres y iguals en dinidat y en dreitos. Adotatos de razón y de conzenzia, deben apachar-sen unos con atros d’una manera freternal.

Aranese (Occitan)

Aranese language in Spain map
Native name: aranésgasconoccitan
Number of speakers: 5,000
Description and status: Despite being so tiny, Aranese is actually one of three co-official languages in the Cataluña region. Used only in the Aran Valley of the Pyrenees, Aranese is technically a dialect of Gascon, which itself is a variety of Occitan—a Romance language spoken across southern France. I honestly know zilch about Aranese, but I do know it’s super close to Catalan (see below) and has some complex pronunciation rules.
Example text: Ah! petit prince, atau comprení, pòga pòc, era tua petita vida melancolica. En molt de temps non auies agut per distracion qu’era doçor deth solei quan se cògue… Sabí aguest nau detalh, eth quatau dia ath maitin, quan me diguís: M’agrade veir quan eth solei se cògue.

Catalan

Catalan language in Spain map
Native name: català, valencià
Number of speakers: 9 million
Description and status: While linguists usually group Galician, Astur-Leonese, Castilian, and Aragonese together, Catalan is a whole ‘nother ball game, and is actually more similar to languages in southern France than to Spanish. (However, it is NOT a mixture of French and Spanish!) Primarily spoken and co-official in the regions of Cataluña, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands, Catalan actually has more speakers than Croatian, Danish, or Finnish do. Like Galician, Catalan was a legal and literary language in the Middle Ages and went through a renaissance in the 1800s. Catalans are especially proud of their mother tongue, and it plays a large role in their quest for secession from Spain. Valencians, on the other hand, believe they speak a separate language—but I guess there is that saying that “a language is a dialect with an army.”
Example text: Tots els éssers humans neixen lliures i iguals en dignitat i en drets. Són dotats de raó i de consciència, i han de comportar-se fraternalment els uns amb els altres.

Gomeran whistle

Gomeran whistle silbo in Spain map
Native name: el silbo gomero (in Spanish)
Number of speakers: under 20,000
Description and status: La Gomera is a small, circular island in the Canaries crossed by ravines, hills, and valleys. Because of this, the pre-Spanish Guanche people developed a complex way of whistling that allowed them to communicate over long distances by whistling their language. Although the Guanche language went extinct after the Spanish conquest of the islands, the skill was passed on to Spanish-speakers, who continue to use it today. El silbo isn’t technically a language but a way of making it easier to speak Canarian Spanish across the island’s rugged terrain. Check out the YouTube video below!

Example recording:

Iberian Romani

Native name: caló

Number of speakers: 40,000

Description and status: Spoken almost exclusively by Spain’s Gypsy population (a.k.a. the Romani people), the caló language is actually a “mixed” language that takes Spanish grammar and replaces most Spanish words with a totally different lexicon. Remember that modern-day Gypsies are descendants of nomadic people from northern India who migrated to Europe centuries ago; hence, Iberian Romani takes a lot of its vocabulary from the ancestral spoken language but operates using Spanish grammatical rules.

I actually encountered el caló at my school last year: I was in a second-grade bilingual science class talking about words for food in English when the teacher asked one of the Gypsy boys what the word for “oil” was in his language, and he replied with the word “ampio.” So cool!

Example text:

Y sasta se hubiese catanado sueti baribustri, baribustri, y abillasen solictos á ó de los fores, os penó por parabola: Manu chaló abri á chibar desqueri simiente: y al chibarle, yeque aricata peró sunparal al drun, y sinaba hollada, y la jamáron as patrias e Charos. Y aver peró opré bar: y pur se ardiñó, se secó presas na terelaba humedad. Y aver peró andré jarres, y as jarres, sos ardiñáron sat siró, la mulabáron. Y aver peró andré pu lachi: y ardiñó, y diñó mibao á ciento por yeque. Penado ocono, se chibó á penar á goles: Coin terela canes de junelar, junele. — “Parable of the Sower” (Luke 8:4-8)

Sources

 The post They Speak More Than Just Spanish in Spain appeared first on trevorhuxham.com

They Speak More Than Just Spanish in Spain

Did you know that they speak more than just Spanish in Spain? Did you know that there isn’t just one Spanish language, but perhaps eightSpanish languages? Until I started studying Spanish in college and came here for work, I had no idea myself. But it turns out that Spain is actually home to quite a few minority languages that make the country a very interesting place.

The post They Speak More Than Just Spanish in Spain appeared first on trevorhuxham.com

It makes a lot more sense that the birthplace of español could also be home to half a dozen other languages when you realize that Castilian Spanish began its life as the everyday Latin spoken around modern-day Burgos province in north-central Spain.

During the Reconquista—a 700-year military struggle by the fledgling Christian kingdoms to the north to “re”-conquer the Muslim-ruled (and Arabic-speaking) lands to the south—Castilian emerged alongside Galician, Astur-Leonese, Aragonese, and Catalan, and as the conquerors pushed south into the Moorish states, they brought their respective languages with them.

Reconquista languages of Spain map
(Source: Wikipedia)

Under Alfonso X of Castilla & León (r. 1252-1284), however, Castilian Spanish began to gain the upper hand. Although Alfonso personally contributed a lot to medieval Galician poetry, it was he who first established Castilian as the official language of his courts, replacing Latin. Later on, western Castilla would join up with eastern Aragón when Ferdinand and Isabella got married in 1469, but the two realms remained distinct kingdoms with a single monarch.

After the 18th-century War of the Spanish Succession (a dynastic struggle/civil war), the new king Felipe V issued the Nueva Planta decrees that made Castilian laws universal throughout the country and Castilian the language of government. He did this partly to centralize Spain and partly to punish the regions of Aragón, Cataluña, and Valencia, which had opposed him in the war (and which also spoke Aragonese and Catalan).

The last major threat to Spain’s minority languages came during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, who led the conservative Nationalists to victory in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Although he himself was born in Galicia, his ideology of conformity (called National Catholicism) mandated Castilian Spanish as the sole official language of the state; it became a crime to speak Galician in public, for example.

Languages of Spain map
(Source: Wikipedia)

However, after Franco died and King Juan Carlos I initiated la Transición to liberal democracy, the new constitution enshrined protections for minority languages, four of which are now co-official in their respective regions. Today, once critically-endangered languages are making a comeback and Galician, Basque, and Catalan are stronger than ever before in recent history.

In this post I would like to introduce eight Spanish languages other than what we typically think of as “Spanish.”

Galician

Galician language in Spain map
Native name: galego
Number of speakers: 3 million
Description and status: I always like to describe Galician as an un-nasalized Portuguese, written like Spanish, and spoken with Italian intonation. Galician and Portuguese are actually extremely closely-related languages (some activists argue that they’re merely dialects of the same language), but after Portugal gained its independence in the 12th century, the two went their separate ways. In the Middle Ages, Galician enjoyed prestige as a language of poetry and law, but the creeping influence of Castilian ousted it before long. Although it historically has been stigmatized in the big cities as a rural dialect, Galician experienced a literary rebirth in the 1800s and is co-official in the modern-day Community of Galicia.
Very similar to Galician is Fala (“Speech”), hidden away in isolated valleys of northwest Extremadura. Its tiny but strong community of speakers can easily communicate with Galician speakers, although they prefer to distinguish Fala as its own language. Fascinating stuff.
Example text: Tódolos seres humanos nacen libres e iguais en dignidade e dereitos e, dotados como están de razón e conciencia, díbense comportar fraternalmente uns cos outros.

Astur-Leonese

Astur-Leonese language in Spain map
Native names: asturianubablellionésestremeñu
Number of speakers: Asturian (100,000), Leonese (50,000), Extremaduran (200,000)
Description and status: It’s hard to say whether Astur-Leonese is a language with three dialects or a family of three very similar languages. Regardless, Astur-Leonese has roots in the northern region of Asturias—the only part of Spain never conquered by the Moors. During the Reconquista, it was adopted by the kingdom of León to the south and called Leonese, and was brought later into bordering Extremadura.Today, the language is protected in the Principality of Asturias, and while it’s not co-official, it is taught in public schools and is promoted in the media. In the provinces of León and Zamora to the south, however, Astur-Leonese is extremely endangered and little official work has been done to preserve it. Its situation in Extremadura isn’t much better, and even locals struggle to distinguish between Extremaduran Spanish and Extremaduran proper.
Example text: Tolos seres humanos nacen llibres y iguales en dignidá y drechos y, pola mor de la razón y la conciencia de so, han comportase hermaniblemente los unos colos otros.

Basque

Basque language in Spain map
Native name: euskara
Number of speakers: 700,000
Description and status: Perhaps the most unique language in all of Europe, Basque is a language isolate—it’s related to no living language anywhere! Its current range around the Bay of Biscay on either side of the Pyrenees Mountains would have been much larger during Roman times, when it was one of many non-Latin languages spoken in the area. However, only Basque has survived to the present day and, despite persecution under Franco, is actually growing in its number of speakers. Co-official in the Basque Country region and in northern next-door Navarra, it’s strongest in the provinces represented by Bilbao and San Sebastián. You can recognize the written language by its plethora of Ks and Zs, and Basque and Spanish share many sounds in common.
Example text: Gizon-emakume guztiak aske jaiotzen dira, duintasun eta eskubide berberak dituztela; eta ezaguera eta kontzientzia dutenez gero, elkarren artean senide legez jokatu beharra dute.

Aragonese

Aragonese language in Spain map
Native name: aragonésfabla
Number of speakers: 10,000
Description and status: Like the medieval kingdom of Aragón, the Aragonese language began in the foothills of the central Pyrenees and gradually spread south. However, over the centuries, Castilian replaced its cousin Aragonese in much of this region, and the language is now spoken only in far-northern Huesca and Zaragoza provinces. Aragón is sparsely populated as it is (Zaragoza the capital has over half the population!), so it’s not surprising that just 10,000 or so speak the language. Under Franco, it was sadly ridiculed as poorly-spoken Castilian, but today it’s protected by the regional government as Aragón’s “native language,” although it isn’t co-official.
Example text: Toz os ombres naxen libres y iguals en dinidat y en dreitos. Adotatos de razón y de conzenzia, deben apachar-sen unos con atros d’una manera freternal.

Aranese (Occitan)

Aranese language in Spain map
Native name: aranésgasconoccitan
Number of speakers: 5,000
Description and status: Despite being so tiny, Aranese is actually one of three co-official languages in the Cataluña region. Used only in the Aran Valley of the Pyrenees, Aranese is technically a dialect of Gascon, which itself is a variety of Occitan—a Romance language spoken across southern France. I honestly know zilch about Aranese, but I do know it’s super close to Catalan (see below) and has some complex pronunciation rules.
Example text: Ah! petit prince, atau comprení, pòga pòc, era tua petita vida melancolica. En molt de temps non auies agut per distracion qu’era doçor deth solei quan se cògue… Sabí aguest nau detalh, eth quatau dia ath maitin, quan me diguís: M’agrade veir quan eth solei se cògue.

Catalan

Catalan language in Spain map
Native name: català, valencià
Number of speakers: 9 million
Description and status: While linguists usually group Galician, Astur-Leonese, Castilian, and Aragonese together, Catalan is a whole ‘nother ball game, and is actually more similar to languages in southern France than to Spanish. (However, it is NOT a mixture of French and Spanish!) Primarily spoken and co-official in the regions of Cataluña, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands, Catalan actually has more speakers than Croatian, Danish, or Finnish do. Like Galician, Catalan was a legal and literary language in the Middle Ages and went through a renaissance in the 1800s. Catalans are especially proud of their mother tongue, and it plays a large role in their quest for secession from Spain. Valencians, on the other hand, believe they speak a separate language—but I guess there is that saying that “a language is a dialect with an army.”
Example text: Tots els éssers humans neixen lliures i iguals en dignitat i en drets. Són dotats de raó i de consciència, i han de comportar-se fraternalment els uns amb els altres.

Gomeran whistle

Gomeran whistle silbo in Spain map
Native name: el silbo gomero (in Spanish)
Number of speakers: under 20,000
Description and status: La Gomera is a small, circular island in the Canaries crossed by ravines, hills, and valleys. Because of this, the pre-Spanish Guanche people developed a complex way of whistling that allowed them to communicate over long distances by whistling their language. Although the Guanche language went extinct after the Spanish conquest of the islands, the skill was passed on to Spanish-speakers, who continue to use it today. El silbo isn’t technically a language but a way of making it easier to speak Canarian Spanish across the island’s rugged terrain. Check out the YouTube video below!

Example recording:

Iberian Romani

Native name: caló

Number of speakers: 40,000

Description and status: Spoken almost exclusively by Spain’s Gypsy population (a.k.a. the Romani people), the caló language is actually a “mixed” language that takes Spanish grammar and replaces most Spanish words with a totally different lexicon. Remember that modern-day Gypsies are descendants of nomadic people from northern India who migrated to Europe centuries ago; hence, Iberian Romani takes a lot of its vocabulary from the ancestral spoken language but operates using Spanish grammatical rules.

I actually encountered el caló at my school last year: I was in a second-grade bilingual science class talking about words for food in English when the teacher asked one of the Gypsy boys what the word for “oil” was in his language, and he replied with the word “ampio.” So cool!

Example text:

Y sasta se hubiese catanado sueti baribustri, baribustri, y abillasen solictos á ó de los fores, os penó por parabola: Manu chaló abri á chibar desqueri simiente: y al chibarle, yeque aricata peró sunparal al drun, y sinaba hollada, y la jamáron as patrias e Charos. Y aver peró opré bar: y pur se ardiñó, se secó presas na terelaba humedad. Y aver peró andré jarres, y as jarres, sos ardiñáron sat siró, la mulabáron. Y aver peró andré pu lachi: y ardiñó, y diñó mibao á ciento por yeque. Penado ocono, se chibó á penar á goles: Coin terela canes de junelar, junele. — “Parable of the Sower” (Luke 8:4-8)

Sources

 The post They Speak More Than Just Spanish in Spain appeared first on trevorhuxham.com

Alcalá de Henares Transportation Map, 2015

Urban buses, intercity buses, night buses and commuter trains in 2014. The Regional Transport Consortium has released a new transport map so you don’t miss in your daily trips within the Community of Madrid.

In the last few months urban bus lines in Alcalá de Henares have undergone some changes, with a cut of 10% in frequency of its lines and the expansion of others.

To see or download the new Transportation Map of Alcalá de Henares, click the map:

Plano de transportes de Madrid y Alcalá de Henares

For more information on city buses, click Urban Buses in Alcalá.

If you want to calculate all the possible connections between two points of the Community of Madrid with information on transport schedules and prices, click on Public Transport in Madrid.

Respect to the line 824 which connects with Alcalá de Henares with the Madrid-Barajas Airport, you can get detailed information here: To the Airport by Bus.

 

Alcalá se une a la Plataforma para la Promoción Turística

Alcalá de Henares ha firmado la incorporación de la ciudad a la Asociación Turística de Madrid, un gran acuerdo entre los principales agentes del sector para relanzar a la Comunidad de Madrid como destino turístico.

El acuerdo ha sido firmado por el alcalde de la ciudad, Javier Bello, y consiste en una gran alianza entre los principales agentes del sector para relanzar a la Comunidad de Madrid como destino turístico. El acto celebrado en la Casa de América de Madrid estuvo presidido por el presidente de la Comunidad de Madrid, Ignacio González, y contó con la asistencia de la secretaria de Estado de Turismo, Isabel Borrego.

Junto con Alcalá de Henares se han adherido 30 nuevos socios como Turespaña, el Ayuntamiento de Madrid e importantes multinacionales españolas como cadenas hoteleras y compañías aéreas, además de instituciones culturales y los clubes de fútbol Atlético de Madrid y Real Madrid.

Ignacio González ha recordado la Comunidad de Madrid ha incrementado su presupuesto para turismo en 2014 un 20%. El turismo es fundamental para el desarrollo social y económico de la región, ya que es un sector que aporta el 6,3% del PIB regional y da trabajo a 300.000 personas, al mismo tiempo que repercute de manera directa en otros sectores económicos, como la hostelería, el comercio o la cultura. También ha recordado que la región madrileña tiene una riqueza cultural inmensa, con Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez y San Lorenzo de El Escorial como ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad y algunos de los museos más importantes del mundo.

El presidente madrileño ha destacado el impacto de las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en el turismo para afirmar que esto hace necesario estar presentes en espacios a los que antes no se les prestaba atención o no tenían tanta relevancia como los blogs o las redes sociales. También ha asegurado que de igual forma hay que hacerse visible en nuevos mercados (Rusia, Brasil, India o China, cuyas previsiones de crecimiento se estiman hasta 2017 en más de 75 millones de nuevos viajeros fuera de sus fronteras).

Más información:

 

Alcalá Joins the Platform for Tourist Promotion

Alcalá de Henares has signed the incorporation of the city to the Madrid Tourist Association, a great deal among the major industry players to re-launch the Community of Madrid as a tourist destination.

The agreement was signed by the mayor, Javier Bello, and consists of a great partnership between major industry players to re-launch the Community of Madrid as a tourist destination. The event held at the Casa de America in Madrid was chaired by the President of the Community of Madrid, Ignacio Gonzalez, and was attended by Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego.

Together with Alcalá de Henares, th agreement has been signed by 30 new partners as Turespaña, the City of Madrid and major Spanish multinationals like hotel chains and airlines, as well as cultural institutions and football clubs like Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Ignacio González recalled the Community of Madrid has increased its tourism budget for 2014 by 20%. Tourism is central to social and economic development of the region, as it is a sector which makes up 6.3% of regional GDP and employs 300,000 people, while directly impacts on other economic sectors, such as gastronomic and hotel business, trade and culture. He also recalled that the regio of Madrid  has a vast cultural wealth, with Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez and San Lorenzo de El Escorial as World Heritage cities and some of the most important museums in the world.

The President has highlighted the impact of new information technologies and communication in tourism to say that this is necessary to be present in spaces that before were not paying attention or did not have much relevance, as blogs or social networks. He also stated that in the same way we have to be visible to new markets (Russia, Brazil, India or China), whose growth forecasts up to 2017 are estimated at more than 75 million new passengers outside its borders.

Additional information:

 

Alcalá en bici con Alcalá Bikes

Alcalá Bikes es una forma distinta de conocer Alcalá de Henares. Servicio de alquiler de bicicletas y rutas guiadas en bici por Alcalá de Henares. 

Alcalá Bikes te propone una forma original de conocer la historia de Alcalá de Henares. Gracias a su servicio de alquiler, podrás alquilar una de sus 40 bicicletas clásicas desde 6€ la primera hora, para pasear y conocer Alcalá a tu aire. En su página web, www.alcalabikes.es, podrás realizar una reserva online de forma que puedas asegurar su disponibilidad a tu llegada a Alcalá de Henares.

Alcala Bikes - disponibilidad de bicis

Pero quizás lo más interesante es que puedes contratar un servicio de rutas guiadas en bici, disponible gracias a su acuerdo de colaboración con la empresa Promoción Turística Alcalá. En principio hay disponibles cuatro rutas. A la indispensable por el casco histórico de Alcalá, se unen una para visitar las ruinas de Complutum, otra para conocer el Jardín Botánico de la UAH y una cuarta que te llevará por la vega del río Henares.

rutas-guiadas

Además del alquiler y las rutas guiadas, Alcalá Bikes completa su oferta con su servicio express de reparación de bicicletas, inmediata o con cita previa, y que incluso pueden recoger la bici en tu domicilio. También ofrecen el servicio de mantenimiento de bicicletas para que tengas siempre tu bici a punto, y un catálogo de venta de bicicletas clásicas, urbanas, cruisser y eléctricas.

Alcalá Bikes está situada en pleno centro, en la calle Teniente Ruiz, 2 (Cuatro Caños).

Más información:



Imagen de la Universidad realizada por Ricardo Espinosa Ibeas.

 

Get to Know Alcalá de Henares in a Bike Ride

Alcalá Bikes is a different way of visiting Alcalá de Henares. Bike rental and guided bike routes service in Alcalá de Henares.

Alcalá Bikes offers you an original way to ride Alcalá de Henares history. Thanks to its rental service, you can rent one of its 40 classic bikes from just 6 € the first hour, to walk around and meet the city at your own pace. On its website, www.alcalabikes.es, you can book your bike in advance using this online form.

Alcala Bikes - disponibilidad de bicis

But perhaps most interesting service is that you can hire bike guided tours, available through its partnership with Promoción Turística Alcalá company. There are four routes to choose from: The essential through the old town of Alcalá, is teaming up with the visit to the ruins of Complutum, the Botanical Garden at the UAH, and the one that will take you through the valley of the Henares river.

rutas-guiadas

In addition to bike rental and guided tours, Alcalá Bikes completes its offer with its the express bicycle repairing service, immediately or by appointment, and they can even pick up your bike at home. Alcalá Bikes also offers a bike maintenance service so you can always have your bike ready to go, and a sales catalog of classic, urban, cruisser and electric bikes.

Alcalá Bikes is located in downtown, Calle Teniente Ruiz , 2 ( Cuatro Caños sq).

Additional information:



University picture by Ricardo Espinosa Ibeas.

 

Pista de hielo y carpa de actividades para todos en Navidad

Una pista de hielo, el Gran Parque Infantil Gratuito, proyecciones de cine familiar gratuito y espectáculos en directo en la carpa de actividades para niños, son algunas de las atracciones pensadas para disfrutar en familia esta Navidad en Alcalá de Henares.

Desde el pasado 1 de diciembre de 2013 ya puedes visitar el gran Belén Monumental de Alcalá de Henares, así como la Exposición Belenes del Mundo en la Casa de la Entrevista (ver horarios).

A partir del 20 de diciembre se abrirá además una gran pista de hielo en la misma Plaza de Cervantes, frente al Ayuntamiento y la Torre de Santa María. Y a partir del sábado 21 de diciembre y hasta el 6 de enero podrás disfrutar de Talleres, cine, juegos y musicales quedarán unificados en una carpa climatizada de 800 metros cuadrados que se instalará en la Plaza de los Santos Niños.

Desde el 21 de diciembre y hasta el 6 de enero en horario de 11:00 a 14:00 y 18:00 a 21:00 (excepto los días de cine o espectáculo), los pequeños podrán acudir a este Gran Parque Infantil Gratuito. Además podrán disfrutar de proyecciones de cine familiar gratuito (Viernes 27 de diciembre, 18:00 h. “Cuento de Navidad” y Viernes 3 de enero, 18:00 h. “The Polar Express”).

Además, un total de cinco espectáculos en directo, todos a las 18:00 horas, harán las delicias de los más pequeños.

  • 21 de diciembre “El Espantapájaros Fantasma”, un espectáculo para espectadores de 5 a 105 años,
  • 26 de diciembre “Blancanieves, El Musical”, en una nueva versión del universal cuento
  • 28 de diciembre turno para otro clásico, “Caperucita Roja
  • 29 de diciembre, el Musical”, “Dinamita Pérez”, en formato interactivo y participativo
  • 5 de enero magia en formato familiar con “Sheridan, la aventura mágica”.

 

Las entradas para estos espectáculos se podrán adquirir en la Oficina de Turismo de la Plaza de los Santos Niños a un precio único de 5 euros.

La puerta principal del Ayuntamiento recibirá todos los días a los Carteros Reales, para que todos los niños y niñas puedan hacer llegar sus mejores deseos a los Reyes Magos, gracias a la encomiable labor de las Peñas Festivas de la Ciudad. “La aportación de las Peñas festivas, -ha explicado Sanz- también en Navidad es fundamental, ya que llevan con gran orgullo y dedicación ser los verdaderos “mensajeros” de S.S.M.M. Los Reyes Magos de Oriente y colaboran para conseguir colmar los sueños de todos los que dejan su carta esperando recibir que se cumplan”.

Otro clásico de las Navidades son los desfiles de la Comparsa de Gigantes y Cabezudos, que recorrerán las calles de la ciudad complutense encabezados por los tres gigantes, los tres Reyes Magos, que salen a la calle exclusivamente durante las Navidades y en Cabalgata de Reyes, que este año repite y afianza su recorrido por Vía Complutense.

Más información:

 

Ice Skating Rink and an Activities Tent for All at Christmas

A big ice rink, the Great Free Kids Park, free family movie screenings and live entertainment in the activities tent for children, are some of the attractions designed for families to enjoy this Christmas.

Since December 1, 2013  you can visit the large Monumental Nativity Scene in Alcalá de Henares, and the Nativity Scenes of the World Exhibition in Casa de la Entrevista (see schedule).

But from December 20 you can also enjoy a large ice rink in Plaza de Cervantes, just in front of the town hall and Torre de Santa María. And from Saturday, December 21, to January 6, children can attend the Great Free Kids Park and free family movie screenings in a 800 square meters heated tent to be installed in the Plaza de los Santos Niños.

From December 21 to January 6, and from 11:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 21:00 (except film or show days), childen can attend this Great Free Kids Park. They may also enjoy free family movie screenings (Friday, December 27, 18:00. “Christmas Carol” and Friday, January 3, 18:00. “The Polar Express”).

In addition, a total of five live performances, all at 18:00, will delight the little ones.

  • December 21 “The Phantom Scarecrow”, a show for 5-105 years old spectators
  • December 26 “Snow White, The Musical”, a new version of the universal tale
  • December 28 Time for another classic, “Red Riding Hood”
  • December 29, the musical “Dynamite Perez” in an interactive and participative format
  • January 5 magic for families  ”Sheridan, the magical adventure.”

 

Tickets for these shows can be purchased at the Tourist Office in Plaza de los Santos Niños at a single price of 5 euros.

The front door of City Hall will be open every day to receive the Carteros Reales (Royal Postmen), so that all children can send their best wishes to the Three Kings, thanks to the commendable work of the city Peñas. “The contribution of festive Peñas, explained Sanz, during Christmas is also critical because they are with great pride and dedication the true “messengers “of Their Majesties The Three Kings and collaborate to fulfill the childen dreams”.

Another classic Christmas parades are the Giants and Big-heads, who roam the streets of the complutense city headed by the three giants, the Three Kings, repeating and strengthing this year their tour through the Vía Complutense.

Additional information:

 

Paradores celebra su 85 aniversario con una exposición

Ayer se celebró el 85 aniversario desde la creación del primer Parador de España. El lugar elegido fue el Parador de Alcalá de henares, donde se presentó una exposición sobre la histora de los Paradores.

Si te apetece recordar cómo eran los antiguos uniformes de Paradores, la vajilla que se usaba en los años 50, fotografías de personajes conocidos que han pasado por nuestros establecimientos o cómo era una centralita antiguamente, puedes acercarte al Parador de Alcalá de Henares y regresar por unos minutos al pasado.

Ayer 17 diciembre, el ministro de Industria, José Manuel Soria asistió a la celebración en el Parador de Alcalá de Henares del 85 aniversario de Paradores. Hace 85 años el primer Parador de la red, el de Gredos, abrió sus puertas, dando origen a lo que hoy es la actual red de Paradores.

85 aniversario Paradores Cubiertos85 años de recuperación de edificios históricos, de desarrollo del turismo en España, de servicio exquisito a miles de clientes, de sabores y experiencias  inolvidables… 85 años de ilusión, de trabajo y de éxitos.

En el evento, se ha repasado parte de la historia de Paradores la cual ha quedado reflejada en una simbólica exposición que se ha montado en el Parador de Alcalá de Henares.

Parador de Alcalá

En la cuna de Cervantes, donde se respira cultura y arte por cada esquina, está el Parador de Alcalá, un colegio-convento y Hostería del Estudiante del siglo XVII, situado en el antiguo Colegio Mayor de San Jerónimo. Pero tanta historia no debe confundirte, porque el hotel combina a la perfección tradición y vanguardia; la decoración en su interior es moderna y de diseño, exquisita, minimalista y extremadamente elegante. Los servicios son inmejorables, además de lo habitual en Paradores, cuenta con spa, bussiness center, centros de convenciones y doce salones de conferencias. A 26 Kilómetros de Madrid, 20 del aeropuerto internacional de Barajas y de las instalaciones de IFEMA, y a tan solo 2 Kilómetros del la estación del ferrocarril, la ubicación del parador de esta Ciudad Patrimonio de la Humanidad es una de sus principales bazas.

Más información:

  • Parador de Alcalá de Henares
  • Colegios, 8. 28801 Alcalá de Henares (Madrid)
  • Tel.: 91 888 03 30 – Fax: 91 888 05 27
  • e-mail: alcala@parador.es

 

Exhibition to Celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Paradores

The 85th anniversary since the establishment of the first Parador in Spain was celebrated yesterday. The chosen venue was the Parador of Alcala de Henares, where an exhibition on the history of Paradors was presented.

If you’d like to know how the old Paradores uniforms were, the crockery used in the 50’s, pictures of famous people who have passed through the hotels or how an old switchboard was, you can visit the Parador de Alcalá de Henares and enjoy the past for a few minutes. 85 years ago the first Parador hotel, the Gredos one, opened, giving rise to what is now the current network of Paradores.

85 aniversario Paradores Cubiertos

85 years of restoration of historic buildings, development of tourism in Spain, exquisite service to thousands of customers, flavors and unforgettable experiences… 85 years of illusion, work and success.

The event has been reviewed part of the history of the House which has been reflected in a symbolic exhibition revealed on the Parador de Alcalá de Henares.

Parador de Alcalá

In the birthplace of Cervantes, where every nook and cranny oozes art and culture, stands the Parador de Alcalá, a 17th-century monastery school and student lodgings located in the former San Jerónimo College. However, do not let so much history overwhelm you, because the hotel offers the perfect combination of tradition and avant-garde. The interior décor is of a modern design: tasteful, minimalist and extremely elegant. The services are without par: in addition to the standard offerings at Paradores, there is a spa, business center, convention centers and twelve conference rooms. 26 kilometers from Madrid, 20 kilometers from Barajas International Airport and the trade fair facilities at IFEMA, and just 2 kilometers from the train station, the Parador’s location in this World Heritage City is one of its main advantages.

Additional information:

  • Parador de Alcalá de Henares
  • Colegios, 8. 28801 Alcalá de Henares (Madrid)
  • Tel.: 91 888 03 30 – Fax: 91 888 05 27
  • e-mail: alcala@parador.es

 

España registrará este año una cifra récord de turistas

España registrará este año una cifra récord de turistas, superando los 57,89 millones de visitantes extranjeros registrados en 2012.

En un comunicado hecho público ayer por la Agencia EFE de noticias, y en un acto celebrado en Alcalá de Henares con motivo del 85 aniversario de Paradores, el ministro de Industria, José Manuel Soria, ha analizado algunos indicadores del sector que a su juicio reflejan un panorama “prometedor”, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional.

En lo que respecta a las cifras en España, Soria ha precisado que 2013 “será el mejor ejercicio turístico que hayamos tenido desde que existen series históricas”.

En su intervención, el titular de Industria ha animado a las empresas turísticas a seguir trabajando por la mejora continua para capitalizar el 4 % de crecimiento que, según las previsiones, el sector experimentará hasta 2020.

 Más información:

 

Spain will register a record number of tourists this year

Spain will register a record number of tourists this year, up from the 57.89 million foreign visitors recorded in 2012.

In a statement released yesterday by the Agencia EFE news agency, in a ceremony held in Alcalá de Henares to mark the 85th anniversary of Paradores, Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria, has analyzed some sector indicators that in his opinion reflect a “promising” outlook, both domestically and internationally.

With regard to the figures in Spain, Soria has stated that 2013 “will be our best year in the number of toursts we have had since the beggining of our historical series”.

In his speech, the Minister of Industry has encouraged tourism businesses to continue working for continuous improvement to capitalize on the 4% growth, according to forecasts, the sector will experience until 2020.

Additional information:

 

Teatro de Navidad en el Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes

El Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes presenta el sábado 21 de diciembre la obra de teatro Más vale el peor concierto que no el mejor divorcio, escrita y dirigida por la Academia del Verso de Alcalá.

Esta obra, basada en El juez de los divorcios y en algunos personajes de las Novelas ejemplares de Miguel de Cervantes, se presenta por primera vez en Alcalá tras haber sido interpretada en el Festival de Arte y Literatura 2013 El Jardín de los Genios (Tula, Rusia), en el que el museo participa desde 2009.

Varias parejas van ante el juez para exponer los motivos que les llevan a pedir el divorcio, pero a pesar de los problemas y aparente desamor, se produce un giro en la trama que conduce a un final inesperado. La asistencia a esta actividad es libre y gratuita, con aforo limitado.

Dramaturgia e interpretación: Academia del Verso de Alcalá. Karmele Aramburu, Juan Polanco y Antonio Ponce.
Duración: 30 minutos
Horario: Sábado 21 de diciembre a las 18:30 y 20:00 horas

Actividad gratuita
Aforo limitado
Todos los públicos, preferiblemente mayores de 12 años

Lugar:
Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes
Calle Mayor, 48. 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid
Tel: 91 889 96 54
museocasanataldecervantes@madrid.org
www.museo-casa-natal-cervantes.org

 

Christmas Theatre in Cervantes Birthplace Museum

The Cervantes Birthplace Museum presents on Saturday, December 21, the play Más vale el peor concierto que no el mejor divorcio, written and directed by Academia del Verso of Alcalá.

This work, based on El juez de los divorcios and in some characters in the Exemplary Novels of Miguel de Cervantes, is presented for the first time in Alcala after being performed at the Festival of Arts and Literature 2013 The Garden of Geniuses (Tula, Russia), involved with the museum since 2009.

Several couples go to court to explain the reasons that lead them to ask a divorce, but despite the problems and apparent indifference, a twist in the plot that leads to an unexpected ending occurs. Attendance at this activity is free, with limited seating.

Playwriting and interpretation: Academia del Verso de Alcalá. Karmele Aramburu, Juan Polanco y Antonio Ponce.
Duration: 30 minutes
Schedule: Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 6:30 and 8:00 pm

Free activity
limited seating
All public, preferably over 12 years old

Where:
Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes
Calle Mayor, 48. 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid
Tel: 91 889 96 54
museocasanataldecervantes@madrid.org
www.museo-casa-natal-cervantes.org

 

Concierto de Navidad 2013 con la Banda Sinfónica Complutense

El próximo sábado se celebrará el tradicional Concierto de Navidad en el Teatro Cervantes, de la mano de la Banda Sinfónica Complutense.

Puedes adquirir las entradas en telentrada.com, al precio de 5,8 euros. Entrada única para el día 21 de diciembre de 2013, a las 21:00 horas.

Banda Sinfónica Complutense

Los orígenes de la Banda Sinfónica Complutense se remontan a marzo de 1999, cuando una treintena de músicos estudiantes y aficionados a la música, comienzan a reunirse bajo la dirección de Luis Antonio Sepúlveda, con el objetivo común de crear una banda de música en la Ciudad.

El paso decisivo para consolidar este proyecto de formación musical se da en noviembre, constituyéndose como Asociación Cultural “Banda Sinfónica Complutense” de Alcalá de Henares. Entre su repertorio que cuenta con una gran variedad de estilos musicales: zarzuelas, pasodobles, música clásica, sacra, bandas sonoras, música popular, marchas procesionales, etc.

Actualmente cuenta con dos CD, uno de marchas procesionales, grabado en directo en la Capilla de San Ildefonso de la Universidad Cisneriana, con motivo del Festival de Arte Sacro del año 2003; y otro doble CD grabado en el Auditorio Nacional de Música de Madrid el pasado 19 de mayo. Actualmente está conformada por cerca del centenar de músicos de distintas edades, bajo la batuta de su actual director Raúl Miguel Rodríguez.

Más información: