La canción de la semana #7

...is En lo alto del cerro de palomares (Tangos) as performed by Estrella Morente.

Kirill

¡Feliz San Jorge!

Mañana es el día de San Jorge, Saint George, Sant Jordi, el patrón de Cataluña y de Inglaterra.
En España se celebra el Día del Libro, coincidiendo con la muerte de Miguel de Cervantes (22 de abril, pero anotada en el registro el 23 de abril) y el nacimiento, según la tradición, de William Shakespeare el 23 de abril.
Por eso, quiero animaros a que leáis un poco en español. En principio, podéis empezar con unas lecturas muy entretenidas, pensadas especialmente para estudiantes de español:
http://cvc.cervantes.es/aula/lecturas/inicial/ , para el nivel incial.
http://cvc.cervantes.es/aula/lecturas/intermedio/ , para el nivel intermedio
http://cvc.cervantes.es/aula/lecturas/avanzado/ , para el nivel avanzado.

Además, en la biblioteca virtual Miguel de Cervantes http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/index.shtml
ofrece una amplia colección de obras de la literatura española.
Ya me diréis qué os parece.
¡Feliz San Jordi a todos!
Elena

Granada / La canción de la semana

It seems somehow impossible to separate Lorca and this song from my birthplace, Granada. Please, go to http://www.albayzin-granada.com/anexo.htm to enjoy the most beautiful barrio in Granada, el Albayzín. And have a look at the marvels of "El jardín andalusí" on http://cvc.cervantes.es/actcult/jardin_andalusi/

Have fun.
Elena

La canción de la semana #6

Rumba Verde que te quiero verde is based on poem by Federico García Lorca. Here you can compare original Romance Sonámbulo and the lyrics of the song, and listen to the song itself performed by Manzanita y Ketama. (This is a closing number of Flamenco de Carlos Saura.)

Final numbers and arrangements for tapas night

Hola a todos:
First of all, a big thank you all for your patience with me. I seem to have definitive numbers and arrangements for tomorrow evening.
There will be a total of 26 of us for dinner at José el Gallego restaurant at Brinkley. We decided to have the £18.75 menu. Drinks aren't included.
The table is booked for 8.00 pm and José is happy to entertain people until very late. He usually complements his guests with some liquors and cordials at the end of a meal. I am sure he will do the same for us.
Richard, Jane, Val and Wendy will share a car.
Harvey, Sue and Steph will share a car.
Paula and Gary will share a car.
Steve and Sonia will share a car.
Heidi, Mike and Frances will share a car.
Joy and Chris will share a car.
Margit and husband will share a car.
An 8 seater cab will pick up these people at Saffron Walden library at 7.30:
Louise and Anthony, Juliette, Kirill and Tamara, Sue Jiggins, Mark and myself.
The taxi will arrive at Brinkley to collect its passangers at 11.30
I am really looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
Estoy segura de que nos lo pasaremos muy bien.
Hasta mañana.
Elena

Taxi booked!

Hi All,
After making you all dizzy for some days with my booking troubles (I am sorry), a cab has been finally booked (and I did not do it!!!) : 8 seater for £60 + £1 per drop off in Saffron Walden (meaning couples only pay £1 for one drop off). We will meet at 7.30 at the Library and the taxi will pick us up again at Brinkley at 11.30.
There are a total of 9 confirmed people and a possible 10 (including Helen) in need of transport, Can drivers accommodate the other 1-2 people between you in your cars?
Is this Ok with everyone?
Elena

La canción de la semana #5

...La Llorona performed by Chavela Vargas.

Kirill

Final on taxis

Hi everyone,
I have tried to get a 16 seater, but it costs £160 and I thought that it really was way tooo much.
The 8 seater costs £80 in total, £40 each way: £10 each (see more below). I have until tomorrow to book this one.
Please, let me know if this is OK with you. That means that some of us will need extra cars.
I am trying to organize lifts. Can any of you go by car and accomodate people?
Elena

El chiste de la semana

Me lo mandó José Ramón, un amigo cubano. ¡Que lo disfrutéis!

Como lo recibí de la isla:

Las Naciones Unidas encargaron a todos los países un Tratado sobre el elefante y cada uno lo hizo de acuerdo a su particular idiosincrasia:

Los norteamericanos presentaron un pequeño librito o manual, encuadernado en rústica que se titulaba:
"All about the elephant"
Los alemanes presentaron sesenta y ocho tomos encuadernados en cuero, el primero se titulaba:
"Un brevísimo y somerísimo estudio sobre el elefante. Primer tomo: La oreja izquierda"
Los franceses presentaron un libro titulado:
"L'amour et l'elephant"
Los japoneses presentaron dos libros:
"Cómo copiar elefantes" y "El elefante transistorizado"
Los holandeses presentaron:
"Variaciones sobre quesos a base de leche de elefanta"
Los ingleses presentaron:
"God save the elephant"
Los portugueses presentaron un ensayo llamado:
"Os elefantes mais poderosos do mundo son os elefantes lusitanos de Angola y Mozambique"
Los españoles presentaron dos libros:
"Esencia, presencia y constancia del elefante" y "El elefante católico a la luz de las doctrinas de Santo Tomás de Aquino y San Francisco Javier"
Y cuando le preguntaron al cubano por su trabajo sobre el elefante, este
contestó:
- ¡Coñooo...!!!!, ¿Pero esa mierda era pa´ hoy?

Taxi Prices and Bookings

Hi All,
I have a price for the taxi. The cheapest company is Crocus cars. They provide us with an 8 seater for £40 each way (Saffron Walden-Brinkley and back), and an extra taxi for £22 each way.
I have 23 confirmations on my list and 14 for the taxi from Saffron Walden.
I have confirmed bookings for:
Own car: Richard, Jayne and Val. 3 people
Own car: Harvey, Sue, Stephanie. 3 people
Own car: Paula and Gary. 2 people
Taxi: Louise and Anthony, Juliette, Kirill and Tamara, Joy and friend, Margit and husband, Nina and Paul, Sue, Mark and Elena in Taxi. 14 people
Lola in Linton and Heidi and Frances in Ashdon wanting to share a taxi. 3 people
Lola: the taxi confirmed it won't go through Linton, it will be very expensive. Will you come to Saffron Walden and go in the taxi or will you go directly from Linton. I am very sorry. Please, confirmed your preference.
Unconfirmed bookings:
Magda, please, can you let me know ASAP if you are coming and your prefered travel arrangements?
Is there anybody else coming not on this list, including friends or spouses not booked for?
Please, let me know.
Elena

Hola buenas vacaciones a todos!

Hola Elena y la clase de miercoles por la tarde -

Disculpa que no pude venir el ultimo miercoles, fui al cine en B/S. Espero que hayan tenido una clase estupenda.

Debido al hecho que la proxima clase es el 27 de avril (!perdon con antelacion si tendre retraso a llegar a la clase/ es por culpa del trabajo!)voy a veros el 19.4 para las tapas.

?Se puede compartir los coches o como habeis quedado? Si no nos encontramos antes necesito algunas direcciones. Muchas gracias!


Con carino,

++ Margit

La canción de la semana #4

... is El son te llama (Guajira). Cannot find free audio on the web, but I have a beautiful version of this song performed by Senegalese Orchestra Baobab. I can bring the CD in next time. The lyrics is here:

Amigo pida otra copa, caramba,
Que este cantor le convida.
Que aunque a ustedes no le importa
Voy a hacerles la historia de mi vida.

Kirill

Perú

Hi all,
As promised, here we have some Websites where you can find information about Perú for your pleasure and Year 2 homework:

http://travel.peru.com/travel/spanish/

http://www.peru.info/peru.asp

http://club.telepolis.com/leyendasurbanas/imagenes/machupichu.htm

http://www.enjoyperu.com/guiadedestinos/machupicchu/intro/index2.htm

I am sure you will find more interesting ones.

Enjoy
Elena