Valencia, Spain, April 2022

Central Market of Valencia

I've a lot to catch up on here. It's August 2024 and my, there is a backlog. 

One of my Airbnb hosts in Valencia was keen to show me some key sites in the historic centre, and to demonstrate how to use the local bus. She spoke only Spanish, so I was forced to practice my basic speaking skills in the language. 

Those of you learning languages likely know that, in a world of abundant on-line resources, it is possible to comprehend, write and read new languages reasonably quickly. But speaking, to be understood?  That's the "last mile". At least, for me, anyway. This is where I stumble and frequently fall.  My friendly host filled in the gaps but not everyone is that patient. 

At my small company OLi-works we host small conversational language workshops, including in Spanish, for people like me; namely those who seek an informal practice group on-line, and where they can meet different people across Canada, in Europe and sooner or later in other countries. We have fun, but there is a business side for those who want it: practicing making presentations on line, with a friendly audience. 

Back to Valencia. One day we went by bus to the Mercado Central, or Central Market, an exuberant and richly coloured building that is an expression of Modernist Valencia. It was inaugurated in 1928. As you can see, it was bursting with stall, produce and people, even though it was a rainy weekday with lots of construction going on downtown. 

Digital Nomad in Chulilla, Spain

Here are more views of Chulilla, Spain, specifically, where I stayed in February 2022.  As this trip is a "working holiday," of a digital nomad (from the boomer era), I get behind on my photos. Still, I think the locations are pretty much the same as when I was there.

This is the guest house where I stayed in Chulilla. It is operated by a German couple; she with years of experience working in remote areas of the world, he with expertise in on-line tutoring of German. If you want more details, send me an Email at 4oliworks@gmail.com
  

Balcony breakfast was part of the package. There were cool people to meet every morning. They occupied the other guest rooms.

View looking up to the village from the breakfast terrace at the guest house.

The sun pours onto the terrace in the morning. We chatted and lingered until the village and nearby trails were warmed up.

Chulilla, Spain

Chulilla is about 60km NW of Valencia. It is a rock climber's paradise but people live here full-time and part-time, too.

 

Back on the road - two days of Madrid, Spain in February

After 30 hours of travel from Kelowna to Madrid, masked throughout, and with only two days to allot to this grand city, I walked the neighbourhood of Malasaña where my Airbnd was, and observed the wall art and door art, now and then. I also went for a stroll with a friend in "El parque del Retiro", which was absolutely lovely --- ideal for decompressing. 

 

An OLI-workshop on Shakespeare

 

Feeling confined? 

With the pandemic, many people feel restricted, isolated, frustrated and bored. However, as was true in the time of Shakespeare and other times in history, the command to stay home might also mean freedom to be creative and to try new things. 

Creative disruption

Over at my usual company, www.oli-works.com, we have launched a series of on-line, interactive (OLI) workshops in areas related to science, technology, public policy and foreign affairs.  There is a short menu of conversational language workshops too. 

Finally, we have also launched an unusual blend of playwriting, play performance and English improvement using an imaginative journey approach. For each play we select to adapt to modern times, we pursue the themes of science and technology of the period; diplomacy; and creative language development when the vernacular English confronted words from many lands, near and far.  There is an ongoing dispute about who authored the Shakespeare corpus, and we are exploring that fascinating question as well. 

Inexpensive

If experts have not been recruited, our OLI-workshops are a good bargain for getting started on an area of interest, and meeting other people. We operate small group workshops, where people can network and get to know one another. We charge CAD$10 per person, per workshop, and they are offered on a drop-in basis.

Free samples

Come take a look, and listen to some audio files: https://www.asc-ist.com/shakespeare-background-and-bibliography/

Natural glory

I am re-booting this blog with a skill-testing question. Would anyone know the name of this flowering bush, growing abundantly in the parched soil near Tafraoute, Morocco? 

Passionate ground

A modern motif produced by traditional carpet-making techniques in Morocco.