Mis fotos

      The Spanish scientists Jose Carlos Florez and Tomas Palacios are two of the 94 fortunate around the world who have received, from the president of the U.S., the Presidential Award for Scientists and Engineers in the early stages of their research.

      A recognition promises of science "whose achievements early" are crucial "to ensure the preeminence of America." There are good times for science and less if you put your ID you are Spanish, so we wasting talent, educating him and letting him go.

      The brain drain of Spain seems more than just a passenger virus. Those who are gone will not return. Neither Joseph Carlos Florez nor Tomas Palacios , the two Spanish scientists who have just been rewarded for Obama, they think it for now.

    Flórez was born in New Hampshire in 1966, while his father was studying a PhD. With only two years, his family returned to Spain. He took his dual citizenship under their arms, which allowed him to return to the U.S., when the University had to go. "I'd go back to Spain, but it is clear that in matters of research I am very well here. I have a number of opportunities that would be very difficult to gather in Spain." The 4 primary differences are: first larger budget for R & D, second, is a "more flexible, recognizing the merit and talent, giving greater opportunities for young people," the third way you can climb "much more fast ". And finally the salaries and labor, which is Spain's "precarious" because of a "hierarchical structure" not committed to their work.

       To enter the town (Zahara de los Atunes, Cádiz), you can meet the nice and charming hotel "Doña Lola".

The hotel is to the left side of this picture

The main building of the hotel is behind those palm trees

This is the main building of the hotel, where the pool is

This is the other building of the hotel, to the left of the road

      When you go through the door of the hotel, you enter in a confortable world and you can imagine living in the past --because the main building is renovated over a very old house--, although it has been renovated recently.

The bar is to the left and the reception is straight.The waiters in all the hotel are very friendly.

      Let us go up to a couple of rooms.....

A nice double room....

A nice triple room.....

A nice bathroom.......

      Now, we are going down to the pool.....

Where children can play.....

Through the door in the right side, you can go up to an independent apartment.....

This is the jacuzzi....it is the best thing.....

At the bottom of the picture you can meet the restaurant, a very very good restaurant.

This is the main fireplace

Here you can take the breakfast, everyday, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

This is a special room, behind the main fireplace, in the main dining room, where the kitchen was, along time ago....To the left side, you can see a hole where they kept irons.To the right side, you can see a closet, where they kept food (a pantry), but now it is a wine cellar

This is a little room beside the wine cellar

This is an old pump for water....A long time ago, they brough water from the mountain to this house and they had to move the crank that you can see here....

      I hope that you liked my pictures and you can come here as soon as possible.

      If you want to contact the hotel, dial the phone numbers:

                +34 956 439009

                +34 956 349068

Kind regards,

Luis

  Sponsored by Costaluz Lawyers

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       The Alhambra is an Andalusian palace city located in Granada, Spain. This is a rich palace complex and strength (fortress or al-Qasr) that housed the monarch and the court of the United Nasrid Granada. Its real appeal, as in other Muslim works of the time, not only lies in the interior decoration of which is between the peaks of Andalusian art, but also in their localization and adaptation, creating a new landscape but fully integrated with existing nature. In 2011 he became the most visited monument in Spain, receiving a record number of 2.310.764 visitantes.

"La Alhambra", Granada, South of Spain, by Pixelmaniac, at flickr.com

      Etymologically, "Alhambra" in Arabic is "al-Hamra '(الحمراء,' the Red '), from the name" al-Qal'a al-Hamra' ('red fortress'). In its evolution, Castilian sandwiched between m and r a b, as in "mat" which in classical Arabic was the meaning of 'redness', written as "al-humra." There are more theories to explain the origin of the name of the Alhambra, as there are other authors who argue that at the time the Alhambra was whitewashed Andalusian and its color was white. The name "red" because when it was built would be working at night, and night view from afar because of the torchlight, saw red. Other authors argue that "Alhambra" is simply the feminine name of its founder, Abu al-Ahmar, which in Arabic means 'the Red', being red.

      The Alhambra is a walled city (medina) occupying most of the hill of La Sabika. Muslim Granada system had its own fortress, the Alhambra therefore could function autonomously from the city. In the Alhambra were all the facilities and necessary for the people living there: the royal palace, mosques, schools, workshops, etc..

      In 1238, Granada enters through the gate of Elvira, and to occupy the Palace of the Wind Gallo, Mohamed Ben-Nazar (or Nasr), called Al-Ahmar the Red (as it had a red beard).

      When Ben Al-Ahmar (Ben Mohamed Nazar) became the winner in Granada in the year 1238, the people received him with the cry of "Welcome the winner by the grace of Allah", he replied: "Only Allah Wins". This is the motto of the Nasrid coat and is written by the Alhambra. Ben Al-Hamar built the first nucleus of the palace. His son, Mohammed II, who was a friend of Alfonso X the Wise, fortified it.

      The Alhambra in Granada style is the culmination of Andalusian art, what happened in the mid-fourteenth century Yusuf I, who built the Tower of Comares, and Mohamed V, who would build the Patio de los Leones.

"patio_leones_01", La Alhambra, Granada, South of Spain, by Javier Diaz, at flickr.com

      In 1492, with the conquest of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs, the Alhambra became the royal palace. The Count of Tende, the Mendoza family, was the first Christian governor of the Alhambra. Hernando del Pulgar, chronicler of the time, says: "The Count of Tende and the supreme commander of Leon, Gutierrez de Cardenas, Ferdinand received the keys of Granada, Alhambra and entered the top of the Tower of Comares raised their cross and the flag. "   

      Napoleon's invasion was a negative event for the Alhambra. In 1812, the French army in their retreat from Granada, the Alhambra decided to fly with several explosive charges connected by a wildfire. By then it had come down some defensive towers, like the Tower of the Seven Floors. Only the courage of a Spanish soldier was able to avoid its total destruc-tion, to interrupt the course of the explosions.

      Its construction was begun in 1377 at the behest of Mohamed V, son of Yusuf I, being his most Abén Cecid mason, concluding thirteen years later. The Arabs of Granada, before calling the Patio de los Leones Sahan al-Osud, they did under the name of Al-Haram. Slightly trapezoidal in plan, the eastern side is greater than that given to the west (the Mocárabes room), the length of the whole, -219 feet, including rooms and Kings Mocárabes is equal to three times the width of the Patio your child or west side (73 feet) -, 5 surrounded by a gallery with 124 slender columns of white marble Macael (Almería), which are grouped, in addition to those exempt, set of two, three, and even four in the corners, supporting, or propping up only the filigree arches, being more symmetrical and asymmetrical sides minors, wards sendo those moving into the courtyard, at the intersection of transverse and longitudinal axis is located the source with the twelve lions which it is named. Around the bedrooms, private rooms of the sultan and wives upstairs open, lack of windows to look outside, but inside garden as befits the Muslim view of paradise. The land is now in the courtyard garden was. In each room 4 streams flow going to the center: the 4 rivers of Paradise. The columns are joined with lace panels that let in light. Cylindrical shafts very thin at the top rings, hooks on which are cubic inscriptions. The lead plates become gray horizontal vertical thrusts. The two temples they move to opposite sides of the courtyard are a reminder of the tent of the Bedouin. Are square, decorated with wooden domes are supported by muqarnas pendentives. The wing is the work of the nineteenth century. The entire gallery is covered with paneled tracery.

Fountain of Los Leones 

 

      The latest data obtained thanks to the restoration of the lions and the basin of the fountain were able to indicate that both the lions and the cup, dating from the fourteenth century and of the same origin and material (marble Macael, Almería) being made ​​the source as a whole, so as lions cup at the same time. This finding is correcting the information indicating the source of the lions of a palace, the Alhambra before, belonging to the first dynasty vizier Ibn Nagrella Zirid Samuel. In turn, it has been discovered three types of lions on the basis of their formal differentiating column systems. Each is shaped by a group of four lions with similarity in two to two traits: nose, coat of hair, jaws and position and topography of the tail.

      The source of the lions has several meanings or symbols, none of them substantiated. On the one hand the twelve lions have astrological symbolism, each lion refers to a zodiacal sign. Furthermore, it has a majestic political significance or which is related to King Solomon (the king architect) since there is an inscription referring to this source. Last and most important, refers to a heavenly symbol thus referring to the source, native life and the 4 rivers of Paradise. But what if you can say is that the source itself is an allegory of the power that resides in the sultan.

 

      Ten years ago, it was started the restoration of the "Patio de los leones", in order to recover the original color of the marbel of the lions.At least, today, the Board of the Alhambra reopens this majestic "Patio de los leones", 700 years after its construction.

It is worth to come to visit La Alhambra.Moreover, because all of Granada is a very beautiful city.

 

Kind regards,

Luis

Sponsored by Costaluz Lawyers

 

 

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Today, an International Great Race of the Bicentennial starts in the port of Cádiz (South of Spain).

"Puerto de Cádiz", Cádiz, South of Spain, by Javier Peláez, at flickr.com

       One million people will visit during the next five days to the port of Cadiz to enjoy the Great Race of the Bicentennial (Bicentennial of the Constitution of 1812), according to estimates made ​​by the City Council. The capital was poured into a meeting in which fifty tall ships, including 15 Class A berth in the docks after completing the trip organized by the 'Sail Training International' in European waters.

      Aboard the ships crew travel professionals and more than a thousand young people from five continents. The ships are from a dozen countries, from Russia to Colombia, to Norway, Germany, England, Portugal, Italy and Ecuador, and Spain, represented by the schooner 'Juan Sebastian Elcano'. Dock in Cadiz on Thursday to complete their training cruise after attending the Grand Regatta cruise from Lisbon to Cadiz Bay.

  "juan sebastian de el cano", Cádiz, South of Spain, by Emilio del Prado, at flickr.com

      For your reception, the port of Cadiz becomes a major theme park, with room for music, dance, hospitality and other cultural events and entertainment. The port area is open to the public with a big concert organized by the RTVA. Are scheduled from ten in the Wednesday night performances by Sergio Dalma, Pastora Soler, Manuel Carrasco, Andy & Lucas, Rosa Lopez, David Bustamante, David de Maria, Chenoa, Jose Manuel Soto, Hugo Salazar, Joana Jimenez and Antonio Cortes, among others. The concert is free and will be broadcast live by the Canal Sur Television.

      Leisure activities are completed with aerial displays, naval parade, the daily spectacle of the Royal School of Equestrian Art, carousel or carnival chorus concert Macaco, Ruben Blades and Eddie Palmerie.

      Renfe plans to offer a special reinforcements in Cadiz commuter service because of the concentration of sailboats. Thus, from Wednesday to Sunday, the offer will increase commuter with 124.000 additional seats to reinforce the regular service between major cities in the Bay of Cadiz.

      As RENFE detailed , it will issue a total of 271 special trains during these five days, of which 81 will provide service between Cadiz and Jerez and 190 will make between Cadiz and San Fernando, capital-South Bay. In both cases, the intermediate stops trains will usual.

     The commuter between Cadiz and San Fernando circulate practically all the time throughout the day. The first trains will start circulating around seven o'clock and the last will of Cadiz to 3.45 hours; so that the capital service between Cadiz and South Bay will be continuous, except for an interval of about three hours during the morning.

      To ensure safety, 250 Local Police officers will be responsible for organizing and controlling traffic. To these are added 200 troops from the Guardia Civil and National Police allocated to the port and its approaches.

      Repeated Cadiz host the Sail Training International, after the successful nautical appointments 1992, 2000 and 2006.

Kind regards,

Luis

Sponsored by: Costaluz Lawyers

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      One company from Granada (South of Spain) has developed a product that eliminates the use of bacteria in a few months the pollutants produced in the soil after combustion caused a forest fire.

     As reported, See Foundation, in a statement, the main novelty is that the solution is based on bacteria that degrade toxic compounds and allow the growth of new vegetation in a few months.

    The product is an outcome of the European project "Bacsin", that the company Bio-Ilíberes (from Granada), linked to the Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), has developed in collaboration with 16 research teams from 9 different countries.

    The team selected species of bacteria capable of degrading the resulting compounds after combustion caused a fire and, between them, which stimulate the regeneration of vegetation regrowth from seeds or trees.

 "Monte quemado en Arcade", Arcade, Vigo, Galicia, North of Spain, by Contando Estrelas, at flickr.com

      Once selected bacteria, applied bioinformatics and metagenomics tools to study the behavior of bacterial populations in the field itself, without isolating them in the laboratory.

     According to project leader, Matilde Fernandez, the value of it is that they have taken knowledge of classical microbiology novel tools to analyze the degradation of contaminants "in situ".

     In this way,they have applied the data obtained in laboratory tests using specific bioinformatics field to see how they behave in reality.

     Experts have specifically applied a mixture selected seeds and bacteria in the laboratory before in an experimental plot of the mountains of Malaga.

     This application process designed by the company called "rizorremediación" has been removed soil contaminants in a few months.

     In addition, the mountain vegetation recovers more quickly, reducing the visual impact and prevents erosion by water.

     So far, for soil remediation destroyed by fire using chemical or physical processes "in situ" that cause costly environmental impact.

     However, the product created using a bacterial consortium of eight bacteria that "eat" contaminants because they use as a source of energy for survival, which also makes it a sustainable process.

Kind regards,

Luis

Sponsored by Costaluz Lawyers.

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       Throughout this year, the Mayor, Soledad Ramon, has made a project to improve technological efficiency, replacing the old phone system and communications obsolete, requiring regular maintenance and investment, a virtual PBX and new handsets with management totally independent web without investment, thus integrating all municipal buildings and achieving "a significant cost savings", according to the Mayor and responsible for Modernization, Soledad Ramon.

"P1040025", Catarroja, Valencia, East of Spain, by 15mhorta-albufera, at flickr.com

      Thus, the Hall has managed to save only in telephony, Internet and data, 66,000 per year, as recorded by the Report of the innovation project management guidelines developed for continuous improvement. "This savings greater than 50% has been achieved taking advantage of consumer segments without costs, by reducing several phone lines and seeking efficiency," said the first mayor.

      The city government also has reduced operating costs resulting from the adjustments to the 2011 budget for purchases of goods and services (275,000 euros less) and current transfers (EUR 613,000 less).

      This reduction would continue with the initiated in 2008, with the financial and economic crisis and the consequent fall in current income, which accrues from 2009 a deduction of 45% in purchasing costs. However, the reduction of costs has not been produced in spending policies "indispensable" to the local government as the basic utility or the "most necessary" as social protection, employment promotion, education and health , according to Soledad Ramon.

      A large percentage of the savings already achieved in the phone bill, we must add also hidden savings to improve services and the high costs of management and repair of failures. All this against a backdrop of increased services and new service connections Catarroda free bike, or project information eComunica Digital Panel on public roads, among others.

     Many Politicians should must take good note of all this....

Kind regards,

Luis.

Sponsored by Costaluz Lawyers

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       Since 2002, they have been developing actions aimed at the reintroduction of the Osprey, a species lost in the Iberian Peninsula, made possible by the ability of host for this species meets the Community of Andalusia. It was in 2003 when he managed to reintroduce first four osprey chicks in Andalusia. They were born in Finland and had been installed, with six weeks of age in an artificial nest built on the banks of the reservoir of Barbate (Cádiz). After that first experience, increased the number of birds translocated to an average of twenty a year.

     (Look at the picture):

"Embalse de Barbate 2", Barbate, Cadiz, South of Spain, by Alcalaina, at flickr.com

       In total, from 2003 to 2011 inclusive, they have been reintroduced 164 chickens of the species between Cadiz (Barbate reservoir) and Huelva (Natural Park of the Odiel Marshes). It Is detected the return of 19 copies, thanks to the remote reading of PVC rings. It has already achieved the permanent settlement of 2 breeding pairs and at least 5 other authorities, and most importantly, have already flown 11 chickens born in Andalusia.

"Marismas del Odiel", Huelva, South of Spain, by Rafael Jiménez, at flickr.com

      This project, designed and conducted scientifically by Miguel Ferrer, Research Professor of the Biological Station of Doñana and Migres Foundation President, was an initiative of the Ministry of Environment of Andalusia. Countervailing measures emerged from the highway 381, which was built between the towns of the Province of Cadiz, Jerez and Los Barrios; so that also involved the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation. Migres Foundation is currently responsible for its management and execution.

     The objective of this project is to restore a landmark reintroduction breeding population of viable and self osprey in continental Spain, where breeding since the eighties (it does in the Balearic and Canary Islands). In this way also helps to promote the expansion of the Mediterranean population and reduce their risk of extinction.

     The osprey is a species widely studied around the world whose population decline in the middle of the Twenty century has aroused great interest in conservation. Was extinct as breeding of mainland Spain since the 80's, while the rest (Canary and Balearic Islands) is listed as "endangered." Its conservation status in Europe is described as "unfavorable." The status of the species in the Mediterranean basin is critical since it has a sparse population and very fragmented. To increase the chances of survival of this species in the long term in the Mediterranean basin, and recover it as breeding in mainland Spain (and in the Iberian Peninsula), began the project to reintroduce the osprey in Andalusia. He had previously completed the feasibility study for the reintroduction and had prepared a detailed "Reintroduction Project."

"Macho de Aguila Pescadora con una presa", by jacilluch, at flickr.com

"Aguila Pescadora, envergadura alar", by jacilluch, at flickr.com

      The proposed reintroduction of the osprey in Andalusia is an initiative of the Provincial Delegation of the Ministry of Environment in Cadiz, and was funded by it and by the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation. Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) is responsible for monitoring project scientist. The Foundation Migres is currently responsible both its direction and its technical implementation.

      While preparatory work began in 2002, it was in 2003 when the first 4 chickens were released in Cadiz and it will continue at least through 2012 inclusive. Each year, in Cadiz and Huelva, they are reintroduced around a score of young fishers nests from Finland, Scotland, and Germany, making this project one of the most spectacular time of its scale, logistics and international level of cooperation few have been made to wildlife conservation in Spain. The establishment of agreements with European countries for the transfer of chickens taken from their nests, was achieved thanks to the confidence that the relevant authorities placed in the Spanish team, based both on his career as the final arguments.

      With this species is used the system named hacking or farming. Between mid-June and mid July, we brought the chickens from the donor countries of northern Europe to house them in a hacking tower on the banks of the Barbate reservoir, inside the Natural Park of the Acorns or edge of a creek in the Place Odiel Marshes Natural. The chicks remain several weeks in the hacking tower until the gates open, at the time that chickens can fly, and from then until the time of migration, remain in the environment rather than loose, feeding on fish we supply, improving technique and learning to fly fish for themselves.

       Previous analysis of the reintroduction project aimed to within 7 years you would get the first results taking into account the longevity of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Random events or the characteristics of the species may extend the waiting period. In a similar project developed in England, the first pair of osprey was played on 5 th year (2001) after its inception. However, the first successful Andalusia obtained the 2nd year project (2005) with the formation of a breeding pair in a reservoir (the Guadalcacín) located approximately 30 km from the release point (of Barbate). This breeding pair had also been running his territory during the 3rd year of the project and again laid an egg embryonated. As in 2005, the absence of the hatch, I placed two osprey chicks to 10 days old from Germany, which again managed to successfully breed until the beginning of the migration schedule. In addition to the breeding pair, there were two breeding attempts without success. Finally, in 2009 two breeding pairs, one in the Odiel Marshes Natural Park (Huelva) and another in the reservoir Guadalcacín (Cádiz) were reproduced producing three and two chickens respectively. In the years 2010 and 2011, they have been returned to play two couples (one in each release of the project site) with a production average 1.5 chicks per year. This will consolidate the return of the species as breeding in the Iberian Peninsula.

      The gradual increase of observations in both areas of individuals released in the project area looking couple and makes us optimistic about the future population growth. The fact that Andalusia is also a special place in northern populations wintering favor an Andalusian population growth accelerated. It is anticipated that the establishment of breeding pairs encourage others to settle, so the population would grow exponentially.

      So, after several years of effort, an extinct species in the Iberian Peninsula, it has returned to bring us. Specifically about 70 years ago disappeared from areas where it has now recurred. In the history of nature conservation in Spain, it is the first time you get back to our fauna a vertebrate extinct. It is certainly a message of hope that shows that if we can improve our natural environment and achieve a more diverse and healthy environment for future generations.

      I liked this new, because I found a little miracle and a ray of hope, while we are living the hardest crisis, in History. 

     Some days ago, I felt pity when I listen, on the radio, that 40.000 spanish people left Spain in order to work in the rest of Europe --above all in England, France and Germany--.

     But, moreover, I am proud being Spanish, because our National Soccer Team has just got 2 European Championships and one World Championships --although it is not the post importan detail (to have got those 3 tittles), no, the rea important thing is to get the just reward thanks to the effort of e team (players, technical....) directed by a gentleman so humble as Vicente del Bosque, who does not meant to be better tahn anyone, but his philosophy of life is: work, work and work.

     Then, I think taht the great experience lived around the reintroduction of the Osprey in Spain, has been a successful thanks to the international cooperation beteen several countries and thanks to the confidence of the authorities from those countries, who have relied on the spanish scientists.

     I wish that the economic crisis ends so soon, thanks to the confidence of differents authorities in Europe, who believe in teamwork.

     Kind regards,

Luis

Sponsored by Costaluz Lawyers.

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