The Notable and Ingenious Spanish Filmmaker

Contrary to popular impression, people in Spain do not constantly spend their time, lounging around and getting 'lazy' for almost half the day. They also create and see movies, just like all the other movie whores in the other side of the world.

If you are into well-crafted foreign films, especially Spanish film, I'm sure you have heard of the notable name Pedro Almodovar. If the name still doesn't ring a bell, well, Almodovar was just the ingenious director behind the Penelope Cruz films "Volver" and "All About My Mother," the commended movie "Talk To Her," and the Gael Garcia Bernal starrer "Bad Education." Considered as the most victorious and renowned filmmaker in Spain as of the moment, this film genius has, aside from critics' approval, numerous awards under his belt, including an Oscar for the Best Foreign Film for "All About My Mother" and for Best Original Screenplay for "Talk To Her."

Pedro Almodovar hails from the pauperized region in Spain known as La Mancha; in 1968, he fled to Madrid city where he started selling pre-owned items in flea markets. As much as he wanted study filmmaking, Pedro couldn't support going to school, and during that time, the early 1970s, all film schools were seized by the Franco government. Pedro resorted to taking a low-priced Super 8 camera with his savings from working in a phone company. He then used most of the 1970s making short films which were shown in cramp movie theaters in Madrid. He prosperously directed his very first feature movie in 1980, and organized a production company with his brother in 1987. El Deseo SA, the production company, is now the chief producer of the most recognized films in Spain.

Recognizing The Incomparable Penelope Cruz

Even before Penelope Cruz' name was printed on the pages of gossip journals because of her affair with Tom Cruise, she has already been creating her own name in the acting discipline. She is among the most sought after Spanish actors in Hollywood, and she has the career that no other Spanish actresses has ever accomplished. Penelope came from a kinfolk of artisans. Eduardo, her brother is an great singer, and Monica, her younger sister, is a brilliant dancer and actress as well.

Needless to tell, Penelope Cruz, is my favorite Hollywood celebrity. She is a versatile celebrity who inched her trail to the acting scene after strutting her dancing finesse in the entertainment business. I have viewed her seductive performance on Woman On Top, her enchanting stagecraft on All the Pretty Horses, and her psychotic portrayal in Gothika. Not only that, she has won copious credits including the Best Actress award for the movie Volver and Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nominations.

Apart from elegant dancing and marvelous acting, Penelope can also speak four languages: Spanish, English, Italian, and French. She studied Italian to have a stint in the blockbuster Non ti muovere in 2004. Her endeavors to learn Italian paid off for she won the Italy's version of Oscars Best Actress for the said blockbuster. I guess it would be challenging for an aspiring Spanish actress to match what Penelope has accomplished. However, I assume that more actors from Spain will be able to reach Hollywood for they are very talented.

Sumptuous Spanish Afternoon Course

Similar to the dramatic highlights of its own telenovelas, renowned Spanish recipes are also most popular for their extraordinary tastes and elaborate presentations. Probably, the most famous of all is the sumptuous serving of "Paella," where seafood ingredients, spicy herbs, and chicken flavors are combined into one amazing treat. But aside from this lavish serving, Spain also has its own version of French fries-- only more flavorful to be my all-time beloved snack.

My Spanish pal, who's a self-proclaimed "iron chef" himself, would usually prepare a mouth-watering fried potato cake or "Tortilla de Patatas," as he would aptly call his kitchen masterpiece for his late afternoon guests. All fried into a half-inch cake, potatoes, onions, and eggs are the flavorful blends inside this delectable luscious bite. Instead of the usual long, thick cuts of French fried potatoes, this Spanish tortilla is prepared in pizza triangles or squares for the whole group to munch on.

The recipe is pretty ordinary for a Spanish afternoon course. However, a special cooking procedure would require a pan-flipping skill to cook the other side just as well as the bottom of the cake, while potatoes and beaten eggs should also be added with olive oil to create just the perfect mix and flavor for cake layers of fried onion, potato, and eggs. The crispy bits of onions and the tender taste of potatoes combined with eggs make "Tortilla de Patatas" a good Spanish afternoon snack.

An Exceptional Majorca Tavern

A comrade of mine, Miguel, wanted to try something new for his birthday. So instead of the usual blast at his dwelling, he decided to give his friends a treat- a weekend stay in Spain, his favorite European country. I, Miguel, and three other closes comrades flew to Spain to venerate his birthday. We never stayed at Madrid nor did we visit famed architecture in Barcelona, but we did have a terrific time at Balearic Islands.

What made our short visit at the Balearic Islands more remarkable was the wonderful hotel in Majorca where we stayed for three nights and four days. All of us were very astonished to learn that Aparthotel Bonaire grants great entertainment each night. To boot, the hotel staff were all affable and very openhearted. Meals at the hotel restaurants were great and very affordable as well. Miguel even got a greeting card plus a delightful and delectable cake and delectable wine on the morning of his birthday.

I would have to say that Aparthotel Bonaire is equivalent to a five star guesthouse I once stayed in at Madrid. This makes the circumstance at Majorca totally marvelous. We all had amusement, especially Miguel who said it was the supreme birthday celebration he had. The five of us are actually organizing another excursion to Majorca and we would certainly stay at Aparthotel Bonaire again.

Experiencing Joy in Balenciaga

When I visit Spain or see anything that reminds me of the maginificent Spanish nation, I immediately think of Balenciaga. Balenciaga, to me and many others I'm sure, is like the haute couture banner of Spain, and everybody who's into haute couture wants one. The house of Balenciaga, which is a tenacious and prominent brand under the Gucci label, specializes in men and women's wear. Now headed by recognized fashion master Nicolas Ghesquiere, the fabulous Balenciaga brand remains to be one of the most coveted labels in the world today.

The fascinating history of Balenciaga goes back to the early 1900s when its founder, Cristobal Balenciaga Eisaguirre, built the Parisian design house along George V Avenue. His aesthetics mainly revolved around sculptural styles, such as his signature funnel-shaped satin skirts. Well-recognized local clientèle in the 50s and 60s included big icons such as Marella Agnelli, Pauline de Rothschild, and Gloria Guinness.

Just recently, you may have seen Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Connelly wearing extravagant outfits by Balenciaga at the Oscars. Kidman had also dressed in a Balenciaga wedding gown when she married country music idol Keith Urban. I'm almost sure you would want to add even just a Lariat motorcycle-inspired purse to your personal collection -- I know I do.