Notes in Spanish Advanced

Ben and Marina discuss the beautiful Valle del Jerte in Extremadura, famous for its cherries. We look at local life, the cherry picking season, and an amazing, surprise concert in a bar. Get the worksheets at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina look at the 80-20 principle, how it started in economics and business, and whether it could be the secret to living a happier life. See notesinspanish.com to pick up the worksheets!

Ben and Marina discuss a ridiculously expensive 'racion de gambas' - prawns - and the Spanish obsession with exquisite food! Pick up the worksheets at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina look at the extraordinary life of Cervantes, including duels, war, and imprisonment, and how all this led to Don Quijote, the most influential novel ever written. See notesinspanish.com to pick up the accompanying worksheets.

Ben and Marina discuss the joys of reading, what role it plays in our lives, and how to make the time for it in this busy age of distraction. See notesinspanish.com to pick up the accompanying worksheets.

Ben and Marina discuss introverts, our need for time out, creativity, group think and more. Visit notesinspanish.com to pick up the accompanying worksheets.

Ben and Marina discuss the healing power of a walk in the forest, and applications of nature to our overall well-being and health. See notesinspanish.com to pick up the worksheets.

Ben and Marina discuss the Drama Triangle, a model for human relationships and interactions, and how we can escape it with a new psychological paradigm. See notesinspanish.com to pick up the worksheets!

Ben and Marina look at different approaches to learning, how to achieve mastery in anything, and the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Pick up the worksheets at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss big adventures and micro-adventures, how to make normal life more exciting, and an amazing 24 hours Marina spent high above Madrid! Pick up the worksheets at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss Spanish table manners, cultural differences between Spain and the UK, and whether the Spanish or the British demand too much of themselves or are really capable or relaxing. Get the worksheets at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss one of their favourite cities on earth - Donosti, or San Sebastian, in the Basque Country. We look at what makes it so special, plus introduce a real character from our past. Pick up the worksheets at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss their favourite Spanish Singer-songwriters and some great concerts where they have heard some of the best of these artists playing live. Pick up the worksheets to learn even more, at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss an amazing trek Marina did up a mountain high in the Spanish Pyrenees, joining local villagers of all ages for a special celebration. Learn even more Spanish with the accompanying worksheets from www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss what makes Madrid so magical - its lively plazas, classic neighbourhoods, bars and terraces, restaurants and centuries-old architecture. Get the transcript and worksheet at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss the art of relaxation, the 'sobremesa', walking, reading, watching films, our relaxation secrets and much more. See notesinspanish.com for the the full transcript/worksheet

Ben and Marina discuss the excessive use of smartphones and social networks in the younger generations, and what effect it can have on our minds, ability to reason, and even our democracy. See notesinspanish.com for the transcript/worksheet

Ben and Marina discuss etiquette in Spain, covering Spanish punctuality, inviting people to your home in Spain, and how to be polite with food. See notesinspanish.com for the full transcript and worksheet.

Ben and Marina talk about the endless ways of greeting people in Spain - should you shake hands, give two kisses, a hug, or a combination of all of them? Get the full transcript and worksheet at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss a new device that translates real time conversations into different languages on the go, and ask if it's the end of language learning - no way! See Notesinspanish.com for the transcript/worksheet

Ben and Marina discuss Paco de Lucia, the famous flamenco guitarist who took this very Spanish music onto the international stage. See notesinspanish.com for the accompanying worksheets.

Ben and Marina discuss why everyone is stressed these days, the number of things we have going on in life, the quantity of inputs overwhelming us all, and how to solve this 21st century problem. Get the transcript/worksheet at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss Cataluña, and the wonders of Catalan cuisine, landscapes, restaurants, pueblos, and of course, the great city of Barcelona. Pick up the worksheets to accompany this podcast at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss the idea that Denmark is the happiest country on earth because it brings up happy children that turn into happy adults. We examine how, and compare to Spain and the UK. Pick up the accompanying worksheet at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss why Spain still has such a crazy timetable for shops, office work, meals, the roots of this problem in Franco's Spain, and if it can change. See notesinspanish.com for the worksheet/transcript for all episodes.

Ben and Marina discuss Musicophilia, life-changing moments and their relation to music, music in our lives, and musicality in Spain. See notesinspanish.com for the transcript/worksheet for this audio.

Ben and Marina talk about Cocido, a typical dish from Madrid that Marina's dad would eat 5 days-a-week in post civil war Spain and is now considered high cuisine . See notesinspanish.com for the transcript/worksheet

Ben and Marina discuss the presence of wild animals in cities, comparing Spain to Africa and India, and the unfortunate fate of some wild boars in a town near Madrid. See notesinspanish.com for the transcript/worksheet

Ben and Marina discuss the odd rituals of Spanish restaurants: customer service, begging for 'la cuenta', tipping, and honest waiters. Plus the 'simpa' and Ben´s related confession. See notesinspanish.com for the worksheets.

Ben and Marina discuss the surprising landscapes of Almeria, and what shocked them about the cultivation of fruit and vegetables there, compared to the Pyrenees. Plus organic food culture in Spain. Get the worksheets at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss an article by Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa about his stay in a Benedictine monastery, plus the rise of mindfulness in Spain, and the need for oases of peace in our busy world. Get the transcript/worksheet at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss whether Spain is losing its wonderful Spanish-ness, especially in the restaurant sector. Is the family-run place a thing of the past? Get a full transcript of the conversation and much more in the worksheets at notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss the idea that by 2040 humans will be able to live forever, and the repercussions this would have in medicine, religion and all aspects of life as we know it. Get the full transcript/accompanying worksheet at www.notesinspanish.com

Ben and Marina discuss 'La Magia del Orden', a book that has changed their lives, and the relationship between living with minimal possessions and clutter, and our happiness. Pick up the worksheets with full transcript at www.notesinspanish.com

Marta worked in a UK school for a while this year, and her experiences highlight just why the Brits can be uptight and the Spanish much more relaxed! It's all about the firefighters! See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

We discuss adoptions in Spain, and a recent terrible case from Argentina. See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

What was it like to be a young woman in Franco's times? Marina talks to the mother of a great friend. See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

What happens when rats take over an entire region in India? See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

As China prepares from the Olympics, protests erupt around the world. But are we all blameless these days? See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

Mobile phone madness in the Metro, golfing in bed, and those infernal ring tones. See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

Does any work get done in a Spanish office? And how do you cope with the boss? See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

Marina talks to her friend Isabel about the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrims' route across Northern Spain followed by 50,000 people every year. See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

Once a Royal cattle trail, this stretch of land just outside Madrid has turned into Europe's biggest shanty town. See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

When a blog post went very very wrong! - See NotesinSpanish.com to pick up the accompanying transcript/worksheet.

Happy Christmas from Notes in Spanish! Today we have a special festive episode for you! See notesinspanish.com to pick up the accompanying worksheet.

Fighting to pay in bars and restaurants in Spain, and never eating the last croqueta. See notesinspanish.com for a full transcript/worksheet.

Marina talks to Yolanda and Elena about the tricky job of being a vegetarian in Spain. See notesinspanish.com for the accompanying worksheet.

Is the collapse of all conventional traffic systems near?See notesinspanish.com for more details and to pick up the transcript/worksheet

Ben and Marina talk to Arturo, who wrote the famous Blog de la Miss... see notesinspanish.com for details and accompanying worksheet.

To what extent are the powers that be and the airline companies messing with our psychology when we catch a plane? See notesinspanish.com for the accompanying worksheet/transcript.