Destination: Madrid

Real Madrid: The Theme Park

by Eva Holland | 09.22.09 | 11:07 AM ET

Photo by JuanJaen via Flickr (Creative Commons)

According to Reuters, the big-name Spanish football club is planning a “Disney-style” theme park near Madrid’s Barajas airport. The only hint about the park-to-be’s attractions so far? They will reflect the club’s “history, legend and values.” Bring on the carnies in Cristiano Ronaldo masks, please.

Tags: Planet Theme Park, Sports, Europe, Spain, Madrid, News and Briefs

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The Thrill of Gel and Other Disappearing Edible Delights!

by David Farley | 03.27.09 | 1:30 PM ET

Photo of food at Alinea by xmatt, via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Grant Achatz, the avant-garde Chicago chef, went to Madrid to attend Madrid Fusion, a congress of 50 of the world’s best chef, and all he got was a crappy food-stained T-shirt. Moreover, in this article he penned for the Atlantic, Achatz bemoans on a grander scale by wondering if molecular gastronomy is dead. Most of the world’s population didn’t even know that it had been born. But Achatz sat there during the meeting as chef after chef took the mic and felt pangs of emptiness:

“Where were the culinary fireworks? The introduction to the next ingredient that was going to enable us to turn oil into powder, serve a gelled liquid hot, or thicken an infusion by simply blending in a magical white substance? Where were the explanations of new techniques? Like the ones used to create raviolis with skins made from themselves, making pasta from stock, and aerating food to produce sponge-like textures?”

Raviolis with skins made from themselves? Aerating food to produce sponge-like textures? Sheesh. And he wonders why people may be losing interest in it.

Tags: Food, Restaurants, Europe, Spain, Madrid, North America, United States, Illinois, Chicago, News and Briefs

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Morning Links: A New Way to See the Prado, Cuban Tourism and More

by Michael Yessis | 01.14.09 | 8:00 AM ET

El Tres De Mayo by Goya (via Wikipedia)

The Prado’s El Tres De Mayo by Goya (via Wikipedia)

An American in Spain writes about studying Euskera, the “clearest sign of Basque identity.”
Greenpeace buys land in effort to halt a third runway at Heathrow. It’s now the prime minister’s move.
Here’s an interesting project: Masterpieces from the Prado on Google Earth.
Jonathan Raban on the best presidential writers. He notes some of the travel bits of Barack Obama’s “Dreams From My Father.”
Cuba reported huge tourism numbers in 2008. It could grow if Obama implements the policy outlined by Hillary Clinton.
A steady flow of flights from Europe—and “tightened restrictions in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia”—are fueling sex tourism in Mombasa, Kenya.
A couple of long-term travelers share ten lessons of the road. No. 2: Smile.
The BBC offers some tips on landing that best job in the world.
Lawlessness reigns at San Diego’s skate parks. Given the city’s financial shape, officials decided not to staff them. Skateboarders have flocked to the parks for the “[f]reedom to smoke while they skate, drink beer, bring dogs, ride minibikes amid the skateboards and scrawl graffiti.”