2010 March
Mar 30

The Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM) pays tribute to famous filmmaker, writer and producer Martin Scorsese. The exhibition, named after Scorsese’s cult movie, ‘Mean Streets’, compiles works by 47 artists from different disciplines. The exhibition originated from an interdisciplinary point of view of the conception and the gradual development of cities and their pernicious streets. The different artistic expressions (photography, video art and drawing) support and compliment each other together with a wide selection of films, literary works and songs from each of the periods.

tribute-to-scorcese-valencia

The aim of ‘Mean Streets’ is that if one knows about the modifications and changes that have taken place in streets for the last decades, one will gain a better and thorough understanding of human feelings and experiences.

Four stages in the project
The showcase is divided in four different stages, through which visitors can submerge in a poetic world -political and subtle at the same time- of streets.

The Game is Over: Here we can see the most modern proposals, which reflect the most fragile and hopeless view of life in cities. Some of the works are by, among others, Allan Sekula, Jeff Wall, Rem Koolhaas, Paul Graham, Michael Ashkin, Grupo de Arte Callejero, Gabriel Basilico and Peter Eisenman.

The Streets Belongs to Us: This part focuses on the works by different artists who have portrayed the wish of different social groups to make themselves visible and occupy city streets and squares. Here we can find works by artists and architects such as Cindy Sherman, Philip Lorca di Corcia, Martha Rosler, David Wojnarowicz, William Kentridge, Aldo van Eyck, Gilliam Wearing and Wolfgang Tillmans.

Between Utopia and Disenchantment: This section focuses on the 50’s and 60’s and refers to both, the visionary architecture projects that viewed cities as organisms free from any ties and to more pessimistic and disenchanted proposals. We can see works by Guy Debord, Dan Graham, Peter Cook, Vito Acconci, Constant, Gordon Matta Clark, Yona Friedman and Edward Ruscha.

In the Middle of the Crowd: This stage represents the presence of crowds in the streets. Photographs by Cesar Domela, Valentina Kulangina, Gustav Klucies, Paul Joostens, Walker Evans and Horacio Coppola and a modern art installation by Carlos Garaicoa.

Are you gonna miss it? Discover Valencia and its streets, while you enjoy this exciting exhibition, besides. Book Apartments in Valencia in order to get the best accommodation.

Mar 25
Men in High Heels!
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Italians used to say ‘Altezza mezza bellezza!’ (‘height is half the beauty’). Whether people agree with that or not, there are lots of heels’ fans. People think height is, undoubtedly, an envied physical attribute. Women, nevertheless, love heels because of other reasons: design, elegance, originality, sensuality…But, what about men? Yes, my friends, the issue today is the men’s attraction for heels!

men-in-high-heels

Famous people in heels
It’s well known that distinguished men such as the French President Nicolas Sarkozy use them for aesthetic reasons. To attach importance to appearance in Politics is relevant, above all if you are travelling around the world next to a former top model 176 cm high. Gossip columnists say Sarko has copied this trick from another famous ‘little man’, the vain Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi.

Just as in women’s shoes, for men there are also different types. The most discreet and fanciest heel is the one incorporated inside the footwear. People don’t notice and you are 6 cm taller. This little trick also used to make women feel better, due to some of them being uncomfortable with having a shorter man by their side.

Beyond Fetish
So, men are also addicted to heels, and I don’t mean fetish stuff like men’s sexual attraction for women in high-heeled shoes, or heels that help them to look taller. I mean they adore glamorous heels like Karl Lagerfeld’s or Mick Jagger’s and – here’s the bomb-…also spike heels!! Surprised? Certainly, I’m not talking about transvestites but rather something called cross-dressing.

Let me tell you something: a friend of mine, upset, told me that she caught her boyfriend nosing around her wardrobe, trying on her dresses and wearing her shoes. It’s not so shocking, believe me. Cross-dressing is the wearing of clothing commonly associated with the opposite gender, both in public and private situations. The term doesn’t denote necessarily a sexual orientation.

You can find amazing examples of costumes on the net, apparently for women but they are made for men. There is nothing better than combining a relaxing trip with a rich gastronomy and some quality shopping moments. Valencia is perfect for all these pleasures. Book some comfortable accommodation on Apartments in Valencia and search out the fanciest heels in the city!

Mar 22

If you are a man, give me five minutes of your time. You are probably included in that 90% of male population that gets excited when thinking about lesbian sexual practices… my question is, why? What is so special about two women making love? If you ask women if they get excited with the idea of two men having sex I am sure they don’t.

men-and-lesbians

Probably, great part of the blame is because of the porn industry, which has classified the lesbians and their sexual relations in a role that does not really have anything to do with them. The lesbian sexual relations of the porn films are thought by and for men. The women who appear in the sex industry do not fit to the real female (either lesbian, or straight): they are artificial “dolls” with silicone breasts and with femme fatale, sex-hungry faces, always ready to open their legs – and everything they have to open at the expense of a male… Why do most lesbian scenes show a man with a huge member that prevents them from being 100% lesbian? It would be better if they just were bisexual!

So it is not strange that if two lesbians give each other a sign of affection in public, some men will propose them all sorts of dishonest propositions thinking that no woman, even if she is lesbian, can refuse due to his powerful attractiveness. And if they don’t explicitly say them, they are thinking them: are you going to deny that you have never imagined enjoying two women just for you?

But let’s come back to the lesbians and their sexual relations. The real lesbian sex is very far away from porn. In fact, it is much more rich and varied: lesbians have many other resources apart from oral sex or the vibrators or strap-ons so hackneyed in the porn movies. They don’t need a penis or similar object to maintain a full sexual relationship! Remember that the vast majority of women are clitoral – they reach the orgasm through clitoral stimulation, and not with penetration. Have you ever heard of tribadism? Probably not. You wonder what it means… Very simple, it is the sexual practice where two women rub their bodies with each other, especially the genitals. The sexual range of lesbian girls is so wide and varied you would be surprised…

Finally, bear in mind that if a woman is lesbian it is because she is attracted to women only, so give up, she will not have sex with you. Why don’t you try to convince two straight women? You’ll probably have more possibilities… If you want to make your fantasies come true, Valencia is a city where all the sexual preferences fit in. Rent Apartments in Valencia, maybe there your dreams will come true!

Mar 10
The 33rd Valencia Book Fair is here!
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If you like rare books, ancient manuscripts, lithographs and engravings, note this fantastic event on your calendar. The old book market of Valencia will open in spring, along with Las Fallas (from the 15th to the 19th of March). This is a great tradition that transforms the city.The Valencia Book Fair is almost here!

valencia-book-fair

This Valencia Book Fair is heaven for all book lovers, the collectors and the curious, with great offers… 41 book stalls will be installed along the Gran Via Marques del Turia, between Calle Pizarro and the Plaza de Canovas. And what kind of book does a bibliophile like? Special books: books recently published, old books, etc. As an example, the Star Wars books, the Irish ghost stories, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Blasco Ibanez… You can get pocket treasures only for two euros and other ones can get very expensive (600 or even thousands of euros).

Currently, the most expensive book is the Codex Leicester by Leonardo Da Vinci, a notebook with original drawings and sketches. It was bought by Bill Gates in 1994 for $ 30.8 million. It also highlights the Apocalypse of St. John (75x60cm and120kg) with over 300,000 calligraphy letters in sheepskins. Now we’re in a digital age, the book markets tend to lose the audience, and the value of books goes up…

The city of lights

At the beginning of the spring, Valencia is born again. When the Valencia Book Fair is over, a new one will start: the fallas festival from March 15th to the 19th. The city fills with lights, firecrackers, parades, colours, music and fallas… This is a popular festival that brings millions of tourists each year to Valencia and turns the city into the heart of fun. Take advantage of these two appointments and visit Valencia, a destination whose gastronomy, beach area and people will guarantee a perfect holiday. For a relaxing time and cheap accommodation, rent Apartments in Valencia and enjoy!

Mar 9
Valencia – the new NASA satellite
icon1 valenciablogger | icon2 Valencia | icon4 03 9th, 2010| icon31 Comment »

In July 2010, new headquarters for the European space station will be installed in Valencia (Spain). This is a high-power laboratory that will detect breakdown messages and will examine problems of microwave circuits of the satellites and the space vehicles. It is hard to imagine, isn’t it? This is the perfect occasion to learn something about satellites…

Houston, we have a problem!

It is difficult to understand what actually happens in the space. What are these flying machines? They are man-made objects that surround the earth in different orbits. Some follow the path of the Equator, others pass through the poles and some move at the same speed as the earth. The so-called geostationary ones allow us to watch television, for example.

Each one has a special and a spatial function: for example, as meteorological or astronomical observation, mapping, telecommunications… Some satellites can accommodate a couple of scientists, such as the MIR station for example. And for history facts, the first artificial satellite was launched on October 4th, 1957 by Russia and was called Spoutnik 1. From this date onwards, the U.S. and Russia have fought over the first place in space communications. Spoutnik 2 was the first satellite with a living creature launched (the dog Laika). The first American satellite was the Explorer 1, launched in 1958.

Now that you know a little more about what happens in outer space, relax with a blanket watching the stars from a beach in Valencia. If you rent Apartments in Valencia, you will ensure an economic and enjoyable stay.

Mar 4
The Fallas in Valencia 2010
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You can smell the gunpowder in the streets of Valencia. You can breathe a festive atmosphere in the air… Why? Because the Fallas are here! The Fallas are not one of the most important festivals of Valencia only, but also at a national level, and they have been declared of international tourist interest.

Fallas valencia 2010

Valencia wears its best clothes to welcome this deeply rooted tradition: in fact, it already existed in the eighteenth century, when the Valencian people would burn the famous Ninots (critical or burlesque human figure representations made with combustible materials and, which appear in the Fallas monuments and which are burned at the end of The Fallas in the Gran Cremà – except the winner). This festival has its origins from the burning of shavings and other carpentry remains from the workshops that took place on the eve of their patron St. Joseph’s day.

Throughout March, Valencia becomes alive with lights, firecrackers, fireworks, music and fun. The famous mascletás, the beautiful Falleras, the stunning Fallas, … all of these turn the Fallas in an indescribable event! These days the city is full of people from all over the world who do not want to miss this show which is like no other:

To begin the day strongly, Valencia gets up early throughout the festivities with the despertá, where the fallas commissions wake the neighbours up by throwing noisy firecrackers on the floor. If they’re feeling a bit peckish, the people go to the Casal de la Falla where they are given a warm welcome with thick hot chocolate along with porras and buñuelos (a type of deep fried doughnut) which are typical of these local parties.

Every day at two o’clock, the noisy mascletás are held at the Town Hall Square. These firecrackers are so abundant and they last from 5 to 7 minutes causing a sound that reaches 120 decibels. At night, the fireworks illuminate the sky in Valencia.

But one of the main acts is, without a doubt, the Offer to the Mare de Deu, the patroness of Valencia. Throughout two days the Fallas commissions deliver a flower bouquet to the Virgin and with them they make a beautiful and immense coat. Another renowned moment is the selection of the Fallera Mayor, where a fallera queen is chosen to perform as an ambassador of the festival. This event enjoys an enormous popular acceptance.

The nights of March 18th (La Nit del Foc) and March 19th (La Nit de la Cremá) are the most significant ones of the festival. The first one is the most spectacular fireworks display of the Fallas, lasting around 30 minutes and bringing together more than a million people. Here, about 1200 kg of gunpowder are used, incredible! The Cremá Night closes the festival. Here is where all the Fallas monuments are burned, except the winner, which is stored for posterity.

But the Fallas festival is much more than this! Enjoy the best concerts, cultural events, etc. Valencia awaits you to celebrate all of these days together. Check the program for 2010 (http://www.fallasvalencia.es/programa-fallas) and rent the best Apartments in Valencia to get good accommodation.