Portsmouth Hispanic Society

To kick off the 2024/25 season of talks and presentations the Society is extremely fortunate to host a presentation by Antonio Dueñas Pérez. Born and raised in Mexico City, Antonio has recently completed a degree in Ancient Mexican Civilisations and is an official Teotihuacan History Guide.

Discover the City of Teotihuacan and the people who celebrated death like no others. From the ancient road of the dead to the astronomical pyramids, we'll explore the relationship between gods, animals and mortals.

The presentation will be translated to English by Angelica Cruz, Antonio's daughter.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Machu Picchu is the most important Inca settlement in the world. Since its official discovery in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham, extensive studies have been done to understand its origin, social use, planning, design but especially its meaning. Recent studies suggest that Machu Picchu was a Royal State used exclusively by the Inca (King) and members of his Court and family, however other scholars believe it was a university.

This month's talk gives you an insight into the geographical and historical context in which the Incas developed, how and why they built Machu Picchu in such a spectacular location, it also informs you about the Inca building techniques and respect for the environment, all of which have made of Machu Picchu, the best example of integration between nature and architecture, while preserving profound concepts of astronomy and Inca beliefs.

Born in Cusco, Peru, Gloria graduated from the University of Cusco with a BA and a Degree in Architecture, she also studied for an MA in Theory and History of Architecture at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI) in Lima. She has taken complementary courses and attended seminars on Photogrammetry, Urban Planning for the City of Cusco, Heritage Conservation and Strategies for the Urban Rehabilitation of the City of Cusco (PNUD-UNESCO).

Gloria has lectured at many institutions, including to the Royal Academy of Arts, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, University of Portsmouth, National Trust, and several Rotary clubs including Windsor, Marlow and Henley, so we are guaranteed an an informative and enjoyable evening.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Full details about the society's Christmas Party will be available soon.

Such an event is only possible with the active participation of society members and the committee is appealing for volunteers to help with the following:

• Set up the room.
• Serving the tapas buffet.
• Provide home cooked tapas dishes.
• Donate raffle prizes.
• Sell raffle tickets.
• Rendition of music, songs, poems, monologues, readings, etc.
• Tidy up after the event.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

This month's entertainment will be delivered over Zoom.

Society members will receive a meeting notification via email prior to the event date.

Non-members who wish to attend should contact info@spanishportsmouth.org.uk for more information.

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Bush Vines is an independent wine merchant based near Emsworth, which specialises in sustainably produced wines from smaller producers in Spain, England, Portugal, South Africa and New Zealand; their main focus is Spanish wines. They decided to concentrate on Spanish wines in particular as Spain offers a terrific variety of grapes and styles and also hits the spot for quality and value.

Bush Vines source all their wines from smaller wineries, usually family-owned, that pay attention to detail in the vineyards as well as in the making of the wine. Many are organic, some are biodynamic and they all apply the principles of minimum intervention ie limiting spray and no added chemicals.

Chrissy and Bob will take you on a vinous Tour of Spain getting “off the beaten track”. We will taste 8 wines and it should be an informative and fun evening.

The event starts promptly at 7pm with a light tapas buffet.

On this occasion the number of attendees may be limited and all attendees will be charged £5.

For more information click here to open the Bush Vine website in a new tab
Please note that the society is not responsible for the content of external websites.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

For May's meeting Manuel will reveal the incredible story of Simón Bolívar, a revolutionary leader whose vision and actions forever shaped the history of South America. Known as "El Libertador," Bolívar's passion for freedom and his desire to unite the diverse nations of the continent led him to fight tirelessly for independence from Spanish colonial rule. The presentation will explore his life, his dreams of a united Latin America, the profound impact he had on the region's history, and the lasting legacy that continues to inspire generations.

Manuel, a Colombian national, has five years' experience teaching Spanish and English in his native homeland and currently supports the teaching of Spanish at the University of Portsmouth. His presentation will explore the life and achievements of this hugely influential person in the modern history of South America.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Tom has been playing guitar since he was twelve, starting off with rock and electric, and has since developed a broad interest in all styles of music. He is a graduate of the University of Chichester with a First Class degree in Music Composition, studying the traditional contrapuntal methods of Fux's Gradus Ad Parnassum. This Baroque style counterpoint and rock influence is evident in his music.

Tom has performed for the society before delivering an astoundingly virtuoso set comprising a mixture of traditional Spanish, classical, jazz, contemporary, and original music. The set list comprised of cover versions including Diablo Rojo from Mexican duo Rob y Gab's 2006 album, Bésame Mucho by Consuelo Velázquez, and Manhã de Carnaval by Luiz Bonfá (written for the 1959 film Orfeo Negro), plus original material such "Prelude". When approaching cover versions Tom's style is to use the original structure as a base around which he improvises.

Please note that a short section of the evening will include the society's Annual General Meeting.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.