Portsmouth Hispanic Society

This year the society had its summer lunch at Algarve's Grill, a Portuguese restaurant located in Southsea. Just over 20 members and guests attended. Mario, our host, ensured that there was a constant flow of epic tapas dishes to feed us and Portuguese wine for refreshment. Feedback has been very positive and I'm sure there will be many return visits by members.

For June's meeting the society welcomed Argentine guitarist Cristian Herrera for the first time. Cristian has trained at SADEM and SADAIC and his music reflects his love for the instrument and diverse influences. His performance delivered a eclectic range of tunes and melodies from Spain to South America to popular music and even a rendition of Green Sleeves.

A short introduction to Cristian's performance can be seen by clicking here.

The full performance is available in the Members' Area. To access the Member's Area click here.

Keith Bretton, a seasoned and experienced ornithologist with over fifty birdwatching trips to Spain, delivered a comprehensive guide to the birds of Spain and where to see them. This presentation has been placed in the society's Member's Area.

To access the Member's Area click here.

This month's news item explored how Spain's new gender equality laws have impacted organisations like the armed forces and police.

To view the presentation click here.

The Spanish culture embraces religious festivals with total abandon. This presentation follows a range of Spanish fiestas experienced by a couple of our members.

To view the presentation click here.

This month's News Item delves into the current electoral dynamics on the Iberian Peninsular.

To view the presentation click here.

Andres' presentation traced his father's journey from rural Spain through the Spanish Civil War, the French Foreign Legion, and the Second World War.

To view the presentation click here.

This month's News Item brought our attention to the scourge of plastic contamination, gender inequality, and industrial relations within the Spanish health sector,

To view the presentation click here.

Jerry delivered a presentation that was part travelogue, part wildlife conservation.

To view the presentation click here.

For February's meeting Mike explored the political machinations swirling around the proposed amnesty law aimed at settling the fall out from the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.

To view the presentation click here.

January's talk followed David's travels through the the landscape and ancient sites of Mexico during a three week visit to this amazing country a few years ago. The presentation includes pictures of the country, buildings, ancient sites, and historic artefacts.

To view David's presentation click here.

This month's news item from the Iberian peninsular explored the politics surrounding Spain's day of national celebration on 12th October.

To view the news item click here.

In a remote rural community, located deep in the heart of Bolivian Amazon, a mother takes her young daughter into a small health clinic run by just one nurse. Her baby has a potentially serious infection in the orbit of her eye which if left untreated, could even be life threatening. Twenty minutes later the mother walks out with a diagnosis for her daughter from a top UK ophthalmologist and all the appropriate medicines to treat the infection correctly. All at no cost to the family. A few days later the little girl is doing very well and is out of danger.

A representative from the Andean Medical Mission gave an informative talk to the society a few years ago and we receive yearly updates about their amazing work in the most remote areas of South America. However, the charity is dependant on donations in order to carry on providing medical support to remote and impoverished areas. The cost of saving the sight of the little girl mentioned above was just a few pounds.

Dave Goldsmith's message for the New Year - We are looking forward to 2024 with anticipation. In doing even more to reduce blindness and chasing excellence in what we already do. If you would like to support us, we would love to have your support. Even small amounts add up and make a big difference over time.

If you would like to support AMM's work click here to donate.

Click here for the full AMM News Update for 2024

Our dear friend Raphael has forwarded a link to a YouTube video demonstrating how to make a super healthy Tortilla de Patatas using a microwave. Traditionally the potatoes are fried in oil but this recipe softens them in a microwave. The video is in Spanish. Sub-titles can be displayed by clicking on the sub-title icon. Initially in Spanish, the language can be changes via the settings.

Follow the Tortilla de Patatas al Microondas demonstration on YouTube

Raphael has also provided a link to a microwave power conversion chart to help estimate cooking time

Mark is a PhD researcher from the University of Portsmouth investigating how people feel since the UK left the EU. Mark would like to know how Brexit may have affected you, whether positively or negatively, and how you imagine life in the future.

To do this, he is seeking to conduct interviews and focus groups with people (18 years and over) living in Portsmouth, from all walks of life.

If you are interested in finding out more about Mark's research project and/or want to participate the links below will open relevant documentation in a new tab.

• Volunteer Research Participants needed
• Participant Information Sheet

Or you can contact Mark by email using this link mark.kaye@port.ac.uk

Sabor Latino is a fun and friendly Latin dance club offering Salsa, Bachata, and Reggaeton classes for social dancing.

The club meets every Tuesday night at the Portsmouth Rail Social Club, opposite Fratton Railway Station on Selbourne Terrace.

Click here for their Facebook page SABORLATINO101 or for email click here
(Please note the society is not responsible for the content of external websites).

Our Spanish tuition for the 2023/24 season starts this week. The Society runs lessons at all levels of Spanish language competency from complete beginner to advanced. Two new face to face classes have been introduced, with others continuing on Zoom.

The maximum students for face to face lessons is eight, whilst the limit for Zoom classes is five. There is still some availability for both face to face and Zoom classes.

If you are interested in learning Spanish from scratch or in improving your Spanish click here for more information and to express an interest.

What would you sacrifice for freedom?

Ainadamar, Arabic for ‘Fountain of Tears’, is the ancient well near Granada where the Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca – labelled by the Falangist militia as a ‘homosexual socialist’ – was brutally executed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.

Golijov’s twice-Grammy-winning opera reimagines Lorca’s life through a flashback of memories by his muse and collaborator, the actress Margarita Xirgu, now in her final moments in 1969 Uruguay, as she seeks to pass her generation’s hopes and passion on to her student, Nuria.

Ainadamar promises a spine-tingling spectacle from the Olivier-winning star choreographer Deborah Colker (Rio 2016 Olympics Ceremony; Cirque du Soleil) in her much-anticipated operatic debut in the director’s seat.

The result is a dazzling kaleidoscope of music, dance, and theatre where flamenco meets opera through traditional Spanish singing and sumptuous operatic numbers, all interspersed with rhythmic, sonic, and poetic outbursts. Ainadamar invites you to experience opera like never before.

Click here to visit the Welsh National Opera website for more information and to book tickets.
(Please note the society is not responsible for the content of external websites).