For those of you who follow this blog, you will know I have been a contributer to the book series entitled ´Memories of lockdown´ by Rosanne Gallagher
https://1000milesfromnowhere.blogspot.com/2026/03/memories-of-lockdown-years-book-4-and.html and the subsequent youtube interview series.
As a result of that collaboration, Rosanne and I decided to create a series on Youtube discussing Spain past and present: A journey through time from the 70s and 80s to present day.
We talk about our individual experiences travelling and living here, post Franco (from his death in 1975) through the early 80s into Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy…
In episode 1 we discuss how Rosanne first came to Spain and how later it coincided with the attempted military coup by Tejero in February 1981.
What was the ambience of Spain in those early days of transition?
What did early tourism look like in the days especially when bikinis and mini skirts were taboo in this strict Catholic country?
What was the Movida Madrileña? Spain´s cultural revolution the equivalent of the West´s swinging 60s after Franco´s death. Spanish pop and rock music exploded as did film and literature. Flamboyant gay Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar became a household name (unthinkable under the previous repression.)
In fact a friend of mine shared an apartment with him in the early days in Paris I believe when she had to flee Spain as a student protestor in Madrid.
I recall the famous Spanish pop musicians, such as the infamous Alaska and top bands like Mecano, Radio Futura and more...
I share my early experiences first on holiday in 1985 as we explored the Costa Blanca for a month as a 12 year old and then the move in 1986. I went to a local Spanish school in the bohemian village of Altea,which as an adolescent from the suburbs of London speaking little Spanish, was a mutual culture shock just as it was for both us and our traditional Spanish neighbours…
Rosanne tells us how a rather naive young woman from Sussex experienced the eye opening adventures of Malaga in those early days of transition: including gangsters and guns on the dance floor! I elaborate explaining to those who do not know about the ´ímport/export´´ business starting with North Africa later including South America...
The Costa del Crimen, the Mediterranean Costas awash with well known criminals particulary British, before extradition laws were put in place...
I recommend watching the films: Sexy Beast and The Business to get an idea of the vibe of those times...almost like a non stop Guy Ritchie movie!
We discuss the above subjects and much more.
In future episodes we plan on discussing our experiences of the healthcare system back in the day, education, Valenciano (the local dialect) The Spanish Civil War and its aftermath.
We both have experiences of this through friends and family members and the interviews I carried out for local newspapers and my own research.
I became involved in local politics in 2011 and soon after resigned to become part of the Spanish revolution as it was called or Los Indignados, taking over the squares throughout Spain on the back of the Arab spring...
Spain, many countries in one, and so much more...
I also want to touch on Spanish immigration and how I grew up with the Spanish in 70s UK who had fled the regime and poverty to start a new life abroad. Many Spanish ended up in France, Germany, Switzerland and USA.
We cover these topics with humour, sensitivity and shared anecdotes.
We will also ask people to send in topics they wish us to discuss and share their own stories.
We hope you will enjoy!
Episode Part One link to youtube:
#Spainhistory #livinginspain #movetospain #javea
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