Oci Tv, el coquexting y otras barbaridades

Posted by Lucy on 14 junio, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ha llegado el día. Judgement Day. Hoy me estreno en escribir en castellano y solo espero que a) me entendáis y b) pueda trasmitir el mensaje con la misma claridad y gracia (poca) que creo que consigo en mis otros posts en inglés. Bueno, ahí va. Debido a unas circunstancias penosas en las cuales no voy a entrar, estos días llevo un montón de tiempo en casa tumbada en el sofá viendo algunas series chulas (The Wire, Flight of the Conchords, Inside Number 9...), algunos guilty pleasures (cualquier chorrada que emiten en Discovery Max) y enfadándome con una cantidad infinita de usuarios idiotas … [Read more...]

A decade of cinema: las mejores películas de los 2000 (III)

Posted by Lucy on 12 junio, 2015 1 Comment

After being inspired by acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert's article naming the best films of the decade, we over at Sepia HQ have decided to give our two pennies' worth too. "Five years too late", you say? "Never!", we retort and facetiously publish them anyway. By no means claiming to be a highbrow film critic, I just hope this gives an insight into "me" and maybe you'll go "Yeah, I like that one too". Despite most of my all time favourite films being from the 80s (Ghostbusters, Back To The Future, Batman...), I can't deny that the noughties had it's fair share of classics. First and … [Read more...]

Countdown to Festival De Les Arts

Posted by Lucy on 2 junio, 2015 1 Comment

The first edition of the Festival De Les Arts is set to rock the Turia capital this weekend, bringing with it an array of national and international bands. Here's our pick of the bunch... Triángulo de Amor Bizarro Loud guitars, rapid drums, synth, distortion and dreamy vocals. Hailing from Galicia, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro are probably one of the loudest bands playing the festival. And here at Sepia we like loud. The band last visited Valencia in February of this year when we were treated to their melange of energetic shoegaze-pop-punk in Sala Wah Wah. We're looking forward to see how they … [Read more...]

UK vs. Spain: a boozy comparison

Posted by Lucy on 26 mayo, 2015 12 Comments

A nation with a penchant for boozing? We're not so different, you and I... Food, weather, customs, meal times? If you're a Brit and you've ever lived in Spain, or if you're a Spaniard and you've ever called the UK home, then you'll know that there are more than a few things that take some getting used to. One of the main hardships is getting your head (and stomach) around the schedule. It's been said time and time again by every expat blogger out there, but this may be intrinsic in order to understand the subject matter of this post. Lunch in Britain can begin as early as 12 o'clock whereas, … [Read more...]

Los guachos y la Virgen de la Cabeza

Posted by Lucy on 28 abril, 2015 Leave a Comment

Probably one of the best things about going on Erasmus, apart from returning home as a multi-lingual bastard (hopefully), is the set of international friends you make. International friends are great excuses to travel. But, as it happens, local friends are also perfect for that too, even if you met them while in a foreign country. Years ago while on Erasmus in Germany, Jorge made a close knit group of Spanish amigos who were soon to be referred to as The Spanish Ghetto by the rest of their Italian, German, Finnish, British and American classmates. One of The Spanish Ghetto lives in Casas … [Read more...]

Charisma meets creepy in La Punta

Posted by Lucy on 13 abril, 2015 2 Comments

Paella, punk or an alternative route through Valencia... La Punta begins at the periphery of what we perceive to be Valencia city, a stone's throw away from the City of Arts and Science and the El Saler shopping centre on Bulevar Sur. Calatrava's futuristic works and a speckling of newly built (and practically vacant) high rise flats are the last things that separate the centre from the fields, vegetable patches and lonely neighbourhoods that lie to the south and south west of the city. While there's no doubt you can get a banging paella at one of the famed restaurants in the area, like … [Read more...]

#Fallas2015 in photos

Posted by Lucy on 25 marzo, 2015 1 Comment

As the final tear trickles down the cheek of the fallera mayor, Valencia looks mournfully into the smoke-filled distance and, like a phoenix flying out of the ashes, announces the silver lining that is the arrival of #Fallas2016. That's it. It's over. Se acabó. But, like every year, emotional falleros take to the web to reassure each other that, in a mere 350 days, they'll be back to causing a nuisance. Meanwhile for others: Peace and quiet return. Your liver breathes a sigh of relief. Spring is welcomed. Here are some photos of Fallas 2015: Caloret, misteleta, fallas y … [Read more...]

Breweries, beer and craft ale in Valencia

Posted by Lucy on 27 febrero, 2015 6 Comments

It looks like you've finally caught up, Spain. Welcome to the era of the ale. I am British. And I love a good drink. Make of those two sentences what you will. If there's something special about British pubs, it's the ale. Drinking an ale, for me, conjures up feelings of "home"; of sitting in a countryside pub in Yorkshire next to a crackling fire. A quick glance down the bar of any pub anywhere in the country is testament to just how many beers and ales call the UK home. It's common to see 3 or 4 different varieties in any standard pub, often rotating and changing in accordance to … [Read more...]

Benimaclet Carnaval 2016

Posted by Lucy on 25 febrero, 2015 Leave a Comment

The annual Benimaclet carnival is back this year on the 13th of February. Festivities include a fire run courtesy of the local Colla de Dimonis and typical local music by the Colla Dolçaina i Tabal Roja de Benimaclet, organised by Joves Benimaclet and the Benimaclet neighbour's association. Parades, dancing, castells (human towers) and communal meals follow. The Benimaclet carnival is usually celebrated one week after its famous counterparts in Tenerife and Cadiz, yet this year shares the same weekend under the new name of #Festimaclet. Just like other years we'll witness the XXVIII … [Read more...]

Valencia Underground II

Posted by Lucy on 15 febrero, 2015 1 Comment

"There’s something rumbling in the Valencian underground..." Last year I saw fit to write about the Valencian underground music scene. Or, at least, that's where it started. The truth is that Spain is in the midst of an alternative music boom, with gigs of both nationally famous and local bands taking place nearly every weekend, filling venues with loyal fanbases. Just this week basque rockers Berri Txarrak sold out in Barcelona and Valencia. Last month madrileños Toundra had a hugely successful run in Spain and are currently on the UK leg of a European tour. And not to mention the recent … [Read more...]

Margarita [2014]

Posted by Lucy on 28 enero, 2015 Leave a Comment

As soon as the drums kick in on Crudo y Crema, the opening track of Margarita's second album Explota El Cuerpo [2010], I'm taken back to the first summer I spent in Valencia. In fact, the whole album reminds me of driving along the carretera del Saler with the windows down, past the Albufera, towards the sweltering beaches south of the city. Margarita's brand of eccentric indie-punk-pop is much more pleasing to the ear than what that road -part of the infamous Ruta del Bakalao- is known for. As you can tell, that album pretty much soundtracked the summer of 2011, so I had high hopes for … [Read more...]

Small café, big heart: La Ola Fresca

Posted by Lucy on 27 enero, 2015 Leave a Comment

La Ola Fresca is a charming delicafé with a lively atmosphere and terrace. Grab a pew among the quirky decorations and bookshelves and take advantage of tasty food from the regularly changing menu in this lovely delicafé on pedestrianised street, Calle Músico Magenti in Benimaclet. laolafresca.com boasts, “We are food enthusiasts, always keen to try new ideas - traditional favourites enlivened with our ‘Fresca’ twist of maybe lime, ginger, chilli, lemongrass or other mystery guests”. A great array of teas and coffees are available as well as craft bottled beers including BrewDog Punk IPA and … [Read more...]

Broad Fucking City

Posted by Lucy on 21 enero, 2015 3 Comments

Crude, brash and in your face - these broads are on the up and up. If you haven't been following Broad City then, quite frankly, I don't know what the hell you think you're playing at. This genius, comedy caper follows the seriously uncouth antics of best friends Abbi and Ilana as they parade around New York City, ultimately getting themselves into some very bizarre situations. Read: getting maced, Skyping mid-bone, perving on hot dudes in basketball shorts, smoking their way through the majority of NYC's weed quota and cleaning a creepy guy's apartment in their underwear. Think Girls with … [Read more...]

Tales of Línea 1

Posted by Lucy on 4 diciembre, 2014 3 Comments

You may have heard some disconcerting stories about the Valencian underground: delays, reduced services, untoward methods against heavy rain featuring conspicuously placed buckets... The truth of the matter is that metrovalencia leaves a lot to be desired when compared to its sister system in Madrid and paints even less of a pretty picture in comparison to the ever-efficient London tube. In Valencia you often find yourself stood waiting, desperately staring up at the boards, with the only things making an appearance being more and more people piling into the station while the "expected … [Read more...]

Spanish #marketing: #inventing #palabring

Posted by Lucy on 19 noviembre, 2014 7 Comments

Something awful is happening in the world of Spanish marketing. Everyone is turning Spanglish, lazy and hashtag happy. I get it, English is important. Opportunities within the current lacklustre Spanish job market are greatly improved if you have a decent level of English. Because of this Spain is experiencing a boom in language learning, with academies full to the rafters and demand to learn English at an all time high. And, don't get me wrong, that's great. But it's paving the way for lazy marketing - branding teams and Facebook and Twitter accounts cling onto this and try to make a quick … [Read more...]

Cultural interest magazine for locals and guiris. Valencia.

Author: Lucy