500.000 reasons to visit the Expo

In only 12 days 500.000 visitors to the Expo on Water and Sustainable Development. By now visitors are more than residents (taking into account the average of more than 40.000 visitors per day). OK, yes, some of them come from Zaragoza but it is not by chance that the visitor 500.000 was Eckhard Andree & family….from Germany.

3 days visit plan: Goya and Expo

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes was born in Fuendetodos http://www.fuendetodos.org/, on the Aragonese plain just over 45 kilometres from Zaragoza. This artist explained in the sleep of reason ... One does not need to be Mr. Freudthe innumerable foibles and follies to be found in any civilized society, and from the common prejudices and deceitful practices which custom, ignorance, or self-interest have made usual. So I propose you to flight to Madrid, visit the exhibition on "Goya: in times of war" http://www.museodelprado.es/en/ingles/exposiciones/info/en-el-museo/goya-los-anos-de-la-guerra/ at the Prado museum in Madrid, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence. You will see how he shows degradation of human dignity on both sides, war has not winner...just the sleep of reason ... Then from Madrid to Zaragoza you can take the high-speed 'AVE' train to Zaragoza (1h30m) where the Fine Arts Museum http://www.aragob.es/edycul/patrimo/museos/zaragoza.htm hosts an exhibition 'Goya in Italy'. He was there just for an year but that was one of the most important years for his career... In addition, you can visit Goya works in several other places in Aragon An the third day...EXPO exhibition where you can enjoy art http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/theblog/?p=17 .html, science http://expo-zaragoza-2008.blogspot.com/2007/06/oikos-outdoor-pavilion-at-expo-zaragoza.html, controversy http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/theblog/?p=10 and much more!!

23rd April. Saint George - Aragon Day.

Today´s is Aragon´s day. A perfect day to guide you in a virtual http://www.caiaragon.com/en/visitas/index2.asp?pProv=4&pVisita=24 visit to the origins of the Aragon´s Kindgom. The monastery of San Juan de la Peña http://www.monasteriosanjuan.com/monasterio-san-juan-de-la-pena.php?L=enwhich is located below an enormous rock. The whole area is a natural park in the beautiful pre-Pyrenees mountains...and just 1.5 h from zaragoza by car. The most interesting is the marvellous Romanesque Cloister (in the Old Monastery, from the X century) but you shouldn't miss the summer pic-nic in the forest at the top of the mountain, nearby the new monastery (XVII century) where you can sleep. http://www.inturmark.es/index.htm Pd. if you are around Zaragoza, watch out, concerts, soirées and open-air performances are waiting for you. Besides, the public institutions in Aragon hold an open-day, providing an ideal opportunity for people to visit the Pignatelli building (the Government of Aragón), the Aragon Parliament in the Aljaferia Palace, etc.

UAE...the power of petrol

Imagine a country with virtually no fresh water....traditionally that wouldn't be the paradise for human development..., however with massive construction projects and rising population United Arab Emirates http://uaeinteract.com/ (UAE) proves that oil revenues and entrepreneurship together are able to achieve the unimaginable....with desalination plants providing most of the water...even to ski. UAE 500 square metres pavilion at Expo Zaragoza 2008 will sell and promote the UAE highlighting contributions in the protection of the natural, wildlife and marine environment. A number of films will show how closely the UAE's progress is tied to the supply and management of freshwater. The documentaries were made by famous freelance wildlife filmmaker and documentary cameraman Doug Allan http://www.dougallan.com/ According to Deputy Chairman of NMC and Head of the UAE pavilion supervising committee Salim Saeed Al Ameri the first objective of the UAE Pavilion is to provide visitors with a window through which they can see and learn about the Emirates, a secondary mission is to convey the UAE's very committed approaches to solving its needs for fresh water in a sustainable way. Priorities are priorities, I would say... Till we have the opportunity to watch the videos they will show at the UAE pavilion at the Expo, I leave you with 2 videos from this amazing country, one 14 minutes documentary that provides you an overview into the environmental & social situation in the UAE http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=6_RNoxO-5ms and a 2nd one, a cool add promoting the UAE in around 1 minute. http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWhP-Ch2AU&feature=related Pd. The photo is from Dubai ski resort http://www.skidubai.com/ ...which btw is quite environmentally friendly as they "recycle" the snow they produce using it both for air conditioning and for irrigation purposes...maybe to irrigate the palms nearby too...

1001 nights in Zaragoza

Well, sorry to say that Expo Zaragoza 2008 will be slightly shorter than that (June-September). However during the long and warm summer nights in Saragossa you can profit to go to magic places where you will be transported far away from XXI century, far away from Europe, even far away from hot summer in Zaragoza….promised.

Below just a couple of suggestions:
-El Pilar y la Seo: “El Pilar” is a fantastic basilique built where the Virgin Mary appeared in the year 40 to Apostol Saint Jacques. There inside you have “frescos” from Goya. La cathedral of “La Seo” is where previously was the mayor Mosque of the city.
-La Aljaferia: what can I say…you want to feel transported to exotic places like Marrakech. No problem. Enter this Muslim castle from XI century and start smelling the orange trees among small reservoirs of water and admiring the religious writings and symbols around the deliciously decorated ceilings. Note that the regional parliament is housed here…
Of course, many more things to visit. Many more things to live…imagine to have live music in a Roman amphitheatre…oh yes!

Imagine to enter in the modern building of a regional savings bank and discover inside “El Patio de la Infanta”, a nice renacentist “courtyard” from the XVI century, ….Zaragoza will surprise you!

Having said that, many European cities will have as much history in its shoulders as Zaragoza. So I want to run the extra mile and be really persuasive ….in one of the following blogs I promise a world exclusive…3 activities/experiences truly unique for a foreigner …

Estimation of water saving potential in Europe doubles

A report published by the Commission states that water use in the European Union could be reduced by about 40%. This figure is nearly twice as much as previously estimated

However, in a business as usual scenario it is estimated that water consumption by the public, industry and agriculture would increase by 16% by 2030.

Hopefully the Expo will help us, all of us, to achieve this water saving reduction or near.
The executive summary and the report are available for those interested.

Pd. If you want to check a place to have some bath in Zaragoza next summer during the Expo, According to the European Union, you can go (and make some tourism) to Salvatierra de Esca or Santa Eulalia de Gallego. Unfortunately the river Ebro is not yet on this database, but for sure, you will be able to swim near the Expo Zaragoza 2008 premises.

Aragon Winter Olympic Games bid under (melted) water thread

People from the region will know that in recent times we have tried many times to win the bid for winter Olympic Games. Now that infrastructures are getting better, we have a new thread to our Olympic dream…warm weather.








Some years ago, United Nations officials presented before the International Olympic Committee some findings about warming and snow..no doubt this is affecting how the IOC chooses host cities for Winter Games.

Years later, some researchers based in Geneve concluded that in around 50 years (maybe earlier), global warming will push regular snowfall altitude in Pyrenees from current 1500 metres to 1800-2000 metres….


Mr. Octavio Salanova, Director of Astun ski resort believes that more artificial snow will help to solve the problem. He explains that in the US and some countries in Europe 80% of the “paths” are equipped with equipment to produce artificial snow. Here is only 12%.

Well, I am not an expert, but I think that more artificial snow means -in addition to more Co2 emissions, unless we run the artificial snow fans with renewables, field in which Aragon is doing a lot...but this is a topic for another post...on Expo Zaragoza 2008 green credentials- more running costs for the ski resorts and thus, more expensive skiing…upps… not worries. Now the good news. First, Aragon is lucky enough to have in its territory the Central Pyrenees, which means to have the highest summits and thus, the highest ski resorts of the whole Pyrenees mountains.

Second, even more important, Aragon has the historic opportunity to use the Expo Zaragoza 2008 to have a serious debate on whether a business model based on ever increasing altitudes for reliable skiing conditions is sustainable. If the answer is NO, then, time is now to “imagine” alternative/additional business models…
Pd. Till Expo comes, if you wanna go and see with your own eyes what´s out there in terms of skiing...yes, i know we are in summer...and how to get there, just follow this link ...there are summer activities too ;)

Historic Zaragoza in 1 post

With more than 20 centuries on its shoulders, Zaragoza´s history comes to meet you… you have just to walk around to discover it. I will just highlight 3 “must”:

-El Pilar y la Seo: “El Pilar” is a Fantastic basilique built where the Virgin Mary appeared in the year 40 to Apostol Saint Jacques. There inside you have “frescos” from Goya . La cathedral of “La Seo” is where previously was the mayor Mosque of the city.
-La Aljaferia: what can I say…you want to feel transported to exotic places like Marrakech. No problem. Enter this Muslim castle from XI century and start smelling the orange trees among small reservoirs of water and admiring the religious writings and symbols around the deliciously decorated ceilings. Note that the regional parliament is housed here…
Of course, many more things to visit. Many more things to live…imagine to have live music in a Roman amphitheatre…oh yes! Imagine to enter in the modern building of a regional savings bank and discover inside “El Patio de la Infanta”, a nice renacentist “courtyard” from the XVI century, ….Zaragoza will surprise you!

Chinese business community interest in Expo Zaragoza 2008

As you know, the International Exhibitions Bureau (IEB) Zaragoza Expo in 2008 is part of a series that includes the World Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan and World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. See to the right the impressive Shanghai TV tower seen from the Huangpu River). What you maybe dont know is the expectations created by the Expo in Aragon by the Chinese biz community.

Virginia Seoane, a Consultant based in Barcelona explains the benefits of the Expo 2008 in Zaragoza for Hong Kong suppliers of consumer electronics and parts and components for the auto industry in an article for the Hong Kong Trade Development Office the benefits of the Expo 2008 in Zaragoza for Hong Kong suppliers of consumer electronics and parts and components for the auto industry.
She sees “real opportunities for developing new business through the city, particularly if contacts become evident as the exhibition and seminar business gets a boost due the Expo”. She adds that a recent study have shown that the city has a comparable base to European cities such as Amsterdam and Munich…I am loving it!

5 minutes virtual tour around Expo Zaragoza 2008

As the saying goes im sure you can talk the talk but here you have the oportunity to walk the walk...hence here you go with the Zaragoza Expo 2008 virtual walk...

Europe's biggest Dino discovered 220 km away from Expo Zaragoza 2008 venue

This 48 tons vegetarian “pet” whose 3.5-meter-long left forelimb is seen inset in the photo has been found south of Zaragoza, in Teruel.
The remains of the Turiasaurio (ie. dino from Teruel) were found by a team led by Rafael Royo-Torres of the Joint Paleontology Foundation Teruel-Dinopolis.
They also have a thematic park where you can see this and other dinos…it is called “Dinopolis” and you can reach it at discount price using the train. More info (and a funny animation) at http://www.renfe.net/dinopolis/index.html

Coming back to the creature: similar sauropods have been found in France, Portugal, and England, suggesting Turiasaurus or closely related species of giant sauropods roamed other parts of Europe during the Jurassic period.
"I don't think there was any problem getting from Spain to England in those days," said a specialist from the University of Portsmouth.

Isnt it great, either you get a (35 metres long & 18 meters height) sub-aquatic dino or England and Spain were together in the Jurassic period. Btw, at that time the area where this dino was found was the meander of a big river near the sea…however now the area is quite far from the sea plus doesnt have any big river around…neither similar pets ;)

The above shows that water (and in particular inland water) forms the basis of ecosystems and natural habitats. At the Expo Zaragoza 2008 some of the world's great rivers - the Nile, the Amazon, the Yangtze, the Ebro, etc and their ecosystems will be explained in detail. You can find more info on the river aquarium pavilion at http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/index.jsp?seccion=114&seccionRaiz=178&seccionDesplegar=110&idioma=en_GB

Fiesta in Zaragoza

A fast entry in the blog just to let you know that next week Zaragoza will be on Fiesta.
Will try to explain: my region's most important fiesta is in honor of the Virgen del Pilar celebrated in Zaragoza on October 12… but there is party for all of next week.
On the day of Pilar there is a procession with a spectacular display of flowers (see left)dedicated to the Virgin.
This is beautiful to see, and if you cannot be there (like me) and yet you want to have a taste on how it feels, just click at http://www.aragontvnews.es/ to see it real time on the 12th October…. so many people…all in traditional dresses, many dancing and singing “jotas” (with terrific power!) …yes …difficult to pronounce….
You can access either at mid-morning or early afternoon, till more or less 15h CET
Enjoy!!
Pd. actually you can even virtually put flowers to the Virgin at http://www.ofrendadeflores.com/entorno/imagen/index.html

Welcome to Expo Zaragoza 2008 blog!

Zaragoza has been selected to host the International Exhibition in 2008 (from 14th June to 14th September 2008) under the Theme “Water and Sustainable Development”. Zaragoza is my city and I feel very proud of it. Currently, I am working in Belgium on environmental issues so the Expo theme is very much of my interest.

When talking with non-spanish friends they are asking me all kind of questions regarding the Expo in Zaragoza. So I have decided to blog the some of the info I am providing my friends with.
In addition, while at work I meet with many foreigners. So far, when I talk with them about Zaragoza they usually are unable to put it ”on the map” often mentioning either Vasque Country or Catalunya as the region where Zaragoza is located. When I then mention Aragon it rings some bells but not that many…

But enough about myself. Let´s talk about the rules of the blog. Every now and then (ideally every month) I will be posting on different issues related to the Zaragoza Expo 2008 (see below some examples in not particular order) and I would do my best that debate grows around them, so the information flows smoothly from both sides of this blog.

Budget trip to the Expo & around from how to buy promotional entry tickets to which companies to flight in at low rates. And for those with extra holidays, you might want to know that Zaragoza is in a junction just around 1 hour from Madrid or Barcelona by high speed train or 3 hours drive from Bilbao or Valencia.

Virtual Expo for those who cannot come…or those who cannot wait, I will do my best to grant you all available resources for a virtual visit to the Zaragoza Expo 2008. To start with, you can already have a virtual “eagle view” of the Expo at http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/en/proyecto/proyecto.htm

Expo ceremonies & regional days, there are a lot of singular traditions in Spain and many regional days take place during summer. For example, in Aragon there are different ways of having “fiesta” and one of them involves a cow… and although some might think is not as artistic as the cow pictured here...

















but it might be artistic in its own way….

Bridge Pavillion, this pavilion Bridge will pass obliquely over the River Ebro and its cross-section will be diamond-shaped. Hard to imagine? Well, this is the way Zaha Hadid is (http://www.zaha-hadid.com/ and see...




...a previous work by her in which something originally planned as a fire station, became a museum.

Post-Expo Zaragoza 2008 will be another topic to deal with. I visited the Dutch pavilion in the Hannover Expo in 2000 with a German friend and it was great. Sadly enough, if you can go now at http://www.dutchpavilion.nl/exponu/index.htm scroll down, you will see the struggles of time.

Waterscapes, being Water the main theme of the Expo I will post the diverse water & landscapes of Zaragoza and surroundings...that should be a good basis to discuss with you the influence of the Zaragoza Expo 2008 in the sustainability debate which is more a more at the center of international conferences. I leave you with Kiccoro (Forest Child ) and Morizo (Forest Grand Father) mascots for Aichi Exhibition and Fluvi (river of life), the Zaragoza expo mascot...




Greetings to all readers