84 - Japan! Sushi, sweat and sprawl

This week I'm celebrating 20 years living in Spain. Here's a bit about my writer's life abroad, from early days as an aspiring novelist to going full-time as a grammar blogger. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/twenty-years-spain/ Join the elite club of Spain to Go financial supporters here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

Barcelona's rent control law is starting to show some results, and they're not good. Also, the "Caso Koldo" corruption scandal is back in the news, and the story is getting stranger. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/rent-control-caso-koldo/ Donate to the cause right here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

I recently walked up the seven hills in Barcelona. Here's the story of my urban hike through unexplored neighborhoods far off the usual tourist routes. Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Read more about Barcelona and Spain on the blog: https://expatmadrid.com/barcelona-seven-hills/

Some thoughts (and statistics) on social class in Spain. What exactly is middle class? How much does the upper class make. What's the deal with the royalty and nobility? Answers to these questions and more, right here. And also on the blog: https://expatmadrid.com/social-class-spain/ Support the lower-upper-middle class lifestyle of Mr Chorizo and his lovely wife Morena at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Thanks!

A bit of a random episode with some discussion of Rome, the Mongol Empire, and Roman ruins you can visit here in Spain – as well as a diverse beachside wedding and election season in the USA. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/thinking-rome/ Donate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Thanks for listening!

A quick introduction to the Poblenou neighborhood in Barcelona. The city's old industrial area is changing fast! More on the blog: https://expatmadrid.com/poblenou/

Seasoned travellers Daniel (AKA Mr Chorizo) and his wife Morena hit the mean streets of urban Japan in this new adventure: summer in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/japan/ Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

Here's a little life update from The Bahamas, out there in the Caribbean. I first mentioned getting sober last year (that's episode 47, it you'd like to listen). Now it's been about a year and a half and I'm going strong. Go to the blog for more: https://expatmadrid.com/sober-paradise/ Donate to this project and support the cause here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate

A report from my recent trip to the wild places of Surrey: Staines-upon-Thames, Runnymede, Windsor and more. Check out the article on the website: https://expatmadrid.com/staines/ Donate to the cause here, I appreciate it! https://expatmadrid.com/donate/

A bit of news from Barcelona today: the local crackdown on weed clubs has begun, police are confiscating assault rifles in ever-larger numbers, and stupid people buy squirt guns to in order to harass tourists. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/weed-clubs-guns-anti-tourism-protests/ Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate - I appreciate it!