The head of Spanish King Juan Carlos has been morphed into the unmistakable profile of the world’s favourite cartoon slob.

The monarch’s visage with full head of curls has been skilfully crafted into the pop-eyed, big-nosed, bald-headed features of beer-swilling Homer, complete with his 5 o’clock shadow.

“The coin must have been done by a professional,” Mr Martinez said from the Asturian town of Aviles, northern Spain.

“It’s an impressive piece of work.” He said he spotted the handiwork after first discovering three euro coins from Malta.

The mystery defacer had not taken his scalpel to the other side of the coin, which displays the map of Europe.

But the high quality of workmanship has prompted speculation that other unusual euros might be in circulation.

Some have even suggested that the illegal work might be part of a republican conspiracy against the Spanish monarchy.

Meanwhile, Mr Martinez said neighbours and friends had offered him €20 (£16) for the piece.

As news of the find rippled around the globe thousands more bids started to emerge from the Netherlands, Japan, Canada and the US.

But the shopkeeper maintained he was keeping the coin for himself.

Spot The Difference: Homer’s Head On Euro ! Dod

At least 21 people are reported dead after a plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Madrid-Barajas airport.

21 dead in Madrid airport crash
Wednesday, 20 August 2008 15:45 fmplusnews

At least 21 people are reported dead and 40 hurt after a plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Madrid-Barajas airport.

There are conflicting reports about the number of fatalities.

The Spanair flight JK5022 was en route to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands at the time.
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It is understood the plane was attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff when it crashed and caught fire.

Eleven fire trucks are at the scene.

The aircraft, which has a capacity of 166 passengers, had 160 people on board.

Spanair is Spain’s second biggest airline after Iberia and is a subsidiary of Scandinavian carrier SAS.

Spain News : Costa Blanca
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Thieves rob the home of Civil Guard Chief as he sleeps
By h.b. - Jul 25, 2008 - 8:37 AM
ALSO SEE : • Gang of Lithuanian thieves broken up in the Axarquía - Jul 28, 2008 - 7:01 AM

It happened in San Vicente del Raspeig.
The Civil Guard is looking for the thieves who broke into the home belonging to their Civil Guard Chief Captain in San Vicente del Raspeig, in Alicante.

The chief was asleep with his family in his home in the old Guardia Civil barracks in Babel, where some 20 civil guard families now reside, while the thieves obtained access through a balcony window.

The embarrassing theft took place a month ago, but news of it has only just been released. A bag and other items were taken.

(Wonder what was in the bag?) You couldn’t make it up - lol!

Since its from a Spanish site, but in English it might help get a view from another country.

http://www.eitb.com/infography-multimedia/climate-change.html

I have to say that the corruption has worked to my benefit more than once. Especially with visa issues. Also, I’ve had pretty good experiences with the cops when they thought I was just a dumb tourist on more than one occasion. That said I’ve had some scary experiences with the Mossos d’Esquadra as well, seeing them beat down a few people during the World Cup last year, getting pulled over and ordered out of the car at machine gun point… the list goes on.

I personally can’t stand it when I see a misspelling or misuse of a word due to laziness.  My mother forced me to take four years of English grammar and literature despite living in Spain.

It’s gotten so bad that many e-mails I receive at work are not at all understandable, and they come from Brits and Americans! 

What is the deal?  Does no one care to be understood anymore?

Thousands of families taking a last minute break as the school summer holidays draw to a close are likely to be affected by the walkout.

And the unions have threatened further action if a dispute over pay is not settled.

The first 24-hour strike will start on Bank Holiday Monday and a second is planned for the Friday. Problems are likely to escalate if workers at Manchester also back a strike in a separate ballot. This would see them walking out on the following Monday.

Further strike ballots at Birmingham and Newcastle airports could see an autumn of discontent at five airports unless the dispute is settled.

if your booking Aerlingus please used there website http://www.aerlingus.com not price comparison website as you pay more in the long run
mainly a booking fee that more then the airlines price , highter fare prices and handling charges
so becareful when book flights
jurdy

Are there any street atlases for Madrid and Barcelona? If so, would anyone have a web site where I could
purchase it online?

Thanks.