Summer 2003

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
The Society's Hemingway tour of Downtown Madrid caught the attention of
the National Geographical Society this summer. Things did not go too well
at first as their team checked into the Hotel Florida thinking it was the
same place Ernesto used in the 1930´s. We had to explain that the Hotel
Florida Ernesto knew was pulled down in 1961 and that they were in another
built after his death some 2 miles from the original! Things were sorted
out and we soon had them in the Hotel Suecia where the great man stayed in
the 50´s. The National Geographical Society were doing a report on
´HEMINGWAY in SPAIN for a full center spread. This should be published
later in the Fall (with an outside chance a photo of the Chairman gets
published!). Our dear Chairman was their guide throughout the day taking
the team to Hemingway's favorite watering-holes, restaurants, hotels and
even the first hostal that he lived in during the late 1920´s.


PBS & THE WELLINGTON SOCIETY
The Society had the honor of taking Hilary Hemingway, niece of Don
Ernesto, around Madrid this July. She presented the owner of one of
Hemingway's favorite taverns with a framed photo of him in Madrid in the
late 50´s. Hilary and our Chairman were with 17 members of the Hemingway
Society. The entire evening's tour was filmed by PBS for their program
about Madrid which will be screened in the Fall. Our Chairman tells us
that he was rather amused when one of PBS TV crew told him not to be
nervous in front of the camera! He smiled and entertained the whole group
for four hours!


UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN CENTRAL SPAIN
This August a group of 36 MBA students from the University of Texas used
the Society's services for a one week tour of central Spain including a
tapas evening through Old Madrid. Other excursions were to Toledo and
Segovia. One of the highlights (there were many!) was the day trip to a
famous winery on the River Duero. Connie, our Chairman's future wife, was
in charge and from the many thanks  she received at the end of the day she
knew she had done a first class job. her first wine lecture was given in
the shade of the great medieval castle walls of Medina del Campo. We made
many new friends and the ´roasting´ our Chairman got at the flamenco show
on the final night will live with everyone present for years to come!!!

Photos of many of the Society's activities in 2003 will be added to the
web site in due course.