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7yrs satellite design (NEC, Japan) and 8yrs business English - in Japanese ! Resident in Spain - fluency in both with technical background and B.Sc.(Hons) Physics (Imperial College, London University). Hoping we can work together.
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Japanese to English - Rates: 0.08 - 0.10 USD per character / 20 - 25 USD per hour Spanish to English - Rates: 0.07 - 0.09 USD per word / 21 - 27 USD per hour English to Japanese - Rates: 0.10 - 0.15 USD per word / 20 - 30 USD per hour
Portfolio
Sample translations submitted: 8
Japanese to English: Instruction manual for computer writing pad General field: Tech/Engineering Detailed field: Computers (general)
Source text - Japanese (DIRECT INPUT WITH JAPANESE KEYBOARD)
Translation - English Caution
Don’t place on an unstable surface
Please do not place this unit on shaky, sloping surfaces, or where there is strong vibration. The unit can fall and break, and this could cause personal injury or breakdown of the unit.
Don’t put heavy things on the unit
Please do not put heavy things on top of the unit. This may cause breakdown.
Don’t leave in very hot or cold locations
Please do not leave in hot places (over 40 degrees C) or very cold places (below 5 degrees C). Also, please do not leave in places with wild temperature fluctuations. This can have a bad effect on the main body of the unit and its parts, and be the cause of breakdown.
Don’t disassemble
Please do not disassemble or remodel the unit. This can be the cause of heating, catching fire, electric shock, or personal injury. Please note that in the case of the unit being disassembled, even once, the guarantee becomes invalid.
Don’t use organic solvents for maintenance
When maintaining the unit, please absolutely do not use organic solvents like alcohol. There is a danger of discolouration and deterioration.
Please use the unit with the addition of the clear cover
If the pen is used with the clear cover removed, this can cause malfunction.
Disclaimer
This company will not accept any responsibility in connection with damage which has arisen from fire or earthquake, accidents by third parties, the customer’s breakage or negligence, misuse or use in other abnormal circumstances.
This company will not accept any responsibility in connection with damage accompanying the use or incompetent use of the unit (loss of business profit, interruption of business, data alteration or disappearance, etc.).
This company will not accept any responsibility in connection with damage which has arisen through use other than that explained in the user’s manual.
This company will not accept any responsibility in connection with damage which has arisen from malfunction due to connection with other appliances, or combination with software other than that made by this company.
Product Warranty Request
Please read the warranty provisions well and for a year after purchase keep the warranty certificate in a safe place. In the case that the warranty certificate has not been filled in by the store, report this in person to the store, or attach the receipt from the time of purchase (or a duplicate) to the warranty certificate and keep it safe. In the case of the warranty certificate not being written by the store or there being no attached receipt, the certificate becomes invalid.
Basic Operation
The main operation of this unit is done on the surface of the tablet main body using the attached pen. Here, the basic use of the main body, pen, and mouse (optional) will be explained.
For how to draw pictures and save data, please look at the user’s manual of the application software in use.
Preparation
Before using the unit, please perform the preparatory steps below.
1. Turn on the PC power.
2. Connect the USB connector of the unit into the USB port of the PC.
The status lamp will light up blue.
How to use the pen
The operation of the unit using the attached pen will be explained.
The names and working of all parts:
Pen tip – make a movement with the pen tip and the pointer position moves. According to the tip pressure, the line thickness and shade of the colour can be adjusted.
In the case of abrasion, replacement is possible (please look at page 45).
Sideswitch – designated functions can be done ‘one touch’ (please look at the table on the next page).
About the operating surface
The region on the operating surface which detects movement of the pen or mouse is called the “Operating Area” and the corresponding region on the screen is called the “Display Area”. The pointer on the Display Area represents the position of the pen tip, and following the movement of the pen, the pointer also moves.
Windows trouble
Problem Even though connection is made to the USB port, the status lamp does not come on.
Solution Please check whether the USB port has been made available in the BIOS settings of the PC (for details, please look at the PC User’s Manual or Help). From the Windows Control Panel, open “System”, then click in order, the “Hardware” tab, then “Device Manager”.
1. Please check that there is a “USB(Universal Serial Bus) Controller” in the displayed list. If there is not, please enquire at the maker’s help desk.
2. If “Unknown device” is there, please check that there is not either “CTE-440” or “CTE-640”. If there is, delete it from the list and all the settings. Continue by uninstalling the tablet driver, then after rebooting the PC, please reinstall it.
Refer pages 12 to 18
Problem The pointer movement lags the movement of the pen tip.
Solution Please try changing the settings in the order below.
1. From the Windows Control Panel, open in order, “Mouse” then “Pointer options”, and uncheck “Display Pointer Locus”. Next, click the “Pointer” tab, and set “Design” to “Standard Combination (system settings)”.
2. If not restored by doing 1. reduce the number of display colours. Or, from the Control Panel, open in order, “System”, then “Detailed Settings”, and check “Prioritize Performance”.
In the case of Windows Vista, please also look at the following.
“Control Panel”, “Pen and Input”, then on the “Flick” tab, please uncheck “Performing well-executed operations agilely and simply using Flick”.
Appendix
Specification
Possible reading area 127.6 x 92.8mm
Reading resolution max. 0.0125mm
Reading accuracy 0.5mm
Reading speed max. 100 points/sec
Possible reading height 3mm (pen)
2mm (mouse)
Tip pressure level 512 steps
Input voltage DC5V
Consumed current less than 40mA
Consumed power approx. 0.2W
External dimensions 208 x 203.8 x 17.8mm
Mass approx. 500g
Operating environment
Temperature 5-40 degrees C
Humidity 20-80% (without condensation)
Wheel type rotating type 1 cycle 12 pitches
Japanese to English: Touyou Keizai (Oriental Economics) magazine article General field: Bus/Financial Detailed field: Government / Politics
Source text - Japanese (DIRECT INPUT WITH JAPANESE KEYBOARD)
Translation - English Touyou Keizai (Orient Economics) (28Aug2007)
The Difference between Thatcher and Blair
What is meant by England flying the flag, “The Third Road” ? In a word, it is the fusion of the market-focussed “New Liberalism” and the welfare-focussed “Public Democracy”. One could say it is the ideology of making economic growth and public justice compatible. Since the brain of Blair’s administration, Anthony Gidens (special article appearing on page 42) proposed it, the Blair administration made reforms one after the other based on this kind of thinking.
In May 1997, having assumed the post of prime minister, Labour Party’s Tony Blair, a trifle 4 days after the inauguration, quickly and decisively carried out their first reform. Financial policy making authority which, until then, was with the Ministry of Finance, was moved to the central bank, the Bank of England. The aim of that was to exclude political influence from financial policy, and increase transparency.
What Blair undertook next was dealing with the “Negative Inheritance” created by the Thatcher and Major administrations. Thatcher reforms, aimed at a small government, became the specific medicine for the cure of ‘England disease’, but on the other hand, the side effects were also large. In 1994, the completely privatised railway had successive accidents, and went bankrupt in 2002 (the prime minister during privatisation was Major), and the breakdown at places of medical care, even the field of education, after market principles and annual spending cuts had been put into practice, regrettably continued. Thereupon, in order to reorganise medical care, in 1997 and thereafter, Blair increased the budget for 10 years by about 3 times. He also put many resources into education.
And then, the handling of the problem of income disparity. The head of The London School of Economics (LSE) Economy Performance Centre, John Van Leanen says that the big difference between Thatcher and Major, and Blair, “was the positive handling of the income disparity problem”. In 1999, Blair introduced the minimum wage system for the first time in England. Even after that, he planned a slow rise of the lowest classes by carrying out a backflow of tax for people with low income (earned income subsidy) and an employment program for the unemployed (New Deal Policy).
The outcome of these policies are mostly favourable. The rate of inflation changes in a stable way and the rate of unemployment is maintained at a low level. Medical care and education escaped from its worst period and also the number of working poor reduced greatly. England’s Guardian newspaper columnist, Polly Toynbee who had continued to criticise Thatcher’s policies harshly, gave credit, saying “Under Blair’s administration, the standard of living of families belonging to the poorest classes has improved considerably”.
However, one note is necessary. Many of Blair’s policies which were carried out, were consistently the redistribution of income and public investment, but that does not mean that the policies in themselves became the drivers of economic growth. Rather, one could say that the execution of both the assistance of poverty-stricken classes and the expansion of public investment, were possible precisely because funds were plentiful with the economy in good shape. And the fact that the Labour party, spearheaded by Blair, was able to do this, was due to the previous period because Thatcher’s reforms were in place.
The fact is, Blair’s administration did not completely negate Thatcher’s reforms which promoted such things as the financial ‘big bang’ and the privatisation of state-run business. While securely taking over the basic path of reform, it is a fact that necessary corrections were being made to it. The 27 years of reform started by Thatcher afforded England’s position at the time.
The Blair economic strategy ‘look-alike’ of the Abe administration
While England was encouraging reform, was Japan doing it? Look at the recorded chronology of the main economic policies of England and Japan. First, several years after the bubble burst, it was almost ‘do nothing, plan nothing’. After that, as for the Hashimoto Ryotaro administration, the “financial big bang” and “rate of consumer tax increase” were implemented but, until the “disposal of bad loans” and “privatisation of the postal service” of the Koizumi administration, there were no big reforms with respect to economic policy. Meanwhile, successive generations of prime ministers were dependent on existing fiscal policy and increased loans to the highest level in history.
And it is now, and Japan finally has started to approach the problems which England faced 10 years ago and has already tackled. The Abe administration officially announced the “Basic Plan for Economic and Fiscal Reform 2007” on June 19th. If those contents are unravelled, many points of similarity can be found with policies carried out by the Blair administration.
For example, education policy. The “School Choice System”, the “Introduction of the Teacher Performance Principle” and so on, were introduced in England under the Thatcher administration and assumed by Blair. Moreover, the heading “from Welfare to Employment” of the basic plan is exactly the same, even as far as the name established by Blair, “Welfare and Work”. In addition, the common themes, such as minimum wage increase and reorganisation of the health care system, have been set up.
England and Japan are different societies and it does not follow that “What was correct for England is also correct for Japan”. However, England has played ‘the role of guinea pig’ for us. By looking back at the core and effectiveness of that policy, Japan can get many suggestions (refer to page 45 onward for details).
To begin with, increase of the minimum wage. In Japan today, there is strong opinion, mainly among economists, that “if the minimum wage is increased, the bankruptcy of small to medium companies, cutback on hiring and the like, will occur and the number of unemployed will increase”. But, at present, in England where the minimum wage increased to about 1350 yen, that kind of worry has ended up as a needless anxiety. Rather, having contributed to the decrease in poverty has even been highly appraised.
Next, educational reform. The “School Choice System”, enforcing of the principle of competition and so on, is a point of contention but many specialists see the series of reforms connected to an increase in the academic level. The institute head of London University Education Research Institute, Jeff Whitty says “Rather than the introduction of market principles, the program to reinforce reading and writing and math was more effective in increasing scholarship”.
As for the third, what about the re-employment program directed at juveniles. Not giving unemployed young people payment but, being made to gain experience in job training, this attempt to push them back into the job market, at least in the short term, seems to have been successful.
And, the problem of shortage in the workforce. Presently in Japan, counter-measures to the declining birthrate and increasing the active working population, have become the heart of the policy to increase the workforce but improvement in the birthrate will take time and to greatly expand the active working population is also not easy. Consequently, sooner or later, discussion of the introduction of immigrants might well little by little gather steam. In the past 10 years, as for the sudden expansion of accepting immigrants in England, there was no such thing as employment being taken from English people due to immigration. Professor Alan Manning of the Economics Department of LSE pointed out that “Immigrants go into work that English people do not want to do. At present, this can only be seen as favourable”.
The fifth, the reorganisation of medical care. What can be learned from the policy which ruined England’s health care, is that easily introducing market principles as a measure to restrain medical expenses, is dangerous. Japan Welfare University professor, Kondo Katsu, who is knowledgeable about England’s health care situation, says “Even by raising the social insurance fee, Japan should increase expenditure for health care. And, to gain the trust of citizens, it is necessary to prepare a structure to evaluate the quality of health care and a structure to fufill accountability.”
And, the greatest objective, is how to boost the economy. In England, where the manufacturing industry was destroyed, they got over this problem with economic growth in the financial sector. Japan, on the other hand, until this very day, is dependent on making things. Keio Gijuku University professor Takenaka Heiso, talks in the following way about growth strategy. “It’s OK to stay strong at manufacturing. However, just by making things, growth absolutely cannot continue. Japan has to increase employees in other industries, especially in high value-added fields such as finance. In order to raise the growth rate, there is nothing but to steadily do visible deregulation such as the privatisation of Tokyo University and the like.”
Japan’s once world number one GDP per person, now has sadly declined to number 14. Right now, if appropriate political measures are not taken, in 10 years, Japan will undoubtedly end up an even poorer country. With political measures, countries quickly change. On the 29th., Japan ushers in the Upper House elections.
Japanese to English: A Girl for Parties (by Sakura Momoko) General field: Art/Literary Detailed field: Poetry & Literature
Source text - Japanese (DIRECT INPUT WITH JAPANESE KEYBOARD)
Translation - English A woman for parties Sakura Momoko
In humans there is such a thing as ‘suitability’ and ‘unsuitability’. Having tried being an OL (office lady), I came to be convinced. Before, listening to my friends say “I wouldn’t be suitable as an OL” and so on, I arrogantly thought “That’s just selfish, being an OL is the same as going to school, if you do as you are told it’s fine, suitability doesn’t come into it”, but that was a ludicrous mistake.
Having pushed past my parents’ objections and gone to Tokyo, I found work at a certain publishing company. When I say publishing company, it didn’t produce fashion or information magazines and the like, only government publications, an extremely dour office.
I was assigned to the sales section. When I say sales section, all the work like going around and saying “Please buy this”, was done by male employees, women did filing of documents and inputting order slips into the machines, totally office work. My section operated with three men and five women, a total of 8. The women senior to me were all friendly and very kind but the three men were not good. Especially, the man to the side of me, about 30 with glasses, had a really seedy, vulgar appearance.
When I thought of having to call this man ‘sempai’ (senior) and having to emulate him, it felt like my desire to work evaporated but, for the time being, I greeted him with “I look forward to working with you”. The seedy, vulgar man adopted an indifferent attitude to my greeting, saying “yes”, and then continued with his work. When you looked at him from the side, there were several nose hairs sticking out.
In this company, there is a really terrible unwritten rule. That is the rule about coming to work by 7.30. The regulations say that if you come by 8.45, it’s fine. However, because the president, with his “old people’s habit of getting up early”, comes to the company about 6 o’clock, the subordinates also aim to rise early, and because it feels so bad, normal employees cannot arrive after 7.30.
When I had just arrived in Tokyo, as I was trying as hard as I could to keep down costs, I made a ‘bento’ (lunchbox) every morning at 5 o’clock. Wondering if being an OL could be this tough, I cried while cooking my rice. About the first week after joining the company, it was decided to hold a welcome party for the new employees. As I was just blissfully in the frame of mind “Ah, so they are going to make us welcome”, the order was decreed that “All new employees, everyone, will perform one song each for us, so do your best for tomorrow”.
A song ! Apart from when I almost wanted to die in the bus on the school trip, croaking out the ‘Frog Song’, I hadn’t sung or anything in front of people even once. Almost moved to tears, my section chief tapped me on the shoulder as he passed by me with a smiling face, saying “Hey, apparently, at college you did manzai (comedy monologue) in front of everyone, didn’t you? We hired you here because you sounded interesting. And we’re expecting great things tomorrow, you know”. So I was employed at this company for use as the woman in charge of entertainment ….
Even in the underground train on the way home, just the words “We hired you here because you sounded interesting” knocked around in my head. After returning home, I immediately began song practice. I repeatedly practiced a languorous song, Nakajima Miyuki’s “Welcome to Paradise Street”, ceaselessly tens of times. The walls of a 6-mat one-room apartment are thin. The night wore on with me continuously singing while curled up in one corner of the room, fretting about causing a nuisance to the neighbours with such an eery, single woman’s singing voice as that.
The next day, after work had finished, finally the new employees welcome party began. It was held in an untidy room in the company with beer, sake, light snacks and the like, left here and there on top of the work desks. It was somewhat like a Christmas party in a poor household. To get myself in the mood, I gulped down beer and waited quietly until my turn.
The colleagues who joined at the same time as me, are called one after the other, joyfully introduce themselves, and sing. Everyone was so confident. There was even one who sang “Run, Kotaro!”, setting the mood, and the party was quite lively. “Well, last but not least, it’s Miss Sakura. Yeh!” I bounded into the center of the room to a flood of half-hearted calls that made me want to cry. After introducing myself in a daze, as I got quite a few laughs I cheered up, thinking “Huh ! Finally, this is my true talent!” and went straight into singing.
As soon as I said I was going to sing Nakajima Miyuki’s “Welcome to Paradise Street” there were cheers of “Great!” and the like, and clapping started as I began.
“When I asked where you had come from, you answered trying to be casual”
Everyone listened with smiling faces but when I got to the second verse the mood gradually grew strange.
“How many times have you bowed your head, been told you were stupid by people,
put aside the desire to hit back, maybe you’ve come to laugh at me”
This was a song about the sadness of a salaryman comforted by a the woman host in an out-of-the-way pub. While I was inwardly cursing myself, unable to stop, and looking at the male employees with their heads down, there was nothing to do for me but to continue singing.
“I’ll mix your happiness and sadness for you tonight, welcome, this is Paradise Street.”
Where it had been so lively, it suddenly became silent and finishing my song, I had become the unlucky woman from ‘Hell Street’. Feeling like I was walking on thorns, I returned to my seat, and downed my beer, a drawn expression still on my face.
You can’t afford the luxury of carrying over yesterday’s mistakes to today. That’s an OL’s life. I bashed away at the keyboard for all I was worth and devoted myself to the input of data for order slips and so on. However, for every 50 my workmates could do, I could only do 30, with many mistakes. Even making errors writing simple addresses, having poor concentration, any number of times I got scornful looks in my direction by the seedy man next to me.
In fact, at that time, unbeknown to the company, because I was doing a side-job of drawing for cartoon magazines, lacking sleep, I was often attacked by the sleep demon at work. When the sleep demon crept up on my drousy head, I couldn’t tell between dream and reality, and often I found myself suddenly grumbling to the seedy man next to me, “....so that’s why they say Yumi is good, that was pretty good, wasn’t it? ”, waking up with a start with the seedy man’s astonished face appearing in close-up.
One day, when attacked once again by the sleep demon while typing at the computer, my head hit the keyboard with a thud. The monitor went crazy going “beeee….” and I suddenly went pale. Somehow, not only my computer monitor but all the computers lined up together acted in unison and went “beeee…”. Could computers really get on this well together ….?
While confused and impressed by how well computers got on, a great panic erupted around me. My section chief was continuously talking at me, “You lack concentration even for the simplest things, pull yourself together, we’ll be in trouble you taking naps and things”. Thinking from the bottom of my heart that it was unforgiveable, I bowed my head, saying “I’m sorry”, and before a minute had passed, I was fighting with the sleep demon again.
Because things were like this, I drew the derision of the male employees in my section. That was to be expected. However, I was unexpectedly popular with people from other sections, feeling like I had accomplished a fairly good role as woman in charge of entertainment.
After about ten days had passed in April, it was decided to hold the “Sales Section Cherry Blossom Viewing Party”. A pang of uneasiness crossed my mind, thinking … “So, even though not even a week has passed since that new employees welcome party, they are going to do that again”. That catastrophe once again … my heart sank.
It was very hard to waste a precious Saturday afternoon but newcomers were not afforded the luxury of choice. We had to carry beer and sake to the top of a small hill and do the preparations before the bosses came. The bosses arrive one after the other with smiling faces. The department head’s welcome speech finished, it was the turn once again for the newcomers to perform. With those who sang songs, and others who danced dances, a silly time passed like a great wave among the scattered cherry blossoms.
Just as I thought I heard one man, who had no talent whatsoever, cry, “I’ll become a cricket”, the next moment he had jumped and stuck to a tree and started screeching “meeeen, meeeen”. With the appearance of the frightening cricket-man, everybody as one got excited, calls of “Go higher!” flew around, and the cricket-man, unable to back down, climbed ever higher up the cherry tree. Cherry blossom petals sticking to the cricket-man’s face, becoming like a real life creature, he continued crying out. I couldn’t stop feeling at the time that he was destined to finish his life at the bottom.
At last, the speartip pointed in my direction. Helped by a drunken momentum, I began relating in ‘rakugo’ (monologue) style on the subject of my home prefecture of Shizuoka.
“Well, you know, if you talk about Shizuoka, it’s famous for tea, isn’t it, I mean, wherever you go it’s just tea fields, yeah, that’s it. ‘Cos tea is planted right up tight to the borders with other prefectures, you know, even from far away, it’s like you can tell it’s Shizuoka from the places piled up with green…”
Slightly exaggerating the truth, thanks to the alcohol, I went down extremely well. When I came to myself again, I realized sadly that I, who had become a talent amidst the cherry blossom snowstorm, was walking through life looking backwards.
At the end of May, once again the assistant section chief called me over for napping, “You are often napping and I’m wondering whether you aren’t doing some kind of night work”, he questioned giving me a lascivious look. While I was fuming inside, when I meekly replied, “Ah, in fact, it’s that I’m drawing comics”, and because the assistant section chief said, “Oh that kind of thing, choose the company or comics”, I instantly answered “In that case, I’ll do comics”.
In that way, my resignation was quickly decided. The section chief showed regret for me as being the person in charge of entertainment.
As for what I had done in that two months, they were no more than appalling, casting a wet blanket over the welcome party, giving a comic talk in a cherry blossom snowstorm, breaking computers, miswriting addresses, wasting envelopes, even taking the boss’ the bean cake when it came to go home from the cherry blossom viewing.
A few days later, I received two months’ salary with the salary for April carried over. My role in the sales section never went beyond my duties as an entertainer. It was nothing more than that company, which publishes government publications, hiring a third-rate entertainer for two months, merely livening up the workplace a bit.
Japanese to English: Tourist brochure for Castilla and Leon General field: Marketing Detailed field: Tourism & Travel
Source text - Japanese (DIRECT INPUT WITH JAPANESE KEYBOARD)
Translation - English Over half of the “Artistic Cultural Heritage”, designated by the country, is here in Castilla and Leon province. Progressing along the unchanged highways and tourist routes weaving through the beautiful scenery of Castilla and Leon province’s towns and villages, mountains and plains, crossing huge nature conservation areas, on arriving in bright, cheerful villages, there in the lively village festivals and the pious hearts of Holy Week, tradition lives on.
In Castilla and Leon province, blessed with abundant history and nature, there is a delicious cuisine full of variety, as well as well-developed modern tourist facilities.
Your journey in Castilla and Leon province will surely become an unforgettable, wonderful memory.
Historical Inheritance, Cathedrals and Castles
Buildings made of stone, lords who patroned the arts, architects and artists … these have left in our history a magnificent artistic inheritance.
11 cathedrals, the heritage of 7 centuries, the rich cultural and historical records preserved in countless art galleries and museums, palaces and monasteries, innumerable churches, and then, the many fortresses which characterize this region.
Romanesque, Mudejar, Gothic … just there, time seems to stop in its streets and plazas … moreover, adding to the present-day architecture, the beauty colours the everyday, and even a little stroll ought to turn into a special experience.
Beauty was born to touch the world’s heart
The pilgrimage of Santiago is not just world heritage, but designated as the first European Cultural Route by the European Council. More than half the path distance of the 750km from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela passes through Castilla and Leon, and over several centuries, has greatly influenced all the regions of Burgos, Palencia and Leon which form the route.
Burgos cathedral is the sole example of a cathedral being individually designated as world heritage. Representing 13th century Gothic architecture, the delicate towers decorating the façade, the domed ceiling, and the Chapel of the Condestables (la Capilla de los Condestables) are the main highlights.
And also the decorative wall of the altar, the choir seats, the chapel and the like, articles of rare beauty are here all together.
The group of archaeological remains of Atapuerca (Los Yacimientos de la Sierra de Atapuerca) are evidence of the fact that Europe’s oldest humans, Homo Antecessor, existed in this land about 1 million years ago. Due to excavations at 40 caves, it was possible to accurately know the course of human evolution continued from 800,000 years ago.
The natural monument of Las Medulas (El Monument Natural de Las Medulas), in the region of El Bierzo, was the largest gold mine in the Roman era. From the Orellan viewing platform (El Mirador de Orellan) can be viewed a huge precipice reaching a depth of 100 metres, and the mysterious moldings of the red clay formed after long years of erosion.
Festivals and Emotion
During Holy Week, the great artistry of the sculptures as well as the ardour and solemn hearts of the faithful are condensed together, suffusing the town with emotion. In the air of the morning glow, and in the twilight air, the sound of cymbals, drums and trumpets reverberates, and the light from candles and the smoke of incense tells of the suffering along life’s path. Meetings of the faithful and the penitent, sacred images and scenes … the tradition handed down from ancient times which lives in Holy Week. The Holy Week in Leon, Salamanca, Valladolid and Zamora have been designated as international tourist events.
In Castilla and Leon, 78 festivals have been designated as either provincial, national or international tourist events.
Amongst these, beginning with Holy Week, village festivals, pilgrimages, carnivals, masquerade festivals and medieval riding contests, bull-running and grape harvesting, and many festivals coloured by traditional music performed with dulzaina and drums as well as modern music, are included.
In Salamanca prefecture, both the “Bull carnival” (Carnaval del Toro) of Ciudad Rodrigo and the festival of “Our Lady of the Asuncion” (Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion) of La Alberca, in Soria prefecture, the “Fire walking and Mondidas festival” (Paso del Fuego y la Fiesta de las Mondidas) of San Pedro Manrique, and in Valladolid prefecture, the “Vitor” festival of Mayorga (Vitor de Mayorga), surely deserve special mention.
Vitality and Prosperity
Taking advantage of such a blessed location, together with the convenient transport network, one can easily move from place to place, from the stirring torrent of the rivers to the lakes and reservoirs, from the open fields to towering mountains almost like ramparts, from golf courses to ski resorts.
In Castilla and Leon, proud and apart from European ways, the contrast can be enjoyed between sun and snow, the golden setting sun and the brimming morning sun, pleasant springs and peaceful autumns.
Blessed also by the weather, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy all sports, fishing, trekking, rock climbing, cycling, rafting, horseriding, bunji jumping, canoeing, sailing, ballooning, and others.
Sightseeing Routes
The Road of El Cid: this is the road followed by the knight Rodrigo Diaz de Bibal in the 11th century, who set out on the trip on receiving a banishment edict from king Alfonso the 6th and Castilla. On this route through Burgos and Soria prefectures, history and folklore intertwine, and in the villages and towns, forts and fortresses, churches and monasteries along the way, even now the footprints of the Medieval hero, El Cid, seem to remain.
The Road of Castilian: this route, steeped in history, art and culture, visits places where the language spoken by 300 million people throughout the world, was born and developed. In the monastery of Santo Domingo de Siros, inscriptions of Castilian from its early period have been discovered. Valladolid, as capital of the huge territory possessed by the empire, played an important role in the spread of Castilian. In Salamanca in 1492, the first Spanish grammar book was published by Antonio de Neburiha, and Avila has turned out the greatest mystics Spanish literary history, Saint Teresa de Jesus, San Juan de la Cruz and so on.
The Road of Carlos the 5th: the lifelong, ever-travelling Carlos the 5th. . On his last trip as well, to lead a secluded life in Juste monastery, he went through Castilla and Leon. On this toute, all the way from the northern part of Burgos prefecture to the southern part of Avila prefecture, in Burgos, Palencia, Valladolid, Salamanca, Avila, and many towns and villages, Carlos the 5th must have put up for the night in beautiful palaces, or modest inns, receiving the friendly hospitality of the people, and eaten the delicious local cuisine with great gusto.
Spanish to English: Instruction manual for automatic lamp and telephone dialling General field: Tech/Engineering Detailed field: Furniture / Household Appliances
Source text - Spanish Instrucciones para el uso de la lampara
Esta lampara se carga durante el dia, y, debido a la celula fotoelectrican integrada, se enciende automaticamente cuando comienza a oscurecer.
!Atencion! Segun el tipo de lampara, antes de usar, debe de quitar el plastico protector del compartimento de baterias, girando la tapa en sentido contrario de las agujas del reloj.
Los siguientes puntos son importantes para un funcionamiento correcto de este articulo:
Este articulo se suministra normalmente con una o dos baterias recargables.
Antes de usar por primera vez, las baterias deben recargarse completemente, colocando la lampara 1 a 2 dias en la luz directa del sol. Esto favorece la vida de las baterias.
En condiciones normales del dia, las baterias se deben recargar en 10 o 12 horas.
En la oscuridad, la lampara permanece encendida durante aprox. 4 horas.
Si la usa en interiores, es posible que haya insuficiente luz del sol/artificial para un funcionamiento adecuado.
La siguiente descripcion puede diferir segun el modelo.
La parte superior de la lampara se puede quitar, girandola en sentido contrario de las agujas del reloj, o desatornillando los tornillos presentes. A continuacion, se pueden quitar o recambiar las baterias.
Es posible que se encuentre un interruptor en la parte superior de la lampara, bebajo de la tapa. Si el interruptor esta en ‘off’, la lampara no se encendera al comenzar a oscurecer. Las baterias si se cargaran.
No tirar las baterias; desecharlas con los residuos quimicos domesticos.
Instrucciones para el uso del Telefono Publico en Espana
Llamadas urbanas
Deposite monedas de 5 pesetas, descuelgue el microtelefono, espere el tono de marcar y marque el numero deseado.
Llamadas internacionales
1. No utilice monedas de 5 pesetas pues puede cortarse la comunicacion.
2. Deposite inicialmente un valor minimo igual a 200 pesetas para efectuar llamadas a paises de Regimen Europeo y de 400 pesetas para paises de Regimen Extraeuropeo, descuelgue el microtelefono y al oir la correspondiente senal, marque el prefijo de acceso a internacional, 07.
3. Espere un segundo tono mas agudo y a continacion componga el numero internacional marcando sucesivamente - el indicativo del pais con el que desee comunicar – el indicativo de la localidad – y finalmente el del abonado deseado.
Translation - English Instructions for the use of the lamp
This lamp charges during the day and, due to the integrated photoelectric cell, turns on automatically when it begins to get dark.
Caution ! According to the type of lamp, before use, the plastic protector of the battery compartment must be taken off, turning the cover in an anticlockwise sense.
The following points are important for the correct function of this product:
This product is normally supplied with one or two rechargeable batteries.
Before using for the first time, the batteries must be recharged completely, positioning the lamp for one or two days in direct sunlight. This benefits the life of the batteries.
In normal daily conditions, the batteries ought to recharge in 10 or 12 hours.
In darkness, the lamp remains lit for approximately 4 hours.
If it were used inside, it is possible that there would be insufficient sunlight or artificial light for proper function.
The following description may differ according to the model.
The upper part of the lamp can be taken off, turning it in an anticlockwise sense, or unscrewing the existing screws. Afterwards, the batteries can be taken out or changed.
It is possible that a switch is located in the upper part of the lamp, below the cover. If the switch is set to ‘off’, the lamp will not turn on as darkness falls. The batteries, however, will charge themselves.
Do not discard the batteries; throw them out with other household chemical refuse.
Instructions for the use of Public Telephones in Spain
Local calls
Insert 5-peseta coins, pick up the receiver, wait for the dailling tone and dial the number you want.
International calls
1. Do not use 5-peseta coins as the call may be cut off.
2. To begin with, insert a minimum value equal to 200 pesetas to make calls to countries in the European system and of 400 pesetas to countries outside, pick up the receiver and on hearing the corresponding signal, dial the prefix for access to international calls, 07.
3. Wait for a second, louder tone and next dial the international number, dialling successively – the code for the country with which you wish to speak – the area code – and finally that of the subscriber you want.
Spanish to English: A Selection of Spanish Business Letters General field: Bus/Financial Detailed field: General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Source text - Spanish Letter 1
Muy senor mio:
En respuesta a su carta del 6 del corriente, tenemos mucho agrado en adjuntar nuestro ultimo catalogo y lista de precios.
Los precios que se indican son para pedidos al por menor. Las compras al por mayor llevan un 12% de descuento, ademas de un 2% adicional si el pago se hace dentro de los 30 dias despues de efectuada la entrega.
Nuestras condiciones de pago habituales son pago al contado o letra bancaria a la presentacion de la factura. En circunstancias especiales podemos aceptar letras a 60 y 90 dias vista.
Debido a la gran demanda que existe en estos momentos le agradeceremos que haga el pedido lo mas pronto posible.
Quedamos a sus gratas ordenes.
Letter 2
Estimado cliente:
La gerencia del Hotel Reina Sofia tiene el agrado de informar a Vd. sobre la proxima inauguracion de una nueva sala de convenciones con capacidad para trecientas personas.
Nuestras modernas y comodas instalaciones estan situadas en nuestro edificio de la calle Buenaventura, 8. Para reservas rogamos escribir al Apartado de Correos 22476 de Bilbao o llamar al telefono 562 31 08. Tendremos mucho gusto en atender su solicitud.
Reciba un cordial saludo.
Letter 3
Muy senores nuestros:
El objeto de la presente es solicitar a Vds. referencias sobre la firma Ramos y Cia. Con la cual estamos en contacto para la realizacion de un proyecto comercial conjunto.
En especial, tenemos interes en conocer su estado financiero, la consideracion de que gozan sus productos y la seriedad de la firma para cumplir sus obligaciones.
Podemos asegurarles que toda informacion sera tratada de manera absolutamente confidencial.
En espera de su respuesta, les saluda atentamente.
Letter 4
Muy senores nuestros:
Estamos interesados en la compra de maquinas de escribir para nuestras oficinas en Madrid.
Les rogamos nos envien su lista de precios y mayores detalles sobre sus productos.
Tengan la bondad, ademas, de decirnos que descuentos pueden hacernos por compras al por mayor, las formas de pago y si estan en condiciones de efectuar entregas inmediatas.
Quedamos a la espera de sus gratas noticias.
Atentamente
Letter 5
Muy senor mio,
Acuso recibo de su atenta carta del pasado dia 15, en la que me anuncia mi preseleccion para el cargo de director de producto que he solicitado en su empresa, y me informe sobre la entrevista que se realizara el dia 25 a las 16.00 horas.
Al respecto, deseo expresar a Vd. que tendre mucho gusto en asistir a ella en la fecha y hora indicadas.
Le saluda muy atentamente.
Letter 6
Estimado senor Maturana,
Por medio de la presente quisiera agradecerle todas sus atenciones durante mi estancia en Caracas.
Ha sido muy grato para mi haber compartido algunos momentos con Vd. y su familia y espero poder atenderle de igual manera durante su proxima visita a Espana.
Le saluda cordialmente,
Letter 7
Estimada Sra. Miranda,
La presente tiene por objeto recordarle que hasta fecha no hemos recibido su cheque de pago de la factura R-463287 de fecha 7 de noviembre. Le agradeceriamos que lo enviase con la mayor brevedad, ya que de lo contrario nos veremos obligados a entregarlo a nuestro departamento juridico.
Letter 8
Estimado Sr. Donoso,
Acuso recibo de su carta del pasado 22 de febrero y le ruego que acepte Vd. mis disculpas por el error cometido en el despacho de su pedido AX 510843 de fecha 30 de enero.
Lamento mucho las molestias que esto puede haberle causado y esperamos remediar esta situacion con la mayor brevedad.
Letter 9
Muy senores nuestros:
Les agradeceriamos que nos informasen sobre lo que costaria asegurar contra todo riesgo un cargamento de ocho cajas de articulos de cuero cuya factura asciende a US $36.000 (trienta y seis mil dolares).
Las mercancias seran transportadas por via maritima desde Buenos Aires a Nueva York en el barco Reina del Plata de propriedad de la Compania Atlantica.
Les rogamos responder a nuestra consulta lo antes posible.
Les saluda atentamente.
Letter 10
Muy senor nuestro:
Con referencia a su carta del 2 del corriente, en la que solicita el puesto de director de producto en nuestra empresa, tenemos mucho gusto en anunciarle que Vd. ha sido preseleccionado.
La seleccion final se hara en base a una entrevista que tendra lugar en nuestra casa matriz de Avenida Miramar 48, Valencia 46008, el miercoles 25 del presente a las 16.00 horas.
Le rogamos que confirme por escrito y a la brevidad posible su asistencia a dicha entrevista.
Le saluda atentamente.
Translation - English Letter 1
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 6th of this month, we have great pleasure in attaching our latest catalogue and price list.
The prices which are indicated are for retail orders. Wholesale purchases carry a 12% discount, as well as an additional 2% if the payment is made within 30 days after the delivery has been made.
Our conditions of payment are usually cash payment or bank draft after you receive the invoice. In special circumstances we can accept drafts at 60 and 90 days’ sight.
Due to the great demand at the moment, we should be grateful if you would place the order as soon as possible.
We remain at your service.
Letter 2
Dear Client,
The management of the Hotel Reina Sofia has pleasure in informing you about the coming opening of a new conference room with a capacity for three hundred people.
Our modern and comfortable fittings are situated in our office on 8, Buenaventura street. For reservations, please write to Post Office Box 22476 in Bilbao or call the number 562 31 08. We will have much pleasure in attending to your request.
Yours Cordially,
Letter 3
Dear Sirs,
This is to request you to supply references about the firm, Ramos and Co., with which we are in contact for the execution of a joint commercial project.
We are especially interested in knowing their financial situation, the reputation which their products enjoy, and the firm’s reliability to meet its obligations.
We can assure you that all information will be treated in an absolutely confidential way.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Letter 4
Dear Sirs,
We are interested in the purchase of typewriters for our offices in Madrid.
Please kindly send us your price list and the main details about your products.
Will you also please tell us what discounts you can give us for wholesale purchases, the forms of payment, and if you are able to make immediate deliveries.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Letter 5
Dear Sir,
I acknowledge receipt of your kind letter of the 15th just gone, in which you announce my being shortlisted for the post for which I applied, of director of production in your company, and inform me of the interview which will take place on the 25th at 16.00 hours.
In this respect, I wish to express that I will have much pleasure in attending on the date and time indicated.
Yours Sincerely,
Letter 6
Dear Mr. Maturana,
I am writing to thank you for giving up your time during my stay in Caracas. It has been a pleasure for me to have shared several times with you and your family and I hope to be able to return the hospitality in the same way during your next visit to Spain.
Yours Cordially,
Letter 7
This is to remind you that, to date, we have not received your payment cheque for the invoice R-463287 dated the 7th of November. We would be grateful if you sent it as soon as possible, since on the contrary, we shall be forced to hand it to our legal department.
Letter 8
Dear Sir Donoso,
I acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 22nd of February and kindly ask that you accept my apologies for the errors made in the dispatch of your order AX 510843 dated the 30th of January.
I greatly regret any inconvenience that this may have caused you and we hope to remedy this situation as soon as possible.
Letter 9
Dear Sirs,
We would be grateful if you told us about what it would cost to insure comprehensively a shipment of 8 cases of leather articles, the invoice of which amounts to US $36,000 (thirty six thousand dollars).
The goods will be transported by sea from Buenos Aires to New York in the ship “Reina del Plata” owned by Compania Atlantica.
We kindly request that you respond to our consultation as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Letter 10
Dear Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 2nd of this month, in which you applied for the post of director of production in our company, we have great pleasure in informing you that you have been shortlisted.
The final selection will be done on the basis of an interview which will take place at our headquarters at 48, Avenue Miramar, Valencia 46008, on Wednesday the 25th of this month at 16.00 hours.
Please confirm in writing your attendance at the said interview as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Spanish to English: Conversation about employment in Spain General field: Social Sciences Detailed field: Economics
Source text - Spanish En primer lugar quisiera preguntarle cual es la situacion en este momento en Espana en lo que se refiere a desempleo y cuales son las perspectives para el futuro.
Bueno, como todos sabemos, la recession economica de los anos setenta, debido al alza de los precios del petroleo, tuvo desastrosas consecuencias no solo para Espana sino tambien para el resto del mundo. Directa o indirectamente, la mayoria de los paises se vieron afectados por esta situacion. Una de las consecuencias mas graves de la crisis fue el aumento del desempleo. En el caso de Espana esto tuvo caracteristicas particularmente graves y se registraron cifras de paro superiores al 20 por ciento de la poblacion activa, uno de los porcentajes mas altos en el contexto europeo.
Actualmente se observa una reactivacion del mercado del trabajo. Sin embargo, las cifras de paro continuan siendo elevada, debido en parte a la incorporacion masiva de la mujer al mundo del trabajo. En terminos relativos, el nivel de desocupacion es superior en las mujeres que en los hombres. Pero, sin duda, los principales afectados por esta situacion son los jovenes que buscan por primera vez una ocupacion.
Que medidas se estan tomando para crear neuvos puestos de trabajo?
Pues, este es un problema que requiere varias soluciones. Una de ellas es conseguir la insercion laboral de los jovenes dentro de las empresas, a traves de programas de formacion profesional o practicas pagadas. Tambien se trata de conseguir una mayor estabilidad en el empleo estimulando la contratacion indefinida de jovenes desempleados. Ademas, esta la concesion de incentives fiscales a las empresas para conseguir la creacion de puestos de trabajo.
Translation - English Firstly, I would like to ask you what the situation in Spain is, at the moment, as regards unemployment and what are the prospects for the future.
Well, as everyone knows, the economic recession of the 70s, due to the rise of petrol prices, had disastrous consequences not only for Spain but also for the rest of the world. Directly or indirectly, the majority of countries were affected by this situation. One of the most serious consequences of the crisis was the increase in unemployment. In the case of Spain, this had particularly grave characteristics and unemployment figures of more than 20 per cent of the working population were registered, one of the highest percentages in the context of Europe.
At present, a reactivation of the work market is observed. However, unemployment figures continue being elevated, due in part to the massive incorporation of women in the workplace. In relative terms, the unemployment level is greater for women than men. But, without doubt, those principally affected by this situation are the young people who are looking for a job for the first time.
What measures are being taken to create new job positions?
Well, this is a problem which requires several solutions. One of these is to get introduction of young people to employment amongst the companies, through programs of vocational training or paid training schemes. Also, we are trying to secure a greater stability in employment, promoting the indefinite contracting of young, unemployed people. In addition, it is the concession of financial incentives to companies to successfully create new job positions.
Spanish to English: Tourist brochure for Castilla and Leon General field: Marketing Detailed field: Tourism & Travel
Source text - Spanish Tiene Castilla y Leon mas de la mitad del Patrimonio Artistico y Cultural esplanol reposando en sus cuidades, sus valles, sus montanas y sus llanos. Rutas y caminos milenarios surcan paisajes de ensueno, guiandonos por una prolongada red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos hasta villas alegres y festivas, donde las tradiciones reviven en fiestas populares y en el sobrio recogimiento de la Semana Santa.
Castilla y Leon ofrece la variedad y calidad de una generosa gastronomia y una de las mas modernas propuestas de servicios turisticos, en un marco historico y natural inigualable que marcara en el recuerdo una experiencia inolvidable.
Bienes Patrimonio, Catedrales y Castillos.
Piedra sobre piedra, mecenas y senores, arquitectos y artistas, trazaron con exquisitez un impresionante patrimonio artistico para legarnos nuestra propia historia.
Once catedrales, siete Bienes declarados Patrimonio de la Humanidad, centenas de museos que guardan el testimonio de una rica cultura, archivos historicos, palacios y monasterios, miles de iglesias y sobre todo, una sena de identidad: los castillos.
Romantico, mudejar, gotico … calles y plazas donde se detiene el tiempo … los estilos artisticos mas modernas … la belleza impregna lo cotidiano haciendo que cada paseo sea excepcional.
Bienes Patrimonio de la Humanidad
El Camino de Santiago es ademas de Patrimonio de la Humanidad, Primer Itinerario Cultural Europeo declarado por el Consejo de Europa. De los 750km. de longitud que tiene esta ruta desde Roncesvalles hasta Santiago de Compostela, mas de la mitad discurre por nuestra Region de este a oeste a traves de las provincias de Burgos, Palencia y Leon, marcando profundamente a estas tierras durante siglos.
La Catedral de Burgos, unica declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad de forma individual, ofrece uno de los mejores ejemplos del gotico del S.XIII destacando la esbeltez en sus torres que jalonan la portada, el cimborrio, la Capilla de los Condestables asi como una interesante coleccion de retablos, sillerias, y capillas.
Los Yacimientos de la Sierra de Atapuerca representan la evidencia de la presencia humana mas antigua de Europa: el Homo Antecessor, fechado hace un millon de anos. Los restos hallados en 40 cuevas proporcionan un conocimiento exacto de la evolucion humana desde hace unos 800.000 anos.
El Monumento Natural de Las Medulas situado en la Comarca de El Bierzo, se considera la mayor explotacion de oro a cielo abiero de epoca romana. Desde el Mirador de Orellan, podemos divisar un inmenso barranco de mas 100m. de altura y admirar las figuras caprichosas de tierra rojiza que el tiempo y la erosion nos han legado.
Celebraciones y Emocion
En Semana Santa, las impresionantes tallas funden la grandeza de su arte con la pasion, el fervor y la solemnidad de los cofrades … impregnando el aire de emocion. La luz de los cirios, el humo del incienso y el cielo matutino y vespertino rasgado por el quejido de timbales, tambores y trompetas, visten las calles y caminos de pasion.
Rondas y proclamas, cofradias y penitentes, tallas y escenificaciones … una tradicion ancestral que se ha conservado en su esencia, en la Semana Santa declarada de interes turistico internacional en Leon, Salamanca, Valladolid y Zamora.
Hay en Castilla y Leon 78 fiestas declaradas de interes turistico regional, nacional e internacional entre las que se encuentran, ademas de la Semana Santa, incontables festejos populares, romerias y carnavales, desfiles y justas medievales, encierros y vendimias, musica y bailes a ritmo de la dulzaina, del tambor y de otros instrumentos tradicionales y modernos. Entre ellas destacan por su caracter de interes turistico nacional el “Carnaval del Toro” de Ciudad Rodrigo y “Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion” de La Alberca, ambas en Salamanca, el “Paso del Fuego y la Fiesta de las Mondidas” de San Pedro Manrique en Soria y el “Vitor de Mayorga” en la provincia de Valladolid.
Vitalidad y Esplendor
La situacion privilegiada de los enclaves, de excelente acceso, nos permite pasar de los rios de aguas bravas a los lagos y embalses; de las llanuras a los montes que se elevan como murallas; del campo de golf a la estacion de esqui …
Castilla y Leon, una de las regiones mas grandes de Europa, ofrece nieve y sol, dorados atardeceres y mananas luminosas, placenteras primaveras y apacibles otonos.
Un clima que permite la practica de todos los deportes, la pesca, senderismo, escalada, rutas en bicicleta, rafting, paseos a caballo, puenting, quad, piraguismo, vela, paseos en globo, etc.
Rutas
El Camino del Cid: sigue los parajes que transito el caballero Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar en su marcha hacia el destierro decretado en el siglo XI por el rey Alfonso VI. La historia se mezcla con la leyenda en esta ruta que, atravesando las provincias de Burgos y Soria, encuentra en su camino pueblos y villas, castillos y fortalezas, iglesias y monasterios que aun hoy estan impregnados de la huella medieval que acompano al heroe castellano.
Camino de la Lengua: nos permite empaparnos de historia, arte y cultura y convivir con el nacimiento y desarrollo de una lengua universal que actualmente hablan mas de 300 millones de personas en todo el mundo. Santo Domingo de Silos, en cuyo monasterio aparecieron las primeras muestras del castellano escrito. Valladolid, que como capital del imperio espanol, tuvo un importante papel en la difusion de nuestra lengua, Salamanca, que en 1492 fue testigo de la edicion de la primera gramatica de la Lengua Espanola, obra de Antonio de Nebrija; y por ultimo Avila, cuna de los mejores misticos de la historia de la literatura espanola, Santa Teresa de Jesus y San Juan de la Cruz.
La Ruta de Carlos V: rey viajero por excelencia, cruzo Castilla y Leon en su viaje de retiro al monasterio de Yuste. Esta ruta nos conduce desde el norte de Burgos hasta el sur de Avila atravesando muchas localidades de las provincias de Burgos, Palencia, Valladolid, Salamanca y Avila en las que el emperador tuvo oportunidad de recibir a su paseo el carino de la poblacion, de alojarse en bellos palacios y en humildes pensiones, y a lo largo de su camino pudo disfrutar de la exquisita gastronomia de estas tierras.
Translation - English Castilla and Leon has more than half of the Spanish Artistic and Cultural heritage reposing in its cities, its valleys, its mountains and its plains. Millennial routes and paths plough through dreamlike landscapes, guiding us by an extended network of Protected Natural Spaces to cheerful and festive small towns, where the traditions live again in popular festivals and in the sober gathering of Saint’s Week.
Castilla and Leon offers the variety and quality of a generous gastronomy and one of the most modern tourist services, in an unequalled historical and natural setting which stamps an unforgettable experience in the memory.
Heritage Sites, Cathedrals and Castles
Stone on stone, patrons and gentlemen, architects and artists, contrived with refineness an impressive artistic heritage to leave as our history.
Eleven cathedrals, seven declared World Heritage sites, hundreds of museums which keep the testimony of a rich culture, historical archives, palaces and monastries, thousands of churches and above all, a sense of identity: the castles.
Romantic, Mudejar, Gothic … streets and squares where time lingers … the most modern artistic styles … the beauty impregnates the everyday, making each stroll exceptional.
World Heritage Sites
The Santiago Way is, besides World Heritage, the First European Cultural Route declared by the European Council. Of the 750km length of this route from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela, more than half wanders through our region from east to west through the provinces of Burgos, Palencia and Leon, profoundly affecting these lands for centuries.
The Cathedral of Burgos, unique among cathedrals for being declared World Heritage individually, offers one of the best examples of Gothic of the 13th century, emphasizing the slenderness in its towers which stake out the façade, the dome, the Chapel of the Condestables (la Capilla de los Condestables), and an interesting collection of altar-pieces, choir seats, and chapels.
The Deposits of the Atapuerca Range (Los Yacimientos de la Sierra de Atapuerca) shows evidence of the oldest human presence in Europe: Homo Antecessor, dated one million years ago. The remains discovered in 40 caves provide an exact knowledge of human evolution for some 800,000 years.
The Natural Monument of the Medulas (El Monument Natural de Las Medulas), situated in the region of El Bierzo, is considered the biggest open-cast gold mine of the Roman epoch. From the viewing platform of Orellan (El Mirador de Orellan), we can make out an immense gully of more than 100m in height and admire the capricious shapes of reddish earth that time and erosion have left us.
Celebrations and Emotion
In Saints’ Week, the impressive carvings endow the grandeur of their art with the passion, fervour and solemnity of the guild members … impregnating the air with emotion. The light of the candles, the smoke of the incense and the morning and evening skies reverberating with the noise of kettle drums, drums and trumpets, filling the streets and paths with passion.
Night watch and banns, guild members and penitents, carvings and scenes … an ancestral tradition which has been preserved in its essence in Saints’ Week, having been declared of international tourist interest in Leon, Salamanca, Valladolid and Zamora.
There are 78 festivals in Castilla and Leon which have been designated as regional, national and international tourist interest among which are found, besides Saints’ Week, countless popular entertainments, pilgrimages and carnivals, parades and medieval jousts, bull-running and grape harvesting, music and dances to the rhythm of the dulzaina, of the drum and of other traditional and modern instruments. Among those noted for their character of national tourist interest, the “Bull Carnaval” (Carnaval del Toro) of Cuidad Rodrigo and “Our Lady of the Asuncion” (Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion) of La Alberca, both in Salamanca, the “Fire walking and Mondidas festival” (Paso del Fuego y la Fiesta de las Mondidas) of San Pedro Manrique in Soria and the “Vitor” festival of Mayorga (Vitor de Mayorga) in the province of Valladolid.
Vitality and Splendour
The privileged situation of the enclaves, of excellent access, allows us to pass from the rivers of splendid waters to the lakes and reservoirs; from the plains to the mountains which soar like walls; and from the golf course to the ski resorts.
Castilla and Leon, one of the biggest regions in Europe, offers sun and snow, golden late afternoons and luminous mornings, pleasant springs and mild autumns.
A climate which allows the practice of all sports, fishing, trekking, climbing, bicycle touring, rafting, horseriding, bunji-jumping, canoeing, sailing, airballooning, etc.
Routes
El Camino del Cid: follow the places where the knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar passed on his march to exile decreed in the 11th century by the king Alfonso VI. History is mixed with legend on this route which, crossing the provinces of Burgos and Soria, meets on its way towns and villas, castles and fortresses, churches and monasteries which today are still impregnated with the medieval feel which accompanied the Castilian hero.
Camino de la Lengua: allowing us to be steeped in history, art and culture and share the birth and development of a universal language which 300 million people in the world presently speak. Santo Domingo de Silos, in whose monastery appeared the first samples of written Castilian. Valladolid, which as the capital of the Spanish empire, had an important role in the spread of our language. Salamanca, which in 1492 was witness to the publication of the first grammar of the Spanish Language, the work of Antonio de Nebrija; and lastly Avila, cradle of the greatest mystics of the history of Spanish literature, Santa Teresa de Jesus and San Juan de la Cruz.
La Ruta de Carlos V: traveller king par excellence, crossed Castilla and Leon on his journey to the seclusion of the monastery of Yuste. This route leads us from the north of Burgos to the south of Avila crossing many localities in the provinces of Burgos, Palencia, Valladolid, Salamanca and Avila in which the emperor had the opportunity on his trip to receive the affection of the population, to be put up in beautiful palaces or humble boarding houses, and along his way enjoy the exquisite gastronomy of these lands.
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Translation education
Other - London University
Experience
Years of experience: 15. Registered at ProZ.com: Jul 2009.
Japanese to English (7yrs.work in Japanese (15 in Japan) JPLT II) Spanish to English (Family home (20yrs) - fluent (see samples)) English to Japanese (write all Toyo kanji - keyboard entry (samples/CV))
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N/A
Software
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I am a native Englishman who had the great fortune to grow up in England, Greece, Germany, and later work in Japan for 15 years. After returning to Europe, I now live at my family home in Spain where they have been resident for 20 years.
I have worked in Japanese for Japanese companies in Japan over a long period in both the space industry and language education, and believe this has given me almost fluent ability in the language, as well as a unique feel for Japanese culture and business.
These include NEC, Toshiba, Nissan, Hitachi, Hino Motors, Timelife, KYB and others.
I also have good fluency in Spanish after many years of study and use in the country itself.
My interest in languages became a passion and after 5 years as a satellite antenna designer for British Aerospace, I was headhunted to NEC in Japan. In those following 7 years I worked exclusively in Japanese as an employee in the space industry and passed the Japanese Proficiency Language Test (JPLT) level 2. I felt I needed a more active ability in the language, and so then concentrated on writing as well, and in recent years, I attained my goal of being able to read and write the Toyo kanji and associated vocabulary (about 20,000 words).
I now have my own translating business, specialising in Japanese and Spanish languages to native British English.
I look forward to working together and please feel free to contact me with any queries.
Yours Faithfully,
David Paul Bacon.
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