007 Event: San Sebastian Festival with Judi Dench (25 September 2018)

What: San Sebastian Festival
Where: Tabakalera, Centro Internacional de Cultura Contemporánea, Plaza de las Cigarreras, 1, 2ª planta, San Sebastian, Spain
When: 25 September 2018


The British actress Judi Dench will receive the prestigious Donostia Award at the 66th edition of the San Sebastian Festival next month. The Festival’s highest honorary award will be presented on Tuesday, September 25th, prior to the screening of Trevor Nunn’s "Red Joan", in which Dench plays a woman whose tranquil life is suddenly disrupted when she’s arrested by MI5 and accused of providing intelligence to Communist Russia.

This will be Dench’s first visit to San Sebastian.

Judi Dench as M in "Skyfall" (2012)
Photo © EON, United Artists, Danjaq LLC

Judi Dench played a role of M, the head of MI6, starting from "GoldenEye" (1995). She appeared in all four Pierce Brosnan's Bond movies and three Daniel Craig's 007 films from "Casino Royale" (2006) to "Skyfall" (2012). She was also briefly visible in "SPECTRE" (2015).

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007 Travelers in Fuengirola.fi newspaper

Publishing date: 16 August 2018

007 Travelers in newspaper Fuengirola.fi, August/2018.

The headline of the story is:
"On the trails of James Bond in Costa del Sol"

The story is on page 10. The text is only in Finnish.

Text and Photos: 007 Travelers

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007 Related restaurant: Casa Lucio

CASA LUCIO

Location: Madrid, Spain
Address: Calle Cava Baja 35
Bond connection: Pierce Brosnan ate here years ago
Visited by 007 Travelers: July 2017



Casa Lucio remains in the location that once was home to the hundred-year old Mesón El Segoviano, a magnificent restaurant where Lucio Blázquez began to work at the age of 12.

Lucio Blázquez was born in Serranillos (Avila), on 12th February 1933. When he turned 12 he came with his father to Madrid and began working at the “Meson del Segoviano” with the owner, Dona Petra, who loved him like a son. She was who, many years later, would sell the restaurant to Lucio. Already then, at such a young age, his skills with people were noticeable; he showed his interest in the work, and he also transmitted his joy to customers, who already gave him good tips. Many of those customers were students by then, but they’re now important figures in the social life of the country, regulars of Casa Lucio, and friends at the same time.


007 Travelers met Mr. Lucio who is a true legend. He gave us his autograph and we took a photo with him.

We had wonderful lunch which included chicken "Pollo Ajillo 1/2" and meat balls "Albondigas" with red wine "Copa Vino" and desserts ice cream "Helado Variado". 

Restaurant staff were really helpful and friendly and showed us the table where Mr. Brosnan ate years ago and also showed us Bollinger bottle with 007 logo

Mika, Lucio Blázquez and Pirita

Autograph of Lucio Blázquez

"Pierce Brosnan´s table"

Bollinger champagne bottle with 007 logo

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007 Related hotel: Hotel Santo Mauro

HOTEL SANTO MAURO

Location: Madrid, Spain
Address: Calle de Zurbano, 36
Bond connection: Madrid photo call of "Casino Royale" (2006) was held here


The Hotel Santo Mauro invites you to embark on a journey back to the 19th-century and stay at the former residence of the influential character of Madrid’s society at the time, the Duke of Santo Mauro, located in the aristocratic and exclusive area of Chamberí. With a French influence design, similar to the Parisian palaces of the era, the Hotel Santo Mauro consists of three buildings surrounded by a magnificent garden starring a few centuries-old chestnut trees; making it an oasis in the heart of Madrid. The 49 rooms, carefully designed to the last detail, will make your stay in the palace an unforgettable one. Resulting of an avant-garde décor, gaze at the common rooms by which the Duke of Santo Mauro once walked through; The Red Room of pure French style, The Chinese Lounge where oriental pieces dazzle, The Gin Bar with an art deco, and the former Library of The Duke of Santo Mauro, today’s main restaurant. Each with its own personality, but in perfect harmony, are designed to enhance your stay.


007 Travelers visited this magnificent hotel, Hotel Santo Mauro, where "Casino Royale" (2006) photo call took place. Daniel Craig (James Bond), Caterina Murino (Solange Dimitrios), Mads Mikkelsen (Le Chiffre) and director Martin Campbell attended this event.

After introducing ourselves, we got a nice guided walking tour in and around the lovely hotel.

Daniel Craig, Caterina Murino,
Mads Mikkelsen and Martin Campbell
Photo: Getty Images

.

Look, is that Daniel Craig? :)

See the whole travel story here

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007 Related hotel: Villa Magna

VILLA MAGNA

Location: Madrid, Spain
Address: Paseo de la Castellana, 22
Bond connection: Madrid photo call of "Skyfall" (2012) took place here


Villa Magna is situated in the Spanish capital’s fashionable Salamanca district, Villa Magna presents the perfect union of old world sophistication and contemporary elegance.

This five-star property stands out for its stylish modern decor and unparalleled service that ensure guests feel genuinely at home during their stay. The hotel’s privileged location in downtown Madrid makes it easy to explore the cultural and gastronomic riches of one of the world’s most vibrant cities.

007 Travelers met hotel's public relations people, they told us what they knew about the photo call event and we took a couple of photographs indoors and outdoors.

In 2012 the photo call of "Skyfall" was held here. Daniel Craig (James Bond), Javier Bardem (Silva), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) and director Sam Mendes attended the event.

Sam Mendes, Javier Bardem,
Naomie Harris and Daniel Craig at 
Madrid photo call in Villa Magna hotel
Photo: Getty Images

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007 Related restaurant: Sobrino de Botin

SOBRINO DE BOTIN

Location: Madrid, Spain
Address: Calle de los Cuchilleros, 17
Bond connection: Pierce Brosnan ate there with his mother while visiting Madrid in 2016
Visited by 007 Travelers: July 2017

Sobrino de Botín founded in 1725 is the oldest restaurant continuously operating in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The artist Francisco de Goya worked in Cafe Botin as a waiter while waiting to get accepted into the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The restaurant is mentioned in an Ernest Hemingway novel and the book Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós (published 1886-1887).

Pierce Brosnan ate there with his mother while visiting Madrid back in 2016. 007 Travelers followed Mr. Brosnan's footsteps and dined here also. Pirita ate "Salmón Ahumado", Mika ate Veal escalope "Escalope de Ternera". We drank a half bottle of red wine (Vino Tinto de la Casa) and Agua Mineral, and we had also desserts "Tarta Botin" and "Crema Catalana". This is the restaurant that can be highly recommended to all who are searching wonderful food in Madrid. The staff is really friendly and dinner was just perfect!

"Salmón Ahumado"

"Escalope de Ternera"

"Crema Catalana"

"Tarta Botin"

Pierce Brosnan and his mother May SmithPhoto: Getty Images

Pierce in front of Restaurant Botin 
3 March 2016
Photo: Getty Images

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007 Related hotel: The Westin Palace Madrid

THE WESTIN PALACE MADRID

Location: Madrid, Spain
Address: Plaza de la Cortex, 7
Bond connection: Filming location for Sean Connery film "The Wind and the Lion" (1975). Sean Connery also stayed at the hotel a couple of times

Located at the center of dynamic Madrid, The Westin Palace, Madrid is an iconic hotel that has thrived since its opening in 1912. Ideally positioned in Las Letras quarter, with its vibrant collection of restaurants and boutiques, it´s at the heart of The Art Walk, an area linking the city’s most enriching museums, Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza.

007 Travelers ate tasty ice-creams  in the hotel's restaurant and it was very similar as Hotel Negresco in Nice, where we visited back in 2013.

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007 Travel story: Madrid (SPAIN) 2017, day 3/3: From Madrid with love

This is a Madrid 007 travel story 3/3. In order to read our Madrid 007 travel story from the day one, click here


Wednesday 19 July 2017


Another hot and sunny day in Madrid.

We started our day with taxi ride to Hotel Villa Magna, where photo call of "Skyfall" was held in 2012. Daniel Craig (James Bond), Javier Bardem (Silva), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) and director Sam Mendes attended.

Sam Mendes, Javier Bardem,
Naomie Harris and Daniel Craig
Photo: Getty Images

After meeting hotel's public relations people in the lobby, we took a couple of photographs inside and went back out.

Then we continued to other magnificent hotel, Hotel Santo Mauro, where "Casino Royale" (2006) photocall took place. Daniel Craig (James Bond), Caterina Murino (Solange Dimitrios), Mads Mikkelsen (Le Chiffre) and director Martin Campbell attended this event.

Daniel Craig, Caterina Murino,
Mads Mikkelsen and Martin Campbell
Photo: Getty Images

After introducing ourselves, we got a nice guided walking tour in and around the lovely hotel. It would have been really pleasant to take a drink at their beautiful garden terrace, but we had to rush to lunch, because of a table reservation at one o'clock.

Look, is that Daniel Craig? :)

Taxi found Cava Baja 35, which is the address of Casa Lucio restaurant. This was the place where Pierce Brosnan had eaten years ago and we had even a photograph of it with us. Time was approx. 12 o'clock and we knocked the closed door and trying to make sure if our table reservation was valid (we booked it by phone a previous night via their website and we wasn't 100 percent sure if the booking was successful or not...).

A man opened the door, but he didn't speak English that much, but he confirmed that our reservation was ok and said that we should come at one o'clock. We walked to a bar near-by and ordered a beer. After one hour we went back and we were guided upstairs, where our table was.

We had chicken "Pollo Ajillo 1/2" (14.00 EUR) and meat balls "Albondigas" (18.00 EUR) with red wine "Copa Vino" (3,50 EUR / glass), "Agua" 3,50 EUR / glass) and desserts ice cream "Helado Variado" (6,50 / each). Both our meals were wonderful. 

"Pollo Ajillo 1/2"

"Albondigas"

"Helado Variado"

Then we met Mr. Lucio Blázquez himself, we shook hands and showed him a photo where he and Pierce Brosnan were. He autographed the photo and we took a couple of pictures with him. What a lovely man and a true legend!

Mika, Lucio Blázquez and Pirita

Autograph of Lucio Blázquez

Before we left the restaurant, the waiter showed us the table where Mr. Brosnan sat when he visited the restaurant, we saw also a nice Bollinger champagne bottle with 007 logo on its side :) A nice Bond connection also in deed!

"Pierce Brosnan´s table"

You could say that air was quite hot again, when we went outside and walked towards Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid). A good thing was that there was at least some wind every now and then and also buildings gave some shadow.

The Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Felipe VI and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palace of Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid. (Wikipedia)

After taking pics outside, we paid the entrance fee of 11 euros and went through the garden gates first outside of palace doors and then inside this grand palace. We also took photos of Santa María la Real de La Almudena (Almuneda Cathedral), which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid.

Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid)

Santa María la Real de La Almudena

Then it was time to go to back to our room in four star hotel Santo Domingo before meeting our Spanish friend, a true Bond fan, Oscar Rubio Castillo. Oscar arrived and gave us wonderful presents, a Cinemanía magazine, which included several articles written by Oscar and a pin of Club Archivo 007.

An article by Oscar Rubio in Cinemanía magazine

Nice logos :)

Then we walked to place Teatro Real de Madrid (Royal Theatre) where "SPECTRE"s (2015) Madrid premiere was held. Daniel Craig (James Bond), Monica Bellucci (Lucia Sciarra) and director Sam Mendes participated in this event. 

Photo: vivademadrid.com

Photo: entradas.com

After taking some pics we moved forward to place where "Skyfall"s (2012) premiere was: Teatro Español in front of Plaza de Santa Ana. Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem (Silva), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny), producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and director Sam Mendes were there back then and of course Oscar was in the audience :)

Photo: cinemania.elmundo.es

Photo: Komodo comunication

Photo: Komodo comunication

We had a very nice chat with Oscar and we enjoyed a couple of beers with peanuts and olives. It would have been so lovely to stay longer. Hopefully we can meet Oscar soon again. We have so much in common!

Pirita, Oscar Rubio Castillo and Mika

This was our last evening in Madrid for now, so we went back to our hotel and to eat this trip's last dinner. We chose Italian pizza restaurant "La Tagliatella", Pirita had "Pizza Tonno" (11,55 EUR) and Mika "Pizza Tropicale" (11,55 EUR), with glasses of wine (2,80 EUR / glass) and bottles of water (2,15 EUR / bottle). The food was quite OK. This was a great travel experience, too short however:)

Our flight back to Finland was next morning and we didn't have any time to do anything more than just travel to the airport.

Thank you Madrid, for everything!



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