I woke up this morning, left my house without even opening up the blinds, and damn it there was snow all around!
Walked to the metro station like I always do, made it to my train- all good so far. Then I get out of the train station, which is in the north of Madrid, only to find out that the shuttle bus that normally picks me up from the train station COULDNT get there because the streets were all blocked off.
So following a line of people, we walked to the nearest public bus station and waited for the bus...in the rain and snow. By the time I got to work, 2 hours had passed by, I could no longer feel my feet and almost fell down three times on the slippery ice. FUNNNN
Dec 21, 2009
Nov 29, 2009
Christ was 33!
So I have read my share of the Bible, but I sure as heck didn't know that he was 33 when he died. How did I find out?
Because my coworkers asked me how old I was this last birthday, and when I told them they smiled and said, "Oh just like Christ". It was so odd to hear them react this way...first associating my birthday with Christ, not to mention that it was specific to the age he died (a bit morbid I thought). Apparently it's a nice thing and people like to recognize it.
Because my coworkers asked me how old I was this last birthday, and when I told them they smiled and said, "Oh just like Christ". It was so odd to hear them react this way...first associating my birthday with Christ, not to mention that it was specific to the age he died (a bit morbid I thought). Apparently it's a nice thing and people like to recognize it.
Nov 11, 2009
No more smoky bars!?
So apparently there might be a new law introduced (for the second time in fact) that bans smoking in public places, such as bars and restaurants. HALLELUJIAHHHH!!!!! This will be amazing if it actually works! No more airing out your clothes once you get home so that in two days they no longer smell like smoke.
Note---The first time apparently the Spaniards rebelled until the law was deemed a "flexible suggestion", which now means all the tapas bars remain smoky as hell.
Read more about the new non-smoking laws
To give you a perspective, today I went out for lunch with three coworkers, one of which is 6 weeks pregnant. After the three-course meal (yes, this is on a workday), two of the gals got out their cigs and began smoking. Being a California, I practically wither away at second-hand smoke, but I was really surprised that nobody seemed to care that they were smoking in front of our pregnant coworker...
Note---The first time apparently the Spaniards rebelled until the law was deemed a "flexible suggestion", which now means all the tapas bars remain smoky as hell.
Read more about the new non-smoking laws
To give you a perspective, today I went out for lunch with three coworkers, one of which is 6 weeks pregnant. After the three-course meal (yes, this is on a workday), two of the gals got out their cigs and began smoking. Being a California, I practically wither away at second-hand smoke, but I was really surprised that nobody seemed to care that they were smoking in front of our pregnant coworker...
Oct 18, 2009
La cucaracha, La cucaracha...
So if my last post was about how cool it is to live downtown, I can now share with you a downside that I really had never even contemplated. Cockroaches. Those little bastards procreate faster than you can blink. Either that or my vision is going.
Since I'm living in an old house (one of my friends calls it "The Museum"), there is always a possibility that these little creatures crawl up through the old cracked wood structures until they find interesting places to hang out. Apparently my apartment is a somewhat popular hangout spot. People have told me that if I were living on the third or fourth floor, that I probably wouldn't have this issue. I guess cockroaches get tired of climbing that far.
Now it's not that I have thousands of cockroaches crawling all over the walls or anything like that. But it is true that once in a while I find a damn cockroach walking around in the kitchen, or on the floor. Now it is just second nature to kill them on the spot. But the point is, just KNOWING that I have cockroaches makes me feel like I'm not keeping my house clean enough. And I tend to consider myself a relatively clean person.
So now it's war!
I have repackaged any opened foods that are in the kitchen cabinets. For example, I have stored rice, pasta, etc in perfectly sealed plastic containers. It gives a nice OCD look to the kitchen.
I have cleaned out the fridge, just in case there was some remnant of a smell that is attracting them.
And then...the best part. I sprayed the whole house and almost intoxicated myself in the meantime. Closed all windows, sprayed every little nook and cranny...and then got the hell outta my house. Two days later I came back to the house to find approximately 20 dead cockroaches. It was like the Indian Trail of Tears...you could tell that they were dying in the kitchen and trying to escape the poison by going to the livingroom. Little did they know that Sarita had sprayed there too! Muah ah ah ah ah!!!
Much to my dismay, after all of this effort, I still see a cockroach every once in a while. I would say I see (and kill of course) 1 to 2 cockroaches per day. It's driving me insane. I don't know where they are coming from...and I swear I'm a clean person. I don't want to have people over at my house and all of a sudden see a freaking cockroach walking around!
So as I'm now losing my mind about this whole thing, I decided yesterday to re-caulk the entire kitchen and bathroom. Just in case there were cracks there. I know, stupid. But when you are desperate, you are desperate. I have also asked a friend of mine to bring me bay leaves from her little pueblo, since I have read that they hate the smell. I'm going to have bay leave potpourri in every corner possible...until the little damn cucaracha no puede caminar!!!!
Since I'm living in an old house (one of my friends calls it "The Museum"), there is always a possibility that these little creatures crawl up through the old cracked wood structures until they find interesting places to hang out. Apparently my apartment is a somewhat popular hangout spot. People have told me that if I were living on the third or fourth floor, that I probably wouldn't have this issue. I guess cockroaches get tired of climbing that far.
Now it's not that I have thousands of cockroaches crawling all over the walls or anything like that. But it is true that once in a while I find a damn cockroach walking around in the kitchen, or on the floor. Now it is just second nature to kill them on the spot. But the point is, just KNOWING that I have cockroaches makes me feel like I'm not keeping my house clean enough. And I tend to consider myself a relatively clean person.
So now it's war!
I have repackaged any opened foods that are in the kitchen cabinets. For example, I have stored rice, pasta, etc in perfectly sealed plastic containers. It gives a nice OCD look to the kitchen.
I have cleaned out the fridge, just in case there was some remnant of a smell that is attracting them.
And then...the best part. I sprayed the whole house and almost intoxicated myself in the meantime. Closed all windows, sprayed every little nook and cranny...and then got the hell outta my house. Two days later I came back to the house to find approximately 20 dead cockroaches. It was like the Indian Trail of Tears...you could tell that they were dying in the kitchen and trying to escape the poison by going to the livingroom. Little did they know that Sarita had sprayed there too! Muah ah ah ah ah!!!
Much to my dismay, after all of this effort, I still see a cockroach every once in a while. I would say I see (and kill of course) 1 to 2 cockroaches per day. It's driving me insane. I don't know where they are coming from...and I swear I'm a clean person. I don't want to have people over at my house and all of a sudden see a freaking cockroach walking around!
So as I'm now losing my mind about this whole thing, I decided yesterday to re-caulk the entire kitchen and bathroom. Just in case there were cracks there. I know, stupid. But when you are desperate, you are desperate. I have also asked a friend of mine to bring me bay leaves from her little pueblo, since I have read that they hate the smell. I'm going to have bay leave potpourri in every corner possible...until the little damn cucaracha no puede caminar!!!!
Sep 27, 2009
Downtown Girl
Living in downtown Madrid is amazing. Everything is in walking distance: good restaurants/tapas bars, museums, stores, and even more important, my close friends. Calling up a friend to go out for a quick bite to eat or chat over some wine is no longer a huge investment of time.
I'm living right in the heart of downtown Madrid. If I leave the door to my house, to the right I have Plaza Mayor, just one block away. To my left, you can reach the posh Plaza Santa Ana where everyone is dining in the outside terraces, perhaps about 3 blocks away. I enjoy my brief walk to the metro, which is my transportation mode to work. To give you an idea of what I see every morning on my way to work, here is a picture of Metro Sol with the famous Tio Pepe billboard behind it. Of course, this picture is taken at night, but it gives you an idea.
I'm living right in the heart of downtown Madrid. If I leave the door to my house, to the right I have Plaza Mayor, just one block away. To my left, you can reach the posh Plaza Santa Ana where everyone is dining in the outside terraces, perhaps about 3 blocks away. I enjoy my brief walk to the metro, which is my transportation mode to work. To give you an idea of what I see every morning on my way to work, here is a picture of Metro Sol with the famous Tio Pepe billboard behind it. Of course, this picture is taken at night, but it gives you an idea.
Aug 11, 2009
Cobblestone and buzz downtown
Downtown Madrid is so beautiful. Tiny, cobblestone streets with funky angles, people and tourists buzzing around at any hour, and above all -- tapas bars all over the place. It´s great to see old houses with their original architecture right next to small stores, both modern and ancient...wood framed windows and doorways and balconies all over the place. Sometimes it is good to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us every day.
May 24, 2009
How much does an American cost?
Apparently 50 euros!!!!
An "americana", in this case is not an American girl. It refers to a blazer.
What you are seeing is an ad for H&M fashion stores, and the "americana" has nothing to do with this girl's long legs, but rather the blazer that the guy is sporting.
Weird Translation
It's a good thing I can understand Spanish, because this sign is totally confusing in English.
It should say something like:
Every Wednesday after 4pm, excluding holidays or the eves of holidays, admission will be free for European Union citizens.
Apr 19, 2009
Semana Santa in Sevilla!
Manuel surprised me with a quick trip to Sevilla for semana santa (holy week). Sevilla is known for its semana santa celebrations, and I'm still in awe of the experience. The whole city seems to breathe and live for this week. I will have to post some more about it, but for now I wanted to share with you two videos (from my camera) of some processions that we saw there. Click on each one to watch them:
Apr 8, 2009
Holy Week / Semana Santa
Semana santa is "holy week" and its celebrations in Spain are renowned around the world. For some it's holy due to its religious significance. For others it means an escape to the beach.
I'll be in Madrid for Easter, and even though it's not Seville's celebration, it still has its processions that are noteworthy to check out. To give you an idea, it's not just on Easter day. Here is the program:
PROCESSIONS IN MADRID
JUEVES SANTO, 9 APRILNuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno “El Pobre” y María Santísima del Dulce Nombre
El Divino Cautivo
Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza
Jesús Nazareno y Virgen de la Soledad
Vía Crucis
VIERNES SANTO, 10 APRILJesús Nazareno de Medinaceli
Santísimo Cristo de los Alabarderos
Procesión del silencio
El Divino Cautivo
María Santísima de los Siete Dolores
Santo Entierro
Parroquia de San Andrés
Procesión del Silencio
SÁBADO SANTO, 11 APRILVirgen Dolorosa
Procesión de la Soledad
Apr 6, 2009
Amy Winehouse is contagious
Ok, forget the bad hair-do and all of the drug addictions and just listen to the music. I swear that Giusy Ferreri is the Spanish/Italian version of Amy Winehouse...
Giusy Ferrari, "Nunca te olvides de mí"
Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
Giusy Ferrari, "Nunca te olvides de mí"
Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
Apr 2, 2009
Even nuns are down...
...with technology!!!
I bet you they were buying the Blackberry Storm.
Makes you wonder what kind of SMS abbreviations nuns would write in their messages.
GBWY - God be with you
Gvroom - Godspeed
Any other ideas?
Mar 24, 2009
European Balcony Decor applied to...an air conditioner!?
Interesting idea to hide a nasty looking air conditioner. Not sure if this makes it look better or worse....you decide.
Mar 20, 2009
Healthcare in Spain
Since I have been living here, I have had private healthcare. It's quite decent, and there are a few things that stand out to me:
They gave me a temporary card that I can use for going to the public hospital,
and if I need to go to urgent care and for whatever reason cannot go to my private hospital, I will be taken care of free of charge at the public hospital. Oh, and apparently when I purchase my medicine, it will be cheaper than if I were purchasing it with a prescription from my private healthcare doctor.
I asked for an appointment to meet my primary care physician, which will be this afternoon. I'm not sick or anything, but I am interested in learning about the system and will ask some very basic "I'm a stupid foreigner" questions.
Take a look at my appointment -- they print it out on a receipt!!!
- I pay approximately 40 Euros per month for the plan itself. If I go to the doctor, the copayment is 1 Euro, unless it's urgent care (4 euros).
- Medicine is not on a copayment system, you just pay for the price of the medicine. But it seems to me that most medicine is reasonably priced.
- If I get any tests (blood analysis, x-rays, etc), the results are mine to take home. It's my responsibility as the patient to keep those documents and show them to the doctor. When I had pneumonia, I had 3 x-rays of my lungs over a period of 2 months, and I still have these at home. Patient accountability - what a concept!
- Tests and analysis aren't very expensive. I think I pay an extra 2 euros or something. In any case, the doctors here are quite reluctant to prescribe medicine to their patients without all appropriate tests first. This is the complete opposite from the US, and I think it's because the tests tend to be quite expensive and not covered by our health insurance.
They gave me a temporary card that I can use for going to the public hospital,
and if I need to go to urgent care and for whatever reason cannot go to my private hospital, I will be taken care of free of charge at the public hospital. Oh, and apparently when I purchase my medicine, it will be cheaper than if I were purchasing it with a prescription from my private healthcare doctor.I asked for an appointment to meet my primary care physician, which will be this afternoon. I'm not sick or anything, but I am interested in learning about the system and will ask some very basic "I'm a stupid foreigner" questions.
Take a look at my appointment -- they print it out on a receipt!!!
Senior Love
One of the first things that I noticed when I first moved here to Madrid was how many elderly couples walk hand-in-hand in the streets.
You see old sweethearts, helping one another strut along, holding hands as if they were newlyweds.
Sure, sometimes you see them arguing in overly loud voices so the other can hear with his/her hearing aid, but more than often, you just see them walking silently and seemingly happy together.
It's very endearing...and even though I have been living here for more than a year, it still makes me smile.
For some reason, I don't have the same image in the U.S. Why is that?
Well for starters, there are a lot of elderly people here in Spain. I looked up the census data: 24% of Spain's population is 60 years and older, compared to the 14% of United States. Take a look at these population pyramids for both countries in 2009. Everything above the black line is the population of 60+ years of age. When you see this in more visual terms, you can tell that Spain's population is much more aged than the United States.
I definitely notice the aging population here, much more than I ever did in my own country.
But perhaps I notice more elderly people here for another reason. Perhaps it is because the Spanish culture is much more "street-based". What I mean by this is people go out, they are social, and they are used to walking around on the street to handle their normal errands. In the U.S. people tend to travel by a more private transportation mode - their own car. Whereas in the U.S. the elderly might be driven in a car by a family member (if they no longer drive themselves), here the elderly will take the bus and the metro, talk to their other elderly friends in the main plaza, and maybe go to a small bar for some tapas.
I'm not sure how much convalescent homes has to do with this visibility, either. The United States is known for utilizing convalescent homes more than what is considered acceptable in other cultures, but I have been told more than once that in Spain there are quite a few "elderly residences" and that it isn't uncommon here.
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