Saturday, January 29, 2011

Rebajando

Wowsers! Didn't plan on going to rebajas today, but as Diego and I were strolling through town we stopped into Bershka to check on some boots I'd seen last week...and today they were even cheaper! They are both leather...and I only spent 40 euros (over 100 euros discounted)....should I keep them?
10 euros...metal detail is removable.
¡Guauuuu! No tenía pensado ir a las rebajas hoy, pero mientras caminábamos por la ciudad entramos en Bershka para mirar unas botas que había visto hace una semana...y hoy las encontré por menos todavía. ¡¡Gangazooooooo!! Los dos pares son de piel...y en total solo me costaron 40 euros (más de 100 euros descontado)...¿me las quedo?

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Expats en español

Where are all the American expats in Spain? I've found some nice blogs lately about expats in Paris like: Lost in Cheeseland and Making Magique...but where are the blogs showing how lovely expat life is here in Spain? I'm on it...

Donde están los inmigrantes americanos en España? He encontrado algunos blogs bonitos de la vida Parisina-Lost in Cheeseland y Making Magique...pero ¿dónde están los blogs acerca de la vida encatadora aquí en España? Estoy en ello...

UPDATE:
I've been googling around and found two fab ladies living in Spain: La tortuga viajera-a travel and food blog, and Barcelona Bites-another foodie blog. Check them out!
Después de googlear un poco encontré los blogs de dos chicas fabulosas viviendo en España: La tortuga viajera-un blog dedicado a comer y viajar por España, y Barcelona Bites-otro blog gastronómico. Visítelos!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Drums, Chefs, Soldiers


Last week I was surprised by the annual Tamborrada in San Sebastian. Every January 20th the people of the city celebrate with a day and night full of beating drums. Parades fill the streets...and beating drums. It's not the first extremely noisy party I've heard about in Spain-Las Fallas in Valencia are said to drive you mad with the sounds of firecrakers going off all day for a week-but it is the first party where parades of people dressed like chefs fill the street! Basque country is famous for its food and La Tamborrada is a good opportunity to pay respect-from what I saw on the news if you're not beating drums on the street you're probably eating at the competitions that the many culinary clubs of the city host.
Me sorprendió la semana pasada la fiesta de La Tamborrada que se celebran el 20 de enero todos los años en San Sebastián. Ese día los ciudadanos llenan las calles con el ruido del tambor para el día de San Sebastián-¡todos dando al tambor! No es la primera fiesta ruidosa de España-Las fallas en Valencia también tiene fama por el ruido incesante de petardos todo el día y toda la nocho durante una semana-pero La Tamborrada es la primera fiesta donde he visto desfiles de chefs llenando las calles. El país vasco es famoso por su cocina y la tamborrada es buena oportunidad para comprobarlo-si no estás con el tambor en la calle, probablemente estarás en una de las cenas de los concursos de sus sociedades gastronómicas.

Friday, January 21, 2011

new pillows


I finally made pillow covers with this bright print from Ikea (with the help of my mother-in-law, thanks!). They make the couch come alive...and are so comfy!
Por fin hice las fundas de cojín con este estampado colorido de Ikea (con la ayuda de mi suegra, gracias!). ¡Dan mucha vida al sofa...y son comodísimos!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Bimba & Lola

Another Spanish gem. Bimba & Lola is a shop that specializes in accessories-high quality bags-shoes-jewelry. The prices are little beyond my price range...but maybe in rebajas it's worth investing...
Otra joya española. Bimba & Lola es una tienda especializada en los complementos de buena calidad-bolsos, zapatos, bisutería. Los precios son un poco altos para mi cartera, pero quizás las rebajas serán un buen momento para invertir...

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

By the ponte

We had our work holiday party last weekend. It was fun to see everyone all dressed up and the food was soooooo good: zamburiñas (small scallops from Galicia), Norwegian lobster, Monkfish, and the biggest steaks ever. And the setting in Ponte Maceira-a tiny village next to a rushing river and framed with a medieval bridge-was ideal!!

Celebramos la cena de navidad del trabajo el fin de pasado. Me encantó ver a todo el mundo vestido de noche y la comida estuvo buenísima: zamburiñas, cigalas, rape, y los chuletones más grandes del mundo. Y el entorno, Ponte Maceira-un pequeño pueble al lado de un río con un puente medieval-era ideal.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Iris

I love how these irises look all packed together.
Me encantan estos iris tan juntitos.

Monday, January 17, 2011

In the mailbox...

I'm anxious to get my first Spanish Elle in the mailbox! Hope it arrives this week! I had never seen Elle UK...but via Miss at the Playa it looks pretty awesome too. Maybe next time one of my friends goes back on holiday I'll see if I can get one...and a Crunchie. Yummm.

Tengo muchas ganas de recibir mi primer Elle España en el buzón de casa! Espero que llegue esta semana! Nunca había vista Elle Reino Unido, pero via Miss at the Playa tiene una pinta buenísima también. Quizás la próxima vez una amiga vuelva a su tierra pediré el favor de traerme una...y un Crunchie. ñamñam.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Royal Ringtone



The king's phone rang while he was in a meeting this week...and the ring tone is a baby laughing...
Sonó el movil del rey an una reunion oficial esta semana...y su politono es la risa de un niño...

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Carnevale

Maybe this year we'll celebrate carnival in Venice....
Quizás este año celebramos carnaval en Venecia...

TinTin




Friday, January 14, 2011

Cidade da Cultura


I've been watching this progress on a hill across from my house for the last 2 and half years (Santiago has been waiting for at least 10 years) and finally the Cidade de Cultura is pen, officially inaugurated by Prince Felipe this week. Hope to go visit it soon and see if being there convinces me that I like it...from what I've seen and read I'm not it's biggest fan.

Llevo 2 años y medio viendo el progreso de la construcción en una colina enfrente de mi casa (Santiago lleva por lo menos 10 años de espera), y por fin la Cidade da Cultra está abierto al público, oficialmente inaugurado por el príncipe esta semana. Espero ir a visitar pronto para ver si al estar de me gusta más-porque por lo que he visto y leído hasta ahora, la verdad es que no soy muy fan.


It's that white crest in the upper left part fo the photo. Es la curva blanca en pa larte superior de la foto a la izquierda.

Del Maguey

Tequila has a bad rap. I can attest to it sometimes being more than one can handle. But I can also say that when drunk responsibly it's flavor is unbeatable. I've never had mezcal, but this one-featured in a list of ten best wines of 2010...yes wines-looks like a good place to start. Pretty bottle. Pretty story. Ekkk....and pretty price tag. Maybe one slowly savored classy shot.
...
If its sibling mezcals are more robust, this one wears ballet slippers - full of floral high tones, peaches, pepper and ginger. It is, frankly, a shame to do anything but sip the Albarradas slowly, perhaps with a plate of white-fleshed ceviche on the side.

El tequila tiene mala fama. Yo soy la primera que te puede decir que a veces resulta ser más de lo que uno puede aguantar. Pero también puedo contar que cuando lo bebes responsablemente su sabor es único. Nunca tomé el mezcal, pero este que incluyeron en una lista de los 10 mejores vinos del 2010-si los mejores vinos- parece ser un buen comienzo. Una botella bonita. Una historia bonita. Ayyy....y un precio bonito...quizás solo un chupito despacio, saboreado, y con clase.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Reading Rainbow-Spanish Style

Who didn't love Reading Rainbow as a kid? It was the best show ever. While much of Spanish and International television is dumbing down (Telecinco, a sensationalist channel that hosts shows like Sálvame and Big Brother, recently bought CNN+, SPain's CNN, to and replaced the programming with 24 hour covereage of the Big Brother house), Television Española, the national channel, does give hope that perhaps TV isn't humanities demise. Last year they got rid of commercials and thier cultural shows like Version Española and historical series like Cuéntame and Amar en Tiempos Revueltos are top notch. But lately Diego and I have been tuning into channel 2-TVE's cultural channel. Our favorite show is a modern version of Reading Rainbow-Página 2- dedicated to lovers of literature it features the best books of the week, a conversation with an author (including a persoanal reading of his/her text), a film review (based on a book), and a kid's section where kids choose books and talk about them. Best programming out there. Click here to see more.

¿A quién no le gustaba Reading Rainbow de niño? Era el mejor programa del mundo. Mientras gran parte de la programación en la televisión de España y el resto del mundo se está idiotizando(Telecinco, un canal sensacionalista, que presenta programas como Sálvame y Gran Hermano, compro CNN+ para reemplazarlo con un canal dedicado 24 horas al día a la casa de Gran Hermano), Televisión Española, el canal nacional, da esperanza de que la tele no será el final de la humanidad. En 2010 quitaron los anuncios y sus programas culturales como Versión Española y series históricas como Cuéntame y Amar en Tiempos Revueltos son unas de las mejores. Pero recientemente Diego y yo hemos estado viendo el canal 2, el canal cultural de TVE. Nuestro programa favorito es una versión moderna de Reading Rainbow-Página 2- dedicado a destacar lo mejor de la literatura del momento con conversaciones con autores (con una lectura de su obra), recomendaciones, críticas de películas basados en libros, y una sección para los mini-lectores-donde los niños hablan de sus libros preferidos. Es el mejor programa que se puede encontrar hoy en día. Ver un programa de Página 2 aquí.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Only in Spain


As this new year begins Diego and I are looking the future directly in the eyes, and getting together plans for the possibility of finishing 2011 back in the states. There is no doubt that I'm eager to return to family and friends- but I can also say it will be difficult to leave Spain and the family and friends here. So, I'm going to be dedicating a few entries to the beauty, simplicity, and delicacies that we enjoy everyday here...and won't have stateside.
I'll begin, obviously, with food- specifically deli meats.
When Diego thinks about leaving Spanish ham a tear wells up, but there is so much more too, like thin, cold slices of salty lomo, fresh sausages mixed with eggs in huevos rotos, spicy, fried, and grilled chorizos, salchichón on soft Galician bread, chistorra, butifarra, and so many other varieties (even the deli turkey taste different)...all washed down with some rich red wine. Oh, how I'll miss the dinner spreads, the tapas, and Saturday lunches from the Spanish deli.

Al comienzo del año nuevo, Diego y yo estamos mirando el futuro en los ojos, y preparando los planes para posiblemente acabar el 2011 en USA. No hay duda que tengo ganas de volver a mi familia y amigos, pero tampoco puedo decir que irnos de España-la familia y amigos aquí- no sera difícil. Entonces, voy a ir dedicando algunos blogs a la belleza, sencillez, y delicia que disfrutamos todos los días aquí en España...y no tendremos en USA.
Empiezo obviamente con la comida-específicamente los embutidos.
Cuando Diego piensa en volver a USA sin su querido jamón serrano se le llenan los ojos de lagrimas, pero además que el jamón hay lomo-salado, frío y cortado finito, chorizos frescos, fritos,picantes, criollo, de la parrilla, en huevos rotos, y salchichón en el suave pan gallego, chis torra, butifarra, hasta la pechuga de pavo sabe diferente. Echaré de menos las cenas de tablas, las tapas con una caña, y las comidas de sábado a base de los embutidos españoles.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Kiosko digital


There is nothing like having real print in paper in your hands, but being so far from home having the chance to flip through some American magazines online is amazing at youkioske.com. All the cheesy American or Spanish gossip magazines are there there...and more. Check it out.

No hay nada como tener la prensa en papel en las manos, pero estando tan lejos de casa la oportunidad de hojear unas revistas americanas en internet en youkioske.com es increíble. Encontrarás todas las revistas del cotilleo americano y español...y más. Míralo aquí.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Transtempo





Friday we went to a beautiful exhibit Transtempo at the CGAC in Santiago displaying the otherwordly view Spanish photographer Cristina García Rodero presents of three generations of Galicia's people and festivals. I love the perfect summer of the girl sleeping in the sea. Read and see more here.

El viernes fuimos a la exhibición Transtempo en el museo CGAC de Santiago donde vimos la visión surrealista que la fotógrafa Cristina García Rodero presenta de tres generaciones de la gente y las fiestas de Galicia. Me encantó el verano perfecto de la foto de la niña durmiendo en el mar. Leer y ver más aquí.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Reyes:update!

Reyes!

I'm starting to like these Reyes...they were good to me this year! A pair of olive green rainboots, a cheese book-can't wait to make macaroni and cheese, and cheese cake, an electric blender-which I'll use to make that cheese cake, a subscription to Spanish Elle, and 50 euros to spend at sales!


Ya me están gustando los Reyes...¡me han tratado bien este año-unas katiuskas color verde oliva, un libro de quesos (qué ganas de hacer unos macaronis con queso y una tarta de queso), una batidora electrica (que usaré para hacer la tarta), una subscripción a Elle España, y 50 euros para las rebajas!

Another 2011 resolution...bilingual blog! Otro propósito para el 2011...¡el blog bilingue!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Decant or not to decant

Do you ever decant your wine? I got a free decanter with a cosmetic purchase last year...but it's still in the box, just seems silly to get another dish dirty. But what do I know, apparently it does change the taste of the wine, so Spanish chef, Martín Berasategui, has designed a new bottle that decants without the decanter. Abadia da Cova, a Galician winery in the Ribeira Sacra will be one of the first to use it. Maybe now I´ll finally decant wine.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Reyes!

Tonight is the biggest night on the calendar of most Spanish children. Yes, Santa comes on Christmas eve, but bringing even more delight to Spanish kids are the three kings who are in town tonight. They're making their way into cities across the country at about 6pm, welcomed by streets lined with kids waiting to give their letters to the kings postmaster, wave to their favorite king, and then be off to bed so the kings can make their way, house by house, leaving them presents. Many of my students this year didn't want to write the obligatory English class letter to Santa, they wanted to cut to the chase and write to the three kings ("Sorry guys, the three kings only speak Spanish..."wink wink). I have to admit, I'm getting kind of excited for the kings to some to town tomorrow morning too! Off to drop my letter to their postmaster.

Days and Cheeses

I love this Flora and Fauna calendar-made perfectly to cut and frame after use-and a botanical encyclopedia-and such pretty font! I'd love one of the flora and fauna of Michigan and another of Galicia. Cute cute. Ps...I found these great cheese books at the Corte Ingles-Cheese Course and Gourmet Guide. Maybe I'll get one for Reyes? I'm inspired.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Laura Palmer

On a leisurely holiday afternoon Diego and I stumbled upon a hidden a little design shop called La Habitación de Laura Palmer. As the Twin Peaks name suggests, you'll find strange things in the tiny shop...especially the decor-the place is flipped upside down, with bed, lamp, rug, night table and even slippers of Ms.Palmer hanging from the ceiling. But mostly what you'll find are original t-shirts designed and pressed to order by the folks sitting at the long table under the bed. I can think of quite a few good presents this shop could make.
La habitación de Laura Palmer is on Casa Reais, 24, in Santiago de Compostela.

Monday, January 3, 2011

No smoking

My first memory of Spain, from way back in 2003 when I came to study abroad, was seeing people light up cigarettes as soon as they were off the plane. Madrid Barajas was filled with smokers, and from then on, if before the smell of smoke bothered me, now it reminded me of Spain. But, as so many other European countries have adopted new smoking bans, Spain's smoking ban came into full force on January 2. No smoking inside any bars, restaurants, clubs, or other public places and smokers must be 50 meters away from a hospital or playground. Spaniards were up in arms-saying that although many people are actually happy about the change-such a law is infringing on their freedoms. I have to say I can't wait to go out now, coming home still smelling like perfume, not getting smoke in my eyes, and not having that scratchy smoke throat in the morning...wonderful! And another benefit: more terraces all year! Diego was surprised by the number of Parisian terraces that were up in the December cold, but in the European mindset of a long lingering drink and smoke with a newspaper or people watching, even bundling up in the cold under a heater isn't too bad. I think it's going to make Spain even more charming.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy Aninovo!!

We got dressed to the nines (me in red lipstick and brocade and Diego in a suit!) to celebrate 2011 in Pontevedra despite Diego's flu. At midnight I almost ate all 12 grapes-they were the size of small plums...hahaha-next year I'm sure I'll get it and if not out with the grapes and in with the kisses- I have to admit I do prefer a kiss and clinking champagne glasses welcoming in the new year. Hope your celebrations were great, and that this new year is filled love.

Vintage in Pontevedra-no Zara!
Ps...check out these celebrations around the world! My favorites...the face painting and lights in India and the snow covered hats in Moscow.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year...


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Hope you had a funfunfun celebration! Isn't a new year always so exciting? That said these are not new year's resolutions...but my plans for this new year...I can't wait!!:
Finally make a headboard for our bed
Learn to take better pics...manually!
Speak more gallego
Grow more vegetables
Learn all about Spanish cheese...eat it and write about it. Spanish wine too.
Restaurant reviews in Santiago...there are some hidden gems
Travel...especially Bilbao, San Sebastian, Italy, Prague, UK, or Paris...ahh...there's always Paris.
Drive a stick
Self teach a master's in Peninsular Literature with my private tutor
Buy some amazing investment pieces for my wardrobe...and other amazing not so investment things and wear it all!!

ok, that sounds good. What are your new year plans?
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