Olympics vs. Football

I haven't been able to see much of the winter olympics this year, there were only about 12 athletes from Spain competing and with the time difference, I only caught a few of the figure skating programs on Youtube. It's been crazy that even on the sports shows they aren't covering any of the events...just football(soccer for us yankees). Living in Spain there is no escape-the season never ends. It's one cup, another championship, and then some more all year. But, I have to admit, sometimes its fun to see the way that the whole world is so enamored with this sport, and the passion-good or bad-that it causes people. D isn't a crazy fan, but he can get passionate and knows all about every team, Spanish, British, Italian, whatever. Recently he showed me this song that the fans of Liverpool sing before every game-the entire stadium on its feet, singing with all their might, scarves and flags held high before every game. It gives you goosebumps to see their devotion to their team.

The olympics has picked this same song to make this olympic commercial too. Moms are the best.

Theatre rules

I've been living in Spain for over a year now. This time combined with my time living abroad in Mexico and during my college years in Sevilla makes for quite a few years living outside of the States in since my 21st birthday. I wonder sometimes if I'm losing my Americanity(new word-yes!) as I'm becoming so accustomed to the ways other cultures work. But, yesterday Diego and I decided to go to the movies and see Avatar in 3D-neither of us was really interested in seeing it, be we decided to jump on the bandwagon and see what the hype was all about (I wasn't that impressed-the story line was not the most creative-but the setting, Pandora, was really nice). So we got to the cinema-bought some delicious palomitas and a coke and headed into the dark theatre to find seats. There were lots of empty seats available, so we settled into some middle aisle seats-only to have to get up 2 minutes later because some people wanted to sit in our row...and site right next to me in our row. I have to admit, my American side came out and was a bit weirded out by the half empty theatre and a person choosing to sit right next to us. It made me laugh-and feel a little uncomfortable.

Notes from Spain-a fantastic ex-pat in Spain/learn Spanish blog- has recently posted a few entries about living in a new culture that I found were spot on...I agree with Ben-its much better to become accustomed to than to resign. And for what it's worth, all of us Ex-pats, lets not get too high and mighty about our home cultures-my bestie recently had to wait a month for an internet connection in Chicago, making our week long wait for internet in Spain not seem quite so bad.

tie it up

It must be that Diego surprised me with the new Vogue this month (it came with the collections issue-next trip home I'll have a few to gift!)-but I'm feeling like posting clothes lately. These lace up boots have been showing up on girls around Santiago lately-at first I wasn't a fan,but, the more I see them, the more they are growing on me. And, I love Corrine Roitfeld's lace up heels-they remind me of some heels that got away in Chicago this summer.

We like short shorts

On my list for spring/summer: shorts like these from Love 21. I'm sure Zara, Bershka, or someone else will have a chic version after rebajas. Kate Moss and Spanish girls are wearing them in the winter with tights. Do or don't?

Forum 2010

We spent Sunday afternoon exploring the Camino de Santiago through a wine tasting. Six Spanish wines from a Rioja to the Ribeira Sacra. Santiago is the celebrating a Gastronomic forum-Spain's culinary best are here sharing their passion and skills. YUM!

Sin documentos

Latin American love songs, boleros, are hard to beat. Mariachis, a trio of guitars, and the cheesiest but loveliest words being sung under the moonlight, at least that's how I always imagined them. I learned Spanish listening to them with my mom in the car. Maybe you have to understand the lyrics to really love them, but the last love song of the month is a classic by Los Rodriguez, a modern Aregentinian take on Latin American boleros, with lines like: "mientras espero por ti me muero, no quiero vivir sin ti...while I'm waiting for you I'm dying, I can't live without you" and "Quiero saber que la vida contigo no va a terminar...I want to know that life with you will never end" etc. So they are singing on a mountain in the nineties with weird shots of a girl on a horse-put all that aside, and listen to the words (sorry English readers you have to learn Spanish to really feel this one). It's quite romantic...and it's one of the songs Diego included on a CD he made for me back in Kalamazoo-maybe that's why I love it so much too.

Mustard

Goya: look Bimba Bosé - Goya: premios Goya - Looks Goya - enFemenino.com

Bimba Bose (model) is part of a family of exentrics like her uncle Miguel Bose (singer) and her great uncle the bull fighter. She carries on the legacy and makes it her own with her long androgynous limbs and features and her love for Spanish designer David Delfin and his color complete looks. Only she can wear the same color hair, jacket and pants, and still be taken seriously and featured on the Sartorialist (as seen above). Click on the link to see what I mean.

Hats on men

Maybe I'm looking at too much Sartorialist or I've been frequenting Zara Hombre too often or living in a city made of stones and rain it just seems like the perfect accessory, but I'm loving the look of hats on men. A perfect hat is so classy, don't you think?

Indoor orchard

Here in Spain its quite common to see a lemon tree or an orange tree in any garden. I love seeing them-being from Michigan the idea of a citrus tree at home is so exotic and I have to smile whenever we drive past one. I'm looking into how much work it would be to buy a potted one for the terrace this year...and maybe we could bring it inside during the very cold months like this picture from design*sponge. So cute!

Carnaval!

Round two of Carnaval in Ourense was fabulous! Sorry folks...it's gets my vote before Halloween.

Enjoy your version of Fat Tuesday, however you may celebrate!!

Vrrrroooom

I'm starting to get the hang of driving a manual car-and may even try to drive us home from Santiago sometime-but the more we have been considering it, it would be even better to have another form of transportation in the house...like a vespa! A perfect little way to zip around the city!

Goyas 2010

The Goya awards were on last night. Diego and I have a little tradition of watching movie awards shows, ever since our first semester together when I we "watched" the Oscar's red carpet together on the phone...hahah the things a boy will do to impress you. But last night we continued the tradition on our tiny couch and freezing house...and here's the update. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem appeared together in public for the first time in Spain. They tend to keep things really undercover since the Spanish gossip press is really terrible. Pedro Almodovar surprised the world and showed up on stage to give the best movie award. He isn't a member of the Spanish academy and never attends the Goyas but he really came out to support Spanish cinema this year and everyone went crazy. And the big winner of the night was a movie made with the help of the Xunta de Galicia-Celda 211. All the actors went home with a statue, as did the director, and they won best film. Being in Santiago the highlight of the was best actor winner Luis Tossar, main character in Celda 211, from Santiago, who finished his acceptance speech in Gallego-everyone is sooo proud! Parabens!

See all the nominees and update your list of foriegn fims to rent-Spanish filmmakers had a great year.

Be my baby

It's almost valentine's day. Another great love song to inspire some valentine making. (ps...we had our wedding dance to this song!)

Hot springs

Today we went to this place. A perfect Sunday afternoon relax session. Thermal water, massaging water, a little tunnel to go out into the rain and see the night sky under water. We got home soooo tired-but sooo relaxed. And, p.s. it's only a half an hour from Santiago!

Doppelganger

haha...friends have been putting pictures of their famous doppelganger on facebook and it's been really funny. People always tell me I look like Gwenyth Paltrow and I always think that Mark Ruffalo would be the actor to play Diego in a movie so here are our doppelgangers together (the film is View from the Top).

Love songs

It's February. It's time for love. To start the month of one of my favorites. Enjoy!