While in Madrid this November, I decided to explore Delic, a café near la Plaza de la Paja. Neat little place with funky decor. Full of sabor madrileño y el estilo que gusta. I went one day with la noruega where we ordered some specialty coffees and empanadas. Another day I went sin acompañante to relax and settle for a night of work. I order a capucchino and a "besito". Oh my! ¡qué experiencia tan sabrosa! Two tiny meringues glued by caramel.
The Plaza de la Paja is a unique location, surrounded by tons of monuments and some very wonderful eating establishments, including "Viva La Vida", a vegetarian place with style. The whole area lies in the La Latina area. Energy and life abounds.
My piso was located in this area, not far from the Plaza de Cascorro. A comfortable place, nicely equipped with washer, quality kitchen. The street seems typical urban Madrid, but safe. Hopefully, I will return and enjoy the sights and sounds of that area.
In Madrid. November 2011. I arrived last Tuesday, 16 Nov. Lovely time here, with Fall rain. Stayed at RoomMate, and have moved into a spacious piso with lovely rooms and well-equipped near the La Latina metro station, up a block from "El Rastro". Cool!
La Latina piso
My visit is two-fold. Collect information on Study Abroad-related programming. A second reason is a visit to the Nacional.
My first evening I had dinner at Emma, my very favorite. Lovely salad, and an order of bacalao.
Tuesday I arrived at around 8ish with the metro station totally empty. But made it to the hotel in time to relax and have breakfast. And then a long sleep.
RoomMate breakfast.
As I shifted to Madrid time, I found this incredible bakery near Calle Belén, on the Calle Barquillo. It is called Pomme Sucre, a wonderfully enticing site. Prices are high.
While I was Madrid in July, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the protests of "los indignados", an incredible movement protesting the economic and social injustices of various policies in effect in Spain. The atmosphere was sixty-like, America. Reminded me of moments in my younger age where young people congregated to protest the establishment's hold on things.
Camped in the Puerta del Sol and on the Paseo del Prado, these protestors have brought some fresh air into the ossified world of Spanish politics...Madrid's central square has become an urban encampment — with tents, chairs, couches, guitar-playing folks, and air mattresses. A similar scene occurred on the tree-lined boulevard where protestors set up encampments. Madrileños basically ignored the scene, but the rest of the world paid attention to the political ripples.
As I walked through Sol Sunday, 25 July, I found it remarkable how the Spaniards embrace this type of political activism. The ages varied from young to old, radical artist-like to normal folks concerned about the economics and its impact on Spain. In reality, I was walking through a historical point in Spain´s long, intricate history.
I read in yesterday´s news that the police had swept through these areas to remove the protestors and their tents in preparation for the visit by the Pope to Madrid in mid-August. In a country where maybe only 4 percent are practicing Catholics, this country still believes itself Catholic.Spain is different indeed!
Me levanto pronto esta mañana para empezar mi viaje a Estados Unidos. Bajo al Metro para ir a Barajas, el aeropuerto de Madrid. El viaje tomará unos 45 minutos por metro.
Son las 7 de la mañana, y el trayecto a Barajas es fácil. Me monto en Ópera y cambio en Noviciado y luego en Nuevos Ministerios para coger la línea que me lleva hasta Barajas. Llego con tiempo para desayunar: un café, yogur, un panecillo sabroso.
Me acerco a USAirways para facturar mi maleta y luego paso por el control de seguridad. Es un alivio llegar en la terminal sin prisa y listo para subir en el avión. Busco un lugar cómodo cerca de una ventana y me preparo para el vuelo transatlántico.
A la hora debida anuncian que debemos hacer cola para abordar, un proceso siempre estresante y lento. Me monto y me doy cuenta de que hay asientos vacíos por toda la cabina. Es raro encontrar un vuelo tan vacío. Pues nos acomodamos todos en el vuelo. Y despegamos.
Llegamos a Philly sin problemas, y tras pasar por la aduana voy al próximo vuelo que me llevará a Washington donde hago escala; el vuelo para Kansas City, también vacío, despega sin ninguna demora. Volando voy a Missouri. Llegamos a tiempo.
En mi vida he tenido un trayecto tan calmado y sin complicaciones. Me sorprende. Estoy en casa y listo para descansar, porque el lunes enseño dos clase.
Sábado por la noche: Tras un día en Toledo, regresé a Madrid para disfrutar de mi última noche.
Primero fui a comer jamón serrano, un alimento obtenido a partir de la salazón y secado al aire de las patas traseras del cerdo blanco. España es el primer productor mundial de jamones curados. Un español come de media 5 Kg. de jamón al año. Y hoy quería comer un buen plato de jamón serrano con pan y vino. Como dice el refrán: Al viajero jamón, vino y pan casero.
Un vez consumido el jamón, salí para pasear por las calles de Madrid y ver la ciudad con sus brillantes plazas iluminadas. La noche con una luna preciosa me animaba. Tanto que ver y tan poco tiempo. Pero aproveché mi tiempo. Cerca de la Iglesia de San Ginés, junto a la calle Arenal, me paro para probar el famoso chocolate de aquel local. Una experiencia sabrosa. Y sigo caminado hasta llegar al Edificio Capitol en la Plaza de Callao, donde me paro a contemplar el letrero de Schweppes.
Madrid se mueve; hay constante movimiento. La plaza y el edificio forman un espacio emblemático. Y hago mi paseo sin parar.
Edificio Capitol
Así paso unas horas hasta volver a mi hotel para descansar y preparar mis maletas para la vuelta a EEUU.
Toledo is a magical city with history, wonderful regional food, and lovely environs. From Madrid, the trip is about 30 minutes by train. An easy ride without much complications.
One day before my return to Kansas, I decided to spend part of Saturday in Toledo. The trip would be a welcomed change from the hectic, modern, dizzy urban space of Madrid. One week in Madrid's metropolitan cityscape can get to you, especially if you are not accustomed to la "vida madrileña".
Toledo is different. It remains a medieval city stuck in modernity. Its narrow, winding streets, numerous steps, and steep inclines challenges the visitor accustomed to straight and level spaces. Toledo also bears the marks of many of the communities that have shaped Iberia: Roman, Visigothic, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. This admixture makes Toledo a unique repository of culture and history.
Bell Tower
From almost every point in the city, one can see the cathedral, built in medieval times on the site of the former main mosque of the city. The bell tower looms above declaring the dominance of Christianity. Narrow streets around the Cathedral wind up and down, often leading to dead ends.
My first stop was the Tourist Office to pick up a map and get reoriented for the day' trek. With camera in hand, I headed through the streets, at first wandering, then with an organized purpose: first, a tour of the Mezquita de Bab al-Mardum, then, Santiago del Arrabal, a walk to San Juan de los Reyes, and a visit to the Sinagoga del Tránsito.
Although I dedicated the day to museum visits and tours of cultural sites, I also had time to find tapas in my favorite eateries near the Plaza de Zocodover, the main square of Toledo. "Feed the mind and nourish the body," my father always said.
And of course I admired the landscape that surrounds this magical city. The Río Tajo runs around the city, creating an unmistakable landscape. There are many overlooks where you can see the surrounding valley. Of course, I took tons of pictures!
El Alcázar de Toledo
As the day came to an end, I walked to the train station with eagerness to return to Madrid. Tired, overwhelmed by the cultural experiences of the day, I looked up and saw the moon. Lovely, luminous, it hovered over the train station tower. It was a memorable conclusion to an incredible day.
Pulpo á feira: Es un plato tradicional de Galicia y básico en su gastronomía. El plato origina en las fiestas, ferias y romerías de Galicia y El Bierzo (León), de ahí su nombre "á feira". Y ha pasado como plato tradicional en la cocina española.
El pulpo se cocina en el agua hirviendo según el origen del pulpo y su peso. Luego se le rocía con abundante aceite de oliva, pimentón y sal gorda. En algunas ocasiones, se acompaña con patatas cocidas con piel.
