Category Archives: Living la vida española

July 12, 2008 · 6:58 pm

Playing It Old School

PB&J

Today for lunch, I elected to play it old school with a PB&J and a good old fashioned Coca-Cola. That’s right. No jamón, no tortilla española, paella, or other local dish. Actually, tonight I have friends in town and will have to do the whole tapas thing.

This morning I woke up and it was finally cooler outside. I opened the window and there was a nice breeze. My refrigerator and cupboards were empty, save for some jelly and a faithful jar of Peter Pan Extra Crunchy that I only crack open for special occasions. And what is a better occasion than a quiet Saturday midday with a fresh breeze?

When I was a kid we were only allowed to drink Coke almost exclusively when we were on vacation with my maternal grandmother. Now that I am more autonomous than at eight years old, I ran down to the corner convinience store and got me a bottle of Coke and a loaf of sliced bread. I came back home and prepared myself two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be occampanied by one Coca-Cola.

A Coke, a PB&J, and some fresh air, and that, my friends, tastes like a childhood vacation. The only things missing were drinking the Coke out of an eight ounce glass bottte and a road trip to New Jersey.

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions, Living la vida española

Tagged as Peanut Butter Jelly Tapas Coke

July 8, 2008 · 6:10 pm

The Summer of George

So far it has been a great Summer for Spain. The Spanish national soccer team won the European Cup, and Rafael Nadal just won Wimbledon. You could also say that I have had a great Summer so far. During June alone, I traveled non stop between Madrid and Paris, and have been in Rabat and Rome.

As a matter of fact, I have only spent one out of the past six weekends in Madrid. Ironically, it doesn’t feel much like Summer to me right now. I am looking out the window at a rainy, cold and windy day in Paris. It is 65ºF and feels more like October than July. Meanwile in Madrid — where I am spending an average of two to three days a week — it is 90ºF with clear skies.

At least my summer is better than the Summer of George.

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions, Football/Soccer, Living la vida española

Tagged as Summer Paris George Seinfeld

June 27, 2008 · 10:02 am

Spain and Ahab’s Wife at a Crossroads

I am about half way through (around page 300 of 600) Ahab’s Wife: Or, The Star-gazer. The novel, one of my mother’s favorites, had been lying dormant for years on my book shelf until a week or so ago when I decided to open her up and give some air to pages. After a slow start, I am finally fully involved in its development.

Then right when Una, the story’s main character, was at last about to touch land after a dramatic voyage at sea, Spain convincingly beat Russia 3-0 in the European Cup semi-finals. This victory marks a major change in the Spanish national soccer team’s history of disappointing performances in major international competitions.

The moment the match ended, the spontaneous festivities broke out in the streets of Madrid. Outside my window, it sounded like a mix between a war zone (firecrackers and car alarms), San Fermines, and a fascist pep rally. Although I am not the biggest fan of patriotic boasting, reaching the finals of the European Cup is a major ego booster to a (soccer-loving) nation and source of pride and future bragging rights.

But amidst all of the cheering and chanting (“que viva España” and “a por ellos, oé”) and celebrations, I kept wondering how people could so openly rejoice after everything that Ahab’s wife, Una, had just been through and everything that awaits her ashore. It just goes to show that we live in little bubbles isolated from our own immediate surroundings, like a raft alone in the open sea.

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions, Football/Soccer, Literature, Living la vida española

Tagged as Ahab's Wife Spain Russia Semifinals European Cup

June 25, 2008 · 12:05 pm

Summer in Spain

Sorrolla Pillo de Playa

I just got back to Madrid from seven days in Paris. When I left Madrid, it was in the 70ºs F (low 20ºs C) in the Spanish capital, but when I got back yesterday, the temperature had already reached 90ºF (32ºC). Here in Madrid, you almost have no real transition from Spring to Summer. You’re still wearing a sweater, a light jacket, and sleeping with the Winter sheets, and then one day you wake up, it’s 90º and there is no turning back.

Just now I opened my inbox and found an email invitation to a beginning of Summer party being thrown by my friends Juan Pablo, Jacobo (A.K.A. Hysidro) and Iurgi (A.K.A. Dorothy). I wanted to share what Iurgi wrote in the invitation because I think it is interesting to see how Spaniards (yes, even one from Bilbao) define Summer. As a matter of fact, it perfectly captures what Summer is in Spain.

It looks like Summer has arrived: good weather, tan skin, cleavage, cold beer on terrace bars, weekend getaways, Summer romances, ripe tomatoes, Gernika and Padrón peppers, pirate pants and flip flops, cairpirinhas, sangria, winter in Argentina, Sundays without football, the song of the Summer, the dance of the Summer, gossip on the news, unsafe sex, draught and forest fires, miniskirts without panties, nights without sleeping because of the heat, nights without sleeping because you’re partying, your plants have dried out, bike rides, the mountains, the beach and girls topless, the scarce hash supply, ice cream, sleeping naked, getting drunk in the open air, gazpacho, local festivities, soap operas, the grand prix, convertibles, Summer storms, pink sunsets, … and much more!

And for those of you who prefer to read the untranslated original in Spanish: Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Friends / Family, Living la vida española

Tagged as Summer Spain Iurgi Sorrolla Pillo de Playa

June 5, 2008 · 5:25 pm

Of Friends and Mobile Service Providers

Last year at about this time, three of my good friends from FON — Berga, Karl, and Victor (el Melenas) — left FON to work for Simyo, a new MVNO in the Spanish market.

Besides helping my buddies out, I thought that by changing to Simyo I could save a little money in the process as well. The only pending issue was to ask Movistar, the market incumbent and my current provider, for the switch. Sounds painless? It was like breaking up with a girlfriend who was trying to blame it on my friends Berga, Karl, and Victor. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under FON, Friends / Family, Living la vida española

Tagged as Simyo Movistar Karl Bergantiños Victor

May 7, 2008 · 1:37 pm

The Old Camera Swallowing Trick

I hate going to the doctor. Does that sound ironic? How about when it is to have tests done in the radiology section of a hospital? In Spain, there is a saying that “at the blacksmith’s home, the family eats with wooden utensils”.

Actually, having a camera stuck down my throat wasn’t that traumatic after all. From the photo, you can tell that I had just come back to this world from full sedation. I didn’t feel a thing, I slept, dreamt (that I was working with Borja), and it was over. I even got my first ever glimpse of my own innards — I will spare you those photos — and everything seemed pretty halal.

3 Comments

Filed under Digressions, Living la vida española

Tagged as Endoscopy Radiology

May 4, 2008 · 3:43 pm

Me and Barack Obama in Toledo

On Friday, I went to Toledo — just a short thirty minute train ride from Madrid. I just happened to be wearing one of my Barack Obama t-shirts, and I must say that I haven’t gotten so many stares since I used wear my Rastafarian hat to junior high school back when I was fourteen.

Believe it or not, people were pretty excited when they saw my t-shirt. I think Europeans really like the idea of a true change in U.S. politics and in a new candidate. They were also probably pretty shocked to see a politician on a t-shirt; candidate pins, bumper stickers, and t-shirts simply do not exist over here — which is probably a good thing.

In any event, it was a beautiful sunny day in Toledo, and I made this cheesie video of me, my Barack Obama t-shirt, Toledo, and Duke Ellington with John Coltrane playing “Big Nick”.

Leave a comment

Filed under Jazz, Living la vida española, Obama 08

Tagged as Toledo Spain Barack Obama John Coltrane Duke Ellington

April 5, 2008 · 2:47 pm

Springtime in Chamberí

The past few days have been perfect spring days here in Madrid, and today was no exception in my neighorhood of Chamberí (sunny and 75ºF). First I set out to to visit the newly opened museum at the Chamberí ghost metro station. In 1966, Metro de Madrid closed the Chamberi station, but it continued to exist in darkness along line one between the Bilbao and Iglesia stations. For the past 40 years the trains have continued to pass through the station without stopping, and you can peak out the window for a glimpse of the ghost station. The station has just been restored to its 1966 aspect and converted into a museum.

After visiting the museum, I took a walk a through my neighborhood and made this low budget video to “Alabama Song” by the Sextet of Orchestra U.S.A. from the obscurealbum Mack the Knife and Other Berlin Theatre Songs of Kurt Weill. The album’s highlights are Eric Dolphy and John Lewis, and Dolphy’s bass clarinet on “Alabama Song” is perfect for any sunny day. If the video quality is too ghetto for your taste, at least you’ll enjoy the wonderul music.

Leave a comment

Filed under Jazz, Living la vida española

Tagged as Eric Dolphy Alabama Song Orchestra USA Mack the Knife K

April 4, 2008 · 5:29 pm

Barack Likes Mediterranean Food

The Spanish newspaper, El Mundo, published this photo today of Obama enjoying Mediterranean cuisine. “Mediterranean cuisine”? Mediterranean cuisine can be Moroccan, Tunisian, Lebanese, Turkish, Greek, Italian, French, and so on. Not necessarily Spanish. My guess is Barack is surrounded by French and Italian food, but if it makes El Mundo feel more patriotic to call it Mediterranean and have its readers believe it is Spanish, then more power to them.

It’s a shame that Spain does not do a better job of marketing and exporting its food.

1 Comment

Filed under Living la vida española, Obama 08

Tagged as Barack Obama El Mundo Comida Mediterranea Mediterranean