Last one

At this time I am probably already above southern France in my cozy seat reading last edition of Marca (Spanish sports newspaper) and the March edition of Vogue Spain :)

. . . it is time to write my last post in the Spain blog. Sad, sad thing. This time in Spain taught and made me practice many things: like always always and always looking at the bright side of life!, enjoying life at this very moment and to the fullest, take up to the challenge and keep in touch with people you carry in your heart.

I may not have learned all of them for an A+ grade, but certainly those past 6 months made me a stronger and a better person. Keep on learning though . . . I am happy I have spent this part of my life here and with those truly great people. I am dearly hoping that this is not the end and I will be able to come back . . . again and again. Thank you Spain for existing on this planet :)

Alcala de Henarez

My last Saturday trip to Alcala. 40 minutes on a train and you are in the birth-town of Cervantes. Ole!

Los Reyes Catolicos

Cute Disney 

Cervantes prize is given here

Church that is now a coffee-disco place? 

How far can you go ?

Art in Madrid

Hop hop for art in Madrid! There are endless possibilities: from old medieval art, to the classics of Goya and Velazquez to the impressionist and the modern art. The Golden Triangle of Art: El Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen. All are amazing museums (or as I would rather call them palaces of ART) in their own way.

The last things I've seen before leaving Madrid were:

Marc Chagall exhibition in Thyssen - all the colors are just beautiful and very cheerful. Knowing the history of Chagall's life one feels "obligated" to enjoy our picture-perfect lives! But what I really want to see now is the ceiling in the Paris opera, also done my Chagall!

Paris Opera

The other one, much cheaper (free) was the light installations on the Plaza de Cibeles, right on the white City Hall building.

And of course there is Prado with its Hermitage exhibition. It is far from the real Hermitage feeling, but what I liked is how tasteful where all the walls and details prepared. May be even too trendy and tasteful . . . it felt like you are in the Benetton shop. Oh, well. Anyway, my eyes were only for Andre Derain, Franz von Stuck and Paulus Pottee: 

Franz von Stuck

Derain

P. Potee

Keep it up capital! 

TOP 10 Madrid (4months after)

So here it is. After 4 months I rewrote my TOP 10 Madrid list and here what came out:

# 1. Cibeles - still my #1. Nothing compares to this beautiful square and the building.

#1

From the top of the Ayuntamiento

# 2. Paseo del Prado - as one of the fans of Madrid-city told me: " I do not understand why tourists rather go to the Sol or Las Ramblas in Bcn, when Paseo del Prado is so much more beautiful!" Could not agree more. But at the same time I am happy it is this way! Except of grey-haired couples smiling quietly enjoying the sunshine, there is not much more people. And it is perfect like that! If you are not tempted to stop at el Prado,but continue down to Atocha, then for sure you are left on your own to do whatever you feel like: sing, dance, scream or just walk and think. It is real jungle in the center of the city. Bushes and tall trees protect you from noisy cars.

Paseo del Prado

# 3. Santiago Bernabeu stadium - Hala Madrid! Como no te voy a querer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJFu6NgSZQ&feature=related

Bernabeu - Nov 21-2011

# 4. Tribunal Area - at some moments it beats Lavapiez. It is compact concentration of some of the coolest bars, pubs, restaurants, cupcake bakeries and just cozy places to meet up with friends. It is funny to think that Tribunal area is just between super hipster and different gay district Chueca and conservative and posh Calle Sagasta and Calle Genova (with Partido Popular headquarters and the Supreme Court).

Calle Espiritu Santo

# 5. Calle Sagasta- Calle Genova - Colon - This is weird choice, where your guidebook (if you have one) will never take you. But I like it. It has wide streets, few cars and some gorgeous buildings.

Glorieta Bilbao

Plaza Colon

#6. Salamanca district - The poshest place I can think of in Madrid. Even Cristiano Ronaldo said that Calle Serrano (the most western street in the district) is his favourite place in Madrid?!!! Calle Serrano is like 5^th Avenue in NYC or Parizska ulice in Prague. Lots of expensive stores and none of the style. But I would recommend to go further, pass the Calle Velazquez or go more to the North. Just wonder around.

Calle de Caudio Coello

# 7. Casa de Campo - is even more beautiful now. No sign of the August-September desert-like park. It is all green and cheerful now! Running there is always a pleasure.

The view on the Casa de Campo from Palacio Real

# 8. Templo de Debot -stays on my list thanks to the views. I do not think that anything beats it.

Templo

#9. Retiro - stayed on the list because of a hundred of things you can do there: from simply walking, to having a picking, enjoying an art-exhibition, reading, meeting with friends, jogging, roller skating... the list goes on.

Lions and the lake

# 10. Bar Vasco - The coziest eating place I've been in Madrid. Makes me feel good and happy inside.

La Bolsa de Madrid

I had a recent visit to the Wall Street of Madrid or La Bolsa de Madrid. Many people did not understand my idea of going to see greedy financial market in action. But it was an interesting visit. The building's interior is gorgeous with many symbolic things like the David's star in the windows or sculptures with two snakes representing supply and demand. But the thing that caught my eye was the presence of only gray haired traders and huge TV screens with fast-moving red numbers. It is sad to imagine the Trading Room being empty in 10 years with no quiet talks of the traders in the corners, but only silent enormous screens.

The star

Full of symbolism 

Gray haired

The screens 

The entrance

Exam time

And the time of exams is here again. It is a perfect example of a bitter-sweet feeling: you are happy some of the boring classes are over, but still have to face the challenge of extra studying and preparation. Probably the stupidest exam is waiting for me on Tuesday: International Public Law . . . in Spanish! It would not be that bad, because Law always fascinates and challenges me to grow with every page I read, but this ...

what I have to learn is just plain unreal stuff: when you are reading about the responsibility of countries to protect the environment and all the law/agreements that exist and afterwards you read a news article on the pollution, or less on all those useless conferences on environment in those exotic places . . . you almost give up and see no reason to continue reading the chapter. I felt the same way while reading the chapter on the development. When I got to the word "redistribution of wealth" I closed the book.

Oh, well. So I guess my first year uni professors were right, when they used to say that as long as we are young we have to be reading all kinds of theories and ideas. As soon as we form our own opinion, we will disregard all other theories and stick to reading things that we agree with. A bit stubborn, but I see what they had in mind.
May be it is a good thing? I have formed my strong opinion that I am ready to stand for!

P.S. Unrelated:

Donostia - San Sebastian with snow. Yesterday! 

TIME

as days on the calendar are disappearing from January, I become really nervous of a number of things I want to do in Spain . . . After putting all my wishes on the paper I realized that a lifetime is not enough. The truth is that I happen to have fallen in love with this country - however I understand that I am student here and the perception is quite different, with all the perks and fun that go with it. Spain being disorganized, highly laid-back and easy-going (read lazy) country has conquered my heart. I saw an successful end and a plan within all the disorganization, laid-back feeling helped me to relax and think, and easy-going is just fun :) 

So today I made a decision to stop being sad that my Spanish dream is coming to an end. From today, from 12:00 I will embrace every opportunity to enjoy, eat, read, speak, listen, love and learn this wonderful country! VAMOS! 

Romantic Madrid in January

It could be the most romantic thing a couple could do in Madrid . . .

Meet her at the bottom of the monument to Cervantes around 17:30 in the middle of the Plaza de Espana. The square is in the center of the city, but with big trees protecting precious quietness, roads full of cars finally entering into tunnels on three sides of the square and a fountain with a small pool: makes it an oasis of tranquility just few steps from crazy and always busy Gran Via.

Then take her for a short walk to the Templo de Depot. When you get there, around this time of the year, the sun will already start changing the sky into all those glorious and beautiful colors: pink, red, violet, light and baby pink . . .  Do not pay attention to the tourists, they are always there. If you are lucky and the Temple is open, - enter, but never lose the sight of your girl, because guides can be mean there.

When you think you had enough of the beautiful view and it started to get chilly (as it usually does in Madrid after the sun disappears) take her to the Museo Cerralbo, which is again a short walk from where you are. It is warm and pretty in there. It was a house of a Madrid aristocrat - Marquez de Cerralbo. His wish was to make his house into a museum after his death with only one rule: all of the things have to stay together and never to be separated. The guides are nicer in there - so let your girl wonder around on her own and then find her and hug her making it, just for this moment, look and feel as if it were your own house. . .

Imagination is a funny thing. . . 

Barcelona

Last week I was seduced into going to Barcelona. After promises of tons of fun, bike rides and delicious food I made the crucial decision to visit the "the enemy city". And as any other Spanish city, it had not disappointed me. It had all I could ask for - mountains (hills), the sea with beautiful port, tons of art in the area (Joan Miro, countless Gaudi's work, 1 hour away Dali residence and museum), wonderful weather, smiling and handsome Spaniards.

Knowing me, I did not even come close to the camp nou or whatever they call that nasty place. There are many other places to see! If you are ever in Barcelona (or bcn) go to the top of Montjuic (Mont=Mountain, Juic=Jew). Super romantic views of the city plus interesting places to see are guaranteed. I was taken to the Joan Miro Foundation museum to bite on some Catalan art. I have to mention that a month away from Spain made my castellano quite rusty, so when the guide of the museum was talking only in Catalan I could not see the difference. Of course it is not true, but close enough. Catalan is a beautiful mix of Spanish, French, English and I even heard few German words in there. Natives told me that it is a much softer language, so even to have an argument in Catalan has a sweet undertone. That is true :)

Other what I liked in Barcelona was their delicious and fresh food. I love food. And this one made me do: "mmhhh" very often! Fresh Mediterranean grilled fish with potatoes, salad with cheese, nuts, honey and vinegar (!), dry fig covered in chocolate and the tomato bread - Pa amb tomàquet, or just [tumaket]- something you can try at home: http://spanishfood.about.com/od/tapas/r/pancontomate.htm. Mmmhhh . . .

Last by for sure not least -> La Sagrada Familia. It got into my heart in a different way than on my first trip to Barcelona 4 years ago. It is so big that for me it just "magically" appeared above the buildings or in between avenues (avenidas). The fact that it is still under construction and is more a living being than an undone church, adds to the active and energetic image of Barcelona.

Could not get enough of this church

My first and last pic of Barca - only because this shop sells famous Vasco brand

It is always sunny in BCN !!!

Joan Miro Foundation with THE VIEW

All I can say is that I want to go back.