Cris in Paris

about projects

2008-09-17T01:18:00.003+02:00

My mind is full of projects lately, so I have decided to start from the beginning. Here it is the next blog I will be writing from, hopefully every day (wherever I am)

Landing among the stars

advertising

2008-09-14T20:09:00.003+02:00

Or how to promote a spanish film frightening away the tourism. Welcome to France !

I can imagine, they were angry: Roland Garros, Tour de France, Euro2008...

(Translation in English: this summer, avoid Spain!)

El rey de la montaña - Gonzalo López-Gallego (2007)

VIVA LA VIDA

2008-09-10T01:33:00.005+02:00

Coldplay. Bercy, Paris, 9th September

I couldn't miss it while in Paris, and even more when they chose La liberté guidant le Peuple de Delacroix for their album cover.

It would be a long chronicle and it seems to me that the nights are getting shorter, so lets just post some videos.

a year in the merde

2008-09-04T23:03:00.004+02:00

For anyone moving to Paris, I highly recommend to read this book. I have truly enjoyed it, feel absolutely identified with the main character and I have loved the faces of the french in the metro while I read it :)

Stephen Clarke is a British journalist and writer working for a French press group in Paris. A Year in the Merde is an almost-true account of things that may or may not have happened to him in the ten years he has lived in France, depending on who is asking the question. He originally published the book in an edition of 200 copies, with the intention of selling them through his website, giving them away to friends or offering them as fuel for his neighbour's Bastille Day barbecue. However, after a reading in a Canadian bookshop in Paris and a write-up in a French newspaper, the book turned into a surprise hit. He has previously written comedy sketches for BBC Radio 4 and jokes for a stand-up comedian. He is currently working on the next volume of Paul West's adventures.

Stephen would like to thank the French government for introducing the 35 hour week and giving him time to do more interesting things on Friday afternoon than work. Merci.

modern art

2008-08-25T01:09:00.005+02:00

it took me some time to discover what it meant.. this is the last piece of art exposed in the Tuilleries, better explanation here... anyone want to try to guess what it truly is? Three elements are combined here... Richard Serra sculpture, the fountain and the obelisk (sorry cause the quality of the picture is not that good...)

Versailles

2008-08-25T00:22:00.010+02:00

The date is approaching. The bigger the quantity of work I get, the lazier I become. The closest the end is, larger the number of posts I think of, and fewer the words I can articulate.

Sometime in between this long summer I thought of writing about my favourite plans in Paris. I was discouraged by the idea of the Lonely Planet syndrome, thinking that somehow, my favourite and secret places would be spoiled. Unfortunately the are not that many things to do in Paris that the mass of tourists and expats haven't discovered yet.. but tonight I go for one thing that surprised and filled me for the next week.

Walking along the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles in the sunset is closer to be one of the best plans I can think of. The usual visit is during day time, but you can book it for the evening (Le Parcours du Roi) from 18.30 to 21.30, on Saturdays during summer, experiencing what Marie Antoinette may have seen every evening.

Afterwards, you may even consider paying extra and get to reach the gardens. At nightfall the Grand Musical Fountain Display. As it is described, a sparkling and melodious promenade among the fountains and Bosquets of the Gardens, subtle light (torches), perfume setting (bubbles) and fireworks to conclude. A priceless evening...

Pablo!!

2008-07-22T23:55:00.004+02:00

Today it was a long day: from tears to laughs, but finally Pablo came to this world surrounded by (almost) all the people that love him. I will be able to witness the miracle on Thursday, till then, here he is (let's forgive the photographer, his nervous grandfather) isn't he cute???

about ends and beginnings

2008-07-06T22:58:00.009+02:00

I was feeling sad about endings. Small endings and big endings. It was the end of the Opera season, which I had largely enjoyed this year (uuu, yeah kinda get into opera dude ;) It was the end of the Rugby season too (have a become a fan? 3, 4 matches in a row... ?)

Luckily there is no end for the music scene in Paris. In fact, I could say the summer started with music.

First concert in Madrid ;) and afterwards the Jour de la musique, widely critized and hardly never enjoyed. I have no recommendations for the future in such big event: just improvise! I was lucky to listen to a great trio just under my place which kindly got me. Have a look at the picture, just like that, in the middle of the street... what a world!

Then, I kept with the musical mondays. First with a big mistake, Counting Crows, just for the old times.. The only good thing was when somebody throw at them a tshirt of the Spanish football team and they seem to recognize and understand it ;) and played their Holidays in Spain.

The weekend we went for Solidays, one of the biggest festivals in France, and then it came one of the most expected, Death Cab for Cutie.

The first signal of the slowing down mode was when I stopped buying tickets (plane and train tickets). The second when I stopped with the concert tickets. Fortunately I still keep some in my agenda till the end of September. It scares me to have such a "busy" schedule for the next two months and then a big "nothing" starting on October...

Tout Le Bonheur Du Monde

2008-07-06T22:15:00.006+02:00

I always feel proud when I say: "I went on an erasmus when I was 22", it is like you said you went on a bizarre trip (and so it was) But I feel more proud when I say I still keep my friends from there! Some I have even been at their places: Thijs (Valencia), Al (London), Piet (Brussels).. when the wind takes me there. But there are some from who I get news every day. As any other group it is heterogeneous, it changes, both elements and relationships, but there is still something that sticks us together.

Doesn't matter if we meet in Madrid, in Barcelone, in Oviedo, or in Paris... there are always stories to remember and stories to get into. Doesn't matter if it took us 3 years to be back together the 6 of us. We proved that 48h weren't enough to catch up... we proved how long had we been waiting for the long chats by the sea or in the chill out in the beautiful Ampurda...
I loved to get back with you to what we were three years ago and to what we had become. I loved to talk about future as we had never done before and I loved to laugh and hug you. I feel lucky to be in this part of the world and having been able to share this weekend with you.

Discover Sinsemilia!

la marmota ha muerto

2008-06-30T15:14:00.002+02:00

Esta mañana me quedé dormida (por fin!) me levanto y me pongo un vestido rojo para ir a la Oficina. Leo la muerte de la marmota y no puedo reprimir la risa.

Qué felicidad celebrar una victoria así y que alegría me produjo experimentar la complicidad de tanta y tanta gente con la que me crucé ayer. Casí como si yo hubiera ganado el partido! París ayer fue español. Y los franceses demostraron como nunca que su antipatía por Alemania es mayor que su recelo a lo español.

Y es que ayer España dio una lección, Europa no acaba en los Pirineos!

Thanks to all of you who supported Spain and thanks too to all that didn't but thought of me and sent me some congratulations :) good to hear!

tv shows

2008-06-09T16:20:00.004+02:00

There are so many lifes I would love to live.. truth is that, in one life I can't have it all...

can't it?

My answer is yes, that's why I love tv shows: I have already been one of the Oceanic 6, studied medicine, had a wicked adolescence, lived in NY, been a serial killer, scaped from prison... and still so many stories to live...

Here is my next hunch for summer: SWINGTOWN

and the one I may be waiting for autumn FRINGE

Stockholm

2008-06-09T16:19:00.006+02:00

Again, better late than never... here is my post about Sweeden.

We got to Stockholm late friday evening, but there are no big surprises in such overdevelopped countries. Getting to Melani's was as simple as expensive and there we had tortilla, jamón, spanish wine and an awesome group of people waiting for us.

No big surprises in Stockholm: there wasn't any big checklist full of museums and monuments to see, just some hanging around and parks. Seems that summer arrived to Stockholm the same day we did. Pictures, laughs... We even took part in a wedding in a beautiful place... I mean, if I ever get tricked by a Swede and it is a life or death situation, I will definitely get married there :)

Then we had our botellon over (literally) the lake, great great, no big surprise for some spaniards. I love civilization and I loved too not being able to enter any of the posh discos we tried to, money wisely saved.

And then, a sunny sunday in a park. We had our BBQ assembled, just the american way and we spent the day there, in between baths, Absoluts and laughs.

11PM, a group of ICEX on a sunday night who bet to go out that night and actually do, isn't it surprising? It is, indeed, to leave the disco at 4am, with a complete open day, just as the summer nights I love in Spain.

Monday morning: grasse matinée, which means sleep in till you wish :) and then a walk in the land of H&M, nice meal with my colleagues and back to Paris.

No big stories, perhaps a couple of topics that died, but it was, without any doubt, one of the best weekends I had so far. Thanks to Melani, Maria, Eneko, Oscar, Javi and Adolfo, great great hosts, hope to see you in the future!

And Starlight by Muse to end this post, cause I listened it back at Adolfo's after a long time and I really want to keep it in mind!

Discover Muse!

about addictions

2008-06-09T15:19:00.012+02:00

I know that many people will smile while reading this post, and I know it very well cause many have laughed with me when talking about the topic. I most of the times use this to make fun of me, but I wanna beg you to read it seriously cause my addiction is a true one...

We get to an age where you start having your small (or big) habits, obsessions and addictions...

I remember my first day. I tried it in the campus cafeteria and after some time I loved it. That time has an specific souvenir: the library in the UAM and the flavour of my lemon coke. Life was easy then. Afterwards I graduate from my MBA, thanks to Lili and the lemon cokes in the vending machine of Icade.

Once, I even confirmed I was in love the day he came to pick me up at the airport with the biggest smile and a car full of cokes, ready to start our own roadtrip.

Life at CECO was a little bit harder, mainly cause there was only vulgar diet coke there, but I survived, thanks in part to Isa, such a brightful girl who really shares my tastes :)

And then I came here. One of the positive things I wrote down when I moved was that this is a great country, and lemon coke is everywhere. Thanks to that I have kept with the unwritten tradition of my Office that the macro intern has diet coke for breakfast (guess that you need more than that, but we still face it with dignity just with cokes)

And then.. it happened. First I thought it was going to be something accidental, but day after day, the shelf of the supermarket remained empty till the fateful day the name of my lemon coke disappeared. I found myself going from one supermarket to another looking for the precious product. It has even disappeared from the shop of my pakistani friend.

I still find it from time

or even sometimes a gentle friend get me one :)

but I know the end is close.

So here is my tribute to the habits and addictions. For those who have one and accept it and for those who hasn't found their addictions yet. Because I am addicted to so many things and because I love them all.

Discover Robert Palmer!

temblando

2008-06-02T09:44:00.002+02:00

ayer cumpli un sueño, aunque no puedo contarlo todavía de la emoción...

os dejo con el artículo y la foto...

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/diablito/espera/Nadal/elpepidep/20080602elpepidep_12/Tes/

Se busca

2008-05-23T23:57:00.002+02:00

Se busca mensaje para llevar en una pancarta el domingo próximo a Roland Garros, se aceptan ideas y sugerencias ;)

Looking for message to write in a banner next sunday in Roland Garros (especially suporting the spanish team)

Paname

2008-05-19T01:09:00.004+02:00

You may have asked yourself, why once in Paname? wasn't it Paris?
Well the answer is that Paris is usually know as Paname.
My favorite explanation (and probably not the truest) is that Paname evokes the hidden face of Paris. In this case: the contraction of PAris and macadAME (tarmac in english, asfalto en español)
Paris has many faces, that's true and I started to fear today I won't be able to meet all in a year.
Anyway for the last weeks I felt I was living in a different city (which I think is common with most of my colleages in other european cities) and truth is that I like this new city, I love Paname.

I can't wait

2008-05-09T11:34:00.009+02:00

I couldn't stop crying when I first heard about him. I still don't know his name but I can't wait to see him... for the fans.. here the best pictures so far...

it is a BIG country

2008-05-08T15:59:00.007+02:00

I have been a couple of days thinking about how to write about Moscow...
Russia is too big for a short post, and three days are not enough to be fair to the city, but I will try to explain a little bit how was it.

The trip to Moscow started long before the 1st may. It started when I arrived to Paris in october and began to look at the world map. I have always wanted to go there, somehow the stories about the part of my family that emigrated there, had kind of weight during my childhood. So, by december I had already bought the flight and got a couple of colleagues to go with to visit my friends there: Paco and Mèrce.

Getting the visa was not as difficult as we had thought, being invited by them I didn't even have to pay. Getting there was a little bit more difficult... that's what happens when you travel with a serious company. Lufhtansa made us lose one day on our way to Moscow... (this never happened to me with all the low cost flights I have taken!)

But there I was! Brave (and a little bit unconscious) as I am, I found myself lost in the underground from the very beginning. I had to say that I was lucky that two guys decided to help me (in their 20s, with a beer in their hand hehe).

I tried to avoid them but they were kind of insistent and they could speak a little bit of English. So, trusting them, and trusting the girl next to us, that couldn't stop laughing at the situation, I followed them. There I learnt from them, that speaking English is something they don't like to do, cause it is (still) the language of their enemy, but they are curious about everything and knew loads of things about Spain (even though I found them a little bit confused about the relation between Spain and Mexico..)

Finally I reached the civilisation, that is the team waiting for me: Mèrce, Paco, Rodrigo (Bucharest), Isa and Jon (Berlin), Dani (Dusseldorf) (and a little bit later the last two: Gonzalo (Berlin) and Paula (Madrid))

From the beginning I thought that I hadn't expected that Moscow was so capitalist-like. There are not big differences from Western Europe. They drink Long Islands and Cosmopolitans too!
But I still could point some things that shocked me. Religion is one of those. I was surprised to see people so young and so devoted in the various cathedrals and churches we entered. I really thought comunism had finished with all that, but it is still a religious country. The second big difference for me is that it is a sad country, they don't smile, and that is scary. Even if I tried (and I tried hard) they never smiled back at me. Poverty also shocked me a couple of times. Not surprising considering the gdp per capita and the prices of Moscow !

We did it all. We walked and WALKED. We saw loads of underground stations. We listened to wiki-paco and all his explanations. We had a great cheesecake in the Cafe Pushkin and I felt as if we belonged to the high class. We tried the gastronomy of Georgia and had our SHOTS of vodka. We took taxis and wondered whether he wanted our kidneys or he was just lost. We walked along the Red Square and saw it completely EMPTY to our astonishment. No need to talk about them (Russian girls) cause he has done it already, and much better than I would never do it.

In all.. I loved the city, and this country deserves more. It is one we will hear more about in the future, and there are still a lot of things to discover about it!

War is a big part of the history of Russia

Macdo picnic in the developped Moscow

Team group in the beautiful Saint Basil

The empty and hair - raising Red Square

my living room

2008-05-07T15:13:00.005+02:00

again I am not updating as frequently as I would like to, but I will try to do it in the next couple of days (before I take off again) PROMISE

Anyway, I couldn't wait to post a picture of my living room. I had to wait till I got my fished eye camera to make a GOOD PICTURE. So here you are, just sit down, relax, and feel at home!

mi querida España

2008-04-14T22:44:00.003+02:00

desconozco si la morriña está directamente relacionada con la distancia, imagino que algo sí tendrá que ver, pero quería compartir con vosotros una lista. Por más que aquí se encuentre (casi) de todo y que todo lo que hay aquí es (casi) igual de bueno, siempre gusta tener de cosas de casina... Recojo aqui algunas de las peticiones que he oido:

cola cao (no hay y no hace falta que os explique que no es lo mismo que el nesquick)
chistorra, porque sin ella no hay chistorrada posible, ni hojaldritos de chistorra (cocina de fusion)
embutido de todos los tipos, especialmente: jamón para los bocatas del viernes y para los picnics y chorizo para las lentejas
queso manchego, que de verdad se echa de menos aqui..
horchata chufi
cajas y cajas de Rioja (si, traemos, y mucho!)
filtros de cigarrillo
fregonas
ron Brugal / Cacique
vaselina de Gal
galletas Chiquilin
galletas Maria (hay gente pà to)
gulas
licor cafe
zapatillas Victoria
pan de torrija
hongos (de comer... estos vascos! mmm pero que ricos..!)
chicles orbit
....

Y... ¿tú que echas más de menos?

to my friends

2008-04-07T23:27:00.005+02:00

This time it was not a birthday, but a birthweek. It started and is going to end in Paris, but in the middle there was a quick and great weekend home.

I was about to miss my plane but fate helped me this time so I could spend a couple of days in one of those sunny weekends that makes you absolutely love Madrid. Coming back home is like you had never left, you think you don't miss it, but a quick hello and a couple of drinks remembers where do you belong, no matter how easy you get used to new places.

At midnight of the 7th (CET) I landed in Paris again, home sweet home after all, and the city welcomed me with snow (the first I had seen this winter!)

But it was a sunny day, in all aspects... expected and unexpected! calls, loads of posts in my facebook wall, emails and great emails with hand made PPT, short sms that made me laugh and a long etc. And at the end of the day, Editors back in Paris for a new concert...

So I would like to thank all of you: those who thought of me somehow, those who forgot (but I know will soon remember), those who probably don't know it was my birthday but will read this soon, those who don't care about birthdays but still care about me, those who just showed up at my party, those who surprised me after a long long time, those who never disappoint and those who greet me for the first time but I hope will do it many many times in the future.

The song tonight was played by the support band in the concert: Friends like these.
It says: I don't need no, friends like these, no. Right, I thought I just need... friends like you!
Dedicated to those I couldn't celebrate with.

Hope you forgive me for such a cheesy post... guess I am just getting old ;)

half way through

2008-03-31T00:12:00.006+02:00

six months already!! here we are... not that younger but a little bit wiser. Afraid of changes but happy too. Full of doubts and full of new plans and new perspectives!
so, here it is my balance sheet:

26 people slept in my 32 m2

Sent SMS: 1.552 Received SMS: 1.123

All cell phone calls duration 12:06:58 (and that's a record for me, you know that), from my fix number... countless and to unimagined countries!

6 countries visited (Josu, I promise I do my homework)

24 weekly reports done (plus the monthly reports, the quarterly reports, the AP reports and all the facebook, google reader and lastfm etc. stuff)

37 torrijas made for Easter

Countless concerts, operas and rugby matches (and countless waiting in my agenda)

And still six months ahead...

becario en Santorini ya!

2008-03-26T23:41:00.007+01:00

So here it is the story. At the beginning there was only one. Then it comes what we named: the call effect or magnet effect. That means that anyone from anypart of the globe can join you. And that is exactly what happened. I love Greece. And since the beginning I was dying to buy my flight to Athens.

So here are the facts and figures: two mexicans living in Spain and seven spaniards living in London, Milano, Bucarest, Bratislava and Paris. Four cars, two ferries, one capital and one island. An apartment full of people and two interns in Athens trying to deal with it, as with their own plans. One bathroom. Countless taxis, countless dogs and countless sunsets (and countless stairs and mountains to climb, right?)

But let's start from the very beginning. First: the general strike. It was not a problem for those who woke up early (that was me, but remember me to make a post on taking planes at 6am and how not to lose them) But even with the strike we finally get to our appointment sooner or later and enjoyed the greek taverns and the posh drinks with crudites (just to show that Greece is not that underdevelopped!) Some didn't arrived before 13h to work, others wake up with a good hangover... but what is sure, Eva and JP were great hosts (thanks to his landlord by the way ;)

We made tourism in Athens, but mostly tried to make the best of what we love most: the taverns, new dishes, new tastes and new drinks (talking about Ursus, my new Jagermeister, later) After undergoing the city we tried our luck with a short roadtrip to Sounio, have a quick bath in the sea (those who dare, that means: Alberto!) and prove our luck finding the Temple of Poseidon closed.

Anyway it didn't really matter cause our checklist was more than completed and we had good fun. No need to show pictures of the sunset which was absolutely incredible. Just never forget, if you ever get the opportunity, go there to see it, just unforgettable!

Back we had time to have a few more drinks, as if we weren't tired. Some payed the most expensive night in a hotel just sleeping one hour, others nearly missed the ferry because of the change of the hour and the alcohol (ejem ejem) but we made it and we recovered on time to get to Santorini. What happened later is difficult to explain with just a few sentences: our 24h in the island will be difficult to forget. First because we found the most lovely and exclusive place to sleep (¿a swimmingpool in the room? ¿a round bed? ¿computer with wifi, two LCD TVs, a bottle of wine and bathrobes?) In all, more than what a poor and modest intern is used to ;) Second: another unforgettable sunset in the outside jacuzzi, and a party with the students of 5 High Schools on Spring Break. Third: the island. The villages, the roads and the ruins. The tavern on the beach and the fresh fish. The white and the blue.

Finally our way back. Baileys, beers and yoghurt at the sunset. Arrival to Athens again, forgiving the city for its sins because it keeps all the greek citizens there, far from paradise. New temples and new places to climb, and our constant: the sunset (as well as tzatziki and gyropitas)

After this week of holidays I can tell: winter is over!!!
Thanks to everyone and see you soon!

lost adictos..

2008-03-06T17:00:00.004+01:00

No podría escribir nada mejor que esto:

El espectador de Lost es un cornudo feliz por HERNAN CASCIARI

what the eurostar brought..

2008-03-05T18:03:00.004+01:00

the eurostar brought Alvaro and an excuse to prepare a petit comité de bienvenue avec champagne et Champagne. He didn't had time to even think of opening his book (but he brought one, at the end of his rucksack there it was: Notre Dame de Paris! by Hugo)

I have to congratulate him, he gave it all, both day and night. Nobody before had in only 48h:

during the day: 10h walking on Saturday morning with a good hang over; and brunch, Louvre and Pompidou and a Libanese on a cold Sunday

during the night: three soirées differents in three different apartments, two pubs and one disco. Champagne, wine, beer, mojitos, jagermeiser, cointreau and whisky, all without ice.

And I wanted to give a especial and warm greeting to my guest artist, Amalia, who kindly shared with me a necessary and great talk, an afternoon around the showrooms of the Fashion Week and a great night, with party and laughs just the way it used to be. Wish we agreed in which city live and when, next time!

love at first sight (II)

2008-03-05T00:39:00.003+01:00

Someone rang the door, 9.30 sharp (still can sound threating..). It was not him, there were two of his buddies ready to fix my bathroom. My plomber - the boss - arrived one hour later...
Houston, we have a problem - I thought. They were talking about busting one of the walls.. oh my God... I am becoming an adult and I had no intention of that!!

Then is when you try to phone the owner of the apartment, who happens to live in London (F* him) and he doesn't answer the phone. So you talk with her beloved wife, who, as me, takes the easiest option: do what needs to be done.
(Well, in fact they first started busting the wall and then received the approuval, but who cares...)

Now, I have all fixed, but a broken wall... life is soo unfair!

I definitely don't like my jewish plomber (I promise I will talk about how is it to live in an jewish street one day) but I couldn't avoid smiling at him when we saw each other on Sunday. I have to admit it, I even thanked him.. oohhhh nooooo

So, let me tell you one thing for sure. I would hire Anton Chigurth if I could.
For those who haven't seen it yet, I just loved No country for old men. Great film and great great character... So... feel welcomed Bardem whenever you wan't to help me with my not-in-love-with-him-anymore plomber.

an emotional intense week

2008-02-29T00:06:00.010+01:00

The strike of writers did affect my life. It is not as the strike of metro in Paris, but worst!
But it was an emotional intense week. After having forgotten about Grey's Anatomy, Heroes and Dexter (which ended once again, always mind-blowing). We had Prison Break that finally ended (somehow) and Lost which came back to what made me love the show.
To my surprise Paris had its own role in all that and it made my day: now the bunch of souvenirs I've got home have some value

love at first sight

2008-02-28T23:41:00.003+01:00

We met in the street. He was sitting in that chair looking throw the window, and I couldn't stop myself from entering. No doubt I am impulsive.. He was smiling, surprised I had dared to come in because we don't have anything in common but we soon started talking about my things. He asked me about my accent, and I loved the way he did, not considering it a problem but something that made me different and special.

He accepted my proposition of coming to my place that night. He didn't show up, but I am patient and I trust the Destiny so I waited. The following night he made me wait two hours but he came, and we talked about El Corte Inglés de Goya and El Retiro, in Madrid.

He said he will help me and asked me to phone him again. I have been doing so for a long time now. He used to promise me he will come soon, then he stopped answering my phone calls. On Tuesday he said he will show up and I wait for him or a call or an answer all the afternoon and part of the evening. At the beginning I didn't get angry, I have a strong temper but I stopped myself when I think it won't be use doing that. I talked to a friend and she told me I had to get angry, but most of the times I don't listen to my friends when we talk about boys, too stubborn or too sure that he will finally call ;)

Wednesday he answered my call and said he will phone me back. I wait for his call all day.. and anger finally appear. I phoned him hiding the number and he answered. He didn't apologize but he said I will finally see him on Friday. I won't wait you long, I said, trying to sound serious and kind of threating him.

I bursted into tears after that. I don't like to wait, and I don't like the game. A friend phone him and he said to me that HE had promised him he will come tomorrow.

Its Thursday night and I can't sleep. I need him and I can't wait for him to come back...

Now I know, I never had good taste with men! next chapter coming soon!!

about recycling and music

2008-02-26T17:54:00.007+01:00

My last visit just left a couple of hours ago. These three lovely girls did what visits do, a lot of tourism, complain about how expensive everything is and comparing everything with Spain.

For example, I tried to explain them how works recycling here (I wanted to say, "I tried to explain for the umpteenth time how works recycling" but if I do so people will think I am having too many visits and that I am tired of them, and...don't think that please..! you cheer up my weekends and if someday I find myself with no job, I will always have Paris to show people around ;)

So, back to the topic, recycling. Lately I am very commited to recycling. In my building you can recycle everything. After a couple of weeks I was stopped by the porter here as he tried to explain me how things work (hey, I know, I thought) After a while I discovered that here paper and plastics go together, ohh, I see, I mumbled.. he kept telling me that the people in charge came, saw that there was a bag where things were not right, opened it and saw a letter to Mlle Vazquez, which happened to be me. He told me I could have a fine because of that...

So now, every time someone comes around I have to explain this story again and again to convince them about the importance of the number of bins I have in my 30m2 and not to mistake where to leave the bottle of Champagne ;)

Just for the record. I don't find French commited to the environment (or at least, not that much) For example, I suffered all January cause they sell the Christmas trees already cut, so you find hundreds and hundreds of them on the streets the first and second week after Christmas... (they deserve the fine, not me because I forgot the plastic of something in the wrong bag ;)

After this story, just wanted to thank you the three girls again for the company and for coming to the concert on Sunday with my friends here (yes, after the fever of buying flights, buying concert tickets is my second bad habit..)

To my surprise I found Chris Garneau in the concert as support band. I am in love with one of his songs, who many of you will know from Grey's Anatomy. Here is the video:

Then it was Caribou, which I found really interesting. And finally it came Jose Gonzalez (to be pronounced Gonsalez, he is Sweedish)

I first heard him in the tv. I remember even the day it was. I felt in love with both, the ad and the song. He put music to the advertisement of the Sony Bravia with the bouncing balls in San Francisco. The song: Heartbeats. It kind of dissapointed me to find out that it was not original from him, but I think that after having seen him on Sunday I will forgive him. It worths the listening.. take the risk!

the year of the rat just started

2008-02-10T18:16:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago someone told me that the sky in Paris was famous for being deep deep blue. Obviously that made me smile, he hasn't been to Madrid I thought.. Nevertheless.. I have to confess that after this weekend Paris reach the category 1 of blue skied cities.

Hurrah for the ridge of high pressure!

So, there was a little bit of everything: my first rugby match (and it doesn't seem it will be the last!), new discoveries in the flea market, a new fancy dress party in front of the Pantheon, and more and more bicycle around the city.

1. my metro exit on a sunny morning

2. these guys.. oh my god! Love that tshirt with pink flowers, it is just sooo cute hehe

3. the view from Leti's apartment, not bad for the parties

And on Sunday, a short short trip to China.

In the 13e (chinese district in Paris) a morning spent taking pictures and enjoying a sweet sour pork..

The Chinese calls the New Year's Celebration the Spring Festival (couldn't agree more)

maren

2008-02-04T22:14:00.000+01:00

And the post goes to... Maren!

because when we met I called her Marlen a couple of times.. and because when she asked me where I was from, I answered macro :p
because she wrote me the best itinerary to do in London and because we still have to go together to Portobello..
because she came with me to see Editors and because last week she bought the tickets to see them again the day of my birthday :)
because she prepares me dinner once a week while we enjoy the company of Michael, Lincoln, Jack and Sawyer..
because she has taken me to all the places any girl dream of: shopping in Le Marais, clubbing in Paris and to rugby matches!
because she loves Champagne as much as I do, because she likes to bet with me and because she accepts my challenges ;)

Because today it's her birthday!

carnival

2008-02-03T23:23:00.000+01:00

Friday evening in Paris. A car with four of us crosses the Arc du Triomph Square.. et c'est parti!

First stop, Brussels (because I love it and because Brussels never disappoints)

Piet gently welcomes me and my three friends at his place. After a couple of wines and spanish iberico we decide to have a tour around the city.

It was not in our planning, but in between toast and toast.. the night ended as always in Brussels, late and with good laughs. Definitely my boots were a completely success :)

Second stop Köln: famous for its carnaval. From for 4pm: german music, jagermeister, beer and vodka and many crazy germans.

Good to find new ICEX there, the technicien interns never disappoint either. Funny costumes and funny pictures.

Third stop. The surprise: Dusseldorf, the after party. Sunday morning, more people and more party at 12pm in Dusseldorf than in Köln.

More currywurst and more crazy germans. And waiters telling us off in german, what a lovely country!! No kidding, I like it more and more now.. what a pity that it is a matter or fact that this is the only moment in the year that they dare to talk to you is in Carnival!

It was worth the visit to our colleagues in Germany, even though it didn't snow ;) waiting for the next one!!

Dubliners

2008-01-22T18:14:00.000+01:00

There were not 15 short stories as in the Dubliners of Joyce, but 9. One for each of the interns that booked a flight to get to Dublin. And like the book, this trip deserves a film.

The director: our host Inés, she will definitely be nominated for the best in this category.
The scenario: a superb penthouse. No description or picture can really show the impact it had on us (we will wait for the film, but think of the apartment with views to the Thames in Match Point, and you will get an approximate idea..)
The plot: some interns trying to get into Irish culture

To remember:

the fashion in Ireland. For when a fashion intern in Dublin?
the Irish Breakfast.. with a pint of milk!
the cocktails instead of coffees
the brownies-like-stones
the incendiary shots that Alvaro prepared (and the face of the waitress) and how Dani, Montse and me accepted the challenge
the Irish pubs

Second part hopefully this summer :)

after a little while

2008-01-17T14:34:00.000+01:00

After a short silence (not because there are not things going on, cause there are.. )

Here there is something I read today I can't agree more.

It’s no easy thing to quantify something like quality of life. How do you attach a figure or a ranking to the experience of spending time in a place?

You can’t.

The number of hospital beds and physicians per capita…the number of airports, the length of railway track, and the volume of cell phones, measured against the population…the gross domestic product and the average per-capita income…how much do these things have to do with “quality of life”?

All the scores and more online…Accompanying this article are the final scores for all 192 countries considered in our survey. To see the complete scores for every country in every category, go to: http://www.qualityoflife2008.com/. If your appendix bursts, sure, you hope the local hospital has a spare bed for you…and if you’re planning a weekend getaway, you appreciate a nearby airport. But are those things real measures of your life experience?

Indeed, should you choose your place of residence based on tax rates, the cost of living, or the strength of the local economy?

After 22 years participating in the production of International Living’s annual Quality of Life survey, which considers all these bits of data, along with hundreds of others, I’d say no.
You’ll notice as you review this year’s Index that the places International Living normally recommends you think about living or retiring fall nowhere near the top in the final rankings. Ecuador’s economy is a basket-case and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Nicaragua’s tax rates aren’t particularly appealing for the foreign resident. Uruguay has zero miles of usable railway track. And, in the interior of Argentina, you could travel a long way in search of a hospital bed.

On the other hand, Switzerland, for example, boasts 40 miles of railway track per 10,000 people over which the trains run quick and on time. Its GDP per capita is $34,000. And its female citizens live to the ripe age of 83 years.

Should you contact your local Swiss Embassy to see if you might qualify for residency? I don’t know, but realize, before you do, that these details, certainly when considered individually and out of context, are nearly meaningless.

The irony of this year’s Index for me is that France wins. According to IL’s 2008 Quality of Life Index, France is the best place in the world to live. I’d agree…but not for the reasons the survey suggests.

I appreciate that France offers, by all measures, the world’s best medical care. I appreciate its fast trains and its Eurostar service across the Channel. I appreciate Paris’ too-many-to-count museums, cafés, galleries, antiques shops, restaurants, boutiques, jazz clubs, theaters, bakeries, and cheese shops, as well as her multitude of parks and gardens, some growing and tended for hundreds of years. I appreciate the easy and cheap air access its three capital city airports provide to the rest of Europe…and the world beyond. I appreciate the country’s four seasons, none too severe.

On the other hand, I defy you to try to start or operate a business in this country, which has sent some of the most persistent businessmen I know running, arms flailing, for cover. Good luck opening a bank account without a letter of reference. Indeed, bonne chance getting local cell phone service (the secret is to bring a local utility bill, preferably an electric bill). To apply for a visa or even to rent an apartment (legally), you’ll have to prepare an inch-thick dossier, notarized, sealed, stamped, witnessed…

All those things are inconvenient and frustrating. But, just as a healthy gross domestic product and a lot of cell phones in circulation don’t necessarily translate to a good life, neither do an abundance of administrative red tape and restrictive systems for doing business necessarily mean a bad one.

What, then, does make for a good quality of life? You’ll have to answer the question for yourself, and, when you do, here’s what I suggest: Place a premium on the things that can’t be plugged into a spreadsheet. A country (or a city or a region) may make great sense on paper but appeal to you not at all when you visit. And vice versa.

Why do I enjoy spending time in France? I have two reasons. The first, stated simply, may seem silly, though, if you’ve a romantic soul, you may understand.

I like France, especially Paris, because it’s beautiful. The more time I spend here, the more I’m convinced. No city anywhere is as pretty as Paris. At all times of year, any time of day, in any weather, central Paris is lovely. Walk along its river, wander the twisting cobblestoned rues of its Latin Quarter, while away an afternoon watching the city pass you by from a café perch…and you’ll see what I mean.

For me, knowing that, at any moment, I can step out my front door and be part of this…that makes for a good quality of life. My daily commute for three years was a half-hour walk across the Seine and through the Tuileries gardens of the Louvre. When I walk my little boy the 20 minutes to school in the morning, we wave to the shop-keepers along the way and smile at their ever-changing window displays. Making our way home in the evening, we stop for a baguette at the corner bakery and a bottle of wine at the shop down the block.

Paris is a museum city, and its displays, in all directions, are world-class.

The other reason I like spending time in this city is because the longer you’re here, the less certain you are that you know the place. Paris is a tease. Like a lover savvy enough never to reveal too much too quickly, Paris shows you a little leg, then covers up coquettishly, leaving you smiling and anticipating the next encounter. You may think you know Paris, but I promise you, there’s more to discover.

And, for me, this…this potential for endless discovery…perhaps more than anything else, makes for good living.

au revoir Paris

2007-12-21T13:47:00.000+01:00

It's been a long week..

Christmas shopping
Social celebrations at work: cocktail at the Embassy and then the next day tapas and paella with the people of the Office in the considered by many "best spanish restaurant in Paris"... (prefer my mother's lol)
then again more eating, pot au feu this time, with Agathe. Paris was in between the Caribbean (where she goes on holidays) and the Indian Ocean (where she lives) so she stopped by to say hello
Goodbye dinners till next year and the New Years Resolutions
... and Sara Baras, a spanish dancer, in the Champs Ellysées, playing Carmen

Im heading now home for Christmas :D but I will come back soon!

Best wishes to all of you..

Joyeaux Noël et à bientot!!

topics and films get true

2007-12-17T01:44:00.002+01:00

I am not going to complain about animals. Guess that others have more to say about it. And this is not National Geographic :)

Just wanna say that Ratatouille exists. He lives in the kitchen of my Office. I haven't seen him yet dancing on the table, but we have already met twice, he looked at me and then hide. He is shy and so do I. I know that soon he will cook for us. And I really fear the day he gets trapped in one of those mousetrap I hate.

This post is to greet my brother whose birthday is today. He saw a mouse in a Deli last weekend and he was surprised. I had to explain him that topics are true.

And what is more. Some things in films are true too (surprising eee?? lol) Like the shop in the film where they have dead rats, does really exists. It was recently included in my personal tour... (hopefully you would be able to appreciate the details in the picture, and if not you would need to come and check it yourselves)

(A anotar una de las frases de la chica en la película: No soy borde, soy francesa)

A land of 246 kinds of cheese

2007-12-17T01:36:00.000+01:00

It's a statement. People that know me well won't believe. They know by heart that I love cheese. But let me tell you something, after 10 weeks here... I don't like it anymore.

Now I understand when Charles de Gaulle complained about the difficulty of governing a country that had 246 different kinds of cheese.. he had too much too ;)

It's true, I promised not to eat any more cheese till next year

last weekend before Christmas

2007-12-17T01:14:00.000+01:00

Friday night with your visit from Spain: first, ballet in the Opera.. called, PAQUITA! a "romantic" episode of the Independence War of Spain from the point of view of a French; afterwards Hard Rock Cafe for dinner; then Casa Prada for the first drinks (not necessary to mention how spanish was that..) and finally the Serena, a widely known spanish bar in Paris. No comments ;) anyway, let's say everybody enjoyed the night

Anyway, we tried to make it a little bit more french with the typical Steak Tartare (buaghhh), galettes du sarrasin and cider and all that stuff of crepes with nutella... a little bit of Art and some Christmas shopping. Not bad at the end ;) just the needed dose of French culture before thinking about heading back home...

Just a comment on evolution. Even though I am one of those persons who always are cold.. guess that this three months changed me. Even though Paris is not that cold (I may get and idea what cold may mean for others..) I don't feel it any more.. Sunny days, with its 0º are just as a spring day in Madrid for me... hurra for evolution!!!

josh rouse

2007-12-12T00:47:00.000+01:00

sometimes you go to a concert being already a fan, sometimes... you become a fan... I was feeling as if I was missing a lot of concerts these days, but guess I was just waiting for a good one!
this was the perfect plan for a sunday evening after a great weekend... thanks to Al for coming with me.. it was great sharing it with him, hopefully it will be just one among many.. in Paris, in London or anywhere else..!!
Unfortunately images cannot show what means not being able to sleep afterwards or being singing the songs for a couple of days now, but just in case.. (anyway, for the fans..)

London in the rain

2007-12-11T18:52:00.000+01:00

I did it. I finally crossed the sea by train and got to London for a weekend! I left the country of the Champagne to arrive to Pancras Station, where the longest Champagne Bar is. Anyway, it was not the time for Champagne anymore but for pints in Camdem ;) and that was Friday night: gossip and laughs with the interns of London and chinese food for one pound, delicious!
On Saturday, Ines and me decided to make some tourism, but it isn't easy with that rain... soooo we moved to the British Museum (hehe, just to see what will be missing and I won't be able to see in Athens in a couple of months), ate with Begoña in Shakespeare's Head: fish and chips and then some shopping. The chapter in Abercrombie and Fitch and the casual luxury deserves a post in itself, but I wait for Ines to do so. I will just say that the queue deserve the entrance and that I fall in love four or five times ;) I can't avoid it when a boy smile at me like that...

After a tour around, Covent Garden and its musiciens, Piccadilly Circus etc we met again to go to the Soho to have dinner and have some drinks. Not bad the interns that decided to live there.. (sí, somos unos pobres becarios sí...)

Sunday, not even trying to keep with tourism.. but a better plan for a Sunday morning: Brick Lane. The market (I will deny it anytime in the future, but I bought three dresses for 8 pounds..) the superb Indian lunch, Truman Market, with, as Alberto described, all the cosmoposh of London, and finally the 1001. This was THE PLACE. 24h open from Saturday to Sunday, various ambiances, cafeteria, chill out, and disco. The beers at 3pm on Sunday afternoon and the House Music, just unforgetable.

Then it was THE CONCERT (next post coming soon) and waking up early after a short nap to get to Paris on time to solve all the AP (absolute priority!)

Great weekend, who were there know what I am talking about.. Thanks to the A-Team (Andrés, Alberto, Andrew and the A-usent A-lvaro who let Ines and me slept in his bed) and to Begoña who showed around like an authentic londoner!

Finding Netherland

2007-12-05T01:32:00.000+01:00

I waited for this trip a long time, lack of opportunity, lack of company, lack of time? But then the right time comes, (as always for anything in life) and there you are, sitting in the Thalys heading for a weekend in Amsterdam.

I cannot write a common post about Amsterdam cause Amsterdam is like an impressionist painting. You make an open composition with a couple of brushstrokes in order to get the movement, the crucial element of human perception and experience. Here you have some brushstrokes…

• Netherlands sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. And it is indeed the scenary of a fantasy novel.
• Casual people. Not studied casual, but straight ahead 'I think I'll go without shoes today' casual.
• Language sounds like German being spoken underwater.
• Crafted - everything - staircases, water glasses, window shade pulleys, laptop stands - crafted, and crafted well.
• Water everywhere. Canals, bridges and nice houses 1,80 metres length.
• Red Light District. Girls in underwear to the left and to the right (feel safer looking ahead). Hate the look of the guys, like being in the best supermarket ever.
• Contradiction. Hate prostitution but they get more money in one day the monthly minimum wage, they have central heating and guess it is not that boring. Wish there was a supermarket of men to get an idea of what it feels like. It is a pity that no man can stand a full-time working day (yeah, you cannot pretend that erection..)
• Smell pot everywhere. In every corner you get whether the best pot smell, or the nastiest dirty weed ever. And coffees in a coffee shop.
• Flower market full of bulbs and grow-your-own-dope kits.
• Bicycles everywhere. One million for a population of 800.000. And boats. Want one house-boat.
• A sculpture of a hand-touching-a-brest-and-a-half at the feet of the main church of Amsterdam, which is just in front of the Red Light District. Are the Church and the Sin still so closed?
• Recipes. Discussions about whether it is better raw, boiled... but in the oven??? A lot of discoveries…
• Wok. The best wok ever, made by a Spaniard and his Thai girlfriend. Next thing in my list to thing that I have to learn to prepare.
• The flying pig: a crazy hostel with crazy people. Love that I still enjoy that kind of things and situations, I am not that old yet ;)
• Aurora’s awesome tour on a Sunday morning. It rained for 4h, but it worthed it. Amsterdam does look different now for me.

And then coming back to Paris with a lot of new thoughts in my head. Is spirituality a motion that runs against reality, or is it an intense experience of reality? I feel contradiction, the more and more contradiction

Gracias Cris por este finde. Definitivamente nunca hubiera tenido mejor ocasión ni mejor compañía.

Santa

2007-11-26T18:34:00.000+01:00

What I got from Santa in advance... a lot of spanish ham Iberico (preparing a party to share it cause I don't feel able to eat that much), spanish cheese Manchego, turron, one of our secret recipes, alcohol (hehe like the Jagermeister), magazins, a tshirt to impress the frenchis and.. laughs and cares. Unfortunately I had a cold, but anyway hope you enjoyed Paris as much as I do! Thanks to you

who said there are not sunny days??

2007-11-25T13:17:00.000+01:00

I know it is hard to believe but sometimes topics are not true. After two months here I have to say that I have had plenty of sunny days, most you don't enjoy them cause you have to work (oh what a pity..) but others, you DO enjoy them.
Here a couple of videos of one of my favourite plans, just sitting by Montmatre..
The thought was inspiring, maybe for another ocassion.. today just the videos...

if you are travelling

2007-11-22T14:19:00.000+01:00

We always fear running out of battery in our Ipod.. voilà the solution...
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPJeDssBOM

strike: DAY.. who cares!

2007-11-20T09:43:00.000+01:00

Tuesday morning..

Anything you are reading about the strike here is... true? hehe guess it is something you have to experience to understand.. but the most important thing, don't think it only affects the metro!

Yesterday we had tickets to the Opera... thanks that I had taken the metro in the morning (well, it was not that much fun, but at least..) because in the evening, I did 6,5 km to reach the Opera and then 3,5km to get home (thanks I stopped by and I was invited to have dinner, otherwise I would have never arrived ;)

And thanks that I live in the CENTRE...

But the best part was the ballet. They are on strike too, still don't know if it is in solidarity with the others or because they didn't want to take the metro or just that they want to work till 50 too. Anyway, a strike there means that there was no scenerie, nor wardrobe. So.. the dancers were.. some in slips (I promise it is true, every time he danced Patri and me couldn't stop laughing), some in their Adidas, and some with the pijama... PRICELESS.

The good thing was that with our 10euros entry we sat in a great place as it was almost empty, and the ballet is always the ballet ...

una opinión como otra cualquiera

2007-11-19T14:56:00.000+01:00

http://www.cincodias.com/articulo/Sentidos/corazon/Espana/oficina/Paris/cdscdi/20071119cdscdicst_1/Tes/

veni, vidi, vinci

2007-11-19T00:30:00.000+01:00

Some visits scare.. the Old School is one of those. No matter how well you slept the night before it would never be enough to survive the weekend.. No matter how many great great nights you had spent together you always find that you can still have a great one.. Even though there were some absences.. some expected and other unexpected :( I am looking forward for the next one!

strike: day TWO

2007-11-15T21:06:00.000+01:00

sun was shining.. don't try to go by underground, just walk... beautiful beautiful paris on a cold morning.. one hour and something to get there.. and many many pictures after..

arrive to the office: 10.15 :) (love strike days, people even greet you for arriving..)

today it was BEAUJOLAIS, the day the first wine is on sale. So after work.. cold evening.. no transport.. the answer is just to drink a couple of wines...

discover a typical TASCA with wine and kind of tapas. Get drunk easily (I'm sooo easy.. ;)

go back on foot again..

Conclusions of the day:
1. you love Paris
2. you have made more than 12km by foot (I would say many more cause I still have trouble to find the shortcuts ;) love to walk along the Seine..
3. you love the Beaujolais (it won't never happen again, you promised it once already hehe...)
4. you go home early cause even though you love more than anything "liarla" (kind of get on trouble) you know that you have more obligations.. tomorrow the old school is coming (hehe la vieja escuela, vosotras sabeis de lo que hablo) so you have to be prepared for that :)
5. did I say I love Paris? oh my God.. that's a funky crime...

strike: day ONE

2007-11-14T17:16:00.000+01:00

This is the song to cheer up a day like today, again on a stupid strike and probably the last one with good weather (from now on I will probably need a boat to come to work hehe) It really makes me laugh! Don't get scared...

live music

2007-11-12T23:54:00.000+01:00

It was a long time since the last time...

The lights go off and you feel the butterflies in your stomach
Your mind stop thinking in any other thing and you just let yourself.. fly!
The guitar starts playing one of your favourites songs...

Bones, starved of flesh
Surround your aching heart
Full of love

and you sing your favourite refrains...

In the end all you can hope for
Is the love you felt to equal the pain you've gone through

You came in your own
That's how you'll leave
With hope in your hands
And air to breath

If something has to change.. then it always does...

I won't disappoint you
As you fall apart
Some things should be simple
Even and end has a start

Every little piece in your life
Will add up to one

There is no better plan for a Sunday afternoon than live music!! And thanks for the company, it was the best, an authentic fan :)

From here I invite you to listen to their songs. Soon some more discoveries..

Paris Express

2007-11-12T02:36:00.000+01:00

Feeling down? Need some laughs? Buy today a Paris Express! You will get more than you ever imagined in only 36h!
The offer includes:
Warm welcome at the airport.
Moet Chandon and Comté for dinner.
Paris nightlife: a boat, a street called: thirsty street? some pastis, some beers and finally Pigalle with our favourite songs till 6am
Early wake up: cafe au lait and croissants, and a some of the basics: Tour Eiffel, Arc du Triomph, Champs Ellysées, la Seine, Place de la Concorde, Louvre, Notre Dame... Some relax: petit bistro sympa, formule crepes et cidre. Some shopping at Le Marais, some modern art in the Pompidou and quick siesta (while you get your usb memory fulfilled with all the films and tv series and music you ever dream of)
Soirée gastronomique: fromage et vins du pays. A lesson of music (surprisingly and extraordinary knowledge of the attendants, my emule was working all night..) and loads of laughs (thanks to Sarah and Maren!)
Paris nightlife 2: a pub with disgusting and at the same time amazing drawings in the walls (the beer was ok too) and a new discovery in our favourites of the Paris la nuit, Truskel forever!! Some dancing, some yawning and... finally able to sleep with a smile in your face..

Lili, feel welcomed anytime soon!
(vivan las canciones que nos ponen de buen humor!)

first visit

2007-11-12T01:43:00.000+01:00

You got a message in the morning and in the evening somebody is knocking at your door. Surprises always scare me.. but it is true that some surprises really worth the try :)

Getting lost in Paris, eating a great-uneasy-to-digest raclette, sitting by Montmatre to see a couple singing and going back home on foot by night after an exhausting day.. are some of things you can't miss when coming here to Paris.
And that's more or less what unexpected visits get.. but they get many more things, like a bottle of Champagne in the fridge, another unexpected visit sleeping in the living room that night and an unexpected party!
Some visits worth the surprise, guess that was one of them :) Thanks again!

to my friends

2007-11-05T16:51:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 9AM you got this message: <Cris, I’ll hop in the car after work towards Paris tonight, is it ok for you? I would arrive around 23h. Greetz! >
Thursday. A phone call with a friend <…Cris I had thought of visiting you three times this year…!! is it too much..??> (She didn't say that last sentence but I wanna think that she thought it..)
Friday. A call on your cell from a friend of a friend <Cris… can I stay at your place tonight?? All the hostels are fully booked…>
Sunday: Lili sends me a message. She decides to hop into the plane next weekend :)

Nothing more dangerous for your health than the low cost and having an apart in Paris...

So for the moment, fully booked, no more free weekends till next year.

(Having friens is nice.. and stressful! but afterwards it worths it. Thanks for the surprising and funny weekend, hope there will be more like that :)

Parlez - vous Français mademoiselle?

2007-10-31T11:55:00.000+01:00

So… here we are. I promise I like Paris, France and the French (starting to… lets say) BUT, from time to time, I have to say that they arrive to surprise me (thought that was not possible anymore, but it is) French politeness is widely recognized but I have just discovered that here I am rude..

Situation 1. A man is peeing in one of the public toilets in the street. The door is open, which wouldn’t have surprised me considering how dirty people is. But instead of being peeing to the WC he is pointing the wall... why????

Situation 2. Accidentally in the metro I move the leg of a man that is sitting down (he was as if he was sitting in his living room by the way). It is nothing, impossible that I hurt him. I whisper a pardon and sit in front of him. After having checked a few things in my bag I look at him and he is staring at me with the look angry and says out loud, PARDON EH??? In the metro again. 9am, not much space left. Some push and enter in a station. I have to move and accidentally again I step on a woman, beg for a pardon, out loud smiling embarrased. She looks at me and makes a little bit of theatre as if I deserved death penalty (I even wasn’t wearing high healed shoes) After being grumbling a while I decide to move a little bit (not much in fact). Two stops later somebody step on me with joy. I look behind and is SHE. No pardon, not even looking or worrying… AGHHH

Situation 3. France Telecom rip me off so I try to solve the situation with another company: Free. We are trying to end my relation with France Telecom and I have to pay and bla bla bla, the girl on the phone of Free tells me: but you could have think it before, couldn't you??? (heyyyyy that's far too much, only my mother has the right to tell me off and she doesn't do it!!)

Situation 4. Zara, my ZARA, the Zara of my country!! I am looking at a few things and finally decide not to take anything so I leave the things next to their place but not on the hanger. I am leaving and the girl there touches my shoulder and ask me to put it in the right place, no smile at all. I feel sooo bad!!

Situation 5. I make a phone call to arrange an appointment. The person I am talking to is not French, that for sure, so communication is difficult, but we manage to say a few sentences and understand the situation. At some point he finally says: Parlez – vous Français mademoiselle? (Do you speak French mademoiselle?)

Need someone to explain me...

2007-10-30T14:53:00.000+01:00

Read today in La Tribune

Salaries per year of:

Nicolas Sarkozy 101.488 euros
George W. Bush 277.000 euros
Vladimir Putin 56.400 euros

Is it just me who thinks it is not much according to the responsability??

Just a thought...

(considering how much they earn the diplomates and other economists around here...)

y vosotros becarios qué me decis.. ¿cuánto gana el becario de Moscu? ;)

first month is gone..

2007-10-29T00:22:00.001+01:00

Et voilà!!! guess start feeling home here... who would have said so...
sorry for not having posted any pic yet but my camera is on strike too, just the french way...
Here there are some of a couple of thursdays ago... thanks to the veterans here we are discovering the cheapest and coolest places in the city, jirafa 20 euros and couscous for free, we love it!! (but you can easily say so just having a look at our faces.. hehehe)
This weekend? just awesome... thanks again to Josu for the wild party yesterday night (my head's still aching but it worthed it)
more pictures coming soon...

first scale: Brussels

2007-10-23T15:49:00.000+02:00

It took the same time to get out of Paris (sacred traffic) than to reach Bruxelles on a Thursday afternoon. But we never lost the faith and tried to enjoy a little bit of the music Javi had brought. I only knew three out of the 50 CDs he had, so there was a lot to learn ;) Anyway Amelie’s Soundtrack was played from the beginning to the end.
Warm welcome in Brussels at a friends house. They had prepared us the attic, an splendid 5th floor in their great house. Then, too late for dinner, we decided to start straight with the Belgian beer. We only had time to try three before getting drunk. Pas mal for a first attempt.
Second day. We walked around the centre and have some of the typical moules frites. It’s a small world, I found three friends from Madrid by accident. And then, no time for excuses, started with the Belgium beer again. After some more we moved to Jagermeister with Red Bull which was what made the night last till 8am. It was a great night, one of those that you don’t forget easily, nor us, nor the other interns from The Hague who found us by accident!
Third day. No need to mention the hang over (especially one of us..) so I spent the day having mojitos at a terrace in Bruxelles with some of the old friends, Joaquin, another expat in Brussels and Piet, a Belgian friend from Toulose (I didn’t have time to see Thijs but I expect his visit soon in Paris!)
Again, last chance for a belgium beer. This time, with more training, we taste many more in the Delirium Tremens, the touristic bar for people like us. It was a long night too, first a techno club, then a jazz club and finally a late dinner at a Greek restaurant (best ever after my visit to Greece four years ago) I know we should have start the night in the Greek, then the jazz and finally the techno, but, we are original, aren’t we?
Finally, on Sunday some surprises after the gauffres… it took us an hour walking around the district (colega, ¿dónde está mi coche?) to find out that they had taken our car... a taxi, a fine, and again the traffic to enter the city…
We were so lazy (or so in love with Brussels) than we didn’t go to Gant or Bruges…but, who cares!! it was an awesome weekend!

old habits / new habits

2007-10-23T11:39:00.000+02:00

old habit - having a coffee and a cookie in Starbucks (same price here uuuuu)
new habit - moving into new surprising flavours (tastes even better here hehe)

old habit - going to the cinema last seance on weekday
new habit - watching a film in English subtitled in French (and not understanding any of them..)

old habit - driving around with my Fiesta
new habit - not missing the car and using a bike (uuuuuu)

old habit - going to Ikea and buying anything
new habit - paying for that and suffering!!

old habit - wishing and hoping for the last episode or a new album to download
new habit - going to bed and wake up with four brand new episodes to watch and two new albums in my ipod!

old habit - having my friends around
new habit - missing them...

shit happens

2007-10-19T09:22:00.000+02:00

yes.. once again here is the opportunity to smile (if not laugh) for my optimistic view of life (afterwards, always comes the dissapointment..)

yesterday. some dancing in a 80s music pub and some drinking.. arrive home late

today. strike again

just after leaving my building, I was run over by a bike, no damage, just scared

guess I was not in the mood to walk again (oh yes, my foot hurts because of the bike) so try the underground

first train, full, cannot enter, second train, full, don't dare to enter, third train... I like number 3

if you have a nightmare where anything can happen.. just try this one...

you cannot breath because of so many people (and when I say so, I mean it), guys that tries to approach too much, people making stupid shitty comments about the strike, sarko and politics and why going to work on a friday morning is so shitty.. people having a row, but a BIG one. A poor chinese woman than cannot leave the train (and for sure she was about to fade) and finally another more stupid than the others that makes as Superman and finally makes the train stop for 15minutes because of an alert...

hate hate hate

on strike

2007-10-18T14:20:00.000+02:00

You cannot say you have been in France till you suffer a strike. French love to demonstrate and complain about anything... and they get to stop a city like Paris.

But I love it

It was the perfect excuse to wake up late, have a coffee in Starbucks and walk to the Office.

Luckily it was one of those mornings with no clouds and the one hour walk au bord de la Seine was absolutely wonderful :)

This time I manage to see Notre Dame (in the distance), the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower...

So... OLE for the strikers cause they made my morning (even though I don't agree at all with their complaints..)

the city

2007-10-17T14:50:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I was walking down the Champs Elysées and I realized I am living in a different city from what I thought.

I haven't been in any turistic place yet, but I have been in many bars I never thought could exist in a city like Paris. No museums at all, no Sacre Coeur, no Notre Dame but I have walked more than ever in my life :) I have eaten a couple of crepes but not only! I have been in a thai, in a japanese, in an indian, in a chinese... (who needs to be in asia!)

I have found you can drink and have dinner here at the same price or even less than in Madrid, which is awesome!! and that you can even have party till 5 and eat churros!

You can find a Noche en Blanco, different than the one in Madrid (never forget that one!) but the Nuit Blanche was also fun :)

So... in the time being, till I get used to this new city, I need more time... cause even though you don't believe me.. I am still trying to get all the things done and I still haven't found the right time to write an appropiate post. Bureacracy here is CHAOS and I am still arguing with France Telecom, Free, Virgin, EDF, RATP.... and of course, don't dare to mention work!

But soon, you will be updated more often.. promise

(salvo si la ciudad hace que me pierda, como muy bien me dijo hoy Pedro... pero que pensais? salir todos los días o qué?????)

closed for holidays

2007-10-11T16:33:00.001+02:00

Cris is going to be out the weekend cause it's been a long-hard-busy week (LOL)

Leticia, Marta, Javi and me will be having fun for 3 days in 10 minutes now...

If you need something, if you are bored or if you just feel like talking, just come!!

If not, I will be back on Monday

PS. Luckily it won't rain the weekend and the sun will shine!!

Escher was here

2007-10-09T16:58:00.000+02:00

Do you know Escher, a dutch graphic artist of the 20th century? He used to paint stairs going nowhere, giving a feeling of impossible reality.
I’m sure ESCHER was inspired by the LEFUEL staircase in the Richelieu’s aisle of the Louvre...

(Homenaje a Esther que pronto estará volando a Helsinki para vivir un año genial, un beso!)

monday 9am

2007-10-08T09:02:00.000+02:00

It's been a hard weekend, sun was shining like in Madrid in June and we made party the spanish way (I promise it's true!!) so... everything is under control :)
I had some nice memories cause it was au bord de la Seine where I spent they day after getting drunk, just like the old times, hang over + sunbathing = best plan for a sunday afternoon
But let me say that the sunset by the river.. uuuauuu!!
And... I am not sharing the apart with anyone, or not yet ;) and I am not desperate at all, so no girl seeks boy (yet)
And now lets try to get some things done...

looking for an apart

2007-10-05T11:11:00.001+02:00

Are you looking for an apart to share? that's the kind of things you can find...

Bonjour, je suis une nana qui cherche uniquement nana pour cette coloc. Je suis très sympa, fêtarde à certains moments mais aussi très grande bosseuse. Je suis donc calme chez moi. Je suis une nana bi, mais pas pour la coloc... !!! Sinon je ne fume pas ou très rarement. Je suis aussi à tendance de vivre nue totalement dans l'appart et qui aime être vue, regardée.Je bosse dans l'esthétisme et le bien être. Je ne suis pas très souvent à l'appart mais cela dépend des périodes.

Briefly:
Girl seeks girl. Nice, likes partying but also working. She is bi (sexual) but not for the roomie, and she likes hanging around naked in the apart and being observed..

En resumen:
Chica busca chica, simpática, fiestera, pero también trabajadora. Bisexual, pero sin interés en que su compañera de piso sea su pareja. Le gusta pasear desnuda por la casa y que la miren...

busy...

2007-10-04T16:26:00.000+02:00

First day of work: The Chief gives to all of us some advice about the work, the place etc. After, he looks into my eyes and says: "we will have to have a talk later..." (should have seen my face...) Then just laughs with the colleagues

Second day of work: my desk looks like that one of the picture. French Economy doesn't help, their forecast is as bad as mine.

But happy after all!!

just arrived

2007-09-30T20:19:00.000+02:00

I dont have much time to write a good post cause I have a date ;) and I hate french board buaghh but I wanted to say that everything is fine: I have my luggage, my apart is great, love the district and today the sun was shining for me in Paris, nice eh! and.. I live in the same street of the Folies Bergere!!! I took the picture this morning, someone wanna come to see Cabaret?

Definitely my expectations are changing.. just happy I guess :)

time has come

2007-09-29T22:01:00.000+02:00

You never think they D-day is going to arrive, till.. it arrives. No much else to say about it, just farewells and calls saying goodbye. Thanks to all of you, cause I got presents when it was not my birthday and once again I felt I was surronded by amazing people (yeah, thats a call for a comment... ;) In a couple of hours this blog will finally have a sense, so keep reading...

what we know...

2007-09-15T12:44:00.000+02:00

For most of us what we know about a place comes from the cinema. So my first click went to the Internet Movie Database to see what they had to say about Paris. To my surprise that's the result:

Titles (exact matches) 13 results
Titles (partial matches) 797 results
Titles (approx matches) 190 results

Guess that there is a lot to say about the city hahaha

My intention is to put aside all the topics, which won't be easy. For instance. This year I will spend more than Two Days in Paris, so for sure I will discover in depth not only the city in itself, but also Paris la nuit (no need to translate that!) My trip is going to be the opposite to the Paris - Tombuctu, but who says there is not a Tombuctu waiting for me in Paris!

Lets say that this time I will dance my first tango in Paris, but hopefully not the last, that I will discover what there is Under the Roofs of Paris and that I will try, again, literally, a French Kiss.

Perhaps the title of this blog should have been A Spaniard in Paris or Paris Blues, but it really doesn't matter cause what is sure is that we won't Forget Paris anytime soon. As one of my favourite characters once said... we will always have Paris... Today I know that after a while I will for sure say: Paris Je t'aime

welcome to Paris

2007-09-15T12:13:00.000+02:00

Two weeks left before it happens. Finally I'm moving to the next stage: working in the Spain's Trade Commission for one year.

After the initial dissapointment, Paris is not the exotic and far destiny I had dreamt of, guess that for most of you it was the best piece of news you could get. Thanks for that, it is always nice to hear that people want you around. Anyway, and it is not a threat, I would suggest you to come and visit me soon as we never know which will be the next step ;)

Just for the record, I will try to write in English most of my posts so that everyone could read them. But let me say that from time to time I will need to write in Spanish. If you feel curious about the story, just give me a call!