it is a BIG country

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

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

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

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

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!

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..

No podría escribir nada mejor que esto:

El espectador de Lost es un cornudo feliz por HERNAN CASCIARI

what the eurostar brought..

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!