We're in Badajoz, Spain. No internet, on dial up.
Both are fine, going to Lisbon in about 9 days, staying in hostel for the weekend of the 8th April then heading to next host for the 11th.
No idea about host after that, going to call Croatian hostel and ask that way. FINGERS CROSSED.
PEACE AND LOVE, AND WI-FI IS THE HARDEST THING TO MISS.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Sunday, 20 March 2011
rowing and boats
We walked down the Gran Via to the Parque del Retiro today, and went boating on the lake there. On one side of the lake is a set of huge stone steps, originally leading into the lake I think, and behind them a forecourt surrounded by statues and pillars.
We went round the lake a few times, taking turns rowing.
Tomorrow we start our HelpX in Badajoz (bad-ah-hoh). Traveling via bus across the Spainsh country, with a 4hour trip to start. I spoke to our first host retireree Ian today on the phone, confirmed that we can be picked up from the bus station tomorrow afternoon.
Both of us are looking forward to starting something with this HelpX, I think I may die in the mountain heat though.
Madrid has been amazing, and enjoying yourself is exhausting. xo xo.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Whats your beef ?
Today I totally bashed my knee into a 2 foot metal post fell over & screamed, then kinda hopped about like a spazz....
We decided due to said knee bashing we would take it easy tonigh
t & pig out we hit up a rib place called 'Ribs', as we were shown to our table I smashed my other knee on some metal nuts screwed into the table leg (actual blood as well!!!!) we both ate baby back ribs chips & coleslaw... it was fit !!!
We decided not to bother going out as there is some Madrid vs Other Madrid team football on everywhere!!!!
Adiós
Friday, 18 March 2011
Two steps
Kate has decided that the winter clothes she packed probably weren't the best things, so she'll be dumping them before we leave the hotel - maybe a lucky cleaner will find use for thick wollen tights?
We walk alot, drink coffee alot, watch people and the weather alot. It's been incredible actually, and really relaxed.
Kate and I have slipped into the Spanish way of life seamlessly - waking up around 8am then sleeping in the afternoon, followed by a late dinner and drinks til the early hours.
The language barrier hasn't been the nightmare I expected, besides a small slip up on the first night where we recieved a lasange and a garlic bread between us, we haven't had many problems. Noone really minds that you don't speak Spanish, as long as you slightly attempt it and get a word correctly, and with the obvious polite pour favour everyone seems happy.
Our Friday night was tracking down a bar over in the darker area of town, finding out it was smaller than the venue website advertised, full of goth tranny guys, with Interpol videos playing on loop on the tv, and 80's spanish synth in the background. It was honestly epic.
We moved on to another bar closer to home. The decor was like Cheers, had Led Zepplin posters everywhere and played 70s rock and Rage Against the Machine.
So goddamn cool.
After our drinks, we headed back to the hotel, only to stop outside a bar that was spitting distance form our hotel. It was a hardcore punk night, teenagers with piercings and vest tops, two-stepping to local groves of the spanish hardcore band on stage. It was a great change to walk off the Gran Via back to our hotel, to stumble into a crowd of kids smoking outside a small bar.
We blended in the crowd of 18somthing yr olds,
and stood stage right next to the toilets watching some spanish kids do some hardcore windmill shit.
Our Friday night was tracking down a bar over in the darker area of town, finding out it was smaller than the venue website advertised, full of goth tranny guys, with Interpol videos playing on loop on the tv, and 80's spanish synth in the background. It was honestly epic.
We moved on to another bar closer to home. The decor was like Cheers, had Led Zepplin posters everywhere and played 70s rock and Rage Against the Machine.
So goddamn cool.
After our drinks, we headed back to the hotel, only to stop outside a bar that was spitting distance form our hotel. It was a hardcore punk night, teenagers with piercings and vest tops, two-stepping to local groves of the spanish hardcore band on stage. It was a great change to walk off the Gran Via back to our hotel, to stumble into a crowd of kids smoking outside a small bar.
We blended in the crowd of 18somthing yr olds,
and stood stage right next to the toilets watching some spanish kids do some hardcore windmill shit. Today, I persuaded Kate to walk to the Bullfighting Arena which was about an hour away - I don't think I'll be in charge of making decisions like that in future. No bullfighting today, but we did see a seafood tent with alot of crab, lobster and prawns.
We used the metro for the first time on the way home, totally cheap and easy to use - if you're coming to Madrid, its real easy so use it all the time.
After getting back to the area of the hotel, we vetured out to find a cafe for food, and met (who I think) a French sports agent for Lyon's football team.
He was in town for the game next week, or something. He seemed pretty lonely, so we chatted to him for a little while until he left to do his own thing.
It never ceases to amaze me the people who you come across in life that you will think of for years later. He came across polite, and friendly and just wanted a small conversation with us, and we gave him that.
I hope he enjoys his time in Madrid, and didn't think Kate and I were rude in any way when we couldn't think of what to say to him.
We used the metro for the first time on the way home, totally cheap and easy to use - if you're coming to Madrid, its real easy so use it all the time.
After getting back to the area of the hotel, we vetured out to find a cafe for food, and met (who I think) a French sports agent for Lyon's football team.
He was in town for the game next week, or something. He seemed pretty lonely, so we chatted to him for a little while until he left to do his own thing.
It never ceases to amaze me the people who you come across in life that you will think of for years later. He came across polite, and friendly and just wanted a small conversation with us, and we gave him that.
I hope he enjoys his time in Madrid, and didn't think Kate and I were rude in any way when we couldn't think of what to say to him.
I have been hankering for the vegetarian pizza I ate half of before we left, if someone could send me the remainder I would be grateful.
ADDITIONAL - KATE BANGED HER LEG REAL BAD ON A SMALL KNEEE HIGH METAL POST, BRUISED AN EVERYTHING.
ADDITIONAL - KATE BANGED HER LEG REAL BAD ON A SMALL KNEEE HIGH METAL POST, BRUISED AN EVERYTHING.
MERCI BEACOUP xx
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Lion King
We leave today, in 6 hours time (6am GMT). For me, it's the weirdest feeling of excitement and suspense, wrapped into one mindset. We had people hitting us up with goodbyes all week, and both Kate and I have been truly touched by the sentiment people have shown with gifts, cards and messages of well wishing and safe journeys.
Thankyou to everyone who has got involved with planning parties, arranging play dates and spending time with us - I've enjoyed it all, and will miss all of you immensely.
We land in Madrid at around midday, then stay for the weekend checking out the sights and sounds before moving onto Badajoz on Monday for our first HelpX host.
To those of you who don't know how HelpX works, it's basically volunteering on a global scale.
You get in touch with a host who advertises what they are after, from skilled to unskilled work, to teaching English to a bunch of Jap kids with guns. It's all free, and they feed you and put you up for your work - those of you who haven't got jobs, I would honestly say to check this shit out, it's amazing. So put down the fork, tuen off Jezza and get involved.
I promise I will update with something factual, interesting, witty and eloquent - please excuse me, but for now I really should sleep.
If you genuinely want something to read, check out my previous adventures across France and Switzerland in 2009 by myself. There's photos too, plus shit about books and music.
PEACE, Sam xx
Thankyou to everyone who has got involved with planning parties, arranging play dates and spending time with us - I've enjoyed it all, and will miss all of you immensely.
We land in Madrid at around midday, then stay for the weekend checking out the sights and sounds before moving onto Badajoz on Monday for our first HelpX host.
To those of you who don't know how HelpX works, it's basically volunteering on a global scale.
You get in touch with a host who advertises what they are after, from skilled to unskilled work, to teaching English to a bunch of Jap kids with guns. It's all free, and they feed you and put you up for your work - those of you who haven't got jobs, I would honestly say to check this shit out, it's amazing. So put down the fork, tuen off Jezza and get involved.
I promise I will update with something factual, interesting, witty and eloquent - please excuse me, but for now I really should sleep.
If you genuinely want something to read, check out my previous adventures across France and Switzerland in 2009 by myself. There's photos too, plus shit about books and music.
PEACE, Sam xx
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