Hola!
Being away from home can be quite tough. Trying to figure out how to live in a new society equally hard. That is why, I guess, it is easy to find something that you like somewhat and stick to it. As everything is so new, anything that is good or similar to something you know is brilliant. So Sol and I went to the Mexican restaurant we went to the first night here again yesterday. The food was all right and at least it is a restaurant. And again we were the first guests there. Apparently it is too early to eat at nine o’clock at night…
Today we went to say yes to the apartment from yesterday. Now the woman working in the agency is going to draw up a contract and then we will probably sign it tomorrow. We went to look at another apartment as well, with another agency and guy working there who was close to impossible to understand, a cheaper one. That apartment was as Sol put it a “cockroach-home”. Dirty (it looked as if no one had cleaned at all in years) and disgusting. Good it was daylight, ‘cause otherwise the little roaches would for sure show their face.
We also started to investigate the different shops on the shopping street. Zara, Mango, el Corte Inglés… Lets just say that our bags probably won’t be getting lighter during our stay here…
For lunch we found a salad in a bread-place similar to Subway and for dinner we made some food of our own in our room in the hostel – baguette with salmon, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. It was brilliant! Possibly the best meal since we arrived in this country. We are so longing for our own kitchen and the possibility to make food at home. It’s the little things…
On Sunday we’re hopefully going to our first football game at the José Zorilla stadium here in Valladolid. If we can find the stadium. We’re going to go and talk to the guys in the Real Valladolid fan shop just down the street. Hopefully they will be helpful.
Right now we’re watching ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in Spanish. It’s completely ‘loco’ that they dub all TV! Well, well…
/k
Wednesday 7 February 2007
Tuesday 6 February 2007
blogging too much, I know, but...
Hola!
It really does seem that I have become a blogging-nerd, but hey, when life's circulating around calling Spanish-non-English-speaking people about apartments and going from complete hopefulness and complete distress, it may not be such a huge surprise.
So what’s new? Well, we didn’t get that apartment in the end as the girl didn’t dare to live with us. (They said she was afraid to be left out because we were two and she one, but the real reason was probably that we didn’t speak much Spanish…). Oh well, that’s life. We’ve called almost 30 people about apartments and rooms in apartments and no luck. But then we decided to go to some apartment-renting offices and got to see a quite nice, although expensive, 2 bedroom-apartment that we are currently considering taking. It would be only us living there and it looked okay interior-wise.
Also we were woken up this morning because they were going to change the beds in our room! Crazy one, but we can at least stay without any problem which is a good thing. The apartment, by the way, the one that we’re currently considering, is located only a couple of streets from our hostel. So we already would know our way around…
Otherwise we had some crazy difficulties yesterday finding a place to eat dinner at. It seems Mondays are a slow day and the only places that are open are either really expensive or tapas bars. In the end we found a hamburger joint and my God! It was probably the worst hamburger I’ve ever had! Sol had some problems keeping hers together and so we got a well-needed laugh. But for sure we’re never going back, it was worse than McDonald’s and Burger King. Then you might understand how bad it was.
After that we went to the Dublin Bay, an Irish pub which looked good from the outside (and the inside). Since my Dublin-days I do love Irish pubs abroad, because you can always be sure that you can get a good pint of beer and generally it is possible to order in English. This time, though, that wasn’t possible. I don’t know how difficult it can be to understand “A pint of beer please”. I mean it’s not like I’m talking about science or politics, I’m asking for a beer! Oh well, it’s just to get used to it I guess.
We’ll see where our hungry stomachs and thirsty mouths will bring us tonight. And soon there will be pictures here as well...
/k
p.s. tack Per-Åke för kommentaren! Den gjorde mig mkt glad! :-) Å Aino, gracias por tomar tiempo! ;-)
It really does seem that I have become a blogging-nerd, but hey, when life's circulating around calling Spanish-non-English-speaking people about apartments and going from complete hopefulness and complete distress, it may not be such a huge surprise.
So what’s new? Well, we didn’t get that apartment in the end as the girl didn’t dare to live with us. (They said she was afraid to be left out because we were two and she one, but the real reason was probably that we didn’t speak much Spanish…). Oh well, that’s life. We’ve called almost 30 people about apartments and rooms in apartments and no luck. But then we decided to go to some apartment-renting offices and got to see a quite nice, although expensive, 2 bedroom-apartment that we are currently considering taking. It would be only us living there and it looked okay interior-wise.
Also we were woken up this morning because they were going to change the beds in our room! Crazy one, but we can at least stay without any problem which is a good thing. The apartment, by the way, the one that we’re currently considering, is located only a couple of streets from our hostel. So we already would know our way around…
Otherwise we had some crazy difficulties yesterday finding a place to eat dinner at. It seems Mondays are a slow day and the only places that are open are either really expensive or tapas bars. In the end we found a hamburger joint and my God! It was probably the worst hamburger I’ve ever had! Sol had some problems keeping hers together and so we got a well-needed laugh. But for sure we’re never going back, it was worse than McDonald’s and Burger King. Then you might understand how bad it was.
After that we went to the Dublin Bay, an Irish pub which looked good from the outside (and the inside). Since my Dublin-days I do love Irish pubs abroad, because you can always be sure that you can get a good pint of beer and generally it is possible to order in English. This time, though, that wasn’t possible. I don’t know how difficult it can be to understand “A pint of beer please”. I mean it’s not like I’m talking about science or politics, I’m asking for a beer! Oh well, it’s just to get used to it I guess.
We’ll see where our hungry stomachs and thirsty mouths will bring us tonight. And soon there will be pictures here as well...
/k
p.s. tack Per-Åke för kommentaren! Den gjorde mig mkt glad! :-) Å Aino, gracias por tomar tiempo! ;-)
Monday 5 February 2007
New address?
We may have found a place to live! 5 minutes from campus and 10-15 minutes from Plaza Mayor. Then we would be living on the 9th floor in a three bedroom apartment with a Spanish girl who doesn't speak a word of English... I'll keep you posted on how it goes...
/k
/k
starting to understand how things work
Hola again!
So today we have already done some good stuff – bought Spanish sim-cards, went to the international relations office and received some help in looking for apartments (still no luck though, but we’re calling on some tonight so keep your fingers crossed…). The people at the university were really friendly and we understood most of what they said – I guess they’re used to having foreigners with bad Spanish coming there. We also met a German girl there who seemed nice.
We have also now figured out that the shops are in general open between 10-14 and then 17-20.30. Weird for us, normal for them. I mean what if we get a craving for something in between those times? Then it will be close to impossible to give in to the craving! Planning ahead, sure, but you never know what you’re in the mood for…
Yesterday evening we watched our first Spanish football game in Spain, although it was on TV, Osasuna-Barcelona. It wasn’t a very good game though. But the barman recognised us since yesterday and gave us a free beer! Always nice with friends in important places (in other words, bars!).
Also I must apologise if anyone has tried to write a comment, it seems I had somehow put that I would only allow google-users or members of this blog to comment. It should be fixed now though, so don’t be shy!
Otherwise life’s all right (it will be even better when we find a flat), the weather is still mild, the food and drinks okay and we’re getting by all right with the Spanish we do have (although school will for sure be difficult…
Bye for now,
/k
So today we have already done some good stuff – bought Spanish sim-cards, went to the international relations office and received some help in looking for apartments (still no luck though, but we’re calling on some tonight so keep your fingers crossed…). The people at the university were really friendly and we understood most of what they said – I guess they’re used to having foreigners with bad Spanish coming there. We also met a German girl there who seemed nice.
We have also now figured out that the shops are in general open between 10-14 and then 17-20.30. Weird for us, normal for them. I mean what if we get a craving for something in between those times? Then it will be close to impossible to give in to the craving! Planning ahead, sure, but you never know what you’re in the mood for…
Yesterday evening we watched our first Spanish football game in Spain, although it was on TV, Osasuna-Barcelona. It wasn’t a very good game though. But the barman recognised us since yesterday and gave us a free beer! Always nice with friends in important places (in other words, bars!).
Also I must apologise if anyone has tried to write a comment, it seems I had somehow put that I would only allow google-users or members of this blog to comment. It should be fixed now though, so don’t be shy!
Otherwise life’s all right (it will be even better when we find a flat), the weather is still mild, the food and drinks okay and we’re getting by all right with the Spanish we do have (although school will for sure be difficult…
Bye for now,
/k
Sunday 4 February 2007
starting to feel at home already
Hola!
We have now been here in Valladolid for a good 24 hours and wow, we are amazed by the beauty of the city centre and by the almost complete lack of grocery stores. There are many shops, restaurants, bars and cafés, but to find a place to buy fruits or water to keep in our room – well, lets just say it could be easier. (Sometimes it’s easy to miss Möllan back home and its ability to solve and craving no matter what time a day it is.)
The weather here is dry and a bit cold when the sun goes down, but in the middle of the day it is warm enough to sit outside and have lunch or coffee without feeling even a little bit cold. What’s amazing is the amount of people out on the streets during the days and nights – complete families, people of all ages! But it is a bit frustrating to get used to the new times a.k.a. when to eat dinner, when stores are open and so on. But we will I am sure. Yesterday evening we managed to find a nice restaurant and start to eat just before the big rush and so that is our plan for future meals.
Walked around today to see not only the city centre with the main street and plaza mayor, but also to find where the university is. And the university is so beautiful! Old buildings with beautiful parks, I think we’re going to like it here. (Although I am still afraid of sitting in on lectures given in Spanish and try to understand that… it will be a hard working semester I think.) Tomorrow we are going to the university and talk to them, get Spanish sim-cards (finally), and call about apartments. It’s scary having to talk on the phone to someone in Spanish, you can never be sure exactly if you’re getting it right and whether you’re expressing what you want to express, but a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do. Our goal is to find an apartment as soon as possible, not only because hostels cost more in the long-run, but also since my mom and brother are coming to visit soon and then I will get more stuff to carry around…
Anyway, will be back with more info soon.
Adíos for now,
/k
We have now been here in Valladolid for a good 24 hours and wow, we are amazed by the beauty of the city centre and by the almost complete lack of grocery stores. There are many shops, restaurants, bars and cafés, but to find a place to buy fruits or water to keep in our room – well, lets just say it could be easier. (Sometimes it’s easy to miss Möllan back home and its ability to solve and craving no matter what time a day it is.)
The weather here is dry and a bit cold when the sun goes down, but in the middle of the day it is warm enough to sit outside and have lunch or coffee without feeling even a little bit cold. What’s amazing is the amount of people out on the streets during the days and nights – complete families, people of all ages! But it is a bit frustrating to get used to the new times a.k.a. when to eat dinner, when stores are open and so on. But we will I am sure. Yesterday evening we managed to find a nice restaurant and start to eat just before the big rush and so that is our plan for future meals.
Walked around today to see not only the city centre with the main street and plaza mayor, but also to find where the university is. And the university is so beautiful! Old buildings with beautiful parks, I think we’re going to like it here. (Although I am still afraid of sitting in on lectures given in Spanish and try to understand that… it will be a hard working semester I think.) Tomorrow we are going to the university and talk to them, get Spanish sim-cards (finally), and call about apartments. It’s scary having to talk on the phone to someone in Spanish, you can never be sure exactly if you’re getting it right and whether you’re expressing what you want to express, but a girl gotta do what a girl gotta do. Our goal is to find an apartment as soon as possible, not only because hostels cost more in the long-run, but also since my mom and brother are coming to visit soon and then I will get more stuff to carry around…
Anyway, will be back with more info soon.
Adíos for now,
/k
Saturday 3 February 2007
Final destination: Valladolid
Hola!
Today we left a wonderful (and cheap) hostel in central Madrid, and Madrid in itself, for the final destination and our home the next few months - Valladolid! The bus ride was okay (went by Athletico Madrid’s football stadium!!) and the closer we came a feeling in my stomach started making itself noticed. No, it wasn’t one of worry and distrust in my new location, rather the opposite. That everything will work out and be okay. The taxi ride from the bus station to our new hostel showed us that the city is much smaller than Madrid (dah!) and that people seem to actually live here and have sort of ‘normal’ lives. Okay, I know, people live in Madrid as well, but the city is so big that it is hard to see the – how should I put it? – normal lives of normal people… I’m a bit blurry in my description I know, but I’m sure I will come back with more thoughts on that later as I get to know Valladolid and go back to visit Madrid (Miguelito has promised me a guided tour!).
Our first stop in Valladolid was ‘Harlem Café’, just opposite our hostel (the hostel didn’t open until after a while), a nice place where they show rugby on TV and the clientele consisted of mainly men. After a couple of cervezas we went to our hostel and carried our heavy suitcases up the stairs (it seems lifts are a luxury in Spain, and that it was stupid to bring so much stuff here – my shoulders are broken :-( ). It was no problem to stay for longer and guess what!? They have wireless in our room! That was definitely a nice surprise.
Tonight we’re going out for dinner and maybe some more beers and tomorrow we will explore our new home city (and try to find our new home football stadium! ;-)
Will be back soon with further details! Take care
Adíos for now/k
Today we left a wonderful (and cheap) hostel in central Madrid, and Madrid in itself, for the final destination and our home the next few months - Valladolid! The bus ride was okay (went by Athletico Madrid’s football stadium!!) and the closer we came a feeling in my stomach started making itself noticed. No, it wasn’t one of worry and distrust in my new location, rather the opposite. That everything will work out and be okay. The taxi ride from the bus station to our new hostel showed us that the city is much smaller than Madrid (dah!) and that people seem to actually live here and have sort of ‘normal’ lives. Okay, I know, people live in Madrid as well, but the city is so big that it is hard to see the – how should I put it? – normal lives of normal people… I’m a bit blurry in my description I know, but I’m sure I will come back with more thoughts on that later as I get to know Valladolid and go back to visit Madrid (Miguelito has promised me a guided tour!).
Our first stop in Valladolid was ‘Harlem Café’, just opposite our hostel (the hostel didn’t open until after a while), a nice place where they show rugby on TV and the clientele consisted of mainly men. After a couple of cervezas we went to our hostel and carried our heavy suitcases up the stairs (it seems lifts are a luxury in Spain, and that it was stupid to bring so much stuff here – my shoulders are broken :-( ). It was no problem to stay for longer and guess what!? They have wireless in our room! That was definitely a nice surprise.
Tonight we’re going out for dinner and maybe some more beers and tomorrow we will explore our new home city (and try to find our new home football stadium! ;-)
Will be back soon with further details! Take care
Adíos for now/k
Friday 2 February 2007
Estoy en Madrid!!
Hola!
We arrived in Madrid in the middle of the night and it has been crazy so far. But I have ordered my first coffee in Spanish and asked for directions and tried to get around. The weather is warmer than at home but quite cold when the sun isn't shining. We had our lunch at the Plaza Mayor outside today and it wasn't too cold... :-) The people are friendly although their language skills in English could be discussed. This is on the other hand good for our language skills...
Will be back soon with further details. I miss you all.
/k
We arrived in Madrid in the middle of the night and it has been crazy so far. But I have ordered my first coffee in Spanish and asked for directions and tried to get around. The weather is warmer than at home but quite cold when the sun isn't shining. We had our lunch at the Plaza Mayor outside today and it wasn't too cold... :-) The people are friendly although their language skills in English could be discussed. This is on the other hand good for our language skills...
Will be back soon with further details. I miss you all.
/k
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