Nevertheless I did not loose my motivation even though Chinchón didn’t seem extremly popular at that time and so I and a friend took the bus 337 from Conde de Casal to Chinchón.

We arrived at the old Convent which is now called the Parador and has become a beautiful Restaurant and Hotel within a peacful atmosphere.

When it comes to tranquillity Chinchón is one of the most peaceful places I have seen so far without being deserted like some small villages tend to be. When you enter the market places, which looks like an old bullfighting square, you find people of all ages gathering around. They eat, drink, have a chat and you feel immediately welcome. I was asking around for an ATM from Santander and the people from Chinchón where the most friendly and helpful. It was obvious that we left the stressful life in Madrid far behind us.

We did not have to search for real Spanish villagers, they are everywhere!

Later on we visited Carlotta Lozano, the founder and owner of the beautiful shop OhCarlotta. I met her at a showroom at Carmencita Bar in Madrid and she one energetic businesswoman I can only admire! Have a look at her super-cool shop!

To make this article not too long, I will write another one soon about the great food and the beauty of Chinchón!

This Week/La Semana de:  14.05.2012 – 20.05.2012

++++++++++++++++Exhibitons++++++++++++++++

@ Centro del Arte Reina Sofia

Nacho Criado. Agentes colaboradores 
5 de mayo – 1 de octubre

Hans Haacke. Castillos en el aire 
15 de febrero – 23 de julio

Mateo Maté. Universo personal 
13 de marzo – 27 de junio

James Coleman 

25 de abril – 27 de agosto

@Thyssen Bornemisza

Chagall

@Circulo de Bellas Artes Madrid

(de martes a sábados de 11am – 2pm y de 5pm – 9pm, domingos de 11am – 2pm, lunes cerrado)

16.05.

CONFERENCIA FREUD Y LA SEXUALIDAD INFANTIL Milagros Martín Rafecas 20:00 Presenta Eloísa Castellano. Organiza Asociación Psicoanalítica de Madrid

17.05.

 TEATRO TÍO VANIA Compañía L´Om-Imprebis 20:30
CINE DEL MUDO AL SONORO El crepúsculo de los dioses 17:00 / The artist 19:30 / Tiempos modernos 22:00
DEBATE LA MIRADA REPUBLICANA 19:00 Participarán Luis Alegre-Zahonero, Eduardo Maura y César Rendueles
PRESENTACIÓN del documento RECOMENDACIONES DE LA SOCIEDAD CIVIL PARA LA PAZ JUSTA EN ORIENTE MEDIO19:00 Intervendrá Sergio Yahni. Organiza ACSUR
PRESENTACIÓN del libro de Almudena Grandes EL LECTOR DE JULIO VERNE 19:30 Participarán, ademas de la autora, José Mª Calleja, Esther Estremera y Cristino Pérez. Edita Tusquets

18.05.

TEATRO TÍO VANIA Compañía L´Om-Imprebis 20:30
CINE DEL MUDO AL SONORO Tiempos m

++++++++++++++Teatro+++++++++++++

@Teatro por Dinero

C/Loreto y Chicote 9

Título: ”De-Generación”
Texto: Marta Onzain
Dirección: Marta Onzain y Alberto R. Peña-Marín
Interpretación: Claudio Pascual, Ángela Durán y Zoraida Monje Cruz
Sinopsis:María se verá obligada a esconder a Ana bajo el edredón, mientras daba rienda suelta a su pasión, al hacer acto de presencia su padre.
Género: Comedia Dramática
Calificación: No recomendada a menores de 13 añosFechas y Horarios:
Del 2 al 27 de Mayo.
De miércoles a sábados:
20:30 – 20:55 – 21:20 – 21:45 – 22:10 – 22:25
Domingos:
20:00 – 20:25 – 20:50 – 21:15 – 21:40 – 22:05
Precio: 4€ por función

Título: ”Café solo”
Texto: Blanca Bardagil
Dirección: Juan Polanco
Interpretación: Iñigo Aranburu y Carles Goñi
Sinopsis: ¿Hasta qué punto estás dispuesto a renunciar a tu libertad?
Género: Comedia
Calificación: No recomendada a menores de 13 añosFechas y Horarios:
Del 2 al 27 de Mayo.
De miércoles a sábados:
20:45 – 21:10 – 21:35 – 22:00 – 22:25 – 22:50
Domingos:
20:15 – 20:40 – 21:05 – 21:30 – 21:55 – 22:20
Precio: 4€ por función

Título: ”Casting Porno”
Texto: José Ignacio Tofé Ortego
Dirección: Las Grotesqués (Elena Lombao y Silvia de Pé)
Interpretación: Elena Lombao y Silvia de Pé
Sinopsis: Se buscan actores y actrices (con ojos) para la primera película del nuevo porno.
Género: Comedia
Calificación: No recomendada a menores de 18 años

Fechas y Horarios:
Del 2 al 27 de Mayo.
De miércoles a sábados:
20:35 – 21:00 – 21:25 – 21:50 – 22:15 – 22:40
Domingos:
20:05 – 20:30 – 20:55 – 21:20 – 21:45 – 22:10
Precio: 4€ por función

Título: “Padre y Hermana”
Texto y Dirección: Anna R. Costa
Interpretación: Alba Flores y Pablo Vázquez
Sinopsis: ¿A quién se le ocurrió un buen día separar el sexo de lo divino y lo sagrado? A Dios pongo por testigo.
Género: Comedia
Calificación: No recomendada a menores de 13 añosFechas y Horarios:
Del 2 al 27 de Mayo.
De miércoles a sábados:
20:50 – 21:15 – 21:40 – 22:05 – 22:30 – 22:55
Domingos:
20:20 – 20:45 – 21:10 – 21:35 – 22:00 – 22:25
Precio: 4€ por función

Título: “4º Oscuro”
Texto: José Antonio Boada
Dirección: Gina Piccirilli
Interpretación: Luis Callejo y Josean Boada
Sinopsis: Dos hombres se encuentran en un cuarto oscuro gay. Sorpresa, intimidades y confesiones en medio de una atmósfera irrepetible.
Género: Comedia
Calificación: No recomendada a menores de 18 añosFechas y Horarios:
Del 2 al 27 de Mayo.
De miércoles a sábados:
20:40 – 21:05 – 21:30 – 21:55 – 22:20 – 22:45
Domingos:
20:10 – 20:35 – 21:00 – 21:25 – 21:50 – 22:15
Precio: 4€ por función

I Certamen de Microdanza“Da tu valoración con tu aportación”
Martes 1, 8, 15 y 22 de Mayo.
La Asociación ECSA en colaboración con Microteatro por Dinero convocan, el I Certamen de Microdanzaen relación a la Mesa de Debate “La actualidad de la gestión en la Danza”. El objetivo de dicha convocatoria es indagar en el valor que el público otorga a la Danza en relación al precio que ha de pagar por las entradas. El tema al que giran las propuestas presentadas será “Por Dinero”.

++++++++++++++++Intercambios++++++++++++++++

Sundays/Domingo

@ 7pm The Quiet Man, C/Valverde 44, Metro Tribunal L1 & L10, Gran Vía L1 & L5

Tuesdays/Martes

 @ 8:30pm Carmencita Bar, C/San Vincente Ferrer 51, Metro Noviciado L2

Wednesdays/Miercoles

@ 8:30pm The Quiet Man, C/Valverde 44, Metro Tribunal L1 & L10, Gran Vía L1 & L5

@8pm J&J Books and Coffee, C/Espíritu Santo 47, Metro Noviciado L2

Thursdays/Jueves

@ 8 pm J& J Books and Coffee,C/Espíritu Santo 47, Metro Noviciado L2

 14.05. Monday/Lunes:

Fiesta de San Isidro @  Maria Pandora, Plaza de Gabriel Miró 1, Las Vistillas (Metro La Latina/Puerta de Toledo L5)

Orquesta The Clams, 21 h.

Ahora mandan las chicas: ocho mujeres desesperadas, armadas hasta los dientes de vientos de metal y gruesos graves, para recuperar el sabor del más genuino y sudoroso R&B.

Mariló Ye-Ye, 23 h.
Mariló es una artista que nos transporta años atrás: con ella nuestra realidad se distorsiona para convertirse en un psicodélico viaje a la añorada década de los 60. ¡Únete al guateque!

Gisela Novais & The Victims  @ 10 pm Berlin Café

15.05. Tuesday/Martes:

Fiesta de San Isidro @  Maria Pandora, Plaza de Gabriel Miró 1, Las Vistillas (Metro La Latina/Puerta de Toledo L5)

Alamedadosoulna, 22 h.
Una banda de músicos-comediantes con una sola misión: reventar todos los escenarios que se les pongan a tiro. Producen, diseñan, improvisan… reinventan cada noche el concepto
de actuación musical, arrasan cualquier escenario y renuevan sus shows cada año.

17.05. Thursday/Jueves:

4:45pm Siete novias para siete hermanos @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

7pm  Ha nacido una estrella @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

 18.05. Friday/Viernes:

5pm  Los caballeros las prefieren rubias @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

8pm Cantando bajo la lluvia  @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

10pm Un día en Nueva York  @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

11pm Quiz Night @ J&J Books and Coffee

 19.05. Saturday/Sábado:

12am-5pm Brunch @ Carmencita Bar, C/San Vincente Ferrer 51, Metro Noviciado L2

5pm  Un día en Nueva York  @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

7pm West Side Story  @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

 10pm Cantando bajo la lluvia @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

 20.05. Sunday/Domingo:

12am-5pm Brunch @ Carmencita Bar, C/San Vincente Ferrer 51, Metro Noviciado L2

5pm Cantando bajo la lluvia @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

 7:30pm  Los caballeros las prefieren rubias @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

9:30pm Ha nacido una estrella @ Circulo de Bellas Artes

I managed mine in a few minutes but I have seen others having more problems with it. Nevertheless the fun was guaranteed!

Here an excerpt from the artist bio: Marta Botas

Del jueves 10 de mayo al 10 de julio 2012 podrás visitar la exposición de ilustración Memory Cocina de la diseñadora e ilustradora Marta Botas. La inauguración tendrá lugar el 10 de mayo donde se presentará un juego con el mismo nombre: 24 cartas para ejercitar el cerebro. Vuelta y vuelta.

Marta Botas es ilustradora y ex-alumna de la escuela de Diseño Gráfico, de la promoción del 2000, del IED Madrid. Desde hace años, imparte clases de ilustración en el curso de Título Superior en Diseño de Diseño Moda, (Equivalente a Grado Universitario), Diseño Gráfico y másteres, siempre relacionadas con la Ilustración, como el Máster de Diseño Editorial: Medios Impresos y Digitales.

via IED Madrid

Have a look here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87jlYEzPdYE

La Modethêque invited its facebook fans last monday to this concert in the shop. It was to start at 8pm and as we entered we could already here that something was happening upstairs. Gisela Novais and her band member Guillermo (Willian) were doing a sound check on the first floor. As the shop is like a box full of treasures, people enjoyed looking around while they waited for the concert to begin.

Upstairs the band was sitting between vintage inspired clothes, which gave the whole a very interesting atmosphere. It was as if they would be playing out of a wardrobe.

Gisela was wearing a dress from the latest collection you can buy at La Modethêque and with the short curly hair and the heels she looked stunning and beautiful.

At the end we were all singing “Sweet Dreams” and I am sure we will be back for the next concert.

If you want to get more information, visit the facebook page of La Modethêque.

Here the last song they played: “Sweet Dreams”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO_DzLvE7-I

For more about the band and more videos check out the Facebook page of Gisela Novais & The Victims!

La Tirana Malas Artes offers theatre, cinema, music, dance and comedy as well as a place for young artists to perform at the beginning of their career. 

The first time there you will probably get lost or pass by the door, turn and come back to find yourself waiting under a small sign over it. After the door opens you normally enter a dark room, trying not to fall over any stairs until you get to someone asking for your name ( the theatre performances are normally booked out) or just the ticket fee. Next you will get to a staircase on the right where people start to get their seats which are actually pillows and when everybody sits, the show starts not more than 5 minutes later. The atmosphere is very intimate and if you have occupied the front row you can nearly touch the artists. At La Tirana Malas Artes you get the feeling of being among your best friends in a living room atmosphere enjoying a private show. On top of all sits the technician who manages the lights, music and special effects while the artists get ready next door. In the mean time you get explained what La Tirana Malas Artes is about, how it is managed and how many facebook fans they have.

For me it was a great discovery to get to know this cultural space with its enthusiastic team and kind audience.

Fridays they normally have free cinema in English or Spanish.

Saturday and Sunday is performance night or theatre.

Don’t forget to check with La Tirana Malas Artes facebook page to get more infos.

For more about La Tirana Malas Artes (LTMA), here an excerpt from their information page:

“La felicidad es una obligación”

Nos gusta hablar de nuestro espacio.
Pero cuando intentamos definirlo, mil palabras no son suficientes. Para nosotros, sería más fácil deciros lo que no es y lo que no será nunca.
Nunca será un lugar de confusión, nunca será un lugar de entretenimiento que no tenga voluntad de encontrar aspectos culturales. Nunca será un lugar sin esa “levedad” de Calvino, nunca será un lugar sin la potencia de la diversión.
Nunca será un lugar sin sentimientos.Si te gusta la idea de observar una ciudad y formar parte de ella, si te gusta escucharla y sentirte su cómplice en el placer de estar con la gente, de un momento de descanso, de música, de teatro, cine… aunque vivas en Segovia o Cambridge, en Estambul, Bucarest, Santiago de Chile, Chicago, Móstoles, Florencia o cualquier parte de este mundo, si, casualmente o por algún motivo, por un largo o breve periodo de tiempo, eres huésped en nuestra ciudad, nuestra Tirana tiene el placer de recibirte.

LTMA

It’s not always easy to explain the style of cooking in a country to people who have never been to this country. So when a friend from Madrid asked what people eat in Poland (the country I was born in) I couldn’t really explain it. I tried to explain the ingredients they use and that due to the low temperatures the cooking is based on cabbage, meat and fish. But this was not really the picture I wanted to give her of the Polish cuisine, and so I searched the internet fora shop with Polish products or a restaurant serving Polish food. I did find both and so we went. The we went to restaurant is called La Polonesa. It is a family business, and is situated 10 minutes from Atocha. When you enter you’ll find a bar where you can have a drink, some “Polish Tapas” and buy a glossy magazine witht the latest gossip from Poland. On the right they have a corner with Polish products including food, beverage (they sell Polish beer) and my favourite: The Polish chocolate bars, Prince Polo.

 At the end of the room is the entrance to the restaurant. When you go down the stairs into the room you will find a piano on the right followed by a sofa and two arm chairs, which invite you to have a coffee after you have eaten,  and  6 to 7 tables.

The room is decorated with paintings of Polish landscapes and family pictures from the owners of the restaurant. In one corner you even have a traditional Polish dress which people in Poland still wear for special occasions. The tablecloths, made by stitchery, are also typical for Poland.

It was up to me to decide what to eat. I decided that we should first have some tomato soup as a starter and later on we would have some pierogi filled with mushrooms and cabbage. There are probably not many people who haven’t tried a tomato soup in their lives and so everyone knows how it tastes. But thepeople would  be surprised by the Polish version. We put pasta inside and decorate it with parsley but that’s not very extraordinary. The difference lies in the addition of vinegar which makes the taste a bit sour, and makes it rather different from an ordinary tomato soup. When I tasted it I realized that this kind of tomato soup is something I would always associated with the Polish cuisine.

The second dish was pierogi and they came decorated with roasted onions. From all the dishes in Poland I would say that pierogi is my favourite. There are many different versions of stuffing, with meat, cheese and mushroom-cabbage stuffing. I also like the blueberry version which is served with cream and is sweeter than the others.

When another friend arrived she told us that she immediatly liked the restaurant and that she felt like at home in her living room. Her order was white sausage with potatoes and it was served with mustard and chrzan which is a cream of horse radish and very spicy. Chrzan is also a typical Polish product, but eaten only by people who like it spicy. They add it like mayonnaise or ketchup is added in other countries. As dessert she had Charlottka, a typical Polish apple cake.

My friends told me that they really enjoyed coming to La Polonesa and that we should come again and try some different dishes. The staff was very friendly and they speak Spanish and also English if it would be necessary.

Before we left I bought me some Prince Polo and we got some Polish vodka to try.

More pictures of the tasty food!

La Polonesa

C/ Narciso Serra 3, 28007 Madrid
Metro Menéndez Pelayo
Phone 667701090
Monday till Sunday from 13h to 24h

As an expat you might have to give up some of your traditions and national holidays in your new country. As a Dutch in Madrid it is the other way around. La Cultura de Holanda de España organizes the week before Koninginnendag many typical Dutch activities here in Madrid. It starts with a bike tour in orange from Plaza de Cibeles to Plaza del Carmen, where you can go on celebrating at a flea market organized for children. There is Dutch food, like frikandel, french fries, bitterballen and plenty happy Dutch wearing their orange T-shirts and having a good time.

The “Semana Naranja”- orange week goes from 21st of April to the 5th of May with the exact program as following:

Sab 21 de abril
09.30-11.00, Paseo en Bici, Centro
11.00-16.00, Mercadillo Holandés, Plaza del Carmen
18.00-21.00, Disco Dance4Life, Discoteca en Madrid

Lun 23 de abril
19.00-22.00, Museo del Traje, Museo del Traje

Mar 24 de abril
18.00-21.00, Conferencia Diseño y Arquitectura, Uni. Eur. de Madrid

Jue 26 de abril
16.00-20.00, Seminario sobre vivienda social y regeneración urbana, COAM

Sáb 05 de mayo
10.00-14.00, Panna Knock Out, Explanada del estadio Santiago de Bernabéu

It is a great opportunity to meet other expats from the Netherlands and have some traditional Dutch experience. More information on their facebook page of Cultura de Holanda en España.

The cover is every month an eye catcher. Madriz is written on it and one topic with a picture. Very simple with some more topics written smaller in the footer of the page. The editorial is never too long and you are done after 1 minute reading and can even start over again to get a better understanding. Did I mention it is written on a transparent page with changing authors every month?

Next Madriz is offering you a monthly agenda about the cultural offers in Madrid. Another way of opening your horizon but don’t expect a guide to all exhibitions happening in Madrid, it is more of a mixture of the obvious highlights you can find in a city culture blog and insider tips from the more secret places of the city. This months offer includes titles like: Libros sexy, Música y conflicto social, El chico de la última fila, Dirty York,… Everything but not a standard agenda.

After being inspired by the monthly offers, you can start reading the real stuff. Next to the main articles, which are giving you topics which are up-to-date like the Manzanares and it’s possible privatization last month or the secret new restaurants popping up in Madrid this month,  you get many tips and inspirations. Interviews with artists, literature to read, trends in fashion and short stories from the barrios of Madrid. At the end of the magazine they talk about being a … in Madrid. This month about monologist, the last one about woman.

My impression of the advertisement-free monthly magazine dedicated to Madrid is a very positive one. I enjoy reading the stories and getting inspired by their cultural recommendations. Madriz is a very young magazine which started some 10 months ago with a very informative way of telling their stories. It is really clear that their aim is to open the readers horizon and give us new possibilities in the city we live in.

Looking at their great website madriz.com and the Madriz magazine I am sure this is a great work if people who really enjoy working on good journalism.

With its 31 titles in the Primera División, 18 Copa del Rey victories, and a record number of 9 Champions League and European League wins, Real Madrid C.F. (founded March 6th, 1902) is one of the most famous export products of Madrid, and one of the prides of the city. Since 1947, its home-base has been the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, located on the Paseo de la Castellana, in Chamartín. Every home match it is filled with up to 85.454 fans, which makes the stadium one of the biggest in Europe, and visiting a Real Madrid game a very impressive experience.

Even on days when there is no match being played, Santiago Bernabéu is worth paying a visit. Every day, the stadium opens its doors to visitors, who can either take a guided (for 22 Euros) or unguided (for 16 Euros) tour. We took the unguided tour, which starts of by allowing you to take a panoramic view of the stadium, from up in the highest nook of the stadium. Next up is a visit to the Real Madrid museum inside the stadium. The museum contains a lot of history, from the original handwritten regulations made at the founding of the club, to the latest Copa del Rey, which Real Madrid won in the 2011 final against Barcelona.

From there on, the fun part (at least for me it was) begins. You are taken through some narrow halls, around some corners, and up and down some stairs, until at last you see some daylight popping up. Then, after you climb some final stairs, you end up right next to the pitch, close enough that you can smell the grass.

From there on you can take a look in the VIP area of the stadium, or take a picture in the same dug out where Mourinho and his players sit every two weeks. After that, the tour takes you down through the player tunnel, into the dressing room of the visiting team. Even though this one is probably a lot less luxurious than that of the Real Madrid players, it still allows the players to relax in their very own nice jacuzzi.

The last stop of the tour is of course the huge fan shop, where the fans can buy everything from the jersey of their favorite players, down to Real Madrid footballs, or even a Real Madrid watch.

This was a guest post written by my boyfriend after our visit to the most famous stadium in Madrid. He is a big soccer fan and really enjoyed having an inside look into all the tour had to offer. 

But hats are not only a fashion accessory which appear once in a while, they are the perfect summer accessories. They protect your head and hair from the burning sunshine as well as your face and eyes from early wrinkles.

My favourite hat moment is when I am on the beach wearing my big hat made of paper, which protects me perfectly from the sun. It has the same effect as an umbrella but with much more style.
Here in Spain hats are very common at weddings when every woman tries to find a matching hat to her dress or at least a decoration for her head. The unspoken rule seems to be: the younger the woman, the smaller the hat but the higher the heels. Older ladies appear in elaborate head decorations worth quite an amount of money.
Buying hats in Madrid is therefore not a difficult task, choosing the right one is of course a different question.
I have recently seen a big selection of straw hats for man at Corté Inglès on Paseo de la Castellana.
End of march I found a fantastic article of a hat designer in Madrid. Her name is Fátima de Burnay and she has her shop in the barrio de Chamberí. The article in SModa was showing her in her living room with a eclectic selection of hats, furniture and clothes. She has an impeccable style with many vintage pieces from Christian Dior hanging around and of course many beautiful hats in her apartment. Looking at her apartment and the collection of things it is like a dream come true for every lover of style, elegance and vintage.

Another great shop for hats with a touch of vintage is a store at Plaza del Dos de Mayo in Malasaña. They have clothes they say come “del fondo del armario” from the back of the closet. You can keep them forever because they never get out of style.

As a woman you have the advantage that you don’t have to take of your hat inside a room. A man has to take it off or it appears rude.