¡¡¡Los Mierders!!!

Los Mierders son....

Carlos, Sergio, Vega, Me, Maria, Elena (guest Mierder), and Begoña
Not pictured: Jorge and Andrea

Maria. Maria is a long time Mierder. She is one of Carlos' closest friends. She's almost always up for having a few cañas (small beers) at her favorite establishment, El Lamiak, which is a bar near our house. She's the steady, easy-going member of the group. She's also pretty sharp and seems to be a good debater!

Begoña. Begoña laughs easily at the tonterias of her friends, of which there are many! She is often in on any plans that involve movies or going out. ¨Si a todo!¨

Vega. Oh, Vega Vega Vega! Vega is a joker and often the group organizer. Sometimes her grandiose schemes don't always work out, but it's fun to plan them anyway! She can be very motherly, taking care of everyone in the group. She's a good listener and can connect with just about anyone. If there is ever a visitor to the group that no one is talking with, you can be sure Vega will be able to strike up conversation with them.

Elena. Elena is often away as she works as an archeologist in Egypt. We'll call her a Guest Mierder. She brings a feisty sense of humor to the group and is very funny. Last time we hung out she brought out the hot pink lipstick to turn the party up a few notches! I wish she lived in Madrid so we could hang out more. She reminds me of some of my friends back home.

Me. I suppose I am also a Mierder. Although I don't always understand what everyone is saying, especially in a loud bar, my listening skills have improved a lot over the past two years. Here you can see my huge mouth.

Sergio. Sergio is also a long time Mierder. His nickname is Pulpo (Octopus) because (I assume) he always seems to be swinging his long arms all around the place. Whether he's talking, dancing, or walking you often have the feeling that he is reaching his tentacles out. He's very in touch with his emotions and is more sentimental than the other male Mierders. He can also be very spontaneous which can be good or bad... He is very good at manipulating his fellow Mierders into doing things to help him out. He drives Vega crazy... in the good way and not so good way sometimes!

Another thing I must add about Sergio is that I wouldn't have ever met any of the Mierders (including Carlos!!) if it weren't for Sergio. When Lily and I came to Madrid and were desperately looking for a place to stay via Couch Surfing, Sergio offered for us to stay with him. Carlos and Andrea came over and we went out to a salsa bar where Lily and I attempted to salsa dance in our big, clunky boots. We stank since we had been working on a horse farm. Despite our stinky clothes (Sergio made us put our boots in the hallway) and inability to dance, we had a lot of fun with Sergio and Carlos and came back to visit them before we left Spain. And the rest is history!

Carlos. My Sweet. He is often the initiator of silly games and comes up with ideas for fun adventures.  He's very much in touch with his inner child which makes for a good time when you mix that with other Mierders, a few drinks, and a long night!

Jorge. Unfortunately Jorge wasn't at the party with lemons, but here's pretty good photo of him which I think represents a large part of his personality: the poet, musician, deep (most of the time!). He's the kind of guy who gets up really early Saturday morning to be at the National Library right when they open. Although Jorge can be a deep, intellectual he is also like most other men who love football and like to go to La Latina on Sunday to check out the ladies!! You know it's true, Jorge!!

Andrea. This picture says a lot. Andrea is a born leader and when we are all together he does his best to herd us like sheep. He's Italian and is a great cook. And with those blue eyes and fit body, he is a hit with the ladies. I don't see him as often as other Mierders as he seems to run in many different circles, but if there is ever a night involving dancing or cooking or a excursion to the mountains he is sure to be there.

Here is a pic from one of the first times I hung out with the Mierders which was about 2 years ago. The two on the left side are visiting friends!

On this cold winter day Carlos, Sergio, Vega, and I visited a nearby pueblo en Los Pueblos Negros.

Here Carlos and Jorge are in La Latina. Sometimes all the Mierders meet there on Sunday and other times it's just the guys. They like to go to ¨watch the football game¨, but I know what it's really about- checking out all the ladies. La Latina on Sunday should be filmed as part of a National Geographic series on animals and their pre-mating rituals. Seriously. Groups of men and groups of women all go there decked out in their sexiest clothes and after several gin and tonics they are ready to flirt.

This is a classic scene. Often times the Mierders get together at Sergio's house for a music session and wine and food. Carlos and Jorge come with their guitars to play rock and blues and Sergio plays sentimental songs on his piano. And sometimes the girls, also known as the Muñecas Rotas, play as well. Sergio's music is sometimes referred to ¨pastel¨ which means cake because it's so sweet and light.

DAY AT THE RACE TRACKS

We've all gone to the watch the horse races a couple times. The first time we went about two years ago we all betted on a horse named Dyslexia (right? it was something like that) and she won!! So we used our earnings to pay for a big, delicious meal at our favorite Indian restaurant in Lavapies, Shapla. It was so exciting to win!!

This past Spring we went again. Here we are before the races start.

And here you can see the tension, nervousness, and anticipation as the Mierders watch the horses reach the end of the race!!

The particular race was pretty intense. Sergio bet on number 8 in several races because as he was leaving his house that morning his roommate told him that he thought number 8 would be a lucky number. And as it turned out horses that were number 8 won several races!! Here Sergio is holding his ticket with his bets in front of the screen replaying the win of horse number 8. In this race the jockey actually fell off his horse just as he had crossed the finish line. The rule is that the jockeys must stay on their horse until crossing the finish line. 

Here you can see that while he wasn't in the saddle, he was still ¨on¨ the horse as he crossed the line.

Sergio won some big money in that race!! Well, like 40 euros or something.

It looks like there are two horses, but it's only one with a mirror image.

Here are the Muñecas Rotas and me in the one and only favorite bar,  The Lamiak! Good times!!

Here are Vega and Elena after putting on their hot pink lips!

Hahaha! This picture makes me laugh. Here we have the one and only Jose Angél. He is a guest Mierder. He is often trying to seduce women and here is his classic look. Doesn't he look like he is trying to seduce? He is really sweet and is a really great cook!! As he says, the most important ingredient is AMOR!! What a guy!

Here is Vega, stepping out for a smoke. I love this picture. Evening in Lavapies.


As I was packing my bags to come back to the States, I had to leave behind some clothes and things. Here are the Mierders, each with some article of clothing I left behind. They took this picture after I had left. They all look great!! Especially with that white-eyed possessed look. By looking at the background I can tell they are in Calle Argumosa. I already miss it all SO MUCH!!

Dearest Mierders,
I love you all and miss you so very much. I have so many fun (and funny) memories of us together. I hope to be back to visit (or live) soon!! And please don't forget that as long as I am here, you all will have a place to stay when you visit the USA!!
Muchos Besos!!!
Yours always,
Sarah

Food! Marvelous Food!

When I am cooking I often forget to take pictures of some of my best creations. Fruits and vegetables here are a lot cheaper than back home and because there are so many immigrant food stores in my neighborhood I can easily get my hands on special spices or other not-so-common ingredients. For example, here you can buy a good sized bag of curry and other Indian spices for less than a euro! Back home one of those little dinky glass bottles of spices costs from 2 to 3 dollars!
Not only is there plenty of inexpensive variety, but because I'm here in a city where everything you need is within walking distance, if I lack a certain vegetable or whatever I just walk around the corner and buy what I need at either the tiny fruit and veggie store run by really sweet Indian men with big brown eyes or across the street to the Chino where a Chinese family sells the essentials. I'm really really going to miss this - the accessibility of everything. Back home I would have to get in a car. Such a drag!

The other day for lunch I taught Carlos how to make gazpacho. I know, it's funny. Me teaching the Spanish guy how to make one of his National dishes. I guess we are both learning. No gazpacho is ever the same. Some batches are perfect, others too oniony.

GAZPACHO

The simple ingredients: bread (optional), a green pepper (bell or Italian is fine), a red bell pepper, a cucumber, several tomatoes, garlic, onion, salt, olive oil, vinegar, and water.

Cut up the green and red peppers. I used the whole green pepper because it wasn't too big and then used about a quarter of a large red bell pepper. I used about 5 or 6 large plum tomatoes, a quarter of an onion, one medium clove of garlic, and a whole small cucumber. According to Carlos's Grandmother and Mother, you should leave on some of the cucumber skin. It adds texture and flavor. Also, sometimes people will throw in a little carrot.

Put all this in the blender and add about a cup or two of water. Blend until it's finely chopped.

Lots of people here add a little bit of soaked bread to their gazpacho. They usually use the standard white bread. I usually skip this step. 

Here we add the vinegar and oil before blending the veggies. Now I prefer to blend first and then add some vinegar and oil and salt. Start by adding conservative amounts so you don't over do it. You might need to add more water if it's too thick. It should be very liquidy. 

Carlos is taste testing and maybe adding a few beard hairs.

Once your gazpacho is just right, put it in the fridge, preferably next to a jar of fat, juicy olives! Cold gazpacho is soooo refreshing when it's suffocatingly hot and your insides are parched and shriveling up like a raisin.

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

First I sauté some vegetables. Usually green and/or red peppers, onions, carrots, and mushrooms. You could add eggplant, celery, whatever! I think mushrooms are important because they absorb the flavor so well. I usually add a little bit of butter to the olive oil when I'm cooking the vegetables. For spices I add lots of cumin, and a little bit of black pepper and cayenne. And a couple pinches of salt. 

Once the vegetables are cooked, but not too soft, I add a cup and a half of water. I turn the heat down to medium and give it a little stir to loosen up the flavor bits on the bottom of the pan. Once the water starts to bubble I add a cup of couscous and turn off the heat. Cover with a lid and let the couscous absorb the water and become fluffy.

Sometimes I add a little bit of feta cheese to the couscous. It goes well with the cumin! Also, it's very Spanish to sprinkle some fresh onion and pepper on top when serving the gazpacho.

Whaaa Laaaaa!

Spring Brings...

Madrid comes to life again in Spring. The people here are addicted to socializing for hours with friends. They'll move from one bar to another and have a few tapas along the way. While catching up and thoroughly covering all sorts of topics they nurse their small glasses of draft beer, cañas. I'm sometimes challenged to sit and talk for so long, but this is one aspect of Spanish culture that I really do appreciate. They tend to take time to enjoy each other's company and relax. They don't drink heavy beers to get drunk. They drink slowly and with food and with lots of conversation.

Spring also means the gardens throughout the city are in full color. Here are some pics I took in the community garden near our house.

There are also more concerts and music festivals. Here is my dear friend Gerard performing with a group he recently joined. He's the one in the back with the cello, under the creepy-faced doll.

In May there was also a big manifestación in Sol plaza where people were protesting the cuts the government has made to education and other social programs. They were also denouncing the money given to bail out banks.
My friend Carlota, who I met at Valdefuentes, was here that weekend and we hung out in Sol for a while to check out the protest. She was a substitute teacher at my school and when her position ended to moved away to work as a teacher in a small pueblo far from Madrid. I have missed her!!

Here is Carlota and her friend, Carlos.

 A group of public school teachers played music. 

Also this weekend was the Festia de San Isidro. Not sure what the origins of this festival are, but lots of elderly people dress in traditional clothing and dance and sing. Most of the festivities happen in a park in La Latino, a neighborhood of Madrid.
I politely asked some people to pose for me and they were so pleased to be asked!

 A group of teenagers hanging out. 

A terrace in La Latina looking out to the Catedral Almudena.

Mom in Spain: The Pleasures of Gardens, Vino Tinto, and (of course!) La Comida!

Mom left a week ago after staying here for almost two weeks. We planned her trip around the 3-day holiday here in Madrid. I'm so glad she finally made it over here and was able to experience the reasons I love Spain! I tried to keep our schedule loose and with lots of relax time, but we still managed to do a lot of walking and moving around.

Our street

She arrived in the morning and after resting we took a walk around my hood. I showed her the Mercado de Anton Martin where there are separate stands for fruits and veggies, fish, meat, olives and other pickled delights, bread and pastries, etc. I love going to the markets just to look at the big whole fish with their shiny scales, the shocking pig heads and other parts.

 photo from the internet, but I could've taken it!

We visited Plaza Tirso de Molina and chatted with the woman who I sometimes buy flowers from. She gave Mom her first dos besos (two kisses). That's how people greet each other here. We walked through Lavapies and along Calle Argumosa where we sat out on the terrace and had some vino tinto and chips. It was a cool sunny day.

From there we headed on to Retiro park where we sat on a bench under the tall dinosaur-like pines. On the way home we stopped in at the Museo Reina Sophia during their free hours. I wanted her to see the famous Guernica by Picasso. It's a painting depicting a small pueblo in the Basque country that was bombed by Hitler's people during the Civil War.

Day Two

In the morning we took the high speed train to Cordoba, a small town in Andalucia. We stayed in a hotel right next to the breathtakingly beautiful Mosque. We had a quiet interior room, which was fine with us as we wanted to be able to sleep at night. It was fiesta time in Cordoba so the streets were packed with both tourists and locals gearing up for a long night of partying.

Inside our hotel. There were plants everywhere and a center patio with a fountain.

We had lunch at the Bodega Mezquita right next to the hotel. Salmorejo (a cold, creamy tomato soup), Eggplant fried in honey, Russian Salad, and some of Cordoba’s famous fino, a very strong white wine. It was hard to swallow at first, but by the end of the meal we were enjoying it.

We explored the impressing Mosque-turned Cathedral which sits next to the River Guadalquivir. It’s many arches take over the ceiling space. It’s one of the few Cathedrals in Spain where a lot of the Moorish design and architecture have remained and been preserved. 

The outside of the Mezquita. That's me by the door.

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Mom inside the Mezquita. 

Some of the remaining original work by the Muslims. I prefer their designs to the Catholic's many depictions of the suffering, bloody Jesus.

The courtyard of the Mezquita. I really like the different shapes of the cypress and palm trees. There are also lots of fountains and channels of water running everywhere. 

Cordoba is famous for it's flowery patios and the weekend after we left they held their annual patio festival when people open their doors to the public. We caught a few sneaky glimpses!

A view of Cordoba from the river as the sun was setting. 

Granada

After a nauseating (for Mom) bus ride to Granada, we collapsed in our ancient hotel which was in the Albaicín, a part of Granada that was originally built by the Muslims. All the houses are painted white and perched in a scattered maze on the hill across from the Alhambra. Our hotel was called La Casa de Los Fuentes. It wasn't really a hotel, but something more like a boarding house. There were people staying for weeks and a few people who lived there. There was a fountain in the middle of the house which was open. This is a typical style of many traditional Andalucian houses. The middle of the house is a open-air patio and the house is built in three stories, four sides that surround the patio. It allows for air to move through the house and keep it cool in the summer. 

(Mom, can you send me some pictures of the hotel?)

In order to get tickets for the Alhambra we had to wake up at 6:30 Monday morning and hike down through the Albaicín and up the steep hill to the Alhambra. Walking through the Albaicín in the early morning hours felt special. There was no one else around and the ancient city was just waking up. The sky was just turning from night to day and was a deep, stormy blue.

While waiting for our time to enter the Alhambra we went down to Plaza Nueva and had a wonderful, scrumptious breakfast at a fancy jazz cafe. Eggs, bacon, toast, fresh orange juice, cafe con leche, the works! It had been raining a lot and was nice to spend time in a warm place with lively music.

Even though it was my third time going to the Alhambra I was still excited and in awe over the breathtaking vistas and ornate detail everywhere. And it was my first time being there in spring. The gardens are the most important part of the Alhambra and when they are in bloom there is this feeling that you've entered some sort of fairy land.

 

 The original designers of the Alhambra and the gardens really knew how to incorporate nature into the buildings. Everywhere there are fountains, trees, and flowering bushes and vines. The buildings with their arches and curves are gentle and seem to mimic deigns in nature.