as you can see, i've added two more weather guys and which cities they're forecasting. so, now you'll know the current conditions for Puebla, Mexico and Rurrenabaque, Bolivia. i know i could have chosen more common cities like Mexico City or La Paz, but i wanted to be a little more unique...and besides, these cities have a special place in my heart. i worked in Puebla in 1994 and Rurrenabaque is the most laid back town i have ever encountered in Latin America - all you want to do is hang out in a hammock and plan trips to the Amazonian wilderness or the Bolivian pampas (grasslands). btw, i shortened it to Rurre because that's what the locals call it anyway.
i'm considering two more cities in addition to the three since the gal at weatherpixie.com has a limit of five cities per page. so you may see Thailand and New Zealand in the future; would very much like to visit friends in those countries...and soon!
Thursday, June 17, 2004
zonked...
lois is OUT. i took her to St. Anthony's for cataract surgery this morning. we were in by 8:00 and out by 11:00...talk about fast. i guess the sedation, removal of the cataract, and implant of a new lens takes only about thirty minutes. AND you're conscious the whole time...
i know you're wondering about the cataracts. well, it's not just octogenarians who are hampered by cataracts, younger people get them too. and pray that if you get one, you'll have the kind that ripen quickly; cataract surgery is not performed until it's completely ready (i.e., everything you see has a halo).
lois' cataracts took only a year to ripen. maybe these kinds are hereditary...her two oldest siblings had the surgery too. anyway, she's going to get the other eye (left) done towards the end of July. it should be an exciting time for her because she's worn glasses since she was very young. with the new lenses, her vision will be corrected to 20/40 or 20/60...a long way from blind as a bat with pretty bad astigmatism. for the first time in her life, she'll probably be able to even get soft contacts. a miracle since she always had gas perms. the cataract surgery will even lower the cost of glasses; the last few pairs of glasses cost her $300-$600. nothing like a light prescription ;)
if my astigmatism ever worsens to the point of needing gas perms, i can only hope for a quick and ripe cataract heh
i know you're wondering about the cataracts. well, it's not just octogenarians who are hampered by cataracts, younger people get them too. and pray that if you get one, you'll have the kind that ripen quickly; cataract surgery is not performed until it's completely ready (i.e., everything you see has a halo).
lois' cataracts took only a year to ripen. maybe these kinds are hereditary...her two oldest siblings had the surgery too. anyway, she's going to get the other eye (left) done towards the end of July. it should be an exciting time for her because she's worn glasses since she was very young. with the new lenses, her vision will be corrected to 20/40 or 20/60...a long way from blind as a bat with pretty bad astigmatism. for the first time in her life, she'll probably be able to even get soft contacts. a miracle since she always had gas perms. the cataract surgery will even lower the cost of glasses; the last few pairs of glasses cost her $300-$600. nothing like a light prescription ;)
if my astigmatism ever worsens to the point of needing gas perms, i can only hope for a quick and ripe cataract heh
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
in hiding...
that's where i've been. i have had all the intentions of blogging, but i just couldn't get it all together. know what i mean? i'm sure that you too have had days where you want to read everyone else's postings...and let the keyboard rest...just lying under yer hot little hands.
yes. i am 34 now. my friend sent me an e-card alluding to all the creaky parts we have; he says it's all downhill from here. friend. humph...
went to see Ladykillers at the cheapies today...with my friend, Cindy. was looking out for the other Cindi, but i think she's busy getting on me about blogging...or sumpin' like that. btw, where's your passport? you can use mine ;) i can always use a few more stamps. 'course, you're way too pretty for my passport pic. ugh. i wish i could have used my driver's license pic for this passport...it's ug-lee.
anyway, Ladykillers was quite funny. the Coen brothers are fantastic moviemakers. Fargo and Raising Arizona are two of my favorites. i'll go see it again with lois. we were planning to see it last friday, but opted for Shrek 2 instead, which is definitely worth seeing again. there are so many crazy homages that it's hard to catch them all with one viewing.
this past thirty days have been filled with movies. in addition to some of the pics that we caught on cable in Spain, we watched 'School of Rock'...'The Last Samurai'...'LOTR:ROTK'...'50 First Dates'...and 'Miracle' ALL on the plane. yep, 11-12 hours each way gives you PLENTY of time to watch movies on those trans-continental and atlantic flights.
off to dinner...but where? ooh, maybe Mori Restaurant. sashimi, teriyaki, tempura, and sake (or Kirin Ichiban beer) sounds kinda good! maybe Indian...saag paneer, chicken vindaloo, and kabli naan...mmmm, maybe not. i think i'll hold off on indian for another week or two.
what about you guys? is there some long standing tradition for b-day dinners that you want to fill me in on?
yes. i am 34 now. my friend sent me an e-card alluding to all the creaky parts we have; he says it's all downhill from here. friend. humph...
went to see Ladykillers at the cheapies today...with my friend, Cindy. was looking out for the other Cindi, but i think she's busy getting on me about blogging...or sumpin' like that. btw, where's your passport? you can use mine ;) i can always use a few more stamps. 'course, you're way too pretty for my passport pic. ugh. i wish i could have used my driver's license pic for this passport...it's ug-lee.
anyway, Ladykillers was quite funny. the Coen brothers are fantastic moviemakers. Fargo and Raising Arizona are two of my favorites. i'll go see it again with lois. we were planning to see it last friday, but opted for Shrek 2 instead, which is definitely worth seeing again. there are so many crazy homages that it's hard to catch them all with one viewing.
this past thirty days have been filled with movies. in addition to some of the pics that we caught on cable in Spain, we watched 'School of Rock'...'The Last Samurai'...'LOTR:ROTK'...'50 First Dates'...and 'Miracle' ALL on the plane. yep, 11-12 hours each way gives you PLENTY of time to watch movies on those trans-continental and atlantic flights.
off to dinner...but where? ooh, maybe Mori Restaurant. sashimi, teriyaki, tempura, and sake (or Kirin Ichiban beer) sounds kinda good! maybe Indian...saag paneer, chicken vindaloo, and kabli naan...mmmm, maybe not. i think i'll hold off on indian for another week or two.
what about you guys? is there some long standing tradition for b-day dinners that you want to fill me in on?
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
if you haven't noticed...
i changed my weather guy back to Denver from Madrid. i'm thinking about putting additional weather pixies to tell the conditions of other cities. i wonder if a couple more wouldn't hurt...and not dent that gals bandwidth too much.
oh yeah...
if anyone travels through Philly's airport and is on C concourse, you should definitely check out the salad place right across from gate C31. for $6.95, you can choose any three of their salads or get a triple sized portion (about 24-30 oz. by volume). we opted for their greek salad, roasted veggies, and a tuna pasta salad. it makes for some good snackin' (or a huge dinner for one) on the flight.
sure...$6.95 may get you two combo meals at McD's...at home. in the airport? ha. you can't get anything under $4. and why spend $5-$10 for the lame-o meals that they're starting to sell on domestic flights?
enough talk about food though...i'll post something different later today.
sure...$6.95 may get you two combo meals at McD's...at home. in the airport? ha. you can't get anything under $4. and why spend $5-$10 for the lame-o meals that they're starting to sell on domestic flights?
enough talk about food though...i'll post something different later today.
just a blob...
that's what i am right now. yesterday was a bugger. we got up in Madrid at 7:00 AM and didn't set foot into the house until 9:00 PM. fourteen hours...plus eight hours time difference. so we were basically on the go or on the plane for 22 hours (about nineteen of it in the airport and on the plane). you would think that we slept a bit since it was a bit brutal...ha! from the time we got on the plane to landing at DIA, it was daylight (since we gained a third of a day coming back); our circadian rhythms will take some time adjusting.
i know my meal schedule will be screwed. we had two meals on the trans-atlantic flight...quite decent too. it helps to request a special meal (e.g., low fat, low cholesterol) when you book an international flight. they're way healthier and often more filling.
for example, our lunch was swordfish (about 3 oz.), a bit of linguini, a tiny potato, carrots, a nice little three bean salad, a small pita, and a fruit mix. everyone else got chicken or pasta...with a lame salad, hard roll, and something sickeningly sweet (which is not always a bad thing ;).
our snack was an 8" ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of those huge, black, globe grapes that have seeds but are really sweet. the rest of the cabin got a sandwich that was probably 30% smaller, a teeny bag of chex mix, and an itty bitty piece of Toblerone chocolate.
i think there's a caloric range that the airlines try to meet for their meals. however, if they serve you an unhealthy meal, the portions will be smaller because the fat will ring up those calories. if you get a lowfat or cholesterol meal, it'll be inevitably bigger because extra veggies won't add to the calorie tally.
of course, this silly little diatribe is coming from someone who has had a ham, cheese, & salsa omelet, applesauce, chocolate pudding, and three servings of pasta in the last six hours LOL
i know my meal schedule will be screwed. we had two meals on the trans-atlantic flight...quite decent too. it helps to request a special meal (e.g., low fat, low cholesterol) when you book an international flight. they're way healthier and often more filling.
for example, our lunch was swordfish (about 3 oz.), a bit of linguini, a tiny potato, carrots, a nice little three bean salad, a small pita, and a fruit mix. everyone else got chicken or pasta...with a lame salad, hard roll, and something sickeningly sweet (which is not always a bad thing ;).
our snack was an 8" ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of those huge, black, globe grapes that have seeds but are really sweet. the rest of the cabin got a sandwich that was probably 30% smaller, a teeny bag of chex mix, and an itty bitty piece of Toblerone chocolate.
i think there's a caloric range that the airlines try to meet for their meals. however, if they serve you an unhealthy meal, the portions will be smaller because the fat will ring up those calories. if you get a lowfat or cholesterol meal, it'll be inevitably bigger because extra veggies won't add to the calorie tally.
of course, this silly little diatribe is coming from someone who has had a ham, cheese, & salsa omelet, applesauce, chocolate pudding, and three servings of pasta in the last six hours LOL
Sunday, June 06, 2004
something to do...
from Nelle´s...
What's going on?
What was the last ...
…meal you ate?
we shared a ham & cheese sandwich and some strong cafe au laits at the High Tech Cafe...which was way better than the meal we had last night at some ultra-scary buffet that we flipped a coin over (i wish the coin came up tails because we would have had some great kebab instead ;)
…thing you did online?
my fifteen minute post...
…television show you watched?
bbc news in Sevilla. although we did catch some weirdo western last night w/ Joan Crawford(!)
…purchase you made?
an hour of internet access on two computers for 1 Euro each
What do you currently…
...hear?
clicking and tapping of mice and keyboards
...see?
an okay mural along the wall we´re facing. it looks like a round bar with eleven customers and a waiter-type with a bowtie. on the bottom right corner is a painted monitor of the name of the place, Ciber Natura - upstairs is a juice bar/cafe and downstairs is the internet portion.
...smell?
cigarette smoke. we thought we could escape the poor ventilation by sitting in the far corner, away from the smoky smell. it lasted five minutes when a spanish guy sat down and lit up five feet away from us. we are so spoiled in the U.S. when it comes to no smoking; everyone here seems to smoke. and we´re talking about smoking in the elevator, internet cafes, airport, you name it.
...feel?
tired but happy that we´re supposed to go home tomorrow. i think that three weeks in a country is the max for us. and i´m also a bit annoyed with the cig smell, but we´re the freaks here for not being smokers...
What’s on your…
...toes?
cotton dress socks.
...head?
my smoke filled black hair
...mind?
how we´re going to spend the day. we were originally planning to go to Toledo, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site (yes, the WHOLE city), but we´re tired of train and bus rides AND of walking hill after hill. plus, we´re down to about 85 Euros, which will just about cover our meals and a taxi to the airport tomorrow; we don´t want to hit the ATM again.
i do know that we´ll have tapas one more time at La Moderna, a beer pub that we frequented during the first few days in Madrid. the main server there (on the patio), Angel, was really cool.
What's going on?
What was the last ...
…meal you ate?
we shared a ham & cheese sandwich and some strong cafe au laits at the High Tech Cafe...which was way better than the meal we had last night at some ultra-scary buffet that we flipped a coin over (i wish the coin came up tails because we would have had some great kebab instead ;)
…thing you did online?
my fifteen minute post...
…television show you watched?
bbc news in Sevilla. although we did catch some weirdo western last night w/ Joan Crawford(!)
…purchase you made?
an hour of internet access on two computers for 1 Euro each
What do you currently…
...hear?
clicking and tapping of mice and keyboards
...see?
an okay mural along the wall we´re facing. it looks like a round bar with eleven customers and a waiter-type with a bowtie. on the bottom right corner is a painted monitor of the name of the place, Ciber Natura - upstairs is a juice bar/cafe and downstairs is the internet portion.
...smell?
cigarette smoke. we thought we could escape the poor ventilation by sitting in the far corner, away from the smoky smell. it lasted five minutes when a spanish guy sat down and lit up five feet away from us. we are so spoiled in the U.S. when it comes to no smoking; everyone here seems to smoke. and we´re talking about smoking in the elevator, internet cafes, airport, you name it.
...feel?
tired but happy that we´re supposed to go home tomorrow. i think that three weeks in a country is the max for us. and i´m also a bit annoyed with the cig smell, but we´re the freaks here for not being smokers...
What’s on your…
...toes?
cotton dress socks.
...head?
my smoke filled black hair
...mind?
how we´re going to spend the day. we were originally planning to go to Toledo, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site (yes, the WHOLE city), but we´re tired of train and bus rides AND of walking hill after hill. plus, we´re down to about 85 Euros, which will just about cover our meals and a taxi to the airport tomorrow; we don´t want to hit the ATM again.
i do know that we´ll have tapas one more time at La Moderna, a beer pub that we frequented during the first few days in Madrid. the main server there (on the patio), Angel, was really cool.
Saturday, June 05, 2004
another fifteen...
i think i´ve gotten into the habit of trying to post something worthwhile in a span of fifteen minutes. i get on the computer and tell myself to blog, even if it´s for that amount of time.
back in madrid... i think i blogged from Cadiz last. Cadiz was interesting. an old seaport town that´s one of the oldest towns in Spain - established by the Phoenicians in 1100 B.C. the streets are narrow and the cobblestone is slick. and as i posted before, it is really laid back. places of business take a true siesta between 3:30 and 6:30, only the tourist places open during those times.
hah, i just realized that i last blogged from Ronda...well, you needed some more info on Cadiz anyway ;)
anyway, it´s good to be back in madrid. the two days after ronda were spent in sevilla, where it was 95 degrees the whole time. jeez, the breeze didn´t kick in until about 8:30.
yesterday, we spent an afternoon in Cordoba...in the cool confines of the Mezquita. you always see pictures of this phenomenal building, but never imagine seeing it (in person). unfortunately, after 500 years as a mosque, ceilings were built above the arches by the christian church. i admit that it´s nice and cool (if not a bit dark), but i wonder what it looked like all open...
we spent the last two days on the AVE (high speed train). it´s a bit expensive, but it´s worth it if you want to save time; a two and a half hour bus ride to cordoba from sevilla takes only 45 minuts on the AVE and a 5-6 hour trip to madrid is cut in half. unfortunately, i think the AVE is only to a couple points from madrid for now. they´ve been talking about one to Barcelona...but that´s all it is.
argh...it´s been about 14 minutes, so i better wrap it up. more to come later tonight or tomorrow...
back in madrid... i think i blogged from Cadiz last. Cadiz was interesting. an old seaport town that´s one of the oldest towns in Spain - established by the Phoenicians in 1100 B.C. the streets are narrow and the cobblestone is slick. and as i posted before, it is really laid back. places of business take a true siesta between 3:30 and 6:30, only the tourist places open during those times.
hah, i just realized that i last blogged from Ronda...well, you needed some more info on Cadiz anyway ;)
anyway, it´s good to be back in madrid. the two days after ronda were spent in sevilla, where it was 95 degrees the whole time. jeez, the breeze didn´t kick in until about 8:30.
yesterday, we spent an afternoon in Cordoba...in the cool confines of the Mezquita. you always see pictures of this phenomenal building, but never imagine seeing it (in person). unfortunately, after 500 years as a mosque, ceilings were built above the arches by the christian church. i admit that it´s nice and cool (if not a bit dark), but i wonder what it looked like all open...
we spent the last two days on the AVE (high speed train). it´s a bit expensive, but it´s worth it if you want to save time; a two and a half hour bus ride to cordoba from sevilla takes only 45 minuts on the AVE and a 5-6 hour trip to madrid is cut in half. unfortunately, i think the AVE is only to a couple points from madrid for now. they´ve been talking about one to Barcelona...but that´s all it is.
argh...it´s been about 14 minutes, so i better wrap it up. more to come later tonight or tomorrow...
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
btw...
everyone go and check out the website of my old neighbor, John Lunceford. i found his site a few weeks ago and told susie about it. she must´ve gotten in touch with him in the meantime... wow. he´s one talented kid!!! geez, i shouldn´t be calling him kid since he´s 30 now! just yesterday, he and i were digging up his backyard in search of anything. well, at least one of us outgrew the dirt digging ;)
help me ronda...
no, i´m not talking about the Beach Boys either. we´ve spent the last two nights in Ronda, Spain, which is in the central southern area. it´s one of many whitewashed towns along the Sierra Grazalema.
from reading the guidebooks, it would seem that Ronda is a sleepy little town with little to offer. i guess that´s somewhat accurate. unlike the major cities, most of the places close around nine o´clock. however, the infrastructure is pretty well established for tourism. the main draws for its visitors are the bullring (oldest one in Spain - 1785) and the ultra beautiful views of the bridge that spans the Tajo gorge.
we are majorly tired though. we really haven´t been on the go the entire time we´ve been here. in fact, we´ve been taking it easy - a vacation from the vacation. no, what has been tiring us out is the scaling of all the hills. our hotel is on the east side of town, about a fifteen minute walk to the central part of Ronda. the hills are killer. i don´t know how the cars navigate the super narrow and slick cobblestone streets. it´s even crazier to watch scooters and motocross bikes charge up these puppies.
although we almost wish that we stayed in a hotel closer to the bus station, the place we´re in, is really cool. it called the Entre Arte Hotel. we ended up paying 90 Euros a night for one of their double A rooms, which is pretty spacious. it´s about 30% more than we were paying in Sevilla for a junior suite and a buffet breakfast...but here, ALL the drinks (beer...wine...sherry) is included as well as a fantastic lunch spread. oh yeah, the internet access is free too. so, we´re just kicking back and enjoying the views of the mountains, listening to the thousands of frogs in the riverbank below, and enjoying the HELL out of ourselves!!!
i know i skipped a couple cities, but stay tuned...i´ll catch up eventually.
from reading the guidebooks, it would seem that Ronda is a sleepy little town with little to offer. i guess that´s somewhat accurate. unlike the major cities, most of the places close around nine o´clock. however, the infrastructure is pretty well established for tourism. the main draws for its visitors are the bullring (oldest one in Spain - 1785) and the ultra beautiful views of the bridge that spans the Tajo gorge.
we are majorly tired though. we really haven´t been on the go the entire time we´ve been here. in fact, we´ve been taking it easy - a vacation from the vacation. no, what has been tiring us out is the scaling of all the hills. our hotel is on the east side of town, about a fifteen minute walk to the central part of Ronda. the hills are killer. i don´t know how the cars navigate the super narrow and slick cobblestone streets. it´s even crazier to watch scooters and motocross bikes charge up these puppies.
although we almost wish that we stayed in a hotel closer to the bus station, the place we´re in, is really cool. it called the Entre Arte Hotel. we ended up paying 90 Euros a night for one of their double A rooms, which is pretty spacious. it´s about 30% more than we were paying in Sevilla for a junior suite and a buffet breakfast...but here, ALL the drinks (beer...wine...sherry) is included as well as a fantastic lunch spread. oh yeah, the internet access is free too. so, we´re just kicking back and enjoying the views of the mountains, listening to the thousands of frogs in the riverbank below, and enjoying the HELL out of ourselves!!!
i know i skipped a couple cities, but stay tuned...i´ll catch up eventually.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
oops...
i can´t believe that it has almost been a week since i blogged last! the past five-six days have been filled with so much that some of it is becoming a blur ;)
we´re in Sevilla now, Spain´s fourth largest city. it is hot, HOT. we got into the city yesterday afternoon from Granada and it has pretty much been in the high 80´s. thank god for a/c!!!
lessee here. i really should mention some of the places we´ve been, eh?
last friday, we took a day trip to Aranjuez, which is a short drive south of Madrid. nothing too special...just a small town that was once the spring and fall homes of the royal family. there´s a massive garden that the Spanish Bourbon monarchs built three hundred years years ago, in an attempt to replicate Versailles. now, i´m sure it´s nothing like it...but it´s still pretty damn impressive.
as i mentioned last week, the royal wedding was last saturday. everything was closed off for the limo procession and the security was tight; on one block, lois and i were stopped and searched at each corner by the police. later, when we were in the pharmacy, the 60-year old pharmacist told us that the cops confiscated an apple in her pocket because she ¨might throw it.¨ lol
what else...rain. and lots of it. in fact, it rained every day for the first six days we were in madrid. and when we went to Granada (5 hours SE) for two days, it rained there too. luckily, we were able to do the important things in the morning before the afternoon downpour.
anyway, back to our goofy itinerary.
tuesday was a long, but very worthwhile day. we went up to Segovia, which is about an hour north of Madrid. it´s known for three things - a massive aqueduct, a stunning cathedral built in 1525, and the Alcázar (a really cool castle).
the Segovia aqueduct was built around the first century BC. made of granite, it´s about a half mile long, has 166 arches, 120 pillars, and is around 100 feet high. other than its age, the other cool fact about this massive structure is that it was built WITHOUT any cement or mortar! how ´bout a pic?
the cathedral, although started in 1525, wasn´t finished for another 200 years. supposedly, it is the last Gothic structure built in Europe. go see this site.
if any of you have been to Disneyl*nd, or even watched the show as a kid, then you´ve seen the Alcázar. really. what´s the first thing you envision when you think of Disneyl*nd? the castle, right? well, the Alcázar served as the primary model for Walt´s little castle. and it is awesome!!!
i hate to cut it short, but we gotta head back to the hotel and pack for tomorrow. i´ll update from Cadiz...
we´re in Sevilla now, Spain´s fourth largest city. it is hot, HOT. we got into the city yesterday afternoon from Granada and it has pretty much been in the high 80´s. thank god for a/c!!!
lessee here. i really should mention some of the places we´ve been, eh?
last friday, we took a day trip to Aranjuez, which is a short drive south of Madrid. nothing too special...just a small town that was once the spring and fall homes of the royal family. there´s a massive garden that the Spanish Bourbon monarchs built three hundred years years ago, in an attempt to replicate Versailles. now, i´m sure it´s nothing like it...but it´s still pretty damn impressive.
as i mentioned last week, the royal wedding was last saturday. everything was closed off for the limo procession and the security was tight; on one block, lois and i were stopped and searched at each corner by the police. later, when we were in the pharmacy, the 60-year old pharmacist told us that the cops confiscated an apple in her pocket because she ¨might throw it.¨ lol
what else...rain. and lots of it. in fact, it rained every day for the first six days we were in madrid. and when we went to Granada (5 hours SE) for two days, it rained there too. luckily, we were able to do the important things in the morning before the afternoon downpour.
anyway, back to our goofy itinerary.
tuesday was a long, but very worthwhile day. we went up to Segovia, which is about an hour north of Madrid. it´s known for three things - a massive aqueduct, a stunning cathedral built in 1525, and the Alcázar (a really cool castle).
the Segovia aqueduct was built around the first century BC. made of granite, it´s about a half mile long, has 166 arches, 120 pillars, and is around 100 feet high. other than its age, the other cool fact about this massive structure is that it was built WITHOUT any cement or mortar! how ´bout a pic?
the cathedral, although started in 1525, wasn´t finished for another 200 years. supposedly, it is the last Gothic structure built in Europe. go see this site.
if any of you have been to Disneyl*nd, or even watched the show as a kid, then you´ve seen the Alcázar. really. what´s the first thing you envision when you think of Disneyl*nd? the castle, right? well, the Alcázar served as the primary model for Walt´s little castle. and it is awesome!!!
i hate to cut it short, but we gotta head back to the hotel and pack for tomorrow. i´ll update from Cadiz...
Sunday, May 23, 2004
it´s the wine...
argh...we just finished dinner across the street at a place called Cafe del Principe (Prince Cafe). it was soooo good. we had ham and potato croquettes, combination paella, a bottle of Faustino VII Rioja, tiramisu, and a couple super strong cafe con leches (cafe au laits). we escaped for 55 Euros (incl. tip)...not bad considering a bottle of wine and paella for two in denver runs about $50 anyway. and it was authentic here ;)
been a long day. we went to the Reina Sofia and the Prado and did some MAJOR walking. between the two, there are 145 galleries. i think we wandered through a bit more than half of them. had to. many of Madrid´s art galleris are free on sunday, saving us about 3-6 Euros at each one.
the Reina Sofia is quite interesting to say the least. much of it is modern art, mainly painting and sculpture in the postwar era. the gem of its collection is Picasso´s famous depiction of the Basque town, Guernica, which was destroyed by German bombers in 1937. it shows the general chaos and fear of the town´s citizens as they´re awakened by the noise and the carnage laid out by the bombs. it´s considered to be one of Picasso´s most famous works.
anyone who has studied a bit of art history is familiar with this painting...and has probably seen it ad nauseum in books or postcards...but to see the real thing is just mind-boggling! the canvas is SO freaking huge! i was not expecting it to be around 10 feet by 22 feet - damn!!! what´s even more stunning is the fact that picasso spent only five months working on the project (from studies to the finished product); talk about being driven!!!
as for the rest of the Reina Sofia, it was quite impressive, if not a bit confusing. i guess we´re not much for some modern pieces. there was some really strange stuff. still, to see a bunch of Miro´s and some amazin´ Picasso b/w photos of the first light of the Spanish Civil War...
and the Prado? there is so much that it just hurts yer tiny little head thinking about it. man, 105 galleries of goya...velazquez...caravaggio...rembrandt...el greco...flemish masters...i just don´t know what to say. it will leave you utterly speechless to view all the things you read about it books; the bold brushstrokes, the mastery of lighting...the perfect musculature...the gamut of emotions - it´s overwhelming. you simply can´t take all this stuff in on a daytrip. we´ll have to finish it on the 6th, the day before we leave.
well, i want to continue, but it looks like lois has fallen asleep on me. i promise that she´ll blog next time...she writes so much better than i.
been a long day. we went to the Reina Sofia and the Prado and did some MAJOR walking. between the two, there are 145 galleries. i think we wandered through a bit more than half of them. had to. many of Madrid´s art galleris are free on sunday, saving us about 3-6 Euros at each one.
the Reina Sofia is quite interesting to say the least. much of it is modern art, mainly painting and sculpture in the postwar era. the gem of its collection is Picasso´s famous depiction of the Basque town, Guernica, which was destroyed by German bombers in 1937. it shows the general chaos and fear of the town´s citizens as they´re awakened by the noise and the carnage laid out by the bombs. it´s considered to be one of Picasso´s most famous works.
anyone who has studied a bit of art history is familiar with this painting...and has probably seen it ad nauseum in books or postcards...but to see the real thing is just mind-boggling! the canvas is SO freaking huge! i was not expecting it to be around 10 feet by 22 feet - damn!!! what´s even more stunning is the fact that picasso spent only five months working on the project (from studies to the finished product); talk about being driven!!!
as for the rest of the Reina Sofia, it was quite impressive, if not a bit confusing. i guess we´re not much for some modern pieces. there was some really strange stuff. still, to see a bunch of Miro´s and some amazin´ Picasso b/w photos of the first light of the Spanish Civil War...
and the Prado? there is so much that it just hurts yer tiny little head thinking about it. man, 105 galleries of goya...velazquez...caravaggio...rembrandt...el greco...flemish masters...i just don´t know what to say. it will leave you utterly speechless to view all the things you read about it books; the bold brushstrokes, the mastery of lighting...the perfect musculature...the gamut of emotions - it´s overwhelming. you simply can´t take all this stuff in on a daytrip. we´ll have to finish it on the 6th, the day before we leave.
well, i want to continue, but it looks like lois has fallen asleep on me. i promise that she´ll blog next time...she writes so much better than i.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
humph...
the rain is coming down in sheets right now. we slogged through it for a half an hour to get to the internet cafe. the roads are either packed with people or totally closed off for the royal wedding. yes, i had no idea that the Prince of Spain was going to get married during our visit.
it has been total chaos since yesterday. we strolled by the Royal Palace and the Cathedral, watching the masses of papparazzi and media elbow each other for the prime viewing spots. you cannot watch anything on tv without it mentioning "la boda real."
geez, everyone from Hilary Clinton to Placido Domingo to Prince Charles to Nelson Mandela are in attendance. too bad they´re getting soaked too heh.
so, it looks like once this wedding is over, everyone in this city of 4 million will be able to go on with their lives; it´s like a ghost town our hotel´s neighborhood. and once we dry off, we´ll head to the Prado and the Reina Sofia museums. i´m very psyched to see Picasso´s Guernica at the Reina Sofia and to wander through the numerous galleries at the Prado, filled with works from Goya, Velasquez, and El Greco.
on monday and tuesday, we´re scheduled for daytrips to Segovia and Toledo. we are gonna stay bizzeee...
hope everyone is doing well...will blog soon! hugs
it has been total chaos since yesterday. we strolled by the Royal Palace and the Cathedral, watching the masses of papparazzi and media elbow each other for the prime viewing spots. you cannot watch anything on tv without it mentioning "la boda real."
geez, everyone from Hilary Clinton to Placido Domingo to Prince Charles to Nelson Mandela are in attendance. too bad they´re getting soaked too heh.
so, it looks like once this wedding is over, everyone in this city of 4 million will be able to go on with their lives; it´s like a ghost town our hotel´s neighborhood. and once we dry off, we´ll head to the Prado and the Reina Sofia museums. i´m very psyched to see Picasso´s Guernica at the Reina Sofia and to wander through the numerous galleries at the Prado, filled with works from Goya, Velasquez, and El Greco.
on monday and tuesday, we´re scheduled for daytrips to Segovia and Toledo. we are gonna stay bizzeee...
hope everyone is doing well...will blog soon! hugs
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Hi Guys
Can´t believe we´re finally in Madrid. It´s held such mystique for me for years, and now we get to see the country. We were so bent ouf of shape from trying to sleep on the plane...skinny seats, but not skinny butts. We´ve only begun our big 2004 adventure. Maybe we´ll have some fun travel stories to share. there´s a green parrot (computer assist) that keeps telling us we´re running out of time. Aren´t we all. so enjoy your hours hour by hour.
cheers
cheers
a quickie from madrid...
we´re finally here. the trip on the two planes was far from painless. our first flight to philly was delayed by 20 minutes and we didn´t get there until 50 minutes before our connection. so....after frantically rushing from one concourse to another, we boarded the other plane and sat there for another hour forty before we took off. sheesh. our asses were seriously tired even before the plane took off.
the flight to madrid was a bit better though. we were lucky enough to get some seats that were behind the crew´s sleeping area, which meant no one slamming into our knees at all. the onboard movies were great (big fish, the last samurai, school of rock, mystic river, and that looney tunes one). so, we settled in for another eight hours. lois was majorly uncomfortable though...
the hotel we´re staying at is a three star w7 nice amenities, although it´s a bit small. we found this internet cafe after quaffing a few beers and stuffing ourselves full of tapas at a cerveceria (brewery...but more of a beer garden). argh. it is so hard getting used to these keyboards...the keys are different.
anyway, i´m gonna let lolis blog for a few minutes before our time runs out! so...see ya!
the flight to madrid was a bit better though. we were lucky enough to get some seats that were behind the crew´s sleeping area, which meant no one slamming into our knees at all. the onboard movies were great (big fish, the last samurai, school of rock, mystic river, and that looney tunes one). so, we settled in for another eight hours. lois was majorly uncomfortable though...
the hotel we´re staying at is a three star w7 nice amenities, although it´s a bit small. we found this internet cafe after quaffing a few beers and stuffing ourselves full of tapas at a cerveceria (brewery...but more of a beer garden). argh. it is so hard getting used to these keyboards...the keys are different.
anyway, i´m gonna let lolis blog for a few minutes before our time runs out! so...see ya!
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
da plane...da plane
does not leave for another ten hours. and i still have not packed. no big deal though...after 20 trips out of the country, i can do it in 10-20 minutes; got the routine down pat.
been reading up some in my new guidebook that i bought at tattered a few hours ago. this time, i purchased a Rough Guide...which i haven't used since my last trip to Guatemala in '95. they're excellent guidebooks that contain excellent history and transportation info.
other guidebooks that i have relied heavily over the last 13 years are:
Lonely Planet...although prices aren't always up-to-date, one of the best guides w/ the most destinations. heavy as a brick though...
Footprint...comparable to LP guidebooks, but usually tall and bulky.
Let's Go...a guidebook based in the U.S. (the above titles come out of the U.K. and Australia) that provides some unique, if not quirky, info for the traveler. this title was started by Harvard students in the 60's.
Frommer's...not for the traveler on the cheap, but at least it's updated annually.
so, what do i typically take on a three week trip?
2-3 pairs of pants
1 long sleeved shirt
1 windbreaker
2 polo shirts
1 light jacket
5-7 t-shirts
2 pairs of shoes
1 pair of sandals
20 rolls of slide film
1 deck of cards
music
2 guidebooks if i haven't done my homework
1 crossword puzzle book
2 cameras (1 SLR and 1 point and shoot)
all this kee-rap usually fits in one small suitcase and a daypack. if i'm traveling to a warm climate for two weeks, i can survive w/ just one carry-on duffel bag and a fanny pack. a cold climate? throw in long johns, another long sleeved shirt, a couple candles (you'd be surprised how you can raise a room's temp. a bit w/ candles), a hat and maybe some gloves.
often, i'll take pretty ratty clothes if i'm going to a third world country...for two reasons:
1. thieves won't even consider me as a target if i look poor. granted, i don't dress in tatters, but it sure ain't flashy ;)
2. i can leave most of the clothes in the hotel room at the end of a trip and use the extra space for souvenirs. the hotel workers can either use some of the clothing or know someone who wouldn't turn it down.
well...we're looking at t-9.5 hours now ;) perhaps my next post will come from an internet cafe in Madrid...provided i don't oversleep and miss the plane LOL. i swear, it's too weird to take an afternoon flight. i know it's more convenient for Europe and South America because you'll get there the next morning, but i am so used to taking the 7AM flight to Mexico or Central America; i'd be leaving for the airport about now and asleep on the flight in no time ;)
been reading up some in my new guidebook that i bought at tattered a few hours ago. this time, i purchased a Rough Guide...which i haven't used since my last trip to Guatemala in '95. they're excellent guidebooks that contain excellent history and transportation info.
other guidebooks that i have relied heavily over the last 13 years are:
Lonely Planet...although prices aren't always up-to-date, one of the best guides w/ the most destinations. heavy as a brick though...
Footprint...comparable to LP guidebooks, but usually tall and bulky.
Let's Go...a guidebook based in the U.S. (the above titles come out of the U.K. and Australia) that provides some unique, if not quirky, info for the traveler. this title was started by Harvard students in the 60's.
Frommer's...not for the traveler on the cheap, but at least it's updated annually.
so, what do i typically take on a three week trip?
2-3 pairs of pants
1 long sleeved shirt
1 windbreaker
2 polo shirts
1 light jacket
5-7 t-shirts
2 pairs of shoes
1 pair of sandals
20 rolls of slide film
1 deck of cards
music
2 guidebooks if i haven't done my homework
1 crossword puzzle book
2 cameras (1 SLR and 1 point and shoot)
all this kee-rap usually fits in one small suitcase and a daypack. if i'm traveling to a warm climate for two weeks, i can survive w/ just one carry-on duffel bag and a fanny pack. a cold climate? throw in long johns, another long sleeved shirt, a couple candles (you'd be surprised how you can raise a room's temp. a bit w/ candles), a hat and maybe some gloves.
often, i'll take pretty ratty clothes if i'm going to a third world country...for two reasons:
1. thieves won't even consider me as a target if i look poor. granted, i don't dress in tatters, but it sure ain't flashy ;)
2. i can leave most of the clothes in the hotel room at the end of a trip and use the extra space for souvenirs. the hotel workers can either use some of the clothing or know someone who wouldn't turn it down.
well...we're looking at t-9.5 hours now ;) perhaps my next post will come from an internet cafe in Madrid...provided i don't oversleep and miss the plane LOL. i swear, it's too weird to take an afternoon flight. i know it's more convenient for Europe and South America because you'll get there the next morning, but i am so used to taking the 7AM flight to Mexico or Central America; i'd be leaving for the airport about now and asleep on the flight in no time ;)
Saturday, May 15, 2004
argh...
so lazy right now. it's gonna be a somewhat busy afternoon. for one, i am in DIRE need of a haircut. if i don't i'm convinced that those paranoid rent-a-cops at the airport will stop me for WMD in my hair - it's THAT bad.
also need to get to the library so i can find a spain guidebook or two for the plane. the two that i own are still quite good, but they're also about five years old. plus, it might be a wise decision to go to the library because i have a book that is due today.
and if i don't crash my car on the way back, i can spend a few hours with dad while mom and susie go to a (rescheduled) Mother's Day awards ceremony that the Col*rado Ch*nese Club sponsors every year. unfortunately, this is an annual outlet for my mom, since she was the inaugural 'Mother of the Year' in 1999. i've nothing against the award or the recognition that it affords to some local mothers and the years of toil that they have had to endure raising their children. that's cool. i know that i'm too much of a wimp to be a mother.
the one thing that i don't like about the club is many of their members are just extra lame flakemeisters. and that their gatherings are another opportunity for mom to bask in the 'spotlight' that she so desperately craves.
BUT...since i love my mother (don't we all) off i go to get the locks chopped.
also need to get to the library so i can find a spain guidebook or two for the plane. the two that i own are still quite good, but they're also about five years old. plus, it might be a wise decision to go to the library because i have a book that is due today.
and if i don't crash my car on the way back, i can spend a few hours with dad while mom and susie go to a (rescheduled) Mother's Day awards ceremony that the Col*rado Ch*nese Club sponsors every year. unfortunately, this is an annual outlet for my mom, since she was the inaugural 'Mother of the Year' in 1999. i've nothing against the award or the recognition that it affords to some local mothers and the years of toil that they have had to endure raising their children. that's cool. i know that i'm too much of a wimp to be a mother.
the one thing that i don't like about the club is many of their members are just extra lame flakemeisters. and that their gatherings are another opportunity for mom to bask in the 'spotlight' that she so desperately craves.
BUT...since i love my mother (don't we all) off i go to get the locks chopped.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
snazzy...
looks like blogger has fancied some things up for us. a few more buttons and easier roaming (sounds like a phone commercial).
as you can see, i've added a weather pixie to my blog. i always liked Cindi's, so i had to have one too ;) now, while it's not as informative as going to weather.com, it still serves its purpose. btw, for the time being, i've set it to the weather at Madrid's Barajas Int'l Airport until we get back on the 7th; you'll get a general idea of the weather we'll be experiencing.
as you can see, i've added a weather pixie to my blog. i always liked Cindi's, so i had to have one too ;) now, while it's not as informative as going to weather.com, it still serves its purpose. btw, for the time being, i've set it to the weather at Madrid's Barajas Int'l Airport until we get back on the 7th; you'll get a general idea of the weather we'll be experiencing.
too anxious...
to even type.
we leave for Spain in a week and i have not even planned an itinerary. i think we're going to split the trip into mostly two and three day stays, with the exception of Madrid...
so here's a rough itinerary:
Madrid - 4 nights (including day trips to Segovia and Aranjuez)
Bilbao or Santander (same general area) - 2 nights
Santiago de Compostela - 2 nights
overnight train to Sevilla
Sevilla - 2 to 3 nights
Córdoba - 2 nights
Granada - 2 nights (gotta see the Alhambra!)
back to Madrid for two more nights
somewhere in there, we have an extra night. we're considering Toledo, but it's so close to Madrid. i wish we had an extra week or two. it would be awesome to view the Rock of Gibraltar...spend some time in Portugal...or even get a couple days in Morocco. 'course, that all takes even more money that we lack ;) if we get to see some castles, moorish architecture, the Prado, the caves at Altamira, and drink some good wine, we'll be content.
with dad in the rehab facility, it has been hard to concentrate or to even get anything done. i've been meaning to get new rear brakes and a new CV boot. argh. money? it barely has enough time to sit in my sweaty palm...
Cindi mentioned that she popped into Anthony's for some pie. sigh. last friday, after watching the cat for awhile, i stopped at the Famous Pizza on B'dwy and Bayaud for a slice of sausage. yummm. i forgot how much better this one is compared to the colfax store (the sheridan store is still good though). anyway, just by gorging on that slice, it only reaffirmed my 20-year loyalty to Famous... it must be the crust and the slightly sweet sauce.
i'm just about drooling.
there's a NY Pizzeria a half block from the Brakes Plus that i patronize on occasion. they too, have great crust - hot and slightly chewy; a perfect excuse to take my car to Brakes Plus ;)
some major competition across the way though. on the other side of Leetsdale is Papou's, which serves Connecticut style pizza. i know you're saying, "Conne-wha?" yep. i don't know what makes Connecticut style pizza, but this place has won best pizza in westword two years running. so, cindi, that means you and me...at Papou's...soon.
talk about jumbled thoughts...
went to see Secret Window at the cheapies last saturday. Johnny Depp is always great. the movie was unexpectedly tense and creepy...
a better blog later...
we leave for Spain in a week and i have not even planned an itinerary. i think we're going to split the trip into mostly two and three day stays, with the exception of Madrid...
so here's a rough itinerary:
Madrid - 4 nights (including day trips to Segovia and Aranjuez)
Bilbao or Santander (same general area) - 2 nights
Santiago de Compostela - 2 nights
overnight train to Sevilla
Sevilla - 2 to 3 nights
Córdoba - 2 nights
Granada - 2 nights (gotta see the Alhambra!)
back to Madrid for two more nights
somewhere in there, we have an extra night. we're considering Toledo, but it's so close to Madrid. i wish we had an extra week or two. it would be awesome to view the Rock of Gibraltar...spend some time in Portugal...or even get a couple days in Morocco. 'course, that all takes even more money that we lack ;) if we get to see some castles, moorish architecture, the Prado, the caves at Altamira, and drink some good wine, we'll be content.
with dad in the rehab facility, it has been hard to concentrate or to even get anything done. i've been meaning to get new rear brakes and a new CV boot. argh. money? it barely has enough time to sit in my sweaty palm...
Cindi mentioned that she popped into Anthony's for some pie. sigh. last friday, after watching the cat for awhile, i stopped at the Famous Pizza on B'dwy and Bayaud for a slice of sausage. yummm. i forgot how much better this one is compared to the colfax store (the sheridan store is still good though). anyway, just by gorging on that slice, it only reaffirmed my 20-year loyalty to Famous... it must be the crust and the slightly sweet sauce.
i'm just about drooling.
there's a NY Pizzeria a half block from the Brakes Plus that i patronize on occasion. they too, have great crust - hot and slightly chewy; a perfect excuse to take my car to Brakes Plus ;)
some major competition across the way though. on the other side of Leetsdale is Papou's, which serves Connecticut style pizza. i know you're saying, "Conne-wha?" yep. i don't know what makes Connecticut style pizza, but this place has won best pizza in westword two years running. so, cindi, that means you and me...at Papou's...soon.
talk about jumbled thoughts...
went to see Secret Window at the cheapies last saturday. Johnny Depp is always great. the movie was unexpectedly tense and creepy...
a better blog later...
Saturday, May 08, 2004
what is up...
with the tagboard? guess i haven't been writing much of anything worthwhile, so it doesn't matter if i have one or not ;)
been at the cat's house for a couple hours. he's out frolicking and crouching low, like he's big game hunting, when dogs or people pass by. it's interesting to watch him - so alert.
i've something to admit...i've been eating pasta at another woman's house. whimper* yes, i was getting a cuppa tea when i spied some farfalle and jars of natural pasta sauce (she pretty much shops at Wild Oatz and Whole Fudz).
and i just lost it...
it has been a few months since i've made pasta in the house. lois has pretty much stayed away from it since November...which is a good thing. the diet that her kinesiologist has her on has been working; she sleeps better; has had fewer problems with her joints; she's hovered around a 20-lb. weight loss for a while now.
you know, i've been good and not even mentioned the 'p' word, even in casual passing ;) moreover, i've resisted from making surreptitious batches of pasta and marinara late at night.
so...it looks like i have turned to eating mongo bowls of pasta at other people's houses - i feel so ashamed. what's next? using their deodorant? ewww....
been at the cat's house for a couple hours. he's out frolicking and crouching low, like he's big game hunting, when dogs or people pass by. it's interesting to watch him - so alert.
i've something to admit...i've been eating pasta at another woman's house. whimper* yes, i was getting a cuppa tea when i spied some farfalle and jars of natural pasta sauce (she pretty much shops at Wild Oatz and Whole Fudz).
and i just lost it...
it has been a few months since i've made pasta in the house. lois has pretty much stayed away from it since November...which is a good thing. the diet that her kinesiologist has her on has been working; she sleeps better; has had fewer problems with her joints; she's hovered around a 20-lb. weight loss for a while now.
you know, i've been good and not even mentioned the 'p' word, even in casual passing ;) moreover, i've resisted from making surreptitious batches of pasta and marinara late at night.
so...it looks like i have turned to eating mongo bowls of pasta at other people's houses - i feel so ashamed. what's next? using their deodorant? ewww....
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