Yesterday (Monday) I accidentally found one of the best tapas bars in Madrid. El Bocaito from all accounts creates some of the best tapa this city can provide and is frequented by some of the most famous locals and visitors to Spain. The bar is only 5 minutes walk from home and is part of Chueca, in my humble opinion the best part of the city for restaurants and bars. According to the New York Times, El Bocaito's famous mejimecha (marinated mussels with ham and onions in béchamel sauce) are sublime, as are the anchovies of the house and tasty [View Full Entry]

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It’s been a busy three days and as I’m typing this I am almost ready to sit down to Sunday lunch with the family. Carmen has a fantastic paella cooking on the stove at the moment which myself, Gregorio, Marco (Carmen’s brother) and Roy (an American student staying in the house) are looking forward to devouring. Lola the dog is also keen to enjoy the paella; however ella tiene hambre siempre (she is always hungry!) Yesterday I traveled with two friends from the school to the famous city of Toledo in Castilla-La Mancha. Once the capital of ancient Hispania the [View Full Entry]

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I have now completed my week at school, have received my certificate and am now free to be a tourist again without the stress of regular homework Last night we (myself and six fellow students) went to the home of...(so sorry I've forgotten her name!) and was ‘taught’ how to some traditional food. None of us expected that the microwave oven would be used in the preparation of ‘traditional’ meals nor did we expect ingredients such as canned peas would be used however our host was extremely friendly and we all stood in her cramped kitchen to make the very [View Full Entry]

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I'm not sure if this story rated in the news in Australia (it did in other parts of Europe) however the youngsters of Madrid celebrated la fiesta by clashing with police very close to my place. News services suggested at least 1000 youths took part by setting fire to bins, knocking down telephone booths and throwing bricks and bottles at the local police. - a nice way to celebrate a public holiday! I'd hate to see them when they lose a game of football! Spain's El Pais paper (which has a somewhat sensationalist reputation in some respects) said the area [View Full Entry]

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Firstly let me apologise for the lack of photographs, as you may have read I left my camera in many pieces back in Bilbo, however yesterday (Monday) I bought a new camera and so photos will return for the next entry. I was somewhat nervous and apprehensive for the first day of the language school. I’m not really sure why as it’s a great learning experience and Juan Antonio (Carmen’s brother) and their dog Lola walked me to school, Lola is an over excitable cocker spaniel who seems to appreciate a long lead! I must admit to a lot of apprehension [View Full Entry]

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My last day in Bilbo was on Sunday; it’s now Tuesday morning and am at the language school. I arrived in Madrid on Sunday afternoon, the flight was late however my host family seemed pleased to see me. Hands up if you have seen the film National Lampoons European Vacation? I must admit its one of my favourite comedies. Do you remember the scenes where Clark and the family arrive and stay at the home of what they thought were their German relatives and they turned out not to be related? Well that’s how I’m feeling now however it’s in Spain! [View Full Entry]

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I ventured out early today to beat the crowds to the Guggenheim. The weather here isn’t so great with some light drizzle descending on me as I walk along the right bank (or is it the left bank) of the river. Bilbao (sorry Bilbo) is a lovely little city and small enough to walk around. I arrived at the Guggenheim about half an hour before opening time so I ventured away from the early birds (mainly German Seniors) in search of some desayuno (breakfast) and found an excellent little bar where I had a café con leche and a racion [View Full Entry]

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The people of the Basque Country call this place Bilbo and so now do I. I jetted in at lunch time and my first impressions of this place are that this city isn't quite set up for tourism, not to the degree that Barcelona is at least. The Guggenheim has obviously meant that tourism is now a fact of life for this city however I get the impression that the locals are so fussed about the flood of tourists. Its now late on Friday night, its been bucketing down outside for the last few hours a spring storm that has [View Full Entry]

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I get the impression that those charged with the administration of Barcelona care very much about the image of this city. The spotlight has been on this city since it held the Olympic Games in 1992 and it continues to rank highly in the many lists of Europe’s most livable cities. The local police (Mossos) seem to be around every corner and unlike the police I encountered previously in Andalucía these guys seem very very friendly, perhaps not as friendly as the French policewoman last weekend who booked my brother for speeding however you don’t feel threatened by these officers [View Full Entry]

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It was an early start from London Bridge station on a cool and damp morning. Catching the overland train to Gatwick I dropped my bags off (having checked in overnight on line) and into the British Airways Airport Lounge (there are some benefits in upgrading). I am now writing from my hotel in Barcelona and what a fantastic location. Organised by my work colleague Enric - a local who now lives and works in Sydney, this hotel may not look all that special from the outside however my room is clean and quiet and with the added bonus of my [View Full Entry]

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