Paper

Stumped for what to do with that stack of old newspapers piling up each day. I picked up an idea from the Biblioteca Nacional last weekend.

Monasterio

Remember this post? Well the penultimate photo was of el Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Valdeiglesias, part of a photo exhibition of a forgotten Madrid. I was particularly captivated by this photo and decided I would find out as much information as possible about these monastery ruins.

What I found out was that it was only 30 kilometres from Germán's flat in Villaviciosa so one Sunday afternoon-evening I asked him whether we could go take a look. The architecture student didn't take much convincing and we headed off towards Pelayos de la Presa.

Listening to the Walter Mitty soundtrack - I sound silly saying this but - it felt like an adventure.

Here's a link to the website where you can read about the monastery's architecture, history (including 138 abandoned) and the foundation that now protects it.

Unfortunately it was closed off with a padlock and barbed wire with no sign showing times open to the public or anything like that. We did in fact see one sign; interestingly it told of how the Community of Madrid has made the monastery a conservation project as a form of work for desempleados (the unemployed). 

We didn't want to go away without taking a proper look from the outside, and with the help of a little hill behind it, we did manage to see in and appreciate it - even if it wasn't quite how we expected.

Seeing as we were already in the right village, we decided to go look at the pantano de San Juan. It's quite important reservoir and in the summer apparently it's crawling with people on boats and enjoying water sports. However, it was quite spooky at night and completely deserted.

ch con ch

Ever out until 6am? This is Madrid - of course you are.
Head over to San Ginés for chocolate con churros (the Spanish post-partying staple). It's probably Madrid's most famous chocolatería and open 24 hours so you have no excuse.

Those of us still standing after a birthday party and Independance, dragged ourselves there and I was so glad we did. Yummm.
Although admittedly, I fell asleep while waiting for our order. I may try to act all Spanish but this English girl can't handle how few hours Spaniards sleep.

FLG

Fundación Lázaro Galdiano is a museum I came across essentially because I walked past it. Every time - I kid you not, every time - I walked past it, it was closed. Therefore on one of January's puentes (bank holidays) as mentioned in this post, I went there with Helena.

This beautiful setting houses the collection of Lázaro Galdiano, one very devoted collector. The four floors divide up an incredible 2,840 pieces based on themes. 

As the website states, there are thirty major works of art. These include paintings by some of Spain's most important artists: El Greco, Velázquez and Goya.

The piece below is Goya's El entierro de Cristo (The Burial of Christ). Its use of light is stunning, illuminating the holy figure in the pitch black.

And it not only houses art but many works of archaeology, silverware, textiles, and jewellery.

It's actually free at certain times of the day so I'd check that out before going.

With a beautiful front garden, gated off from the hustle and bustle of Serrano and María de Molina, I imagine I'll be going there as soon as the weather warms up to read and enjoy the sun - provided it's open of course!

DJaime

So my friend Jaime is a DJ. It's very cool.

How does he even know what he's doing? So jealous.

Having the best time.

Brunch & tea

After a night dancing at Pacha,

brunch at Carmencita is just the thing. With a main meal for about eight euro and mimosas at one euro, you can't go wrong, and the portion sizes are great too. I would definitely recommend booking in advance as the place is pretty small and very popular.

I had the eggs benedict.

Next time I think I'll have to try the french toast which Timeyin had. Looks incredible.

Yum yum yum.

This was a weekend at the beginning of term and after traipsing around Madrid: seeing the Templo de Debod, wandering Gran vía and shopping on Fuencarral, we needed a little something to keep us going. This came in the form of cakes and juices at La cocina de mi vecina.

I love the homey feel to the place. Mine are the nutella cupcake and the lemonade (freshly squeezed and you even have to add your own sugar). The others sampled other juices and the cheesecakes, including a tasty little oreo number.

Only in Spain

A weekend this term I went to a barbecue and drinks with some of Germán's friends. One of his closest friends, Josué is from Huelva and he had both his cousin and girlfriend to stay. Part way through the party, as we sipped a little albariño (our host being Galician after all), Josué got out a guitar and we all sat down to hear him play and both he and his cousin's girlfriend sing.

It was so Spanish.
Well, so andaluz.
I had never experienced anything quite like it.

Here's a short clip for you to enjoy,

MATADERO

Another great discovery this term was Matadero. It's a former slaughterhouse which has been turned into a hub for culture, with buildings devoted to a theatre, restaurant, library, spaces for exhibitions and even a centre for education. Situated in Legazpi in the south of Madrid, it is right beside the river (and Madrid río).

With free entry, there's no excuse not to explore the place. The architecture is interesting; it isn't how I expected a slaughterhouse to look - although just as Spanish - but there are signs of its past if you look for them, from ganado signs to plastic curtains to prevent blood spatters.

Feeling ultra artsy we stumbled upon two exhibitions and wandered through them attempting to understand what was going on.

The first one, on Japanese art.

 The second, on Spanish architects and architecture.

Another building houses a space which I can't really label. It is very bare but with art features, for inspiration I take it, and with tables and chairs scattered around for working, reading or resting. Then there's a silent area for the same sort of think (a bit more comfortably as you'll see below). As I watched the hipsters tap away on their macs, I was ever so slightly jealous that I don't study here in Madrid; I can't quite justify a metro ride across Madrid merely for a little light reading.

This post is probably lagging on a bit so I promise to stop writing it soon - just pay attention for a leetle more. Below are some more of the photos I took that day on my trusty iPhone. They're of the quirky educational centre, where we saw both a Masters seminar and a baby crèche happening on the same day. All in all, definitely give Matadero a visit if you can.

Madrid tastes good

Gastrofestival is here in Madrid until the 9th of Febuary. Enjoy it while you can! I'm hoping to try a few of the tapas options this weekend and perhaps one of the fixed menus in a restaurant that would usually be just that bit too expensive to justify. Of course I'll report back.... mmmm excited already.

There's another video to whet your appetite as well and here's the guide to what's going on.

La Tabacalera ii

When Dafydd and Helena were staying over the first weekend of term, I took them to La Tabacalera seeing as we were in the area. The part I had been in before wasn't actually open but we found ourselves in another part of the building where they were holding an exhibition of the work of several photographers.

I'm sorry to bore you but I will yet again mention how I love just how rough and almost neglected the building is. It is freezing cold, near empty and pretty dark except for the lighting on the photographs.

Great place to for a crime was the first thing to go through my head... slightly worrying... especially seeing as there were a set of photographs of - I'm hoping simulated rather than real - car crashes taken from inside the car.

It is easy to spot features of the former tobacco factory.

I liked the work we saw there. We hadn't expected anything and that was exactly what it was: unexpected.

There were some thought-provoking photographs by Vanessa Pastor with sketches on paper covering the heads of those in the portrait, mimicking the exact angles and facial expressions we imagine these people to be making.

However, my favourite set of photographs was Madrid off by Óscar Carrasco showing us "un Madrid oculto", places in and around Madrid either abandoned or merely forgotten.