Lomography

For my birthday, los chicos got me such a great gift. Something I wouldn't have bought for myself but that is so me - exactly what you want in a gift. It's a Lomography Fisheye 2 camera - so it has a 170 degree lens and runs on film. It has been strange going back to a film camera with which you have to make every photo count but then again it's so much more exciting. 

I can't wait to show you some of the developed photos once I scan them.

I take it everywhere,

The photos below were taken by Olivia (Mini of mini&me) the weekend she came to stay with her sister Helena,

 The first is in Plaza de España and the second on a bridge by Principe Pio. It kills me that I don't know the name of the bridge because I'd love to go back. It's all vibrantly graffitied as you can see, in contrast to the grey and brown of the landscape, and as you cross there's an incredible view of the Royal Palace above the train tracks. My phone ran out of battery on the day so here's a great photo Olivia took there. Let me know if you know the name of that skinny little bridge.

Powerful

Battersea Power Station has always been what I see in my mind on picturing London. Being able to see it from Pimlico where I live, it has been such a constant as the city evolves around us.

Here's a photo I took on Monday as I left England again on the train to Gatwick. I like it because it looks like there are only four chimneys. Reminds me of the point of an arrow, telling me to go back as I head out of the capital.

Parentals

With my sister coming this weekend, I've been thinking back on when my parents came to stay. They hadn't been to Madrid since before I was born so I imagine it has changed enormously. On their honeymoon they actually stayed in Madrid which travelling through France and Spain, and they ate at El Espejo on Recoletos which we happened to come across. I took the opportunity to snap them in front of it. How beautiful it is to think that they've known each other for thirty years. I hope to be as lucky.

The weekend was non-stop - and entailed a lot of eating: Flash Flash for tortilla, Sushi shop, Bar Tomate, oysters at Mercado de San Miguel, Lateral tapas... Luckily we did all that walking or we'd be the size of small houses.

My mum has all the photos on her phone so it's hard for me to get a hold of them to post from across the sea but here are a couple of the bubbles in the iconic Plaza Mayor. I'll definitely be taking the sister there.

Letras

I really want to go back to this place. It's a small, beautiful garden in Barrio de las Letras where anyone can go for a bit of peace and sketch or paint. You can see lots of the artwork hanging in and amongst the foliage.

I'll let you know when I go back.

For the non-Spanish speakers among you, this means: Each person who passes through our life is unique, they leave a bit of themself and they take a bit of us. Visit the garden and take the best from it...

From where you'd rather be

Maria (of stressed but well dressed) and I have been planning our last few months in Spain to get as much seen as we can. Weekends are filling up. Valencia and Barcelona have been booked. 

I have to say the best thing about the year abroad is the freedom it gives you. Granted you may not have the money at this stage in your life but never again will you have this amount of free time. Make as much as you possibly can of it. It's taken me too long to realise but I'm trying.

Here's a little travel inspiration I found the other day on my good friend Youtube.

Turrón or not turrón?

It's hot outside so ice-cream is back on the cards. In Spain? Not tried turrón ice-cream? Sacrilege. Go out and buy a cone.

Here's one I sampled in Corella, Navarra.

For those of you reading from other parts of the world, if you're not sure what turrón is, then here's its wikipedia. Put simply, it's a sweet made from nuts that is popular at Christmas time. 

Some of you may find it a bit sticky and overpowering but don't give up just yet because as an ice-cream flavour, it's much lighter and less sickly. I will definitely miss it when I go back to the UK this summer.

Casa de Lope

When my friend Lucy came to visit we wanted to do a museum we hadn't done before. I mean, it's hardly difficult as Madrid is crowded with museums. It was Maria who suggested Casa Museo Lope de Vega (the playwright's house turned museum) in el barrio de las letras and as Lucy studies Lope with me back at Oxford it was an inspired choice.

Here are the details. It's free but you have to book because the "visit" is a guided tour of his house. The guide knew so much about so much, and not just about Lope's life either. Unfortunately no photos were allowed so five of the weird and wonderful things we learnt from our guide will have to suffice to persuade you to go.

1. There was a mirror, not made of glass but of some reflective material. It demonstrates a certain socioeconomic class and did not serve for one to look at oneself - as you might think - but rather to brighten up a room reflecting any light that came through the windows.

2. The house had no comedor (dining room) and dinner was laid on a table which would have been used for other purposes in a living room. This is where the expression "poner la mesa" comes from, because a table was actually set or put out for meals.

3. The beds were much smaller than beds nowadays. First because they were generally shorter than we are today. Secondly because they believed that you breathed better sleeping curled up in a foetal position. Finally because lying prone made them think how you're laid when dead.

4. The day of our visit was International Women's Day and we were reminded of the great influence that women - many, many women - played in Lope's life and work. He depicted the woman very progressively as one who thought, not just an archetype doing her "feminine" activities.

5. There was an expression people used at the time, "era de Lope", meaning that something was excellent or notable. This just shows how Lope de Vega's work had such a great impact. Fortunately it continues to be admired by so many.

navarra

Just thinking about Navarra. That was a great trip for Carnaval at the end of February. Gracias Andrea! Here are a few photos.

The girls,

Pamplona,

I loved the look of this little old man. So pueblo, playing cards with the Spanish baraja with his boina,

Corella,

Carnaval costumes,