Hola señor

In true Rozzy style, here's a Spanish beer advert that will make you mourn summer like I do right now,

Knock knock

The properties of wood but not like your school science teacher ever taught you,

God only knows

Well I'm back at uni and needing a little inspiration at midnight as I prepare my first essay. Et voila.

Dodgy menus in Valencia, Valencia

Looking through my Valencia photos I came across these gems. An important part of the year abroad is to develop translation skills...

We have sangría or 'bleeding',

and margarita or 'daisy',

Fútbol

Though I'm English, after being in Spain for the last world cup and enjoying that atmosphere, La Roja (the Spanish team) will always be my second team.

Enjoy Spain's game tonight everyone!

Above is the Buena Energía song and video by Maldita Nerea with some players (Casillas <3) promoting the good energy that the team encourages.

Fútbol

With everyone getting hyped up about the Champions League this weekend with both teams in the final being from Madrid, I've started to think about the World Cup - the only football I really follow.

I'm enjoying all the songs coming out vying to be this one's Waving Flag or Waka Waka. I have to say, I do like Shakira''a new video.

Something to keep you going today. Almost the weekend guys.

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.

Entrena el alma

It has been ages since my last inspiration post so here you go my dears. I just hope I can make the most of all that Madrid has to offer in my time here.

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.

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.

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,

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.

"Y yo sólo una de sus calles..."

This year, this is my city. I'm so fortunate to be able to enjoy all of these places. 

A friend showed me this video and I thought it was very well done with the music, video and poetry so wanted to share it with all of you.

"Ella es Madrid."

All you need is love

Tuesday afternoon waiting slash wishing for the weekend.

Embajadores, Madrid

Festive inspiration

There's nothing quite like seeing the first Christmas ad on TV. Although it has got a bit out of hand in the UK with Christmas adverts premiering, it's not really as much of a thing here in Spain which makes me sad.

Anyway, thank God for youtube. This way I've been keeping up-to-date with Coca-Cola, Baileys, Debenhams, John Lewis, M&S and in fact all the supermarkets...

This one is probably my chosen one for the year. They have ones like this every year and it reminds me of their 2010 advert when I fell in love with that dress at the end. I want my life to look like this. Not gonna lie.

However, for a place in my heart, I'm not sure anything will ever, ever beat this.

Chanel

As a blog is just a string of random thoughts pieced together on the internet, I thought I'd share with you, lovely readers, how I miss French. I was never that great at it to tell the truth. I did A-level but let's put it this way, I did French for at least 8 years longer than Spanish while at school, yet I'm doing Spanish (and just Spanish) at university.

Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. In an attempt to refresh my français, I decided to watch Coco avant Chanel and (importantly) without subtitles. It was more difficult to understand than I had remembered when I first watched it at the cinema in London but still, I like the film. At almost two hours, it is pretty long though so with the need for concentration for translation, not a one to watch when sleepy. You have been warned, I ended up watching it in two shifts as I almost fell asleep watching it at the end of a working week.

I liked this second time I watched it mostly because Audrey Tautou is just a very good choice for the part and is just very French, but also because visually, I think the film is very interesting.
I'm not really talking about the costumes, although the revelation of the pieces we recognise as very Chanel walking down that amazing mirrored staircase is exactly what the end of the film needs to lift it back to life again.......

I'm actually referring to the use of colour - well shades (black and white) if we're being picky - in the picture as a whole. Even from the very beginning at the school, where the scene is all black and white with the hospital-white beds, and Gabrielle's drab uniform contrasting with the twin girls in rich burgundy in their parents' arms, and later on another contrast between the garishly embellished monstrosity of a party dress bought for her in keeping with the fashion of the age and the outfit she ends up making for herself to wear to said party, we are given a hint at Chanel's 'future' designs and how a basic colour scheme is not necessarily plain but simple and chic.

Anyway, watch the film and decide for yourself. It's not one I think I'll ever buy on DVD because it can be a bit slow-going, but will certainly watch it if it's on TV - particulièrement pour pratiquer le français encore.

Someone stop me rambling. Here is a Chanel video that I came across on a friend's Facebook. A little midweek inspiration. I'd love to know how to make design videos like this.

Cerveza por favor

Considering post-work cañas. Mahou or San Miguel, that is the question.

vs.

A leettle homesick

I'm missing lots of things about London, although I am having a good time in Madrid. I've realised that the two things really aren't mutually exclusive. Not that I'd be there anyway if I was in the UK since Oxford term has begun but whatever. These are a few such things from a great article.

LIVE IN LONDON

ABC Serrano

So this is where our nearest supermarket is. Feel like I'm living a very glamorous life but it is actually just Mercadona (queue the great Mercadona jingle played in there every five minutes). It's the old ABC newspaper building from 1899 and from the Castellana side, this façade is what you see.

Oh and here's a cool video I found of some bloggers on the ABC Serrano website while looking up the opening hours. I was actually asked by a very hipster looking blogger yesterday on the street whether he could take a photo of me for his 'Street Style in Salamanca' post and well, we'll see how that one turns out.

ABC Serrano Tendencias Verano from cupofcouple on Vimeo.

Mario Testino is a god.

I recently refound this Vogue España photo on one of the adverts for VFNO which line the streets of Barrio de Salamanca. I love it. The homage to Spain, the rich brocade, expressive colours, and powerful poses, paired with this incredible lighting.

This is my persuasion to you all. Come visit me in Spain - and perhaps you can bag yourself a bullfighter.