Mimidora The Explorer

It's a beautiful sunday morning :) Mama Eva said last night that we are going swimming today at the public pool. Wow! finally I get to wear the swimsuit I bought. Today is the celebration of Independence Day for the Filipinos living here in Spain. I have no idea why it's on the 26th and not on the 12th which is the real date of Philippine Independence. But I decided not to go for the following reasons:

1) I am not a fan of Gaby Concepcion
2) I don't want to be speaking Tagalog the whole day because when I go back to the Philippines, it's tagalog and English all day long
3) I don't know where it is
4) I have no interest in seeing the Filipino actors here.

Well, we had to wait for the new American girl to arrive first. And she did arrive a little late, around past 10 in the morning. ay Que Mal! (how bad), I forgot her name! But she's 17 years old and I think she's nice...I hope she'll be :)

Then we prepared to go to the public pool! yipeeeee!! :) We walked to the place, it was not short and it was not long. It was just right. There was a long line. Looks like everyone wants to go swimming because it's sooooooooooooo hot here right now.

After being toasted outside, we finally were able to go inside and the pool looked great! there were plenty of people but not as full as i expected. I guess its because most of the people are bathing under the sun, topless, etc, to get a good tan. Some overdid their tan...they look like burnt bread... And that's the reason why a lot of people in Spain...well in Europe as a whole, have skin cancer because they love to bake themselves under the sun.




after swimming for a while, we sat under a tree, on our towels to read the newspaper :) it was a great experience! :) i loves it. Mama Eva and I talked a lot so i was able to practice more of my Spanish.
These are just some of the people who bathed in the sun... I'm not showing pictures of the topless ones :p
Por fin! (Finally!) a picture together :) Me and Mama Eva :)
This couple is just one of the few couples i saw where the girl puts sunblock on the guy...How come in movies it's the other way around?

At 14:00, we decided to go back because the new girl might already be awake and she might be hungry and no one is at home.

Oh by the way, this is my swimsuit top :) hahahaha! I know i look like a little girl lost




When we arrived home, we were just in time because he just woke up. Unfortunately she did not want to eat yet. But Mama Eva prepared anyway for the 2 of us. She prepared a salad with boiled potatoes, onions, parsley, a little anchovies and avocado and mayonnaise and black pepper :) she placed pita bread too and it tasted amazing!!!! She gave me half a glass of beer again....hahahahaha!!


Then I took a shower to
clean myself of the chlorine of the pool. Madre Mia! I have a tan line :p I did not want one but anyway, guess it's the "moda" here...or the fashion....

I took a rest because I think my body is not accustomed to swimming anymore. The last time I went swimming was 2009 with the Philippine Navy Seals. It was part of a..sort of an immersion with them. I was so tired today i think rest is in order :)

Mama Eva called us for dinner at 21:00 and I ate with the new girl and now I know her name. Her name is Lana and she's from Florida :) She's 16 and turning 17 on 24 July.

We watched a little TV in Mama Eva's room and after that I asked permission to go back to my room to fix my stuff for tomorrow. I have to wake up earlier than usual because I have to bring Lana to school. Her exam is at 08:30.

Well then, it's time to go to bed. I hope something positively big happens to me tomorrow :)

Well, if you'll notice, after big activities for me, the next day is usually boring. hahaha! I woke up today and saw "llamadas perdidas" (missed calls) from mi amorcito...que pena (what a shame) I was not able to answer the calls because I was sound asleep until 08:00. I slept late again last night. I have no idea why ever since summer started I had been having a hard time sleeping at night.

This morning we waited for the new girl to arrive. She's from the US and she was supposed to arrive at around 09:30 but we waited and waited and waited until Mama Eva needed to go out to buy something but somebody had to stay behind to wait for the girl because it would be weird if she arrived and nobody was home.

I volunteered to stay home because I don't really have any plans today. I was just supposed to go to Blanco today to exchange an item. But that can wait.

It was already almost 14:00 and the girl has not arrived. Mama Eva returned and she's still amaze why the girl has not yet arrived...Then she realized that maybe she read the email wrong because normally kids from ENFOREX do not arrive on saturdays. normally they arrive on mondays.

After our lunch, lunch today was salad again with the Italian spices. I do not mind at all because they were very very very good! She checked her email once more to see if she read the email wrong, and YES! She was mistaken :) The girl will arrive tomorrow :)

After a short while, I decided to rest a bit, make some phone calls, post on facebook, but i spent most of my time changing the layout of both my tumblr and my blog which explains why my blog looks different now :) haha!

I also realized that people actually read my blog! I saw in the stats that more than 2000 people have visited my blog from different countries. I felt very happy and honored :)

Oh I was not able to put in yesterday's entry that I bought sunblock yesterday. The sun had been so strong here recently that to buy an SPF50+ sunblock is in order. It's not just in order. It's COMPULSORY!! The sun here is very strong, and the climate is dry and so you can feel the sun so bad. Look at the temperature:
It's 37ºC this afternoon at 17:00 :p

I went out to exchange an item in Blanco and then I walked around a bit. My day here in Madrid is never complete without walking outside even for just a few minutes. But today I walked a long way, upto the Holiday Inn Madrid which we stayed in when my family was still with me. Then I went back home.

As I arrived back home, Mama Eva was not here because she watched a movie with her friends but I waited for her anyway just in case she has not taken anything for dinner. We ate dinner and she gave me half a glass of beer again (maybe because she thinks I think better with a little Alcohol in my system) hahahaha!

Anyway, I will try to sleep early today so that I can welcome the new girl tomorrow morning. Sorry not much pictures today because as I have said, it's a boring day and not much things to take pictures of...oh i have 2 nore to add. One is of group of people who sat on the platform of the metro to drink...alcoholic beverages :p haha!






An lastly, of my oatmeal mask :) my friend told me it helps keep your skin hydrated. Because here in Madrid, it's so dry, even with this heat, your skin can dry up and so, here's my oatmeal face, somethingnfor laughs this evening :)



Buenas Noches Madrid! :)

This morning started off great because despite not being able to sleep right away last night, i woke up with so much ease I really had to pray for thanksgiving.

In school, there were only 3 of us for the morning class. Greta, David and Me. 3 people from different parts of the world. Italy, France and Philippines. I am starting to like Marisa. She has eased up and she's more approachable now.

It was Greta and Lidia's last day so after class I brought them to Cafe Moderna again but this time we ate inside. we forgot to take pictures because we were laughing like crazy. Well, being Italians, they are very particular with Pizza and so I was a bit nervous if they will like the Pizza or not but they did and I am so happy. Ofcourse there is still nothing like pizza from Italy but according to them this is one of the most delicious non-italian pizza. Here's the best part...WE DIDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING! The chef if you can still remember was the Filipino and our food today was on the house although we we're arguing for 20 minutes because we did not want to leave without paying and well, the little debate ended with "It's our buen viaje (good voyage) gift for the Italians", and that was the end of it. I really want to thank Virgel (Filipino Chef) and Rodrigo (The waiter) for accommodating us.

After that, they invited me to go to the Real Madrid Stadium. I remember my sister Reine wanted to go to this stadium so much but told me to go for her instead. And I did. and I am glad that when my whole family was here, we did not go to the stadium. the price of the ticket to get in is 16 Euros...weeeeew! And I don't think my dad would like that nor my mum because they're not futbol fans. I just became a futbol fan when I stayed here in Madrid because I am surrounded by futbol afficionados and you just can't help but sympathize. I actually do have a favorite player, Fernando Gago (To my Filipino friends, yes that's his family name. I know, i know it's funny :p)
Here's a picture of the 3 of us at the panoramic view of the stadium:
And here are some of the really old uniforms of players from the time of...I don't know, I don't even think I am already a part of my parents' plans....I don't think they've met either..


Yes I just had to take a vain pic :)
Here's Greta with the big trophy that does not look anything like a trophy
...and Lidia :)
And ofcourse, myself. hahahaha
Woohoo!!! Champions of the Copa del Rey (King's Cup)
I took a picture of this solely because there's one Filipino included in this list :)


more trophy looking tophies...
Yehey! Against the light shot of us by mid section of the stadium
And now we have a photo that is not against the light, but Greta's eyes are closed :p
Here are the VIP seats. We were imagining that when David Beckham was still playing with Real Madrid, Victoria probably sat somewhere there.

We have now reached the lowest part, really really near the grass...as in we can touch it already because we're so near, but ofcourse we can't touch the grass :)



And finally we reached the dressing room of the players :) Here's the massage area...
SHOWER ROOOOOOM!!!! Hahahaha!
The lockers :) Yes I had to have my picture taken sitting on the bench
Some mexican guys offered to take our picture but HEY DUDE! CAN YOU PLEASE COUNT?? Mira! No estoy lista en la foto! (Look, i'm not ready in the foto) hahahaha! I'm a proud dork :)
Well, that's about it, when we got to the metro, I accompanied the girls in the metro until Plaza del Castilla and that's where we all parted ways. I'm gonna miss them. They made this week fun for me :) Well I guess it's also because they were trying to make the most out of the 1 week they had here in Madrid and so they had to do everything that they can do this week and I am honored and glad that they invited me to join them in some activities (some because I could not join them last thursday during the holiday. I already went to the places they went to).

I arrived home and Mama Eva prepared a very very good Italian meal for the 2 of us because she just came from Rome and brought home spices and other things for cooking from Rome. She also served beer which explains why I talked a lot. but it's good because I'm hear to learn how to speak their language and it's good that the beer stimulated my brain to think faster and speak faster too :)

Well, that was all the good stuff




Well, I'm really tired so I have to say good night now.

Buenas Noches Madrid! :)

I woke up at 09:30 today becausr there were no classes. It apparently is the Fiesta del Corpus Christi.

Well, i was alone almost the whole day, it was crazy!

I studied some more lessons and i am still contemplating on whether i should transfer classes next week or when i reach a lesson higher than 8 because most of the lessons above 8 are revisions...

Oh well. Anyway, i made all my meals today and during lunch, i ate what's left of the pasta in the "nievera" or fridge, and while i was talking to Reine on facetime, Irina and Nicolas came to take some stuff and i felt guilty that i ate all of the pasta because she might want some, until she told me that she's not eating lunch here because they have to leave soon. They're going to the beach :) que suerte!

I fell asleep in the afternoon as usual and as soon as i woke up i decided to walk a little to stretch my legs. I was surprised to see that almost all shops were closed. Well except for some very few shops like the chinese clothing stores, and the ice cream shops and a few restaurants woth terrazas.

I went home because there's really nothibg much to do anymore and then i watched tv...

I watched an Argentine series in Disney Channel and i was able to compare the way they speak and the way Argentines speak, it's really more difficult to understand the latter because of the way they eat their words as they speak. I even think this is one of the shows with the clearsest dialogues because ofcorse they have to make sure all their lines are understood.

After tv, i prepared dinner so i can sleep asap.

When i did try to sleep at 12:30, i did... Until someone called my name from the window and realized IT WAS MAMA EVA BACK FROM ROME!!! yipeeee!! Well apparently i bolted the door and could not get in. She teied calling my cellphone but she called the number i do not use anymore. It's a good thing my window was slightly open.

I could not get back to sleep unil 03:30 >_< well, even if it's not a good night, i would still say

-- ¡Buenas Noches Madrid!

I had been having a hard time sleeping in the evening, maybe because i am finally accustomed to the Spanish time...

And so i also have a hard time waking up in the morning :)

School was less boring today and i am happy that i read ahead because i felt so confident in class. I talked to the Director about changing classes but apparently i have to talk to my professors first which i will be able to do this friday because tomorrow is a holiday. Yes they have fiestas of the "santos" also. And yes we got it from the Spanish :)

Today is also Celestine's last day so ofcourse, a photo would be mandatory :p

I have the same pose every picture. I should change it every time we have class pictures. Hahahahaha! I'll bring out my dorkiness



Thanks to iPhone's secondary camera i am able to take pictures of myself with or without other people but sometimes it distorts my face :p

When i came home i prepared some pasta again because i am really hungry


Bit i only took a few because Irina might want some more and i just took a little pita bread



And for the "sobra"... Yes they call the excess as sobra also :)








Yummm..... Que bueno!!! (very good! --- another one of the expressions Irina my dearest taught me, so as not to sound like a nerd)

After eating i studied and i fell asleep but had to prepare a little because i am going out with Greta and Lydia, my 2 new Italian friends who just came in this week and only for this week.


At 19:00 i went to Gran Vía to check out the Clothing stores that Irina told me about. I arrived and wow! This is totally the place for shopping fanatics. A really big H&M, Bershka, Mango, Lefties.. I know you can't see it in the pic but wow...And this is what almost 8 in the evening looks like here





Irina was right! This was the most beautiful Zara EVER!!! i just went in to take a look. I did not need anything so i did not buy anything either. I just wanted to see what Irina told me about.


The view when you enter...





And the stairs!!! I am speechless...


This is the opposite view, from the stairs looking towards te entrance/exit this time:


After Zara i checked out Stradivarius and hey! I was just in time for a mini fashion show they had.








Then Greta and i exchanged SMS and decided to meet in Sol at around 21:20 i told them that we should meet in front of the Topshop there. They were a little late because of a little trouble with the metro but hey, you guys know me, i don't mind waiting. There's so much to see and to hear in Sol.

Waiting in front of Topshop :)


It took us a long time to settle because we were all new to the nightlife of Madrid. We went to the address that their Spanish mum gave them, but when we arribed therr it was cramped outside and the inside was dark and the ambience was not good. we left and walked towards plaza mayor but it was a bit expensive there and so we want back to sol and found ourselves a vacant table for 3 at O'Reilly's. These girls are really "simpatica" and i loved being with them. They were funny and we had a lot of stories to tell each other. Notice that Black is the color of the day :)


We went back to Plaza Mayor to eat ice cream before oing home


The metro was only upto 01:30 and it was 12:30 in our watches but we decided to call it a day. And because i am so thick faced, i asked a Filipino aboard the train to take a picture of us :)



When i arrived home Irina was there but she left for her dad's house again because they have a little excursion tomorrow. And then i watched a little tv. And hey! It was Dr. House on TV!! It's season 4 i think or 5.







I was just thinking the other day that if i watched Dr. house dubbed in Spanish i would not underatand because of the many medical terms but i am surprised i actually got it :)
Ok i want to show you my evening, ready-to-rest, in the house hair. Hahahahaha! With my bow headband to keep my hair away from my face. Hahahahahaha!



After this, i felt the sleepiness, por fin!! (finally!), so,

-- ¡Buenas Noches Madrid!