Ein Spanien in Berlin, Part 1

Hallo! Wilkommen aus Berlin! Or I think that is how you say it. Well, I totally feel like those bloggers from the movies as I am writing this entry from a café in front of Branderburg Gate. I don't have much to tell yet as this is only my second day, but here go a few pictures that I was able to take on Monday.
xxx

Menorca; "Ara va de bó, Ciutadella!"

First of all, I apologize for being silent for so long, but with the start of summer many plans always came up and I wanted to take a break from the virtual world. However, I have something new. Last month it was Sant Joan (St John's) festivity in Spain. Usually, in those places where the beach is nearby, you would pack candles, gin, lemonade, blanckets and all your friends and spend the night by the sea, BUT this is not the tradition in Ciutadella, Menorca. In Menorca, St Joan festivities are the maximum highlight of the summer and people from everywhere around Spain travel to experience them. It can be easily compared to the parties for San Fermín in Pamplona.
Starting the 23rd of June, the streets of Ciutadella become crowded with thousands and thousands of tourists (if I'm not wrong, this year 5000 more people joined the Menorcans than last year) and horses with their riders dancing around. The beauty of it all is the cheerfulness that is felt in the air and the coordination of the riders with the tourists. However, even though travelling to Menorca in these dates is definitely a perfect plan, one has to be careful. Remember that the horses are real animals, and the riders just men. Past the first and the second days, the animals are tired and the people more drunk. Getting too close to a horse might end up in a disaster, and this shows in the 3 people almost deathly hurt due to their carelessness. I even got hit by one horse! But thankfully it was only the impression and nothing bad happened neither to me nor my friends. I hope you like the pictures, and will be back with news from Berlin!

 
Batucada; the night previous to the official start of the festivities, this group of drummers played bizarre rythms around the antique streets while a small crowd followed them in a frenzy of dances and laughter.



This was the official trigger of the festivities of St Joan. A group of riders went to pick up the oldest and main rider, called the Xiuler.





One of the horses jumping in the crowd at the main square of town.






This was the "Avellanada". This event consists in buying bags of hazelnuts and then throwing them to the people around you. As the moment builds up, the men take all the women they see and throw them up in the air. I myself was aired about 3 times, and I was lucky because, when many girls ended up completely naked, I managed to keed all my clothes on.


The last night of the festivities. Some riders waiting for their turns in playing the different games to entertain the public.



This last picture is a nightview of the port once the games where over. In this part of the town is where all the clubs are located, so everynight we all went partying in the different clubs and bars.

If you are planning a different trip with your friends, I would recommend you visit Menorca for Sant Joan next year. Definitely something worth living.

SPANISH REVOLUTION- Madrid

ESPAÑA SE HA DESPERTADO. Los jóvenes hemos salido al corazón del país y reclamamos que nos escuchen. Hay opiniones para dar y tomar, pero se busca consideración de una forma pacífica y organizada. Visita www.democraciarealya.es para más información y para leer el manifesto y las propuestas de esta organización.
SPAIN IS AWAKE. The youth have taken the heart of our country and claim to be listened. There are many different opinions raising in this assembly, although what we look for is consideration in a pacific and organized manner. Visit www.democraciarealya.es for more information and for the manifesto and conditions.

Summer is starting!

So the rain is gone, the flowers have bloomed and winter clothing is dissappearing from the streets. This can only mean one thing and that is...SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
What I adore about the summer is all the activity that appears in all cities, big or small. Love, as many romantics say, is out and about, everybody seems to be happy and it seems like colours have invaded the whole world. For all the students, this is a rather stressful time, with our exams just knocking on our door, so good luck. As for the rest, enjoy spring/summer! On my side I'm already making plans on what can I do next vacation ;-)

 
P.S.: Un beso a todos los afectados en Lorca por el terremoto. ¡Ánimo!

Night Love in Madrid

 Carpe Diem is, I think, the moto for most young people around the world. I'm not the exception, so, when I came to Madrid first, I was determined to forget Mr. G and all those men I had come across in my stay in London. Madrid, as I tried once to explain (quite unsuccesfully), has a whole load of events and places to offer for women like me that try to start from 0. Museums, cafés and restaurants aside, the night life is probable one of the best aspects of this city. In one one of the nights out is when I met Mr. Nobody, whom I once thought to be someone but things made an unexpected twist and he now remains in that pile of memories you vaguely remember when you are really bored. However, heart issues are another level of Madrid parties and concerts, for the best is just to hang out with your friends in the clubs you like the most. Madrid has an huge variety of bars and clubs that play every possible type of music that exists. Fun, Hit, Pacha, Sala Heineken (with its many different festivals) are just some of the names you might come across if you visit. Here I leave you a small taste of how we party here, in the capital of Spain.

 11/03/2011 Concert by DINERO at Sala Heineken. It was, in a word, amazing. I love how close this group is to the fans, so far one of the best concerts I have attended.

 07/04/2011 Concert by Second at Joy Eslava. The club was completely full, and I was lucky to have a privileged position right in the front line, also, they delighted us with a mix between their oldest and newest hits. I think I even cried in one or two songs.

 Night out with friends from university last Friday (you could almost say we were celebrating the Royal wedding!!!) First we went to Independance Club...

 ...and after a few hours we moved to Stardust, an electro music festival held at Sala Heineken every friday. To be honest, I don't think I've ever been to any place where the music was SO LOUD! When we left home (at 7 a.m. today, saturday) we all thought we were staying deaf!

So this is a peek into what Madrid's night life can offer. I thank Marina, Rosa, Jon, Ana, and all those close to me this year that share so many moments with me.
Enjoy more travelling!!!!

Coming Back to Palma, Semana Santa (Holy Week)

So, what happened to Mr. G? He finally got himself a girlfriend, a hideous lawyer I can honestly say I ABSOLUTELY despise. He keeps listening to Frank Sinatra and complains about men and women while I tell him my recent love stories. We hadn't met in quite a long time before this week, about six months, I believe. Anyways, so, IT'S APRIL! And this year will be known for the late Semana Santa (Holy Week) that delayed the holidays for all of us students. In Semana Santa, in Spain there are many huge traditions, the most important and beautiful are the PROCESIONES. So these procesiones (I am unaware whether there is a similar tradition in the English-speaking world or not) consist of catholics dressing up in gowns that cover the whole body and walk through the streets with candles to ask forgiveness for their sins. OK, explained like this I understand how gruesome it sounds, but it is actually a wonderfully beautiful scene to be part of. Being from Palma, I have grown up with all this traditions, and so did Mr. G, so this ear we decided to go to the procesión of Holy Thursday toguether. We had a long talk about our lives, our plans, and how we are delighted we are still friends. I must admit, nevermind which events are taking place in Palma, if friends like that are there, it just becomes the more better. Hope you all have a great comeback to work and studies!!

Going Back to London (Pt 1 out of a million)

London, oh London!
I still haven't quite figured what is it that entrances me so much. Let's make a list: the weather is horrible, the people...well the stereotype is not promising, the parties are expensive and THEY FINISH AT 3 AM!!!! Oh my goodness...Such a horrible city, right? Nevertheless I still love it. Maybe it is because all those memories with all those Mr. Nobodies that shared this amazing and disgustingly polite city. My last adventure was loveless (was it really?), and it shocked me quite a lot as I found myself floating to my usual places, hoping to see a familiar face. I found myself walking down the streets surrounded by my friends, talking nonsense as I surprised over the multitudinary protests in the centre. I saw a clear copy of one of the Mr. Nobody eating in that restaurant-could it be possible? Noooooooo- while we randomly pointed at a chinese name in a menu.
Oh, London, it has not changed a bit, though nothing is the same now. And I still love it. I love the National Geographic's café, right in Regent Street. I love the lions in Trafalgar Square, and the protesting students destroying anything that got on their path. I love Sloane Square, and Harrod's too. I love the endless walks by the Thames and the Tower of London. I love it when London Bridge is all lit up. But, what I love the most, above all other things, is that finally I'm gonna live there. Take care, travellers!