Archive for the ‘expat life’ Category
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12
Feb
2010
San Miguel Food Market Madrid
The San Miguel Market (Mercado de san Miguel) in Madrid is an exciting culinary and entertainment addition to the centre of Madrid, long overdue. Very overdue in fact. The building sat empty for over 10 years. It has been beautifully renovated and the food displays are a pleasure to look at as well as feast on. You can sip on champagne while sliding back freshly shucked oysters or grab a tray of tapas and a beer to enjoy under the high ceilings of the light and airy interior.
If you go on the weekend, try to arrive outside of 2:30 to 3:30 when it gets a little bit crazy – but if you arrive at peak hour, the insiders trick is to enter through the “back door”, the entrance farthest from plaza mayor where there is more space than the hordes realize. We found a space even with pram in tow.
San Miguel Market and Surrounding Buildings
10
Feb
2010
Friendly Medical Advice from your Local Butcher
In continuation to my last post, the hospital and sick child at home experience has given me even more pause for thought – this time in relation to the Spanish approach to medicinal care. On the one hand I discovered a whole other area where people like to give advice (to my delight, as you can imagine). On the other hand there was also a slightly laissez faire approach from the nurses in the hospital actually qualified to give it.
Look! FUN with medication!
Spaniards are particularly prone to handing out unqualified medical advice – the government had to run a multi million euro ad campaign which featured a woman in the market handing over her antibiotics to her good friend the neighbourhood butcher telling him to take them to address his cold like symptoms. The tag line to the ad was “You´re not a doctor, don’t share prescription drugs and see your doctor for medical advice”. Or some such.
25
Jan
2010
Flying with the devil. Or – how to fly on a plane with your children and not arrive with vomit on your top.
OK, as opposed to the recent post for selfish Alex, here is a selfless one dedicated entirely to myself. I am not long away from embarking upon a 24 hour plane ride with two children. Two. On a plane. One child finds it hard to focus on one thing for more than about three minutes and if doesn’t get his own way has a charming habit of throwing himself upon the nearest flat surface and keening as if at a grave. The other enjoys random Tourette’s like yelps – when she is not screaming until purple in the face about being tired. Or hungry. Or itchy. Or has smelt something funny. Oh, I can already see the faces of the people in the departure lounge, just crossing their fingers and PRAYING they are sitting beside our happy little family.
Anyway – I am planning this trip like a military invasion. Only with less death. I am not focusing on what happens when we get there – just the 24 hours on the way. Don’t even talk to me about the way back when I will be doing it ON MY OWN. Seriously, don’t talk to me, especially if you are my husband. I need every trick in the book, so have been madly researching to come up with The Plan. Here’s what I have thus far:
8
Jan
2010
“Three Kings” parade Madrid
Spain celebrated the arrival of the Three Kings yesterday, on January 6. Well actually they celebrate their very imminent arrival the night before, on January 5, in spectacular parades and street festivals across the country.
Next year, if you’re trying to think of somewhere to spend the colder months, think about making a visit to Madrid over the Christmas and New Year season. You’ll see Madrid at its best (winter days are characterised by bright, crisp blue skies) and the kids can be won over by the fantastic Christmas shows and displays and the distribution from floats of literally tones of sweets in the city’s major Three Kings parade. Write it down because you probably won’t read about it. Madrid is appalling at promoting its traditional events. The city’s own special Christmas guide this year makes a one line mention of the Three King’s Parade — hardly an indication of the scale or importance of the event which thousands of spectators attend and for which the entire centre of the city is blocked off.
9
Dec
2009
An Expat Christmas
Christmas time is when expats often miss home the most. Australians at home might take this opportunity to count their blessings and appreciate being home with family. Or perhaps not. Perhaps you are filled with envy and wish that you too were separated from your family by a 22 hour flight and thousands of miles of ocean on Christmas Day.
For Kate and me, Christmas abroad and with our husbands’ families, the festive season, as for everyone, has its highs and lows. Here we each share ours with you.
Kate’s London Christmas:
Brussel sprouts – those horrible green balls that feature on every mother’s threat list, pretty much sum up Christmas in England for me. They have these on Christmas Day. On purpose. They also have weird mini sausages wrapped in bacon. Not on the barbecue as some homage to their colonial cousins – no, just because well, it’s Christmas. And then there is the hideous sounding three bird roast. Chicken, goose and turkey. All in one. Yes, I realise that conjures up odd visions of a freakish looking giant bird with three heads (is that just me?) but it’s actually a supermarket creation – quelle surprise.
11
Nov
2009
Baby Deli Madrid
Madrid has a new(ish) and very cool destination for parents and children, the likes of which we’ll hopefully see more of before too long. Baby Deli is the project of interior designer and Mum Tatiana Arelle and her three business partners, all young, successful Mums. Among them is fashion designer Carolina Herrera. The shop includes a food and toy range (of ecological and commercially-just products), cafe, and classes for babies, mums and infants.
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- Baby Deli Madrid
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- Entrance
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- Activities Board
