I love Madrid Spain - April 2015

Madrid I love you!

Last Saturday marked the arrival of my friend Amy from Cumberland Beach Ontario all the way to Madrid Spain.  Not only was I excited to have a friend here to visit but I was stoked to be headed to Madrid for a weekend!  We were meeting Amy at 630 am on Saturday morning so Ross and I decided it would be best to stay on Friday night to make sure we could actually be at the airport that early (we were still late).

Friday night was great.  We adventured downtown to find Indian food (obviously) and were not only greeted with the restaurant I had searched out online but an entire street filled with the sweet sweet scent of heaven!  We had found ALL the Indian foods!  I don’t know if I have made myself clear in past writing about my love affair with all things Indian so I will clear up any confusion by saying my life is only complete when I am able to eat ALL THE CURRY.  No matter where we go I am always on the hunt for an Indian restaurant.  Valladolid is seriously lacking in international food options and so travel is necessary not only for the adventure but the food.  We enjoyed a feast of curries, rice, samosas and Gulab jamun.

*Drooling* Gulab jamun....

After stuffing ourselves embarrassingly full (sorry not sorry) we ventured into the night to see what the fine people of Madrid were up to.  We wanted to grab beers but were way to full from dinner to drink anything so instead we just wandered the streets enjoying the nightlife.  And can I just say I love Madrid at night!  During the day it is a fantastic city as well but something about the energy in the night air just puts a permanent smile on my face.  There are people everywhere drinking, singing, staring in awe at the buildings surrounding Plaza Mayor, people dressed up in costumes posing for photos, street performers playing violin and accordions etc.  It is so busy you don’t really have to be doing anything but sitting watching all the people walking by and you are fully entertained.  Im sure we stayed out later then we should have since we needed to be up at 530 but it was difficult tearing ourselves away.

 The streets near Plaza Espana

 Tree lady

For a second I thought I was in Mexico ;)

We tried to grab a hotel that was on the subway line between downtown and the airport.  Turns out we just do not know the city that well and even though on a map it appears the hotel we chose was in a good location, the subway line we were next to did not go directly to the airport.  We had to transfer 3 times and it took close to an hour to get there.  Not a big deal but not what we were expecting at 6 am.  Once we arrived at the airport I heard a familiar whistle and there stood Amy Keith whom I have not seen in 4 years!  It was a very exciting moment.

First things first we took her to the hotel to get cleaned up and have a nap since she had just taken an 18 hour journey to get here.  The flight itself from Toronto Canada is around 8 hours but with transfers, layovers and a 6 hour time change, that number significantly increases sometimes.  So after catching up briefly we all took a couple hours to rest before heading to the center to give Amy a taste of Spain!

We got off the subway at Plaza Espana which is always full of people milling about, taking photos and a ton of buskers.  There are people in costume, magicians, break dancers and musicians.  It is always great entertainment and I think a perfect start to a Spanish adventure!  We wandered the streets looking in fun shops, ate pizza (so Spanish I know) and made out way to Plaza Mayor for a pitcher of Sangria in the sunshine.  Its funny because I feel like Sangria, delicious as it is, is definitely more of a touristy Spanish drink.  People that actually live here seem to drink more beer, wine and in the summer Tinto de Verano, which is similar in flavour to Sangria without the fruit floating in it. However when you are a tourist in Spain Sangria is a must! 

Perfect place for Tapas y cervezas 

We spent the day wandering the winding streets of Madrid exploring cathedrals, markets, the palace and of course all the interesting stores.  We ate a bunch of Tapas (Madrid actually has quiet a bit of Vegetarian tapas for Ross and I!) and drank many, many glasses of beer and wine.  We wanted Amy to have a typical Spanish experience and to us that involves many tiny foods and drinks!  It was relaxing and fun to be able to show someone around and teach her all the things we have learned since we arrived here a year ago.

 We have seen this guy every time we have been to Madrid

 The palace

This building just blows my mind.  It is gorgeous!

The next day we went to grab breakfast downtown before heading to Renfe to grab our train back to Valladolid.  It was nice to be able to have an actual breakfast with eggs, toast, tomato and mushrooms (I obviously skipped the bacon) and a Starbucks!  Typical breakfast at most cafes in Spain is just juice, tea/coffee and a croissant/pastry/toast.  Of course you can find paces that serve fried eggs sometimes but they usually come with French fries which just seems weird to me. 

We ended up taking the long train to get back to Valladolid because this way Amy could see a bit more of the Spanish countryside.  It is a relaxing trip and I love just being on the train staring out the windows and enjoying the views.  Our train was fairly empty so we grabbed a four person section and just talked and took too many photos that of course end up looking like nothing.  Moving vehicle photos never look like what you are actually looking at.

I love Madrid.  If I had the option I would absolutely move there.  It is a big city with tons of things to do, great food options, lots of cool stores and most stuff stays open in the afternoon and on Sunday!  There are Starbucks and it just has a more North American feel while still having all the charm of Spain.  Many people speak English, which of course makes my life easier, but my Spanish has improved enough that I can do most things in Spanish now anyway (as long as its not too complicated).  Madrid is a gorgeous and exciting city that I think everyone should visit if they get a chance to come to Spain!  

Happiness in Madrid

Vancouver has it really been a year since we parted? - April 2015

Vancouver skyline..Yes I stole this from the internet.  No I don't feel bad about it.

Today marks a bittersweet day on my lifes journey.  It was one year ago today that Ross and I woke up for the last time in our apartment in Vancouver.  We ate egg McMuffins from the McDonalds across the street and listened to the crows (I loved and Ross grew to despise) that hung around our neighbourhood, we called a cab and headed to the airport with nothing but our giant bags of clothes.   One year ago today we left our home, our friends and began this new life here in Valladolid.  We of course spent a few weeks in Ontario before actually catching a flight to Spain but leaving Vancouver was the hardest part, the first step on the journey.

View from Burrard Bridge 

Waiting for the cab to take us away.

I find myself thinking of Vancouver most days.  It is the first place I have ever lived and felt like I was home.  I remember the very first time I went to Vancouver when I was 19.  I hitchhiked (Not something I would do again) from Canmore Alberta where I had been living at the time, and when I arrived I knew it was the place for me.  I spent the next few years back in Ontario until the time was right and I moved to Vancouver for what I imagined would be forever. 

Moving to Vancouver changed my life in more ways than I could have imagined.  Being away from Ontario gave me a chance to breathe.  To be on my own, away from everything and most everyone I knew.  I found myself there.  I felt like I finally had the freedom to be who I really was and live the life I wanted to live. I could shed the preconceived notions of who I was thought to be and truly be me. 

 "I am the tree and the tree is me" - Tabitha Silveira

My anxiety began to fall away and I was having less panic attacks.  Not to say it is cured but changing my life situation certainly made a world of difference.  I met some of the most amazing people I have ever known in my entire life.  These people became my friends, my support system, my family.  I made more friends in the few years I was in Vancouver than I had my entire life in Ontario. 

Greatest group of people I know! Our final brunch in Kits the day before we left.

James, myself and Adam at Biminis

 What you don't shotgun beers when you wake up in the woods?

My most lovely Britney-Anna

Vancouver Pride Parade! Myself, Claire and Tenay.

I got my job at Starbucks and can honestly say it really did change my life in so many positive ways.  I miss it so much more than I thought possible. My co workers, my managers, my customers all had an impact on my life and have helped me to become who I am today.  So many hours spent sitting in the backroom crying, laughing, counselling (being counselled) and making lasting memories.  Taking the time to really know each face that came through the door and learning so much about the people in the neighbourhoods (three in total) that I spent 4 years working in. I made some of my best friends there.  

Mandy, Maggie, myself and Ross watching baseball.

 Drinks with my favourite people. Starbucks Balsam crew.

Most beautiful ladies in Vancouver Lindsay, Cassie and Samantha 

Starbucks UBC crew back in the day.

 Shannon, Sally and Tina... I couldnt ask for better managers, mentors and friends.

 As I have been told numerous times this is Classic Melanie Ann face.

Most importantly I met Ross.  I will never forget the first moment I saw him sitting across a table from me at a pub I was forced to go to by a very special customer turned friend.  He had an infectious smile and although that night I left thinking he was a bit of a jerk (turns out he thought he was flirting with me) it didn’t take long for a friendship to form and after our first actual date I knew he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. 

 Hiking the North Shore with the man of my dreams

 Garibaldi lake hike

Our first Halloween 

We spent the next three years together truly living, spending as much time in the mountains as possible hiking and camping.  I found a peace there that I have never felt anywhere else.  To be so deep into the woods that you are certain you might never see another person again, to stop and just listen to the sound of the wind in the trees and the birds chirping, to feel free and wild and light.  I had no worries in the mountains, until of course I heard a branch break and I was convinced a bear was hunting us.  We hiked as much of the Rockies as possible and still saw only a fraction of them. I loved that we could hop on a city bus and be dropped off in the mountains of the North Shore to explore for the day.

Seriously though be bear aware!  This is where they live.

 The forests of the North Shore 

View of the city while hiking across from Deep Cove to Grouse Mountain

We walked the city too.  We both love to walk.  You have the ability to see things you miss when driving or taking a bus.  I am fairly certain we saw almost every street in the city and found some really cool places as a result.  When we tell people about our walks they are always shocked we walked 20 km just for fun and of course Indian buffet.  Vancouver was great for just walking, with so many neighbourhoods and parks to explore we had a hard time feeling bored.  Kitsilano, Point Grey, UBC, Gastown, Yaletown, Commercial, Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, The North Shore, Robson, Stanely Park, Granville Island, I mean the list just goes on and on.  On weekends if we were not in the mountains our conversations went like this…

“what do you want to do today?”

“Just grab a starbucks and wander.”

“Perfect. Me too.”

 Downtown Vancouver

 Second Beach sunsets

Granville Island from Granville bridge

Vancouver is a big city full of diversity in its people, cuisine and activities.  I spent so many great years in, in my opinion, the most gorgeous city in the world. Surrounded by mountains, forest and ocean, seeing Eagles, seals, coyotes, whales and bears, hiking, camping, biking and swimming, eating too many burritos (like that’s even a thing) and spending long nights drinking at Biminis, drinking at our house with Dave and playing video games, jamming and laughing. It was the healthiest and happiest time of my life.

 Just an eagle chilling in the park. NBD.

My little sisters visit!

There are definitely aspects of Van city that I was not found of while living there, the downtown eastside, the insanely high rent, the holier then thou attitude of certain Vancouverites and the Cancucks (Go Leafs Go!! Vancouver is home but I will be a Leafs fan for life). However despite that I know Vancouver is home.  I think you would be hard pressed to find a perfect place to live but I think Van is the closest to perfection I can imagine. 

The city view from Lonsdale Quay

I, we, do not regret our decision to move.  We are explorers and adventurers and leaving Vancouver has offered us a chance to experience the world abroad.  Leaving has also given us a chance to see Vancouver from afar and has solidified our desire to return and spend our lives there living, working and expanding our family. 

Vancouver is my home, our home and I look forward to grabbing Burrito Bros and sitting on our log watching the sunset again soon. 

Sunset from our log.  Nothing compares to this.

Penalara Natural Park, Spain - March 2015

In my happy place

Continuing on with my amazing weekend stories we move on to Sunday and the snowy mountain hike in Penalara Natural park which is in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range just Northwest of Madrid.  The specific hike we were doing was the Laguna de Penalara, a short jaunt through the forest to a glacial lake.  I was really excited to do this hike because I miss my mountain adventures from BC so whenever we have the chance to be surrounded by them its like coming home.

Floridian in the snow!  Who would have thought!?

Sunday morning Lloyd picked up myself, Ross, Laura and Kevin and we drove about two and a half hours to the mountain range.  It was here we were meeting Lloyds friend Ines (Ross and I had spent a few days Kayaking and adventuring with Ines last summer), her dog Rigo and Juan, who Lloyd teaches English too.  The drive there took us through some really cute old towns and gorgeous forested mountains that to our surprise were still covered in a ton of snow.  Of course I expected there to be some but this was much more than I imagined.

Its funny because it is now halfway through march and I feel like it is the first time I have really seen snow in Spain!  I know it snows in the mountains but I only saw snow in Valladolid once for about 20 minutes all winter so this was a lovely surprise.

 Juan, Kevin, Myself, LLoyd, Ines, Rigo and Laura

Ross, my love, my best friend <3

The park was full of people skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and sledding so it was insanely difficult to find parking.  It was great to see so many people out enjoying nature and the last of the winter season.  Like I said I miss home a lot so seeing this made me feel very happy but seriously longing to get back to Vancouver!  I did not bring any of my winter gear when we moved so I knew trekking through the snow would not be as pleasant as normal.

The path we took was really easy and took only about an hour and a half to make it to the lake.  The views were gorgeous!  The lake itself was frozen over (obviously) and covered in snow so we do not actually know what it looked like but I can imagine it was lovely. 

 Perfect place to spend an afternoon

 Take time to nurture your soul...

Once there we found a dry spot of grass to have a picnic we had all planned on.  Everyone brought different foods so we had a ton to eat.  Laura and Lloyd had a tortilla competition so we were all trying both tortillas to pick the best one.  I don’t want to choose sides because I thought they were both yummy.  We ate for a while enjoying the views but it was freezing cold and after some time our fingers would no longer allow us to hold food so we packed up and headed back down to the car.

 Tortilla competition!

 So many delicious foods!

Rastafarian Puppy

Being from Canada people always seem surprised when I complain about being cold.  I always hear “But you are from Canada” They seem to think that because I grew up with freezing temperatures and snow that I am somehow immune to it.  This is crazy to me.  Of course the cold and snow are not strangers but I still feel the cold!  I mean cold is cold.  And contrary to stereotypical beliefs Canada is not always covered in snow and ice, some parts never really even see snow (Vancouver I miss you). 

 In love with the mountains

After our chilly hike we drove into a small touristy town that I cannot remember the name of and went for tea and hot chocolates.  A must after a snow filled afternoon.  Hot chocolate is not the same here as back home.  Here it is like actual melted chocolate or something.  It is thick and rich and not something I can drink.  To me it seems more like something you would drizzle on a dessert.  People here really seem to like it.  I personally like Tim Hortons or Arena hot chocolate.  It is sweet and not too thick.  It reminds me of being kid and getting hot chocolate when you are ice skating or playing (watching) hockey.  I like instant Carnation brand!  My sister was kind enough to send me some instant powder in my Christmas package and I love it! 

After we parted ways with Ines, Rigo and Juan we drove through the mountains again and stopped in  San lldefonso, a small town where the royal palace of La Granja de San lldefonso is.  This "modest" palace is the former summer residence of the kings of Spain.  There are huge gardens and 26 gorgeous sculpted fountains, which are only turned on twice a year for festivals.  The fountains are sculpted to represent classical Greek Mythology.  They were incredible. 

 The modest palace

 Dragon fountains! I dig it...

Vicious sculptures.  Again I dig it.

It was a fun day with great people.  I love these trips out of town and into the mountains.  I am so grateful that Lloyd is not only able to drive here but willing to show us around and take us to such interesting places.  I look forward to more exciting adventures to come!

Lloyd! Thanks for being an awesome friend and tour guide!