visions of clarity...do as infinity

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Goodbye Spain!~

Hello

Quick update; I'll update more when I'm back in Ann Arbor and when I have time on my hands, and unlimited internet usage..=_=

Spain has been great; the first week or so was the best because it was warm but it's been getting cooler in Madrid recently and becoming more European-winterish as the days pass.^_^ It was scheduled by the weather forecast that it'll rain several times but so far we've been lucky! ^_^

We welcomed the New Year the traditional Spanish way: Red Underwear and 12 grapes for 12 sweet months ahead! ^_^ Then of course, we opened a bottle of Cava [Spanish version of Champagne] and drank to the new year while the fireworks blasted all over Madrid outside the window.=D I find the 12 grapes a rather cute idea - 1 grape per second after the clock chimes 12!

We'll be leaving Madrid for Amsterdam before we catch our connecting flight to Detroit. Then from there we'll be off to Orlando, Florida! I personally am rather apprehensive about this whole thing now but I guess things will work out in the end. Haha..

Alright, off I go..
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*

[music : Hyde's Roentgen album]
[mood : ^_^]
[food : PASTA!]

Jiamin: Haven't been very impressed by the churros and hot chocolate. So sad. (T_T)

ZL: Hahaha. I am not back yet. Hold on to those images!!! I don't think I want to ruin my image of him though.. ;_;

Labels: Spain

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Madrid Madrid!

Hello

This will be a short entry because of time constraints [such is the fate of one trying to rely on complimentary internet from the hotel]...

I'm finally back in Madrid after going around Spain on tour for the past week! Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Seville, Toledo, Segovia, ... Er.. Ok. I'll have a better and more updated list when I can actually type without peering nervously at the ticking clock every 5 seconds. X__X

Anyway, the food has been amazing!!! Well, probably not those meals that were included in the tour [those were awful] but meals we've been going for on our own. We went to what is considered the best [in all of Spain!] roast suckling pig restaurant and paella restaurant. AMAZING. So. Good. Omg! I was like, yayy! Hahaha.

Ahhh. My feet are tired, my cameras are being overused and my stomach is rumbling from everything I've been eating..

I'll update again soon!
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*

PS: Spanish pop music? Very very good stuff.xD

Labels: Spain

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Spain So Far...

Hello!

Greetings from Barcelona everyone.=) We got into Madrid yesterday through a connecting flight from Amsterdam which was our transfer point from Detroit.^_^ The weather is lovely [very warm and very very sunny] and the food so far has been quite delicious! =P

I've only eaten one churros so far, but I'm planning to rectify that soon because I am on the hunt for my hot chocolate and churros breakfast!!! ;) Too bad we're on a tour so it's slightly less flexible but o well, if I don't get to stuff myself now, I'll definitely make up for it in the last few days. ;)

One thing I've been very taken with though, is the tortilla - a thick potato omelette that, despite it's simplicity, is very delicious when done well. Eaten with bread, it's an incredibly filling meal but delicious all the same.=) We've only been here 2 days and today's food was ehhh .. But I'm looking forward to the other meals on this trip because I've only heard good things about Spanish food.

I am disappointed though, that we're only staying 2 days in Barcelona.. I actually thought we were staying more days in Barcelona than Madrid but turns out, it's the other way around. (T_T) Please let me weep a few tears because all my delicious bistronomias and gourmet food are located in Barcelona - Madrid is.. ehh not as exciting let's just put it that way. And tomorrow being our free day in Barcelona, I was hoping to go hit the restaurants but it's a Sunday and Sunday's a big family day here so my precious Espai Sucre and Cacao Sampaka might not be open!!! ;_; See why I weep?

Especially Espai Sucre. I REALLY hope it's not closed because I will be very very sad. Not as sad as when I missed out on Pierre Herme in Paris though.. [I still hold that incident with great bitterness.. xP]

So far, the scenery has been pretty amazing.. Not as stunning as the Amalfi Coast in Italy but we'll be going to the coastal areas of Andalucia, a small town called Peniscola which looks amazing in the photos.=D I'm looking forward to that. So far though, Spain has shown quite a variation in the scenery from mountains to plateaus, desert-like areas to agricultural lands.

Right now we're in Barcelona but we'll be heading for Grenada and Seville soon and err.. If there's anywhere else I can't really remember where.=X Ahem. I'm looking forward to oranges in Valencia and lemons in Murcia! I really like the Spanish names for places.. Haha.. Castilla la Mancha [that's where Madrid is], Aragon [drove through], Catalunya [Barcelona's hometown!], Communidad Valenciana [Valencia's place!], Andalucia [Seville and Grenada's playing ground], and so on.

May we be able to eat more delicious meals over the next few days and really get to enjoy Spanish food - tortillas, churros, tapas, paella, etc etc. And the best thing is that, Spain is surrounded by the sea on 3 sides so YAY! SEAFOOD! =D =D =D I am pleased. Haha..

Also the best thing is, because my camera is fixed, I can take photos with peace of mind again! ^_^ Hooray for fast-paced Singapore service!

cheers
*[-witchstone-]*

[music : Le Ciel Malice Mizer + Cemetaries of London Coldplay]
[mood : peaceful]
[food : Noodle Paella - a specialty of Catalunya!]

PS: Do you know that Coldplay makes for a great soundtrack while travelling through the Spanish countryside? =P

YX: You should go travelling during your breaks too!!! Explore America!

Labels: edibles, Spain, thoughts

Welcome

visions of clarity...do as infinity
by witchstone

My Emotible!
starry-eyed: filled with such youthful hope and optimism that one's eyes twinkle even when it's dark

Wish List

ie: motivation to save money!
- clothes
- shoes [heels! boots!]
- the perfect tote
- coats/outerwear! [Soïa & Kyo, Burberry...]
- Gackt - nine*nine
- Gackt Photobooks:
1 The Gift The Sixth Day & Seventh Night Tour Document (2004)
2 Crescent Photobook (out of print)
- Cookbooks!
1 Thomas Keller The French Laundry Cookbook
2 The Nobu Cookbook
3 Emily Luchetti A Passion for Desserts
4 Alice Medrich Pure Dessert
- Anime/Manga
1 Rurouni Kenshin
2 xxxHOLiC
3 Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-
- Proficiency at Japanese!
- Learn French for Food!

Links

My Flickr Page
spoonerisms*inc a food blog (by wendy & I)
my translation blog

witchstone...

follow me on Twitter

Checklist: EAT!

The Common Grill, Chelsea
The Black Pearl, Ann Arbor
Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes, Detroit
Bella Ciao, Ann Arbor
Craft, NYC
Momofuku, NYC
Alinea, Chicago
The French Laundry, California
Goto, Singapore

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