¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Happy New Year from Spain!

Noche Vieja

We're preparing stuff for tonight's party. I am making empanada and filete ruso with sweet and sour + spicy sauce. More later.

Update:
We've started preparing for the noche vieja dinner. Earlier, Marc stopped by at Nohemi's mom house and I took some pictures of him.

Birthday Party

Last night, we did the birthday party thing for Apo & Nohemi. We went to an Italian restaurant around la lonja. It was a lot of fun!

Fucking Assholes!

ETA has bombed Madrid's Barajas airport this morning. They placed a car bomb in the parking lot and blew up the car. They notified the authorities because they do so when attacking civilian things to minimize casualties. It doesn't change the fact that they're assholes who really don't know what they want.

They hanged Saddam Hussein this morning.

Several hundred people are missing and are probably drowned when the boat that they were in sank in Indonesia.

Uplifting news today, huh?

¡iMac!

Esther bought an iMac for her home office. How excited am I?!

Festival Park

We´re going to the Camper outlet store with abuelo in a few minutes. Nohemi and I are going to cross the street to pick him up. Esther is at her place babysitting the installers. She bought a bookcase THREE MONTHS AGO and they´re delivering it today. Can you now appreciate the instant gratification of Lowes or Menards?

... We are back from lunch and Festival Park. We ended up going to Inca but turned around because the mercat is today and traffic was bad. I got two pairs of shoes from Camper. I finally have the ones with the tire soles that I have been wanting for a while now. Thank goodness that it was an outlet store because my two pairs of shoes were for 215€.

Lunch was paella verduras, I prefer the seafood one obviously but the vegetable one was also good. I just remembered and wanted to mention the fact that there were a bunch of English in the Camper store.

Time for my nap because we´re heading out in 45 minutes.

Behind

I am behind in uploading pictures. There are a few more added to flickr, and here´s one of them.

In The News

There is a difference with what news is shown on TV in Spain, actually the rest of the world, versus the U.S. I am fairly certain that the pipeline in Nigeria made it to the news in the U.S. But I also am fairly certain that the fire that killed 24 people in the Philippines did not.

... there is a long and angry post that was going to follow that but I´ll spare you because of the holidays.

Before I forget, I saw Gore´s little movie thing about the environment. It´s enlightening but I am sure people will just ignore it and label it as liberal propaganda... shouldn´t it actually be called conservative propaganda? The doubt that was used to counter the facts brought forth really did a number on people. People don´t give a shit about environmental issues at all. Well, as long as the price of gas doesn´t go up, right? Why should we care because by the time this thing goes out of control we´re already dead, right? It´s okay, I´ve decided to actually care. You don´t have to care because it might cost you a little bit of money and require a little bit of effort.

Hopefully, tomorrow we get to walk around during the day and take pictures. I really would like to see how my camera works during the day in Palma:)

Day After Christmas

Last night, we had dinner with Angel and Neus at Esther´s place. It was just a chilling out night so nothing fancy.

We just got back from having lunch at Nohemi´s mom´s house. Now Esther is preparing to take a nap and I might take a nap too. Later, we´re heading toward´s Neus´parents house to say merry Christmas. Neus´nephew Marc should be here from Madrid too. He´s three and a half now, it´s funny how time flies.

Happy Birthday Nohemi

We´re back from eating all day at Nohemi´s mom´s place. Nohemi got to open her presents. Now, we´re at Esther´s place waiting with Neus for Angel. We´re going to have dinner here and chill out.

Bon Nadal

Merry Christmas to everyone! I would wish for peace and good will but Bush is president so good will to all.

Also a very happy birthday to Nohemi. She doesn´t get to open her presents until tomorrow after lunch.

Noche Buena

At a certain time today everything will be closed. We're getting ready to get a few things from the grocery store. It's raining.

Update:
Seven hours after the post above, the chicken is baking in Esther's cool oven. The rain has stopped. We've watch a very shitty movie called Kiss Me Again. Now, I am also watching last year's Operación Triunfo with Nohemi.

¡Skype is the Shit!

We just finished having lunch and I since it's siesta time still I had nothing to do. I tried calling Harryl and Mark and I was able to talk to them through Skype on Esther's computer. Hopefully, Harryl posts pictures of his trip on Flickr. Later, I'm going to get my birthday gift for Nohemi. Possibly a bracelet or purse from Tous. After, we're going to meet up with Neus who just got here from Barcelona yesterday evening.

Update:
We walked around Palma with Neus. We also went to Tous for some presents. After, we went to a café para tomar algo.

Arroz Caldo

Today, I am making lunch and we are having it at Esther´s house. I am making arroz caldo which goes pretty good with the cold weather. Well, it´s in the mid-50s so I don´t know if I can legitimately call it cold since I live in Michigan. Since I am in the subject of cooking, I have failed to mention how awesome Esther´s kitchen is. It´s totally bad-ass with the brushed stainless steel appliance from Siemens and the very modern looking cabinetry from Häcker Kitchen. Häcker is a German company I guess and it´s an awesome name. The ä is really the letter used on the logo.

Went For A Drive

Today, we went for a drive to Bendinat to give a Christmas present for Nohemi´s mom´s realtor. Bendinat is currently the most expensive real estate in Spain. After, we went to the house in paseo maritimo to pick up some kitchen stuff for Esther´s house. After, lunch.

Not much action but we´re here to relax and I have had my fill of action (walking) in Madrid. The bloody stump where my feet used to be need to grow back before I start vernturing out for walks. I´ve update the Picasa album with more pictures.

ADSL Finally Installed

Esther has waited a month to get the phone company to install her DSL connection. They said 3 days and it had to be multiplied 10 times.

We´re back in Palma from the 4 days trip to Madrid. The temperature change of 0 C to 12 C is reason enough to return to Mallorca. Here are some of the pictures that I have taken.

From España 2006

0-3

Real Madrid is playing like shit. I cannot understand how players of
that caliber appear to play no better than Juan's team in La Salle?
They got spanked and I am glad that we did all the cultural stuff.
Estamos disfrutando de cosas culturales pero no de la deportivas.

Hoy

We went the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum. (www.museothyssen.org) and
checked out the collection. We had lunch with Maria at an Italian
restaurant. We saw Charo Reina a Spanish actress having lunch there.
I didn't bother her for an autograph because I didn't know who she
was. We went for walk after lunch then to fnac (fnac.es) for Esther's
movies. After we had something to drink. Life is a lot more relaxed
but somehow my feet are killing me.

Tonight, were going to game. The Spanish soccer federation didn't
allow the teams to postpone the game. Instead they´re going to do a
collection for the fans that died in the bus crash.

Update

Dia del partido

It feels almost awkward to be posting from an actual computer. I am using the public computer in the hotel lobby. Today, we are going to the Madrid-Recreativo game butthey might be cancelling it because of an accident last night. A bunch of fans in a bus were involved in a collision. A semi tipped over and they´re bus hit it head on.

I think when we return to Palma there might be an internet connection at Ester´s place.

Prado

This morning we went to the Prado and spent a couple of hours looking
at art work. One really needs at least an entire day to properly
appreciate the art. After the museum we walked around el parque del
retiro. After the park, we took a taxi to the Bernabeu. We had lunch
the the Real Cafe, I had chipirones which was very good. After lunch,
we took the tour of the stadium which lasted longer than I expected.
The tour ends in the Real Madrid store, where we found Madrid's new
signing, Marcelo. He's the heir to Roberto Carlos' position in the
Brazilian national team. He's my third celebrity sighting and had to
ask for an autograph. I went up to him and ask for one and he
obliged. I would have preferred a picture but it wasn't allowed in
the store. He didn't speak Spanish or English but luckily the girl
with him did. After all that excitement, we headed back to the hotel
via Madrid's subway aka Metro.

We met up with Maria, another of Esther's roommates in college, for
dinner. We had dinner at a restaurant called Wagaboo at el barrio de
chueca. Chueca is something like what Castro district is to San
Francisco. It's where the gays live. Wagaboo had good food too. I
had curry la mien.

Update

From España 2006

Marcelo

Dinner with Ainhoa

We had dinner with Esther's roommate from college, Ainhoa. We walked
around the city before and went to the restaurant at nine. It was
manned by a lot of Filipinos. La Gloria Montera was the restaurant's
name. The food was good and was inexpensive because they're supposed
to be students in culinary school.

We're in the hotel now relaxing.

En Madrid

We are in Madrid and we've walked quite a bit. We went in the Royal
Palace and bumped into a very interesting character. His name is
Pablo Antonio and he works as a guide in the palace. Esther and
Nohemi talked to him and he ended up giving a tour of the Royal
Pharmacy. Too bad we didn't bump into him in the royal armory. It
would have been great what he had to say abour the werapons. He was
full of information and gave an interesting take on things. As I
said, he started yapping with Esther and Nohemi theb after he even
took us for a beer at a nearby cafe.

I took a lot of pictures that I cannot wait to post.

--
Hywell Martinez

Hala Madrid!

Nohemi, Esther and I are sitting and waiting for our plane to Madrid.
We're in gate D86.

Hallmark is turning 26 today. I hope he's having a wonderful birthday.

Now if that plane would already start its boarding process before I
fall asleep. Too bad I cannot post pictures yet. I cannot wait until
Esther's internet connection is installed.

--
Hywell Martinez

Paella

I am back at Esther's place to pick up some pants that I need to fix.
We had paella for lunch and now we're going to chill out for siesta.
Later we are going to check out a live Nativity set with real people
and animals.

Tomorrow, we're heading to Madrid for a few days. I had another
middle of the night incident. This time a car with really loud bass
woke me up. I was so tempted to get a bottle of water and toss it at
the car. The reason that he was around there was the semaphore was
red. So instead of tossing the glass of water that I grabbed from the
kitchen, I drank it instead and went to sleep. I hope there'll be no
more of these waking Hywell up in the middle of the night things
tonight because we have to go to the airport early tomorrow. I need
my beauty sleep.

--
Hywell Martinez

Broadband-less

It is difficult to fix mistakes on my blog without a proper internet
connection. I guess when we get back from Madrid I will fix my posts.
I screwed up in O'Hare and sent the post to the wrong address.

Yesterday, morning we went to give gifts to people from Nohemi's mom.
In the afternoon, we went shopping. Esther bought me a black jacket
as part of my birthday present. We saw Javier Dorado a soccer player
for Real Mallorca. In the airport in Madrid, Nohemi saw Sergio from
Operacion Triunfo while I was napping.

Update

Half hour left

I am not sure if this image will show up properly.

Dammit, the same idiots are manning the boarding gate as the ticket counter.

Dia de futbol

We watched Juan play soccer today. It was against their rival Cide.
The match ended in a draw and the coach took Juan out after the 1st
half.

Nohemi and I bought a Christmas for Esther's place. We got it from
the dollar store even though it wasn't for a dollar.

Esther's DSL was supposed to be installed today but the installer
couldn't tone it back to the box so he's coming back Monday.

--
Hywell Martinez

Wifi is Evil

If I brought my laptop I would probably trying to do a little bit of
work. I am so tempted to reply to support emails while we sit here.

One more hour...

--
Hywell Martinez

Via Gmail Maybe?

Hmm that confidentiality agreement thing from the work email sucked.
Maybe Gmail will come to the rescue. The skier chick tore two knee
ligaments and the meniscus and was in Colorado for surgery.

I is bored:( We have two more hours to wait. Plus the dipshit at the
ticket counter gave us aisle seats. I look forward to my early
morning barf tomorrow.

--
Hywell Martinez

Maria Jose Rienda

Nohemi just pointed out that a Spanish skier is sitting across from us waiting for the plane. She's a hotty. But looks like she broke her foot.

Update

Vacation Eve

Tomorrow, we leave for Spain! I am excited and nervous.

Today, Nohemi and I ran lots of errands. It was pretty much non-stop from 11:30 until 4:30 of running around. I think, we have managed to do all the things that we have procrastinated about for the past couple of months.

WTF!!!1

Nohemi and I did some shopping and went to Noodles and Co for dinner. When I got home I had to poop... the wet kind! Then after I threw up. To romanticize the whole disgusting experience.... I got food poisoning.

Harryl is headed to the Philippines tonight. Nohemi and I got him a iPod nano for his birthday. It got there just in time. I was afraid that he wasn't going to be able to use it for his trip.

Snow

Before

After

Backdoor

Going into the Blogger Dashboard from Google's My Service is such a weird route. It's been a slow weekend where nothing much happened. Friday, Nohemi and I went out to dinner at Red Lobster. My mouth was all screwed up afterwards because I have allergy for king crabs. The sensation is similar to having a spoon in your mouth for a long time where your spit has a metallic taste. Saturday, we had lunch at Logans and Nohemi was all in knots because of the throwing of peanut peels on the ground. She refused to do it and placed all of hers on a saucer.

Viernes

We weren't supposed to get snow instead we were to expect "ice pellets" per wunderground.com. The wretched pellets kept me up all night. It sounded like very loud heavy rain. The rest of the weekend is supposed to be snow and more terrible weather.