Month: February 2017

We have landed in New York and now waiting for our flight home.  Seeing Erica was wonderful in spite of the awful weather.  I enjoyed seeing my old friends and making new ones.  I am not sure the next time we will visit this wonderful country but I suspect it wont be in a February.

Since was my 9th trip to Spain I have been asked for travel tips to this country.  I am certainly no Rick Steves but here goes.

1.) Pack light.  For example do you really need that hair brush (see below).

2.) Take advantage of the local culture.  Especially don’t be afraid to try the local food.  (See Below).

3.) One last tip, WATCH WHERE YOU STEP!   Madrileños are not like Angelinos.  They do not walk their dogs with baggie in hand.   I have a great picture to demonstrate this problem but Patrice censored that addition.

Lastly, a few hours into our flight (and luckily after my nap) they made an announcement asking if there was a doctor on board.  After identifying myself to the flight attendant I was taken to a passenger in distress.  Apparently he and his wife had just arrived in Madrid enroute to a vacation in Portugal when they found out that their 19 year old daughter in New York had committed suicide.  The father had taken an Ativan and was feeling lightheaded.  The flight attendant gave me a blood pressure cuff that did not work and a stethoscope that looked like it came from a “Ken and Barbie go to Medical School Kit”. Fortunately I think the patient just needed a kind voice and an empathetic ear.  On our way to our connecting flight one of fellow passengers saw me and said, “You were the doctor on the flight?”.  After confirming his suspicion he then said, “You have a great bedside manner”.  I never get tired of hearing that.

Talking to a man and woman who just lost their daughter forever made leaving Erica in Madrid less painful.  Sometimes we just need perspective in life.

That’s all for this trip but I hope to be talking to you again next month.

Roberto

Today was a day I feared would come all too soon.  Tomorrow we leave for home and today was to be our last day visiting Erica in Madrid.  Our Erica has developed a life in Madrid and is so very far away from her daddy.  Sorry if I am getting too sentimental for my readers but this is very difficult to write between wiping my eyes and blowing my nose. Erica is 26 years old but I would be lying if I didn’t admit I miss my baby.  I remember when my family left New York in 1957 and we were visiting my father’s mother before we left.  I saw both of them hug and cry.  I didn’t understand what was happening at that time but now I understand all too well.  Talking about breakfast and dinner is easy.  Talking about saying goodbye to Erica is not.

We stayed busy today meeting my friend Angélica for coffee that carried on to dinner.  We had an amazing meal at a restaurant called IL CONO.  We had a variety of pastas that we shared including one that was made at our table.  Please see the video I have attached at https://youtu.be/lYSh6-XLdoE.  This is the first time I have tried to post a video to the blog so I hope it works.

After dinner we headed to the Museum Sorolla where Erica’s friend Esther gave us a guided tour.  Sorolla was a famous Spanish painter and art collector.  The museum was his home and after his death his widow transformed it into a museum.

Tomorrow we leave for home.  I look forward to getting home.  I love Madrid but no matter who is the president of the USA, it will always be my home.

Hasta mañana,

Roberto

 

 

Today started off innocently enough.  Erica met us at the hotel and we walked in the cold and rain to a local bar (aka restaurant) for breakfast.  I had my usual Madrid breakfast of Tortilla Española and café con leche.

Erica headed off to work while Patrice and I decided to investigate a local venture of Google called “Campus Madrid”.  It was  a bit of a disappointment because all we saw were the first two floors where Google apparently is attempting to help locals network in the tech world. There was a small cafeteria and then some wonderful work spaces with lots of young people and their laptops.  From what we were told the upper floors are reserved for true Google employees but no programming occurs at the location.  They were not clear exactly what type of work is being done.  I don’t think it is anything highly secret but the lack of clarification was more a function of their employees difficulty speaking English and our inability to speak Spanish.  The one thing I found most fun was using the Google maps app to find Campus Madrid and to get us there using public transportation.  I am sure I turned a 20 minute trip into 30 minutes but it was fun.  I am a simple guy with simple pleasures.

We then met Erica and Jaime (a friend of Erica and Lindsay) for coffee.  Jaime is a delightful young man who speaks incredible English.  He likes to practice English and told us he doesn’t get much of a chance to practice except when he talks to himself in the mirror.  So for the sake of his need to practice and our desire to communicate we spoke English.  This was a true Spanish experience.  We sat there talking for about 3 hours and were never given one hint from the owners that it was time for us to leave.  After 3 hours we asked for the check (Spaniards do not bring the check until asked) and then we were on our way.  I don’t think this is something you could experience anywhere in the USA and one thing I love about Spain.

After a brief stop at the hotel we headed to dinner with Erica and her friend Marcelo at El Pimiento Verde where we met our friends Hazel and Ricardo.  We first met this couple and their two children in 2015 when Patrice and I were visiting our girls in the city of San Sebastián in the north of Spain.  They asked me to take a photo of their family and a friendship ensued.  Hazel runs a school and Ricardo is an illustrator and draws political cartoons (viñetas).  Apparently the election of Donald Trump was a Godsend for him.  Trump has made his work TOO easy.  Here is a link to the one of his cartoons.  To help you along the adult is saying, “And now, who is going to pay for this?”.  I think the rest is self explanatory.  http://e02-elmundo.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2017/01/29/14857106732725.jpg

Following dinner we had a near disaster.  We had a very comfortable ride home but when we got to our room we realized Erica had left something there.  I was going to text her but I COULDN’T FIND MY PHONE!!!!!.   I searched everywhere but without success.  Patrice sent a text message to me and then called but again without success.  Then we received a call from the passenger who entered the cab that we had just exited. He had our phone and after a series of negotiations we got the cab driver to bring it back to me.   I am now resting comfortably in bed.  Patrice has given me a Valium and is rubbing my shoulders.  I have a warm compress over my eyes and the hotel doctor and nurse are at my side.  They say that I should be fine but we are considering admitting me overnight for observation.  My phone has been taped to my hand in order to reassure me and prevent agitation.

Until tomorrow.

Robert

(Please tell mom I was just joking, I am fine).

Once more we awoke promptly at 11 am.  We decided to skip breakfast and headed straight to Erica’s apartment for an early lunch of leftovers from last night’s incredible dinner.  After bidding goodbye to Erica as she returned to work, Patrice and I headed out to explore the city some more.  We went to the Matadero which is now a cultural center but previously was a slaughterhouse.  This is a beautiful complex with a lovely greenhouse botanical exhibit, a skate park and educational galleries along the Madrid River.  The setting is lovely and I am sure that now it is much more enjoyable for animals than it was as a slaughterhouse.

We then headed to Puerta Del Sol where we visited an M.C. Escher exhibit.  There were about 200 originals of his works.  I have long been an Escher fan so this was a real treat for me.  I especially enjoyed one of his self-portraits.  See below.

After the Escher exhibit we had to go to San Ginés Chocolateria for churros with chocolate sauce and café con leche.  I love this place and Patrice went along just to keep me company.  She didn’t want any churros (see below).

At night we met up with Erica and my friends Myriam and Marcos for dinner at Restaurante Castelados.  They are a fantastic couple with 3 sons.  Marcos speaks extremely fast and my Spanish is very poor so after about an hour my brain swells and tissue can be seen seeping out of my ears.  Thank goodness we had Erica there to help with my understanding.  The meal was incredible and for those who follow this blog only to find restaurant recommendations you should definitely make note of this one.  We were told that Michelle Obama dined here when she visited Madrid.  For those who have been following our trips you might recall that we ate at Pamela’s in Pittsburgh and the Red Rooster in Harlem (both favorites of Barack Obama).  This has given me an idea.  We have been on a Hall of Fame Tour and a National Park Tour, now I see in our future a “Barack and Michelle Obama Trendy Restaurant Tour”.

I am not sure what tomorrow holds for us but I am sure it will include Erica and food.

Thank you so much for your comments on the blog.  I love reading them.

Robert

I know many of you are sick of me writing about food (although many want to hear about our dining recommendations) but I have to tell you about the best meal of this or any of our trips.  Tonight we had dinner at Erica’s apartment with a number of her friends who live here in Madrid.

Prior to the meal we accompanied Erica to the local grocery store.  We found a number of interesting items and curiosities.  One thing I found very interesting was that in the fruit and vegetable departments you bagged your item and then took it to a scale.  From the scale’s monitor you chose the name (or in my case, picture) of the fruit or vegetable in your bag.  A sticker with a bar code is then printed out.  You attach the label to the bag and then you are ready to check out.

There were many items in the store that I have not seen in the US.  For example they had a variety of pizzas.  One was definitely new to me (see below).

 

Also I had not seen this food stuff before either.

 

I think germ-phobic Americans might like to see the practice below adopted by grocers in our country.  Most of the fruit and vegetables come pre-wrapped (see below).

 

Dinner was wonderful.  Erica did a great job of preparing the meal.  Patrice did a lot of work too.  I was a major contributor by playing Words With Friends on the couch, thus keeping out of the way.

Erica’s friends were delightful.  They all spoke perfect Spanish and pretended to understand what I was trying to say.  The one theme that was clear and most important to us was that they all love Erica.  It was also very heartwarming in that they also asked about Lindsay since they knew her from her time here in Madrid.

Until tomorrow,

Roberto

We had another wonderful day in Madrid.  Today we played the part of a true Madrileño (person born in Madrid).  We got up late and then met Erica for breakfast at 12:30 pm.  I had my usual favorite of Tortilla Española and Cafe Con Leche.  Tortilla Española looks like a quiche and is made of eggs, onions, potatoes and kosher salt.  I assume the kosher salt is the Spaniards attempt to make amends after the Spanish Inquisition when Jews were given 3 choices:  1.) Leave Spain, 2.) Convert to Catholicism or 3.) Die.

Erica left us for work and we then decided to have a unique Spanish experience so went to Puerta del Sol and visited the Apple Store and then went to the movies to see “La La Land”.  I guess we were feeling a little homesick and the numerous shots of home were lots of fun.  I especially liked the scenes from the Hermosa Beach pier and the Lighthouse (also located in Hermosa).  It brought back fond memories of when I took a date to the Lighthouse.  We had a fun time until I started to put my arm around her only to knock the beer off the table behind me onto some other guy’s date.

It rained a bit today and lucky for me that it did.  I had my umbrella up and it prevented more than rain from hitting my head (see below).

At night we had an early dinner (9:30 pm) with one of my friend’s here in Spain.  I have been to Madrid many times so I have almost as many friends here as I do in Los Angeles. My LA friends have said that is because my Spanish is very poor.  As they say, “Once your Spanish improves they won’t like you any more than we do”.

Hasta luego

 

It was time to say goodbye to the wonderful people at the Fontecruz Lisboa Hotel in Lisbon and head back to Madrid.  Last night we had a incredible dinner at Cervejaria Ramiro.  The restaurant was recommended by a couple of friends and we were not disappointed.  We shared the shrimp and “edible crab” (not sure why they needed to add that adjective, I assume all their food is edible).  Both dishes were spectacular (see below).  When we got into the cab to return to the hotel the driver asked if we had eaten at Cervejaria Ramiro.  Apparently the garlic was a clear tip off.

 

 

After dinner we headed down to the Hard Rock Cafe to watch the Super Bowl. They charged for admission but for our 10€ ticket we were allowed to watch the game and receive a beer (as you know I am such a big drinker) and a hot dog (just what I wanted after coming here directly from dinner).  Patrice and Erica were great sports agreeing to come and keep me company.  As you know their kindness was rewarded with the first Super Bowl overtime in history.

After breakfast this morning it was time to return to Madrid.  Prior to the flight from Madrid to Lisbon, while waiting in line to board, Erica mentioned to me that she didn’t have her passport.  Immediately I started to think of alternative plans since no doubt they were about to refuse her permission to board the plane.  Much to my surprise not only did they not require her to have a passport but rather they didn’t even check her ID.  I figured we still could have problems when we arrived in Lisbon. Much to the contrary, we exited the plane and the airport without any contact with any airport personnel.  This morning was a bit different.  At the Lisbon airport Erica was asked to show her ID.  When she presented her card, the agent looked as if it was not acceptable but her co-worker said it was okay.  She then told Erica if she had another type of ID card she would have also needed to present her passport.  I started to wonder how often a problem occurs since no ID is being checked in Madrid upon departure and Lisbon on arrival but it is being checked in Lisbon when leaving?    If she had the wrong ID card would our daughter have remained in Portugal forever?  Would I have had to fly to Madrid to get her passport?  All very strange and potentially very inconvenient.  Lucky for us all went well.

I have made big plans for tomorrow but I can’t tell you yet because Patrice hasn’t told me what I have decided to do.

Until tomorrow.

The one thing that made this trip a bit less exciting was the fact that we would miss my friend Melanie’s Super Bowl party.  I don’t really care about the game but I love the filet mignon sliders Melanie serves during half time.  As luck would have it Melanie decided to cancel her party this year.  I think the news that Patrice and I could not attend must have led to her canceling the party.

The city of Lisbon is very excited about the upcoming game.  We asked the bellman where we could watch the game and he said, “This is what?”.  We finally explained that this was an American football game to which he said, “Oh yes, American football.  Yes, yes, no, no, I don’t know if you can watch.”   I just heard a report on BBC that 170 million Americans will be watching the game and that it is a very patriotic event.  The reporter explained that “Americans across the country will be sitting on their couches and holding their little flags while watching the game”.    That is always the dilemma at Melanie’s party, where to put my American flag while trying to gobble down those sliders.

Football aside we decided to travel to Belém today.  This is an area in Lisbon famous for the home of the Portuguese President.  That would be Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa who lives in the Pink House as oppose to our White House (see below).

In addition we went to the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) which was  a very forgettable experience except for an exhibit that showed your image based on your body temperature (see below).

We also saw the Torre Belém and the Monastery (see below).

But most importantly we saw the main thing that drew us to this part of the city, the Pastéis de Belém.  This restaurant (first opened in 1837) supposedly sells the best custard tarts in the city.  The custard tart is essentially the national dessert of Portugal and Pastéis de Belém is where you can get the best of the best.  I wanted to make sure that we gave it an adequate test so we ordered 5 of them (see below) and we were unanimous in our approval (thanks Lindsay for the recommendation).

There was one other very interesting sight in the town (and I don’t mean the McDonalds). There was a bridge that looked like a small version of the Golden Gate and nearby what looked like a miniature version of Christ the Redeemer (see below).

 

Tomorrow we fly back to Madrid.  I don’t think we gave Portugal enough time and a return trip will definitely be in our future plans.  Now we need to find the Super Bowl.

Today we ventured out of town to a nearby town called Sintra.  This is the home of a gorgeous castle built in the 16th century that was destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1755 (apparently they haven’t had any earthquakes since) and then rebuilt in the early 19th century. Based on today’s journey I am led to believe that any time I visit a landmark in a Portuguese speaking country it is fogged in.  You might recall we got to see Christ the Redeemer in Rio from the mid chest down (see below).

Today we essentially saw the Pena Palace from the chest down (also see below).  We did get to view the inside and received a course in Portuguese History 101 from the one of the security guards.  Unfortunately the outside beauty (see below) was not available to us today.

Also notice the arch in the picture above.  This demonstrates the Moorish influence upon the architecture.  It is interesting to me (most likely not to anyone else) that the Moors were driven out of the Iberian peninsula at the end of the 15th century but their influence on the culture of this area continued long after they left the region.

We are off to dinner and a concert now.  Moor, oops More about that later.

 

Yesterday we arrived safely in Madrid and quickly got our luggage and made it safely to our hotel.  Exhausted we both took a nap and were pleasantly awakened by our darling Erica a couple of hours later.  It was so great seeing the doll we have missed so much.  We are lucky to have Lindsay back home after spending 2 years with her sister in Madrid. Hopefully Erica will also decide to return home soon.

After chilling out most of the day we went to bed early in anticipation of our excursion the next day.  We awoke early Friday morning and made it back to the airport but this time with Erica on our way to Lisbon.  After a short flight we settled into our Lisbon hotel (Fontecruz Lisboa) and then took a walking tour of the city.

The walking tour was great but we are now back at the hotel resting our legs before we head out tonight for further fun at a dinner/musical show found by my ladies.  I love traveling with these women.  They are so great at finding fun things to do.  Lindsay was fantastic on our trip to England/Ireland finding spectacular restaurants.    In New York, Patrice got us $20 tickets to an (at that time) off Broadway show called “Hamilton”.  I heard the show has made to to Broadway and the tickets are now a little more expensive.   Erica is also doing a great job finding stuff on this trip.  The ladies do the work and all I need to do is show up (and bring my credit card).

The hotels have been wonderful so far.  In Madrid we stayed at the AC Hotel Avenida de America and they killed us with kindness.  The rooms were great; they even said that the room mini-bars were free.   We were so shocked we asked again to confirm.  So our mini-bars filled with beer, sodas, water and variety of treats was free.  This would be a true party for many people.  We just had a water and a Kit Kat bar.

Our Lisbon hotel is also fantastic.  We have two wonderful rooms (sorry no free mini-bars here).  I haven’t seen any pets around but I think they must allow dogs because the bathrooms have a dog bath set up (see below).  Or is it for birds?

Time to head out for dinner and our show.  Talk to you later.