Archive for ‘Real Madrid’

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March 1, 2013

Some news from Spain XI

Well been letting this tag kind of alone lately but its lively in Spain always. My latest finds to share with my readers are,

First , you have concerts from some of my all time favorites such as Merche, April 18 at Joy Madrid, 20€, at a nostalgic place whre Iused to go for theater plays when young, then a disco, then a nightclub of all, and the famous of Spain, more info http://www.joy-eslava.com/Joy_Madrid/Bienvenida.html

 Top it off with Alejandro Sanz, June 26/27 at palacio de los deportes, from 33€ to 235€ on sale at ticketmaster or El Corte Inglés stores.http://www.palaciodedeportes.com/eventos_detalle.php?id=524

You have Chenoa playing May 24 for 25/35€ with sales at El Corte Inglés and at Teatro Compac Gran Via, http://www.gruposmedia.com/teatros/teatro-compac-gran-via-madrid/

of course in the Palacio de los deportes of Madrid you can see many things and I used to do fencing and volleyball there when young, now you can see the Real Madrid basketball team 7 times European Champion and on top of group in the euroligue this year. In the league official page, you can see the history of Real Madrid baloncesto or basketball, http://www.euroleague.net/competition/teams/showteam?clubcode=MAD&seasoncode=E2012

Tabacalera, la Antigua Fábrica de Tabacos de Madrid, or the old cigars factory of Madrid was built between  1780 and 1792, Initially it was set up as  Real Fábrica de Aguardientes y Naipes or Royal factory of eau de vie  and game cards.  It served this way for a while before been change to a Fábrica de Tabacos y Rapé or factory of cigars and snuff in 1809 ,and kept the manufacture until the end of the 20C. Now from 2007 onward it is handle as a center of visual arts on the street level and basement the rest is used by other centers for diverse exhibitions.  It is located at Calle Embajadores,51 metro embajadores line 3 or cercanias train C5. It is open Tuesdays to Fridays from  12h to  20h. Saturdays, Sundays ,and holidays from 11h to 20h. Mondays closed.  You have a wonderful expo on painting,and architecture by José Manuel Ballester  until April 28;more info here http://www.mcu.es/promoArte/MC/Ballester/exposicion.html

Do stop by Casa de América, at Cibeles 2 metro banco de España open from Mondays to Saturdays from 11h to 19h30, and Sundays from 11h to 15h,free admission. http://www.casamerica.es/

Casa Europa at the old and wonderful Circulo de Bellas Artes or beaux-arts circle at calle marques de Casa Riera,and Alcala , metro banco de España,  more info here http://www.circulobellasartes.com/visitas.php

Some of the best places to see Madrid my youthful city are, museo de Antropologia or Anthropology museum, Calle alfonso XII, http://mnantropologia.mcu.es/  ,and the Biblioteca National or national library, http://www.bne.es/en/Inicio/index.html  ;Casa de Lope de Vega, when young his were the books and stories we learned Spanish and our history; here is where the writer lived and died from 1610 to 1635, at Calle Cervantes 11 in a very Madrilene district nearest metro Anton Martin. free admission at the regional gov site, sorry its long and in Spanish,  http://www.emes.es/VivirenMadrid/MuseosdeMadrid/FichaMuseo/casa-museo-lope-vega/tabid/608/itemid/1/type/Museo/Default.aspx

The Cathedral of Almudena, guided visit for 6€, visit apart the chapel of the bishop for 2€; http://www.archimadrid.es/catedral/  the wonders of monasteries, such as monasterio de la Encarnacion, plaza de la encarnacion, metro opera, admission 7€ painting of Madrid and the Bourbons, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Monasterios-y-Conventos/Real-Monasterio-de-la-Encarnacion.aspx and the more popular Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, plaza de las descalzas, metro Sol, admission 7€ more info here http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Monasterios-y-Conventos/Monasterio-de-las-Descalzas-Reales.aspx

Museo de Cera or wax museum with nice history of Spain inside, near Colon Plaza. at paseo de los recoletos, metro Colon. 16€ more info here http://www.museoceramadrid.com/  The Lazaro Galdiano museum at Serrano 122, one of the most brilliant private expositions of paintings in Spain, http://www.flg.es/museo/museo.htm Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes, this is where it is claimed Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born (the wter of Don Quijote)  at Alcala de Henares, more info http://www.museo-casa-natal-cervantes.org/

The palace of El Pardo, including the casa del principe Don Carlos, paintings including one of Queen Isabel the Catholic, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Palacio-Real-de-El-Pardo.aspx ; the palacio Real, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Palacio-Real-de-Madrid.aspx, and the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Real-Sitio-de-Aranjuez.aspx ,and the palacio Real de la Granja at near Segovia, the Versailles of Spain, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Palacio-Real-de-La-Granja-de-San-Ildefonso.aspx

The Planetario or planetarium of Madrid, http://www.planetmad.es/horarios/horarios.html ; Real Monasterio de El Escorial, http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Real-Sitio-de-San-Lorenzo-del-Escorial.aspx  the Real Observatorio de Madrid, or astronomy with telescopes meridian, clocks, and mirrors including a pendulum clock from Foucault, http://www.ign.es/rom/visitas/index.jsp

I won’t need to tell you about the triangle of arts that includes the Prado, Reina Sofia,and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. But do take a look at the Museo Sorolla, general martinez campo, 37 metro Iglesias; free admission,and the best collection of this Valencian painter; wonderful place, http://museosorolla.mcu.es/informacion.html  and do visit the museo Taurino behind the Ventas monumental bullfighting ring, metro ventas line 2 and 5, where I lived for four years nearby.  Calle  Alcala ,  237  just from the gardens,  http://www-2.munimadrid.es/guia/visualizador/login.do?externalApp=true

And one of favorites areas for the cable car or teleferico to Casa de Campo, where you have a zoo,aquarium, attraction rides park,and just great. http://www.teleferico.com/ and http://www.parquedeatracciones.es/  and http://www.zoomadrid.com/ right from paseo del pintor Rosales on the parque de la Montaña more known as parque del oeste you have the temple Debod, egyptian gift to Spain in 1968, from the gods Amon and Isis. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/temple-of-debod

And last, I ate at Dehesa de Santa Maria, Calle Mayor, 88  a franchise chain all over Spain with tapas, hams,sausages, and beer/wine right at old Madrid near plaza Mayor ,slow service for a plate of four tapas and two beers 13,90€ the price was right, but not one I will be going back ::) http://www.dehesasantamaria.com/paginas/restaurantes.htm

Enjoy Madrid and you know it life is beautiful, more so in Madrid ::)

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February 23, 2013

Madrid to heaven and a hole in the sky to look down on it every day!

I just came back from visiting again Madrid, my Madrid. IF you have not read my blog, I lived there for four years in the 1970′s, and then came back for the 1982 World Cup of Football/Soccer,then again in 1990, and then from 2003 , I have been coming here two to three times per year. Needless to say is one of my favorite cities in the world, rather high on my scale.

Madrid is envigorating to the soul, active, modern, no taboos, free, open, lively, enthusiastic even in the worst economic situation like now, with an Iberia strike that needed two re schedules of my flight but so what,its Madrid, all worth it a million times.  Madrid is From Madrid to heaven and a hole in the sky to look down on it everyday. I do look on it every day thanks for the TVE tv station that I see here,and the radio Los 40 principales, and countless of friends and family,and my soul brothers of the Real Madrid FC; its a treat to be back,and I savour it every second of its air.

I made a short visit, business needs, but took the time the best I can manage it to see a bit of the city, from the wonderful magnificent Prado museum to the interesting and history museo naval or navy museum all is glitter. Webpages here http://www.museodelprado.es/  where the van goth exhibition has been extended by popular demand. and the navy at http://www.armada.mde.es/ArmadaPortal/page/Portal/ArmadaEspannola/ciencia_museo/prefLang_es/

You have many wonderful churches full of history from the church of Nuestra Señora de Carmen, history of Madrid since 1575 with the carmelites rites, and and the church built between 1610 and 1640,   and the church of San Gines de Arles,  it is know in writing since 1332, but they are some indices it could be from the 13C , the church of calatrava  done in the old monastery of  Real de la Concepción, better known as the commandements of Calatrava, here since  1623. Church of San Jeronimo, a history full of Spain, it goes back tot he order of the Saint Jerome from the year  1464. In May 9 , 1502 Queen Isabel the Catholic give the monks of jeronimos Santa Maria del Paso a place close the courts, a place that came to be known as Prado de San Jerónimo, and now you know the museum of Prado ::), and mine Church of San Benito and San Manuel right off Alcala and across from Retiro park , http://www.jeaf.com/samasabe/

The Retiro park,parque del buen retiro and the Real Madrid stadium Santiago Bernabeu with the Cibeles fountain, all a symbol of my Madrid, the stay was at Ayre Gran Colon hotel off pez volador and calle dr esquerdo, http://www.ayrehoteles.com/fr/hotel-colon/?utm_expid=42055456-9&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ayrehoteles.com%2Ffr%2Fhotel-colon%2F%3FidPrm%3DBUS002%26idONg%3DGOU%26gclid%3DCIbNxdaczbUCFYbHtAodGi8AOQ

My Puerta de Alcala, and Plaza Mayor, and so much more need to have a blog just for it, but you get the idea, Madrid is heaven, and you should discover it. If you need more let me know, I bet I know every nook of it. Enjoy the photos. Cheers.

Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid Madrid

 

 

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February 18, 2013

Some news from France LXXXXV

Here we are starting a new week. Tough day at work, many arrangements for travel and difficult to convince people of their needs, they are all perfect, and me well I just fill a room lol!! woos that feels good , let it out,now back to travel.

La Samaritaine store was supposed to start construction of the new building layout in three days, but some save the old stone organisations are vetoeing the move as there are some houses from the  17C and from Louis XV time that they want saved. In principle , work value at  460 millions euros -,and take 27 months to do, including a luxury hotel of 72 rooms , restaurant with terrace,  20.000 m2 of office space, 96 social low income housing apts (what a mix!!!) ,  26.400 m2 of shops spaces, a baby care center with  60 beds, and about  2000 jobs created; is all on hold.  The building bordered by the streets rue Baillet, de la Monnaie, de l’Arbre-Sec ,and Rivoli is missing some local authorisation for building codes types. So far they are claiming for the finish year 2015, still. This is one of the groups opposing the construction, http://www.sppef.fr/ and http://sosparis.free.fr/

The tourism in France is here to stay healthy and welcoming, according to the ministry of culture spokewoman M Pinel, and shown in the Le Figaro, we had 77B € of revenue from tourisme in 2012 with an higher influx of visitors from abroad, preliminary figures these are. Lol!

ok so you come to France, buy a souvenir key chain of the tour Eiffel, but made in China lol!! now a group (passion France) is doing something to make sure you buy Made in France. They started selling these souvenirs at the Galerie Lafayette of blvd Haussmann and they were the best sellers over 15 months, the company doing this is Passion France and have a store at the ave de la Grande Armée past the arc de triomphe, a bit more expensive, but it is French lol!!  And here is their webpage, http://www.passionfrance.fr/  Now buy French will you ,why the heck you come here for lol!!! Allez les bleus ::)

Ever heard of the old adage , buy early buy cheaper, well with the SNCF train tickets now going up twice per year jan and july , the idea of doing your buy early makes sense, the more you wait the more you will pay ,two raises per year.  So if have time, know French, you can buy last minute and still get good prices from those willing to resale their ticket at two sites, Kelbillet, and Troc de Trains, their webpages here http://www.kelbillet.com/train/ and http://www.trocdestrains.com/  don’t say I didn’t tell you ok ::)

In France, in the continuing effort to track and punish money laundering operations, there will be a law on the table to be approved by end of year, that is lower the requirement for payment in cash from the current 3000€ to 1000€ for residents and from 15K to 10K for the non resident. So if the law passes and you want to pay for something worth more than 1000 euros you better have a good proof of purchase or use a card or check no cash lol!!! I think is just a gimmick to make you go paperless, its a conspiracy lol!!! Black Monday.

And this is from my Real Madrid, The Santiago Bernabeu is the first European category 4 stadium to install a high-density wifi network that covers 100% of the field and will be fully operational in the coming months. With this network Real Madrid intends to offer a wide range of services including live video, match statistics and internet access, which will improve the experience of spectators coming to the stadium through their electronic devices. Only two others in the world has it, Kansas City (MLS) and Brooklyn Nets (NBA) in the USA lol!!!

Some update news,  the pizzas in France are losing their size by a few cm, so now occupied 4,3% less in surface. However, the French stay the second most consumers of Pizzas in the World, 1) USA, 2) France , 3) Italy. The French eat on average 20 pizzas per year with the most popular the Reine (queen) and 4 fromages (four cheeses) with some coming in top places such as savoyarde, chorizo, merguez ,and tartiflette. There ,love it, cheers!

if you can go get there quick great jazz recommended  SUNSET HORS LES MURS : SAMY THIEBAULT
Thursays February 21 at 20h30
admission 25,00€  at Le New Morning, 7/9 rue des Petite Ecuries 10éme; http://www.newmorning.com/20130221-2639-Samy-Thiebault.html

you all a great week!!! Cheers

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January 1, 2013

2012 in review. Thank you to all my readers in sharing with me this wonderful adventure.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 120,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Posted in Bretagne, Europe, Florida USA, Food and Wine, France, Havana, Cuba, Madrid, New Jersey USA, Paris, Real Madrid, Spain, Versailles | Leave a Comment »

December 31, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, PROSPERO AñO NUEVO A TODOS, BONNE ANNéE à TOUS!!!!

well just arrive from a wonderful trip to Brussels and its almost 21H or 9pm here in Auray Morbihan Brittany France!!! rainy all way and all week but we didn’t feel it lol!!!

Just want to write a post without a picture to say thank you all for following my humble blog and wishing you the best for 2013 to you and yours.

And wait until i get those photos loaded for more posts from Brussels.

Cheers

A+

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September 26, 2012

Some news from France LXXXIII

This is something I missed the most from the Paris/Versailles region where I lived and worked for almost 10 years. The sports bars, here in Brittany they are a lot more subdue and fewer.

I just read an article in Le Figaro about them and decided why not give them a bit of advertising ,its really very British but all do partake ::)

I have written on some of  them in my blog previously but these are some new joints that are worth checking them out.

Liverpool. You can come acroos at it folks following this club, call  Rush Bar , you will see the shirt colors there even when there is no match ; they even have a certificate on a frame on the wall to prove it.  location : 32, rue Saint-Sébastien (75011).Tél. +33 (0) 1 43 57 32 04.  A sport bars webpage http://www.allomatch.com/sport-bar/paris/rush-bar.html

Manchester City.Au Bombardier, you are more discreet, but the fans do enjoy it here. Location:  68, rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève (75005). Tél.+33 (0) 1 43 54 79 22. www.bombardierpub.fr

Manchester United. For the diehard fan of the team leader in Manchester you come here and diehard fan open this joint , Sacha Toubart, The Coq & Bulldog ;location  64, rue de Clichy (75009). Tél. +33 (0) 9 82 40 56 36. They use a Facebook site for info, https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Coq-Bulldog-Pub/226637367401560

Hull City AFC.  Its a bit more confidential at the  The Cricketer  for the diehard fans of the club Hull City AFC, second division in UK but a following here at  41, rue des Mathurins (75008).Tél. +33 (0) 1 40 07 01 45. From my French writing site, http://www.cityvox.fr/bars-et-cafes_paris/the-cricketer-pub_3572/InfosPratiques

Celtic Glasgow. «Glory glory Glasgow Celtic!» the evenings of victory chants  can be heard on the place Blanche 43 times Champion of Scotland . The Harp, 118, bd de Clichy (75018). Tél.+33 ( 0) 1 43 87 64 99. www.harpbar.com

Fiorentina. On 8 to 10 TV screens at  Havane ,the only Parisien café to show all the matches of the club at  70, bd Auguste-Blanqui (75013).Tél. +33  (0) 1 43 37 48 64. www.havanecafe.fr

Napoli Calcio. Here you only will see the colors blue like in Calcio at the  Bambolina Caffé at 13, rue Rougemont (75009).Tél. +33( 0) 1 48 24 57 49. From the sports bars webpage http://www.allomatch.com/sport-bar/paris/bambolina-caffe.html

Real Madrid. Another place to see my team, and great it is of course ::)  You see it at Pirada,  7, rue de Lappe (75001).Tél. +33  (0) 1 47 00 73 61.www.pirada.com

Where to play it, yes indeed there are fields in Paris.

The five on five side game of course; you can use the fields for an hour, and all awaits the opening of the Elite 5 Soccer in about 10 more days at two minutes from La Défense with a bonus  Jacuzzi. location: 46, rue des Courrières, Nanterre (92). Tél. +33 (0) 6 52 80 43 23. http://www.elite5soccer.com/index1.php

Open since June, the Le Five Paris is the only place in inner Paris, it is a prestigious address with 12 fields that you can even video the games at  32, rue Moussorgski (75018). Tél. +33 (0) 1 48 40 24 06. www.lefive.fr

Le Street, located in nearby department 95 of  Val-d’Oise,was founded amongst others by a journalist  of the magazine So Foot: ,chic,branché. At 200-208, chaussée Jules-César, Beauchamp (95).Tél. +33 (0) 1 39 60 90 22.www.lestreet.fr

And lets not forget  UrbanFootball, one of the first firms that created these centers in the Paris region. www.urbanfootball.fr

The younger crowd has them too:

At the jardin des Tuileries, the students from the school of  Notre-Dame de Saint-Roch, have three shops of football/soccer by age brackets every wednesday afternoon from 12h30 to 17h. Open to kids from outside the school as well. Cost is  285 € per year at  37, rue Saint-Roch (75001). Tél. +33 (0) 1 42 61 21 82.www.ecolesaintroch.fr

More  BCBG, the PO cultural association near the church of  Saint-Sulpice is an institution on the rive gauche. The children from 6 to 15 years old play every Wednesday afternoons i their stadium at  Châtenay-Malabry. 66, rue d’Assas (75006). email:  foot@le-po.com  webpage http://www.le-po.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=2ecf59bfe41f5e82ac973d9c59c4357f

And to be equipped nothing than the best of course, its Paris.

The boutique NSH  has a small selection of shirts of leyends like the famous  Johnny Rep of Saint-Étienne in the years 1980 (60 €).location  2, bd Saint-Martin (75010).Tél.+33 (0) 1 40 18 10 38.www.nshfootball.fr

More references can be found in the webpage of the  Les Voyages en Ballon, that also, organise an annual football  «rétro-vintage» at Parc du Tremblay.www.lveb.net

And face with the demand the makers of the round ball have duplications of the best shirts of footballers such as the «Authentic» (120 €) of the PSG and the team of  France are available at the main store  Nike at 67, avenue des Champs-Élysées (75008). Tél. +33  (0) 1 42 25 93 80. www.nikeparis.net

Happy footing in Paris. Cheers

Madrid

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September 22, 2012

Madrid, Madrid walking and memories of teenager, always Madrid

Another chance in life to visit Madrid, for four days last week. Always great feeling as this was my entry into Europe,and lived there with my mother for several years in quintana. This time was a business trip but plenty of time to walk and see my areas, my neighborhood of old Quintana;line 5 in the metro de Madrid.

I stayed as always recently at the Ayre hotels Gran Colon at Calle del Pez Volador, 1: this is an excellent hotel, with cafe resto dj music disco style at nights, big rooms, nice friendly service, and central to all of Madrid on lines 6 circular and 9 at calle doctor Esquerdo or the buses 56,143,156 stops right there. webpage http://www.ayrehoteles.com/en/hotels/ayre-gran-hotel-colon-madrid/the-hotel/home/

The Café Ayre is wonderful with dj music ,big sports TV, (saw my Real Madrid vs Manchester City, we won !!! 3×2)  , and a Champions records win, see it at official Real Madrid site ,http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Actualidad_Primer_Equipo_en/1330118765922/noticia/Noticia/Real_Madrid_reach_100_Champions_League_victories.htm  The breakfast are full style with plenty to eat and great display of goodies,nice. I needed taxi service once to get to office and they were very efficient and on time. Nice hotel complex.

I walk Madrid, like any city ,the best way to really get to know it. I walk the areas that I ran and hide to go out in my early teens years; the walk up to the Torre España or Spain tower ,with 220 meters high (232 with TV antennas), and the tree line calle del alcalde sainz de baranda to get to calle Menendez Pelayo and the wonderful Retiro park or Parque del Buen Retiro, and see the place I went to birthday parties etc now a fine resto Florida Park,,the wonderful fountains and alleyways of the park, the monument to General Martinez Campos with the inscriptions of his campaigns like a major one in Cuba in the 1876-1895. You come behind the monumental arch and statue to king Alfonso XIII and the lake or estanco del Retiro with its magical boats, that I once rode my girlfriends on it lol!!! Still the place to be if you are in love ::) info from Madrid tourist office ,http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?IDM=438&NM=3&TR=C&IDR=341

I went over Menendez Pelayo, and doctor Esquerdo streets, see the nice church of the Santisimo Samontinos,  Calle del Alcalde Sáinz de Baranda, 3 off Menendez Pelayo; info webpage http://www.misas.org/p/parroquia-del-santisimo-sacramento-sacramentinos-madrid . Had my wonderful merluza with almonds garlic,olive oil dish, and chips and nice cruzcampo beers,and Mahou 5 Estrellas try them all lol!! again. Finish with a nice coffee, all for 32€ yes the fish dish was huge! and the beers plenty just needed to walk back to hotel ::) This was at Cerveceria Cruz Blanca at calle Menendez Pelayo,47, webpage http://www.cerveceriacruzblanca.es/donde_encontrarnos.php# with branches all over the area.

Of course, I visited my old neighborhood of Quintana, right off metro line 5 at Alcala 331, always a pilgrimage when in town. The plaza Quintana with my old Docamar was the site of heavy mahou beers and patatas bravas, just across my old piso, apartment. The place was packed with people out mingling, talking, playing cards, just a bustle and hustle of a vibrant lively city as always the times or needs dont change in Madrid. From Madrid to heaven and a hole in the sky to look down on it everyday!!!!!

I have the chance to be driven around by the office management folks very nice people, and at nights the time to walk my favorites areas, just a great week in Madrid. I had the great chance to see Trujillo in Extremadura,and thats another post ::) Enjoy Madrid, always I will have Madrid.

Ahh I flew from Nantes on Iberia and this time they were on time handled by Air Nostrum. The ride was by car as I was nicely pick up at Barajas T4 by management.  I then try line 5,6,9 on the metro, and the rest of times walking;wonderful.  Madrid metro sitehttp://www.metromadrid.es/en/index.html . I will be back ,for now enjoy the photos. Cheers.

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August 19, 2012

REAL MADRID ,La Liga is here again Hala Madrid!!!

Allo ,hello, ola, Hola la Liga is here again… Today the Liga starts, that is football for most ,soccer for some,and calcio for a few of you. This is Spain top division, commonly refere as the Liga BBVA as sponsored by the big Spanish bank.

Real Madrid starts the third year of Mouriñho term in office, and defending Liga Champions. The team is the glory of Spain and its history, 32 Liga championships speaks loud and clear in my book. However, a team such as this needs more , a lot more. The European Champions league is made for them, won it 9 times more than any,and its the team ultimate goal. So this year we are going for the 33rd Liga and the 10th Champions lol! Hala Madrid

A bit about me and the game as my travel time had kept the football in the background. My first steps into the sports was while living in Madrid as a young boy of 10, there playing around the Elipa, met some young Spaniards who encourage me to try for the team. My grandparents are from Tenerife so I had Spanish citizenship too. Ins and outs of the politics of the system I end up playing in the formation training group for the Real Madrid at Casa de Campo fields. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship (as Ricky said in Casablanca), actually it had grown stronger over the years, and now its a passion without limits. And I am glad that my sons had shown an interes in the club as well.

Leaving Madrid was of necessary for my parents, but been fortunate enough to come back often,and now living in Europe again, my trips there are frequent. This allows to give me time to stay closer to my love,Real Madrid. It has given me the opportunity to stay closer to other fans with the same love,and to make new friends in Spain that have remain close over the years,sort like a family away from home.

Tonite the Liga starts,and with that life comes stronger ,tonite at 19h (Madrid time) the quest for the ultimate begins, and we play tough Valencia at Bernabeu stadium in Madrid.  This will be the eighth time in its history against Valencia on the opening day of the championship, and in the seven preceding matches Real Madrid have managed five wins, four of them in the Santiago Bernabeu, and only two losses. In the total balance of matches Real Madrid has managed 58 wins, 10 draws and nine defeats in the 77 games in which they played at home against Valencia CF.

The 2012-13 Real Madrid roster is of Casillas, Adán, and  Jesús as goalies, Defenders: Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Coentrão, Albiol, Arbeloa ,and Varane. Midfielders :Kaká, Özil, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Khedira, Lass, Callejón ,and Di María. Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuaín, and Morata.

The Liga for the rest started yesterday, with the first wins of Malaga, Sevilla, and Mallorca vs Celta, Getafe,and Espanyol.  If you want to follow the Liga in Spanish try here which I have in my links below my blog ,http://www.fororealmadrid.com/index.php  ,and if you want to see the games when not available in your home country try this site I have use for years while outside of Spain, Roja Directa. http://www.rojadirecta.me/ you can see a lot more than football/soccer.

Enjoy the Liga, the best in the world, and see the Real Madrid the best club in the world. Official webpage http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Home.htm

Cheers and happy Sunday.

Madrid Real Madrid

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July 28, 2012

A Coruña, La Coruña y Galicia charms of the rias

Well just back from a nice interlude in A Coruña in Galicia, Spain and its near areas. It was a short trip with business in between but overall very nice.

It was a long flight driving first to Nantes airport, then catching Iberia to Madrid Barajas T4, which already has become like a second home lol!!! then the Iberia transfer to A Coruña airport. Going was gone easy but the return was hell, Iberia was one hour late in arriving, and when the connection at Barajas thinking will miss the flight went to the customer service desk, saw a long line! Then looking at the boards realise my flight was still boarding! (held because of the flight delays of the day) ,ran like a mad man to the gate K85 and was able to catch the last bus to the plane!!! Arrive at Nantes took my car and finally arrive home by midnite! I will try never again to take Iberia, two trips with them and two delays! This is the official site for the airport and also all airports in Spain; http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-A-Coruna/en/

My business took me to Sada near A Coruña and was lodge at the AC A Coruña Hotel part of the Marriott chain just at the entrance to the city,and half way to the office in Sada. The hotel was very nice, friendly, with all amenities I needed. The rooms was big, and the bed; and it has a great breakfast resto with all you can eat included in the price of the room, and the AC Bar was great , cold drinks and light meals. One to consider when in town, even if a bit away from the coastline beaches. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lcgco-ac-hotel-a-coruna/

The interaction with the locals was great like a feel of been home; and it was. I got some feedback from them already that confirm my impressions.

Then, it was July 25th the feast of St James or Santiago, the patron saint of Galicia and Spain. It was a day off,so my old friend from Real Madrid days Nilo came to pick me up at the hotel. The poor man drove 110 kms to see me, I thought it was closer. However, the trip ,the company was like family. We drove to Xove, passing Ferrol Viveiro, Oviudo, Cabanas, St Ciprian has a beautiful beach sitting next to Xove.

We have a saying that once a Real Madrid fan, Madridista, you are always one and welcome the world over. Here is home ground and it is no different. We walk all over town stopping for tapas and drinks in so many places I lost count lol!!! It is a faster pace one that I need to get back in shape for it. The locals dont stop eating, drinking,and talking all day long.

We made a meal at the finca or family terrain just overlooking the nice beach of St Ciprian, and we had salmon, and percebes, and salads, plus white wine of Ribeiro, and it was fun all afternoon. I had some adjustments to make but was able to hold on the day and come back to A Coruña.

Here are webpages of the cities I spend the most time Xove and St Ciprian beach, http://www.xove.es/js/index.php  and http://www.esplaya.com/beaches/show?by=province&criteria=19&id=195

Also Galicia tourist office, http://www.turgalicia.es/Default.asp?cidi=I

I took lots of photos so will put them here, its my depository of souvenirs and nostalgia ,this blog. And sharing is a virtue maybe others will like it, and go there, it is a nice place to vacation too. I as a family already looking forward to it. Have a great weekend y’all.

Xove
Xove
Xove

Xove
Viveiro
Viveiro

St Ciprian
St Ciprian
St Ciprian

Sada
Oveido
Oleidos

Madrid
Ferrol
Cabanas

Barqueiro
A Coruña
A Coruña

A Coruña
A Coruña
A Coruña

A Coruña

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May 15, 2012

Some news from France LXXII

Here we are mid week, I am getting ready to do another trip by car to Versailles, and Paris. For now, here are the latest tips I have been able to find to my favorite choices, of course.

There is a new way to come into Paris from the airports of Paris, it is citygold ,the motocycle ride, yes a moto now can take you in . I think a very good innovative idea, and hoping it catches on, the webpage is in French http://citygold.fr/ all is done by experience moto drivers,and you can book your trip online at the site given. Go for it!

The Bordeaux tourist office once again the summer is coming, has wine tastings, this time is the côte de Bordeaux at Blaye. Affordable wines at a great location, and with a great city of Bordeaux as background. More info here http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/visites_et_degustations.pl?lg=uk&id=933&c2=50

To continue with Bordeaux, we have the wide open season of wine tastings, the opening is on pdf file in French ,but plenty of info there to print, if need help , let me know if you think something is to your liking, the 52 pages is loaded with information on how to enjoy the wines of Bordeaux and more, http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/images/pdf/PorteDuVignoble2012light.pdf

Sneaking it here, a bit away from France,and al. I will need to tell you how happy I am to see my life’s team Real Madrid of Madrid,Spain, winning the 32nd championship of their history, the most of any Spanish teams. Under coach Mourinho, and with a great team of players from many countries they were able to disbank the other team that for me is unmentioned.  First I give you the English versiont of the official site herehttp://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Home.htm , and then the Spanish version with a nice video on winning  here,  http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Actualidad_Primer_Equipo/1330103448547/noticia/Noticia/El_Bernabeu_vibro_con_la_fiesta_de_los_campeones_de_Liga.htm

My all time best hostal, done it for years,and now share here on Segovia, Spain, Venta Magullo on the road to Soria just outside Segovia;, http://www.ventamagullosegovia.com/en/presentacion, and combine with the best Galician seafood resto in Madrid, my home, Ribeira do Miño at http://www.marisqueriaribeiradomino.com/es/estaticas/index.asp?wm=752&id=255 , and yes that pile of seafood is real !!!! If want to stay closer at Madrid, then head for Hostal La Plata at gran via, http://www.hostal-laplata.com/

It is now at Paris, the 17th Fête du Pain, Parvis de Notre Dame, until May 21  free admission, webpage http://www.lafetedupain.com/index.htm  of course this is the festival of bread, baguettes lol!!!

How about the jules et jim  hotel ,11, rue des gravilliers – 75003  for cult  movies par excellence in Paris webpage  http://www.hoteljulesetjim.com/

How about my sky team lounges at CDG and Orly, well relaxed you are in Paris, webpage http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/Journey-Information/Lounge-Finder/Skyteam-lounges-in-Paris-Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle-Airport/

http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/Journey-Information/Lounge-Finder/Skyteam-lounges-in-Paris-Orly-International-Airport/

and of course my Flying Blue frequent flyer program, the best, http://www.flyingbluenews.com/ , and if you need trains, see the train stations in one site in French, http://www.trains-horaires.com/horaires

This is all for now, until next time, will be traveling by car tomorrow to Versailles, and then come back,and take the plane at Nantes for South Africa on business trio of one week; see you soon, and remember France is on holiday Thursday and most  take the bridge, pont on Friday ::) Cheers

Madrid

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