Madrid Guide

Since I'm fast approaching the end of my six-month Spain stint(!), I thought it was about time I collated a lil Madrid manual. As with the Berlin Guide I pieced together last summer, it's not thronged with super touristy guidebook go-tos (not that they're not important - you can find heaps on those elsewhere), but rather a compilation of my personal haunts and recommendations that you just might like too. Find it aquí/here.

FAM --> ESP

¡Ay familia! I've just been lucky enough to spend five sweet days with two sweet ladies (even if it did fly by a little rápido). I hadn't yet had any offshore visitors while living here, so it was super nice to be able to play tour-guide-cum-translator for a lil while and show mamá and siblet the Spanish spots that've become so familiar to me over the past half a year or so. We spent two nights based in central Madrid (in the really recommendable Artrip hotel), followed by another two in nearby (and totally beautiful) Toledo. We packed a
lotta things in. Siblet even met her actual alma gemela [soul mate] in teeny tiny form. Here's a petite potpourri of pics:

Hermanaz

Artrip balcony

Plaza Mayor

Toma Café 

CaixaForum

Chueca // Malasaña

Leila - sorry - Victoria, meets Victoria - sorry - Leila.

This week I'm lovin'

Morning runs along Madrid's illustrious museum boulevard, Paseo del Prado. Not the shabbiest of routes.

Ja(rs) Rule

I do love an unorthodox food/bev vessel. Drinking is just more FUN out of jars. Yesterday afternoon's post-workout jar snackette was an experimental avo-based blend. Before ya wince, avocados make the creamiest and indeed yummiest smoothies, as well as providin' a super source of healthy fats - don't knock it just yet. On top of packing an extra vit punch, fruit and veg combinations are more balanced on the taste buds, too (I reckon). 

M A K E

 Ingredients: 

1/2 an avocado

 1/2 a beet

1/2 a carrot

1 pear

1 handful of raspberries

2 mandarines

a few splashes of oat milk

To embellish:

 a drizzle of honey 

a pinch of cinnamon

P.S. Avocado and mango (with a squeeze of lime) is also a winning pairing!

So gooood.

Moleskine musings

Yeahyeah, I'm a total sucker for cringe inspirational stimuli, but my daily diary doodles sure do keep me motivated! Laters, procrastination.

Today: words < ACTIONS 

Hello, my name is Paul Smith

Ahh it sure is good to be back on old turf, if only for a one week whistle-stop. Admittedly I've been a little overambitious with the amount I want to squeeze in on my fleetin' LDN return (it's funny how much you grow to cherish homeland after going cold turkey for over three months), but I'm definitely having a good crack at catching up with much missed folk and hang-outs.

One of my first hits was the Design Museum's current exhibition, "Hello, my name is Paul Smith". Charting the globally renowned designer's rise to fashion fame and repute, from his humble Nottinghamshire beginnings to present-day prosperity, the display offers an aesthetically seductive and fascinating insight into the inner workings of Paul Smith; both the man and his eponymous brand. 

The exhibit is neatly divided into individual illustrative segments, from "The First Shop" to "The Hotel Bedroom" to "The Studio", showcasing a comprehensive combination of audiovisual material, original sketches, photographs, clothing and even Paul's personal art collection, plucked from his Covent Garden based studio. 

Running from 15 November 2013 - 09 March 2014, "Hello, my name is Paul Smith" is a vibrant, engaging and truly personal archive of Mr Smith's career. A must-see for all art/design/fashion/creative/retail/business kinda heads.

MAD --> BCN

This weekend I thought I'd milk the Spanish "puente" [bridge] holiday tradition (wouldn't wanna disrespect the customs now) and bop to nearby Barça for a three day staycation. Despite being a super speedy 50 minute vuelo from Madrid, there's distinct vibes between the two cities, for sure (this definitely ain't a negative thing, no siree). And that's without taking Barcelona's overwhelmingly Independence obsessed, Catalonian-speaking spirit into account; the language adjustment was just a tad confuso for my lil Castilian-accustomed head! 

Even though Catalonia's political/economic backdrop certainly finds itself in a funny phase, this doesn't detract in any way what-so-ever from Barça's unassailable brilliance. The city kinda has it all. It somehow strikes a seamless and refreshing balance between conventional, buzzy city life (countless shops, efficient transport connections, celebrated sightseeing spots etc.), gorgeous beaches and a vibrant vida nocturna [nightlife], all whisked together with an air of cool, youthful nonchalance. The non-stop sun and crystal clear skies were just the cherry on top. 

Here's a small sample of my three day whistle-stop trip:

And what's a Catalonian christmas season without caga tió [shitting log]...  

...or caganer [shitting man]? Oh Barça. "Felices fiestas" to you too.