Category Archives: Retiro

Oct29

Intercambios and English Activities Madrid-Style

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This post is being dedicated to all of my past, present and future English students here in Madrid.

Also to many of my Spanish friends and other people who I know who are always saying how they need to practice their English.

Well, in Madrid there are TONS of activities and places where you can do just that.

The “Guiri” (or Foreigner) Community in Madrid is very large and we LOVE to plan and organize events that let us do the things we loved doing back at home. Something to get us out of our little circle. Something to mix up our typical tapas/disco dancing/dar una vuelta around the city day to day activities here in Spain.

If you are looking for just a good ole ‘Intercambio de Idiomas’ (or Language Exchange) check out these places:

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

  • Cafe Madrid (Metro: Opera)@9:30pm/21:30h
  • Cachibola Pub (Metros:Sol or Tirso de Molina—in the Plaza Jacinto Benavente to the right of the Yelmo Ideal Cine) @10pm/22h—this one is put on by ‘Multilinkual‘ and the intercambio is after the Movie Night (see below—Extra English Activities)

Saturdays

Sundays

(FYI: Weds.,Thurs. and Sunday nights have maaaaaaaaany options!!! So I’d say in general try a few out and see which ones you like. Intercambios are sometimes a gamble. Just try as many as you can!)

In General the Top Intercambio Groups..as in professional Intercambios are the ones listed below. When you go ask for these people and they are the organizers of these Intercambios and can help you meet new people (especially for those who decide to go solo to these events.)

Extra English Activities

Of course there are TONS of places in Madrid but these are some of the ones that I know or have personally been to.

If anyone has anything new to tell me about, or make any corrections to the info I’ve given above….please email me or comment on this page! Thanks!

Here are some other links to check out for more info on all of the above in English or Spanish!

Get out there….meet new people, get out of your shell and have a damn good time!!!! (And of course practice your English! ;-))

Love,

La Guiri

Apr25

Oh Me Oh My…How Time Flies!

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Sooooo it’s been a little over 2 months since my last post! But as they say….Times Flies When You’re Having Fun!!!!

Besides being busy with work and my rigorous daily traveling via the Madrid Public Transport systems, I did take time to:

a) Celebrate my 27th Birthday

My Ladies!!! Dani, Me and Polly at my Birthday Party!!!!

(I can’t believe another year has gone again!!!! I moved to Madrid when I was 23!!!! Holy Shizzzzzzz!!!!!!)

and

b) Have my Mom and Grandma over for a 2 week visit over Easter break and the week following it.

I hadn’t seen my Mom in about 2 and a half years….and I hadn’t seen my Grandma in almost 4 YEARS!!!!!!!

Soooo it was nice to have them here….of course the usual occurs when family stays with you for a long time….they do get on your nerves, buuuuut that’s what family members are for!

I have come to the conclusion after this trip that my Grandma Shirley is AWESOME!!!!!

And I’m A LOT LIKE HER!!!!!!!!

Things I’ve learned from my Grandma over this little 2 week trip…

*Drink a Beer or a Glass of Wine Everyday…..Not because you’re an alcoholic (1 is enough really) buuuuuut because you DESERVE IT!!!!

Me and Grandma and Our Tinto de Veranos

Beer and Patatas Bravas on a Terraza in Valencia

*Be Feisty and Let People Know What You Think and Have NO REGRETS about What You Say or Do!

Waiting for the Bus back to Madrid from Valencia….chillin!!!!

*Eat Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate EVERYDAY!!!! Why????…..WHY NOT, is the correct response to that question.

Eating Ice Cream on a Rainy/Cloudy day in Madrid. 🙂

*Take Pictures of Hot Waiters aaaaand call them Hot in front of them even though they don’t understand you. 😉

The Hot Waiter from La Pepica in Valencia

*Act like a child while at the beach….picking seashells never gets old!!!!!

Collecting Seashells…

*Be Active!!!…because the moment you stop, your age might catch up with ya and you won’t feel as young as you really are.

My Grandma Climbed up 7 flights of stairs in a tower in Toledo….

And this is what she saw! (Toledo, Spain)

*When someone won’t give you their attention…..a little ‘YOO-HOO!’  and a lil wave of the hand works wonders!!!!!! 😉

*Stop Your Bitchin’ and Be Grateful For What You Have!

*Work Hard…Always! Cause If You Don’t Work Hard You Have NO RIGHT To Complain!!!!

*You don’t need much in this world to be happy…Some Food, Friends, Family, A Roof Over Your Head and Some Clothes on Your Back…..everything else are extras that make the ice cream even sweeter….but plain vanilla, chocolate or strawberry is alright with me!

And what I’ve learned from my mother is…..

*I love her and I’m so grateful for her….buuuuut she is her father’s daughter and I am my father’s daughter which makes us Day and Night. And although she might drive me bonkers after 3 or 4 days together, she is still my Mom! 😉

Porras/Churros and Chocolate at the Valor Chocolateria in Madrid

Tinto de Verano on the Mercado de San Anton’s Rooftop Terrace in the Chueca barrio of Madrid.

Grandma…and the Valencian Beach La Malvarossa at Sunset.

Easter Sunday in the Retiro Park in Madrid.

Mom with her vino, pisto and tortilla de patata!

Mom and Grandma at the Beach in Valencia.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my pics….I’m getting ready for some new reviews! From Valencia, Barcelona, Santander and Madrid.

Happy Spring to All My Readers!!! 🙂

Besos,

La Guiri

Oct7

All Things Ameri-cuh! (part 2)

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So here we goooooo…..more American goodness that you can find in Madrid!!!!

Well, as you know….I have written about one of my favorite pizzerias in Madrid (which I now live close to again!!!! yaaaaay I can get take away too!!!! I am one very Happy Guiri!!!!!)

Please go and check out my post about this amazing pizzeria En Guay Si (N.Y.C.) that I wrote back in March….and then get your bum over there for a bite to eat!!!!!

MY BLOG POST!!!!! (CLICK LINK BELOW!!!)

https://laguirihabla.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/en-guay-si/

Definately delicious!!!!

Here are some other reviews about En Guay Si: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187514-d1592754-Reviews-En_Guay_Si_Pizza-Madrid.html

Now….this episode of All Things Ameri-cuh! I want to discuss American Diners in Madrid.

The one that comes to most people’s minds first is Peggy Sue’s.…in fact there is one right below my house.

I like to go there when I have a craving for some bacon cheese fries or a milkshake.

Me, my Chocolate Milkshake and some Bacon Cheese Fries!!!! Delish!!!!

The food is good….not great, but still good. It’s a bit pricey compared to other locals that are similar.

Most people go to Peggy Sue’s for the ambiance and the atmosphere.

http://www.peggysues.es/

They have a ton of locations around Spain (although I remember when there were only 2 or 3 here in Madrid)

Here are some of the main locations here in Madrid (for other locations check out their web):

Conde Duque

C/ Santa Cruz de Macenado Nº 13, Madrid

91.521.85.60

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Chueca

C/ Belén Nº 5, Madrid

91.308.30.93

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Retiro

C/ Menorca Nº 19, Madrid

91.573.66.50

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Huertas

C/ Jesús Nº 14, Madrid

91.389.67.00

You should definitely give it a try!!!

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Another 1950’s Style American Diner in Madrid is TOMMY MEL’S!!!!

I think I prefer Tommy Mel’s. You get a lot more for your money than at Peggy Sue’s. And I’ve never had a problem with my order at Tommy Mel’s whereas at Peggy Sue’s they normally mess something up at least once everytime I go there. I think this has to do that Peggy Sue’s has decided to become a chain here in Spain and Tommy Mel’s is still quite exclusive with only 2 locations here in Madrid and 1 in Leon (don’t ask me why Leon and not a bigger city like Barcelona, I’m still not sure….but ,oh well. Good for the people of Leon!)

Locations in Madrid:

Calle Pedro Teixeira, 8 28020 Madrid (Madrid)  España

Teléfono: 914 178 744

(Metros: Cuzco, Santiago Bernabeu )

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CC. Plenilunio

Calle Aracne s/n 28022 Madrid (Madrid)  España

Teléfono: 913 122 830

(Near M-40 and A-2 highways/Metro: Avenida de America and take Buses Nº221, 222, 223, 224, 224A, 226, 227, 228 y 229.
Nº281, 282, 283 y 284 to the Shopping Centre Plenilunio)

For More Info on Tommy Mel’s check out their website: http://www.tommymels.com/

Tommy Mel's Menu!!!!

Buuuuuurgerrrrrrrrrr and Buuuuuuuud!!!!! = Heaven 🙂

Bacon Cheese Fries!!!!!!! Yummy!!!!!!

Enjoy these places!!!!

And be on the look-out for All Things Ameri-cuh! (part 3) where I’ll discuss BBQ and Hot Dog joints here in Madrid!!!!