Hashtag: #london

Let me show you the world through my eyes. || Blog about my life in London, Madrid and everything in between. || Bachelor's degree in Advertising & PR

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37.  Let me tell you about Sweden, only country where the clouds are interesting... Big brother says it's the place to go.

So much time without writing a post, but I didn't want to finish the year without uploading what it was one of my latest trips of 2017. Less than a month ago I went to a country that it had been on my checklist for a few years now: Sweden. We took few days off and went to Göteborg and once we were there we took a boat to Vrångö. I have to say that I almost forgot what it is that thing called cold, I’ve only experienced that when I lived in the UK and now that I’m in Madrid it was completely forgotten. But even with that, we managed to enjoy the city and the island.   

To be honest with you, we didn’t do a lot of things In Göteburg. We stayed in Haga’s neighborhood, with a lot of cafes, vintage and antique stores, that welcomed us with Christmas caroling and an intimate festival that made us feel intruders in like some beautiful Christmas movie scene. After that, we did the typical tourist things: Universeum, Gothenburg Museum of Art, Hasselblad Center, Lilla Bommen, Feskekörka... But one of the days, we took one boat to go to the archipelago and we visited Vrångö. For me, it was the most beautiful part of this trip. More even than Göteborg. Once we got the island we just explored the surroundings, just my boyfriend and I, and you could see how the people lived there, in those charming houses, with those colors clashing with the cold of the country.

I’m planning on going back to Sweden, this time maybe Stockholm or Malmö. But no doubt is still on my checklist.

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36. It's cold in the desert, water never sees the ground. Special unspoken without sound.  

Today we visited “Desert City” in Madrid. I saw a post in a blog about this place and just right away I started to look for information about it.

Desert City is a biotechnology nursery specialized in Xerophilism with 5000 m2 of experimental botanical gardens and more than 400 xerophytic species. Thing is that I always loved cactus and xerophytic plants, even thought I didn’t know that was their name. They are usually easier to maintain (I'm not a big fan of taking care of anything else that is alive apart from me) and more impressive than other plants when they get big.

Desert city is based on the concept of the responsible use of water (since cactus need little consumption of it) helping this way, with the sustainability of the planet. They create textures and shadows that make you travel to arid deserts In inhospitable places. Fortunately for us this place is only 20min away from Madrid city.

Check out the pictures in full detail, let me know if you like cactus and if you find this place just as impressive as I do.      

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35. This cowboy's running from himself and she's been living on the highest shelf...

As I promised, and because here, in Madrid, outside it’s raining and raining and we have to wear our winter jackets again. So maybe this helps get warm a little bit.

It’s a little short video, but sometimes when you are enjoying this much you forget to film.

Thanks for watching, and let me know your thoughts!

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34.  I hate the beach but I stand in California with my toes in the sand

Sometimes you don’t have any plans and then all of the sudden you find yourself in Alicante for Easter Break.

And to be honest, it was great. We went to Pinoso, (or Pinós in Valencian) a small town in the mountainous countryside between Alicante and Murcia. There we had rented a room in a hostel (the last pictures) run by a british couple that spoke little spanish (lucky us that we’ve been living in London). But they were really nice and they let us use everything: the bbq, the swimming pool... and they made breakfast for us (and what a breakfast!). The next day we decided to go to the coast. And we drove to Benidorm. I had never been in Benidorm and I have to say that... I hated it a little bit. It was so full of people! Benidorm has the most high-rise buildings per capita in the world. That’s right, it’s like a small spanish Abu Dhabi or as it’s also known, Little Manhattan.     And after having paella for lunch like if we were foreigners... we decided to go to Altea. It was a proper shock as Altea was peace and quietness. It’s a beautiful small town known for the good weather, beaches and the labyrinthine streets. And then we were really tired to do anything else but go back to Valencia, to my boyfriend’s house. Next day I came back to Madrid. Missing all the good moments we had. A short video of the trip is coming soon!

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33. But Oh Valencia, with your blood still warm on the ground.

I have spent this weekend in Valencia visiting my boyfriend. And I think I never seen it like this. Not because of the company, I always been well Surrounded to be honest. But because I was saw it in a different way. Contemplatining it as if this might be my home. If I find a job here, Valencia would be my home, I don’t know for how long. But it is a possibility. So this weekend I was walking around the city, looking at it in a different way, asking myself if this would be a place where I can feel like home. And I felt strange, because I was there like a tourist trying to learn as much as I could about the streets, the places, the parks, everything. Trying to memorize it for future reference.  It is kind of the same feeling that when I moved in to London.  No city could ever take Madrid’s place in my soul. But I wont deny that Valencia has a spell like no other. Maybe because of the sea, or the charming buildings, or maybe because you get the chance to catch a sunset like the one above in the Albufera...  I encourage you to visit Valencia if you haven’t. 

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32. Your breath upon my face, lips pursed to my cheek... The cold will bring us close.

This weekend my boyfriend came to visit me to Madrid. If you follow my blog you would already know that my boyfriend and I live in different cities since we came back to Spain at the end of November. So we don’t see each other much, and this was the first time after five weeks that we meet. And until both of us find a job and can have the money to move in together this is going to be our situation. A position that doesn’t seem to change because finding a job seems harder than we though (And believe me, we thought it was going to be hard).

So well, every time he comes to Madrid I try to show him new places in the city that he hasn't seen yet.

This weekend we went to El Retiro. El Retiro is the lungs of Madrid. This park is in the middle of Madrid, close to Puerta de Álcala and the Prado Museum, and has 125 hectares with over 15,000 trees.  The park has been used as a venue for various international exhibitions.

You can find a large pond with boats and ducks, tasting the sun in the summer. And my favorite part, El Palacio de Cristal or The Glass Palace, a romantic pavilion created to house a collection of exotic plants for the Philippine Exhibition of 1887.  You always find something new everytime you walk through El Retiro. And it beautiful any time of the year, doesn’t matter if it’s winter or summer or autumn or spring. If you come to Madrid please, find the time to visit this oustanding park.

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31. Hola ¿Qué tal? | New Year 

Well first of all, Happy New Year people. A brand new year full of possibilities is ahead of us.

How to start this post? Usually when a new year comes, people tends to talk about their new resolutions. But the thing is that I’m not one of those people who make a full list of them. Because I think... why do you have to wait for the new year? If you want to do something do it, don’t wait.

And now, after I said this... I have a resolution (how funny), but more than a resolution it’s a plan.  You see, when I came back from London to Madrid I knew sooner or later I would need a job. And not only need but want. I want a job. I want to work. And not only me but my boyfriend will also need a job, because we want to live together like we used to do back in London.  So you could say that’s my new year resolution. Find a job. Make everything that is in my hands to find it.  And everyone knows it’s not easy. Come on, we are realistic people right?  But what I also know is that when you step out of your comfort zone, marvellous things happen. That’s something I learnt when I moved out from one country to another. You need to talk to people, learn from them, be curious, do things you know are complicated but will make a difference. And let’s not forget that everything is possible if you try. And that’s why this year my resolution, my plan is to find a job (along with my boyfriend), find a house where we can live together and travel in my spare time. And I know it looks more like a wish than a plan but I can promise I will make everything I can to make that happen. Because I’m going to step out of my comfort zone one more time.

And everyone that is reading this. Do you have new year resolutions? If so, tell me about them, and most important, good luck.

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30.  I heard them calling in the distance, so I packed my things and ran.

Here is the video about out romantic getaway in the mountains.  I bought a new camera and I was dying to try it out. I’m just learning how to use it, and how to improve with Adobe Premier, but this is a way of having a few good memories of our traveling.

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29. Through the woods we ran, deep into the mountain sound.

My boyfriend and I anniversary is this month. And because we are not living together at the moment we decided to celebrate it renting a cottage in the mountains. After looking around a few houses we decided to go to this really really small village (around 46 people) in Avila, a city in Spain.  We wanted relax and be without a lot of people around. So this place was ideal for it.  The house, wonderfull (champagne, jaquzzi, chimney…) and the views… you can see the views in the pictures.  We explored around with our car and with bikes, wanting to be in touch with the nature around us.  I’m an urban girl and for me these things from time to time are kind of needed so I can disconnect from everything (London or Madrid). I don’t know what else to say, pictures speak from themselves. It was an amazing anniversary with the best companion.

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28. Madrid Madrid Madrid… pedazo de la España en que nací

(Translation: ‘Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, piece of Spain in which I was born’. It doesn’t have the same effect, I know.)

Almost three weeks since I came back to Spain. Nineteen days to be exact. And I still haven’t yet get used to the fact that I’m not coming back to London. Maybe it is because I am too comfortable here, I’m not going to lie. A little bit bored too. The thing is that I had my life there, in London, and now I come here and like me, everyone have been living their life here too. And then you try to meet your friends but everyone works or have a routine and you’ve been away for three years, so they are not going to put aside their whole life just because you came back. And I kind of understand. We are expecting everyone wanting to spend all the time with us and meeting us be the first thing when we arrive. But that is a little bit selfish. I thought everyone was going to be at my feet, but that is a mistake. While you were away everyone continued to live their lives and that’s okay, because I left and I lived my new life there too. But yeah, you come back and you feel a little bit out of place. Because this is my house and it will always be my house but in a way it is not anymore. Because everyone changed, myself included. And I’m sad and happy at the same time. New adventures are coming. The most important one is that I’m moving again, but to Valencia (I will talk about that in another post). The next adventure, happening in two weeks is that I’m going to a small cottage in the ‘mountains’ in a small village. To celebrate my anniversary. I don’t really think there will be snow, but I’m going to take some pictures of the landscape anyway.

(The pictures are Madrid -Sol, Callao, Calle Preciados, Calle Montera- in Christmas time)

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27. Goodbye London

Today marks the end of three years of a life I couldn’t even imagine.

London gave me many things, many experiences and a lot of people (that’s what counts at the end), but it also took a lot from me (Christmas, birthdays, mom’s food, dad’s jokes, hanging around with my friends).

But I wouldn’t change these three years for anything. I discovered who I am, how to fend for myself. Stepping out of the confort zone is not easy but the outcome is wonderful. A lot of us left our country because we don’t feel appreciated, we don’t feel wanted. And we are coming back to the same thing. But dreams and future plans don’t have anything to do with politics, or economics. I’m thankful for all the people that stayed with me in the distance, and for the ones I met along the way.

The plan now is living in Madrid and the move to Valencia, here in Spain. So this blog will have all the great places that I will be visiting.  I haven’t accepted the fact that I’m not living in London anymore. I’m a little bit sentimental. 

But Christmas is coming and Madrid would be amazing. So stay tune.

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26. God’s Own Junkyard

Have you ever thought about a place all full of neon signs? I bet you haven’t. But someone else did. Artist Chris Bracey's personal collection of work is how a place like God’s Own Junkyard exist; hidding in an old warehouse in Walthamstow, northeast London. 

Once you enter the place you will only mutter an whoa. Because this place leaves you with no words and looking everywhere trying to take everything in. All the signs, the colours, the brightness.  But this is not an ordinary place as you can see, God’s Own Junkard  has sold neon pieces to people like Jamie Oliver, the Beckhams, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga, among others. And they also made signs for Tim Burton’s Batman and Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut... How incredible  that?

But this place is not only a warehouse, it also has a cafeteria so you can relax and contemplate every single sign.

God’s Own Junkyard cannot remain indifferent to anyone that pays a visit. The place is open Fridays - Saturdays from 11am to 9pm and Sundays from 11am to 6 pm.

Come to God’s Own Junkyard if you want to brighten up your day!

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25. Remember remember the fifth of November.

Yesterday it was Bonfire Night here in the UK. And even if I’ve been living here for 3 years it was my first Bonfire night!

Here in the London Borough of Newham they do a spectacular display of fireworks in Wanstead Park. And I live around the corner (literal). So this year we needed to go see it.

We got there and it was so full of people! Everyone came to see it (from Leyton, Stratford, Forest Gate…). The kids with colorful flashlights, the adults with their phones not really paying attention. Until… It started.

I have to admit I am really scare of fireworks, as once, when I was little at a fair in my Madrid’s neighbourhood one of those things from the firework that fall still on fire just fell on my feet. And after that more followed it. Everyone ran. It was a little bit caotic.

So yeah I’m not a big enthusiastic of fireworks and my boyfriend is from Valencia where Las Fallas have place so… He wasn’t really impressed by it.

But… Even with that, and how cold we were, it was really really fun to see.

And I will admit another thing. I had to do a little bit of research about this day. Because after watching “V for Vendetta” I thought this day was about celebrating how someone lit on fire the parliament. When it’s the other way around. Bonfire Night celebrates the fact that King James I had survived after Guy Fawkes was found with exploxives and was arrested the 5th November 1605 after a failed conspiracy by a group of English Catholic who wanted to assassinate the King. Nowardays there’s big bonfires and fireworks displays as an annual commemoration.

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24.  This city never sleeps. I hear the people walk by when it’s late

If you want to see London from above (and free) one option is Sky Garden. It is not one of the tallest buildings in the capital but it is a great one. 

If you live in London I’m sure you saw in The City that building everyone commonly calls Walkie Talkie because of its shape, the actual name is 20 Fenchurch Street.

The ‘Sky Garden’ is at the top of the 36 floor of this commercial skyscraper, 160m tall that makes it the sixth-tallest building in the financial district and the 12th tallest in London. From there you can go to the open air terrace and enjoy the views, or walk around the landscaped public gardens.

To be honest with you, the views are amazing from the top (people say The Shard is better but I haven’t been there). The only thing I thought it was going to be better was the gardens, because at the end of the day it’s called Sky Garden, and the gardens are pretty small. I mean, it draws attention that they have put all that vegetation in the middle of a building but in my opinion it could be more spectacular.

It also has a cafeteria where you can relax, or even a restaurant for lunch/dinner. But we are poor so, we didn’t do any of those things. We only booked the free visit; careful if you want to go, it is usually full and you have to be quick (I think they do walks in from 6pm).

So in conclusion, I think it is a good spot to visit if you come from another country/city or if you are a local. My advice is, check the time for sunset and book according to that. That way you can catch the sky with good light, sunset and night time. And I assure you, it is amazing.

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23. When I get to Warwick Avenue meet me by the entrance of the tube.

The plan for today was going to be BAPS Shri Saminarayan Mandir temple and I wanted to film and take some pictures of it as it’s amazing. But because of Diwali celebrations you could only see the inside of the temple but not the outside.

Anyway, the inside is simply incredible too. But we plan to go back in a few weeks to see the temple from the outside. After this sort of “fail” plan, we took the tube and went to Little Venice. 

Little Venice is an area of London with canals and moored boats, really quiet and nice. There’s two pricipal canals: Grand Union Canal and Regent´s Canal.   If you would like to visit it, the nearest station is Warwick Avenue (like that Duffy’s song). And you can even get to Camden Town walking down the canal.  To me, more than a Little Venice, is a little Amsterdam; the house-boats are almost the same, the biclycles you see around, the weather... But the name is because of the poet  Robert Browning, who lived there part of his life.

If you want to escape from the crowded London this place is ideal for a nice walk by yourself or with a companion.

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22. When it all comes down, cycling trivialities.

I took the bike to do some errands and decided to film it. I’m not a good cyclist. I get tired too fast and London on a bike is fucking scary with the buses, the lorries and the people. So I just don’t take my bike if it’s not to go around the area.  Anayways, here a little shor video about cyling around my neighbourhood.

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21.  I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.

What I’m going to write right now doesn’t have anything to do with the pictures. But the thing is that my life has been pretty boring. 

I’m not working at the moment and we are going back to Spain at the end of November. So my days are pretty much organizing papers and boxes. 

The thing is that life in London is sometimes really tiring, and after three years of living here we just need a break. Speaking for myself, what I think I need is a little bit of my family and friends and a little bit of going back to my roots. And I say this because I’m not going back to live in Madrid, we are going to live in some different city in Spain so it can seem a little bit stupid because my family will be 4 hours apart by car anyway. But, not really.

It’s not the weather, or even the food what makes me this tired sometimes; it is just that Spaniards and British people have different cultures and, even if the mix of our cultures make us richer, sometimes you just need to go back home for a while.

London has a great part of my life. One of the biggest. I can’t be more grateful for this city and the people here. Because everyone and everything, good and bad, made me realize a lot about myself and it made me grow up. I became an “adult” (more or less). I found friends, and I found love.

But I don’t really want to think about all that this means and involves. I still have more than a month of living here and I want to enjoy the city.

P.S And I’m going to Berlin just before going back to Spain so you can expect video and photo! P.S2 If you know cool places in Berlin just tell me! Need recomendations.