Auditorium Spa: the jacuzzi private room.

So great! :D

Map of the route that the Spanish players will do in Madrid celebrating the World Cup resoult.

No matter the resoult, this is the route of the players comming back home (I have done it in Google maps and can´t took out a part close to Ronda de Atocha that will not take place):


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Watching the game Italy - Paraguay at Grazie Mille, Madrid

Of course my team is Spain! But I also have other favorites. Italy is my second favorite team, after Spain, of course.

I was wanting to live the experienc of going to watch a match into a place where the fans of that country would be, trying to experience the game as if I would be in Italy... and it was like that! The selected place was Grazie Mille, that is a mix of restaurant, pizza, cafeteria y cocktail bar.

When I called to do the reserve, it was no possible to reserve more tables, we could go there but to watch it being standing. We went anyway, a bit earlier to try to get a good place.

We tried the tiramisu + capuccino offer, it was ok and a very good price.
Close to the time the match will start, they told us we should pay a minimum compsuption of 5 Euros per each one. It was ok, but if I would know that before, we would wait to take the tiramisu + capuccino. Anyway the prices there are quite ok. In general, I like the place a lot, the food is ok, I can´t tell this is the best Italian restaurant I know, but it´s is the one with best prices and as far as the quality is ok, great! :D

It was my first time watching an Italian game with Italians. I really felt like if I would be in Italy! Even the match was in Italian!

When the match started, everybody sang the anthem with proud. It was so impresive to saw them, they were so respectful when Paraguay made the first goal, of course not glad with that, but not giving a lot of importance to it. I also saw them getting excited when a good play was going on, and to claim when it failed, but in a very civilized way. I saw them yelling and hugging, kissing and congratulating themselves when Italy did the goal. Also was impresive to saw them clapping when the game was over, no matter it was a draw.



Here a resume of the match:



Marco Nurro and Fede Chicou were there doing a report for elmundo.es, yes! Sil and I were at the video! :D

I liked a lot the experience, but I can´t tell if I would do it again... at least I´m sure I won´t if the case is to be stand again. The place was great, the only negative thing was that time to time the signal was break. The point is that I can watch the games at home, in my great sofa, with a 42 inches t.v. and in HD... but living the excitment of the own country fans was also great! So, I should think about it! :D

The video of Bon Jovi Concert, Rock in Rio 2010! :D

Yeeessss!!! I found the video of the whole concert! Maybe not the best quality, but enough for me as for remember that great night! :D



I found it at the blog: http://www.taringa.net/posts/musica/5707263/bon-jovi---rock-in-rio-madrid-2010.html

Here the web where the video is placed: http://www.megavideo.com/?v=VVVF832L

Rock in Río Madrid 2010

Here some of my pics and videos:

Bon Jovi in Rock in Rio Madrid 2010!

It was GREAT! FANTASTIC! THE BEST! :D :D















Here you can see the video of the whole concert, just I´m afraid the quality is not excelent.

First International Night Tourney “Igotita´s Home”

Hehehehe I know! A big name for just some games at home, but you see, the way that all matched was deserving a big name! :D

On one hand, Patxi and Montse were sure about coming to play the Madrid Tourney just few days before. Otoh Héctor Klíe, the current President of the Scrabble in Spanish International Federation, was in Spain due vacations. The really special thing was that by coincidence Patxi and Montse went back to Girona on Monday 31st. morning… and Héctor also was going back to his home in USA the same morning! How could I resist to try to arrange some games at home then?? :D

Héctor has his day so busy already, so we should talk around 9 at night to see if it was possible to play a bit. Due different reasons, Héctor arrived at home at 11.30 that night. Topo was also at home but ill, so he can´t play.

So the tourney was between Montse, Patxi, Héctor and I.



No matter we were playing just a few friendly games, we took it very seriously.

Here the resoults:

Héctor had the first place, Patxi the second one, so they play the final match… starting at 2.20 a. m.!! :D



Patxi won that game, 473 to 453, 3 and 2 scrabbles. So, they decide to play the revenge…





Héctor won this one, 550 to 378; 4 and 3 scrabbles. So… they decide to do a new revenge! Starting at 4.14 a.m.!!! :D



Héctor also won that one. 497 to 452, 4 and 3 scrabbles.



I was the public, the judge and “the coffee girl” hehehehe.

Actually it was so nice to watch Patxi playing, afterwards I asked him some whys and was so nice for me to note that I would took some same decisions. :D

Of course it was a Price for the first place! : D

At 5.00 in the morning we were telling good bye to Héctor and I went with Patxi to talk a bit while he was smoking… to talk about scrabble! Of course! Hehehe. Patxi and Montse went out at 6.00… Montse should go straight to work from the airport!

We also concluded that Héctor has some kind of “cameras sensor” Every time I made a click, he was smiling to the camera! :

Pics of Madrid Tourney last day and the night before at home

 
We had the honor of having the visit of the current President of the International Scrabble in Spanish Federation, Héctor Klíe and his wife, by chance they both were on vacations with their family in Spain. :D

Madrid Scrabble Tourney 2010 First Day

A new playing weekend!

During this weekend we´ll have the Madrid Scrabble Tourney.

Some of my friends from other cities will come: Pochola, Topo, Patxi, Montse, Gloria and Santi will stay at home.

On the next posts I´ll share the pics of the weekend.

Yuly and Ramon Marcano visited us!

Yuly is a Scrabble player from Venezuela. She was part of the great organization group of the World Championship 2009.

Ramon, her husband, has cycling as hobby and his team will do the Santiago de Compostela route cycling, starting from Burgos.

We enjoyed a great night with them, also came Carlos, Clara and Antonio.

Of course we played a bit of Scrabble!

We also went to dine to the restaurant Vino Tinto, btw great food, normal prices for the area it´s located, great attention. They had to wake up so early the next morning, so we can´t go to the karaoke that was a real pity because Carlos and Ramon make a great duet signing Serrat songs.

Celebration Gran Via, 100 Years

On May 15th. Gran Via has the best celebration for its 100 years. Here some videos and pics of the celebration.

They also tried to do a flashmob... watch the video and you´ll understand why this "tried" ;P

Concert with music of the 80s´at Plaza de España:

Some stores were open till midnight and with special discounts:

In fronto of a teather a DJ had been playing some hits:

A big cake:



Ending with fireworks:



Some people stayed there drinking:

2005 Sun Eclipse. My photos.

I took this picture at the sun eclipse of October 3rd. 2005. It was midday in Madrid but the sky turned black for some minutes and the view was incredible. :D

A bin in fire. While passing by…

As I said at the introduction of this section, sometimes I´ll write about not nice things. This is the case today.

Few days ago I went to the bank. As it´s usual, I spend a bit of time talking with the ladies attending there. I came in around 13.30 and was there no more than 20 minutes. Once I said I was leaving, one of the ladies told me she will go with me to the door to close it (in Spain the banks close at 14.00). Then we saw it. The bin outside the bank, was burning! We were quite wondered because that agency has all glass, we were talking no more than 4 meters away of the door, we should see something, but nothing at all.

For me was also wondering that the ladies of the bank immediately went to close the door, I thought about that later, and of course they should, it could be a distraction for robbing the bank.

We were also wondered about how fast all happened, as I said, I haven´t been there more than 20 mins. but let´s think it was half of hour. When we saw it, the bin was liquid plastic with some cans inside (colas´ cans). That gave me the impression that the bins are made with a very bad material, actually I wonder why they don´t put fireproof bins. A car was very close to the place where the bin was burning, I really think the owner has no idea that his car is ok because the wind was going to the opposite direction; otherwise maybe the title of this post would be a bit different as well.



What really made me to be proud about was how quickly the fire department and the police were there. Or well, I´m not so sure if it was quickly enough, as I said, the bin was already liquid. But for me, they were there so quick.

Nothing else happened, just the bin fire.

From my point of view, I would say it was someone that accidentally threw a burning cigarette inside. I think no matter the reason; anyway they should put fireproof bins there.

The funny part of the situation was when we were watching it burning and the firefighters came... we at the bank were just females! :D We agreed that the fire department was better than the police one in Madrid! ;P The pity is the firefighters don´t extinguish the fire dressing the same they do at the calendars! ;D ;D

Retiro´s Park, Madrid. My photos.

This time I´m sharing with you a Curro´s photo. It was taken in July 2004, at Retiro´s Park, Madrid. It was a great afternoon and we had the very good luck to be there at the sunset, when the sky became a magic canvas touched by a wonderful artist.

Los Nogales, Spa & Wellness. My favorite Spas in Madrid.

I´ll base my comment on the Paseo Imperial Spa, which is where I went. Regarding infrastructure Spa itself, this is by far the best Spa in Madrid I know.

In a vast space, with pools with different temperatures and water jets at different heights and strengths, Vichy shower area, walk over rocks area, area with moving jets to massage the entire back. A great place!

A detail that for me makes it extremely valuable is that it has different "routes" color coded, according to the type of problem or pain you have. That is, if you, for example, have back problems, it recommends you to follow the green route. Then, in the various areas of the Spa, have signs with their number in each color, so you know perfectly well for your specific problem you must follow the order established by the color map, in this example, green.Of the 2 Spas of this chain, only the Paseo Imperial has this route. Till now I haven´t met any other Spa (in the world! Hehehe but remember that I know Spas in many countries, but just a few, so I can´t proclaim myself an authority of the subject, I would need to go to maaaaany more ... watch out! Sponsors welcome!) :D ;P So, as I was saying, till now Ihaven´t met any other Spa with the routes method and actually this is a quite simple and highly functional. Not to mention a touch of professionalism that gives to the Spa. As I said in other posts, one of the problems that most spas that I know has as is a lack of information to customers who do not have to be experts in spas or know what is best for them or for how long . Apparently in the Spa of Puerta del Hierro (I haven´t gone, but I think I should!... hehehe), they don´t have this system but it is because the design of the Spa area takes you through a logical sequence.

With all that I like the Spa area at Los Nogales, I must confess that my favorite place in this place is the area for relaxation. With starry night effect on the roof and water beds where you feel float, topped with chill out music, it definitely meets its goal and then the hard part is getting out!

They also have areas for therapeutic treatments, relaxing and beauty ones as well, with prices from 5 to 110 Euros. I haven´t try them yet, so I can´t tell you about the quality but if they match with the Spa quality, should be excellent!!

Seems paddle is in somehow a fashion in Madrid, so, they also have a paddle field, giving classes and even participating in competitions. They also have yoga, pilates and a couple of activities alike (I had seen them but now I can´t find them out at their web). You should pay apart for this.

About locations, they have 2 Spas, taken from their web:

Just, you see, at the map they placed at their web, seems both are closer to the metro station of how they really are, let´s better watch this:

Puerta del Hierro:

Paseo Imperial:

It´s actually about where they are why I don´t go so often to this Spa. You see, for me, going out of that marvelous relax salon to walk that far to the metro station and then make 2 transfers to get home ... just on the trip going back home the relax of being at the Spa goes out! : ( On the other hand, it´s also true that when I went to los Nogales Paseo Imperial in a car, had been easy to find where to park.

Here the prices of the Spa circuit, which is 90 minutes:

For going just one single day, prices are:

So, from my 3 favorite Spas in Madrid, this one has the better infrastructure at the Spa and relaxing zones. Point is if you also appreciate the possibility of having activities as yoga, pilates, etc., then, due quality - price relation and due different options, I prefer Elysium.