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Bringing a pet to Spain

June 30th, 2010 | Posted by jodiehop in Courtney | Customs [Aduanas] | Pets - (7 Comments)

I have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks back at home in the States that we seriously considered bringing to Madrid.  In the end it wasn’t the right move for us, so instead they stay with my parents in San Diego (quite happily). Despite the unfulfilled trip, plenty of research was done prior to our move on what steps needed to be taken to ensure their [non-quarantined] entry.  In addition to our research, I have learned a bit of information from those in IE who did follow through in bringing pets (well dogs in our case) into Madrid.

Luckily the process is not difficult.  With the correct paperwork and shots, you will most likely not run into any issues bringing your pets into Spain. And then once here, you’ll quickly find that there is a dog culture here, so they’re be quite accepted.  I think the only point of difficulty I ran across was dogs, cats or ferrets under 3 months of age are under no circumstances allowed in.

There are many sources online that can assist you in the step-by-step process.  There are even companies out there who for a [hefty] fee will do all the work for you – door to door service. But, in my opinion, this is not necessary as the process is simple enough. There are a few steps of logistics you’ll have to get through as you prepare your pet, the most important of them being the certificate from its Veterinarian which will include the following:

  • Identification of person responsible for the animal(s)
  • Description of origin of the animals(s)
  • Microchip or tattoo number, location and date of insertion.
  • Rabies vaccine information

For simplified information, broken down specifically for those from the USA/Canada and EU, check out SpainExpat. For those from the EU and Norway, you are lucky enough to fall under the blue Pet Pass rule (requiring a blue pet passport documentation) which eased restrictions since 2004. Here is another site that you may find useful. This blue document contains the same information as mentioned in the bullets above and is accepted in all EU nations.

As for flying your pets in, I would suggest you check the rules of your individual airline, as each has varied costs, rules and restrictions.

For information on pet passports, updated rules, pet friendly hotels…etc.  see Pet Travel.com

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Weekend in A Coruña

June 25th, 2010 | Posted by sawidner in Lifestyle | Stephanie | Traveling outside Madrid - (0 Comments)

Living in Madrid has been fascinating, with all the various activites available to us every weekend, and within walking distance, however a couple from Hawaii can start to feel a little landlocked.  So, we set out on the open road to the Northwestern point of Spain in a town called A Coruña. (also know still as La Coruña)

I feel that A Coruña, like Vigo, gets overlooked by many tourists and guidebooks alike.  We decided to spend a day in what the guidebooks call a sleepy little fishing and industrial town, but it turns out we could have spent a week here.  First off this town has the largest seaside promenade in Europe, that stretches around the peninsula in which the town sits on.    You can easily drive, bike, rollerblade or walk along this scenic promenade.  They even have a cable car that you ride from the center city passing along some of its famous historic landmarks along the peninsula.

First stop we made was the Castle of San Anton (Castilla de San Anton) which was built by Charles I in the last 16th century to have as a fortress to protect the city and harbor.  The castle sits on its own island, and its a good point to leave the car and start exploring the city.  The castle is about two stories tall, and the self guided tour takes you through two floors of exhibits from the time before A Coruña existed up through the Middle Ages and into the Modern Ages.

The second site we saw was the Torre de Hercules (Tower of Hercules) which the guides claim was built during the Roman empire and is the oldest existing lighthouse in the world.  From the outside you could see the Roman and Celtic  architectural influences, but the tower sits prominently on its own outside the city center, that to me it looked like some scene off the TV show LOST.  The self guided tour starts at the base of the tower where you can see where they excavated part of it to show the supports for it.  Then its a long winding trip up a couple hundred steps to the top, where you can enjoys views of the rugged green cliffs (similar to Ireland), the nearby beaches and the city skyline.  Both kids and adults would enjoy this little adventure, and they have a nice beach nearby (see picture to the right) as well as a picnic area.

Besides these two historic monuments, as well as the promenade, the city has many small sandy beaches and other light houses to explore, as well as vibrant metropolis with restaurants known for their shellfish.  I just wish we had had more time here, plus we went in the spring when they get all of their rain to make those famous hills green in Galicia.  This just means another trip in the summer, when they have sunnier skies.

Castle of San Anton Paseo Marítimo Alcalde Francisco Vázquez, 15001 La Coruña, España‎

Torre de Hercules Avenida de Navarra, 15002 A Coruña, Spain‎ – 981 223 730‎

How to watch TV in English in Spain

June 23rd, 2010 | Posted by jodiehop in Communications | Courtney | Entertainment - (0 Comments)

Believe it or not, it took 9 months for me to realize that I had English TV. I am the first to realize that yes, I am the stupid one (ok, WE are the stupid ones) but I think honestly if I had English TV before now, things would be very different. Firstly, I honestly watch TV to improve my Spanish.  I put on closed captioning and read when I watch the Spanish news channels.  Watching the news is great because it’s typically not slang and they talk incredibly fast, which helps tremendously when holding conversations with the average person.  Secondly, if I had had English TV I would have bypassed all the fun in watching cheesy Spanish programs or sitting amused with the specific dubbing actor’s voice selected for popular TV programs from home. So in the end, I’m not angry.  I don’t feel like 9 months were waisted.  But WOW do I appreciate the relief of some familiar shows again…in their native language and voices!

If you have truly thought it through and you feel it is also time for you to get “Original Version” TV in your home, then follow these [embarrassingly] simple steps:

  1. Select ‘Audio’ on your remote control
  2. Select ‘Audio Track’
  3. Move between the options until you have selected the original langauge you’re searching for
  4. Voila!

*This method does NOT work on all channels which may be showing something originally in another language

**This method should work with most cable providers but is not guaranteed

For more details on selecting languages or setting up your TV visit Spain Expat.

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La Venencia: Sherry in Madrid

June 21st, 2010 | Posted by jodiehop in Food and Restaurants | Jodie | Lifestyle | What's Happening Madrid - (1 Comments)

A friend who is living in Madrid had heard of La Venecia so one night we decided to venture into the central Madrid streets to sample their sherry.

There is something about the atmosphere (not just the stale cigarette smoke) that makes you feel like you are stepping back one hundred years into a bona-fide local sherry bar. Old posters advertising sherry festivals around the world throughout the 1900′s. Behind half the bar are rows and rows of dusty sherry bottles. To the right of these are several large wooden casks with small taps that are used to fill the bottles that are ordered. The bar lady is young but has the air of a 60-year-old  sour who has been in the trade too long with a sour expression and a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She wouldn’t have looked amiss in a saloon in the wild west. But there again neither would the black cat jumping over the barrels and onto the bar.

You choose the sherry from a menu, deciding on a glass, half bottle or full bottle. prices start from under 2euros and we took a mid priced sherry at 12euros for the bottle. An empty bottle, that would be used in Paris as a carafe d’eau is then pulled from the shelf and filled from the appropriate cask. I love this place for the atmosphere as well as the sherry and will certainly be going back.

La Venecia:  Calle de Echegaray 7, 28014 Madrid. +34 91 429 73 13‎

Real Jardin Botanico (Botanical Garden in Madrid)

June 18th, 2010 | Posted by sawidner in Stephanie | What's Happening Madrid - (1 Comments)

While living in Madrid, one thing that my husband and I enjoy doing on a sunny Sunday afternoon, is strolling through the Real Jardin Botanico in Madrid.  Conveniently located next to the Museo de Prado, the garden offers a nice quiet refuge in the heart of the city.

On our first visit (last November), we were pleasantly surprised to find plants still in bloom and trees with leaves of gold and red hues.  The golden Ginko trees in the fall were one of our favorites, along with the large vegetable garden with every gourde imaginable on the vines.  Our second visit in May rewarded us with new rose buds and a large tulip, daffodil, and lily display.

Besides the ever changing floral exhibits, they also have different visual arts exhibits.  Currently there is a photo exhibit, Photoespana, running through July 25th, and a sculpture exhibit, Aequibrium Naturaleza en Equilbro Esculturas de Jose G. Onieva, now through June 30th.  They also have their permanent exhibits of cacti and palms, which I admit makes me homesick for Hawaii.

The garden also prides themselves on various educational opportunities for both children and adults.  During the month of July, they have a daycamp for kids, this year the theme is Biodiversidad vegetal; Biodiversidad cultural.  They also have a Science Week or Semana de la Ciencia, usually the second week in November with various visual exhibits and lectures.  In their medicinal garden they are constantly researching and instructing the public on the various uses of this special class of plants.

The other thing I like about this garden is its open year round and until 9pm in the summer and their admission is only 2.50 euros for general, and 1.25 euros for students with i.d.  A good place to walk off a large lunch during siesta, take visitors, or just beat the summer heat.

Real Jardin Botanico Plaza de Murillo, 28014 Madrid, España 914 203 017 Metro Atocha