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Quinta Parque de la Fuente del Berro in Madrid

January 31st, 2011 | Posted by Courtney in Courtney | Fitness - (1 Comments)

I love Buen Parque Retiro, I jog there multiple times a week. However, sometimes I find it really nice to change it up and try other parks in Madrid.

The location of Quinta Parque de la Fuente del Berro may not seem immediately appealing if you look at a map, as it’s right along Calle 30, but in reality its location is tucked into the side of a hill and below a charming neighborhood of homes making it…just perfect.

The layout of Quinta Parque de la Fuente del Berro is elongated over more than 13 hectares (32.11 acres) with zig zagging running paths throughout. There are many flat grassy areas which are perfect for picnics as well as a children’s playground. There is also the beautiful gardens, Jardines Sancho Dávila.

To get there, exit the Ventas Metro exit and walk south. The far end of the park (from this direction) is along Avenida de Alcalde Sáinz de Baranda. Use this map to get there. The actual park entrance is on Enrique D’Almonte.

Take my advice and for your next paseo, Quinta Parque de la Fuente del Berro, I promise, you’ll find it peaceful.

Chocolate indulgence at Cacao Sampaka

January 28th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Food and Restaurants - (0 Comments)

Here at the Guiri Guide we love adventures. We love trying new things, meeting new people, and discovering Madrid.

We also love chocolate.

So, when I heard about Cacao Sampaka, a cocoa market near Alonso Martinez, I knew the Guiri Guide simply had to check it out. Anne and I met on Calle Orellana on a damp Madrid morning, ready to test out the chocolate offerings.

There are two parts to Cacao Sampaka, a tienda and a cafe. We entered on the store side and were greeted with an extensive assortment of chocolate bars, bonbons, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and exotic vanillas. Refrigerators held perfectly formed cakes, tiramisu, macaroons, and tarts. Shelves were stocked with various brandies and liquors to wash down the chocolate delights in style. They also have gift boxes, which looked especially dangerous for chocolate lovers.

The other half of Cacao Sampaka is a cafe. It’s sleek and modern, like the rest of the store. The cafe offers specialty drinks, a selection of croissants, tostadas, and the like. We settled into our chairs and indulged in some fancy hot chocolate with nata. yummmm!

Are you thirsty yet?

If you need a jump start, a host gift, or a little treat for someone special, check out Cacao Sampaka.

Cacao Sampaka
www.cacaosampaka.com

Photos to Make You Feel at Home

January 26th, 2011 | Posted by AnneGA in Books, Magazines, Websites - (0 Comments)

I don’t know about you, but I think hanging framed photos on the walls of a new apartment is one of the best ways to make an unfamiliar place feel like home.  After almost three months of bare walls and empty Ikea frames, I finally managed to get some of our favorite photos printed!

When I decided it was time to look up how to say “print” in Spanish (imprimir), I started by emailing my friend Karina who has lived in Madrid for over 10 years and is a great photographer.  She gave me a few recommendations and I discovered a couple more options on my own as well.

If you’re looking to print photos, here are some good places to start…

My Pix – An online photo shop similar to the American “Snapfish” and “Shutterfly” where you can order prints, photo books, personalized cards, and even gifts with your personal photos on them (i.e. mouse pads, key chains, snow globes, etc.).  You order your photos online and they are sent directly to your home within a few days.  And their website is available in several languages – including English – so it’s quite easy to use!

Foto FANN – This is where I had my photos printed and they turned out beautifully.  There are several stores in Madrid that you can walk into with a USB drive of photos and have your photos printed in an hour!  The woman helping me actually printed mine in about 5 minutes while I waited.  They also offer photo book options and a variety of cool ways to display your photos.

VIPs – It appears that VIPs is working on their photo site, but for now you can have photos printed at several locations in Madrid, including the VIPs on Valazquez near Maria de Molina. 

FNAC – Also offers a range of photo products similar to My Pix but the website is only available in Spanish.  Even so, it’s an easy to use site where you can upload your photos and have them sent to your home or pick them up at the FNAC store near Sol.

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Salud, Madrid. Here’s to your Health!

January 24th, 2011 | Posted by Courtney in Courtney | Food and Restaurants | Shopping - (0 Comments)

I don’t think anyone would accuse the Spanish cuisine and diet as being healthful. Sorry, Spain.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Tortilla and Patatas Bravas just as much as the next person but when you live here, you soon find yourself needing a few more whole, natural and naturally low fat items in your daily diet. So enter Salud Madrid, the answer to all my herbal and healthful woes.

I love Salud Madrid as its just minutes walk from my apartment on Ortega Y Gasset near Francisco Silvela. I visit at least once a week to stock up on my beloved spelt bread or mueslí. Other items that I visit for [that are tough to find elsewhere] are tahini, brown sugar, raw oats, white tea, quinoa, barley, or wheat flour.

Other than foods Salud Madrid has vitamins, herbal medications, pre-made foods, energy bars, seaweed, supplements…the list goes on.

Salud Madrid’s hours are from 10:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Fridays and from 10:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays.  They are closed on Sundays.

Here’s to your health!

Salud Madrid – Ortega y Gasset 77 Tel: 91 309 54 77

Day trip: Hiking in Parque Natural de Peñalara

January 21st, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Traveling outside Madrid - (1 Comments)

View from Trail 3

This past weekend I headed to Parque Natural de Peñalara with a few friends. We were in the mood to hike, take in some fresh air, and escape the city for the day. The park is situated in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range north of Madrid, and it took us about an hour, by car, to reach the park.

There are a variety of marked trails in the park, and you can pick up a map at the visitor’s center located at the entrance to the park. We did Trail 3, the easiest one. The ground was covered with snow (we were at 1,900m), so we figured hiking up to Peñalara, the highest peak in the Sierras, was not a fantastic idea for this particular day. Instead we hiked to Laguna de Peñalara. There and back the hike was about 1.5 hours, including a snack break by the lake. At this time of year the lake is really just ice and snow, but very beautiful.

You can mountaineer or climb in Parque Natural de Peñalara, in addition to hiking, making this park an ideal spot for adventurous outdoor types. Parque Natural de Peñalara was a great day trip, perfect for a little city break.

Peñalara Nature Park is accessible by public transportation:

By bus: Line 691 from Moncloa, take a bus with ‘Valdesquí’ as the final destination. Get off at Cotos.

By train: Suburban C8B line to Cercedilla. From Cercedilla, take the line to the last stop C9 (Preserves).