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The Jamón fix in San Diego, California

February 28th, 2011 | Posted by Courtney in Courtney | Traveling outside Madrid - (0 Comments)

A visit home to San Diego only has to be in motion for so long before I am missing Madrid and Spain.

You wouldn’t believe my elation when my mom came home a few days ago telling me about a Spanish goods store, Pata Negra [Black Duck], that she’d heard about in Pacific Beach. I was so excited that we were in the car before she could even finish the sentence.

Pata Negra Market is small but stocked. My first visit was to scope out the place to determine the frequency of my future visits. I was pleasantly surprised with the variety of items they had on stock, from a substantial meat and cheese counter, to wine and beer (even the water, Vichy Catalon), and food staples.

Some of the items, especially Spain’s famed jamón were ungodly expensive but it’s to be expected given the journey itsmade. While this major delicacy can set you back €80+ in Spain, here at Pata Negra, think more like $400!! But just remember, this cured meat can sit on your counter for months…so don’t fret about meat sweats just yet.

I was most excited to find manchego cheese in curado and semi-curado forms (more and less aged). We also purchased the Marcona Spanish almond, quince paste and tomate frito.

Now I just need to plan a party to give my guests a taste of the country we love so much. Olé!

Obtaining a police report in Madrid

February 25th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Police | Visas - (0 Comments)

Obtaining a police report in Madrid is actually relatively quick and painless. You may be thinking, ‘why would I need a police report?’

You could need a police report for a foreign visa, for example, or for a variety of other legal reasons. If you do need proof that you’re not a criminal (at least not here in Spain that is), you’ll need a police report from the Spanish authorities. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your official “certificado de antecedentes penales”.

- Go to the Ministerio de Justicia, which is located in the Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, very close to Cine Ideal. They are open until 5pm, but the banks close at 2pm (see below), so I recommend going before 1pm to get this all taken care of in one visit.
- Pick up the appropriate form in the entry way (the one that says antecedentes penales)
- Fill out the form. It’s basic info like name, address, etc.
- Go to a local bank, there are a bunch near the Ministerio, such as the Caja Madrid on Calle Carretas, and pay 3,54 Euro. You need to have the form filled out before they will process the fee. You do not need to have an account at the bank to process this.
- After the bank stamps your form, go back to the Ministerio de Justicia and take a number from the machine. Make sure you select antecedentes penales from the options on the screen and it will print the appropriate ticket.
- When your number is called, go to the window. Have your passport with you, as you will need to show it to the representative. You will also need to state why you need the report. The representative will print the report.
- Then you sit again and wait for your number to be called again.
- When it’s called the second time take the report and go to another desk. The person here will place an Apostille on the back side of the report.

And, wha la! You are in possession of proof that you are an upstanding citizen here in Spain.

,

Spanish at AIL Madrid

February 24th, 2011 | Posted by AnneGA in Anne | Learning Spanish - (1 Comments)

For many of us, learning Spanish is one of the most overwhelming things about living in Spain.  The simple desire to communicate – whether it’s at the grocery store, a restaurant, or on the street – is so strong that we’re willing to go to great lengths to learn to speak and understand Spanish.

For me, learning Spanish was a top priority.  Something I knew I wanted to do in order for my time in Madrid to feel complete.  So…I began the search for a place to take classes.  I came across many good options, but ultimately decided on AIL Madrid.  I originally chose AIL Madrid because of the location, conveniently placed near Retiro and the Velazquez metro, and because I knew two other women who were planning to take courses there as well.  AIL Madrid gave us a 15% group discount and I’ve loved having friends in my class to keep me motivated and entertained!

A few of the things I like most about classes at AIL Madrid:

  • I go to class everyday for 2 hours – a significant amount of time, but realistic with my schedule – and they offer many options to fit the needs of their students
  • Ana – The incredible instructor I’ve had for many weeks at AIL Madrid and makes learning fun
  • Small classes
  • Only Spanish is spoken so we are immersed in the language and forced to learn more quickly
  • The price is reasonable and feels like a good investment

I’ve enjoyed my time at AIL Madrid and just signed up to continue for another 9 weeks.  I would certainly recommend AIL Madrid for anyone else interested in learning or improving their Spanish.

AIL Madrid
www.ailmadrid.com
C/Nunez de Balboa 17, 2D
917 256 350

Guiri Guide on Twitter

February 19th, 2011 | Posted by jodiehop in Books, Magazines, Websites - (0 Comments)
Now you can follow the Guiri Guide on Twitter. Look for us under ‘GuiriGuide’

Buying printer ink

February 18th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Household | Shopping - (2 Comments)

I hate when I see that little “printer ink is low” warning flash on my computer telling me an expensive trip to Office Max is in order. But here in Madrid there is no Office Max…or Costco, or WalMart, or all my all time fave, Target. When our printer first started flashing low I began hunting around for deals on toner. There are various papelerias around the city, some which offer ink, although I found them to be expensive. Even more expensive than it usually is.  And don’t even get me started on Corte Ingles. After tromping all over the city looking for reasonably priced printer toner, I finally found it. And it was two blocks from my house.

Prink offers discounted generic printer toner that works with a variety of printer types. They have inkjet cartridges in color packs and individual packs, toner, refill kits, paper, and more. I simply went in knowing my printer type (Canon MP630), showed it to the cashier, and she looked through the racks to find exactly what I needed. I signed up for a rewards card, which is free, hoping I’ll get a free gift coming my way. I have been twice to the store already (I am married to an MBA student with lots of class work…) during my time in Madrid, and both times they had exactly what I needed and gave me a packet of free photo paper with my purchase.

Prink has locations all over Madrid. The one closest to me, featured in this photo, is currently hidden under a construction site. It’s certainly not fancy, but it does the trick.