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Olivia Te Cuida

July 15th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Food and Restaurants - (0 Comments)

Yesterday some friends introduced me to Olivia. Who is Olivia? Or rather, what is Olivia?


Olivia Te Cuida is a lovely, healthy, natural, tiny little restaurant located just a few blocks from the Alonso Martinez metro stop. We gathered outside the place at around 3pm, and luckily we had a reservation. There are just a few tables at Olivia, and it’s setup up Pan Quotidien style, where you can sit at a larger table with other people.

The menu is filled with fresh veggie options, which is rather hard to come by here in Madrid. I found no patatas bravas or tortilla. Instead were delightful combinations of eggplant, pumpkin, mango, pomegranate seeds, couscous, fresh seared tuna, and more. The prices are fantastic as well, as you can get a combination plate with two or three options for less than 10 Euros. 

As this place is fantastic, and fantastically tiny, so call ahead to reserve your spot. And then Olivia will take care of you.

 

Olivia Te Cuida

Santa Teresa, 8

91 702 00 66

Gay Pride Week in Chueca

June 30th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Entertainment | Lifestyle - (0 Comments)

The rainbow flags are out in Chueca. The streets around Plaza de Chueca have been blocked off to traffic and are decorated with colorful flags; Madrid is ready to get the party started.

Gay Pride week here in Madrid began on Wednesday and will continue through the weekend. The annual parade that will take place on Saturday is the largest gay pride parade in Spain, and one of the largest in Europe as well, and attracts thousands of international visitors. The neighborhood of Chueca is the center of the gay scene, with many clubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants. Many events are being hosted in Madrid this week to celebrate, and you can check out the listings here.

I happen to be staying in Chueca at the moment, as I’m dog sitting for some friends, and therefore have a front seat to the party! The vibe is exciting and fun, and everyone seems ready to dance and sing and have a great time. The actual Chueca metro stop, located in Plaza de Chueca, was impossible to get to yesterday due to the huge crowd in the plaza, so getting off another nearby stop, like Alonso Martinez or Tribunal, might be a good option for getting here. Gay pride week aside, Chueca is a fantastic neighborhood that you should check out while in Madrid. The new Mercado de San Anton is a great place to eat, drink, and take in the atmosphere of this exciting and dynamic area of the city.

So enjoy the week everyone, get your rainbow flags and your face paint ready – the party is here in Chueca.

Pueblo Inglés – volunteering in an English immersion program

June 17th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Traveling outside Madrid - (0 Comments)

Are you looking to volunteer? To get involved in the local culture? To see a new part of Spain? Check out Pueblo Inglés!

Pueblo Inglés operates 8-day English immersion programs for Spaniards to improve their English skills. I volunteered for one of these programs this past January (and why did I take so long to write about this? I have no idea, really). Each program has an equal number of Spaniards and Anglos (us English speaking folk), and it’s all English, all the time. From when you meet the bus here in Madrid, to when it drops you back off the following week, you’re talking. Talk talk talking.

The first morning that we Anglos met the Spaniards we could tell they were nervous. There was a lot of furious cigarette smoking before boarding the bus, along with many awkward hellos and sweet smiles. Even us Anglos were a bit nervous. It was an entirely new experience for me, and though a bit nervous, I was mostly just excited.

Throughout our 8 days in La Alberca, a town near the Portuguese border, I got to know so much about these people. From the simple first conversations (where are you from? what is your profession? can you tell me about your family? why do Spaniards love ham so much?), to the much deeper conversation that followed later in the week, this random group of people became close. We took long walks in the country, acted in home-made theater, laughed and joked at dinner, and danced up a storm. By the end of the week I could really see the improvement in their English fluency, especially in the level of confidence they showed when speaking English.

I left Pueblo Inglés with a greater appreciation for Spanish culture, a better understand of Spanish people, and some great new friends. If you’re here in Madrid for while and have the time to participate in one of their programs, I would highly encourage you to do so. Check out their program calendar here to see what dates could work for you, and get ready to start talking!

Pueblo Inglés

More than English

Tel: (+34) 913. 913. 400

Spanish Pottery and Ceramics

June 10th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Shopping - (2 Comments)

My sister came to visit me in Madrid this past week and she was on a mission to purchase some Spanish pottery. And so I was on the hunt for a pottery and ceramic shop here in Madrid that sold locally crafted goods. This search led me to Cantaro.

Tucked away on a backstreet near Gran Via, on Calle Flor Baja, Cantaro offers a selection of handcrafted Spanish pottery, ceramics, and tile work. There were various shelves devoted to pottery from Granada, Valencia, and all over Spain. There were so many great pieces – the decision process was tough! My sister decided on a pitcher and a plate with splashes of blue and green that was made in Granada. The man working there kindly wrapped up my sister’s purchases in layers of bubble wrap so they would survive the plane trip back to the States.

The basement level of the shop, a former coal cellar, is devoted to clay and vintage pieces.

If you’re looking for a great gift or Spain souvenir, or just some nice serving pieces to have at home, check out Cantaro.

Cantaro

Calle de Flor Baja, 8

28013 Madrid

Tel:91-547 95 14

Weekend in: Cuenca

June 3rd, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Lifestyle | Traveling outside Madrid - (0 Comments)

I have some family in town here in Madrid, and I wanted to show them someplace special. Someplace beautiful. Someplace enchanted.

So we went to Cuenca.

Cuenca is a bit further from Madrid, about 2 hours by car or 1 hour by train. It makes for a great overnight trip to escape the hustle and bustle of Madrid. This 16th century town is made up of twisty cobbled streets, a quaint Plaza Mayor, a beautiful Cathedral, and, most impressive, amazing views.

The Abstract art museum is located inside the renovated Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses), just off the Plaza de Ronda. A suspension bridge, just behind the abstract art museum, will take you to the convent across the gorge. This 16th century convent has been turned into a luxury parador.

We spent our time in Cuenca wandering the town, getting lost on little side streets, and taking advantage of endless photo opportunities. You need good shoes to explore these windy streets! Your calves will get quite the workout from the incline. I recommend eating at the top of the town, in the Castillo barrio. There was a nice grill restaurant with an outdoor patio, a perfect place to get a glass of wine or a beer and indulge in some panceta a la brasa and a side of asparagus with lemon. The location at the top of the town is a great place to watch the sunset.

How to get there: There are Avanza buses that leave from Mendez Alvaro that take 2.5 hours (the express service is 2 hours). 11.25Euro each way. There is also a new high speed AVE that will take you to Cuenca in under an hour, but the cost is higher (33Euro one way). When you arrive in Cuenca by bus or train you will be in the more modern part of town, and it’s not particularly special or attractive. But keep walking, the old quarter is where all the sights are.

Where to Stay: We stayed at Hotel Alfonso VIII, which was just outside of the old quarter of the city, by the Parque de San Julian (the saint of Cuenca). The rate was very good at 66 Euro for a triple room, and the rooftop restaurant and bar had a picturesque view of the town. There were many small hostels, hotels, and pensiones in the old town as well.