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Making summer last at the Piscina de Verano

August 20th, 2011 | Posted by JMurphy in Entertainment | Fitness | Health | Janine | What's Happening Madrid - (0 Comments)

Whether you are just moving to Madrid or returning from vaciones, the Piscina de Verano at the Universidad Complutense Madrid provides a perfect way to beat the summer heat!  The large olympic-size swimming pool is great for some exercise al fresco or just the occasional dip to cool off while sunbathing.  Surrounded by grassy areas and tables with umbrellas for eating your snack from the cafeteria it’s a nice spot for chilling out during these remaining days of summer.

Located close to Parque del Oeste, the pool is open through September 8th from 11am until 8pm.  I have been a couple of times this week and it was not very busy, but I have heard from friends that it is best to go early if you want some peaceful time to get in some laps.  I also heard that no children are allowed and indeed I have not seen any in the pool.  General admission costs €8 and students from other universities can also get a discounted rate of €6.50.


Piscina de Verano UCM

Calle del Obispo Trejo near Calle de Martin Fierro

Metro: Moncloa or Ciudad Universitaria

 

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Gluten Free Guiri: Living with Dietary Restrictions in Madrid

August 6th, 2011 | Posted by JMurphy in Food and Restaurants | Health | Janine | Lifestyle - (1 Comments)

When moving to Madrid, or any new place for that matter, everyone has a long list of to-do’s once they arrive and a variety of concerns about their new home city.  For those of us with specific dietary needs, it can be daunting not knowing what food will be available – especially when the traditional foods clash with our requirements.  Coming from New York City where absolutely everything seems available within walking distance at any time of day, I wondered how Madrid would stack up and if indeed its famous hospitality would extend to accommodating people with special diets.  Luckily, with very little exploration I found a variety of options with the city center.

I have been gluten free for a year now and packed my carryon with gluten-free crackers for my flight over, but I definitely didn’t have enough to last me long after my arrival.  My first trip to the supermercado at Cortes Ingles brought a wave of relief … a large “Sin Gluten” (without gluten) section sat right up front.  In fact, Cortes Ingles has a large variety of gluten-free, lactose-free, and health food products.  The selection varies based on which store you visit, but both the shops between Callao and Sol metro stops have good sized special foods sections.  The shop at Nuevos Ministerios is the largest and most diverse I have found so far.  Other supermarket options for celiacs and those with gluten sensitivities are OpenCor, who have a similar but smaller selection than Cortes Ingles, and Mercadona, who have shops all over Spain.

If you’re looking for a more intimate shopping experience, Nature and Clark is a gourmet market located just south of Calle de Fernando VI on Hortaleza (on the border between Malasaña and Chueca).  I wandered in recently and was surprised at the variety of dietary needs the small store covers.  While the selection of gluten free products is quite small, they also sell Kosher and macrobiotic supplies.

So those should keep you covered for dining at home, but what about eating out?  Spanish tapas are world-renowned and tapas restaurants are scattered all over Madrid.  Figuring out what tapas dishes you can or cannot eat takes a few questions and some trial and error.  If you’re gluten-free, stay away from croquettas (even the filling contains flour), empanadas and the tostas but feel free to dig into tortilla española or tortilla de patatas as it is called in some parts of the country (people have had to re-assure me over and over again that it’s just eggs and potatoes), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), gambas (shrimp), pimientos del padrón (peppers) and of course the jamon (ham)!  And if you’re craving a little taste of America, don’t fear … McDonalds has gluten free bread available for their hamburgers!

Having to skip the pan and empanadas is frustrating at times; however, I think our vegetarian friends have a tougher go of it in the land of jamon!  Some suggestions for vegetarians can be found in Alison’s post Viva la Vida – Vegetarian Style.

I would love to hear any other great restaurants or shops that you have found.  Feel free to share in the comments!

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Bikini Waxed in Madrid

July 8th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Guiri Guest | Health | Lifestyle - (0 Comments)

Guiri Guest Alondra Palomino and her husband moved to Madrid from Jersey City, NJ. A long time AZ native, she is thrilled to be in the sunshine once again. She writes and teaches English to kids. In her free time, she is an avid bookworm, foodie, and goldsmith. Check out her other posts on Making Friends in Madrid and Mental Health Resources

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Summer season is here and for many of us, that means a trip to the salon for waxing. Since arriving in Madrid a bit over a year ago, I’ve had to figure out how to translate the term “bikini wax” and through trial and error discovered that each salon has a different standard of what constitutes a “depilación de ingles” (bikini wax).

If you’re in need of wax services, here are my picks for salons that cater to both men and women.

Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa offers one of the most posh experiences in what is typically an awkward situation. At Aveda, you can start off with a relaxing cup of Aveda’s tea before you are whisked away to a private room. From there, you put on a disposable thong and let them know what you want done. Fortunately, Aveda usually has at least 1 English-speaking staff member on hand to help with translation. You may want to request the translation prior to your appointment. Prices for a “depilación de ingles” vary from 16 Euros to 41 Euros.

The Chi Spa is similar to Aveda, but without the Aveda products and with a smaller price tag. It’s professional, clean and also offers a relaxing setting, but without much help in the translation department. Prices for waxing here start at 10 Euros and up depending on what you have done.

If you’re in a pinch and need wax services at the last minute, check out Amor Centro de Depilacion y Belleza. Just be aware, this isn’t the place for the squeamish. Instead of your own private room, you’ll be lead into what’s essentially a dressing room with a curtain. You will be sitting while your waxist performs their duties. It’s a bit uncomfortable at first, but rest assured their staff is wonderful! The waxist I met is named Monica and she is hilarious, but most of all she helps to put you at ease. Since Amor has a larger staff for waxing than both Aveda and the Chi Spa, getting in the same day is usually not a problem. Prices start at less than 10 Euros.

Amor Centro de Depilacion y Belleza

C/Hermosilla 121

Madrid, 28009

914017185

Dentistry in Madrid: American-style

June 16th, 2011 | Posted by Erin in Erin | Health | Medical - (0 Comments)

I like my teeth. I’m especially reminded of that here where good dental care seems as hard to come by as my beloved crunchy peanut butter (I realize these two things probably don’t go well together). Lucky for me, and all of you, one of the world’s fanciest dental offices (IMHO), Clinica CLOE, is right here in Madrid. And it happens to be run by folks who know what they’re doing – American-style. With that in mind, Guiri Guide decided to find out more from one of the founders, Dr. Mya Choufani, so that we can help you keep your pearly whites, white.

What types of services do you offer at Clinica CLOE?
Clinica CLOE is a state-of-the-art dental practice where a US-trained team, including a leading Implant Specialist, Orthodontist, Cosmetic Dentist, Pediatric Dentist and Endodontist, all work from one office. In doing so, we provide patients with the highest quality, integrated and coordinated care. Our treatments range from smile makeovers, teeth whitening, aesthetic dentistry, orthodontics, implants, to simple fillings and routine hygiene cleanings and check-ups.

What makes your clinic different than other Spanish dental clinics?
The founders, Dr. Victor Begara and myself, as well as the rest of the team, are graduates of New York University College of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Hospital School of Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio and La Universidad Europea de Madrid, where each one of us presently holds leadership positions teaching other dentists. CLOE represents the ultimate in multidisciplinary dental treatment providing the highest levels of dentistry – from the smallest fillings to the most complex smile makeovers and dental reconstructions – all in one Madrid dental office. Each of us takes pride in our work and the outcome of every treatment we perform, as well as making sure the patient’s experience is an enjoyable one.

What made you decide to open a clinic in Madrid and why Campo de las Naciones?
Since both Dr. Begara and I hold teaching positions at the Universidad Europea de Madrid, staying in Madrid was a MUST! Looking for the perfect location was NOT easy, but knowing exactly what we wanted, Campo de Las Naciones was the area that mostly fulfilled our demands: a quiet area, full of trees and lots of light! We want our patients to escape reality from the time they visit us to the time they leave. We make sure their experience is as stressless as possible. So, we start off the visit with offering each patient a Nespresso coffee, and the entire time in the dental chair, the patient is able to watch their favorite movie or TV Show, while the work is being performed.

Do you have any special deals?
We have a summer teeth-whitening special, which includes a 30% discount on the “Take-Home Treatment” or the “1-hour In-Office Treatment.”

Are your services covered by health insurance?
Yes, as long as it is an insurance that either covers dental services, or an insurance policy which has a dental reimbursement plan.

What type of clientele do you mostly treat?
Believe it or not, more than 50% of our patients are foreigners – all English speakers and a lot of French speakers as well since not only do I speak French fluently, but the office is located a few blocks from the Lycee Francais of Madrid.

How best to get to the clinic if you live in the city center?
Considering the office is located in an area with easy and free access to parking, coming by car is a convenient option. To come by public transportation, you can either take the metro to “Campo de Las Naciones,” or just use the EMT Bus System.

For more information, you can visit the Clinica CLOE website, or call 91 371 7919.

‘Take a Hike’ – Hiking around Madrid

May 20th, 2011 | Posted by allisonstendardi in Allison | Health | Lifestyle | Traveling outside Madrid - (1 Comments)

A few weeks ago I was hunting around online trying to find information about hiking in or around Madrid. As lovely as this city is, I needed to breathe some country air, and I was itching to explore some towns just outside Madrid. It was in this search that I found Hiking in the Community of Madrid.

This small business, run by two Americans, Beau and Cynthia, operates weekly day trips outside the city. These two found that there wasn’t much information, in English, about hiking in the area, so they set off to explore the region on their own. Now they’re experts on hiking around Madrid. Their Sunday hikes offer a chance to see more of Spain, a different side of Spain, within an hour of Madrid. Their day hikes cost 12Euro/person, plus transportation (so add another 6 or 7 Euro for that). This includes your guides for the day, as well as lunch. Lunch is PB&J (I have never looked forward to a PB&J sandwich so much!), chips, fruit, and dessert. They also throw in a drink at the end of the hike.

I participated in the hike to Colmenar de Oreja and Chinchon, just southeast of Madrid. Our group met at a local bus stop and took the bus about an hour to Colmenar de Oreja, where we began the hike. This hike was easy, but others they have on the schedule are more challenging. Get on their email list or check them out on Facebook to get updates on the hikes. Our group of hikers was great. So not only did I get a great day hike and explore the region a bit, but I also met some nice new people. A chance to meet new friends is always helpful in expat life!

And get this, Cynthia and Beau just wrote a book about hiking around Madrid! How cool is that? So if the Sunday group hikes don’t work for your schedule, or if you’d rather make a go of it on your own, check out their top 50 routes. They also include helpful Spanish vocab and expressions, for those of us that are looking to improve our language skills as well as tone our calf muscles. You can pick up a copy of the book at Desnivel Libreria, La Tienda Verde, Casa de Los Libros, Fnac, Corte Ingles, etc.

Happy hiking!