VIDEO - click to play
Karina talks about immigration!
Immigration 101 for Guiris
Karina Stenquist goes through the immigration process
|
RECENT ARTICLES
Restaurants in Madrid: La Botilleria de Maxi
Tapas, Raciones and Beer in Madrid - El Corazon Loco
Photo of the day
photo of the day
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karina Stenquist
Time in Madrid: 4 years
Formerly a video blogger for Mobuzz.tv, Karina is now keeping with her political roots (B.A. Political Science from Berkely), tackling immigration issues in her blog, The Guiri Dispatches. Originally from Kensington, California, Karina now teaches English in Madrid while interning at CNN, occasionally working in video production contributing to MAPMagazine.com. Below you'll find her Insider Recommendations for Madrid.
Karina recommends:
- Tapas bar: La Musa. "Because they're different–sushi...and wild boar!?"
- Discoteca: Barco. "I've always, always had a good time, the music's always danceable."
- Restaurant: Casa Mingo. "Best roast chicken anywhere."
- Shopping area: El Rastro. "Cheap and tacky! What more could you ask for?"
- Daytrip from Madrid: Toledo."It's easy to do, cheap to get there, and it's a world away from Madrid."
- Unique and/or fun activity in Madrid: Botellón in a plaza with gypsy musicians! "No explanation needed."
-------------------------------------
|
|
Out with a bang
So that's it for temporada 2007-2008. Great climax to the race for the last uefa spot and the battle to avoid the last relegation spot. Comiserations to Zaragoza, they fought bravely until the end but it was the same story as last week against Madrid - nothing would go in for them. At the other end Sevilla take their customary place in the UEFA and congrats to Racing. There were thousands partying all night up in Santander - knowing how they do things in that part of the world that would have been one to catch.
I, on the other hand, was at the Bernabeu to watch a goal laden but half paced training ground match between the champions and the bottom team. I suppose it was a blessing that there was a game at all as the only real interest beforehand was in how many, if any, Levante players would take the field. The stadium was only two thirds full and the most passion that the merengue supporters could muster was a few repetitions of "¡Eto'o cabrón, saluda al campeon!". By the time the fireworks were launched and Raul did his turn as Torero the only people left in the stadium not directly employed by the club were some wags, a corporate box full of Dutchmen involved in a drinking contest and a coach party of confused Japanese tourists. Madrid fans are legendarily fickle but they shouldn't take this for granted. It's a while since they won back to back titles and the league is getting more competetive from top to bottom.
The CL final promises to be a tense affair. I'll be going down to watch at O'Neills if anyone's interested. I'm looking forward to the match although for me it's one of those games where it's a shame that both teams can't lose. On balance I dislike United less than Chelsea so I'll be an honorary red for the night but I can't help feeling that if Terry plays the whole game that the blues might nick it.
|
|
|
|
|
Kling Madrid
Looking for cool, hip, and economical in Madrid's "SoHo." Check out our article on KLING.
|
|
All-purpose pink
Strawberries, raspberries, grass, lemon and green apples in one single glass? Would this be the ultimate smoothie? Nope, just a glass of rosé (or rosado, in Spanish), the all-purpose good-weather-wine.
I am sure that your friends, knowing that you are reading this blog regularly, consider you a wine-expert by now. That means that every time you share some food together, they will turn to you when it comes to ordering the wine. Most restaurants serve decent wine these days, so any choice will do nicely (and will give you kudos from your mates). You'll probably also think that red is better for red meat, and white for fish and white meat, which also limits choice. But what if the party is too small for two bottles, and some have opted for fish and others for meat? Go for all-purpose rosé, everybody will be happy and you will definitely establish a reputation as all-mighty wine-guru.
And now that you are at it, why not display your knowledge a bit more and explain how rosé is made? No, it is not a mixture of white and red wine: rosé has more to do with red wine than with white.
After harvesting and crushing the grapes, the grape skins are either removed immediately to make white wine, or left to make red. The skins gives color and taste to the fermenting juice. This red wine process is the same for rosé but instead, weeks of skin contact are limited to only a few days, depending on the preferences of the bodega. More days of grape skins means darker wine. Once the winery decided it is enough, the skins are either discarded, or added to an already fermenting red to deepen color and intensity of the latter even further.
Which rosado to choose? Many eateries stock wine from Enate, a bodega from Aragon. This winery offers reliable wines, with decorative labels. A sure bet.
Jolijn van der Zanden
www.vinoetcetera.com
|
|
