When you travel and see something you've never seen before, you automatically assume that everyone does it. All the time. E.g. "everyone in Paris drinks coffee in terraces". I just moved to Valencia. Everything's new and shiny.
Thursday 31 December 2009
Wednesday 30 December 2009
ignores you in a pharmacy
Because it seems more professional to not move or deign to notice people until the boss tells you.
Tuesday 29 December 2009
drags their feet when they walk
It's always unattractive, even if you're a decent-looking female doctor with "look-smart" glasses on.
Monday 28 December 2009
Sunday 27 December 2009
doesn't clean up after their dog
An unusually large quanity of dogshit on the pavement up by Na Jordana. Nice work, people of the barrio.
Saturday 26 December 2009
Friday 25 December 2009
didn't freeze on Christmas Day
Other countries apparently couldn't get out and about but Valencia was nice.
Thursday 24 December 2009
is celebrating "Good Night"
However, there were more people in the streets than expected. Should be dying off soon.
Wednesday 23 December 2009
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Monday 21 December 2009
pays more for bite-sized cakes than dinner
"Teeny Tiny Bite-Sized Cakes" vs "Dinner For Two With Wine"? The eternal debate.
Sunday 20 December 2009
(on the train)
Had the best sammich ever. People thought about offering money to take a bite. Probably.
Saturday 19 December 2009
Friday 18 December 2009
wears an awesome pirate hat in the street
Apparently being 4 years old is enough to get away with anything.
Thursday 17 December 2009
Wednesday 16 December 2009
Tuesday 15 December 2009
(in Spain) who's foreign can still curse like a mike-foxtrotter
Don't mess with my boy, he'll get his mattress delivered and rip you a new one.
Monday 14 December 2009
continues to get rained on
And honks their horn and can't find their umbrella.
And verifies that Geox "One Way" membrane isn't.
And verifies that Geox "One Way" membrane isn't.
Sunday 13 December 2009
gets rained on.
It's pissing out of the heavens here today. Outside World™ is cancelled until further notice.
Saturday 12 December 2009
(from NZ) shares way too much medical information
For "medical" read "rampant filthy whoring." Claims the "sharing" was in the spirit of "being a lesson to everyone" later. For "being a lesson to everyone" read "letting everyone know exactly what she let him do. Repeatedly."
Friday 11 December 2009
(in Paris) insists on you having a good afternoon
Before doing anything else. Conversation was as follows, I'm in green, la French girl is in bleu:
Conversation rolled normally on from there. One should also note that the entire time, she did not look as though she meant it.
"Vous parlez anglais?" - to see if she spoke French (terrible French accent on my part)
"Oui. Yes. Good afternoon" - in fairness, even worse French accent on her part
"Hi, I'd like ..."
"Good afternoon"
"Uh, I'm looking for ..."
"Good afternoon"
"Yes, the gate for flight ..."
"GOOD AFTERNOON!"
"Ah. Good afternoon. " (understanding dawned)Conversation rolled normally on from there. One should also note that the entire time, she did not look as though she meant it.
Thursday 10 December 2009
Wednesday 9 December 2009
ignores blocked-off space for moving
So the movers have to lift all the heavy stuff up and down the street.
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Monday 7 December 2009
films a period something-or-other in the street
The street's blocked off, crew everywhere and cars from the 1960s being driven around. Looks like tomorrow might be the big day (since it's a holiday). Will have to check it out.
Sunday 6 December 2009
Saturday 5 December 2009
plays some sport or other
Couldn't figure out what. People in the street today looking all ready to change and do physical activity. I'm guessing martial arts, they didn't look like footballers.
Friday 4 December 2009
Thursday 3 December 2009
wears a tuxedo around the streets at lunch
And looks mighty happy about it. The "esmoquín" as it's known as here is always appropriate.
Wednesday 2 December 2009
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Monday 30 November 2009
Sunday 29 November 2009
Saturday 28 November 2009
(in Ireland) watches their team beat the World Champions
An Irish win! The Bokke lost. Long day hauling up and down the country.
Friday 27 November 2009
Thursday 26 November 2009
brings Bailey's back to Ireland
Because it's double the price to buy an Irish liqueur in Ireland than just get it in another country and bring it home.
Wednesday 25 November 2009
(in Ireland) doesn't feel the cold
As always, t-shirt weather in one country does not correspond with the same temperatures as t-shirt wearing weather in other countries
Tuesday 24 November 2009
(in Paris) wants to be a Bond villain
Opinion solely based on the suitability of Charles de Gaulle airport as a Bond Villain Lair, in looks, warm decor and pleasantry.
Monday 23 November 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
can't answer a straight question
It's because they work in real estate and want to know all about you before giving precious apartments away. Won't be taking any of those.
Saturday 21 November 2009
parks old people in wheelchairs behind glass panels
I though it was just a display for wheelchairs until she moved her head. I think they were just waiting to be brought outside, it wasn't the wanton cruelty it appeared.
Friday 20 November 2009
is from another planet
Went to check out an apartment, the lady renting it wasn't that connected to reality and had the memory of a goldfish. This is a sampling of her side of the conversation in 2 mins:
- Where you from?
- This is the kitchen.
- You from around here?
- Do you work around here?
- Doing what?
- So you have a bank account?
- Where did you say you were from?
- This is the kitchen.
- What does your company do?
- Is it around here?
- Can you have a bank account here?
- And you work around here?
- This is the kitchen.
Thursday 19 November 2009
speaks uncertain and accented Spanish
Especially when foreign and asking another foreigner for directions
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Tuesday 17 November 2009
(in Spain) loves a quality make-up bargain
In the national newspaper: Two powders for 50 € seemed popular. Exotic international stuff too, both French and Greek were available.
Monday 16 November 2009
totally backfilled their blog after ignoring it for a few days
Just saying, the interweb is high and falling off it hurts. Hence the two posts tonight.
Sunday 15 November 2009
(in Madrid) drives a dustbin like a wheelbarrow
Down the middle of the street, holding up traffic and yelling at vans that go near him.
Saturday 14 November 2009
(in Madrid) gets trapped by a flag in a restaurant
Photos are way more important than other people being able to leave, etc.
Friday 13 November 2009
Thursday 12 November 2009
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Tuesday 10 November 2009
forgets the ice for the coffee
Well, it did drop to 18º C! That's 65º F for the Creative Anachronistas (or Anachronisticists)
Monday 9 November 2009
over 70 trips over their feet in the middle of the street
That's what you get for wrenching your head around to stare at women's jubbly bits jubbling past you instead of keeping an eye on the road.
Sunday 8 November 2009
dodges bulls in the street
Technically, the "bull" was his little brother but the combination of art and danger was still pulse-quickening.
Saturday 7 November 2009
Friday 6 November 2009
Thursday 5 November 2009
gets a green traffic light
Everyone! Actually saw an intersection today with green lights for our lane AND the lane perpindicular to us. Fun times!
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Monday 2 November 2009
uses the same street number
How else can you explain an address like " #7", and a few doors down " #7 duplicado"?
Sunday 1 November 2009
guts churches for entertainment
Well, maybe "church-like". And a fantastic job they do of it too. They turn them into open-sided upscale markets which are a joy and pleasure to walk around and through. Madrid has something similar now.
Valencia
Mercado Colón
Madrid
Mercado San Miguel
Valencia
Mercado Colón
Madrid
Mercado San Miguel
Saturday 31 October 2009
Friday 30 October 2009
Thursday 29 October 2009
Wednesday 28 October 2009
designs kitchens
Never seen such an amount of fancy stores for kitchen counter-tops and the latest in taps and built-in ovens.
Tuesday 27 October 2009
jogs around the cybernetic fountains with their indoor football team
That really sums it all up, it must be nice to be a kid.
Monday 26 October 2009
trains and plays football in an underground parking garage
Technically it was a sports and recreation centre, but with all the pillars, the low ceiling and the paint job, it looked like an underground parking garage.
Sunday 25 October 2009
forgets that the hour changed this weekend
And spend the day trying to reconcile the various time-keeping devices.
Saturday 24 October 2009
jogs past fountains dancing to classical music
It's a beautiful way to start a very very sunny Saturday morning, let me tell you.
Friday 23 October 2009
Thursday 22 October 2009
gets their meat super-sized
The supermarket does not seem to stock less than a kilo of anything. Everything was for the "family".
Wednesday 21 October 2009
jumps the light as soon as the green man flashes
There's no hemming and hawing - green flashes: pedestrians die.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
has twin old folks.
Well impressed today, a woman of about 60 escorting not one but TWO identically dressed old grannies slowly down the street walking. Both had canes too. Looked like a setup for one of those candid camera shows.
Monday 19 October 2009
Sunday 18 October 2009
Saturday 17 October 2009
Friday 16 October 2009
looks surprised when you go into their restaurant
Either "surprised" or "Disgruntled because I was using the touch-screen cash register to organise my music collection God damn it"; a pair of expressions easily confused.
Thursday 15 October 2009
thinks dogs should piss in their own doorways
At least that's the part of the conversation I picked up.
Characters
Little Old Lady, fat cranky guy about 28 years old
Scene
Guy just parked his car, little old lady standing in front of it watching her dog piss on the front bumper
Guy: "Hey, the dog can go in the doorway to his own building, can't he?"
Lady:
Characters
Little Old Lady, fat cranky guy about 28 years old
Scene
Guy just parked his car, little old lady standing in front of it watching her dog piss on the front bumper
Guy: "Hey, the dog can go in the doorway to his own building, can't he?"
Lady:
Wednesday 14 October 2009
Tuesday 13 October 2009
paraglides to their house and back
Technically, in Castellón but it's part of the Comunitat so the blog title holds true: anyway ... no shit, while sitting in the living room watching TV just on Saturday for an hour no fewer than 9 paragliders went past the window. At the window level. Just droning along. Picking up the shopping or something.
Monday 12 October 2009
take pictures of their kids on slide from the top of the slide
In fairness, it's a great big slide. Still, it's unsettling to see adults walking all over where kids are crawling.
Sunday 11 October 2009
has palm trees growing in the middle of their streets
It's very coastal and exotic. Being on the coast helps that. Being exotic also.
Saturday 10 October 2009
Friday 9 October 2009
loves their fireworks
Seen this one before? Nope, it's just that, God damn, they cannot stop with the fireworks. Last night, 1 hour and 15 mins (midnight to 0115). Today, at noon just because. And down in the cauce outside the Palau de Musica, there's a carnival on while at one side, 4 guys are wiring fireworks to a wooden bull (those things are dangerous) and a few metal frames, for launch later tonight.
There's enough C4 there to blow the entire city, but that's OK because EVERYONE IN VALENCIA LOVES THEIR FIREWORKS!
There's enough C4 there to blow the entire city, but that's OK because EVERYONE IN VALENCIA LOVES THEIR FIREWORKS!
loves their fireworks
A solid 30 mins (so far) of non-stop fireworks being launched three blocks away. I can't hear the television. The back windows are shaking. I can smell it from here. Apparently they don't want any left over for tomorrow.
Thursday 8 October 2009
met at the table right behind me
Seriously, the restaurant holds about 200 people, I wanted a quick bite to eat, and at the booth for 4 people behind there was a constant stream of "Oooooooooooooh, look who's here!" and "Oh my GAWWWWWWWWWWWWDDDDDD!" (in Spanish, obviously).
Wednesday 7 October 2009
can buy roasted corn-on-the-cob in the street
Didn't see anybody actually eating it, but it's right there if you want it.
triple (and even quadruple!) parks
And nobody really seems to mind, or get shut in. I've yet to hear a horn or see a trapped and exasperated driver.
Tuesday 6 October 2009
Monday 5 October 2009
wants the iPhone 3GS apparently
Running at a 3-month backlog at the moment! Seems to be a global problem and unusually bad here in Spain. Damn - I want to switch.
Sunday 4 October 2009
eats fine dining in terraces
Everyone wears LaCoste and sweaters draped across their shoulders and stops outside terraces to see the menu and choose where they're going to eat.
Saturday 3 October 2009
Friday 2 October 2009
whinges until they can jump the queue
And whinges and whines and whinges, like a 2-year-old. Right in the supermarket.
Thursday 1 October 2009
wears crutches until their mobile goes off
Walking behind a woman limping on crutches. Then her mobile went off so she tucked both of them under her arm and started yakking away.
Wednesday 30 September 2009
ignores people moving things all the time
We were moving things from a car in a parking garage. We had to enter from one street and exit from a small door beside a terrace. Which meant the people on the terrace saw us exit repeatedly with boxes/suitcases/etc. but never saw us going back in. Didn't matter. They pretended we didn't exist.
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