Happy New Year!

Looks are deceiving

Would you believe me if I told you that this butt is the best-singing one I've come across since I saw the Boss? Ok, so his butt is not singing, but the rest of him certainly is.

Amazing to think that he's attractive to the ladies, isn't it? He certainly hasn't got the body, and yet he scores. Every time. Gotta have something to do with that star quality whenever he enters a stage. That charisma just pours out.

And tomorrow I shall be there being a groupie :)

Bones

Know that song about the thigh bone connected to the hip bone, hipe bone connected to the back bone and so forth? That's exactly how I feel. That twisted muscle in the neck is now radiating down to my right buttock. Very painful. It's almost like I have an infection, since I'm also very tired. Ah f... it! Tired of popping pills. I'm going on the serious stuff. The fluid. At least it'll more fun being sick-ish.

Lots and lots of water

Hard work yesterday. Lying on all four sponging up 100's of liters of water. With a neck I still cannot turn other than to the left. No fun at all, I tell ya. Good thing is that both my carpets from the boat are now in my bathroom, cleaned with carpet-foam and scrubbed thoroughly. It'll be a pleasure starting the new season. Spoke to the previous owner, and he had never had the waterproblem. I so wonder where it got in!?!

Wild Friday night

Yeah right. Dinner was nice though, long talk with "all-together-personality", sorted out differences and cleared the air. Very nice indeed.

However, instead of hitting town going wild letting my hair down and getting all so drunk, I have to behave and stay home. Ok, so partly it is due to having to turn half my body if I want to turn my head but mostly due to commitment tomorrow.

This is my big investment in order to clean out the boat. Tomorrow at one this is what I'll be doing.

PS. It's really really nice having a boat. In the summer...

Tablegrill

After having several great dinners with raclette and tablegrills I decided now is the time to get one of my own. Ordered one today. http://www.burny.ch/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2880&osCsid=e4f061db16bdca2be7f644c97a6045a6 Click on the pic to get a closer view. Looks good, doesn't it?

Frenum

Learned something new today. Not sure I wanted to have a close-up, but dinner with a gay friend makes you hmmm kinda-open. Frenum? I had no clue. Google it was the answer. And here it is. Indeed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenum_piercing

At the same time I was informed about a prince Albert piercing:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinz_Albert_(Piercing)

So much you don't know being a hetero...

Birdie nam-nam

Well you know my view of birds. Shoot'm all and then eat'm. My friend has another take on it. He bought some fake birds and placed them outside his window to scare the real birds off. Crow-like. I am now in the process of convincing my friend that it would be a good idea to share one of his fake birds with me. I mean, just in case he wants to come on the boat next summer...

Just a thought

I kinda thought over Christmas that I've been in Switzerland more than 5 years. I have no interest in moving to yet another country. I've settled here, and love it. Why don't I buy a place? Yes ok, I know. The money thing. It's so friggin expensive. On the other hand, they are building like crazy here now and I don't see that demand goes down. Which should mean that prices will only go one way from here. Up. So now would be the time to buy? Heck if I know. But I do know that I've triggered something. Saw one (only one!) ad that might be of interest, so am meeting with the agent next week. Can't hurt to look, right?

Legit

Thinking of going legit on the cleaning thing. Now, the question is: is 37 CHF per hour a little on the expensive side? I just cannot find somebody who can be here on a regular basis, and do exactly what I require. Gosh, I miss putz-Peter! Opinion anybody? http://www.putzfrau.ch/

Neck pain

Again I have been sleeping funny, and cannot turn my head without turning the whole body. Very painful and painkillers don't seem to help. I see no other option than switching to wine to take the pain away. Good thing it's Friday :)

Shitty jobs

Talked to my ex today. Told him we're meeting on Saturday, armed with sponges and rubber gloves to clean up in the boat. That's when he asked "when do I finally get the nice jobs?". Never is of course the answer, but it doesn't hurt to have him hanging...;)

Mobilezone

Got myself another stalker. Ok, in all fairness they only called once so far. Today. On a "Sunday". Speaking Switzedutch. When I not so kindly informed them I only speak real German, she said "hochdütch?". Which only goes to show that Swiss people cannot speak high German. Anyway, giggling in the background and a presentation that involved "we're the second cheapest telephony provider in Switzerland". Somebody should send her to a course. Why wouldn't I choose the cheapest if price was that I was after?

Memory

I have a lot of memory. Like an elephant. 320 gigabyte to be exact. Plus whatever is left in my own head of course :).

Bro thought it would be a good idea for me to back up my dear old computer which still amazingly enough works after almost 5 years. And I'll get around to it one of these days. As soon as I've found an adapter...anybody got a British to Swiss adapter lying around?

Good news and really bad news

Took a long walk today in a -1°C Zürich in a feeble attempt to walk off all that Christmas food. Went to check on the boat. Oh dear. Full of water. Somehow it must've leaked in. Just not sure where it got in. And nothing I can do about it now. That is indeed not good news. The good news was that no birds were in it. They were however present in the form of birdshit all over the cover. Friggin pigeons. Somebody should shoot them. And it didn't add to the festive times when one of them shit on my head! I'm tellin' ya. Getting a gun seems like a really good idea right now.

A mafia present

My Christmas present to Bro was all the seasons of Sopranos that he had wished. And the reason he already got it was because he had to order it himself. He didn't want the German text. Fine. We watched the first episode together. And I thought it was ok, but nothing more. The mafia, violence, surely good but not all that. Bro loved it. He has been watching it a lot already. His comment "I cannot believe you do not like it, it's all about relationships". Me: "I cannot understand that you do like it, if it's all about relationships". Perhaps we have more in common than we thought? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopranos

Ho-ho-ho

Merry Christmas to all my readers!

Food for people

Yum! Much better than that yike-thing the cats liked.

Bro makes a friend

Personally I think it's the blue eyes...

It was all a blur in Hallau

This is what happens what I give my camera to my brother to take nice pics of Hallau...

Old Swiss tile stove

Only a coupla hundred years old. But it still works! Or so I was told. Apparently it takes a long time to heat up.

Funny though. In the little door you see there are cushions. Those get warm from the stove and you can take them into the bed for heating. How extremely old-fashioned! But nice. And I was indeed told that the cushions were new, not from when the house was built. Phew!

The most popular person in Hallau

That was most definitely me today. It included me, four cats and a bag of oh-so-delicious-food. Ok, so not nearly as delicious as we homo sapiens got later but in the little creatures eyes, I was the woman of the hour (or the minute it took to eat it!).

PS. Ever heard of the word opportunistic?

Flop

Here was I putting in a lot of effort to write a card for the guy I do not know well, and guess what? He didn't even show up! This morning I was thinking I was a bit hard on him in what I wrote. Now I want to write him another card with even more forward advice... The rest of the Christmas lunch was nice though...

To-do-list

On my still-to-do-list this evening is to write a card for the "secret-Santa" present I bought for this guy I do not know. And I have to disguise my hand-writing so that he doesn't know who it is from. Right. Not that he's ever seen my hand-writing but still. How difficult can it be when I bought him a wine-thingie from Spain? Everybody knows I was in Barcelona. Well, I will write a card with some good advice, which I'm fairly sure he will ignore but hopefully it will give the rest of us a good laugh...

It was better before

You think girl who requested my snail-mail address respected my wish not to send a paper Christmas card? Of course not. It was much better before when she worked for me, and had to do what I said. Those were the days. Until now I have received something like 15 paper cards. I'm drowning here people. And you know, I just cannot throw them away. It's impossible. I get tear-eyed and sit there thinking that somebody thought of me, making the effort of actually writing a whole card, my address on the envelope, putting a stamp on it and walking to the mailbox. It's impossible to disregard that. But I'm still drowning in papers...

Favourite - once again

Somehow when I saw ex-flatmate today I thought of this. Know I posted it before, but it's good so why not again? http://www.rentagerman.de/

A sign

Just came home and thought that a(nother) glass of wine would be nice. Only, run out of my fine house wine but found a nice bottle of Sancerre. And because I'm worth it, I opened it. Cut my finger on the wrapping. Bleeding like hell. The message? Don't drink expensive wine, stick to your cheapo one...

Wine-tasting

Wish I had to been to a wine-tasting session tonight, but in a way I was. Visited ex-flatmate who invited me for dinner. Brought a bottle of wine. Turned out it was the only wine in the house, except for a bottle he opened 2 weeks ago. Hello vinegar. But I tell ya. After finishing a fine bottle of Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva 2005 we had to have something more. Which was the vinegar stuff. Yikes. Did he not learn anything from living with me for 5 months? Yes I forgot. I was the wine provider... PS. Flat has transformed into a home. It was very nicely decorated and minimalistic. I really wish I could have the same. No clutter...a dream.

Good news and bad news

Got a letter from the authorities today saying "you are now a bit more wanted in Switzerland so you won't have to pay "quellensteuer" anymore". So ok, maybe they phrased it a bit differently, but that was the contents. Meaning I am not liable to pay this type of tax anymore. Hurray I thought, so maybe there was something in getting this C-permit after all. Less taxes are always a good idea (makes me think of a certain American president who uttered the unforgettable phrase "read my lips, no more taxes". He then got elected and promptly raised the taxes. So much for promises). Until I talked to a friend who informed me that all it is is that I now have to pay taxes once a year, instead of every month. Hmmm. Friend is German so what does he know? Other foreign people who have lived here longer tells me it's a good idea. Who knows?

George sent a message

Crooked lawyer III

And here he is. Finally after the computer transfer problems. I present to you: the Swiss crooked lawyer!

PS. And doesn't he look almost happy being out with me? Well, it was the second try...

On the train in Barcelona

Don't you just love the attention to detail, like the 5 cents. Personally I think the Swiss and Spanish are like hand in glove...

Las Ramblas

This is what they sell at Las Ramblas, the touristy area in Barcelona. And I was thinking. Yes, why don't I go out and buy a bird? Or a hamster? Isn't that what people do on a Sunday?

20 minutes

Yes, zwanzig minuten exists in Spanish too...

Ze Swiss trying to speak English

So finally the transfer from the phone to the computer worked. This is what I saw on a street in Zürich. And I'm not shitting you...sorry kidding.

Hate object II

And while we're at it. Technology issues I mean. When I switch on my Sony-Ericsson Z6101i (I'm sure the i is really important! And what kind of a name is that anyway for a friggin telephone?) I get prompted to answer "flight mode" or "normal". Hello? First of all, how often do I fly compared to not (and especially with a blue phone that no "business man" wouldn't be seen dead with). And even if I was flying (which I was as a matter of fact) would I like to challenge the security of airlines saying "yes". This is so silly, that only a man could have come up with the option. "Hey, that's cool. Let people think they are important and that we as a provider understand their needs". Yikes. Sorry, but I need to puke.

Hate object

Know what I hate? People going on the bus, taking the outer seat. Blocking for other people to sit. So you have like 25 people standing in the bus, with these people sitting comfortably with their bag on the second seat or just on the outer one blocking passage. When I get really really irritated I make a point of walking over their legs to sit just for two stops, but most of the time I cannot be bothered. I just bugs me. Why be so selfish? I'm guessing they didn't have parents who taught them right from wrong. Fuck'em.

Crooked lawyer II

Well, guess I forgot to tell you that I'm still good friends with the "homeless". Turned out he's the owner of a lawyer firm with offices in two cities. And the Zürich one I met tonight for a few drinks in town this evening. Perhaps lawyers are not such bad people after all? You know like the joke...who's a good lawyer? On the bottom of the ocean. Or something like that. I'm bad in telling jokes :) And crooked lawyer II approved of having his photo posted on the blog. Too bad my phone is not cooperating...meaning not friggin working to transfer photos to computer. Technology? Love it. When it works...

Crooked lawyer

I have two friends who are lawyers. None of them are fitting into the typical attorney-template. Figures. One of them I met some 12 years ago, when he was trying to pick me up in a bar in Utrecht. I thought he was a homeless. The other one I ran into here in Zürich. He's a musician. And is very far from a lawyer-lookalike. I either have a really good feel for people, or I'm clueless...

Singing girl

Remember her? Finally she made it to my place for dinner tonight. She's the one who changes hair colour more often than I change men...sorry underwear :) We had my fish-dish that is famous all the way to Australia! Ain't bad, huh?

Christmas cards

Got an sms this evening. What's your address? Replied that I only give that out if you promise not to send a paper Christmas card. I have a compulsion not to throw away personal letters/postcards and the likes. Can you imagine how many there are after hmpth years? A lot. Gad bless people who are online...

Stone cold

...was the floor in my flat in Barcelona. Which is why I had to invest (EUR 9,99!) in new slippers. Which may not be a completely bad idea since my other blue fluffy ones have gone to see their maker.

Masts

Ok, so some people have bigger boats...

Perspective

Now which one is taller? The palm tree or the building...?

Ah gad

...just realized it is soon Christmas. Meaning I have to venture up to the attic, getting my plastic Christmas tree. Perhaps I should buy some of that pine-tree smelling spray?

Skyscraper

Lotsa tall buildings in Barcelona...not at all as I remember Spain in the 70's. Was it indeed better in the old days?

Dinner

Gonna do something I haven't done before. Posting a pic when I haven't asked approval from the people. But since none of them ever read the blog I'm taking a chance.

One evening in Barcelona I invited some people over for dinner. Which turned out nicely (I wasn't the cook). We had a good time.

Cava

Ok, so in France it's champagne, in Italy it's spumante, and in Spain it's cava...same shit if you ask me. I just don't like that bubbly thing. Yes I have to drink it on new years eve and other so called festive evenings, but I just don't like it.

Sorry. But it looks good...

Cafe Zurich

Yes, Zurich is popular everywhere. Even in Barcelona...

Can Culleretes II

Ok, so this is kinda cool. But I still think it doesn't replace a website...

Can Culleretes

This is the place that is the second oldest restaurant in Spain...but who knows? They don't even have a website...

Anonymity

I tell ya. There is a lot to be said about anonymity. I mean, why else would one want to live in a city? I really do not want to be too close to people. Which is why I like my place so much. They know me, they like me, they leave me alone. Or so I thought. Tonight one of the waiters was on a drinking streak. And that apparently involved me dancing with him. Not once. Not twice. But to every song. Along with telling me what a nice and goodlooking person I am. Repeatedly. I may have to find another place...

Lunch in Barcelona

Yum! One of the (few) things I miss...

Inside out

Raclette-girl was staying overnight here on Friday, so had to make up the guest bed. Used the sheets in the guest room drawer, and found them folded inside out by ex-flatmate. "Who in their right mind folds sheets inside out?" I said. "We do that in Switzerland", was the answer. Oops. But why?

Ripped underwear

Once in a while I pick up a pair of underwear being a bit on the dodgy side, you know ripped and not really the sexy ones I deserve. Besides, I can actually afford to buy and wear fresh underwear. So I usually decide to wear them just this once more and then throw them in the trash. But every time I forget, and when I wash the next time, then they appear again. And I think, it's a shame to throw away clean ones even if they are a bit ripped so I wear them once again. I tell ya, it's a vicious circle.

Letter to Santa?

C-permit

When getting back from Barcelona I had a large stack of envelopes waiting for me. Mostly bills, but also my C-permit. Finally! Only I don't get what the difference is from the B-permit I had which was valid for 5 years. I thought a C-permit was permanent, and that I wouldn't have to renew it. Wrong. Says on the new permit that "kontrollfrist" is in 5 years. Means I will have to go through that painful exercise with getting all the documents from the police, the "kreisburo" and whatsit. Ah well, 5 years is a long time... PS. Ze Swiss are not a trusting bunch. Especially towards us foreigners. It just doesn't matter how good and trustworthy you are, they don't believe you. And I doubt they ever will...

Itchy breasts

Running out of clean underwear I took a bra on this morning that I normally don't use. And I had forgotten why. It makes my breasts itch. It must look really funny when somebody tries to scratch their breasts in public, and at the same time not showing it. Had to get another envelope from the post office (and friggin yes, it was another raise of the rent!...next time I will refuse to pick it up) and of course it was a long line. Very uncomfortable with itchy breasts I tell you. Wanted to rip the damn thing off, but realized it would have caused some commotion...

Another one converted

Remember raclette-girl out in the woods? She was in town yesterday, and joined me for a small party. And of course we ended up you-know-where. And she enjoyed it. How many times do I need to tell you. That place is fun! However, for the first time in a long time I was a tad hungover this morning. But a shower and a short walk back from Coop in the very crisp Swiss air made wonders. I feel ok now.

Smart

Lotsa Swiss things in Barcelona like a smart car. Love the way you're allowed to eat and drink in the car, but not smoke...

PS. Notice Mediamarkt in the background...

Happy holidays

And now all the Christmas messages are starting dropping in...

500 Internal Server Error

Just got this error message. Somebody must be joking with me... 500 Internal Server Error Sorry, something went wrong.A team of highly trained monkeys has been dispatched to deal with this situation. Please report this incident to customer service.Also, please include the following information in your error report:htOUWRw2ywUMISyLnT4EoLoFYxOJNHT3jf0Ompq-iJA2-QBrkxNGJoHw-QjV hQ4sh0LhGzQZV18UfDz2Xu5gT9v-7HWpKKc6SmscJZ3Lv-O6vVQ_ANAGU01v OMeVvNsjPEfW5P53Bt4mrJN8vXnuXk6t0Q26lKMHukZPtlHRHpOvdyvuFX56 DRYnWt92bi4NgXXPqvsGJWCs4nQHdPqpe9qozfmS0DeyoWOwkBH-lgVZJEy2 6MDlVpyCBjk-CMN5xdwzCYGnZ9jwst49-VhN8oTczA29m_jB5QwOMSv4lFML J_9S6tAC5iHwyp9kp315rKs23Gtqp2olMfPVet37o47x4ANrLwOnJAp7KIsy _SSvq_Yoo-aoHdWKhXjOs8WfCwH0G6fmOKHALFVeiExVmuS2u6y3zlLgNJ8U pCGbmK22_GV0Qj9RmbVXOQ9yEOzV8ebIwk1YaxKivNTvQQap93uB_3G3zSjA 1OQyfpiOngFEd9JghdOZN4uxIIyfDheIt9InWu89UBNmmRWV4klWRieYE4o4 hcfhyM6SqTz0SGVCGzRPFVSrs0F3L5HNEnq-qwUOYkPPbSK8pfe-1ijfo8v2 l5HDAgHOB3XZEYifaop3pONcPfh9UgDOfCkoUMmCbqKnCNMRIIKqFxWkKx2W 8JKHfYX2oin-B92Cs8_voVcKJXPkh--6o_6EhCMqIJ5uyTSUllVySh3u7bPK 9Lis9Ro46JxpD93u-VRYYurSIwk4_38ePwF8nWiKTQqgiGBZ6lPXQjohABSC 5ykvM3OoVS8BBAjrn5JwuFgzt6snjoKjF_KYV3GI260CdT6WK_JXl0ANIJvS 3aEjUPVzOzAKQYo_EHb_kPpFGthDuzkaSKrx1Yys9g-3rTDLgHF1rVAZTqTT 6DAAvQ_8lersejkR2MwFuAh55W52bHdqjiQNbPCiMpo9iOaeFVbKaomyun9X aQwF9P82tn4tdO207tTteg==

Opinions

Love the previous link where the guy says "women don't want a man's opinion. They want their own opinion in a deeper voice". Haha! Brilliant! And oh, so right.

Europe is one country...or?

The American education system might need some improvement... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lmgNqFuXwc

I am home

First ex showed up to cook dinner for me (well, that didn't exactly happen due to Peru circumstances), then friendgirl sms'd to say she's on for a Barcelona-update. Then another friendgirl said she would pick me up to go to my usual place, where I met some other people I know. Gosh is it good to be home! What was I thinking taking on an assignment for three weeks without being able to go home in between! Guess I've been out of "ze-business" for too long. I promise you. Will never happen again. I looove Zürich. This is my place. And don't anybody try and take it away from me again!

Forbid kids

The flight back was quite uneventful and on time. Would've been great, if it wasn't for this friggin kid (or perhaps I should say friggin parents) who couldn't stop squealing and screaming. People who cannot control their kids shouldn't be flying. It annoyed many people around. And all I could do was shooting them black looks. If they indeed really have to travel then make sure the kid sleeps, feed it so that it doesn't cry of hunger, do something for gods sake! I would pay extra flying on a plane with no kids.

From 17 to 4 to...13,8

Back home! I am so happy. Left a 17° Barcelona for a 4° Zürich and I was still happy. It felt so familiar to hear German! I thought I'd never say that. Then I got home to be met by 13,8°. Indoors! Yes, I did switch off the heating when I left, but I kinda hoped that somebody taking care of my flat (3 people have keys) would have perhaps thought of switching it on... Ah well, I just have to wear my new cool Barcelona-slippers, and sleep with a sweater. No biggie. My own bed! But first, perhaps a little visit to my place to say hello :)

Christmas present

10.12.2007 21:11 Somebody had this stupid idea of “let’s all team up for Christmas lunch and buy presents”. And equally stupid I signed up for this idea of picking a note with a name of one in the group, ending up having to buy a present for somebody I really do not know. What was I thinking? Another somebody I know said “it’s easy. It’s a guy. Just buy a Playboy magazine and a box of tissues”. Which indeed is an idea that appeals to me. Only I just don’t know this guy at all. But I did pick up on the theme. So tonight when I was shopping in “Al Campo” for the last time I passed the household area and spotted this very Spanish carafe/flask, you know the one with the pour-thing that pokes out of the actual bottle. And an ashtray. I know for a fact that this guy doesn’t smoke. So the message to him will be: you should drink some more. You should smoke at least some. And then when back in Zürich I will buy a pack of condoms. I just wanted to avoid being known around here as “remember that blond woman who wanted to buy condoms?”. If I had known what the word condom is in Spanish no problem, but I really didn’t want to demonstrate… Think he will appreciate the gift? He’s German and doesn’t appear to have a sense of humour. This can be really ugly…

CNN strikes again

10.12.2007 20:05 Quote from CNN “and there is this country with 2 million people and everybody knows each other”. HAHAHAHA! I want to ask these people, “do you know 2 million people?”. I have a quite big circle of friends and acquaintances, but 2 million? Hello…

Calamares

10.12.2007 19:03 One of my favourite dishes here is calamares (octopus or whatever it is in English). I know, it’s tacky and common and touristy but I love it. And I’ve seen lotsa Spanish eat it, so maybe not so touristy. Bought a portion over the counter in the local supermarket here and nearly fainted when I saw the bill. 79 eurocents. Is that a steal or what? Mental note: must check if this is available in Zürich and what the cost might be.

Spanish service – an oxymoron?

10.12.2007 18:53 Like most places I’ve been to (with the possible exception of the US of A, but on the other hand you’re not expected to dish out 15-20% tip) the service leaves a tiny bit to be desired here. Yesterday I took a stroll on the beach (that sounds kinda cool doesn’t it? In December) to a place I spotted which serves paella for one. Normally you have to be two people to order this dish. So ordered a quite delicious mixed paella plate and a litre of Sangria. They first served me a bottle of water – agua minerale sin gas (see, I’m being half fluent already :) which I sent back. Then they had to come back to confirm that the whole litre of Sangria was just for me. But hey! Half the carafe consists of ice, and the other half of fruit. Very little drink. And guess what? The agua ended up on my bill. Which I tried to pay with several times, and ended up having to go to the counter with. Needless to say I didn’t leave even a small tip.

For security reasons not happen

10.12.2007 18:46 Sometimes you have to laugh about the darling Spanish (yes, some of them are pretty nice actually). Around where I am there is some maintenance going on, so a poster was placed to warn people, along with plastic tape sealing off the area. It was announced in what I believe to be Catalonian and “proper” Spanish, with somebody who tried to translate into English. It turned out to be “For security reasons not happen”. I do understand what they’re trying to say, but it sounds funny, doesn’t it?

Thank you for your hostility

10.12.2007 18:43 It’s easy to exchange one word for the other on an evening when I’m leaving, and got stood up by the people who were supposed to meet up with me for a farewell drink. I hate to leave on a fuck you Barcelona note and I seriously do not believe that I should. I’m just pissed off right now, when all I wanted was to be pissed…

Hasta la vista baby

Well, in an hour or so I'm taking a few people out that I've gotten to know here. We will be visiting some bar with a tropical rain forest theme (!) near the wax cabinet...who knew they had one here? I plan on being thoroughly drunk here my last night in Barcelona, since I have been behaving far too much...how the heck did that happen? I best go back to Zürich and misbehave again!

Stint almost over

Tomorrow it's time to pack up and go home. I have missed Zürich! Even though there are positive factors like the weather, the food and the sites, it's just not home here in Barcelona. I shall bring fond memories though. And I'll miss the calamares...

Paranoid

05.12.2007 20:12 Think I might have gone a bit paranoid here, hearing so much about pickpockets and their strategies. Tonight when coming home I had this guy walking behind me. That alone is scary. So pretended to look in a shop window. He continued to walk, but was turning around as if to see if I was following. I did, but with several stops along the way. He continued to walk in my direction. Finally he crossed the street towards the shopping mall. So either he realized I was on to him, or I am getting paranoid. I ain’t no victim, and don’t intend to be! PS. The woman who got robbed got back to Switzerland all right with her temporary UK passport. Apparently they are used to passports being nicked in Spain...

Scam

05.12.2007 19:39 It is hard to believe that people would fall for this shit http://www.leveluplife.dk/bootcamp/ but they are. Heard about it from an acquaintance of mine. His brother is going to attend next time they appear in Zürich. And listen to this! They charge 600 euros for the course! To learn about how to chat up women! I lack words… PS. All they gotta do is to go to my usual place…lots of chatting up going on there!

No towels

05.12.2007 19:35 Is there no end to the flat problems? Got home today and found that the cleaning service had been around. Only, they took the dirty towels and didn’t leave any new ones. Fortunately there is a tiny hand towel that I was using that’s still here. Guess I will have to use that one tomorrow. To add insult to injury tomorrow is a bank holiday here in Catalonia (all of Spain?) and the agent handling my flat will be closed, as will the shops I imagine.

Sms from home

04.12.2007 21:56 My fav place at home is missing me. Tuesday is my going-out-almost-in-the-middle-of-week day. And they haven’t forgotten me. That is good to know. In a week I’ll be there. I can see it happening already. Landing in the evening. Going home, hoping that the ex has switched on the heating (it was about 16° indoors when I left having switched off all the radiators!) and dump my bags. Then off to my fav place to say hello and have a few drinks, celebrating “I’m home”. Can’t wait!

Waste

04.12.2007 21:43 Guess I’m triggered by this friggin CNN, but as is well known the global warming is a big issue on the political agenda these days. It’s like it’s a new thing to the Americans (and I guess it is) that waste is causing problems. I find it an oxymoron that Americans only now have found out, but I guess better late than never. The fact that not having a car, using public transportation, energy-saving activities at home like using good-for-the-environment-lamps, not have excessive heating on, always switch off lights in the rooms you’re not using, not having the tv on when nobody’s watching, not flushing the water to wait for cold or warm (ok with the exception here in Barcelona when waiting for the warm shower water), and all those other little things you can do as a citizen helps the environment. I find it common sense. Guess it’s my upbringing. But it seems to be a steep learning curve for many…

Slippers

04.12.2007 21:30 Finally got myself a new pair of slippers to accommodate the stone-cold (literally!) floors in my flat here. They are not bad actually. Pics of all Barcelona adventures including precious new slippers will be posted next week when I’m back. This time I got more modest ones, not fluffy, no flashing colours, pretty ordinary as a matter of fact. Perhaps it displays how I feel here :) But they serve the purpose. Preventing my previous little feet (foot fetishist should be happy!) from freezing. Functional I think is the word.

CNN

04.12.2007 21:21 As much as I detest this tv channel I must admit I do enjoy that commercial with George Clooney and the “Nespresso”. He is seriously cute. A man in my taste. And yes, I know, meeting him would not be the same, but a woman can dream ok? But the issue of the day seems to be this woman in Sudan, a teacher who allowed the class to name a teddybear Muhammed. And this caused a scandal amongst the muslims of gargantuan proportions. Excusez-moi? What is your fuckin’ problem? No sense of humour, no sense of proportion, no what-is-really-serious type of sense. It’s a friggin teddybear for gods sake. Or should I say for muhammeds sake :) These fundamentalists I will never understand…

Diet

04.12.2007 20:52 A good idea would be to stop talking about diet on this blog. This I discovered after meeting some people who I do not see very often, commenting something like “I know from your blog you went on a diet, but I don’t see a difference” kinda remarks. Oh gee, thanks. Seriously, I did lose quite a bit of weight for the summer and the boat season, but hey. Then came autumn and things changed. I re-discovered Häaegen-Dasz and stopped moving about so much. I gained again. Big surprise. But after this stint here in Barcelona with all the so-lovely-you-cannot-resist food I really have to think about it. Perhaps after Christmas I will be serious… PS. Yesterday lunch was in a Japanese(!) place with a 4-course-lunch and today in a local Spanish place with only 2 courses (I got told off by the staff for leaving something on my plate. “We don’t leave food here in Spain!” “Would you like a shot of brandy?”. This at about 2.30pm. Hmm I don’t think so, even though it was tempting :)).

Homesick

04.12.2007 20:44 Am actually starting to feel a bit homesick, almost doing the countdown until I can go home. Next Tuesday evening I’ll be back in my beloved Zürich. Three weeks is a long time being away from home. And perhaps it is like the guidebook says, people are not exactly outgoing and friendly here. Or perhaps it’s because I mix too much with international people, rather than the locals? Heck if I know. Of course, it could also be that I’m less inclined to go out and try. Feel after all my moves that I deserve an easier life with familiar places and people around me. Ah Gad, am I getting old? The horror… PS. And Aussie girl, before you have a witty remark, try moving as much as I have on your own…but then again, don’t let me stop you from challenging me…;)

Entertainment options

03.12.2007 19:36 You would think in a city like Barcelona that there would be many options for entertainment. And I guess there are. They are just not around where I live. In the summertime this place would be great, with the beach 5 min walk. But now? It’s a monster shopping mall, hotels and offices. Not much of a going-out-close-to-where-you-live-kinda-place. This is the time when I miss Zürich. Just hop on a bus, be in the city in 5 minutes. Great! Now I cannot be bothered to dress, go out, take a taxi to go into town. So I’m stuck with CNN (yeah, that’s how bored I am today!). That channel should be forbidden, more commercials than news, that irritating news banner on the bottom of the screen, and the screaming fast-talking Americans. And hey, I could switch it off! Anyway, it’s probably more me than the city. It’s there and it’s pulsating. Just not with me in it. Tonight.

Pata negra

03.12.2007 19:27 Bro sent an sms (why is it that it sounds better to say/write an sms than a sms?) saying he wanted some pata negra when arriving in Barcelona. I reckoned it was a drink (who wouldn’t?). Turns out it’s ham. Ham from pigs who solely eat acorns. How very weird. And what a boring diet. But ok, the ham is fantastic. Melting in the mouth. Often served as a tapa in very thin slices. You learn something new every day.

Barca

02.12.2007 22:32 We also passed the sports stadium that can take 100,000 spectators. Wow! That’s really big. Football club Barcelona, affectionately called Barca, is the biggest team. In the evening I learned that there is also another team (called ESP I think, but who cares?) when we had some tapas at the local restaurant next door. They unfortunately had a big-screen tv with sports on. At ten the local boys came around, sat down and started screaming “BARCA, BARCA, BARCA”. Think Bro was tempted to stay, but I felt really out of place so we left…

Gaudi

02.12.2007 22:26 Gaudi is a popular guy in Barcelona. The fact that he’s long dead doesn’t seem to put a damper on the fascination. But gotta admit, he’s done some real good stuff. Took one of these tourists buses, sitting upstairs, hair flowing and enjoying the sights yesterday. He’s done for example Sagrada Familia which is a church that they started to build more than 100 years ago, and are still building. All construction work is based on private funding, so unless they get money nothing gets done. It’s got I think four towers that are 100 meters, and they are planning more with the top one to be 170 meters. Pretty cool as far as buildings go. He’s done more than that. The city is full of Gaudi buildings and a park. He certainly was a visionary guy. Never married. Should we guess that he was gay? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudi

Warmer

02.12.2007 22:24 Kinda amazing to be able to sit on the beach in the sun, reading a book in December. Mind you, I did have shorts and a sweater over my bikini top, but still. There are times when life in Barcelona beats life in Zürich. At least in December…

Freezer

02.12.2007 22:22 Guests last week brought icecream. Which is fine, especially since it was mango. My favourite fruit. But they complained about the freezer, that it was filled with ice and could hardly be opened. Excuse me for moving in to a temporary flat, and not immediately defrost the freezer!

Don’t do today what you can push till tomorrow

30.11.2007 18:24 I cannot friggin believe it! Did the dishes. Half an hour later the doorbell rings. It’s yet another little Spanish man who comes to deliver my repaired dishwasher. If I had only waited, I wouldn’t have to have done it at all! I shall keep this in mind…

Sweet little lady/-ies

30.11.2007 17:35 When I had lunch in las Ramblas last Sunday we were sitting next to this little old lady who looked like she’d been frequenting the place since it was opened, she must’ve been 90 at least. Yet clad in nice modern clothes and with a smile on her face. She enjoyed her food alone, and then rose to leave. At first I didn’t realize she was standing up, so bent was her back. She had real trouble getting her coat on, so I helped her. She was so grateful she kissed my hand! What a sweet old little lady (she was like a meter tall standing up!). Today I was in a bar waiting for them to make me a sandwich (oh, the bread here is absolutely delicious…crispy and fresh) when I saw this I guess other little lady with the same body-frame. Do they have many of these elderly that walk bent-over? Or was it the same?

Stealing bastards

30.11.2007 17:27 One of my acquaintances here had an incident this morning checking out of her hotel. Leaving her handbag unattended for a short while led to it disappearing. EVERYTHING stolen, new ipod, fairly new camera, travel- and credit cards, passport, keys, cash, her lipstick mind you and all that makes up a woman. If that happened to me I would feel like I lost a limb. She spent half the day in the police station and at the consulate getting a temporary passport granting her access to the UK (she’s a UK citizen) but not to Switzerland, which is where she was due to fly today. Poor thing! I guess the people who warned me about not bringing too many valuables to Barcelona were right. Am going out in the city tonight bringing no handbag, just a little cash (hang on, Bro is coming with, he can pay!), my lipstick (obviously!), cig and the key.

The aftermath

30.11.2007 17:19 Dinner went very well after all. It went like this. I came home, greeting little Bro who’s visiting. We cracked open a bottle of wine and sat down to catch up. An hour later the guests arrived, and the one particular with food was promptly shown to the kitchen. Amazingly enough about 1,5 hour later we had a delicious meal, consisting of tex-mex-chips with salsa, guacamole, beans and cheese, tortillas and lots of other delicacies. And I had to do nothing! Isn’t it great to invite people, and then end up being served in your own home? Well, ok then, temporary apartment but still. The only downside coming home today was that the dishwasher still was awol and is hopefully being repaired. It was supposed to be back yesterday. Ah well, that famous business acumen of the Barcelonans… So now I have to go do the dishes! Do I seem like a person who does dishes? This better be an exception to the rule…

Dinner party

28.11.2007 20:24 Not quite sure how it happened but I have invited 4 people for dinner tomorrow. It seemed like a good idea yesterday after all that wine… One of the guests is very particular with food. “I eat no meat, no cheese”. And then she proceeded to give me advise on what to cook “not that you have to, it’s your dinner party” but after repeating that a couple of times I felt the pressure. Well, she gave me a list of groceries to shop. And it was very specific. Like cheddar cheese. Took me a good 15 minutes to locate that particular sort. The sour cream I finally found after consulting an English-speaking family with a phrase book. Not that sour cream was listed, but with two clever heads we figured out where it was. Jalapenos were another tricky thing to find, and one of the spices I gave up on. Now I have gorilla arms after carrying all that stuff home…

Other people

27.11.2007 21:28 Ended up in a bar this evening with an acquaintance dissecting other people. It was fun and pleasurable. What do you think of x? And what do you think of y? It’s funny after a bottle (an acquired taste, but for 7,50 EUR a bottle who cares?) of Spanish vino how insightful you get about others…present company always excluded of course. Everybody else is difficult, moody, too German, not enough of this or that, strange, not qualified, loud, “if I was in charge I would fire him”, or just not “like us”. Love it. Trashing other people is good. Especially if you know that they will do the same about you…

Flat problems

27.11.2007 21:42 With the help of my kind Spanish friend we contacted the agency again. Yesterday I was waiting, waiting, waiting and nobody ever showed up to repair my air condition system. Today they said that it was being repaired. So just coming home now I’m taking the chance and switching on the heating. Had enough of freezing. There is only so much a Scandinavian woman can take about temperature. After all, there was a reason for moving…

Business acumen

26.11.2007 19:19 Where’s the business acumen when I need it the most? Had a friend call the agency today to arrange for the repair of the air conditioner and the dish-washer. They rang back to say between 18.00-18.30 this evening. Here I am at 19:20 still waiting…I’m hungry and want to make dinner but I don’t want to eat in the middle of them arriving. Somebody has indeed been in my flat though and switched on the dish-washer which is now since more than an hour just staying at the same place making the same noise. Told’m it wasn’t working. They thought I didn’t understand how to operate a dish-washer. Well, guess I will keep on waiting for that business acumen and timeliness the guidebook so proudly stated!

Domestic problems

25.11.2007 21:22 Is it normal to have a dishwasher running for 7 hours? I switched it on about an hour before I left, thinking it was strange that it wasn’t finished. But ok. So left, and when I came back just now it was still running. I don’t think it’s normal. Another thing to bring up with the agency tomorrow…

Downtown

25.11.2007 21:16 Las Ramblas. What can I say? A touristy place that sells pictures, paintings, calendars, have these people who look like statues with paint, pickpockets, prostitutes, normal people, a mix of everything. We ended up in the “second oldest restaurant in Spain”, from 1786 or similar. It was nice. I was planning to have cannelloni with spinach, but they wouldn’t take my order unless I ordered a main course too. So “wild boar with chocolate sauce” it was. Yes, it was nice. Ish. Just far too much. I wonder how you can make an order just for once course in Spain? I have yet to find out…

Now and then

25.11.2007 21:10 The first time I was in Spain I was 16 or thereabouts. Spain was very different back then. For once they had toilet paper of the quality that didn’t suck up anything liquid whatsoever. The fact that they had “standing toilets” I refrain from mentioning, the ones that had one hole that you had stand over and do your business. Mind you, both No 1 and No 2. See? I didn’t mention it :) Now, they have gone the other way around. Now they have 1. real water closets and 2. toilet paper. Toilet paper that is so soft is dissolves once it gets into contact with anything wet. Like pee. I have to spend a lot of time picking little pieces of toilet paper out of my you-know-what. Not pleasant. Just thought you’d like to know.

Rambling

25.11.2007 13:11 Am going to something called Las Ramblas this afternoon. It’s supposed to be some hip place next to the sea with lots of little bars and restaurants. Sounds like a place for me.

Neighbourhood

24.11.2007 19:38 Went discovering the neighbourhood today. It’s 5 minutes walk to the Mediterranean sea, and the beach is great once you get there. A little bit too many skyscrapers and too much cement on the way though. Great waves, but it’s a bit too chilly to swim. I also have what must be one of the biggest malls next-door. One of those that has many entrances, and I always seem to manage to get out another one than the one I came in. No sense of direction whatsoever. I should be an actress in Lost. Was trying to locate a pair of slippers, since now when I cannot use the air condition to get heating the floors are a bit cold. Had to give up though. Too many shops, too many people. And they all speak very loudly in Catalonian/Spanish. Which I guess is normal considering the country I’m in…

How low can you go?

24.11.2007 19:35 So was running a washing machine yesterday evening, and today it was dry enough to iron. Discovered that Spain must be populated with pygmies, since I almost had to stand on my knees over the ironing board, alternatively bend over like a 90-year old woman with back problems.

Neighbourly

24.11.2007 11:14 Unexpectedly my door rang. It was angry neighbour telling me that my air condition leaks into his flat and that his wall is wet. This is apparently all my fault, and he really hopes I have insurance because this is gonna cost. Oh dear. When he had to breathe in I took the opportunity of telling him that I have been here 4 days and that I had no idea. It took some time before this sunk in, but then he apologized. Guess I’ve got to talk to the agency on Monday…

The guidebook

24.11.2007 10:30 Eventually I got the city guide to Barcelona. I didn’t buy one (cheapo me) but was promised to borrow one. It says amongst other things that “Catalans in general, and Barcelonans in particular, are famed for their business acumen, their passion for work and their economic ability. In southern Spain they are seen as cold, tight-fisted and work-obsessed”. “The standard of living is high, but it has to be paid for, and the work ethic is especially noticeable if you come here from elsewhere in Spain”. Hmm. Perhaps I should’ve gone to another part of Spain? “Efficiency, punctuality (!) and deeply serious reliability are of the essence. Barcelona works VERY hard.” Hmm again. Hmm because that’s what I was told in Zurich when I moved there. To me, the “Zurichans” are just the same as everywhere else. Does that mean “Barcelonans” are too? Probably. After all, I’m reading out of a tourist guide, trying to attract tourists=money. Me cynical? Of course. I also read somewhere in the guide book (cannot find the passage any more so no quotation) that Barcelonans are introvert, cold and difficult to get to know. Hello Switzerland! I should feel right at home. But maybe it’s like it’s said: “better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t”. Do I miss Zürich? Yes a bit, but since I know there is the light in the end of the tunnel (and it’s not a train!) I like being here. It’s a change. And I get to know a new city in another country. How bad can it be?

Euroland

23.11.2007 20:58 Bro is coming to visit next weekend. I was almost sending him an email to say “you don’t have to exchange money, I have enough euros” until I realized that he lives in lovely euroland too. Yes, I know the reason why Switzerland don’t, and I appreciate those, but heck, it would be so much easier. It just seems that I happen to always visit the countries where euros are not much appreciated. Like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England and the US. While I can understand why the US do not join euroland (think the answer lies in the name here :) I cannot accept that the stupid Nordic countries and the United Kingdom think they are something special. UK even insists on doing the miles, the pint (ok, that one I can accept), the pounds and the ounces, driving on the wrong side of the road etc etc. Nobody is special today. Cooperation is the name of the game to survival these days. Not sure that Darwin picked up on that, but then again he did live quite a few years ago. And nobody is perfect…

Friday night

23.11.2007 20:51 Ok, so now it’s almost time to go out. No food will be served before 9pm. In the meantime I had to drink to put a damper to my hunger (followed the Catalonian (see, I’m getting used already to not saying Spanish!) rule of having just a sandwich for lunch). But what a sandwich! Crispy bread, air-dried “jambon” and a lovely cheese. With a Coke. I know. Shouldn’t but did. Look forward to a few tapas. Is it very tacky to order Sangria? Heck, I’m a tourist here, and they are very friendly. After all, I’m sitting on the $. Or in my case CHF’s…frankly, I don’t think they care. Any money is good money. As long as it’s euros. Did you follow?

Lischping

23.11.2007 20:21 It would certainly help to have a speech impediment if you want to try out speaking Spanish. They don’t do s’s here. S becomes ‘th’ in Spain. Or should I say Catalonia? Because the animosity between Catalonia and the rest of Spain is about the same the dislike between ze Swiss and ze Germans. Cerveza which in most languages would be pronounced “servesa” is here “thervetha”. And in case you’re stupid or haven’t ever travelled cerveza means beer. Gracias means thank you. Or should I say “grathiath”? And here is me still trying out my German whenever I can, having gotten to the stage where I can use the “z”. Now all of a sudden I’ve gotta learn “th”. Why is it that I always feel I have a steep learning curve? When can I ever sit back and relax and say “I’ve learned enough in my life”? Never (no s’s in that word :) is probably the answer…

Drinks

23.11.2007 20:15 I couldn’t help but reflecting how cheap things are here. I was in Stockholm last weekend and paid the equivalent of around 45 euros for 4 drinks incl tip (2 strawberry daiquiris, one vodka drink and one beer). This evening we paid 7 euros for 3 drinks (1 gin&tonic, 2 beers) also incl tip. So ok, the drinks in Stockholm were more fancy, but still. The difference is not corresponding to the income levels. But I happen to know that everybody, absolutely everybody, in Sweden cheat on their taxes because the tax percentages are far too high. You wonder why? Of course it is to be able to afford the drinks…

The little things

23.11.2007 19:59 There are a couple of things I miss not being a home. Apart from friends and all that social life going on of course. Like living in this flat, not having a bedside lamp. Which means the light in the bedroom is not good enough for reading. The fact that I can wash my clothes having a washing machine, but nowhere to hang it to dry (solved by using hangers hanging on door knobs, socks and underwear on the bath tub, and various items on any hanging device I could find). I actually got the agency to get me an iron, there was an ironing board in the flat but no iron. Stolen by previous tenant? No music. Only CNN and Eurosport in English. Which means the TV might as well not be here, I just don’t use it (unless I’m lucky enough to find some music on the telly). The fact that the living room has only windows, so that I feel I’m on display every time I lie on the sofa. But apart from these little things everything is dandy…perhaps apart from being alone in a city I do not know with no plans for the weekend. But hey, somebody gave me a city guide! PS. Seriously, I don’t feel sorry for myself. I will go out tonight and explore the surroundings where I live. And it certainly could be worse than living 10 min walk from the Mediterranean Sea.

Working life

23.11.2007 19:42 This is nothing I have much experience of but I met a person today who works here. This is how a working week can be in Barcelona. Monday-Thursday: 9am-ish people stroll in. 11 o’clock it’s time for a half-hour long coffee break, usually at a nearby bar/coffee-place. 2 pm-ish it’s time for lunch. As you know from previous blog item this lasts around 1,5 hours and is very pleasant. And very loud. This should really appeal to me since I’m a loud person myself, but you don’t exactly get any brain rest. 3.30 pm-ish it’s time to go back to work. Which lasts until all hours. At 7pm you can still see lots of people in the office. So it’s not like they do not do their fair share of work, it’s just done different hours than I’m used to. Friday: big breakfast in the morning, appearing in the office around 9 as usual. Coffee break maybe, but not necessarily. Then around 3pm the office is empty. Lunch is skipped. It’s time to travel home for the weekend, or just take off early after a busy week. Me kinda likey. It’s not a bad usage of time. Just different to what I’m used to. Especially when I heard that the Friday routine is adopted three months over the summer. So that people can enjoy life. There is definitely something for ze Swiss (and the rest of Europe for that matter) to learn here…

Nonsense

22.11.2007 21:03 As far as I know Spain has adopted the non-smoking policy in restaurants and bars. Lucky for me it seems like this message hasn’t filtered through to the owners of these establishments. Here they happily ignore this nonsense-rule and smoke on. Barcelona rocks!

Lunch the Spanish way

22.11.2007 20:10 Talking about food. Lunches here are great but takes a bit to get used to. First of all no restaurant serves any lunch food before 1pm. I’m almost dying of hunger at 12. More common is to eat around 2 pm. Many little cafés and restaurants serve an excellent lunch with three courses for next to nothing. Yesterday I had creamy mushroom soup as starter and a grilled fresh fish for main. No way I could eat dessert. Couple of beers with it. Bill? 9,50 euros. Today I had paella as starter, which shocked the hell out of me since it was a huge plate. Then a thin steak covering most of the plate with salad. Had to skip dessert today too. A beer with that. Bill was 12 euros incl tip. Lunch lasts usually around 1,5 hours. I tell ya. I can really get used to this. But I will have to develop a faster metabolism. A month here, and I will look “different” coming back!

Meeting the “local”

22.11.2007 20:02 In the evening I was meeting up with somebody I will see quite often here in Barcelona. Thing is, she’s not Spanish, she’s English! So much for the local connection. Mind you, she has lived here for a year or so, so she knows more about the place than I do. Not difficult actually, since I never set foot in Barcelona before. When shopping I was obviously thinking about this, so I got a bottle of something reddish, fizzy in a nice bottle. Thought we could have a drink when she arrived, and get to know each other a little informally since we’ve only spoken on the phone before. Turned out that she only wanted water! And I even asked twice! Oh dear. This ain’t gonna be fun I thought. But first impressions can obviously be deceiving. And I should’ve remembered the English’s way of being shy and avoiding, having to be convinced. She told me later that I should’ve tried harder :) We later had an excellent dinner in town. Tapas and red wine. They recommended 3 plates with tapas per person, but I think that is only if you haven’t eaten for 3 weeks and work in construction. Because it also comes with a delicious tomato bread and other paraphernalia. Had to leave almost half of the food, which really hurt. It was too good. And things I hadn’t tried before like grilled/marinated little peppers, roasted artichoke, a dish with eggs and shrimp, the fried squid of course and more. And a really tasty red wine (not too expensive either) which neither of us can remember the name of…guess we have to go back and find out.

Shopping experience

22.11.2007 19:52 Then of course I had to go shopping, since the apartment was stripped. There was no toilet paper, no nothing in the fridge. Guess that wasn’t part of the service. Had forgotten what it’s like to food shop in a foreign country not knowing the language. And on top of that I must’ve found the biggest supermarket in Barcelona. Row after row after row of groceries of all kinds. Felt like doing a Borat, the scene when he grabs a shop assistant and points to a package asking “wat is dis?” and the assistant answers “cheese”. About 76 times. Imagine the time it takes to shop when you know the names of “cerveza” (which I anyway didn’t want to buy), “vino” and yeah, I guess that’s about it. But I managed to get some olives, ham, bread, cheese and milk. Do you have any idea of how many milk sorts that is available on the Spanish market? And all I wanted was normal milk to have in my coffee. Which turned out to be powder cappuccino in the end, since I hadn’t seen a coffee-maker in the flat. I also got some salt and pepper (“pimiento blanca molida” – who would’ve known?). Guess I was thinking that I would cook one evening. HAHAHAHA!

Barcelona – here I come

22.11.2007 19:41 Well, it’s gonna be like this for a little while now. I blog when I have time offline, and then I post it in lumps whenever I get a chance. So you see, no use in avoiding the blog…there might be something there! Life in Barcelona is, hmmm, different. In many ways actually. First of all I haven’t spent much time abroad since I moved to Zürich more than 5 years ago, just a week here and there. So all my foreign experience had gotten a bit rusty. When I arrived here on Tuesday afternoon I went straight to the agency which held the key for my apartment (the one you saw pics of earlier). Only at three in the afternoon they were out. There was a sign on the door I couldn’t quite interpret, but I guess it said something like “gone for lunch, customers not welcome for the moment” or something like that. In Australia it would have said “gone walkabout”. But I’m not a difficult person, so I sat down at on outdoor (!) café and had a cerveza. Some words you never forget :) Well, half an hour later they came back, all three of them. One of them spoke a little English. Hurray! So we walked to my flat, I inspected it and that was that. It is very spartan but I like it. Two bedrooms (questionable beds though but I’ve been so exhausted since coming here, I slept like a log anyway), bathroom (obviously), kitchen and a living room. The living room is a bit funny though with balcony doors which are windows floor-to-ceiling opening up to a terrace. When I sit on the sofa it feels like I sit on display since there are many tall buildings around. I’m on the 9th floor. If I lean stand at the right angle I can actually see the ocean! I wonder how life in Zürich is?

Life in Barcelona

Hola! Well, here's where I am right now. Been a bit busy, so have ignored the blog for a coupla days. There is much to say, and I'll be documenting some of it later today. Unfortunately I do not have computer access in the evenings (more time for me to explore here :)...but will write offline and post tomorrow. Adios for now...

Drunk as a skunk

So again, why change a winning concept? Must admit, am a friend of the skunk for the moment. And ran into a taxi driver who apparently drove me home 3 weeks ago. I have no idea, but he told me so and when he said he was from Brazil it rang a bell. However, I don't think we'll be close friends since he thought I was from Finland...

Swisscom

Coincidence? I think not. Remember I complained being harassed by somebody calling me every day? I googled the number and came up with Bluewin (owned by Swisscom). So like I guessed it was telemarketing. Then I wrote that email to Swisscom, asking for the number and complained about harassment, resulting in getting a letter today. Would you like to refrain from receiving promotional offers from Swisscom fixnet? Yes please. All I had to do was to sign a paper and send it in. Mind you, it's only for Swisscom fixnet and it'll take them 6-8 weeks to delete my name and number from their registers. And here was I thinking they had computers...

A tad busy

There is a definite downside with travelling frequently. You have to wash, iron and fix things in between. And then there is the packing. I hate that. I should actually be doing it right now, since I'm flying tomorrow and I have to go out tonight. Will be missing my Tuesday-night-out tomorrow, so plan b is to do it tonight. Because missing it is just not an option. But hey! Plenty of time tomorrow morning, right? And big suitcase is actually still in flat. FYI I couldn't be bothered to fetch the other one in the attic last week, so travelled with only a wheely bag. It was filled to the brim coming back, almost bursting open. Good thing it didn't since I had lotsa goodies in there.

Stockholm

Forgot to tell you I had a really nice evening Saturday in Stockholm city. We managed to fit in the following places: http://www.radissonsas.com/cs/Satellite/Page/RadissonSAS/Page/rsasHotelArticle/1053351782789/en/hotelCode--stozs/ - the sky bar at Royal Viking. Cafe Opera as you saw before. Sturehof http://www.stockholm-eating.com/15871.htm and finally for dinner: http://www.riche.se/en/ Haven't been in Stockholm for 3 years so had to fit in as many places as possible. Think I did a decent job!

So long suckers

Planning on leaving the country yet again for a while. This is where you'll find me tomorrow.

This is art!

This my friends is the best strawberry daiquiri I had in a long long time. Not that I actually had a strawberry daiquiri in a long time, but still. It was delish. Compliments to the bartender at Cafe Opera in Stockholm!

http://www.cafeopera.se/

This look like art to you?

When in Stockholm Saturday evening we passed "Plattan", a place downtown where mostly drug abusers hang around and where you can buy anything I've been told. Was informed that it was 55+ women who made art out of wood. However, when we were there we saw several pick-up vans buying the stuff. So much for art?

Booze

Just HAD to buy this one! Flashback 80's. Disco ball (which I actually still have :)...cool bottle, isn't it? Too bad I don't drink vodka. Any takers?

Shower curtain

I felt discriminated against when using the shower. Look at this curtain! They couldn't even fit Switzerland in!

Down under style

Familiar face who wanted to show off his new Aussie-hat. Hard to believe this guy is pushing 60, ain't it?

Irish treat

I brought chocolate (a must when coming from Switzerland) and Dublin boy brought this (I guess it's pretty cold in Ireland too).

Arrival

And so we arrived. Three people from three different countries, meeting up at Arlanda airport in Stockholm. One from Copenhagen, one from Dublin and then me from Zürich.

Apparently they sell identical bags in these countries...

"Rattmuff"

Sweden is also known as one of the coldest countries on earth (at least of those I've been to). Which is why my ride from the airport had this fluffy furcoated wheel in her car, so called rattmuff.

Mostly used by really old people though, since anybody cool wouldn't be seen ever driving with a "rattmuff"...

Observation of luggage belt

I tell ya. It was really difficult reaching for my bag, not stepping over the line :)

And this was in Stockholm, Sweden. A country which is even more rigid with rules than Switzerland. Imagine that!

Smoking lounge

Nice and clean it was too. Not like in England where they have filthy carpets in the smokers lounge!! And a view.

Welcome

Sometimes I just adore ze Swiss. At Zürich airport this announces the smoking lounge, instead of saying just "smoking allowed" or something lame like that. Here we smokers really feel comfortable.

Suitcase

Due to M's cleaning frenzy while living here, my suitcase has taken a trip to the attic. And I know, I was supposed to pack yesterday evening but hey, that's just not me. So now I'm gonna have to get it, pack and go. Which is "nicht lustig", since it is friggin SNOWING today in Zürich. Ah well, I'm going north anyway... PS. Winning concept worked yet again :)

4 years old

Sometimes I think I'll never get older than 4 years of age. I keep on doing this. Whenever I have an important meeting, or something that I should be fit for I go out. I party. I drink. I go too late to bed. But I kinda think it has worked for me so far, so why change a winning concept...;)

Mandela

I have yet to meet a person from South Africa who has respect for Nelson Mandela. Why is that? Too close to home, or is it that all of us having a great respect for him are wrong? Is perception everything? I'm beginning to think so. But how can a person who spent like 40 years in jail, then founded an organization who made South Africa a player in the world again be bad? South Africa is indeed not perfect, but on the way. I'm thinking Germany here. Germany incorporated East Germany like 20 years ago, and nowadays everybody just talks about Germany. There is no difference anymore. Mind you, I met a German the other day and he was pointing out that he was from Eastern Germany. He was like 9 years old when the wall disappeared. Why is that? Not sure where I'm going with this, but why is it so important where we come from? Why are people who stand out (like Mandela) not appreciated? Perhaps it's like me who comes from the north. I didn't like Abba when they first appeared on stage, but I do now...and yes I know, it's not exactly the same :)

Appetizer

Did I mention my ex has a sense of humour?

Temp

The reason why my cleaning girl will remain temporary :)

On the agenda

Interesting facts about a country I am currently interested in. Sex ratio: 15-64 years: 1.007 male(s)/female (the 7 are for me!) More import than export. 18 million telephone lines. A drug problem. Not too difficult to guess, is it?

Tomato soup and cleaning

Due to some scheduling issues, I am triple-booked this evening. Ok, that's exaggerated but it sounded so good :). Temp cleaning girl is finally showing up to help with the mess that's been accumulating since M left. Ex is (hopefully) showing up ready to make a tomato soup of the overflow from the balcony. And it's Tuesday, so I have to go out. Busy life. Me likey!

Man in skirt

Don't blame me for the bad quality of the pic, blame my telephone!

Private concert

And when I went home on the bus I had a private concert while waiting. In Zürich you never know what you'll come across...

11.11 11.11

I am a bad Swiss-wannabe. They are right in giving me a hard time for that C-permit thing. I had completely forgotten about the fasnacht. How could I? Slap me somebody! I just innocently went downtown tonight to have a quiet drink. I had so forgot about this Swiss party. Perhaps to my defense I have to say there are quite a few of them. But honestly, I should be able to keep track. Shame on me! On 11 November at 11.11 the party starts, and I was totally ignorant. What can I say? I will certainly try to better myself!

Chocolate

Since I'm off to see friends on Thursday I had to go shopping. For chocolate. It is really a must when you live in Switzerland to bring chocolate. So went a bit crazy in Denner. For two reasons I shop there and not in the airport. Firstly, it is cheaper and secondly, you can pack it in your suitcase rather than have a carry-on on the plane. Win-win. Confronted with the enormous selection I had trouble deciding and went a bit over the top I must admit. Yes, a piece of that please. And yes, give me that. And please, that too. Ended up with a whole paperbag of schoggi. The trouble is having all that chocolate at home...and guess what? I failed miserably. Now those round golden-wrapped thingies are all gone. Good thing it's Monday tomorrow. Hopefully my better self will make a sudden return!

On the road

Seems like I'll be on the road for a bit. First I have a private engagement up north the coming weekend, so will be offline Thursday to Saturday. Back on Sunday I should be able to share a few things with you. Then somebody insists that I go south for a little project thingie. This will possibly have a bit of an impact on my blogging. But no worries, I'm sure I'll find a way to share my views. Only, I might have to rename the blog temporarily :)

Swiss outback

In order to get to the real outback here in Switzerland you have to go through Germany. Passing the border to Germany, and then again back to Switzerland. The border stations aren't that big, usually just one guy outside a shack if anybody at all.

And they certainly did not enjoy my taking pictures. Oh dear.