The end of Bashar Al-Assad's brutal regime in Syria, not much festive spirit, farewell Mohammad, lunch with old friends at Filandón, Eladio at a demonstration, visit to St. George's Christmas fair and other stories of the week.

 Madrid, Sunday, 15th December, 2024

At the St. George's Anglican Church Christmas Fair yesterday morning in Madrid

Good morning everyone. How are you doing? Most of you are probably all ready for Christmas. I have to admit that I am not. For the first time ever I just haven't got into the festive spirit. I think I've had something of an existential crisis this week that has made me feel that way. I won't go into it but it hasn't been a good week.

It has been a great week for many people in Syria though. Last Sunday after I posted my blog it was later confirmed that dictator Bashar Al-Assad had fled the country to Moscow after 13 years of civil war and 50 years of dictatorship which started with his father. We now know the truth of his regime with mass murder of civilians who did not agree with his politics in true Nazi or Stalinist style. 300.000 people were savagely killed and 100.000 displaced. We now all know the name of the already notorious prison Sednaya and what terrible things happened there, on a par with medieval style torture. But how did it happen? How did he lose his power? There are two main reasons; his allies, Russia and Iran had in some way lost interest in holding up the regime because they were and are elsewhere occupied with Ukraine and Israel via Hezbollah. The other reason is the planning of all Bashar's enemies in the country who, although divided in ideas and politics, somehow came together to topple him. The rebels were mainly led by HTS - a semi jihadist group that promises fair rule (we shall see), under a leader called Abu Mohammed al-Jolani now naming himself Ahmed al-Shara.

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani in Damascus after it fell this week

Even they were amazed at just how easy it was to topple Bashar Al-Assad.  Since taking Aleppo, Homa and then Homs at the end of November, within less than a month they took Damascus and Bashar had to scuttle off and away. He leaves a country that wants to be born again that wants to be rebuilt and wants to live in peace. Will that be possible with so many factions involved? Al-Assad is an Alawaite, a branch of Shia Islam. Al Jolani is also a Shia muslim, but what about the Sunnis, the Druze and the Christians. Will their beliefs be respected? Jolani says they will and he also says there will be no strict dress code for women. But can we believe this from a man who once belonged to Al Quaeda?  The world has been watching events from a distance worried as to what will happen. Meanwhile, the Russians want to maintain their military fortresses and ports and the Iranians want their loans that run into the billions back. Israelis bombarded military targets trying to decimate the country's army and weapon stock, especially those most lethal chemical weapons Bashar Al-Assad so famously used on his own people. This week certainly marked the end of his brutal regime but I doubt the future will be a walk in the park for everyday Syrians, especially those who collaborated with the previous regime whether they were for or against it. Most people had to pretend they were. There will be trials as big as Nuremberg and I sincerely hope they catch the monsters who carried out Bashar's orders like the Nazis did under Hitler. What a situation. I can only hope and pray for a brighter future for Syria and its people who have lived under the worst tyranny in the region. Good riddance Bashar. I wish you boring anonymity and obscurity  in some luxury dacha on the outskirts of Moscow thanks to your "friend" Putin. Even he tired of you. Hopefully he will use you as a bargaining chip to curry favour with the new regime. Wouldn't it be good to see the outwardly cultured man sitting at trial and sentenced to prison for all his crimes? 

I couldn't think much about his departure last Sunday as Oli and kids were coming for lunch and wanted my home made fish and chips. It's an awful palaver, especially without Tana, but I did it and the family enjoyed this most British of meals. 

On Monday I should have put up the Christmas decorations but I just didn't have it in me. Instead I went for a solo walk cheered up by seeing Oli live on TV. I wasn't too cheered up about the subject though. She was reporting on a negative aspect of Airbnb. Honestly, as an Airbnb host, I am a bit fed up with all the media hype. Why can't the world or governments accept realities? The shared economy is a reality, especially for people like me who rent out rooms in their own house. I suppose the villains in this story are those who do it on an industrial scale. Anyway, here is her lovely face on TV reporting that day.

Olivia reporting live this week on false Airbnb host profiles

I commiserated with my dear friend Amanda that afternoon during our weekly Skype call. She has been suffering from a bad bout of flu and feeling under the weather; despite having had an anti flu jab. I felt sorry for her. But she always cheers me up because we end up laughing. 

Tuesday came and it was sad. It was the day that my dear guest Mohammad who is originally from Iraq, was leaving after more than a year in our house. It was Mohammad who on Sunday rushed into the kitchen in the morning to tell me about the situation in Syria which, of course, he is watching closely. He has gone home to see his parents on a surprise visit but home is now Muscat as they have retired as teachers of psychology at the University of Baghdad. Years ago they went to live there after Sadam Hussein ordered his uncle's head to be chopped off - yes, as crude as that. When Mohammad first came to live with us, it was his first trip to the west, to Europe and life for him changed radically. I think his outlook did too, very positively and we came became close, like mother and son. I wish I had taken a photo when he left, kitted out in the Real Madrid clothes which he so  loves. But I didn't so am sharing one I saw of him on his Instagram while he was studying  in one of our lounges for his master in sports science.

Mohammad who I will miss sorely

He has promised to come back in three months time and I really hope he does. I hope too that his future will be in Spain and that it will be a bright one in the sports' world. Farewell my friend. You will be sorely missed. When he left on Tuesday it was the first time in a whole year that we were guest free until this Friday when my last two guests of the year came, Leonardo from Brazil and Alan from Ireland. 2024 has been good business wise. I hope 2025 is equally good.

The morning was sad but we had something to look forward to that day. I had booked a table for 4 at Filandón  - one of my favourite restaurants in Madrid.  We were inviting our long time friends, Loli and Benito to lunch. We first met when we were  young in 1981 when we all lived in Saconia on the outskirts of Madrid and have kept in touch ever since although not as often as we should. The last time we had been together was when they invited us to lunch at El Gamo in El Pardo in March 2021 during the pandemic. It was so good to see them and it was also great to be back at Filandon which looks so festive right now. I had to have a photo outside to remember the moment.

At Filandón on Tuesday

We had so much to catch up on after so much time that our chins wagged throughout the delicious lunch. Later we had a photo taken as we parted and we vowed to meet again at Filandón next year on the same date; 10th December. 

A group photo with Loli and Benito

On Wednesday there was not much to report apart from my doing the weekly shopping. Thursday was pretty similar, the only highlight being when I went to have my nails done.  I always enjoy that.

On Friday, Oli and family left for Valencia for a long weekend with friends of Miguel's from when he lived in Valencia and worked for RTVE which is where he and Oli met. The kids must have had a splendid time. Here is a photo of the 4 of them to remember their trip there this weekend.

Oli and family in Valencia this weekend

Saturday came and we did something different. Yesterday was certainly the highlight of the week. I was going to the St. George's Anglican church Christmas fair  with my sister-in-law Dolores and Eladio was going with her husband José Antonio, his second brother down, to a demonstration in the city. Later we would meet for lunch at their house where we used to live too when we got married in 1983. 

The demonstration was a protest about the future of of civil servant health care under the auspices of Muface which has always been private. Health care for civil servants is outsourced to private insurance companies, such as Adeslas, Asisa, etc. The problem is that the government doesn't cover the costs of their health care. The alternative is for them to be part of the public health system which is already under a strain with not enough resources. I argue too that as public workers, if a private health insurance was part of their salary package it can't be taken away just like that. Eladio sent me a photo of him with his brother during the protest which I hope leads somewhere.

José Antonio and Eladio at the protest in Madrid yesterday against private health care for public servants being suspended. 

Meanwhile, Dolores and I were at the Church Christmas fair. It's never really very good and this time there was no jumble sale; most items being new. I did get some chocolates though and Dolores got mince pies. Going there was really an excuse to meet up in Madrid.  Shortly after having a quick look round, we walked to my favourite coffee and cake shop in town, Balbisiana on the upmarket street called Velázquez. It's a bit like a Spanish sort of Betty's. Later I spent 70 odd euros on cakes and such for lunch and to take home. I just couldn't resist them. 

We walked back to their house which will always be our old house and soon we were joined by our husbands who were happy with their experience at the protest. I really hope it bears some fruit. Dolores made a  lovely lunch of fish baked in the oven with some fried potatoes accompanied by delicious wine and then all sorts of sweets and cakes for dessert. We left around 5 before it got dark as it was late. We had had a lovely time and I felt much better than I had all week.

We came home to a quiet house. I hadn't seen my 2 guests, both of whom are repeats and Suzy was with Pippa who rushed out to greet us but then rushed back into Suzy's room. She pines for my daughter and I recently understood one of the reasons is that she gives Pippa massages. Imagine! 

I spent some time writing this post and when I had finished at 7.30 pm I found my husband already in his pyjamas and in bed. He slept a full 12 hours. I wish I could do that. Suzy and I had dinner alone and both enjoyed one of Balbisiana's cakes.

Today is Sunday. It is sunny but cold and frosty and I hope we go on a morning walk as I have been a bit lazy this week. Hoping your Sunday is a good one, cheers for now,

Masha

A quiet week in December, Spain's new Big Brother tourist registration rules, my raspberry mille-feuille tart, José Antonio and Dolores for lunch, babysitting Elliot and Juliet, remembering Fátima and not many other stories to tell this week.

 Madrid, Sunday 8th December, 2024.

Eladio with Pippa who turned 10 this week. 

Good morning everyone this quiet Sunday. It is even quieter today in Spain as it is a holiday to mark the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Spain is officially a secular state so you might wonder why all these holidays to mark Catholic feast days. Traditions die hard and for those who celebrate the real meaning of Christmas; the birth of Jesus Christ, today probably means a lot; the day the mother of God conceived of him via the holy spirit. In our case it will be quiet and will be treated as just another Sunday, made a bit more fun as Oli and family are coming and we shall be having a special lunch to celebrate her new status as a full time employee with RTVE, Spain's national broadcaster.  But I am digressing, so let me backtrack to last Sunday which was quiet too as has most of the  week and as you will read I don't have many stories to tell. Sorry, not much excitement this week. Maybe that is a good thing.

That day our walk took us to La Flaca bar and restaurant for our morning coffee. Recently we seem to unite both events, the walk and our or my morning coffee as Eladio, sadly, does partake of my favourite beverage. The best photo of the week was taken there and I've chosen it as my feature photo. Here is another one of my husband with Pippa. 

Two of the greatest loves of my life; my husband Eladio and Pippa, our miniature dachshund last Sunday at La Flaca

On my social media handles I wrote "with two of the greatest loves of my life". You probably know we are three in this marriage with Pippa being the addition, hahaha.

The afternoon saw me watching a film called Joy on Netflix. It's about how the first test-tube baby was conceived successfully. It's one of those good British made biopics based on a true story which are just up my street. It's also a story I remember as a teenager in England when  Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby was born, in 1978. It was nothing short of a miracle even though society was against the innovation. Since then I read some 2 million babies were born to mothers who, without IVF would have been barren. The brain behind the science, British physiologist Robert Edwards, was later awarded the Nobel prize in Medicine in 2010. Thankfully by then, IVF was no longer considered an aberration of science. 

Monday came and very early that morning, Betty, our lovely Mexican guest left after nearly 3 months in our house. She has been like a mother to Mohammad who is missing her badly. She will be back in January but sadly Mo won't. 

We went to Primark of all places that morning where I bought more leggings - the only thing I wear in the winter, as mysteriously one of mine had disappeared in the wash. Don't ask me how. We also did the weekly shop so as to have all the ingredients for a special lunch the next day when Eladio's brother José Antonio and our sister-in-law, Dolores, were coming to spend part of the day with us. 

The furniture for the newly restored wooden cabin arrived that morning and had Eladio easily assembling the sofa pallets and table. They look lovely but the cabin needed lighting. It turns out our neighbour, Julio, is now an electrician so he has been coming and going this week to do the job. 

That day a new nightmare system came into place in Spain for registering guests in hotels and holiday homes. It's had most holiday home owner left baffled with the amount of information the state requires of all guests. It is supposed to be for security but it's borderline communist like collection of data; a sort of Big Brother. In some cases people have to fill out forms with 42 questions, many of them infringing on personal data. I can hardly imagine what it must be like now when checking into a hotel.   I had to somehow register on the new site which later collapsed and I  am now dreading asking my guests for such detailed information, not to mention the extra work. 

I mulled on this while at the hairdresser that afternoon where Conchi died my roots. I came out looking a lot better I think but there is no photo to prove it.

Pippa turned 10 on Tuesday which is quite a milestone. She means the world to us. As I wrote on Facebook and Instagram the next day, "Darling Pippa turned 10 on Tuesday. She is a true member of our family and my favourite dog of all times. She is loyal to the end, our friend and companion, stubborn, fun and brave. She has all the typical traits of a dachshund: devoted to her family, smart, obstinate, vigilant and courageous. Sometimes I think she thinks she is human and would follow us to the end of the world". I added "Life with Pippa is better". I accompanied the text with this photo taken of her on Eladio's lap one afternoon this week. 

Pippa turned 10 on Tuesday

She is such an integral part of our life  I cannot imagine it without her. I dread the day she gets old and passes away. I really do.

I made a cake that morning which Elliot later asked if it was for Pippa's birthday which made me laugh.  Actually it was for the lunch I made for José Antonio and Dolores. I am not a bad cook in general but am not known as the pastry queen. Thank God you can buy it these days. I made my mother' raspberry and cream mille-feuille tart which my parents used to call "the slice" although I'm not sure why. My mother used to make the puff pastry with lots of butter herself but I got mine from the proverbial Mercadona. Basically it is 4 layers of baked pastry  which when risen you slice into 2 making for 8 layers. I filled the layers with fresh raspberries and whipped cream. All went well except for the icing for which I used a small punnet of raspberries to get the pink colour but it ran a bit. This is what it looked like on the outside and on the inside. It tasted better than it looked and I think it was the best part of the lunch. But then I always judge a meal on its dessert having such a sweet tooth that I inherited from my dear father.

My raspberry mille-feuille tart which tasted better than it looked

The starter was chicken waldorf salad which I served in goblets and the second course was another of my mother's recipes - good old boeuf stroganoff. I wish I had taken a photo of the table in all its finery when it was laid but I forgot.

While I was cooking, Eladio drove to the nearest metro station to pick up our guests whom we hadn't seen since his 80th in September. There was lots to catch up on; my trips to London and New York and their recent trip to Egypt. Here is a photo I took of them while we relaxed in the lounge after lunch.

Dolores and José Antonio, Eladio's next brother down, on Tuesday

I first met them in the 1978 during my year in Madrid as part of my University studies and it was through them that I met Eladio in the summer of 1980. It's thanks to them we met, something I shall always be grateful for. 

Our afternoon would have been quiet except that Olivia brought the kids round while she went to her French lesson. They were excited to see their great uncle and aunt who they know so well from their summers in Montrondo. They rushed in and made a beeline for José Antonio. All small children love him. I remember when Suzy was small she used to call him "tu tío" which means "your uncle" as we used to tell her he was her uncle. My grandchildren who can't pronounce his name yet call him "Toto Antonio" which makes us all laugh.

I gave them some of the tart and put some aside for both Oli and Dolores and later forgot to give it to them. That had me eating some of it every day for lunch I'm afraid.

Elliot and Juliet eating some of my tart on Tuesday

 Elado later took his brother and wife back to the station while I looked after my grandchildren. I took them to my neighbour Julio's house to look at some lighting for the cabin and they followed me like sheep. But first Julio had to tie up their ferocious dog Vito who barks all day. Later he let out the other dog, Lisa, a Pyrenees mountain dog as gentle as a baby but huge in size who I think impressed my grandchildren. 

Soon Suzy was back and Eladio too and I left them with the kids while I went to have the first of two vaccines against Herpes Zoster, more commonly known as shingles. I got it once as did Eladio and never want it again which is why I agreed to having the vaccine. Once home, I found an orderly house. Suzy had bathed the kids with Eladio's help and they were all having dinner in the dining room where I joined them.

On Wednesday we woke up to to news from South Korea where the  President declared martial law which after massive protests he had to annul. Meanwhile, in France, there was a vote of no confidence and the Prime Minister had to step down. Macron, the President, however refuses to resign and is finding it difficult to rule with a minority government. It's not much better in Spain. We haven 't had a vote of no confidence but we are inundated with political corruption cases; one after the other. It just makes me think that many Spanish politicians are corrupt at heart. They do say that power leads to corruption and it generally does because of how we are as humans. One great example from literature is the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. I am sure there are more. 

We had lunch alone that day as Suzy went to Oli's house - I do like how they have rekindled their sisterly spirit. In the afternoon I enjoyed my weekly Skype call with Amanda where we can laugh or cry and have so many memories from when we were children to comment on. 

Thursday was 5th December and the 5th anniversary of the death of my dearest Spanish friend, Fátima. Oh how I miss her still today and will always miss her. I know she lives on in my heart but that is never enough is it? I wrote to her daughter also called Fátima who, if you read this blog, will know we met while in New York. I knew she would be feeling emotional that day and wanted to reach out to her. 

Remembering and missing my dear friend Fátima who passed away 5 years away this week. 

Of note that day we went on our daily walk, including coffee at La Flaca and looked after the kids in the afternoon again while Oli went to her French lessons.

Friday came and it was the beginning of the December Bank Holiday - the 6th celebrating the Spanish Constitution and the 8th the Immaculate Conception.  A lot of people go away for the weekend and I heard that hotels had reached 90% capacity in Madrid which must have been teeming with people. We were at 100% capacity with 9 guests this weekend. That meant a lot of preparation in the morning. But all was ready for their arrival later in evening.  

The Paraguayan workers came to repaint the wooden cabin which, although the right colour, was not looking equal in many parts. And now they have painted it a supposed "teak" colour which looks more like a very dark brown. I am not happy at all as I wanted a much lighter colour - more of a honey come reddish brown. Now I have to live with the consequences. I am not even going to reproduce a photo of the finished cabin as I am so cross with how it looks. Anyway, I suppose there are worse problems in life.

Saturday dawned and once again we had the pleasure of the company of Oli and the kids as she was alone at home with them and needed a helping hand. With Suzy's help we soon had a table full of food and lunch was more or less orderly, or as much as it can be with children aged 3 and 5 hahaha. They left early enough for us to enjoy our afternoon nap which gave me time to write this post. 

Last night was the official opening of the newly restored Notre Dame cathedral in Paris part of which we watched on TV. I was aghast to see that Donald Trump had been invited by Macron. Rather cleverly, he also invited Ukraine's Zelenski in an attempt to muster support from the incumbent President I suspect.  I also spotted Prince William who I read later had a meeting with Trump to discuss or rather reinforce the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. But what on earth was Elon Musk doing there I wondered? Was Macron pandering to him too? The place was full of world leaders but I have to say the Cathedral looked magnificent.

Far away in Syria lat night,  where no one's eyes were on Paris, the Islamist rebels were in the throes of toppling dictator Bashar al-Assad. This morning many news outlets are reporting he has fled the capital or even maybe the country. Is that a good thing? Of course it is as he is a tyrant on the scale of Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein. What does not seem good to me is who will replace him; an Islamic group that once belonged to Al Qaeda. Will that plunge Syria into Islamic fundamentalism with a government similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan? Oh how my heart pours out to the ordinary people in Syria who only want freedom, peace and prosperity; something most people in the world take for granted.

That was this morning's main news. Today is  Sunday and I have come to the end of my tales so will leave you now until next week. I hope you all have a wonderful day, a day of peace and quiet and freedom. We may complain about our governments but they are heaven compared to places like Syria, Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon or Afghanistan, to name a few. Let's remember that.

Cheers now until next Sunday,

All the best, Masha

Back from Santa Pola, a tea cabin in the making, a quiet week, time with Elliot and Juliet, ceasefire in Lebanon, Olivia reporting from Valencia one month after the floods, Notre Dame restored and other stories of the week.

 Madrid, Sunday 1st December, 2024

A wrinkly lady enjoying her morning coffee

Good morning again all.

As the title suggests it has been a quiet week. When I have weeks like this one, I often wonder what there is to recount in my blog and find it hard to come up with any interesting content. It's far easier to write about a jolly in London or New York. There were no jollies, as such this week but still life went on as it always does and I am grateful for that.

Last Sunday had us ready to leave our flat in Gran Alacant and waiting for Alicia from the cleaning company we had finally chosen to come and pick up the keys. Would you believe she never came and nor did she ring to say why? In the end we gave the keys to our second favourite candidate, Gina who we liked and is our neighbour Lucy's friend.  We finally left at around 11.30 am with a car full of stuff we don't need there but could be of use in El Cuetu or at home. It was a boring drive home which was punctuated with a very disappointing lunch at El Restaurante Vasco where we shall not return. The food was very expensive and  rather stodgy. 

We came home to find a team of builders from Paraguay who are restoring the wooden cabin in front of the kitchen patio. It's 25 years old and was in a ruinous state. It's a far cry from the garden house we wanted to build but will look lovely when it's finished. This time we are not going to fill it with dustbins, garden tools or barbecue stuff. Instead, we are going to turn it into a little place to sit and read, work or have a cup of tea. That is why I have named it the "tea cabin". This is what it looked like when we arrived home that day.

The wooden cabin being restored

Later in the week we searched online for wooden pallet furniture which has already arrived - 2 small sofas and 1 table plus the cushions to go with it. After much deliberation I went for a pistachio green colour. 

Furniture for the "tea cabin"

We would be thinking about this little project for the next few days. Meanwhile, it was wonderful to be back to our luxurious house, especially our own quarters. I have told Eladio we need a new memory foam mattress in our small bedroom in Santa Pola and a large screen TV. 

I came back to find all my guests well. Jen's son was readmitted to the Uni residence and I was very happy for her. It was to be her last week and also Betty's from Mexico. They have been great guests. Leopoldo who works for the Santander bank arrived late that night and after greeting him I never saw him again.  Suzy was back shortly after we arrived, after having spent the day with her sister. The two of them left the kids at their other grandmother's house and went off to have lunch alone in Madrid. Good for them. 

We had dinner together in our enormous dining room but none of us was hungry. Pippa who had stayed behind with Suzy is now torn between who she sleeps with at night. It's quite funny. Next week, on 3rd December, she will turn 10 which I can hardly believe. It seems like yesterday when she arrived bringing joy to our family. 

On Monday I was awake at 6 am after just 5h sleep - dammit. I can't complain too much though as overall I am sleeping rather better these days. 

It rained all day but did not rob us of a walk as we had to go the local hospital, HM Monteprincipe for Eladio's post cataract surgery check up. He has done quite well and his eyesight has improved overall to about 65% vision. That's not a lot but in his case it is as he has (dry) macular degeneration in both eyes. Thankfully, he won't lose his eyesight completely but I wonder if he will pass his test to renew his driving licence in 2026. I sincerely hope so. 

On Tuesday I woke up after having slept 7.5h and felt on top of the world. We went off on errands which including coffee at Alverán and shopping at Mercadona, the supermarket that feeds most of Spain and which I don't particularly like. If I could I would buy all our food at M+S but I can't hahaha. Oli was with us for lunch and then again when she brought the kids for us to babysit while she went off to her bi-weekly French lessons she takes so seriously. Tres bien ma petite. 

We had fun with our grandchildren. They behaved quite well. Part of the entertainment was time on the swings in our very autumnal looking garden. I am not in the photo as I was wearing my pyjamas, my dressing gown and one of Eladio's coats on top (hahaha). This is the best photo I could get of the kids with Eladio and Suzy who they adore. 

Time with Juliet and Elliot this week

We later adjourned to the TV room which doubles as their toy room. That was when Suzy suggested Elliot might like to watch the film Billy Elliot. He was surprised and delighted his name featured there although we didn't tell him it was the boy's surname. He loved the film which I had to explain as we went along. Thank God for the Geordie accent (set in Durham) as the language was strong for his little ears. But oh,. he loved it. It's a film I have always loved too if only they wouldn't use the "f" word so much. Soon it was their dinner time and they ate the pizza I prepared with gusto. Then it was bath time and we were running late. Suzy bathed them both and Elliot especially enjoyed it when she put the jacuzzi on at the end. Here are the two of the at and after bath time.

Bath time with the kids

I got their pyjamas mixed up, putting  Elliot's on Juliet and vice versa after Juliet instructed me so. Elliot, thankfully, did not make a fuss but later told his mother I had mixed up the pyjamas, hahahaha.

That night a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah of Lebanon was announced after much insistence from the USA. The Lebanese were thrilled but those who returned home, mostly did so to rubble. Mohhamad whose sister is a doctor at the American hospital in Beirut told me the apartment block next to hers was destroyed and that she had moved to the hospital. I can only suppose the Israelies would not dare attack an American hospital in Beirut. I don't have much hope for this ceasefire which has not been confirmed as permanent and feel so sorry for the Lebanese people caught up in it. Aren't we lucky in comparison?

Not so about 1 million people from 78 townships in the Valencia region who one month ago this week on Friday  suffered the worst natural disaster  in Spanish history from voracious flooding. Olivia was sent there on Wednesday as on Friday her programme was broadcasting from the area to mark one month since the floods. It was a tragedy of such a scale that could only happen once in a thousand years. 222 people died in the region, 4 are still missing,  tens of thousands of houses and 100.000 cars were damaged or destroyed as well as countless numbers of businesses. People are in shock and still up to their knees in mud. I ask myself how is that their lives are not being restored faster. Spain is not Syria, we have the resources and why, oh why, couldn't we have avoided so many deaths by sending out an alert far earlier and making resources immediately available. I can understand just how complicated it must be to coordinate the recovery of the region but help has been slow, as is funding.  Olivia who works for TVE, Spain's main broadcaster, had the privilege as a journalist to see the aftermath in Paiporta, the epicentre of the floods this week which I know made a huge impression on her and I was glad she was able to see it. 

While she was on her way to Valencia we went to Leroy Merlin to get wood to mend some of the benches on the kitchen patio which will look a lot nicer now the cabin has been painted. And here is the man on the job later in the week.

Eladio painting and mending the benches on the kitchen patio

Thursday was quiet too and that morning we found time for our supposed daily walk. It was that day that Mohammad, my guest from Iraq who has been here for over a year, announced he would be going to stay with his family who have recently moved to Oman but won't be returning. I will sorely miss him. He has been like a son to me in many ways and I do hope he returns.

That afternoon some crackers I had ordered from Amazon arrived. But would you believe that they didn't contain a snap? No way, I returned them immediately. Even though today is 1st December I am still not into the spirit of Christmas but have made some purchases to make sure I can create a proper English Christmas. More is arriving. In this house we don't put the tree up until well into December but I must begin to think about presents and menus. I must.

Friday came and I was up a bit late, but not too late to watch Olivia live, reporting from Valencia for her programme  La Hora de la 1.  I watched all her reports and found them heartbreaking. 

Olivia reporting from Paiporta Valencia one month after the floods.

She interviewed a teacher whose kindergarden is now closed as many still are, as well as schools. She also interviewed Julio  whose wife, a nurse, lost her life in the floods. This is it. I thought she showed a lot of empathy as she reported and interviewed people.  

It must have been harrowing for her and later she told me it was so impressive it was impossible to transmit the magnitude of the disaster. She posted some photos on Instagram which I want to reproduce here in memory of the floods, a tragedy that has made an impact on the whole country. 

Photos Olivia took in Valencia

 

The afternoon was going to be quiet until we got a message from Olivia asking us to pick up the kids from school as she was arriving a bit late from Valencia. I was in my pyjamas but I was sure no one would notice when I put my coat on, hahahaha. We got to the school but couldn't find Juliet and Elliot as she hadn't told us they were at the gym after their judo class. Elliot was amused to know we had had trouble finding them and anxious also to tell us about his day. His class had planted 200 trees behind the local Mercadona. We took them to their house and never mentioned they were in the back of the car with me without stipulated child seats as we had no time to put them in, plus they are very difficult to fix as I'm most grandparents find.

We were all happy to see Olivia and the kids melted into her arms. She had brought "horchata" a special ground almond drink which I think today is called Tiger Milk and hails from Valencia. Oli loves it as do the kids. Their snack was apple slices with peanut butter. I had   a spoonful of the latter which I think I  hadn't eaten since I was a teenager. Oh, how delicious. I told Oli that in the US they eat it with jam which they call jelly in a sandwich. Oli's recipe is a lot healthier. We spent some time again with our grandchildren who were full of beans and left at around 7 pm, just before dinner which we had with Suzy at home.

Far away in Paris that day, the authorities were to see the recently restored Notre-Dame which was damaged by a shocking fire 5 years ago. When President Macrown saw it he said to the workers "The blaze at Notre-Dame was a national wound and you have been its remedy through will, through work, through commitment. I am deeply grateful" and added "you have brought Notre-Dame back. This is how it looked 5 and a half years ago when the fire started and this is what it looks like today.

Notre-Dame before and after

It will be open to the public on 7th December. I have seen it many times but shall never forget my first visit. It was on a school trip from Bradford to Paris with St. Joseph's College. I remember we climbed to the top and I especially remember the gargoyles. I didn't know much about cathedrals at the time and maybe didn't appreciate it being renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture. Later I saw many more cathedrals which seemed like copies. And when I saw it burning down, I really thought it would turn into ash but a miracle happened and the great dame of France is now back in splendid glory for all to see. Magnifique. 

On Saturday the Paraguyan builders who were supposed to come that morning, didn't turn up which disappointed us a lot. They have promised to come today and I really hope they do. In their absence we went for a walk and had coffee at La Flaca where Eladio took my photo which is this week's feature photo,  for want of a better one. When I enlarged it I was aghast at the wrinkles I saw. My dear husband whose eyes don't see them told me I looked beautiful. While I drank my coffee and smoked my cigarette he made me a paper boat and said "here, so you can travel to America". We won't be going anywhere by boat as neither of us are into cruises but I shall be keeping the paper boat, bless him. 

The afternoon was quiet but not the evening as we were joined by Oli, Elliot and Juliet. In Tana's absence, Suzy and I put hands to deck to come up with something to put on the table. It was what we call in this house a "bits and bobs dinner".  The children came bearing flowers and I had to take a picture to show you. Aren't they sweet? Oli knows I love flowers so thank you darling.

My grandchildren bringing me flowers last night

Dinner was ready when they came.  It was a joy to be all together and I have to say both kids behaved well and ate well. They especially enjoyed the ice cream. Once in the toy and TV room we watched the end of Billy Elliot and my grandson loved it so much we had start it over. He's hooked on it and I'm so glad he doesn't understand the Geordie accent as some of the language is beyond his years and not a good example hahahaha. It even stumps me and the girls found it difficult to understand as well, hahahaha. It's set during the miners' strikes in 1984, something I had to explain to them - not a nice part of the UK's recent history. 

Today is Sunday and will be a quiet day I expect. I have now come to the end of the stories of this week and hope you have enjoyed reading them. Wishing you all a happy Sunday, cheers for now,

Masha

c

Never a dull day hosting guests, 1000 days since Putin invaded Ukraine, farewell Rafa Nadal, to Santa Pola for a few days for work and not play, good news, Christmas comes early for Elliot and Juliet and other tales of the week.

Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, Sunday 24th November, 2024

A happy moment in Santa Pola this week

Good morning everyone from our apartment by the sea where we came on Wednesday to put it back on the short term rental market. We did not come on holiday. They say a break is as a good as a rest but it's been mostly work and no play. I have been up to my eye balls in sheets and towels, copying keys and tweaking tariffs on Booking and Airbnb but we managed to find some  free time for ourselves too, a meal out, a walk here and there and of course we appreciated the good weather  with maximum temperatures reaching 24ºc in November. 

But let me wind back to last Sunday which was quiet as most of the week was; a far cry from my time with Olivia in New York or in London. That day 3 guests checked out, leaving us with just Mohammad and Betty; or that's what we thought until a young boy, XXX, from the Philippines arrived to stay. He is XXX's son who was coming back this week but had to come earlier to be with him.  I won't go into the details but he was brought by the police as he had had some kind of  breakdown. As a friend remarked when I told her "never a dull day". No, there isn't. I could have refused to take him in but I'm a mother too and the boy was in distress and in need of  shelter, after having been expelled from his residence. I felt very sorry for his mother who arrived on Wednesday. Otherwise, it was a quiet day (hahahaha).

Monday came and was another sunny day. Madrid has escaped all the rain storms that have so affected Valencia and other regions. We went on our walk and then into Boadilla on errands where we bumped into our friends Roberto and Mari Carmen. Mari Carmen is a pharmacist who owns a chemist and I was keen to get her opinion on the new wonder drug; ozempic that seems to be the miracle drug for losing weight and is much talked about in the press. It is supposed to suppress the appetite and I was thinking of trying it out (after Christmas,of course hahahaha). Her advice was strongly against it, mostly because of the side affects such as headaches which have afflicted me all my life. She also said that Ozempic is really only effective for morbidly obese people, which, bless her, in her opinion, is not my case. 

It was at lunch that day that Suzy announced she will  not be returning to Santa Pola and will be living  with us. She also admitted what we already suspected that she had weaned herself off her medication and would not be continuing her therapy. On the one hand we were happy as it means she is safe with us but on the other we are worried about how to go forward. At least she is stable at the moment and we are living in relative harmony. But she does worry me. We far prefer her to be with us than alone at our apartment here.  After her announcement I set about putting the apartment back on the rental market with one big problem; my neighbour, Lucy, is no longer able to clean the flat. She sent me a couple of contacts but nothing will be the same without her. Our main task here has been to find someone to replace her.  There were lots of other things to do to start renting again, both on Airbnb and Booking and at the apartment itself. This is the listing by the way. That had me very busy on Tuesday morning and the rest of the week. I had new bureaucracy to comply with for my Booking listings which required two long distance calls to customer care that lasted over half an hour each. One was with an agent in Los Angeles and the other was with a pleasant chap in Bogotá. That's customer care for you these days. As there was so much to do at the flat too  we decided to go this week.

Tuesday was very much a repeat of Monday with not much to report. We went on our walk and had coffee at Alveran. I always love our coffee times together and our wine and pistachio moments. They always bring us together and are often when we make plans or decide on important things.

Doing things together nearly always includes watching the news but of course with mobile phones we usually already know the headlines before. The main news this week, on the international scene, is definitely about Ukraine. Both Biden and the UK and French administrations have given Zelenski the go ahead to fire their rockets on Russian territory. That had Putin furious and I wonder what will happen now; nothing good of course. I am worried about help from the US when Trump returns to the White House. He wants peace but doesn't care about the price for Kiev in terms of loss of territory.  This week marks a 1000 days since Russia invaded its neighbour. Oh how I hate war;  this one in particular and the one between Israel and Hamas. The other news is about Trump, of course and who he is appointing to his administration - all the wrong people like a climate change denier in charge of energy!!! 

The news in Spain is all about the aftermath of the deadly floods in Valencia where reconstruction could take months or years. The floods did not only destroy lives, homes, businesses, cars and infrastructure, it also created a political storm between the central and local governments. This in my mind, will only hinder reconstruction. The King and Queen revisited some of the worst hit areas this week and this time were not pelted with mud. The King, very wisely, stated that the different administrations have to work side by side to help the people affected and quickly. Funding has been promised but is very slow probably because of Spain's notoriously complicated bureaucracy and need of paperwork. There are many examples of why. Here is just one: over 100.000 people have lost their cars but in order to claim insurance they must provide photos. How on earth can they do that if they can 't even find their cars bogged down in mud in garages or piled up in flood affected streets? It's a catch 22 situation which does not help the people affected.  I hope the King's words have not fallen on deaf ears.

Wednesday came, the day of our departure and the main sports news that morning in Spain and in the world was Rafa Nadal's official retirement while he competed for a final time in the Davies Cup in Málaga. Honestly I love the man, Spain's best sport figure ever but honestly I wish he hadn't left the game losing as he did. I think he should have retired at the top of his career, maybe after his last victory at Roland Garros. 

Rafa celebrating his first title  in 2005 in Roland Garros where he beat Federer aged just 19. He won his 14th title aged 36 in 2022. No one will ever beat his 14 victories there. The King of Clay retires this week and tennis will never be the same without him. 

There were accolades from all around the world in his farewell and for his achievements which are amazing but I found the way he left the game rather sad and depressing as if he had just pushed his body too far. However,  I shall always respect him and admire him for all he has done for the game. Rafa, there are no words to describe your career. You are loved everywhere and are one of those few people in the world who will always be remembered. Tennis will not be the same without you and no one, no one, will ever beat your 14 wins at Roland Garros. Adios, gracias y hasta siempre. 

We couldn't leave for Santa Pola as early as planned that morning as we had to wait for an electrician who came to fix two bathroom mirror lamps which took some time. There are always things to be fixed when running a huge home with guests. Thankfully the young boy's mother arrived that morning to take care of him but I won't see her until we return this afternoon.  

Our journey to Santa Pola brought back so many recent bad memories with all the crises Suzy had here which are impossible to erase. We stopped for lunch at the Parador in Albacete which was very quiet and arrived here in the middle of the afternoon. Thankfully Lucy had cleaned the apartment for one last time so we found most things in order. What was not in order was the bed linen, always a nightmare here which I had to sort yet once again and I won't go into the details. We were finally sitting on our terrace with some wine and pistachios by 7.30 and enjoyed the moment. It was much warmer here than at home.

I slept relatively well that night and woke up at 7.30 on Thursday morning. The apartment wasn't warm in the morning though and on this visit we have been able to experience and test the new heat pump which is also an air conditioning unit. It is amazing and I honestly wish we had installed it years ago. It heats the apartment in minutes. We had lots of errands to do and some cleaning. I did lots of the cupboards and threw out so much junk. That afternoon we interviewed two potential cleaning ladies but they were just not up to standard. That had me searching the web and I came up with a local cleaning company who sounded, on the phone, as the solution to my problem. We would  meet Alicia who looks after 45 apartments in the area on Saturday morning as well as another contact Lucy gave me and another professional cleaning company I found online. I hoped and prayed one of them would be my solution. Without a cleaning service I cannot rent the apartment as you will appreciate. 

By the time I had finished it was wine and pistachio on the terrace moment again after which we had a pleasant dinner followed by the news. We then resumed a Spanish series - Night and Day - on Netflix which we both enjoy. I slept 7 whole hours that night and woke up feeling great on Friday morning.

My morning was rather spoiled by Booking when I realised that a glitch in their system had spoiled all my tariff work. This listing appeared with the same tariff for every night of the year. I only realised that when I got a reservation for 6 nights in August for a song. That had me on the phone again and on my PC. I had finished by noon and out we went for a much needed coffee. I suggested to Eladio that we also go into Santa Pola for a walk by the port and beach and lunch in town. I needed the break. 

The place was thriving and we soon found a restaurant we liked; La Sal. This is it. We were both keen on having a rice dish but never agree on which one. Eladio likes the traditional paella and I prefer a dish called "arroz a banda". So I booked a table and then we ambled along the port and to the nearest beach. You will have noticed there have been no photos so far in this week's blog post. So Friday was the day to take them. Eladio took the one  I have chosen for this week's feature photo and I took some of him  like the one below.

Time out in Santa Pola in the good weather on Friday

It was great to walk in the sun and forget for a while about sheets, towels, cleaning ladies, etc.  But I wasn't completely free as I had to liaise with a guest arriving on Sunday earlier than planned. Only when I was finally mentally and physically free was I able to enjoy some free time in Santa Pola with Eladio. I may be officially retired but I still work hard my friends.

My prize that day was lunch and I was very sorry I forgot to take a photo of the "arroz señoret" (paella with shelled fish) to show you. But I did get one of Eladio pealing all the prawns from our first course, bless him. I love prawns but refuse to peal them at a restaurant as I hate getting my hands sticky - maybe I'm a bit OCD that way (haha).

Eladio pealing all my prawns at lunch in Santa Pola on Friday

Once home, there was no peace for the wicked. I had to finish organising all the sheets and towels, after new purchases at the cheap local Chinese store and on Amazon. When I was finished it was time for my weekly Skype call with my dear friend Amanda who was back from her niece's wedding in Belfast. We had lots to tell each other and she cheered me up enormously. 

It was  after our call that we got the good news of the week or more like  the good news of the year. My youngest daughter Olivia who has worked for quite a few years for Spain's main broadcaster, RTVE as a TV reporter, has been given a permanent contract. As RTVE is a public service and company, a fixed contract is similar to being a civil servant and is generally a job for life. The main reason for earning this status was her passing the feared exam or oposición in Spain which she took and passed a few years ago and which makes her an official public worker; no mean feat in Spain I can tell you. So well done darling. We are very pleased for you and can't wait to celebrate. It was the news she had been waiting for, along with many others in her position, and finally it happened this week.

Oli sent us the news while out with her husband Miguel who also works for RTVE and the kids, Juliet (3) and Elliot (5). They had taken them to the much publicised Christmas theme park "Mágicas Navidades"  at at town called Torrejón near Madrid. Here are some photos of the lovely time they had. I am not a fan of beginning Christmas before December but was happy to to see my grandchildren's smiling faces while enjoying themselves that evening.  For them Christmas came early this year.

The kids enjoying themselves at the Christmas theme park near Madrid on Friday

I had a quick look at the website and "Mágicas Navidades" is apparently the largest Christmas theme park in Europe. It looks a bit over the top but must be a lot of fun for children, especially those who still believe in Father Christmas and in the Three Kings (in Spain).

After another 2 or 3 episodes of "Night and Day" on Netflix, we retired to bed just before midnight and I slept until 7.45 on Saturday morning. I woke up to rain which is unusual here but I suppose good for the crops and reservoirs. That day we were interviewing 3 candidates for the cleaning job and I desperately hoped we would find the right one as we were leaving the next day. Gina from Romania came at 9.30 and seemed perfect for the job. Alicia who runs a small cleaning company came at 10.30 and Nawal who runs a big one came at 13.30. We debated between Gina and Alicia and in the end chose the latter who, although she is a more expensive option, can offer us a much better overall service; taking care of any problems with the apartment which we can't deal with from afar. We will hand her the keys this morning and hope we have made the right choice.

Unfortunately on our last morning the rain robbed us of a walk on the beach or coffee out. Instead I went to Quicksave, the British supermarket across the way. There I got lots of English Christmas fare to take home including not very good quality crackers, Christmas pudding, sage and onion stuffing and cranberry sauce; all essential for our Christmas lunch next month. I also got chocolates including some of my favourites such as walnut whip, Terry's chocolate orange and some bounties. Naughty but nice.

The rest of Saturday was very quiet, except for a scheduled Skype call in the evening with my Uni friends Adele and Sandra who live in Brussels and Brittany respectively. Adele showed us her newly completed house in Brittany where they moved 2 years ago from Orleans. It looks fabulous and is a dream come true for my friend. We chin wagged for 1.5h and it was a great catch up. What we have not yet agreed upon is our next meet up. I hope it will be soon as I so miss my 4 best friends who all live outside Spain.

And today my friends  is Sunday. I was awake far too early this morning and woke up with a headache, thanks to last night's wine and chocolate - the worst combination. Our mission here is now complete or so I hope. At least we achieved what we came out to do. It's just a pity we didn't have more free time to enjoy our stay here more.  But there will be other times I know.

I must leave you now to have breakfast and pack before we go. Have a great Sunday my friends and cheers till next week,

Masha

c

Fun and emotion in New York. Central Park, Times Square, Empire State Building and the 9/11 memorial on Veterans' Day, Rockerfeller Centre, FAO Schwartz, the MOMA, meeting Fátima junior in New York, home again, a surprise Airbnb guest and other stories of the week.

Home again, Sunday 17th November, 2024

A chance encounter with the famous "Naked Cowboy" in Times Square last Sunday.

Good morning everyone.

Here I am back home after our trip to New York which now feels like a dream. Olivia, my youngest daughter,  and I had been so looking forward to it and it certainly met our expectations. New York is big, it's brash, very expensive, confusing, dirty, both poor and obscenely rich, one of the biggest shopping meccas I have ever seen, mind boggling and overwhelming at times. It's full  of people from all over  the world,  a true melting pot and many, many of them speak Spanish. All the skyscrapers make you feel so small and Madrid is like a village in comparison Honestly, I don't think I could ever live there as I am more of a country girl but New York is always fun and fun we had as you will read on.

So let me tell you the stories of the second half of our stay there. I left off last Sunday. Sadly, that day, we had to check out of our amazing 159m2 suite at The Carlyle where we had been invited by the President of Rosewood Hotels himself and learned how the other half live for two glorious nights. I later found out that the price per night was around 6.500 dollars!!!  We were moving to The Times Square Edition, another 5 star hotel but not in the same league. That's where Illy, the Italian coffee company had booked a room for the other 3 nights for Olivia who was to be their MC for the Ernesto Illy International Award Ceremony on Tuesday in New York. We downsized but moved nearer to the centre.

Before checking out at noon, we took a stroll in Central Park and had a quick glimpse of the famous "Met" (Metropolitan Museum), both very near our hotel. We did not go inside as it would have taken a whole morning and we were only in the Big Apple for 5 nights. No worries, as I saw it last time I was in NY and, no doubt, Oli will return one day. 

We saw Central Park in Autumn, or in the Fall as the Americans say,  It is New York's version of Hyde Park and similar in many senses. It's full mostly of locals either running, strolling, cycling or chatting and eating and enjoying the scenery. Last time I was there, Eladio and I did the classic horse and carriage ride but Oli thought that was too cheesy. So we just walked and feasted our eyes on what we saw. 

In Central Park last Sunday

We were well wrapped up but actually we had very good weather during our whole stay. It hardly ever rained and was never very cold. Thus we had the perfect weather to do all the classic things one does when in New York. I was keen to show Oli "Strawberry Fields", the memorial to John Lennon who was killed in 1980 in the archway of his house, Dakota, where I think his wife, Yoko Ono, still lives. Many had the same idea and I just had to include a photo here of two Trump supporters of whom we saw more than we imagined. We saw lots of MAGA (Make America Great Again) memorabilia. It's funny but it's not.

At the John Lennon memorial in Central Park

Someone was playing and singing Beatles' songs and it was an emotional moment. I then led my daughter to the entrance of the Dakota house across the way from one of the entrances to the park and we took photos.

Outside Dakota House where John Lennon was assassinated

That is where our walk in Central Park came to an end after which we made our way back to the Carlyle, a moderately tall skyscraper. We learned many people live in apartments there who must be "rolling in it", I imagine. They have their own entrance as the concierge told us. This is the iconic NY hotel as seen on our walk back from the park.

The Carlyle as seen on our return from Central Park

At noon we took a cab to our new hotel right by Times Square, which for me is the centre of America in terms of landmarks and it was full of people. Reception was on the 10th floor and we were given a room on the 35th! It was nice but 23m2 compared to 159m2 is pure downsizing and downgrading. However, it was also free and beggars can't be choosers and we very happy to be there. 

As soon as we had settled in, we went out into the street to explore Times Square which I had seen before but was new for Olivia. It's like Piccadilly but much bigger and brasher. I had always heard there was a naked cowboy there but never saw him last time so I was stunned to find him. I was also stunned he let me have a photo taken of him with a security guard from Times Square. That just has to be this week's feature photo. I later learned that apart from a street performer, he is also a singer, songwriter and occasional actor. When I asked him why he goes round Times Square naked (apart from some underpants with the American flag on them), he replied because he was born naked. I couldn't argue with that and was delighted to have met him.

We took more photos to remember this trip which will be forever etched in our minds.

Times Square on Sunday

We then went tacky souvenir shopping as Oli wanted to buy magnets, mugs, etc for friends. I couldn't believe the prices. We then went into the huge M&Ms store with the pretext of buying sweets for the children but we ended up getting all sorts for ourselves as well. What a wonderful store it is, even if it is tacky and such a commercial mecca.

Even though we had had a marvelous breakfast at The Carlyle, by about 3.30 we were hungry and went in search of food which we found at a Burger joint, called Burger Man, which was actually very good. It looked like something out of a film, a typical American diner. There are many places and things which seem familiar from all the US films and series we see on TV which is another reason why New York is so fascinating. 

Before returning to our hotel, Oli had a craving for an ice cream which we ate in the street and then, tired out and still a big jet lagged we returned to our new abode. There we spent the whole afternoon resting. We watched a marvelous film called Still Alice which we loved and a bit of one called Safe which we didn't. We must have fallen asleep around 8.30 pm and were awake at 5 am on Monday morning.

Monday, 11th November was Armistice Day which is called Veterans' Day in the US. We saw plenty of military around but missed the 5th Avenue parade.  But we saw some preparations on our way to the Empire State Building where we had booked tickets online. These approachable NYPD officers were happy for us to take a picture on 5th Avenue and here comes another iconic photo of this trip. 

My new body guards, hahaha

In the same queue to to go up the Empire State Building, or "line" as they call it in the US, was a group of soldiers ready to take part in the parade and I asked them to pose for me. They did.

Military personnel I bumped into on Veterans' Day last Monday

The Empire State Building with its 104 floors was built in 1930 just before the Wall Street Crash. It is no longer the tallest skyscraper but it is still perhaps the most famous. I learned that the far smaller Tower Building was arguably the first skyscraper to be built in the city in 1889. 

As I went up in the lift to the 80 something floor, I wondered what immigrants fleeing poor countries, wars and famine, must have thought of New York when they arrived. If it's overwhelming to me in 2024 what would it have been like for immigrants and refugees I wondered to myself. I suppose that is the essence of the American Dream. They all arrived at Ellis Island, that tiny island with the famous Statue of Liberty which we only saw from a distance. It is sad to think now that while they were all welcome at the beginning of the last century, today it is the other way round; walls are built to keep them out. Yet, America would not be America without immigrants would it? But I am digressing. The views from the top are amazing and we were lucky we had good visibility. Here are just two pictures of the many we took.

The new Manhattan skyline as seen from the Empire State Building

On our way down we were prompted to buy photos taken of us as we entered and we could not resist them. Here are just a couple of them. Fun right? Yes, we had fun at the Empire State Building.

Great photos created for us during our visit of the Empire State Building

The next thing we wanted to do was visit the 9/11 Memorial in the Financial District. I wanted to walk all the way down Broadway but it would have taken 1.5h. Thus we dared take the subway on our own and we managed it. Here is Olivia at 34th Street I think. 

Taking the subway to the new World Trade Centre

We got off at The new World Trade Centre station  and  shopping centre. It  is impressive and is  shaped like a dove to represent peace.  It is massive.

Inside the new World Trade Centre mall and station

That is where we got off the subway. To replace the twin towers they have built a new skyscraper called the Freedom Building although its actual name is the World Trade Centre and it is now the tallest building in New York. This is it.

The new World Trade Centre or Freedom Tower as it is called is now the tallest skyscraper in NY. 

When Eladio and I were in NY in 2010, there was nothing in Ground Zero. It was just a fenced off area. Today you can see two large memorials to each tower that got hit and where so many people died on 11th September 2001. This is one of them. All around the walls are the names of those who perished at the hands of Bin Laden. 

One of the memorials of the twin towers

As I read them, I shed a tear and have to admit it was a very emotional moment. The world changed after 9/11 and will never be the same again. 

We were of course in the Financial District so we headed along Broadway to find Wall Street which is actually tiny. That is where the New York Stock Exchange is located and we had to have a photo there too.

Outside the NYSE on Wall Street, the financial centre of the world

We then went in search of the famous "charging bull" which represents growth in the market and economy.  Remember bullish and bearish, the terms to describe stock markets? The funny thing is that most people were queuing up to take a photo posing or touching the bull's balls. Honestly? This is the photo I got of this huge statue which has come to represent Wall Street.

The Charging Bull near Wall Street

We had spied a Gap shop nearby which Oli was keen to go into. Would you believe we both bought the same white and black striped cardigan and that we both chose to put it on the next day without consulting each other? We must have looked funny at breakfast and wherever we went, hahaha. 

By then we were famished, hot and tired and decided to take a break and find somewhere to eat. We found ourselves in China town. Oli found a Thai place where we had a very hot green curry and I ate bamboo shoots for the first time. It wasn't my favourite meal in NY but it filled our stomachs.

We then carried on walking until my legs gave in as by then we had walked at least 16km. We had had enough walking and sightseeing and got on the subway again, somehow arriving at 42nd Street, near our hotel. If you haven't been to NY, you will find it funny that streets generally have numbers for names but when you get used to it, it's rather a good idea. We arrived "home" dead but happy. We watched something on Netflix and ordered a salad and chicken sandwich for dinner which we had with a glass of Prosecco. Again we fell asleep early and again we woke up at 5 am the next day.

Tuesday was our last full day in New York and the day of Oli's event but that wasn't until the evening and the day was ours for taking. We had tickets for the "Top of the Rock", the top of the famous Rockerfeller Centre. It is slighter smaller than the Empire State Building but boasts better views. Also, it is like a city within a city with its ice rink, gardens and shopping centre.  Soon too the famous annual Christmas tree will be in view as it had arrived just before us but has still to be decorated. This is it.

The Rockerfeller Centre

Just before we queued up to go in and were admiring the area, I saw a mounted policewoman and asked for a photo as I can't resist horses and love taking silly pictures when I travel. She let me, telling me that Jack, the horse, was not behaving very well that day. I thought Jack was lovely. 

Admiring Jack, a mounted policewoman's horse by the Rockerfeller Centre on Tuesday

Once at the top, we were impressed with the views and again had great visibility.

On the Top of the rock

We were invited to have out photo taken on a beam and people were queuing up to do so. We did too. If you have been there and even if you haven't, you must have heard of the famous photo called Lunch atop a skyscraper taken in the 30's probably by Charles Ebbets. This is it.

The famous photo of workers taking a lunch break on a beam while building the skyscraper at the Rockerfeller Centre

So we had ours taken on a much safer beam which we later picked up along with other photos. These are some of them and they are great, even if they cost a small fortune. I told you NY is expensive. 

A great photo on the beam at the Top of the Rock

Wearing the same cardigans we had bought at Gap

FAO Schwarz, the oldest and most famous toy shop in the US is at the Rockerfeller Centre and I just had to take Olivia there. Just as I had been to their Chicago branch many times to buy my girls toys - especially Barbies,  years ago when I worked for Motorola, I wanted to take my daughter there to get toys for her children and my grandchildren. I told that story to the man outside dressed like a toy soldier who was so sweet and kind. This is him outside one of the most famous stores in the US. Just for you Brits, though, Hamley's is the oldest toy shop in the world. 

Outside FAO Schwarz in New York on Tuesday

If you ever saw the film "Big" with Tom Hanks, you will remember the scene on the floor piano. We saw the piano on the second floor and I had to have a photo. 

The floor piano at FAO Schwarz

We bought tons of very original toys for the children and sweets and decided to walk back to the hotel to leave them there and take a break in shopping and sightseeing until our lunch appointment at 2. 

Lunch was to be very special for me as I had booked a table at Smith and Wollensky where both Eladio and I had eaten on our last visit. It was recommended to me by my dear friend Julio who always knows the best places in town. The restaurant's slogan comes from a critic's headline "A steakhouse to end all arguments". I couldn't agree more. The food is fabulous and Olivia agreed.

Smith and Wollensky, the best steak in town

When we were there last time I remember ordering a piece of steak which was mass massive. I said so to the waiter who replied "this is America Ma'am".  I had learned my lesson and advised Oli that we share a portion which was more than enough.  I think that was our best meal in NY. 

We then walked back to the hotel for Oli to get ready for her event. I wasn't going with her as it was  a corporate gala dinner where I suppose there is no role for the mother of the MC, hahaha. That meant I could rest, write this blog and generally chill out until her return. The only feedback I got about the gala dinner awards held at The Peak was a photo of my beautiful daughter on stage. Doesn't she look amazing?

Olivia ready to present the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award at the Peak, NY.

I had fallen asleep while she was out, watching a film called The Foreigner starring Pierce Brosnan as a former member of the IRA. I loved his Irish accent. Oli was back around 11 and soon in bed, our last night in New York.

Wednesday came and we were up just slightly later. Our flight wasn't until 10.15 pm but we had to check out by 11 am.  I had pancakes and maple syrup for the last time and savoured every bite. We had quite a programme that day until a cadillac (we like to do things in style, hahaha) was to pick us up at 7pm:  tickets for the MOMA, a visit to see the TVE correspondent in NY who is a colleague of Oli's and also a surprise reunion with Fátima junior. You probably all know that my best friend, Fátima, who was my colleague first at Motorola, then at Nokia and also my neighbour, died sadly 5 years ago this year. Her daughter, also Fátima, was 19 at the time and was left an orphan. Her mother had asked me and all her friends to watch out for her daughter and take care of her as well as we could but she is very independent and really never needed us. It was only through Gloria, Fátima's sister, that I learned Fatima junior was living in New York so we quickly organised a meetup before we left.  It was to be the cherry on the cake of our 5 days in New York. 

We walked to the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and spent about 2h inside which is more than enough. I was deadbeat when we came out. I adored the Picassos, the Monets, the Magrittes, the Matisses, the Andy Warhols and the Van Goghs but  was disappointed that Starry Skies was not on display. But I was not too impressed with the abstract art which I have never understood. There was one painting that was just grey and black. What the hell does that mean? Here are some pics of my favourite pieces and some of my least:

Magritte The Lovers

Needs no introduction

I read that Andy Warhol painted cans of Campbell's soup just because he loved their soup. Oli didn't really get it as Campbell's is practically unheard of in Spain. But I ate it as a child. And that's art, apparently.

Needs no introduction

Is this really art?

After our visit, Olivia spent nearly an hour in the very enticing design shop. I sat and waited as honestly I didn't need to make any purchases. From the MOMA, we were take the subway to 26th Street but got lost in translation as the station we needed on 53rd street was closed. We made it the TVE studio half an hour late but we made it. Oli and Sara (Rancaño) were happy to reconnect as both of them had worked for España Directo. Sara showed us the premises and even the rooftop from where she makes most of her reports. She actually has to stand on a small ladder so that the skyscrapers behind her stand out enough.  I took a photo of the two RTVE journalists in that very place. 

Oli with her former colleague Sara (R) from TVE, now their correspondent in NY

It was interesting to listen to her experiences covering the Presidential election campaign as well as the behind the scenes life of a foreign correspondent. 

We left on time to meet Fátima junior at 4 pm and had decided on Le Pain Quotidien near Bryant Park. That was where we had our lunch; lentils and a cake for me. It was pure joy to see Fatimina as we call her, now 24 and a graduate of international relations.  She studied at the UEM near here but also in Grenobles and Los Angeles. Today she is living in New York and working for Global Fund for Widows, the world's largest nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering women and widows financially. Fatimina's CV at just 24 is impressive.  Her boss, Heather Ibrahim Leathers, of Egyptian origin and ex Wall Street, founded it and was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Much of Fátima's work has to do with the United Nations where she goes often. I later read that  her NGO, "having earned United Nations Economic and Social Council accreditation (ECOSOC)   has been advocating widows' rights on a global scale. Upon the death of their husbands, widows are often denied access to justice and credit. They are also frequently subjected to harmful traditional practices". 

As she was telling us all this, I could only think just how proud her mother would be. It was a very joyous reunion and it was great to catch up after so much time. Fátima junior, if you read this, I take my hat off to you. Well done sweetheart. Before we parted, Oli took a selfie to remember this very special moment of our trip to NY.

A wonderful and unexpected reunion with Fátima junior in New York just before we left

After parting we walked back to our hotel, The Edition in Times Square and passed all the madness created there. We also walked into a drug store to get a sandwich for my flight as the food is awful on Air Europa. Olivia, travelling in Business Class would be well fed, hahaha.

Soon the Cadillac, a brand new version I had never seen, pulled up on 42nd Street. The "greeter", a lovely Indian lady from the Punjab, drove us to T4 at JFK airport, the biggest. We were there on time or so we thought but hadn't factored in just how long the security queues would be and at one point I thought we might miss our plane. Thankfully we didn't and it left on time. The plane was half full and I was lucky there was no one sitting next to me which meant that I could stretch out on three seats. That way I got at least 4h sleep. We left at 10.30 NY time which was 04.30 Spanish time and landed in Madrid at 11.30 local time. I got off the plane feeling like a zombie and dying to be home and to have a shower. I was at our house by 12.30 after dropping Oli off. And there was my faithful husband waiting for me at the gate to carry my luggage and there were Suzy and Pippa to greet me too, as well as Tana. The Carlyle might be fantastic but there is no place like home. I couldn't face lunch so unpacked, gave  my presents to Suzy, had a shower and went straight to bed. I slept for 2.5h and woke up at 5ish feeling jet lagged. I could face dinner but not wine. I was bushed. 

I managed a reasonable night's sleep but was woken by a beep from my Airbnb app at 1.30. It was someone wanting to check in the next day (Friday)  for a couple of nights. Only when I read the message did I realise that I knew the guest, Lola (Z)  from Nokia Málaga, a long lost colleague.  I knew her very well but hadn't seen her for more than 20 years! She now lives in London and is married to  a Brit. It turns out her sister lives in the next street to ours and she was coming to a big family do and needed somewhere to stay rather than sleep on a sofa. What a small world we live in. Amazing.

I woke up on Friday morning at 07.30 to carry on texting with Lola. She asked if I wanted anything from England and I asked for a mint chocolate Aero bar (divine). Eladio and I did the shopping that morning and Tana, bless her, met and greeted two other guests coming (Leonardo from Brazil and Raúl who I think is Spanish). We came home with enough food to feed an army. That's what I always think and then it only ever lasts a week. We had a pleasant lunch with Suzy who I had missed while in the US, of course. 

It was on Friday that I finally caught up with the news this week.  Anything we watched on American telly seemed to be only about Trump and the people he is nominating for government. That includes Elon Musk (X - Twitter) as his Chief Efficiency Officer (imagine). When they weren't talking about Trump there were adverts and they seemed to be mostly about health insurance. God save America if Trump does away with Obama Care. And when I read the news from England about the resignation of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury over his handling of sex abuse in the church, the Church of England, I was appalled. In Spain, more floods hit Valencia and then Malaga and other areas but thankfully this time people were alerted by SMS and no lives were lost. But these "Dana" storms are getting worse and worse each year. 

That night Eladio and I were up late watching a new Spanish period series called "Valle Salvaje" which had us hooked. Thus I woke up late on Saturday morning  and Lola who had arrived the night before, was already in the kitchen. We spent a good 2 hours together catching up and later Suzy joined us. That's because when she was in London they met. Isn't the world a small place? Suzy took a photo of the two of us which I entitled "Nokia connecting colleagues". Here we are together, happy to be reunited by Airbnb 20 years on. What a beautiful surprise and coincidence.

With Lola, my surprise Airbnb guest who was my colleague at Nokia and who I hadn't seen for 20 odd years. It was lovely to reconnect. 

When she left for her family gathering, I started on lunch for our family gathering. Oli and co were coming and I was making Spanish "cocido madrileño". Before going out to get some ingredients I needed for lunch and to have coffee with Eladio, I went up to Suzy's room to ask her to watch the hob. And there she was with little Pippa who is with her always. They are very close and I think Suzy is more her person now than me. That only makes me happy. The thing is that Pippa makes us all happy. I had to have a photo to share with you and remember the relationship.

Pippa is always with Suzy (sweet).

While having our coffee at Manacor that morning, Eladio and I reached the decision that we shall finally not be building the wooden garden house. The estimates for making it habitable were prohibitive as well as the cost of the town council licence, not to mention furnishing it.  We goth agreed that had we been 10 or 20 years younger, it may have been a good idea but not now. So that's the end of one chapter. Others will come.

We were home on time for me to make the finishing touches for the family lunch and Oli and family arrived just as everything was ready to serve. It was great to see my grandchildren again and to hold them in my arms. I had bought lots of bubble gum (gob stoppers) for Elliot from FAO Schwartz but it was not easy to show him how to make the bubbles. I hope he learns as I spent a fortune on them hahahhaa.

Their visit was a great end to a wonderful week. I love travelling but I also love coming home. Don't you?

Today is Sunday and we have no plans. Let's see how it pans out. Wishing you all a good Sunday, that's all from me for this week. 

Cheers Masha