poli

Hola David, ¿qué tal estás? Aquí muy bien aunque me he quemado en la playa ayer, me duele un poquito la piel.. I was being a bit too optimistic we even went for a quick splash in the North Sea (i.e. me and some friends). Afterwards made some tapas..great weekend, we've been so lucky sofar in August terrific sunny hot weather..you never know here.. Yes I had heard of the Italian settlers in Bs As, I'd love to learn more about the accents actually. The man from Rosario was difficult to understand (and he had studied also..he was'educado' so to speak) it seemed he was swallowing some sounds and generally it sounded quite different. Charming though.. But then just about all Spanish sounds charming to me.. who do you think have the most charming accent..? I love all the particular & peculiar verbs & words I am still learning on a daily basis..it's what sets Spanish apart for me from other languages. Saludos desde Amsterdam! Laura

Yes I agree... I have had wonderful experiences with the Mexicans, they are so warm and welcoming and kind. Well I have never been to Argentina but I would love to see it in fact it is in my top 5 wishlist to go & see..Clearly it has a lot of European influences yes especially in Bs As. Their Spanish is quite different though yes I talked to an Argentinian a few weeks ago but I had some trouble understanding him because he used different grammar principles, 'usted' and just the general pronunciation.. Can't say I thought it resembles Italian though. But I should meet more Argentinians. Actually our crownprince is married to an Argentinian woman, Maxima Zorreguieta. Very popular here. No I wasn't able to go into the mountains.. I was in Mexico for about 5 weeks, I saw lots on both coasts, & a.o.Oaxaca, San Crist. de las casas, and lots in Yucatan..because my priorities were there..but I want to go back and see lots more!!

¡Hola David! Ah una capibara..I think I have heard of them before though I haven't seen them irl. It looks quite sweet. So I assume you took this picture sometime on your travels there?
Yes you are right, it is a ceramic (tiles) by Gaudí I think it's in Park Güell. I love the colours.. turquoise/ cerulean blue and indigo.. I love blues in all shades.. Which country were you most impressed by, from the ones you visited sofar in South America, and why? There are still somany places I would love to see.. Too bad it's so far away, for you it's much easier I guess, a 4-5 hour flight from NY to get to Central America, or 5-6 to other countries in Latin America - or is it more? I bet you get good flightdeals as well with 3 airports... Laura

¡Hola David, mucho gusto! Yes, you're right there are quite a few resemblances between Dutch and English. Well not everyone's level in English here is so high especially when it comes to written language. Well in fact they started teaching us English in elementary school (up to 12 yo) but already I had learned somuch from subtitles on tv that the first 1-2 years of English in grammar school brought little to nothing new.I think watching American &British series with subtitles helps people acquaint themselves with the language from early on. I do think it is important to learn languages as it broadens your mind and perspective.I have two British friends who in adulthood start learning Dutch as their first 'foreign' language (with which I help them) -that's hard for them sometimes.Well I speak English &German well enough, French is ok, I get by.(I can have a meaningful conversation and such but I'm not fluent in it!).Hopefully Spanish on ok level in a year or so.. Laura

¿Hola Poli, como estás?I hope my answer to you in the Dutch-topic was clear if please tell me,I will try to explain in another way ok? It's not a difficult language I think but as you correctly pointed out, each language is a journey all by itself with a different road to get to the goal. Each language has its specific easier & more difficult areas, and you have to find the joy in those differences. May I ask if there are other languages you learned? And why did you learn Spanish was it just through your travels you got interested or is it something that comes in handy also in terms of where you live or work? I enjoy it more every day that passes, I love all the very particular words and verbs, it makes so much sense many times as far as languages 'make sense' (well they all do in their own way.. ). I have been meaning to ask you but I keep forgetting, what kind of animal is that on your avatar, is it a marsupial of sorts? Or is it your pet maybe? Laura

Hmm yes you are right.. it has this reputation most unfortunately (and some eagerly want to sell that even more..you know a nation of merchants..) which I think is a shame because there is a lot more to this place than just that.It'sfunny because it's completely not part of my reality.I never go to coffeeshops -since I have lived here I can count the times I was in the RLD on max. 2 hands due to friends visiting &wishing to see it.. You're right, practicality is strongly prevelant, I think we have to be anyway..otherwise we never would have won half this country from the sea.. Or be able to fight it off with the dykes (no not meaning women..) Ahaa I like the naughty Dali this I have to see irl!! Thnx!! As for pretentiousness, I never cared for it in any way, I prefer integrity in places, the real Madrid where the 'normal' Madrileños would go to have a bite etc..It's a very good suggestion indeed thanx! Getting the TravelItch now.. Laura

Hola Poli ¿Qué tal? Yes I remember the first time I came back from Paris I was absolutely riveted, buzzing with impressions.. it took me a week or so to take it all in..and it's quite addictive even for that matter.
I remember the impressions Musée Rodin and Orsay made on me the first time I visited them, really a kick, and I love the flowing lines of Rodin's work!!!Yes it is quite expensive true, and although you can get 'formules' and good deals on food in e.g. Montmartre or Quartier Latin, I imagine it would be more 'la dulce vida' (doesn't have the same ring to it does it?) as you could have in Madrid. Out of curiosity, what was your impression of the Dutch people you met in Amsterdam? Ah now the Prado really does sound like something I have to see.. I love the morboso-dark art.I like it in the surrealist works of Dali as well. I love the small but very worthwhile museum in Montmartre, I will definitely have to go to see the big one in Figueres as well Laura

Ah great thanx Poli, never heard of it before I think.. Somehow Madrid and the Prado seem to be mentioned almost in one breath.. I'd love to see the morboso art in fact. Thanx also for all the other recommendations, they all sound great!I would love to go see them and El Retiro definitely sounds like a place worth a visit, it sounds like amazing value for money!! Here you don't even get a bottle of wine for 11 € a person let alone including a *** menu.. that's pretty amazing! Then again dining out has become way too expensive here since the introduction of the €, it seems in many European cities you can get much better deals...Yes you'r e right Paris is full of gems I know...I always feel somehow 'charged' when I come back because they surround you wherever you go and in the most unexpected places too..almost like you' re submerged in it. I've seen quite a lot of museums there but there's still lots more to see..Would you prefer Madrid to Paris btw? Laura

Hola poli
¿Qué monumento aparece en tu imagen de perfil? ¡No lo conozco!
Saludos

¡Hola poli! ¿Como estás? Fue un muy buen día aquí tan soleado y veraneo!! Voy a comarme unas fresas muy frescas y dulces con nata montada (yumm) y un cake como scone (lo he hecho yo mismo de una receta saliendo de un libro acerca de 'High Tea' que había comprado (compré?) el año pasado, cuando visité mis amigas ingleses. My belly is purring with delight as the flavours are coming from my kitchen..
Ah yes I have been to Paris quite a few times (I was together with a Frenchman for a while) but never saw this statue..should have recognized the setting though. I have never noticed the architechture in BCN as much apart from the striking buildings. I Might look at it differently now as it has been a few years..If I were to go to Madrid where do you recommend I must absolutely, what do I need to see (except the Prado I suppose?). Hmmmmm fressassss... Sometimes tiny things in life can make you quite happy! Laura