Butlers

We went to city centre today to do some shopping. It rained out of sudden. It was heavy rain!! The raindrops were massive.

To wait for the rain to stop, we decided to shelter at this cafe chain - Butlers Choc Cafe :)

They have got great hot chocolate. Love them =D
Hubby ordered a cappucino and I had a hot chocolate. And we had a slice of Americano cheese cake as well.

Sometimes it feels just so relaxing to just sit at a cafe for a cuppa and watch the world goes by.

Don't you think so?

Madrid

After so many days of travelling around Spain, we finally stepped down at Madrid! The capital city of Spain!

We were so tired!!! It's the 10th day! Alan even brought some ginseng medicine along, hoping they'd boost up his energy to last the whole trip.

The bear and strawberry tree at Puerta del Sol, Madrid. I've heard that it's a symbol of Madrid and one of the most popular meeting places. This is also the ZERO km spot.

We saw lots of people queing at lottery shops. Anywhere, anytime!!! I was wondering are they so addicted to gambling. Not only selling at the dedicated shops, there were even roadside stalls selling them too! I wonder is that legal? Only after that that I realised there was a special jackpot prize on new year eve.

Plaza Mayor

We wanted to visit Palacio Real, the Madrid castle but it was closed on new year eve. Damn it! We only managed to peep from the entrance gate from afar.

New year eve is not a pulic holiday in Spain...why did they not open?

Let us in!!!

Then we decided to stroll around the city and do some shopping. Zara and MNG are so cheap over there. Both of the brands are originally from Spain and they are categorised as high street fashion.

However they are quite expensive in M'sia lor.



One of the most fascinating things we encountered here has to be the way they celebrate and count down on new year eve. Most of them would get themself a wig! A very bright colour wig! They wore it and walked around the city. I wanted to get one too but none of them was interested to join me.

Nelson, Alan and Kher Sin...you old folks, come on!

During the countdown party before midnight, Madrilenos would usually have 12 grapes ready in their hands. When the clock hits 12am at midnight, they would eat one grape at one time synchronising with the striking tempo of the bell.


Dong...down one grape

Dong..another...

Dong...(X12)


So, 12grapes!!! Get me? Then make a wish. Your wish would come true!


Our lovely hotel prepared the grapes for us too.


Wait a minute, how to eat 12grapes within the 12 seconds???

I read the travel guide again, it said "SWALLOW"!!!!

Oh my god, eventhough the size of a grape isn't that big, I didn't think we are able to achieve the feat.


Anyway, we tried! All of us failed! No one of us was able to swallow 12 grapes as planned!

Nel even tried to swallow but fail to finish as well. Ha-ha. Crazy fellow!

Countdown party at downtown Madrid, Puerta del Sol

Madrid was our second last destination at Spain before we journeyed to Guadarrama for tobogganing.

I would say it was a great trip and a great experience for me EXCEPT....

I really want to watch BULL FIGHTING!!!!! There was no performance during Winter :(

Segovia

Segovia is probably the city that I love most in Spain! The festive atmosphere within the old city walls was just magnificent. It was almost become dusk when we arrived by train.



Aqueduct of Segovia - the most recognized symbol in Segovia which was left by Romans two thousands years ago.

There was a small group of brass band singing Christmas carols from door to door marching towards the central square in the old city. The locals and passer-bys would join them and sing along. With the medieval backdrops, I felt as if I have travelled five hundred years back into an old European village.

Segovia Cathedral

By all mean the largest building structure in Segovia sitting handsomely atop the hill. Sometimes I am really curious why would the ancient people spend so much resources and energy to build such a prominent structure in such a small city.

Alcazar of Segovia

Fairy tale-like castle built by the cliff. Gorgeous!

We should have overnight at Segovia.

I found an excuse for being messy!

Life is "interesting" and there are always untoward incidents happen along the way!

I had one last Friday. Well, it was not really a disastrous one as I discovered it early.

After a routine gym work out session, Nel and I were waiting to cross a road. It's red light then. Lots of people were around us waiting for the traffic light too. We were happily talking to each other while heading to bus stand to take a bus home.

Suddenly, I felt a jolt behind me as if somebody is trying to open my backpack. I shouted "Somebody opens my bag" and immediately I turned to my back.

OH-MYYY-GODDDD!!!!!

My bag has 3 compartments and 2 of them were wide-opened and the last one was half-opened!

I searched my wallet and hanphone promptly which were placed separately in 2 of the compartments and luckily there were still inside.

Standing right behind us were a middle-aged woman and a child, probably around 12-13yrs old. Discerning from their outlook and we can guess they might be from one of the Eastern European countries like Romania. I can't confirm (as I didn't see it spot on) whether they are the culprits who tried to open my bag but I am almost 99.9% sure that they are responsible for it!!!

It was crowded and jam-packed. I don't think the people behind them could reach my bag across them. Neither were the people beside them! So yes, they are the one!

I stared angrily at them and they did not even care to bother us! I've checked my bag and since no stuff was lost, there is no point to argue with them.

1) They obviously would not admit it.
2) I doubt that they could even speak English.
3) Nothing is lost.

Typically, when you're being stared at, wouldn't you usually would return a glance or question the person "is everything ok?" When I stared at the woman and the child, and I stared at them for quite a while, they just ignored me intentionally. Aren't they pretending to be innocent?!

Back to my title. Know the reason why they couldn't find my purse? Alright, this is not something to be proud of. But ya, because my bag is so messy. My wallet was actually at the outermost compartment and it was hidden behind a plastic bag, some tissues, a bunch of keys, bus schedule leaflets and some useless papers. All of these rubbish blocked their view.

My mobile was at the second compartment. This is again another messy compartment! There are some used bus and train tickets, lip balm, tic-tac, coins, cereal bar, etc etc etc. And of course the handphone was stucked beneath all these rubbish. Lucky me!

I don't care if I lose my purse because I don't usually put much cash in my purse. The maximum would be 50 euro only. However what concern me most are the atm card and identity card!

After this incident, instead of keeping those important cards in my purse, I put them in a card holder.

Oh man, I still could not believe it was a child who was trying to steal my purse!

Valencia, Spain

Another post on Spain trip again ;p


After spending 5days in Barcelona, we went to another city in Spain - Valencia.

We strolled around the city centre on the first day.

Make no mistake, there is no gold to be collected on the grass. Oh, maybe yes.

Answer : They were trying to clean the shits stained on their shoes!

Hahaha, so funny. Three of them kena dog shits! They thought they were so smart to walk on the grass. Lucky me, I did not follow their trail. I walked on the road shoulder instead :)

We went to visit the cathedral and castle but I have only vague memory on these places. They are not so special after all comparing to those in Barca. However the city centre itself and the ambience are very cosy and neat dotted with many classical buildings.

Merry Christmas! Ok, that was last year. Tee-hee -_-"

The next day, we went to the popular City of Arts and Sciences! The buildings itself at this area are eye-catching enough.

My first time seeing Beluga Whale!

The centre is HUGE! There are a Science Museum, Oceangraphic Park, Imax Cinema, Arts Centre etc etc. See, the area is so photogenic.

We went to Oceangraphic Park. The park is huge, we couldn't finish visiting it and treasured our stay there until the last minute before closure. They closed at 5.30pm because it was Christmas session.

Sigh, that will never happen in M'sia! Public holidays and weekends are the best day for business, ok!

I was so sad because I have not finished visiting the centre! The entrance ticket is not cheap though - 25euro ler.

The world is BIG with so many more places to visit and I don't think we would go back to the same place again!

Anyway, the City of Arts and Sciences is really a good place for family outing!

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

I know you read my blog! ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Yes, it's you!



Dear Father-in-law,

May all your wishes come true! Nel and I are looking forward for your visit to Ireland and Europe :)


P.S Mother-in-law..we are looking forward to travel with you too.

Forgetful

I forgot to bring my keys today!!!


I reached my apartment doorstep at 6pm and longed to rest at home soon. Who knows??? I forgot to bring the keys. I have used another hand bag this morning and forgot to take the keys.


Damn it!


So I went to the nearby supermarket and strolled around. I bought some useless snacks :p

Thinking that hubby would reach home at around 6.30pm which he usually does, I called him to locate him; he was still in the office.


Why were I so "lucky"?

Then I sat on the corridor outside my apartment and played games(mobile phone) while waiting for hubby. I waited for a good 30mins!


Nobody to blame but myself. Mom always scolds me for being forgetful :p