Spain :: Spanglish

It's always amusing to find signs written in mangled English, and happily our trip to Spain did not disappoint. Here are a few of my favorites.





So far, so good. An explanation about the Ermita San Antonio in Cómpeta. Let's zoom in:





Ah, right... the maravedí. It is all clear now.


Next, this was helpfully posted in the window of the tourist office at the Alhambra.





Move along!


Further inside the Alhambra gardens we found this gem:





To their credit, they wrote 'inconveniences' instead opting for an easier English-sounding version of 'molestias'. It is a family-friendly place, after all.


Of course, I should not mock the locals too much. Their English was much better than my rusty high school Spanish. Just don't ask for a map of the Alhambra when you get there. Silly tourist!

Pic of the Week: 21-27 Sep

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco


I took this picture in May 2006. We spent a week in the Bay Area for S&H's wedding, and threw in some sightseeing while we were there. It is always fun to visit a place you know well, looking at it through tourist's eyes. And an icon like the Golden Gate Bridge is especially photogenic on a sunny day.

Pic of the Week: 14-20 Sep

Photo collage of Bath, England


S and I spent our first anniversary in Bath, one of my favourite English towns. This collage features pictures from Royal Victoria Park, the Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

aubergine bake/eggplant parmesan

Panko-encrusted aubergine
Tomato sauce with red onions and fresh basil
Topped with parmesan and cheddar cheese*


(*forgot to buy mozzarella!)



1.5 hours to prepare; 10 minutes to devour

Pic of the Week: 7-13 Sep

Cupcake in Central Park


S and I got married in New York in April 2006. S flew back to London a few days before I did, so I had some time to explore Manhattan on my own.


I wish I could remember the name of the bakery where I bought this cupcake. From the address and description, I think it might have been Buttercup Bake Shop. What I do remember is that it tasted as good as it looks!

happy anniversary!

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mamasita & Pop!


Look how nicely coordinated they are... This photo was from our dinner a few months ago at 1300 on Fillmore. Highly recommended!

www.cut URL shortener for iPhone

Have you downloaded S's newest iPhone app yet? www.cut (pronounced 'dub cut') shortens URLs so that you can save characters when tweeting, for example.


Read about it here and download it from the iTunes App Store here!


logo by yours truly

Pic of the Week: 31 Aug - 6 Sep

Abbey Ruins in York


York is best known for York Minster Cathedral, but something about the ruins of St Mary's Abbey is more interesting and mysterious to me. Why destroy most of the abbey but leave some of it standing? What did it look like when it was whole?


We visited York for my birthday a few years ago. It was also the first time I met S's family. Nice to think I'm part of the family now!


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr

brighton up summer

Work has been fairly manic recently, to the extent that I either don't have time to make plans for the weekend or deliberately refrain from making plans so that I can complete exciting tasks like laundry, going to the gym, food shopping and sleep. Unfortunately I have missed most of the summer and I have not seen as much of my friends as I would like.


When work starts to invade my personal life, I try to find a way to take a break. J and S were kind enough to indulge my suggestion that we spend a day in Brighton. Between the beach, pier, marina, pavilion, shops and restaurants, we had a lovely day with amazing weather.


My new relaxation technique is to look at these pictures and imagine the water splashing over our feet while the sun beams down. (Thanks to J for bringing the sunscreen - none of us fried!) I try not to think too hard about the pebbles under sensitive feet - ow! ow! ow! - but there's no ignoring the fact that that is part of Brighton's charm. Plus, it makes for a good workout to walk along the beach from the pier to Brighton Marina and back, stopping at a local pub for Pimm's, shandy and bitter.


I feel better already!





























Breathe in... breathe out......................

Pic of the Week: 24-30 Aug

Petra Treasury, Jordan


Another pic from our Jordan & Egypt trip in Nov 2007.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 17-23 Aug

Windsor Castle Path


This photo is from January 2006 of the Great Park outside Windsor Castle. The path has a lovely curve before it opens up to a long, tree-lined road for pedestrians, cyclists (only on some parts) and horse-drawn carriages.


Why post a photo from mid-winter in August? I thought I might want a reminder of colder days. Today was sunny and warm (even a bit humid) in London - hard to think about wool coats and gloves in weather like this.


We went to Windsor with friends, some of whom we actually have not seen since that day. Busy lives and all that. So hello M and R! Hope you're doing well... Thinking of you...


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

sweet, summery crepes for lunch

continuing after last night's dinner, we had crepes with fresh strawberries, blueberry jam, lime marmalade, and vanilla yogurt for lunch.


and now i should really go the gym!

savoury crepes for dinner

savoury crepes filled with chicken and spinach in pesto sauce with mushrooms, red onion, red and yellow peppers, and cheese


the best part? there are still enough crepes left to eat with strawberries for lunch tomorrow!

happy birthday, bob!

bob is nearly three years old now, and has proved himself to be a resilient - if perpetually hungry - goldfish. he has been happily swimming around in his blue bowl with gravel at the bottom and an algae-ridden plastic plant, but we thought he deserved an upgrade. so we splashed out (no pun intended) on the baby biorb.


as instructed, we did not transfer him for the first 24 hours while the water had a chance to filter. but i hadn't washed the rocks well enough and it was still murky the following day, so we started over with fresh water and left it for another day. this morning, we moved him as gently as possible (it only looked like he was unceremoniously plunked into a new environment) and he took to it like, well, a fish to water.


he still mostly avoids the filter bubbles but i'm sure he'll begin to enjoy having a live-in jacuzzi soon. i know i'd love one! happy birthday, bob! many happy returns...

Pic of the Week: 10-16 Aug

Bruges Grand Place, November 2005


This photo is from our first trip together, which was also my first blog entry. Glad to report that there have been many more trips and blog entries since then.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 3-9 Aug

These are a few of my favo(u)rite things: Mamasita, Florence, and my sister (who took the picture) during our family trip to Italy last year.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 27 July - 2 Aug

Pool by the Dead Sea at sunset


This week's photo is another one from our trip to Jordan and Egypt, although a pool surrounded by palm trees could be almost anywhere...


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 20-26 July

Stinson Beach


Mamasita, E and I took a walk on Stinson Beach, shortly after my sister's wedding in September 2005. As usual in Northern California, it was windy and chilly, but lovely. A good day for parasurfing - or taking photos of parasurfers, to be more accurate.

Pic of the Week: 13-19 July

Photo collage from Jordan & Egypt


These are some of my favorite pictures, from one of my favorite trips. (Click on the link to see my blog from the trip.)


The camel on the left is sitting in front of the Treasury, in Petra. After spending two days in Petra, we took Land Rovers through the desert, trading them for camels (on the bottom right) after several hours of driving over bumpy sand dunes. It was immediately apparent that camels are better suited to the landscape - it was much more comfortable and they were less likely to break down.


That night, we camped in a Bedouin tent and watched the sunset. The photo in the middle on the bottom was taken around 5 PM Jordan time as the sun was going down and the sliver moon was starting to show. After the trip, I found out that Hank was born in California around the same time, and Sara was watching the moon as well.


The top right photo was taken a few days later. We climbed Mt Sinai overnight and reached the peak just before sunrise. I had been worried about reaching the top, but it turned out that the hike was not quite as bad as I had feared. Still I didn't understand the women climbing in street shoes and even heels. It wasn't that easy but maybe blisters don't matter when you're on a religious pilgrimage. I, being a heathen, was grateful for Gore-Tex lined sneakers. Even without the benefit of a religious background, though, I thought the sunrise was beautiful, so calm and peaceful. Things look different from the top of a mountain. And catching a sunrise is always a rare experience for a non-morning person like myself.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

One & Other

The Fourth Plinth


Rather than attempting to explain Antony Gormley's Fourth Plinth project, One & Other, I am providing links so you can go read about it. (But then come back, OK?)


The Fourth Plinth


One & Other


Now that you know about it, I stopped by Trafalgar Square this evening while I was in town. It was lightly raining, and the man on the plinth was simply standing there in a nice suit, smiling vaguely and looking around. I thought it actually captured the spirit of the day quite well.


As I walked away, I spotted two girls walking toward the plinth wearing clown costumes - the next hour's participants? or just a Saturday night out in London? Just one of the many things I love about living here. No matter what you're wearing, there's a place for you here.