Madrid: 2 years later

Two years ago, I was arriving at Barajas Airport in Madrid utterly scared and also excited to start a new life. Jimmy and I didn’t know what to expect since this was our first time in Madrid. We left behind so many things and felt heart-broken for many reasons.

I remember being scared to come here just for the reason that eventually I would have to leave again. But here we are two years later blending in this lovely city. I didn’t look back: I just said good-by to my family and left. No farewell parties, no calls, no social media «I-am-leaving» posts. We just took our things, our hopes and dreams and left for a better life.

So how can I manage to resume our two years here without making this a tremendous long post? With a list, obviously. 🙂

1. Two years, two different apartments. Our first one sans elevator and the second one with a lovely terrace. 
2. I have two of my old friends from school here in Madrid, but in these past two years I have made incredible new ones. I am so grateful for that.
3. We have built a solid video reel with all the things we have filmed since we got here.
4. In two years we have changed from one music producer to another (It didn’t actually work out for us, but still keep in touch because they are good friends). Now Jimmy and I haven’t stopped making music because we found our music flow together and we are loving it. I hope to share some new music soon.
5. Talking about music, I wrote a song for the SRF Eurovision Switzerland Song Contest and we made it to the final 6 from 400 people! It was an amazing experience!
6. I traveled to Paris, Pisa, Zürich (two times) and Thessalonica (3 times). I also made a fast trip to Miami with my parents. These two years have been busaaay!
7. Nina moved in with us last year and I was the happiest person on earth to have my little monster here. 
8. I finished the first draft of my book. It is still a work in progress but I am trying to squeeze the time to actually polish it.
9. I work every single day to get what I want, I feel I have made such a big progress but there is still so much to do.
10. Finally, I am still learning new things every day. Madrid, you still haven’t seen the best of me. 😉

New home, once again

It has been a year since I was packing and unpacking stuff from and old home to a new one. I have changed beds four times in the last four years. Maybe it’s my lucky number.

It was not a pleasant experience searching for a new apartment here in Madrid: for some reason everything we saw was either too old or too expensive, until we found the current place where I’m now typing from.

We were supposed to be in Barcelona right now but a turn of events made us reconsider our decision. We are still recording our album here and it was kind of precipitated to leave it mid way and move to another city.

So here I am posting from our new home. I am proud to say I packed and unpacked everything in three days. I cleaned and organized pretty much like the little OCD freak I am in one day and oh… you have no idea how excited I am to start decorating. I will try to find a balance between that and the recording.

As soon as I am settled in I will show more before and after pics!

P.S: Nina is absolutely in love with the big balcony.

 

7 things that make my summer rock

I just want to take a minute and thank my landlord for having an air conditioning system in her apartment. I am not kidding when I say that I would probably melt if it wasn’t for it. But that being said, this summer has been packed with tons of activities and lovely events!

1) Finding the juiciest cherries in the world

2) Precious moments with my sister Stefi who came to visit alongside my parents and Nina

3) Recording the new album with Jimmy, this project is very personal and I am loving every step of the way 

4) Late night games: my dad crushing us all in Scala 40 

5) This two girls coming to visit! My mafia: Valentina and Carola. We went to school together and every time we meet is pure fun!

6) In this pic my dear friend’s Maria T wedding and next to her my fun girl Luisa! Still can’t believe this day, we had such an incredible time!

7) One word: Frappe

How’s your summer so far? Let me know! ❤

 

Lately…this is what’s going on

(This picture is from our trip to Greece in June)

It’s been almost a year since I left my old home in Venezuela and moved to Spain. I remember all the stress and chaotic moments involved. Everything has changed so much since last year, that I have no words to describe how blessed and grateful I am to be here.

This last six months have been a real challenge. We were flirting with the idea of moving to Barcelona because we got a real good offer to sign our music and make some more videos there, but Madrid was holding my hand really tightly and I felt I did not give this amazing city a real chance. Jimmy and I discussed this back and forth until a lovely event made our decision easier: we found an amazing producer and started recording our new album right away.

After searching like crazy for a new apartment, we finally found one with an elevator and a big balcony. Late this month we will move and I can’t wait to show you guys the before and after of the place.

So don’t think for a second I have forgotten about my blog and all of you who make it possible. The Golden Limoncello is getting tons of new posts and lots of giggles and smiles.

Madrid….you haven’t seen the best of me.

I hope you guys are having a lovely Summer ❤

 

Spring: My 7 favorite things

I am still here.

I know I have been absent for the last month but believe me I have been trying to organize my life and found myself overwhelmed with everything around me.

Spring is finally here. I have waited for the warmer weather for so long that I think I am going to miss my coat and my winter clothes (NOT).

My sister came to spend Easter with us in Madrid and we had tons of fun (post coming on Friday).

She stayed for 10 days and we got to do so many things. I felt like a tourist all over again and it was kinda fun. The weather got really warm for a week and then suddenly it was cold again, then hot then cold. So obviously the three of us got sick. My allergies are going crazy (welcome Spring!) but I have to say I am loving everything about this warmer season.

1) I was skeptical about this color but now I am loving it.

2) I can now wear my hat and look decent. (I tried this hat with my winter coat and looked ridiculous).

3) The love of my life in Madrid! (Stefi’s past posts here and here)

4) Sunny days!

5) Seeing flowers everywhere gets me in an incredible mood.

6) We discovered our new favorite Mexican restaurant. If you ever come to Madrid you should try it, it’s amazing!

7) I have an obsession with boxes. I have tons of them, so you can imagine my happiness when I saw this in a local flea market.

May you all have a fantastic Spring!

«El Rastro» flea market

I wanted to go to «El Rastro» since we arrived back in september. It’s been almost 8 months since I moved to Spain and just ten days ago, I visited «El Rastro» (Madrid’s biggest flea market) with my sister and Jimmy.

It’s enormous! So many colors and so many things!

We arrived at 10:00 am and it was packed. I recommend to go really early in the morning if you don’t want to be swimming in the crowd of people around you.

 

Sunday at the park

Jimmy and I have been having a lot of stressful days lately and it was time for us to take a break and connect with nature. We took the day off and went for a walk in the park at Madrid’s Casa de Campo.

It is spectacular.

There is an amusement park and a huge zoo. Acres and acres of green pasture and lovely trees. The day was warm and at some point I even took my coat off. We sat on a small blanket that I brought from home and relaxed soaking in all the sun we could.

After that, we took a long walk and arrived to the «Telesferico» (cableway) just to find out it took you to the center of the city.

It was fun and little bit scary since I am afraid of heights. Jimmy was having a blast watching my face go from terrified to extremely happy and back and forth.

 

Pure bliss: 6 things that make my January rock

I have to confess I didn’t feel the year change on January 1st. I was so relaxed and prepared for it a month before that it felt quite good. We went to Barcelona to visit my brother-in-law and had a very nice time. (Barcelona post coming this Friday) It is such a beautiful city that I can’t wait to visit again!

Another lovely thing is that Daniel (the little sunshine of my life) arrived from Dublin to spend a couple of days in Madrid. Having him around reminds me how lucky I am to have such a wonderful friend. We celebrated his birthday and had so much fun!

I hope you guys had a lovely New Year’s Eve and are starting the year with a solid foot. I want to share with you my 6 favorite things that make January rock…

1) Stefi knows me so well. She sent me this lovely gift and I couldn’t be happier adding it to our home decor. 

 

2) My face of pure happiness next to Daniel in his birthday. (Photo taken by the fabulous Christian.)

3) These guys. We giggled all day.

4) My friend Maria Teresa got me this beautiful ballerina from Vienna! I loved it! 

5) Wrapping gifts with spray-painted pasta ribbons. 

6) Jimmy made some «antipasto» and we had a movie marathon on Sunday night. 

How is your year going so far?

Fresh air: 12 random things right now

1) My legs are sore of so much walking.

2) I can’t explain this wonderful feeling of walking in the street and feeling the fresh air in my face.

3) I love to walk and walk and wander around.

4) I see small coffee shops and old streets.

5) I stare at the «tapas» in every Madrid’s restaurant tables.

6) I drink «cafe con leche» like crazy.

7) I am like a little bird who has finally opened the small cage and is flying through the trees.

8) I get overwhelmed, I sometimes let go a tear or two but this time because I am free.

9) I don’t hide my phone in the streets, I don’t worry every time I go to the supermarket because I know I will find the things I am looking for.

10) I miss my sister, my mom, my dad and I can’t walk by a dog without missing Nina.

11) This has been hard. I try to focus on the things ahead but somehow I find myself remembering the things I left behind.

12) I am scared but also excited to start this new adventure.

The weather is starting to get a little chilly and the summer heat is far forgotten, but I am happy that this time my hands are the ones who are cold and not my heart.

I am ready for you Madrid.

October: 7 lovely things

October is a fun month: Halloween is around the corner, the weather starts to get a little chillier and autumn leaves invade the streets. I am loving this time of the year in Europe and I am glad that I get to spend my first Halloween here. I have to tell you that here they don’t celebrate this holiday like in the US but I have seen many stores with pumpkins and bats here and there.

1) Some of the last roses of El Retiro’s botanic garden.

2) Sunset running before Madrid wakes up.

3) This lovely bathroom at a local coffee shop.

4) Latest acquisition with autumn colors.

5) Jimmy’s birthday! (October 31st)

6) My lucky elephant. (It’s called Eli)

7) Being the only human being under 70 while watching «The hundred foot journey» (which I loved by the way)

What are you loving about this month?

 

 

 

Our new little home

I loved this place since I entered the first time and saw the natural light coming in from the windows. The apartment owners are the sweetest people you can meet. While they explained paperwork, all I did was stand there and enjoy what would be my new home.

I started mentally organizing the apartment and getting really excited how everything was going to turn out.

The first thing I did was clean the place like three times. After that, we had to improvise a lot. We bought two pillows and a blanket. They gave us the key to the apartment at 9 pm. We had little time to buy things for the night but we managed to sleep like babies in our new home.

 

Next day was all about IKEA : my new best friend. We bought our furniture there and some decorations. I can’t wait to start my DIY projects for the house! (Yes, that peach wall is going DOWN)

What I am going to show you is just a temporary look of the apartment. We have been working like crazy and having strange hours of sleep. But I want to show you how it is coming along.

Instafood: Madrid edition

I haven’t had time to make a recipe tutorial. Not to mention my kitchen is really small and I have just the basic instruments in there. I will post some new recipes in the future though. Small kitchens never have stopped me from cooking what I love!

Lately, while we were getting settled, we had a very strange diet between salads, fast food and ice cream. I am getting back on track this week. We ate paella, found local almond milk, had fun getting lost in the farmer’s market and even drinking some limoncello!