Tag Archives: Spanish

The Spanish Siesta: Fact, Fiction – or Envy?

Go ahead. Admit it. You wish you could take a long, refreshing nap in the middle of your workday, right? Sure you would. Who wouldn’t? The fact is, most Spaniards would LOVE to have a long nap after lunch, too. … Continue reading

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Assimilate or Perish as an Expatriate in Spain

If you’re in an environment created by you, like your own house where you control everything, be happy as a hermit crab. But if you live outside in the real world, be prepared for things that rock your psychological boat, … Continue reading

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Tortilla de Patatas Recipe by MadridMan

The following is a tortilla de patatas recipe by MadridMan™ himself. I’m not saying it’s the BEST recipe, but my Spanish eaters seem to like it, bringing me ever-closer to winning the Best Non-Spaniard Spanish Cook award in this house. … Continue reading

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Permanent Residency in Spain with Home Purchase

“SALE: Buy a House in Spain and Get Permanent Residency for Free!“ **UPDATE: Read the 5 July 2013 entry, “UPDATE: Spanish Residency with Home Purchase” for more information.** I can hardly believe it myself. Today, Trade Ministry secretary Jaime García-Legaz … Continue reading

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Raphael sings Aquarius – IN “ENGLISH”

Anyone older than 60 years old knows who “Raphael” is – as well as the children of countless Spanish housewives of the 1960s & 1970s. He’s Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez, born in Linares, Jaén, Spain in 1943 but he and … Continue reading

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5-Year Anniversary Living in Madrid

The day pretty much came and went without any fanfare. I realized it sometime late in the night although it had crossed my mind several times throughout the month of December 2010. On December 30, 2005, 40-year old “MadridMan” arrived … Continue reading

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Listening to Spanish Radio from Spain

This morning I was flashing back to my years (and years) in Ohio when I would listen to Spanish radio online daily, back when I was pining to move to Spain. Listening live would give me a sweet anxiety which … Continue reading

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Spanish Holiday Food Ads Include Dead Pigs

Really, you gotta love Spain. I know I do. Maybe I’m now fully indoctrinated into Spanish culture because my first glance at the above Lidl advertisement in today’s Madrid 20Minutos free newspaper had no effect on me whatsoever – until … Continue reading

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Understanding Spanish in Noisy Bars

Last night I went along with a good Spanish friend to meet a group of her friends – all Spanish too. We met at 9:30pm and went to the La Latina neighborhood in Madrid, an area very well known for … Continue reading

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When an American is a Spaniard

Last Friday, when at the gym, I saw a guy there whom I’ve seen at the gym several times. He’s probably about 22 years old, short, rather round, blond hair, blue eyes, wears glasses and Nike weight-lifting shoes. On previous … Continue reading

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Another GREAT Menú del Día in Madrid

Hello loyal readers! Remember the posting I made a couple months ago entitled “Menu del Dia – Menu of the Day for Cheap Lunches“? Well, today’s another story just as incredible as that previous posting. Today I went to the … Continue reading

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Understanding and Speaking Spanish on the Telephone

There’s almost nothing that makes me more nervous than speaking to someone in Spanish on the telephone. And worse yet, placing orders or making appointments by telephone when I’m initiating the call. Of course, when your phone rings it’s a … Continue reading

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Spanish Olives and Spanish Olive Oil

To say I’m a FAN of olives and olive oil would be a gross understatement. Olives and olive oil are part of a Mediterranean diet – and certainly are part of my daily diet. It’s rare if I pass one … Continue reading

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