Wordless Wednesday #17

My Post on the CheapOair Travel Blog...

I was approached several months ago about providing content for CheapOair's travel blog. I was more than happy to do it, as I was really happy they had checked out my blog and found my writing interesting enough to be a guest blogger. I submitted an abbreviated version of an entry I did here about visiting the Black Beach of Fuerteventura.

Check it out and check out CheapOair when you are looking for great travel deals...Click here to see my entry on the CheapOair website. Leave a comment and let them know that you'd like to see more content from me. Hasta luego...

Wordless Wednesday #16

Wordless Wednesday #15

Espadrille Heaven...

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly;
"Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you may spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."

I was reminded of this poem, The Spider and The Fly, written by Mary Howitt (1799-1888), as I waited my turn to enter the Casa Hernanz espadrille store. I had heard about this store, Casa Hernanz, where these fabulous espadrilles are made from some of the American ladies here in Madrid. My friend, Nickie, who has sadly (for me) returned to the States, bought several pairs for her and her girls right before she left. I'm so glad she got to go before she left Spain. She and I had been talking about going for months, especially when the weather turned warm. She told me how you stand in line and look at all the styles in the window before entering. She and the other ladies who went with her took pictures with their cell phone cameras in order to show the clerks exactly which shoes they wanted. Then you try and buy.

Here is what esMadrid.com has to say about Casa Hernanz:

"It started over 150 years ago selling espadrilles in four colours. Their affordable price, lightness and, above all, the feeling of coolness they provided have led fashion icons like Yves Saint Laurent to include in their collections this shoe, originally worn by peasants. Espadrilles are timeless and Casa Hernanz is proof of it, selling up to 100,000 pairs in a year at their store on calle Mayor. Their shop is so busy that the lines can even be seen from Plaza Mayor, a phenomenon which has been captured in the pages of the prestigious newspaper The New York Times. They currently sell espadrilles –with a jute sole and made of small pieces of fabric sewn by hand- in 36 colours just for the flat ones, sizes 18 to 47. Over time they have incorporated new fabrics, like cotton, canvas and silk, as well as new prints, although their cosy shop and their charming counters are still a part of the most traditional Madrid."

On my in-laws last day in Spain, we went into Madrid. Once I'd seen Nickie's shoes, I knew I wanted to go check it out Casa Hernanz for myself, and my mother-in-law seemed pretty interested as well. Women and shoes...the cliches really are true. So while the two of us waited in line, the guys walked to Plaza Santa Ana for some coffee. With my digital camera, I snapped pics to show the clerks and to post here on my blog. Here are some samples...prices are in euros...and yes, they do take credit cards...

Almost inside...Here are some of their supplies...lots of pretty colors...

We're in....almost to the counter...

This clerk's no nonsense approach reminded me of the famous Seinfeld episode, "The Soup Nazi." No smiles, but at least I never heard her say, "No zapatos para ti!" (No shoes for you!)

We showed our clerk our choices on my camera, and now we wait...I felt a little bit like Cinderella...

Score...two pairs for me and two for my mother-in-law...

Here they are...pretty teal leather ones with a medium heel...

And cute little strappy black ones with a high heel...

Went back yesterday with another friend, and got this pair. They didn't have them in my size last time. We got the feeling that since they make the shoes right there in the back of the store, styles, sizes, and colors may vary from week to week...

Love these lucious black slingbacks with the flower embellishment...Yummy! Tiff and my walking buddy, Nicole, and I are heading back on Friday...Willl I buy another pair??? I'll let you know! Hasta luego...

Wordless Wednesday #14

I Did It!!!!!

Tonight was the last night of our visit with the in-laws, and as such, I thought it would be nice to send them off with a traditional Spanish meal, to include a spanish tortilla. When MariLuz taught Tiff and I how to make a spanish tortilla "her way," which can be found on this blog, I thought I would try it out on mis suegros when they visited. This seemed only fair, as they had to endure my first attempt, which to put it frankly...sucked! With my mother-in-law acting as sous-chef, we chopped onions, peeled and sliced potatoes, cooked them in the microwave in an "olive oil jacuzzi bath," mashed them up, folded them into 10 slightly beaten eggs, oiled the pan, poured in the mixture, poked it, flipped it, flipped it again, and then again, one last time and "Voila!!!" Or should I say...Ole!!! I don't know...regardless...much to my delight, it turned out great! It looked just like a real spanish tortilla from a top rate tapas bar...and it tasted great too, though I will add a little less salt next time...While I don't know the spanish word for "voila," I do know the word for "tastes good" and "delicioso" it was! Hasta luego...

Wordless Wednesday #13