BOSTON

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

I lived in the US for one year. I got a scholarship at William College as a Teaching Assistant for Spanish. Williamstown is a beautiful university town in the middle of the purple mountains in Massachusetts. The capital of this state is Boston, which is said tio be the most European America city. I agree with that: The only skyscraper is the Hancock Tower, there are lovely residential areas like Beacon Hill There are many places of interest such as the Prudential Centre, which is a meeting point for Bostonians and tourists, the Boston Common, a peaceful park in the middle of the city full of squirrels, the romantic port where Europians arrived in the country to fulfill their American dream, the bay, impressive brigdes to cross the river Charles or the river Mystic, the famous bar Cheers. Boston is a very warm and cosy city. It's not the cold American city one can think of. The River Charles separates Boston from Cambridge, where Harvard University is set. Cambridge means to me peace and wisdom. There are beautiful buildings on green fields with trees full of colourful leaves and students going to and fro on their bikes or walking. The most intelligent brains of the States study at IT in Cambridge.

I can't believe what is going on there these days. People running a marathon were killed in front of their own children, a child died waiting for his father's end of the race, a policeman was shot in Cambridge... What the hell is happening in our world? Do the squirrels know how wild humans are?

Boston

Cambridge

MY WEDDING DAY

I got married on the 10^th  April 1999 in Cogolludo (Guadalajara). I used to be an anti-wedding person but if I had known it was SO FUNNY, I would have done it before.  And if I could, I would marry every 10^th April. Nerves? What nerves? Why should I be nervous having ALL THE PEOPLE I LOVE  around me? Nonsense!!!

It was a kind of “gypsy wedding” since we spent the whole weekend eating, drinking and dancing. That’s what weddings in villages are like. The ceremony started at midday. My brother took Dad and me to the church Santa María in his green Audi (which is now mine, curiously). We married facing La Virgen de los Remedios. María Rosa had decorated the church with beautiful flowers. Then a rain of rice and kisses and more kisses to and fro.

It was the first sunny day after a cold and rainy winter like this one. Olga took me to trhe village in her car. Gema came with us, too. Everybody was glamorous and elegant: high heels, UVA rays tan, suits and ties... Wow! They were all there: the Hernández-Domínguez, the Pérez-Fernández, my friends from school, my friends from University (even Elvira who came from Ireland to two weddings on the same day... and never went back!), our friends from El Escaqueo and four Hendersons: Clare, Ferghil, Ian and Cathy. Wherever I looked at, I saw people I love. That was the best thing!

We ate cabrito asado at Restaurante Hermanos Martínez. El Chuchi (the owner of that excellent restaurant) let us take our own bottles of  DYC as a post dessert. We smoked cigars!!! Can you remember when people smoked in restaurants? What a unique atmosphere!

There was an embarrassing moment: cousin Santi recited me the poem “La higuera”.  And a panic moment: the money from the presents disappeared for some time. Chamari had taken it home in a plastic bag with the sword by accident!!

Then we danced at Discoteca Madison. Adolfo was the top disk jockey so we had all the music we wanted: from the 60s to the 80s, English, American, Irish, Italian and Spanish: From “La chica yeyé” to “La chica de ayer”: “The Irish Rover”, “McNamara’s Band”,  George Michael, Spandau, Tom Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Tozzi,  Rafaella Carra, Los Secretos, La Frontera, Radio Futura, Alaska y Dinarama, La Guardia, Danza Invisible, Los Elegantes, Los Ilegales... and our special song: “Ojalá que te vaya bonito” with Enrique Urquijo’s voice. There was a break to eat something and then disco again till almost the next morning.

We slept a little at Hotel Palacio as well as most guests from Madrid, Ireland and US.

We had breakfast at El Bolas, our friend Arturo’s cosy restaurant (Hospedería Ballestero) and we shared the hangover there with Gema, Olga, Dani, Santi, Mari Carmen, Rudolph, Susi and my cousin Elena. Finally the Hernández and the Hendersons had lunch there too before going back to Madrid (cabrito again?).  It was a LONG WEDDING but it was worthwhile and fun. Unforgettable, indeed.

RUGBY: WALES WON THE 6 NATIONS!!!!

The exciting 6 nations rugby championship is over. Wales needed to beat England for 8 points and they won 30-3 in an incredible game. As a homage to Wales, a land which I love, I show you this link with the history of the Welsh anthem: "Land of my fathers" and the rugby players singing it.
Congratulations WALES !!!!

http://www.rugbytime.com/noticia.php?id=28158

And these are some photos of that beautiful land full of poetry...

ST PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick's Day is the Saint Patron of Ireland. It's on March 17th. The shamrock is the symbol of Ireland.
Watch this and enjoy the day.
(Happy birthday Laura)

POST-INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

WELL, WE CAN DENY WE ALL WORK HARD, AT HOME, AT OUR WORK PLACES, SOCIALIZING...After a long day working to and fro. I had a lovely dinner with friends and we danced and drank Segovian whisky at "HEROE". Cindy Lauper sang this song, which is ideal for women's day: "When the working day is done, girls just wanna have fun"and I promised to dedicate it to LOLA la ORIENTADORA, my beloved friend with the most beutiful curly hair I have ever seen.

LOLAAAA, for you. Thanks for being on the whatsapp every day... and more... : )

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN

EMILY DICKINSON would probably be happy if she lived now.
Today, let's have her words in our mind:
"This is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me..."
Emily Dickinson, American poet. Massachusetts (1830-1886)