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Read my diary below and / or take a look at the photos
using the links on the left.
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11th November 2002
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Issa joined us in Madrid for a long weekend. We
sampled the Madrid nightlife, but still managed to get up to make it to Toledo
the next day. Toledo was the capital of Spain during its Imperial years.
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3rd November 2002
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This weekend we went to Cercedilla - in the Sierra
(mountains) North of Madrid. Friends of Miyako: Lorena and Jen took us there.
The weather wasn't amazing, but the views were. On the Saturday we went to
watch the basketball equivalent of Madrid vs Barcelona: Estudiantes vs Real
Madrid, with Miguel Angel and his kids.
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28th October 2002
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My Dad came to Madrid for 6 days. We looked round
Madrid a bit and then his brother, Phil, who is living near Alicante (on the
East Coast of Spain - La Costa Blanca) came over to visit. Then we went back
with Phil to his & Jackie's house for a long weekend in the sun. It was 15
degrees hotter there than in Madrid. We swam in the sea, toured the countryside
and sampled the local beer.
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16th October 2002
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This week the Tennis Masters Cup was being held in
Madrid. On Sunday we went to see the players practising. Because they were only
warming up and there weren't many people, they were much more relaxed and we
could get much closer to the players. I talked to Andy Roddick (rising US star)
and Julien Bouttier (French, friendly, but not top-drawer yet). We went back on
the Wednesday to see Kafelnikov vs Corretja and El Ayounai vs Feliciano Lopez.
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4th October 2002
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To see 'La Vuelta' - the Spanish equivalent of La Tour
De France, we went to the historic town of Avila, which is famous for its
'Murallas' - city walls. On the Sunday, we went to the Real Madrid stadium
(Bernabeu) to see the race finish.
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27th September 2002
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Miyako and I celebrated 2 years together on Saturday
by going to the mountains for the weekend. We stayed in Navacerrada, a village
about 1 hour from Madrid. As well as walking in the mountains, we met up with
Ricardo from work who lives in Navacerrada. See the link on the left for some
photos.
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24th September 2002
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Last Friday we went to the Athletics World Cup in
Madrid. The British men did particularly badly, but the Spanish were more
successful, which made for a good atmosphere. There are a couple of photos
here:
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September 2nd 2002
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Last weekend we went back to AlcalEde Henares for its
summer festival. There were fireworks, music and dancing in
the main
square and a fair. See the link on the left for photos.
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August 30th 2002
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Miyako and I went to the Costa del Sol for a long
weekend. We stayed one night in Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, where
we visited the cathedral and the Alcazár (Arab fortress). The following night we
stayed in Torremolinos - a beach resort
popular
with English tourists. Then we moved on to Marbella, another resort with lots
of beaches. In the evening we made the short
trip to Puerto Banús, Spain’s Monte Carlo where all the rich people stay
with their large yachts and expensive
cars (Ferraris,
Rolls Royces etc).
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August 16th 2002
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For the Bank Holiday of Ascension Day, we went to
AlcalEde Henares, just outside Madrid. Cervantes (author of Don
Quijote)
was born there. We also visited the University which is from the 13th Century.
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August 8th 2002
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My mum came to stay for 12 days. I was working a lot
so couldn't take any time off work, but one weekend we had a day trip
to La Granja and the other, we spent two nights in Valencia on the East coast.
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July 26th 2002
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Miyako's brother, Azuma, and his wife Sachiyo visited
Madrid for 4 days. We visited the spring Royal Palace and Gardens at
Aranjuez, watched a bullfight and went to a Flamenco evening.
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July 19th 2002
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My friends Andy and Sarah from Blackheath came to
visit for a long weekend. On the Saturday we visited Segovia, which was
a really impressive city. Take a look at the photos.
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July 9th, 2002
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This weekend Lars (from Urban Science, Frankfurt)
stayed for the weekend. We went to the mountains north of
Madrid, near a town called Manzanares el Real. The weather was very good and
the scenery even better. It was pretty tiring
walking up the mountain, but worth it for the views from the top.
Check out Lars' website for more photos:
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1st July 2002
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This weekend we went to Madrid zoo. We were impressed
with how well the animals are treated and how much room they have. There
is an aquarium and performances by dolphins, seals and birds. Best bits were
seeing a white tiger (very rare), the weather
and wizzing round in an electric car for 2 hours (very cool).
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17th June 2002
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I've booked my next visit to England. I will be in
London from the 9th to the 13th of August, so if you are around that weekend...
I'm back then to see my brother playing at the Royal Albert Hall in the Proms
on Sunday 11th.
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May 3rd 2002
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Spanish traditions, number 1: we went to watch
bullfighting! Most Spanish people I have met don't like it, but the arena was
packed. The bulls don't have a chance and it is rather cruel, but I enjoyed
going. Not sure I'll get a season ticket, but
I enjoyed cheering on the bull and was impressed by the matadors. They are
marked on style and bravery. The bulls horns pass
within an inch of the matador; once the bull threw one of the matadors and ran
over him! He was brave to get up and continue
fighting. The crowd approved and waved their handkerchiefs. This meant that he
was awarded the ear of the bull (a high honour
apprarently). I feel very Spanish now!
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May 1st 2002
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Today was the Champions League Semi-Final, Real Madrid
vs Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. I went to
the match with Javi. A 1-1 draw was enough to take Madrid into the final, which
Madrid won 2-1. I took
some photos (see the links on the left).
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April 17th 2002
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Sorted. I've moved into the new apartment (with pool,
balcony and spare room!). See photo on next page. Come to stay!
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April 2nd 2002
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My birthday!!
Today I arrived in Madrid. Nice.
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