31 December 2007

Paris - tomorrow!

So, tomorrow we fly to Paris to greet 2008 next to the Eiffel tower!
We are already actively practising our French, for example with this educational video - Foux Da Fa Fa :-D

The Flight of the Conchords are brilliant - the lyrics, the videos, the melodies :) Check also their other videos from Youtube - our personal favourites are:
- Humans are Dead
- Business Time
- Jenny
- Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros
- etc...


Ühesõnaga homme lendame siis Pariisi, et Eiffeli torni kõrval 2008. aasta vastu võtta!
Harjutamegi juba oma prantsuse keelt, näiteks selle õppevideo abiga - Foux Da Fa Fa :-D

Flight of the Conchords on lihtsalt liiga andekas bänd - nii sõnad, videod kui meloodiad on väga teravad :) Vaata youtube'ist ka nende teisi videosid - meie põhilised lemmikud on:
- Humans are Dead
- Business Time
- Jenny
- Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros
- jne...

30 December 2007

1 nice moment


Idüll paprika, ümbriku ja lehvitatud laualambiga... Kodune.

A nice moment with pepper, an envelope, and our table lamp with a ribbon... Cozy.

Eiko wants to fry ten plums, for fun



Today was the day of Total Makeover. For my keyboard :)
It all started with trying to reach one little fir thorn (the xmas tree "leaf") from between the keys, then I discovered that I can take keys off, and then one thing already led to another.

Now it says I want to fry some plums for fun...

Täna oli Totaalse Muutumise päev. Minu läppariklaveri jaoks :)
Kõik sai alguse sellest, et üritasin klahvide vahelt üht neetud kuuseokast kätte saada, siis avastasin, et klahve saab ju ära ka võtta. Noh ja siis juba 5 1 asi 2.ni...

Nüüd saavad siis inimesed mu klaviatuurilt lugeda, et mulle meeldib naljaviluks ploome praadida...

25 December 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS! ¡ FELIZ NAVIDAD !



¡ ¡ VÄGEVAID JÕULE ! !
Seitsme maa ja mere tagant saabuvad lõunamaiselt soojad tervitused kõigile kodustele! Kallistused ja piparkoogilõhnalised jõulusoovid kõigile sugulastele, sõpradele, Realisteri-rahvale, klassikaaslastele, kallitele ja lähedastele, noortele ja vanadele Eikolt ja Kristinelt :)
Naeratage!
¡ ¡ JA PAUKUV-MÜRTSUVAT AASTAVAHETUST ! !

PRIECĪGUS ZIEMASSVĒTKUS ! ! !
No tālās zemes, aiz kalniem un jūrām, mēs vēlam jums brīnišķīgus, lieliskus, sirsnīgus un priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! Visiem draugiem, tuviem un tāliem, veciem un jauniem - piparkūku apskāvieni un sveicieni no Eiko un Kristīnes.
Pasmaidiet!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! ! !
From the country far far away, over mountains and seas, we wish you all a great, wonderful, snowy, warm-hearted, Merry Christmas! To all friends, to the Realister-people, to the near and far, to the old and young - gingerbread-flavoured hugs and greetings from Eiko and Kristine.
Smile!
AND HAVE A BANGING-GREAT NEW YEAR'S PARTY ! ! !

Visited European countries map :)



REISISEIKLUSTE VÕIDUJOOKS - kamba peale kogu Euroopa punaseks!
1. Tekita World66 lehel paari hiireklikiga oma isiklik Euroopa reisikaart.
2. Kopeeri oma värskelt valminud kaardi all olev tekst. Kuidas, mis tekst? --> Klikka siia
3. Saada mulle see kopeeritud tekst ja oma nimi. Selleks 2 võimalust: (a) saada mulle emailile või (b) pane osaline kaardi kood siiasamma selle blogiteksti kommentaariks (näidis kommentaarist: "..., riikide kood on selline: ARAUBLESFIGGGEHULELIPORUSLSVSEUK").
4. Kõik kaardid ilmuvad selles albumis 16.01.2008. Võitjale Surematu Au ja Kuulsus! :)

Võidujooksu eesmärgid:
- Koguda 50 Euroopa reisikaarti!
- Katta enda ja sõprade reisikogemustega kogu Euroopa kaart
- Selgitada välja Kõige Suurem Reisisõber :)

Eiko, Kristīne ja Mārtiņši kaardid on albumis juba praegu näha - külastatud Euroopa riigid (punased). Kõik teie kaardid ilmuvad samasse albumisse 16.01.2008 - külasta albumit sellel kuupäeval ja leia enda ja sõprade reisikaardid!

NÜÜD TEGUDELE:
Anna oma panus Euroopa vallutamisele SIIN! Kutsu ka sõber võistlema, saates talle selle postituse lingi: http://lasfrutasexoticas.blogspot.com/2007/12/visited-european-countries-map.html!



THE RACE OF TRAVEL EXPERIENCE - together, we can paint Europe 100% red!
1. Create your own personal Europe travel map, only with a few mouse clicks, on the World66 site.
2. Copy the text under your freshly created map. How, which text? --> Click here
3. Send me the copied text and your name. You can do it in 2 different ways: (a) e-mail them to me, or (b) paste the partial map code right here in the comment field of this blog post(an example comment: "..., the countries code is the following: ARAUBLESFIGGGEHULELIPORUSLSVSEUK").
4. All the maps will be uploaded to this album on 16.01.2008. The winner receives Immortal Fame and Glory! :)

The objectives of this contest:
- To gather 50 travel maps of Europe!
- To cover 100% of the European map with our friends' travel experiences
- To find out who is the Top European Traveller :)

Eiko's, Kristīne's, and her brother Mārtiņš' maps are already uploaded to the album as an example - visited countries in Europe (red). All your maps will be visible in the same album on 16.01.2008 - visit it then to find your and your friends' maps!

NOW - "ACTION!":
Click here to conquer your part of Europe! After that, invite a friend to the travel-challenge, sending them this link: http://lasfrutasexoticas.blogspot.com/2007/12/visited-european-countries-map.html

Something cool to see / listen

Video killed the radio stars.
Internet killed the video stars.
What's next?

Daby Touré - Yafodé:

24 December 2007

¡Abrazos gratis! Free hugs!


24.December meant a Free Hugs campaign for Madrid. Organized by the CouchSurfing community, where I also belong for the last month. You can see the cool video of the original campaign here ;)
I spent about an hour in the center of Madrid (Sol) with the Free Hugs gang, and during this time exchanged approximately 100 hugs. Many happy (and surprised) faces, many people taking photos of (and with) us, and some new friends from Spain, USA, and Mexico ;) A very positive emotional charge from that day!
Every hug prolongs your life, and so does smiling - use your birth-given talents :)

Jõululaupäev tähendas Madriidi jaoks, et toimub "Tasuta kallistuste" kampaania. Orgunnijaks CouchSurfing seltskond, kuhu minagi juba umbes kuu aega kuulun. Vaata siit ka mõnusa soundtrackiga algupärase kampaania videot ;)
Veetsin tasuta embajate kambaga Madriidi keskuses (Solis) ligikaudu tunni, selle aja jooksul vahetasin umbes 100 kallistust. Palju rõõmsaid (ja üllatunud) nägusid, palju huvilisi meid (ja end meiega) pildistamas, samuti paar uut sõpra Hispaaniast, USAst ja Mehhikost ;) Väga positiivne laeng sellest päevast!
Iga kallistus pikendab su eluiga, nagu naerataminegi - kasutagem julgelt oma kaasasündinud andeid :)

18 December 2007

The great weekend - Eiko's point of view :)

Hey again. The past weekend was great, seeing 3 small cities called Segovia, Salamanca, and Ávila. It was cold as hell in all 3 of the cities - a pure joy to return to the warm Madrid (plus degrees). Still, I managed to take out my camera in many occasions, and capture some nice moments. Now they are uploaded and commented.
Click, see photos, and leave your comments here:

Segovia, Salamanca, Avila


Tere taas - nädalavahetus oli väga lahe - 3 pisilinna. Segovia, Salamanca ja Ávila on pildistatud ja kommenteeritud ülalasuval aadressil. Põrgukülm oli kõigis 3 kohas - lausa rõõm tagasi sooja Madriidi (plusskraadid) saabuda :)
Klikka, naudi, jäta oma kommentaarid.

Klikka siinsamas allpool lingile "Photos", ja näed kõiki fotoblogistusi*. Klikka lingile "Travel" ja näed kõiki reisiblogistusi*
Fotoblogistus = fototeemaline blogipostitus; reisiblogistus = reisiteemaline blogipostitus

13 December 2007

Photos, pildid, bildes ;)

Hey - just a short note here, telling you that now you can see comments under all the Sevilla-Cordoba and Toledo photos.

Hei-hopsti - lühimärguanne selle kohta, et nüüd Sevilla-Cordoba ja Toledo pildialbumeid vaadates näete iga pildi all ka väikest kommentaari. Enamasti inglisekeelsed, aga leidub ka spetsiaalselt eestikeelse killuga pilte - siis ka kommentaar eestimeelne :)

11 December 2007

Visual aidz - vizuaalzed meenutused - vizuālaz atmiņaz

Siin on pilte meie Erasmuse-reisist Sevillasse ja Cordobasse! Here are some cool moments from our Erasmus trip to Sevilla and Cordoba!
2.-4.Nov 2007
Sevilla y Cordoba, 2-4 Nov


ja Toledo ka... And Toledo - 26.10.2007
Toledo, 26.okt

One thing missing... / 1 asi puudu... / 1 lieta trūkst

...forgot YOUR ADDRESS! Please write your address to us, so that we could send your Christmas card! You can write it for example behind an envelope, or onto the postcard, just after your holiday greetings :)
...SU AADRESS ununes! Palun kirjuta meile oma aadress, et saaksime su jõulukaardi teele panna! Aadressi võid kirjutada näiteks ümbriku tagumisele küljele, või postkaardile, oma soovide järele :)

Eiko y Kristīne
C/Cáceres 10-2 Dcha
28045 Madrid
Madrid
SPAIN

OK, even better if you write your address to us by e-mail or into the blog-comments, but you can send a REAL letter/postcard as well ;)
OK, isegi parem, kui kirjutad oma aadressi meile emaili teel või blogikommentaariks, aga PÄRIS kirja/postkaardi võid ikkagi saata ;)

29 November 2007

Fiestas... Chicos y chicas... ¡Nos gusta! ;)

What would be a party, a trip, or simply an evening walk without a good friend?! We want to share some pictures of dear people to us - some of them who have visited us here, in Madrid, and the others - whom we met only in Spain! ¡Viva la fiesta! :]



Kas gan būtu pasākums, ceļojums vai vienkārši - vakara pastaiga bez laba drauga?! Mēs vēlamies padalīties ar bildēm, kur ir redzami gan tie mīļie, kas mūs jau ir apciemojuši Madridē, gan arī mūsu jauniegūtie draugi! :)

22 November 2007

Snap Shots

Introducing Snap Shots from Snap.com

I just installed a nice little tool on this site called Snap Shots that enhances links with visual previews of the destination site, interactive excerpts of Wikipedia articles, MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles and Amazon products, display inline videos, RSS, MP3s, photos, stock charts and more.

Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having to leave the site, while other times it lets you "look ahead," before deciding if you want to follow a link or not.

Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out.

Uus abimees blogis - Snap Shots

Snap.com on teinud mõnusa abivahendi, mida nüüd saab kasutada ka meie blogi lugeja. Snap Shots vähendab linkidega mässamist, kuna siitsamalt lehelt näed eelvaateid nii leheküljest, millele vastav link viitab, paljudest Wikipedia artiklitest, MySpace profiilidest, IMDb filmitutvustustest ja Amazoni toodetest; samuti saab otse Snap Shot aknakesest näha videosid, RSS uudiseid, kuulata MP3 muusikafaile, vaadata pilte, aktsiahindu ja palju muud.

Snap Shots võib sulle vajamineva info sulle kiiremini kätte tuua - ilma juba avatud veebilehelt lahkumata -, teine kord jällegi aitab otsustada, kas soovid lingile klikata ja uuele saidile liikuda.

Kui sulle tundub, et Snap Shots pole sinu silmadele mõeldud, klikka Snap Shoti eelvaateakna ülemises paremas nurgas olevat nuppu Options ja tühista Snap Shots akende näitamine siin lehel.

Sunday, bloody Sunday - VIDEO of traffic light people

The weird title? Ah yes, our Sunday wasn't THAT bad actually - it's just borrowed from the oldish but still unforgettable U2 song (Sunday Bloody Sunday). And if you haven't yet listened to it, then better do it ASAP, because it's one of the best songs out there ;) And talking about the best things out there - you just have to SEE OUR VIDEO (link below) - "Pedestrians in Avila" :-D

Now to the point - last Sunday we (me, Kristīne, Ilze, Witek) rented a small matchbox of a car and made a 372,8km tour around the region to the west of Madrid. Ávila and Talavera de la Reina were the names of the 2 cities we visited. The first one is probably famous because of its city walls that go around the central part of it, and if you pay some euros you can even walk on top of those walls a bit. The second, Talavera, also had city walls, but not as impressive. As we walked around the historic center, we also saw a strangely curved bridge (kind of goes straight, then has a turn to the right, then a turn to the left... we got lost in the dark and didn't manage to cross the river); the local lovers' square (2 couples spending their evening time next to a cathedral or smth); open-air toilets (sorry for the indecent misuse of one empty construction site), etc...

As you probably can feel from above, the cities were not the backbone of the excursion for me :) The main attraction of the trip was the cool people, the curvy up-and-down mountain roads, the lunch next to a river, and the driving into the sunset while listening to Estonian and Latvian music!!

Although the cities weren't my favourites, we still have VERY funny memories from Ávila, for example. CLICK ON THE LINK TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO OF THE "Traffic light people"!

The 4 good citizens - Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody

An important job had to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

14 November 2007

~London~



Pagājušās nedēļas nogalē (10.-13.nov) mēs ar Eiko bijām vienā no fantastiskākajām Eiropas galvaspilsētām – Londonā!
Mēs veicām nelielu ceļojumu no Vestminsteres katedrāles līdz pat Tower Bridge, pa ceļam apskatot Vestminsteres abatiju, Big Ben un parlamentu, London Bridge, kā arī ielu muzikantus, skrituļotājus, nesteidzīgos tūristus un vietējos...
Palikām pie Pauliusa, kas ir beidzis SSE un tagad strādā Canary Wharf (iespaidīgā finanšu augstceltņu rajonā). Man noveicās, jo svētdien, kamēr puse no mums strādāja (un te es domāju – Eiko), ar Pauliusu aizstaigājām līdz Grīnvičai un redzējām arī aitas, kas ir viens no angļu lepnumiem... ;)
Check-in lidostās gan te ir dikti nepatīkama procedūra. Manas somas saturu pilnīgi iztukšoja un pārbrauca vairākas reizes ar nepazīstama rakstura priekšmetu. Pats labākais, ka man pajautāja, vai es nepārvedot asus priekšmetus, uz ko skaidri un gaiši atbildēju, ka – nē! Bet tikai Madridē, izkravājot mantas, pamanīju, ka no brāļa Kārlēna skolas laikiem somā saglabājušās tādas lietas, kā lineāls-trijstūris un salauzts transportieris, kas abi ir pietiekami asām malām... ;)

10 November 2007

Mist-Market - a shopping trip to Eastern Europe :)

You'd think that you can't get things like that in Madrid:
- real russian salted/marinated cucumbers
- sourcream
- sprottes
- cottage cheese
- keefir/kefiirs/kefyras
- ukrainian juices
- Laima assorted chocolates
- etc
- etc

BUT YOU CAN!
Just go to the Atocha railway station, get out towards the south and up the hill on the taxi-lane, cross the street, and there you have it - MIST-MARKET!
It's a wonderful shop when you miss the things you can't live without back home :) More expensive, though, but still tastes good.

But I'm afraid they still didn't have cereals for cooking porridge. I had it brought from the Baltics each time we had a visitor... And luckily we had just enough to have an oatmeal porridge almost every morning! :)

07 November 2007

Best of the Best 2007 ! !

EE: Siin on üks mõnus pildiseeria, kliki ja testi, kõik pildid peaksid järjest jooksma. Kui tahad 1 pilti kauem vaadata, kliki pausinupule ja liigu eelmisele-järgmisele pildile, klikates noolenuppudele.
EN: Below is the slideshow, just click and test, all the photos should just circle after one another. If you want to look at 1 photo longer, click the pause-button and move to previous/next photos, clicking on the arrow buttons. Sorry, comments only in Estonian at the moment - but you can skype me and hear the english comments :)
LV: Apakšā ir bilžu galerija, uzklikšķini un pārbaudi - visām bildēm būtu jābūt apskatāmām. Ja vēlies kādu bildi apskatīties ilgāk, nospied pauzi un turpini slideshow ar bultiņu palīdzību. Komentāri - diemžēl tikai igauniski, jo tā ir Eiko šīgada retrospekcija. Interesentus lūdzam atstāt komentārus ar lūgumu/vēlmi redzēt arī citas šīgada bildes, kas mums ir (un to nav maz!) un varbūt, ka tieši kādā no tām, esi redzams/a arī TU! ;)


http://picasaweb.google.com/eiko.kivisik/BestOfTheBest2007
EN: Click to see the web album, and to download.
EE: Klikka piltide lähemalt vaatamiseks ja allalaadimiseks.
LV: Uzklikšķini šeit, lai apskatītu galeriju un saglabātu kādu bildi sev uz datora ekrāna! ;)

Presentaciones


Te ir neliels ieskats tajā, kā mēs prezentējām savas valstis!
Nii me tutvustasimegi oma kodumaid!






Svarīgākais bildē: karogi (banderas), pelēkie zirņi un kartupeļi, kā arī lietuviešu meitenes ;) Āāā, un trešajā bildē esam redzami ar meiču no Polijas, kā arī ar diviem simpātiskiem jauniešiem no Spānijas (Carlos - ESN prezidents) un Francijas (Marion).
Kõige tähtsamad detailid, mida märgata: lipud (banderas), hallid herned, kartulid, leedu tüdrukud ;) Ahjaa, kolmandal pildil võid näha ka poola tüdrukut (valge jakiga), ning pilti raamib armas Prantsuse-Hispaania paarike. Kutt on Carlos, ESN (Erasmus Student Network meie koolis) president, tüdruk Marion (eelmise aasta vahetustudeng Madriidis - siis armuski Hispaaniasse ja hispaanlasse :)
Here you can see how we presented our countries! You should notice in the pictures: the flags (banderas), the grey peas and potatoes, as well as the lithuanian girls ;) And, yes, in the third photo you can see us with a girl from Poland, as well as with two people who took a great care of us - Carlos (Mr. President from ESN (Erasmus Student Network)) and his chica Marion from France.

Vasta kohe! Answer now! Atbildi tagad!


English - you understand all the answer options to the poll question about the Schengen area - pick your answer(s) now ;)

Uus päevakajaline küsitlus blogiserval!! Et keelebarjäärid ei segaks arvamuse avaldamist, siis väike juhend eestikeelsetele:

Küsimus: Kuidas mõjutab Sinu elu 21.detsember ja "Schengeni värk"?
-Loomulikult reisin rohkem passi näitamata!
-Reisin rohkem, kuid alles pärast 30.märtsi 2008 - siis kaotatakse ju passikontroll ka sadamates ja lennujaamades.
-Nooh, ma pole pärit Baltikumist (ega teistest tsooniga ühinevatest riikidest), seega ei plaani ma oma reisiharjumuste muutmist.
-Kesse krt on Schengen??!!
-Nojah, uudis iseenesest kena, aga ma pole eriti reisifänn, seega ei muutu midagi.
-Pärast 21.dets reisin vähem - mulle ei meeldi, et liikmesriigid jagavad omavahel reisijate infot.
-Schengen - see on mu lemmikkokteil!! Aga kas selle segamiseks mitte Havana rummi vaja ei lähe...
-Olen Hongkongis, neid eriti ei koti Schengen siin.

Valida võib ka rohkem kui 1 variandi.

Mūsu "mazais" dzīvoklītis. Our "small" flat. Meie "väike" korter.


Mūsu mazajā dzīvoklītī dzīvo 12 cilvēki - vakar saskaitījām! :D
Te ir visas pasaules kokteilis - pārsvarā puiši :) venecuēlietis, polis, peruānis, 2 krievi, 2 itāļi, 3 rumāņi + 2 traki Baltijas iedzīvotāji :P

Our home here, in Madrid, is like a coctail of the world countries. Yesterday we counted that in total here live 12 people - mainly guys :) from Venezuela, Poland, Peru, Russia, Italia, Rumania, and, of course, the crazy people from the Baltic countries :P

Aruanne meie korterist - seisuga 05.11.2007 :)
Paras rahvaste paabel:
  • 1 eestlane (Eiko)
  • 1 lätlane (Kristine)
  • 1 venetsueela kutt
  • 1 rumeenia lahke mammi ja 2 poolnoort veel sealtsamast, paaris omavahel
  • 2 vene meest, mitte retsid, vaid ehitustöölised. 1 neist on prillidega.
  • 2 itaalia noormeest
  • 1 poola kutt, Erasmuse vahetustudeng, nagu meiegi
  • 1 peruu mees, ka ehitusel tööl, väga muhe
Jah, kokku 12... Aga uskumatult rahulik selle kohta - kõik on nagu hotellis oma toas, viisakad-sõbralikud-tublid. Ainult et üks ei viitsi praegu nõusid pesta, kahtlusaluste ülekuulamine kestab, nõudevirn kasvab... Kahtlustame uut poissi (itaalia).
Ahjaa, Katani asustajaid elab siin ka parasjagu - aga need on enamjaolt oma lauamängukarbis :-P

05 November 2007

..eesti keeles - kes veel pole märganud:

....blogi alaossa, paljude värviliste piltide vahele tekkis hiljuti eestikeelne reisikiri Granada-Malaga-Gibraltar. Mälestusi ja muhelusi parasjagu ;) Ühesõnaga vajuta nuppu "print", seejärel lülita ennast lõõgastusrežiimi ja monitor puhkerežiimi ja ampsa elamusi...

jah, veel uudiseid - mõned tunnid tagasi saabusime Sevilla ja Cordoba reisilt - selle kohta siis näete siin ka varsti pilte-jutustusi. Praegu ainult niipalju, et OLI VÄGEV!

01 November 2007

Head uudised - good news - labi jaunumi


Esimene kysitlusvoor lõppes täna hommikul, ja tulemusi vaadates on puhas rõõm tõdeda, et mitte keegi vastajatest pole veel Madriidi metroos ära eksinud! :) (meeldetuletuseks, et küsimusele "Millal tuled meile Madriidi külla?" vastamiseks olid variandid:
- Juba piletid olemas;
- Igal juhul jõuan enne uut aastat;
- Üritasin tulla, aga eksisin metroos ära (0);
- Kardan, et ei õnnestu tulla.. ehk järgmine kord?
- Ma ei suuda otsustada jaanuari ja veebruari vahel
Allpool (või kuskil teksti kõrval) ka graafiline ülevaade :)


The first poll in our blog finished this morning, and, looking at the results, we are happy to see that none of the respondents have yet gotten lost in the Madrid subway system! :)
(to remind you, the question "When will you visit us?" had the following answering choices:
- I already have my tickets;
- Definitely before the new year;
- I tried to come, but got lost in the subway (0);
- I am afraid I won't manage.. maybe next time?
- I can't decide between January and February..
For the little statistics-addicts, there is also a graph somewhere around this text :)

31 October 2007

Almost PowerPoint presentations :)

So, tomorrow back to school again - holidays over... This makes it quite logical that I will write a few words about academic issues. For example how they conduct lectures here generally.
Well - most of the lecturers are good old-school chalk-and-blackboard types, writing and talking. And then everybody tries to listen and copy everything from the blackboard at the same time.
Some lecturers, however, also have some course materials that the students are free to BUY from the downstairs copy-center. And the third, the most advanced level is the Overhead Projector users. You remember maybe - the weird lamp-and-mirror thing, used to project plastic see-through sheets on the wall. And then you see it kind of neatly typed (and sometimes even illustrated) on the wall, but you still have to copy it by hand to your notebook.
BUT there are some Baltic techno-gurus that have invented the Overhead-to-Digital methodology (tm), which means we go to classes with our digital photo camera, take photos of every single slide that they show there, and just download the photos to the laptop, watching them then as a slideshow. So this is what you can call the APPP (Almost PowerPoint Presentations) ;)




OK, there actually is one lecturer that shows his material using a multimedia projector and MS Powerpoint, but he evens this positive side right back down again by talking sloowly and repeating everything 5-6 times, juuust in caaase we diidn't understaaand.. :)

24 October 2007

Suured lapsed / big kids

Üks tähelepanek esimestest koolinädalatest - siinsed tudengid riietuvad (ja mõned ka käituvad) nagu suured lapsed. Huvitav. Nagu oleks sattunud Hollywoodi teismelistefilmi või stiilipeole "tagasi keskkoolis". Mitte et see nüüd halb oleks, aga natuke naljakas on näha 20-25 aasta vanuseid noori mehi-naisi, riides nagu värsked Eesti gümnasistid :)

One observation from the first school weeks here - the university students dress (and some of them also act) like big kids. Interesting. As if we had landed into a Hollywood teenager-movie, or to a party with a dresscode "back in high school". Not that it would be bad or anything, but it's kind of funny to see people around, 20-25 years old, dressed like fresh secondary school students in Estonia/Latvia (10.-11.class...)

Our symmetric university


I discovered a couple of unfinished draft entries to this blog..

1 fun thing about our university is that you will get lost 10 times there before you start understanding what is where - it's quite completely symmetric on all four sides :)

To prove my point, here's a shot from the google maps ;-)
(the almost perfectly square-shaped building in the middle is the main building of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; to the South, you can see the Management building (we also had our language classes there), and to the North, there's the Administrative (left) and the library buildings (right).

- or see the original map here -

17 October 2007

ClustrMaps

Uus vidin blogis - vaata vasakule ja näed maailmakaarti. Seal on täppidena märgitud kohad, kust kaugelt on meie blogi loetud. Aita teha meie kaart täpiliseks ja ava lasfrutasexoticas.blogspot.com igas maailmanurgas :)

A new thingy of our blog - check to the left and you'll notice a world map. On this map, the dots show where in the world have people read our blog. Help us make the map dotted - open lasfrutasexoticas.blogspot.com in every corner of the world you visit/stay :)

Kaut kas jauns mūsu blogā - paskaties pa kreisi un tu ieraudzīsi pasaules karti. Punkti, kas atzīmēti tajā, parāda, kurās pasaules vietās cilvēki ir lasījuši mūsu blogu. Palīdzi mums padarīt šo pasaules karti vēl punktiem raibāku - atver lasfrutasexoticas.blogspot.com katrā pasaules malā, kur tu esi :)

09 October 2007

Granada – Malaga – Gibraltar

Three crazy and adventurous travelers decided to explore the southern beauty of Spain a bit more and went on a three day trip to Andaluzia. The first thing was the tough wake-up, because the two of us were hardly to be pushed out of the bed, and if not for our dear fellow from SSE, mr. Lauris Grāvelis, who was ready already to go alone, I guess, we would have postponed the trip to a later time, because me and Eiko are late birds! Nevertheless, after some time we were in the bus station, where we had to face the hard truth - the next bus to Granada with any free seats left was leaving only after an hour and a half. So we returned home to have a bit more sleep...

Anyway, not long afterwards, we were sitting in a bus and driving towards Granada! When stepping out of the bus, we at once noticed the difference in the weather, because it was incredibly sunny and warm! :) We also made a friend fast - the guy at the information stand helped us out with suggesting a hostel and telling us all that we needed to know about the evening life. The hostel.. we discovered later that the price of our room was lower than we were told. Hmm - what do you think, is it cheating or not... (since he was the person who reserved this hostel for us, we had to pay 30 euros more for our room, like a bonus to this one-man traveling agency). We spent quite a lot of time on looking for other hostels, but it was very hard to find anything, so finally we stayed at this reserved hostel with our "special price" and our excursion started late at night.

The first thing we saw was the plaza de Isabella, which was on our way to the Arabian palace La Alhambra. The last one was our main destination in Granada, since we were told that this place looks especially marvellous at night, though due to the limited amount of people (400 per night) and the pre-reservations in the Internet, we were afraid that migth not get the entrance tickets. Nevertheless, here we were very lucky, because we got them and had the possibility to see with our eyes a place, which was even a candidate to becoming one of the Seven world wonders. The name "Al hambra" in arabic means "The red fortress".

The next morning was again tough, because Lauris was pulling us out of the bed, since we were not very eager to wake up, while mr. Grāvelis was as on fire to see Granada! :) But it was great, because otherwise we would have missed the magnificent sights of the old town..

From Granada we went to Malaga, next to the Mediterranean sea. Our expectations of a nice beach turned out to be a bit weirder than expected, since all the beach looks like after a long drived of the tractors and other vehicles, besides it is not the cleanest we had seen before.
Still, we managed to find a small green island with some palms on it. So we were lying there for some time and then attacked by the parrots, who were having their breakfast in the branches of the palm, just above us... and throwing everything from their beaks :D

We decided not to spend time on searching a hostel in Malaga, but rather sleeping in the beach during the day and then going around the city at night. So at midnigth we were standing on a small hill and enjoying the beautiful panorama of Malaga. :)

In the morning, at 7 o'clock three sleepy travelers stepped into a bus and after a short sleep turned out to be next to Gibraltar.Here, however, not all of us had their passports with them, so only one lucky of us saw the monkeys with the short tails! But we all enjoyed the view of Africa, when going to a small nearby village, from which we returned back to Madrid!...



Trīs ceļotāji - Eiko, Kristīne un mūsu draugs Lauris - kādu rītu devās ceļojumā uz silto un saulaino Andalūziju. Šis rīts nebija no vieglajiem, jo divus no mums bija pilnībā pārņēmis miegs un, ja ne Laura centieni mūs dabūt ārā no gultas un solījumi, ka citādi viņš dosies viens, mēs laikam neredzētu Andalūziju... Vismaz ne šajās skaistajās oktobra dienās! Tomēr mums izdevās drīz vien būt autoostā Mendez-Alvaro, kur mēs uzzinājām, ka mūsu autobuss aties tikai pēc pusotras stundas... Tad nu mēs atgriezāmies mājās vēl mazliet pagulēt... :)

Lai nu kā, drīz vien mēs devāmies uz Granadu. Pirmā patīkamā pārmaiņa - mūsu nu jau trešā atvasara, jo šeit bija daudz siltāks kā Spānijas galvaspilsētā! :) Te nu gan mums atgadījās nelielas nepatikšanas ar hosteli, tā kā autoostā kāds kolosāls spānis pie informācijas stenda mums rezervēja hosteli, kurš, kā vēlāk izrādījās bija lētāks, nekā mums bija teikts, jo starpība - 30eiro - bija daļa no šī puiša "algas". Mūsu ekskursija pa Granadu sākās vakarpusē, tā kā diezgan daudz laika veltījām citu hosteļu meklēšanai, kas bija diezgan sarežģīti, tā kā tā bija piektdienas pēcpusdiena un pēc ilgiem pūliņiem, mēs palikām šajā, rezervētajā hostelī.

Pirmais un pats galvenais mūsu apskates objekts - krāšņā Alhambra, kas arābu valodā nozīmē "Sarkanais cietoksnis". Lai apskatītu šo pili, ir jārezervē biļetes daudz iepriekš internetā, tomēr mums noveicās un mēs tās dabūjām (apmeklētāju skaits naktī ir ierbežots - 400). Alhambra kandidēja kļūt par vienu no Septiņiem pasaules brīnumiem un iemesls kāpēc - tas no tiesas nav brīnums! :)

Nākamais rīts atkal bija smags, jo jau rīta agrumā Lauris mūs vilka ārā no gultas, lai mēs dotos apskatīt vecpilsētu. Mazas ieliņas, muzikanti, tūristu grupas, un skaists skats uz Alhambru un Granadu...

Malaga... Vidusjūra... Mēs nolēmām, ka labāk netērēsim laiku hosteļa meklējumiem un tā vietā - pa dienu gulēsim pludmalē un naktī dosimies pa naksnīgo Malagu. Sacīts, darīts! Ieradāmies pludmalē, kas pārsteidza ar traktoru izdangājumiem un pilsētas klātienes spēcīgo izjūtu. Bet mums izdevās atrast kādu zaļu salu pludmales vidū, uz kuras auga dažas palmas. To ēnā tad mēs arī laiski snauduļojām, līdz daži papagaiļi nolēma pusdienot. Tad nu mums virsū sāka krist augļu gabaliņu krusa! :D

Nākamajā dienā daži no mums redzēja bezastu pērtiķus Gibraltāra virsotnē, kamēr citi berzēja sasarkušās acis par mājās atstāto pasi, bez kuras šajā angļu pārvaldītajā teritorijā iekšā netikt! Tomēr tālās Āfrikas kontūru redzējām visi...



Kolm lõbushullu reisiselli – Eiko, Kristine ja meie sõber Lauris Lätist – otsustasid Hispaania lõunanurkadele lähema pilgu heita ja asutasid end kolmepäevasele Andaluusia-retkele. Reedehommik algas valuliselt, kuna meie agar külaline Riiast (SSE Riiast – minu endine kursavend Lauris Gravelis) sikutas meid sõna otseses mõttes igast sõrmest, varbast ja juuksekarvast, et me voodist välja ja silmad lahti saaks. Uni on magus, nagu Nõo ajatu legend Trafo olla öelnud... See selleks, igal juhul bussijaama me jõudsime! Ja varahommikune pomm-uudis: järgmine buss Granadasse, millele veel pileteid saadaval, väljub vaid pooleteise tunni pärast. Ühesõnaga tagasi koju ja veel väike uinak...
--aeg möödumas norinal--
--
Nii, teel Granadasse!
--ei, see oli veel uni--
Nii, NÜÜD voodist välja, bussijaama, bussi – GRANADA! Esimene meeldiv üllatus on lõunamaine ilm – mõnusalt soe ja päikseline. Leidsime kiirelt ka esimese sõbra, kes aitas meid bussijaama infolauas hostelireserveerimise ja linnainfoga. Pärast linna peal ringi nuhkides avastasime, et selle kuti kaudu oli hostelireserveering küllalt kallis lõbu – meie tuba maksis kohapeal 26 eur vähem kui „bussijaamareserveeringuga”. Selline teenustasu siis... Siiski – reede õhtul kuurortlinnas eelneva reserveeringuta hosteliotsimine pole just parim meelelahutus ega ammugi mitte lihtne ülesanne. Seega tunnistasime lõpuks oma reserveeritud hostelis üles, et jah olemegi meie need, kes bussijaamast kalli reserveeringu tegid, ja maksime täishinna. Koht olemas, kotid nurka visatud, seadsime uudishimulikud sammud vaatamisväärsuste suunas.

Esimene tõsine turistiatraktsioon oli Isabella väljak – seal tegime mõned lõõgastavad pildid ja jätkasime oma jalutuskäiku legendaarse araabia linnuse, La Alhambra suunas. Viimane oligi meie põhiline rist, mille pidime Granadas kirja saama. Meile olid enne naised saunas rääkinud, et õhtune/öine Alhambra-külastus on eriti meeldejääv – sinna pääseb igal ööl vaid 400 inimest, neist suur osa juba internetis reserveeritud pääsetega. Kuna jõudsime kohale tund enne piletimüügi algust, hajusid meie mured piletite arvu pärast kiirelt – olime peaaegu esimesed, kes endale sissepääsu lunastasid. Ja nii nägimegi oma silmaga ära palee, mis omal ajal kandideeris ka seitsme maailmaime sekka. Mine tea, mispärast ta sinna siis ei mahtunud – ehk ei mõistnud otsustajad tolle aja moodsat araabia kunsti...
Muide, „Al hambra” pidavat araabia keeles tähendama punast kindlust.

Järgmine hommik oli taas raske, samal põhjusel nagu Madriidiski – Lauris põles avastamishimust ja sikutas meil tekki pealt. Tagantjärele loomulikult täname teda, sest muidu oleksime nii mõnestki hingematvast vaatest ilma jäänud.

Granadast viis meie tee Vahemereäärsesse kuurortlinna Malagasse. Nagu ühes korralikus kuurortlinnas (võtame näiteks Pärnu), ei puudu siingi rand. Meie ootused jooksid aga natuke liiva, kuna kohalik rand nägi välja nagu traktoriralli harjutusplats ja prügikorjajate unelm. Pruunid kohalikud topless-päevitajad turist-luikede vahel muidugi leevendasid natuke seda pettumust  Leidsime meiegi oma koha – rohesaareke palmide all, keset liivavälja. Romantika kestis hetkeni, kuni palmi asustasid näljased papagoid. Nii näljased kui nad ka polnud, lõuad (khm, nokad) olid neil ikkagi auklikud – puuviljatükke lendas matsutamise taustal igas kaares, sealhulgas loomulikult meie pruunistuvatele lihakehadele. Ja mitte ainult puuviljatükke... Tuli minekut teha.

Eelmise õhtu hosteliloo tõttu otsustasime Malagas proovida teistsugust stiili – magada õhtusel ajal enne ööjahedust rannal palmi all ning pärast keskööd jalutada hommikuse bussini linnas ringi. Mõeldud-mõeldud! Ja tehtud! Pärast magusat und nägime linnas palju turiste, kalleid ööklubisid, väga rahvarohket odavat tapa-baari, linnusevaremeid, kitsaid tänavaid ja ka üht mäekülge, millelt avanes SELLINE vaade (otsi pilti). Malaga on ilus.

Hommikul kella seitsmest astusimegi (loe: kukkusimegi) bussi ja avasime silmad Gibraltari kõrval, pärast järjekordset märkamatut paaritunnist sõitu. Gibraltari kõrval, sest Gibraltar on ju Inglismaa valdus, ja Hispaania bussiga sinna otse ei saa – kohe riigipiiri-tõkkepuu tagant algab Hispaania linnake nimega La Linea, mille bussijaama saabusimegi. Kuna kõigil meist polnud passe kaasas, saatsime Gibraltarile ahve ja Aafrika mägesid vaatama vaid Laurise.
Üks väga lahe avastus Gibraltaril – poolsaarel on oma lennurada, mis on poolsaare endaga risti. See tähendab, et kõik jalakäijad ja mootorliikujad saavad valgusfoori lubava tule ajal üle lennuraja minna – nagu linnatänava ületamine! Ennenägematu!

Madriidi tagasisõidupileti leidmiseks pidime sõitma järgmisesse kõrvalasulasse ja veel kolm ooperit läbi tegema (liiga pikk ja põnev kirjeldus, et siia mahuks.. :P ). Positiivset veel – teel kõrvalkülla nägime kõik taas bussiaknast Aafrika mägede kontuure. Igal juhul lõpuks olime kõrvallinnas ühes kitsavõitu bussis ja ärkasimegi jälle 8h pärast pealinnas!

08 October 2007

Klubben

Pealkiri umbkeelne, et ei peaks kolmes keeles kirjutama :) Kluberdamine ühesõnaga (kluberdamine = klubid + laaberdamine).
Iga nurga peal seisavad kesklinnas noored mehed ja naised, kes topivad sulle näppu igasugu paberitükikesi. Üks paberitükike ütleb "Tule meie baari ja saad esimese joogi tasuta", teine "Meie klubis on piletiga kaasas 2 tasuta jooki", kolmas "Meil on üleüldse linna kõige odavamad joogid", jne jne... Taavi tõestas Madriidis, et ka mahl on jook - kallati kyll ka mahla klubis, olgugi et pärast mitut kahtlustavat pilku :)
Eriti palju pole me väljas käinud siin, aga mõned korrad kyll. Näiteks üks õhtu oligi selline "chupito"-de ekskursioon. Chupitod siis on need tasuta tere-joogid baarides. Käisime 3-kesi mööda linnatänavaid ja lasime end voolul kanda - ühest baarist teise, ühe Sangria juurest teise õlle juurde. Paras kompott, tihti ei taha sellist...

The title is in no-man's-language, in order not to write it in 3 languages :) Klubbening = going to klubs (clubs? :) in the evening.
On every streetcorner in the center there are young women and men, giving you all sorts of leaflets. One of them reads: "Come to our bar and your first drink is for free", another "Our club gives 2 free drinks with every entrance ticket", another "We have totally the cheapest drinks in the town", etc, etc...
Taavi proved in Madrid that juice is also a drink - in a club they also poured juice for him as a "drink", although after several suspicious glances :)
To tell the truth, we haven't gone out much, but a nice couple of times. For example, one evening was our chupito-tour. (chupitos - the free welcome-drinks in bars). We were wandering around the town with the all 3 of us (me, Kristine, Lauris), and let the current take us - from one bar to another, from one Sangria to another beer. A killer-cocktail, wouldn't like to have such every night...

Nosaukums ir neviena-vīra-vārdā, tā kā mēs centāmies to uzrakstīt 3 valodās :) Klubbening = iet vakaros uz klubiem.
Pilsētas centrā, uz katras ielas stūra, ir jaunas meitenes un puiši, kas izdāļā ieejas biļetes dažādos klubos un bāros: "Ienāc pie mums un saņemsi pirmo dzērienu bez maksas", "'Pie mums ir vislētākie dzērieni pilsētā", utt..
Taavi pierādīja, ka arī sulu var dabūt apmaiņā pret šādu kuponu, lai gan pirms tam viņam tika veltīti vairāki aizdomīgi skatieni :)
Patiesībā, mēs neesam īpaši gājuši ārā izklaidēties, bet ir gadījies. Tā, piemēram, vienu vakaru bija chupito-tour. (chupitos - bezmaksas dzērieni bāros). Mēs klaiņojām pa pilsētu (Eiko, es un Lauris) un garšojām tad sangriju, tad alu. Tomēr katru vakaru tādu pasākumu nevar atļauties...

25 September 2007

Ooo, Madride

Milzīgā metropole Madride ar katru dienu kļūst ar vien mazāka. Ar Eiko atklājām, ka no mūsu mājām var aiziet līdz centram tikpat īsā laika posmā, cik braucot ar metro. ;)

The huge metropolitan Madrid is becoming smaller and smaller with each day. We discovered that it takes the same time to get from our home to the centre as when going by metro. ;)

Maailmalinn Madriid jääb iga päevaga väiksemaks. Tänane avastus - meie kodust kesklinna saab jalgsi sama kiiresti kui metrooga.
Või kasvavad hoopis meie jalad pikemaks, mine võta kinni...

Salsa!!!!

Vakar apmeklējām salsas deju stundu kādā klubā La Gramola, kurš kļuvis par Erasmus Student Network (ESN) iecienīto mājvietu. ESN ir jauniešu organizācija, kas rūpējas par to, lai studenti šeit justos kā mājās! :) Salsas nodarbība bija lieliska, atklāju, ka iesildīšanās soļi man jau ir pazīstami, lai gan salsu tā īpaši iepriekš neesmu dejojusi. Lai gan telpa bija salīdzinoši diezgan maza un cilvēku – daudz, tomēr, neskatoties uz to, smaids bija redzams daudzās sejās un piepūle arī... dažās... :)


Yesterday we visited salsa dancing classes in La Gramola, which has become the home for Erasmus Student Network (ESN) people. ESN is a youth organization that takes care of Erasmus students who come to study in Madrid, so that they would feel here like at home! :) The dancing class was fantastic and I discovered that I am already acquainted with the warm-up steps, although have not danced salsa much before. Although the premises were quite small and there were lots of salsa-dancing-willing people, many people had smile on their faces... :)

Eile käisime taas baaris nimega La Gramola - seekord salsatunnis. La Gramola on Erasmuse-rahva iganädalane kogunemispaik. Oma rolli mängib siin ka see, et ESN (Erasmus Student Network) liikmekaardiga saab siin neljapäeviti tasuta õlut :) ESN pole vaid tudengite õlleabiorganisatsioon, vaid hoolitseb noorte õppur-immigrantide eest ka muudel viisidel. Näiteks tutvustati esimestel päevadel Madriidi linna, samuti organiseerib ESN ekskursioone-pidusid-kultuuriõhtuid. Esimene tripp on juba selja taga - mungaklooster el Escorial -, teine tõsine väljasõit on meid ootamas 2.-4. novembril. Saame Sevillas käidud, ööbitud ja pidutsetud vaid 47 EURiga - kas pole mitte väärt organisatsioon see ESN :)
Ahjaa, salsast pidi olema see sissekanne :) Iseenesest polnud raske tund, selline ühelt jalalt teisele tatsumine. Aeg-ajalt ka teiste tudengite jalgadele tatsumine, kuna ruum oli küllaltki väike ja salsahuvilisi palju...
Nagu igasuguste tantsutundide puhul, on siingi meestepõud. Hr Kiivi ja Prl Ananass olid mõlemad kohal, seega meil mured puudusid - aga väljakutse kõigile meessoost lugejatele - lennake hoplaa esmaspäeviti Madriidi, tantsima salsat noorte tüdrukutega üle maailma ;)

Sissekande soundtrack - Singer Vinger - Mina pean sambat tantsida saama (ja mõttes asenda "samba" "salsa"-ga ;)

23 September 2007

Antonio

Saime teada, et lipp on hispaania keeles bandera. Kas tunnete filminäitlejat, kelle nimi on Antonio Lipud :)

We learned that „bandera“ means „a flag“ in Spanish. Do you know a movie star called Antonio Flags :)

Spāņi ir ļoti atsaucīgi un interesanti. Vai jūs pazīstat Antonio Karogi? Domāju, ka diezgan noteikti esat par viņu dzirdējuši, tā kā „Banderas“ spāniski nozīmē karogi :)

Proloog

Kohvrid, kotid, pakkimine, kaalumine
Reisisime nii: 2 inimest, kokku 6 kotti, kaasas (peaaegu) kõik, mis järgneva 5 ja poole kuu jooksul vaja. Need oleme meie:

Suitcases, bags, packing, weighing
This is how we started: 2 people, altogether 6 bags, carrying (almost) everything that we will need in the next 5 months. This is us:

Bagāža, somas, pakošanās, svēršana
Un te kāds ģeniāls zīmētājs ir uzzīmējis, kā mēs sākām šo ceļojumu uz otru Eiropas malu: 2 mazi cilvēki un 6 lielas somas:

Imekombel mahtus kõik lennufirma lubatud kaalu sisse. Odavlennufännidel tasub järgnev kogemus kõrva taha panna ;)

EasyJet lubab maksimaalselt 20kg registreeritud pagasit reisija kohta, pluss käsipagas lennukisalongi, pluss läpparikott salongi. Enne lennujaama minekut tegelesime tublisti pakkimise ja kaalumisega – Kristinel õnnestus pakkida kohver 20 koma midagi kilo sisse, pluss seljakotike, minul oli lugu natuke keerulisem. Esimese hooga ei olnud ma osanud kilosid karta ja pakkisin oma registreeritud pagasi 30-kiloseks (lisaks ka 5-kilone käsipagas, aga jah, seda ju EasyJet ei kaalu). Nämmu... See oleks mult lennujaamas röövinud kümne lisakilo raha ehk 10*9 eurot... Tudengirahakott pole teadupärast ülearu pungil, seega tekkis tahtmine asjad natuke paremini pakkida.

15 higipisarat ja 55 minutit hiljem hingasin kergendatult, sest olin just tunnikesega „teeninud“ 72 eurot :) (kaal näitas registreeritud pagasile 21,3 kg ehk vaid +2 kg eelneva +10kg asemel, lisaks RASKETE asjadega käsipagas-seljakott, lisaks lubatud läpparikott, kus peale arvuti oli veel 2 tublit plaadikarpi, mida ei saanud kuidagi maha jätta). Lennujaamas oli olukord veel mõnusam, kuna nad ei kaalunud mulle ühtki lisakilo.

9 korda kaalu, 1 kord paki, nagu vanarahvas ütleb.


Miraculously, we managed to fit all our things into the weight limits allowed by EasyJet. Cheap flight fans – take your notes from the following experience ;)

EasyJet allows a maximum of 20kg of checked-in baggage per passenger, plus hand baggage that you can take in the cabing, plus a laptop bag also into the cabin. Before going to the airport, we were packing and weighing our stuff a lot – Kristine managed to pack her suitcase to fit into 20 comma smth kg, plus a small backpack, my story was a bit more complicated. At first, I wasn’t too much worried about kilos, and packed my checked-in baggage to weigh 30kg (plus a 5-kg hand-baggage, but yes, EasyJet doesn’t care about the weight of that). Cool... That would have robbed me an additional 90 euros (extra charge for 10 extra kilos of baggage) at the airport... You know, the student wallet is not too full ever, so I got quite interested in re-packing. 15 sweat-tears and 55 minutes later I let out a relieved breath, because I had managed to „earn“ 72 euros in the last hour :) (the scales showed only 21,3 kg for the checked-in bags, which is only +2kg instead of the previous +10kg, plus a hand-baggage backpack with HEAVY things, plus the allowed laptop bag, which contained also 2 quite big CD-boxes that were just impossible to leave home). At the airport I got even happier, since the check-in personnel didn’t show any extra kilos on my baggage.

Weigh 9 times, pack once, as the Estonian old folks say :)


Dīvainā kārtā mums izdevās iekļauties 20 kg limitā. Eiko pat izdevās ietaupīt, tā kā savu rokas bagāžu viņš papildināja par 10 kg, kas citādāk būtu reģistrētajā bagāžā, un būtu viņam izmaksājis papildus 90 eiro. (EasyJet ir pavisam dīvaina sistēma – reģistrētā bagāža nedrīkst pārsniegt 20kg, bet rokas bagāža – bez jebkādiem limitiem; nebrīnītos, ja kāds izdomātu pārvietot zirgu kā rokas bagāžu, jo daudzi pasažieri stūmās pa lidmašīnas celiņu pat ar nelieliem koferīšiem uz ritentiņiem :)

Sissejuhatuseks - introduction - sākam drukāt


Tere kõigile :) Siin kirjutavad Eiko ja Kristīne (el kiwi & la piña) oma elust välismaal. Millest tulevad meie päeviku imelik aadress ja meie pseudonüümid? Väga lihtne – meie perekonnanimed on hispaania keeles nagu troopilised puuviljad – kiivi ja ananass ;) Kirjutame 2-3 keeles - eesti-inglise-läti...

12.septembril 2007 kell 13:25 istusime Riias EasyJeti lennukisse ja lendasime Madriidi, vahepotsatusega Berliinis. Kuni veebruari lõpuni oleme tublid Erasmuse vahetustudengid. Meie Hispaania ülikooli nimi on Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (kuningas Jaan-Kaarli ülikool :) ), selle majandusteaduskond asub linnamelust eemal, Vicalvaros.

Vicalvaro on natuke vaiksem piirkond, kuid siiski kesklinnaga hästi ühendatud – sinna saab nii bussi, rongi kui metrooga. Ja metroosüsteem on siin hea ;)

Täna on 23.kuupäev, seega oleme siin juba 10 päeva olnud – miks me siis varem midagi kirjutanud pole? Päevikut hakkasime pidama alles nüüd, kuna siiamaani olime kodutud :) Nimelt tegelesime aktiivselt omale toakese või korteri otsimisega. Täpsemalt nendest seiklustest mõnes järgmises kirjajupikeses, praegu vaid niipalju, et ELAME PEAAEGU MADRIIDI KESKLINNAS!

Jagame korterit huvitavate inimestega – esindatud on nii Rumeenia, Poola, Peruu kui ka Kolumbia. Kuni oktoobri alguseni oleme kahekesi pisikesevõitu toakeses kitsapoolse voodiga, lisaks mu vennaraas madratsil keset põrandat. Kuid varsti kolib Kolumbia paarike korterist välja. Seega 30.sept/1.okt kolime ümber korteri teise otsa, ja siis on meil oma kaheinimesetuba koos kõige sinna juurde kuuluvaga (ehk siis kaheinimesevoodi, kaheinimeseriidekapp, kaheinimeseeuks ja –aken, kaheinimesekirjutuslaud ja võib-olla veel mõn kaheinimeseasi :)) Lahe on selle uue toa juures see, et kohe kõrval on vannituba ja selle kõrval köök. See tähendab, et meil oleks justkui oma korter, ja kuskil eemal on ka mingid teised inimesed. Praegu on nagu vastupidi – oleme köögist-vannitoast umbes „pool kilomeetrit“ eemal. Peame marssima läbi esiku ja koridori, mis on meie toapugeriku ja köögi vahel – värskelt täis söödud kõht läheb juba köögist tuppa tulemise jooksul tühjaks...

Sissejuhatuseks piisab – edaspidi katsume kirjutada lühemalt ja tihedamalt, samuti jagada põnevaid pilte.



Hey everybody :) Here are Kristīne & Eiko (la piña & el kiwi), writing about the life abroad. Why the strange address and our pseudonyms? Easy peasy – our last names sound like tropical fruits in Spanish – kiwi and pineapple ;) We will write in 2-3 languages - English-Latvian-Estonian...

12.09.2007 at 13:25 – we sat into an EasyJet plane in Riga, and flew to Madrid, popping down at Berlin for an hour. Until February we will be nice Erasmus students. The name of our school in Spain is Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (the university of the king John Carl :) ), and its faculty of economics is a bit further away from the city noise, in a region called Vicalvaro.

Vicalvaro is a more silent neighborhood, but still well connected with the city center – you can arrive there by bus, by train, as well as by subway. And the subway system here is nice ;)

Today is the 23. September, we have been here already for 10 days – why haven’t we written anything before? We started blogging just now, because up to this moment we were homeless :) To be more exact – we were actively looking for a small room or an apartment for us. We will write more closely about these adventures in some next posts, right now you only need to know that WE LIVE ALMOST IN THE CENTER OF MADRID! ;)

We are sharing the flat with interesting people – we have Romanian, Polish, Peru, and Colombian flatmates. Until the start of October we are trapped in a smallish room with a narrow bed for the two of us (plus my brother on a mattress on the floor). But in a while the Colombian couple will move out of the flat. So, on the 30.09/01.10 we will move to the other end of the huge apartment, where we will have a double room with everything that belongs to it (which means a double bed, a double wardrobe, a double door and window, a double desk and maybe something more double :)) What else is cool about the new room – it will be like living in our OWN flat with some other people also wandering around, but somewhere far from us. Right now it is like the opposite – we are about „half a kilometer“ away from the kitchen and the bathroom. We have to march through the salon and the corridor separating our room from the kitchen – when we have just filled our stomach, then it will get empty again during the time we need to get back to our room...

That is quite enough for starters – later on, we’ll try to make our posts shorter and more frequent, as well as to share some cool photos.





¡Hola! :) Te mēs, Kristīne un Eiko (la piña & el kiwi) mazliet aprakstīsim to, ko redzam, dzirdam un jūtam sev visapkārt šeit, siltajā Madridē. Kāpēc tik dīvaini pseido? Elementāri, dārgie Vatsoni, mūsu uzvārdi tā vienkārši skan spāņu valodā ;)

12.09.2007 pulkstens 13:25. Mūsu EasyJet lidmašīna kā putns paceļas gaisā no Rīgas un dodas Madrides virzienā, uz mirkli piestājot Berlīnē. Līdz pat februārim mēs būsim kārtīgi un jauki Erasmus studenti Rey Juan Carlos universitātē (nosaukums dots par godu lieliskajam Spānijas karalim Huanam Karlosam :)). Mūsu fakultāte atrodas Vicalvaro Madrides nomalē, kas visnotaļ ir jauki, jo mums ir fantastiska metro sistēma, kas sazarojas kā astoņkājis viscaur pilsētai un aizvedīs vislielāko Nezinīti pareizajā virzienā! :)

Šodien ir 23. septembris, mēs šeit jau esam bijuši 10 dienas. Iemesls, kāpēc mēs nebijām uzskribilējuši šeit neko iepriekš ir pavisam vienkāršs – mums nebija māju! Bet tagad mēs varam ar sajūsmu teikt, ka mums ir maza istabiņa pavisam netālu no centra! ;)

Mūsu dzīvoklis ir kā mazs pasaules spogulis – te dzīvo gan spāņi, rumānietes, kolumbieši, gan peruānis, polis un puisis no Venecuēlas. Līdz oktobrim mēs kopistiski trijatā ar Eiko brāli dalīsim mazu istabiņu, bet tad pārcelsimies uz mazliet lielāku, tā teikt, lai varētu uzaicināt vēl kādu uz sālsmaizi. Turklāt lielākā istaba ir blakus vannasistabai un virtuvei, līdz ar to mums būs pašiem savs dzīvoklīts! :) Kā Eiko izteicās par mūsu tagadējo istabiņu, no kuras drīz domājam pārcelties uz lielāku, – kamēr mēs nokļūstam no virtuves līdz istabai, vēders jau atkal ir tukšs...

Cerams, ka neesam jūs pietiekami nogurdinājuši ar šo ļoti svarīgo un faktuālo informāciju. Tomēr turpmāk noteikti būs daudz vairāk bilžu un mazāk teksta (ja vienīgi, mums ļoti ļoti negribēsies kaut ko uzrakstīt vai aprakstīt... ;)