United Statesian

My favourite spot in SOL. A vegetable garden planted around the fountain. Will authorities dig it up and put back the "pretty flowers" when all is done? Dear Citizens of the World! Greetings from Madrid, the center of major "anti-status-quo" protests, making headlines on CNN and around the world. Media has compared the protest camp in Puerta del Sol to Tahrir square in Cairo and the Arab Spring movement. The protesters use a play on words to rename Spain's most famous Square "Solution Square" instead of SOL which means sun. The protests that got lots of attention in national and international press are there, but not that big of a deal. There are more turists taking pictures than actual campers and the surrounding shopping streets are actually more packed than the plaza. It is important to note that there is no violence, everyone is working well togther to avoid problems and to not damage anything. Volunteers are handing out sun-cream, water and...

Egyptian Debod Temple in Madrid - Sunset, last light reflections Dear Citizens of the World! I have recently found out that we are moving to the Middle East! My new home will be "Old" and steeped in history. In some ways I will be leaving Madrid, but in other ways it will only be a new adventure and a new place to call home. Recently, while walking around Madrid I went to the Debod temple to see the sunset on a gorgeous Spring evening. The 2,000 year old temple was a "gift" from Egypt to their friends in Spain. I will not be moving to Egypt, but close enough to cycle there. You can expect plenty of pictures like these in the future. Maybe I'll post pics of Spanish food in the Middle East? On an aside: For those who wonder about peace in the Middle East...here is one solution inspired in the Spanish Santiago Trail... http://www.abrahampath.org/visit.php http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc6yi_FtoNo&feature=player_embedded Have a nice day! - The United Statesian

The sun sets over the Solar House Decathlon Dear Citizens of the World! Yeah!!!! Virginia Tech has just won the 2010 Solar Decathlon which was held in Madrid this year! The Hokies are great in United Statesian Football, yet they still Rock in Solar house design! Here are a few pics from the competition that took place down by the river. A few pics are more artisitic than others. The winning "Hokie" house at sunset Sunset over the river. Just in case there was any doubt as to the origins of Tech's House Green solar panels A profile shot of Tech's LumenHaus City sunet in solar panels... Reflection in the river alongside the competition...fitting image of Madrid's river's "green water" next to the "green homes." Tech on top! The United Statesian

Dear Citizens of the world! The winter has ended in Madrid. The sun is shining! My last post from my hike on Saturday might be the final dregs of winter. But you never know. Spanish people have a saying: "H asta el cuarenta de mayo no te quites el sayo ." Which in United Statesian means: "Don't store your winter clothes until the 40th of may (June 10th)." Because winter can always come back and surprise you, even in June. The other good news I have to share with you is rocking sound of Fractal. My coworker Ryk, a musician from the Canary Islands, is preparing to put out his first album. I went to the FNAC on Sunday for a cool concert. A good way to start Spring. Check it out if you want to know what Spanish rock sounds like. Some of the songs are in English. Hasta pronto, The United Statesian

Dear Citizens of the World! The song from Inner Circle " Bad Boys " kept playing in my head as I took these pictures from my first floor window. Madrid does not have a big problem with crime, but it has it's moments - - like all major cities. Since it is exam time for the ankle-biters at my school I spend my evening correcting. You get into a zone, pounding away, not noticing what is going on around you while you are trying to give the marks as quick as possible. However, I stood up and saw the lights of six cop cars, no sirens. When I went to take the pictures there were four local cops and one was yelling, " ¿Eres tonto o qué? " ...In United Statesian English that would be: "Are you stupid or what?" I do not know what happened and I doubt that it was serious, but the cops were quite ... angry. I thought that the blue lights and the rain (it has not really stopped since mid-December) made for a good gritty picture. A bit of excitement before going ba...

Dear Citizens of the world, I have been duped. The tiny marketing machine promoting a photograghy exhibit of Dayanita Singh got me. Since I am always on the lookout for exhibits - in order to improve my style by imitating the masters - I decided to visit this exhibit just down the road from my house. The two main pictures promoting the exhibit were very promising. The girl below appears to be floating in the air - gorgeous. The other picture "I am as I am" captivates, the whites of her eyes dominate the image and make you wonder who she is staring at and why - haunting. However, when I went to the exhibit I was disapointed. The rest of the pictures were not at all like these and of far less intrest to me. You never know what you will find. I will keep you up to date on ones that I like. Until then... Stay healthy, wealthy and wise. The United Statesian

Dear Citizens of the world, The demon dogs have abated and I am slowly regaining my strength. My first week back to the grind was a tough one, but thankfully it was shortened by a holiday on the last Friday of January. Thus, I was free to line up outside the Mapfre Foundation Exhibit Hall in Madrid for a rare treat: The Musée d' Orsay traveling show . Since the famous impressionist museum is being renovated, a small collection of pieces from the likes of Manet, Monet, Renoir, etc are being put on display around the world - first stop Madrid. Cool January Sunrise in Madrid on the Gran Via To top it off, the visit is free! My favourite piece is: " La estación de Saint-Lazare " from Claude Monet. If you are in Madrid, give it a look-see. The United Statesian

Dear citizens of the world, In this time of trouble in Haiti, seeing so many buildings collapsed and few that are saved from under the rubble, it is with great satisfaction that I can report a miracle here in Madrid, just a few streets down from where I live. Last night, at 10:00 pm a woman noticed that large cracks were opening along her ceiling and down the wall. She called 112 (Spanish Emergency Number) and in five minutes the firemen were there to rush the 28 neighbors out of their houses. A few minutes later... the left side of the building came crumbling down. Zero casualties, zero injuries. If this had happened a couple hours later while people were already sleeping then we would be looking at a catastrophe and a search and rescue. Instead, everyone is alive and well and the fireman were taking dust covered cars out of the garage. The United Statesian

Dear Citizens of the world, The demon dogs are back with Galloping Spanish Blightus. The doctors here have a strange name for it - pneumonia. The past three weeks have been spent sitting around, resting, coughing uncontrollably and trying to get the phlegm out of my lungs. Excitement with no end. This week I was greeted with a treat in the form of snow. Four centimeters was enough to collapse Madrid and cause all sorts of confusion - not so fun for commuters, but great for me. I got to spend the day watching cars try to cross a patch of ice on a slightly inclined road just outside my window. Cheap entertainment without even leaving home. See the video: I've got a nice car, but I don't know how to drive it... I recommend listening to Simon & Garfunkel's " Slip sliding away " while watching the video... Maybe next week the demon dogs will have relaxed and I can return to life as normal here in the little metropolis called Madrid. The United Statesian

Dear citizens of the world, There are five cities on the edge of their seats, waiting for the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to choose the 2016 candidate. Madrid is going all out for the election with activities supporting the city's candidacy for the 2016 Olympic Games. The students at my school decided to make a large banner supporting the candidacy with the multi-color hand symbol chosen in Madrid as the logo for the bid. Some children even wrote comments like the one in this foto which reads, " I hope that the 2016 Olympic Games will be in Madrid! " On Friday, October 2nd, we will all know if the years of preparation and support (which has involved the whole city) will be worth while. The United Statesian