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Oh, summertime! That season so loved and hated in equal parts – and I understand both parts. Some see it as the season of happiness par excellence, the sun, the water, the heat, the tan, the food, the ice cream, the vacations, the longer days, magical sunsets... However, for others it is a real hell. to go through as if it were purgatory. And what you want me to tell you is that it depends a lot on your socio-economic situation and where you live how you see and experience summer , especially if it is very hot and you do not have access to air conditioning or places to cool off. For those who are not so lucky, or who cannot leave Madrid on these dates, I bring you the first of two articles dedicated to surviving Madrid in summer: the neighborhood festivals. As if it were a miniature fair, the neighborhoods of Madrid put out their best clothes with their festivals and festivals. Many of its neighborhoods take advantage of the tranquility of summer to celebrate and make the heat and boredom that the city can generate at this time more bearable. A perfect opportunity to socialize (since many of our friends are no longer in town) and do something different, fun and, above all, cheap. They offer us concerts, some by quite well-known artists and for free, or different activities. I'll leave you this month's ones so you don't miss a single one. See you there! Festivals of the Vicálvaro district - From June 26 to July 1. It will feature concerts by Ana Mena and Carlos Tarque. Pride Festival (Chueca, Central district) - From June 28 to July 7. We will be able to enjoy concerts by artists such as Nebulossa, Merche, Ptazeta, Recycled J , Guaynaa, María Peláe or La Zowi , among others. San Blas Festival (San Blas-Canillejas) - From July 5 to 7. We will be able to enjoy concerts by Huecco, Ariel Rot and Hechizo as well as tournaments and activities for all audiences. Festivities of San Cristóbal (Villaverde) - From July 5 to 7 Festivities of the Tetuán district - From July 5 to 7. We will have performances by Henry Méndez or Lérica. Carmen Festival (Chamberí) - From July 12 to 16. It will feature multiple pop and rock concerts, as well as DJs, gymkhanas and even a Zarzuela show. Fiestas del Carmen (Puente de Vallecas) - To be confirmed. Karmela Festival (Vallecas) - From July 11 to 14. The most legendary festivals in the neighborhood with its famous naval water battle , which the artist Ozuna did not hesitate to join, as he could be seen throwing water from a balcony a couple of years ago. In addition, there will be a great paella and free performances, such as that of Sara Socas, among a wide variety of artists. Santiago Festival (Carabanchel) - From July 16 to 25. It will also have a large number of concerts that you can enjoy with a cool drink. And that's all, for now-. You will soon find out the dates of the August festivities along with the second part of this guide to have a good time during the summer on the central plateau: where to cool off and how to do it.

There are many signs that could make us feel like we have both feet in the children's favourite season - and mine - such as the heat, the change of time, the sunset after 9 pm, the smell of embers and skewers, the smell of sun cream,... And so I could continue an almost endless list of ways to dream of holidays. However, I consider that there are two definitive signs in my life with which I already feel entitled to say " summer has arrived ": the night of San Juan and porra (or other cold soups such as gazpacho, salmorejo, etc.). Today's post I wanted to dedicate to the (cold) summer soups , to tell you a little about their history, names and show you how easy it is to make them. The first and the most famous par excellence: gazpacho . The classic Spanish tomato soup. Summer arrives when the supermarket refrigerators are flooded with bottles and cartons that bear its name. This soup, which can even be ordered at McDonalds as a drink, has tomato, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, garlic and salt. On many occasions we can find it with cucumber . A dish that is both a drink and a meal and that will cool you down on the hottest days this summer. The second is a thicker soup, which has an infinite number of names and variables. Porra Antequerana . Porra is a cold soup which has tomato, pepper, bread, EVOO, vinegar, garlic and salt. It is usually served with chopped boiled egg, diced Serrano ham, tuna and a splash of olive oil to decorate. A much thicker soup than gazpacho (which can be drunk in a glass). It is a simple and fresh delicacy, whose origin is the northern area of ​​the province of Malaga. Salmorejo , despite being very similar to porra, its distinguishing element is that it does not have pepper. A soup that is also thick and a little softer than porra, since it lacks the touch of pepper. The Zoque from Malaga . Although not as well known, it was always present in my house thanks to my grandmother Inés. Very similar to salmorejo or porra from Antequera, but fresher, since it has carrots . In addition, it is usually served with anchovies in vinegar or pickled fish. The etymological origin comes from Arabic, and the fact is that for almost 1000 years in which they were around, we had to see it somewhere. It comes from the word suqat , which means waste. A soup that originally meant not wasting the leftovers of the day and that has ended up being a favorite in Malaga homes during the summer. My absolute favorite is porra, but this year I am giving gazpacho a chance, which I have never been a big fan of, to take with me on a walk or to the beach (and I am quite liking it). What is your favorite?

There are so many ways to travel that I would need enough fingers on my hand to give you examples. From the much hated (and used) express mass tourism, to slow travel, archaeological tourism, historical tourism or, my absolute favorite, the king of kings that will leave you with a very good taste in your mouth: gastronomic tourism . In every place I visit, soaking up everything around me is a must. From its air, aromas, sounds, nature, music, researching a little of its history and finishing off by immersing yourself by trying a very strong cultural trait that characterizes each place on this planet, such as food. Chicago was not going to be any different. Today in The Taste Of, I show you the city that was my home me for a year , and that I fell madly in love with for many (many) reasons that I will tell you about later, it also won me over through its gastronomic offer . And the thing is, have you really been to Chicago if you haven't tried its food? The guys at The Bear would tell you absolutely not . I took advantage of my return to this city, and that LOLA had never been to Chicago or the United States, and I saw it as the perfect opportunity to stuff myself with food, spend a fun day, and take the food tour that I always wanted to do back in the day. Our guide, a 10, gave us a culinary history tour that not even the history books would dare to contain so much information. With a fun touch, and in the most American style of humor, we began our route at one of the most iconic stops on our tour: Al’s # 1 Italian Beef . Al’s housed the classic beef sandwich , the sandwich that has become so famous thanks to The Bear. With different ways of eating it, this sandwich of Italian-American origin could be defined as a sandwich made by your grandmother. Essence of those stews and casseroles, this sandwich breathes home. On our tour, and continuing with the Al's menu, we were also able to enjoy what is my favorite today: The Chicago Hot Dog . You might think it's a normal hot dog, with perhaps a different type of meat, but little else. You couldn't be more wrong . A hot dog that has absolutely everything but that constitutes a perfect symphony of flavors in your mouth. Everything it has is there for a reason, and without some of its ingredients it would no longer be, simply, an authentic Chicago Hot Dog. With a bun covered in poppy seeds, it houses a beef sausage, onion, tomato, large pickle, piparra pepper, mustard and relish sauce. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water... Last but not least, and probably the most well-known: the Deep Dish pizza , or the typical Chicago pizza. To try such a delicacy (which would feed an entire family for a week) we went to the origin of its creation: Lou Malnati's . Deep dish is a pizza that looks more like a pie or quiche than what we might imagine of a pizza. Following a totally different logic, they call it “upside-down” pizza, since they place the ingredients out of the typical order and, literally, upside-down. It is a pizza with a very thick crust that is placed in a pie pan and filled with mozzarella, tomato and pepperoni with meat. A delicacy that fills you up just by looking at it and that is worth trying. And you, would you dare to try these dishes?

With the arrival of spring, besides incredible flowers and guaranteed allergies, many seasonal foods also come along. But what are seasonal fruits? Well, this concept refers to all those foods that are typical of a specific season or time of year in a certain geographical area, so they have not been imported from abroad. With climate change, we are experiencing the arrival of scorching heat followed by polar cold; transition seasons like spring and autumn in places like Málaga have practically disappeared. This has a significant impact on the concept of seasonal fruits because certain foods that were not typical of spring are now present, as well as others that are no longer available or have been imported from areas with more extreme climates. In places like Japan , there is a high awareness of the transience of edibility, with even adjectives to describe whether a fruit is in its early stages, at its peak, or in its "nagori" or last days . These adjectives make a complete difference in terms of flavor and aroma nuances: sour, sweet, bitter, etc. In Málaga, products such as strawberries, plums, apricots, cherries, and blueberries have traditionally been typical of spring. And others, like avocados from Axarquía, which we have all year round but cause water cuts to the population of Málaga due to the amount of water they require. Last Saturday was my birthday (yay!) and thanks to an application (TheFork) my friends and I went to eat at a restaurant that claims to take into account all these nuances of food temporality. The place was called No Name and is located in the heart of Málaga, near Plaza Camas, an ideal location well connected with metro, bus, and suburban train stops within a 15-minute walk. The atmosphere was very pleasant, the decoration featured real plants instead of plastic ones as usual in other places. The walls simulated an unfinished building, you could see the marks of the workers in the plaster where they had to cut or cement. The ceiling is industrial but the windows are large and bright. The truth is that we felt a bit hot because around 3-4 in the afternoon, the sun shone directly on the table where we were sitting. The service was ideal, friendly but not intrusive, and very fast and attentive. The wine was very good, without being an expert in any of that... And the food... We ordered 4 dishes to share: a burrata, some cannelloni, a tartare, and a risotto. Oh my. Let's start with the first one, and my favorite, the burrata . It was super creamy and came with pesto sauce and oven-roasted vegetables, including delicious zucchinis and peppers. A safe bet, a 10/10 without a doubt. For me, someone who has lived in Italy for a few years, that burrata is a definite yes. By the way, the bread to dip in the pesto sauce and vegetables was one of the best things, so the plate was clean after wiping it. The second thing we tried was the Málaga salchichón tartare : raw meat marinated with raisins and sauces. The truth is, for my taste, there was too much sauce or marination, it lost a bit of the raw essence of the tartare but it was delicious. So I give it an 8/10 , as there are other small restaurants in Málaga where I think this dish is much better executed and raw (as a tartare). Let's move on to the main courses now: the avocado risotto . It was like eating a real risotto but with guacamole in it. I liked it a lot because the essence of the risotto was never lost but perhaps for my taste, the sauce was too far from the avocado and very close to the guacamole. So I give it a 9/10 . The other main dish we had was oxtail cannelloni which came with delicious oven-baked potatoes. Alert: it comes in a crepe batter, which makes the interior heavier in the flavor palette, so it can be a bit heavy. The good thing is that next to it there was a bit of mustard sauce with jam which created a very interesting flavor contrast. I liked it although I'm not a big fan of this type of food because it feels heavy to me. I give it a 7/10. Last but not least, dessert. We ordered two very delicious cakes, the two they had: one with amaretto and the other with ricotta. I have nothing memorable to add about them, perhaps that they were not super sweet, which I appreciate, and that they were good. For all this, in my humble opinion, this adventure culminated in a 9/10 overall balance. The price was around 110 euros for four people but thanks to the application, it ended up being around 80 euros. I missed a bit of explanation about the dishes, where they got their ingredients from, inspirations, etc. But without a doubt, it was a very positive sensory experience. I hope you liked it and find this review useful, see you at the next HNN food session!

The world of different plans is as deep as it is addictive. Once you enter, you don't leave. It's not new, nor is it the first time I've talked to you about that part of me, passionate about nostalgia, about analogue, about "old-fashioned" plans. Today I bring you the best of both worlds and one of my favorite plans in the city of Madrid:  arcades and recreational venues. Like many in this city, one of my discoveries the first year I came to this city was through a Tiktok that I saw by chance. Back in 2021, Rojuu uploaded a video of a hidden place in the center of Madrid, which you entered through an abandoned elevator and ended up in a place full of arcade machines, dance machines, etc. Which you could use unlimitedly without paying anything, just in exchange for consuming some drinks in the place. As a good daughter of a video game geek, I thought: WHAT. It became an absolute priority to visit this place and, after trying for a while, I managed to go to the  Next Level  in Gran Vía. It is a small place, where the center of everything are the machines with which to have a good time. But today I will not tell you about this place. A while ago I discovered that this place, so emblematic in the life of the most nostalgic gamers, expanded its empire of old video games to other places in Madrid and a few days ago I was lucky enough to be able to go to one of them. With a much larger place, three times as many machines and much more space, Next Level  in Argüelles  is a paradise for lovers of arcades and old arcades. The variety of machines is brutal: from the classic arcade with a thousand and one games to choose from, such as Donkey Kong, Tekken or Street Fighter, there were dance machines where you could lose all your dignity, racing games for two, shooting games (with the classic blue and red guns) and even a guitar hero style game, with guitars or even drums. One of my favourites is the taxi. You will understand why. An experience that I highly recommend to those who are fed up with their plans being simply going out to party, eating or drinking, it is a place to have a good time on a different afternoon, with different stimuli to what we are used to and at the price of a drink at the bar.

Living in a privileged world has, above all, advantages. A roof, a bed and food on my plate are basic things that I have never lacked. Also, I have been lucky enough to be able to have and enjoy many things, as well as not having to live with worries that many people do have. One of them is living outside of Spain (and the European continent)  in several countries, in a way that I consider quite privileged. I don't have a lot of money but, thanks to my job, I have been able to travel a lot, as well as live in different places. It is an absolutely incredible, enriching, fascinating experience but it has a downside. The hidden side of living abroad , and of that lifestyle, is something difficult to imagine and explain to someone who has not experienced it, especially if you have been outside of your country, in a place where they have a different language and culture. The feeling of loneliness is abysmal and the obligation to know yourself is a huge black hole from which you do not see how far it goes.  A transversal loneliness that runs through all areas and aspects of your life : your house doesn't feel like your house, you don't have friends, family, you don't have people to count on, you don't talk to people every day, you don't have plans, you don't have places you trust, you don't have a safe space, everything is new, including (or I would say, especially) yourself. Also, apart from feeling out of place where you live, when you return home, you won't be from there either: Congrats , you are now from nowhere . Although not everything is bad (we already mentioned it at the beginning of this article), I'll give you some basic tricks to make your stay away more bearable: First of all, make your house feel like your house . The biggest investment you can make is a home that is –and that you also transform– into a home. Making the place where you live your 'safe space' and making you feel comfortable is one of the most important things. Think about the small details that make the place where you grew up/feel like home and try to bring them to your new home. It will make it feel more welcoming and it will be easier for you to adapt and feel good. Learning to be alone . A concept that I don't like at all and that I prefer to call: spending quality time with yoursel f. Spending time alone, doing things alone, concerts, being in silence, reading, doing sports... Dedicating time to yourself is, in addition to being very important, something necessary. At first it is hard work. You begin to see and process things that you had stored away (and getting to know yourself is not an easy process) but, once this time has passed, you see a new world to discover. And no, being on your phone or talking to people on the phone does not count as time alone. Do all those things that you like (with or without people) . Related to the above, it is important that you get out of the house and do all those plans that you want to do, whether you have someone to do them with or not. It is an incredible way to enjoy the things that you like and also, if you are not "screened" by your phone, you can meet people there. For example, one of the places where I always meet the most people is when I go to concerts alone (and it's amazing). (Re)learning how to make friends . Because yes, it's not easy at all. When you go abroad, in an academic environment, making friends and meeting people is VERY easy. Another story is when you move for work (especially if you work remotely like me). You literally run out of ideas to meet people and make friends. I'll give you a couple of tips. The first is to find a hobby (if you don't have one already) that is with people. From a sport, to signing up for classes in something, like languages, pottery, tennis, boxing... There you will meet people and at least have one thing in common. Also, if you can't afford to sign up for something, there are a ton of free courses and activities you can do. Living in the present.  Romanticizing your life, wow. It's easy to get into a loop of negativity when you're away from the people you love. Getting poisoned and only seeing the negatives of the place you are living in can be a difficult place to leave. Personally, it helps me to spend time alone, and try to focus on the things that this new place brings me, and especially those things that I have or can do here that I can't in my city/town. In part two , I will tell you about other particularly positive aspects of living abroad and the unconventional lifestyle I have led since I was 19. And you? What helps you feel “at home”?

One more day,   the music lover who has no idea about music   brings us a new way to share her passion for the music world. We officially begin  the magical vinyl route  –or places that deserve my mention where I have found records–. Inspired by the (almost) infinite and unbeatable vinyl collection that my father has , my inner child has not been able to resist trying to have a collection like his one day. In this section, and although I already have my favorite places in this trambolika city, my idea is to show you each of the hidden places and stores that Madrid has dedicated to our beloved vinyl and music.   The target: to develop a map for the analog sound freaks and easily find all the options and those that best fit what we are looking for. I have found a bit of everything and, I must admit that this city never ceases to surprise me. Among the many places discovered (and many others still undiscovered) there are even vinyl stores dedicated to a specific genre (which I fell in love with). Today I bring you nothing less than two stores that are on the same street , and not only do they share an address, they are next to each other,   wall to wall . Two completely different universes separated by a wall. Two stores that share similarities but with their peculiarities and their own world. In an alley uphill, near the Ópera metro, we find BANGLA DESH  and DISCOS BABEL . Both businesses in Costanilla de los Ángeles, are two stores that buy and sell vinyl records and CDs. Walking from the metro, BANGLA DESH  is the first of the two stores we find. With its black and white sign, you can already breathe history. From outside I can see the boxes and boxes of vinyl, as well as an unmistakable record of the soundtrack of the feature film Trainspotting at the very end. 95€ is the cost of that little piece of history. I'll leave it for another day (I thought). A business that has moved several times, but definitely without losing its essence. With an impressive collection of vinyls, it is perfect for those looking for something unique. I leave  BANGLA DESH  and come across DISCOS BABEL . Is it possible that there is another vinyl shop literally next door? Having just left one did not prevent me from entering another. From the outside, it already breathed timelessness, paralysis in time, as if there was a little piece of the street that lived in another decade. That window, full of records, posters, advertising... As soon as I entered, it already smelled of another era. Anyone who has been there will understand why. With a variety very much to my taste, the clerk (super nice) happily helps you with whatever you want. I had not planned to buy anything and in the end,... I almost took 2. One from The Clash that came home with me. As I said at that moment, the May vinyl  is already bought. See you next month to find another one… Soon I will be showing you more unique places where you can play, discover and listen to vinyl. If you are not yet in this world, don't worry, it's never too late to get into it .

Madrid is a city that offers you a thousand and one alternatives to spend the afternoon. From a walk through any of its numerous parks, to getting lost among its streets and alleys, its shops, its buildings, its bars and restaurants,... Leaving aside –once again– plans to drink or eat, the city awaits us with a thousand options under our arm with which to spend (or not) our money, and spend a particularly different afternoon. One of my favorite activities to spend my free time with is to immerse myself in the vast world of galleries, museums and exhibitions . In addition to being an infinite world of possibilities, which seems impossible to check off at all the stops, it is a plan in which you learn a lot, see new, inspiring things, discover artists and styles and, in addition, you can meet many people with the same tastes or interests as you. But you don't just go to see "paintings" in museums. There is much more. Specifically, the other day I was able to visit a very interesting, fun and unique interactive exhibition: La Ciencia de Pixar (The Science of Pixar). It is an exhibition in which they will not only tell you the ins and outs of what it is like to create an animated film from scratch, but you can also see, create and experience with your own hands each step of this process. With a very creative perspective and taking into account the diversity of the public that can visit the exhibition, it brings us closer to mathematics and science from a creative, fun and very visual viewer. You will learn about modeling, animation, what rigs or surfaces are, the importance of lighting, set design, how long it takes to make, how many people they need, and you can even create your own stop-motion animated film using the classic Pixar lamp. An experience that at first may seem like an exhibition focused on the little ones, but assuming that would be wrong. In my opinion, it is an exhibition that, while being enjoyed by the youngest, is made for young people and adults who: firstly love Pixar films, and secondly have a basic knowledge of the world in general. The exhibition can be seen from May 8th to September 8th at the Caixa Forum in Madrid. Admission costs €6 and if you are a Caixa customer you get it for free. In addition, this Saturday, May 18th is Museum Night . Don't miss it!

(This article does NOT contain spoilers) For years, I've been starting the year waiting for the Oscar nominations to come out so I can start a marathon of the nominees. This year I had already seen quite a few of the nominees before they were confirmed, even so, there is always a lot of work ahead. I could start with the largest categories because that would be the logical order, but I’m not one to follow any logic, so I'll leave the big ones for last. Best international film is always one of my favourite categories, since it helps me discover films and filmmakers that I didn't know. It already happened in 2022 with 'Drive my Car' by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi (who I fell in love with from the first frame) or 'The Worst Person in the World ' by Joachim Trier. This is super interesting for me because in the end, the nominees for the big categories are quite obvious if you follow mainstream cinema, but the most stimulating for me tend to be the international films and documentaries.  This year my highlights from these categories are: '20 Days in Mariupol' (best documentary), 'The Zone of Interest' and 'Perfect Days' (both nominated for Best international film), and I will tell you why in the following paragraphs. If you have Filmin and a good stomach, I recommend '20 Days in Mariupol',  a very raw portrait of the conflict in Ukraine, specifically a siege at the hands of the Russians in the city of Mariupol during February and March 2022. We tend to forget how important it is to give voice to the conflicts that are occurring, not only so that they cease but so that they do not spread. We are too used to watching war films and that makes us passive in the face of war because we see it almost as fiction, as something distant. In my opinion, these documentaries remind us that reality is usually harder than fiction, a pretty terrifying statement in this case. Another film (fiction) that left me impressed was 'The Zone of Interest',  by Jonathan Glazer (director of 'Under the Skin', God, do I love that film), which deals with the conflict of World War II in a way I had never seen before. It's so cold and at the same time so explicit... It's the first movie about Nazis in which I don't see a single death (you don't see them, but you hear them). There is a resource that I love about cinema and it is when something is shown without showing it. The first scene of the film in which you see an example of this, is when the protagonist comes home and takes off his boots to have them washed, and when a servant washes the shoe soles, you can see that they were full of blood. You don't know where that blood comes from, you haven't seen it, but you don't need to see it either. What's more, perhaps it is more heartbreaking to not see it, to dehumanise in this way the people they killed without even considering them people. Does that sound familiar to you? To get rid of the bad taste in our mouths (necessary, but bad after all), watching 'Perfect Days'   is the perfect antidote. It is so precious, so delicate, so real... It is a portrait of a quiet life, of how beauty can be found in the little things. What I like the most about this film is that it raises what could be a conflict that could put an end to that peace that both the film and the protagonist emanate and it does not succeed, because in the end, life goes on, and if something tries to get you out of your line, you take a deep breath and come back, because you can come back. Kōji Yakusho plays an incredible role, he should have been nominated for best actor, because playing a man who works cleaning toilets in Tokyo he manages to convey so many emotions, so much empathy, so much tenderness... I don't remember the last time before this film that I left the theatre smiling like that, it’s just lovely. Entering the main categories, it was obvious that this year the  “Barbenheimer”  phenomenon was going to sweep… Well, actually ‘Oppenheimer’ has swept and ‘Barbie’ has remained a bit half-hearted. Nobody understands why Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig weren't nominated, but hey, Oscars stuff, right? They have to leave something for us haters to talk about… Plus, at least we got to see Ryan Gosling singing 'I'm just Ken' live (he should have won). Likewise, I don't want to focus too much on Barbenheimer because ladies and gentlemen, this year there are some FILMS  IN CAPITAL LETTERS nominated for best film that are going to blow your mind, I mean, I don't know where to start. This year, all the nominated films seem to me to be quite good, perhaps I would replace 'Killers of the Flower Moon' with 'Perfect Days', and I don’t quite understand what ‘Maestro’ is doing there, but hey, we can't forget that Hollywood is still Hollywood, so it is what it is, I guess… Not to discriminate because as I said, almost all of them are quite good and I could talk in detail about all of them (‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is quite recommended), even so, my favourites of the best film nominees are ‘Poor Things’ by my beloved Giórgos Lánthimos and 'Past Lives' by Celine Song and I am going to talk about them because there is a reason why this article is called: 'My Favorites from the Oscars' and not: 'All of the Oscars films'. I have been a loyal fan of Lánthimos since I watched ‘Doogtooth’ years ago and I cannot be objective with that man, everything he has done has amazed me. After 'The Favourite' I thought that was the peak, but no,  ‘Poor Things’ did it again. The colors, the costumes, the editing, the performances, the surreal settings, everything seems extraordinary to me. Although it is true that the plot is morally problematic on some occasions, I decided to take it as a criticism, or a way to make you think about certain topics without missing the typical extreme surrealism the director gives us in every one of his films. It definitely makes you think, and I love it when I walk out of a movie theater thinking about what I just watched.   On the totally opposite side of ‘Poor Things’ with a much "simpler" aesthetic, costumes and theme, is 'Past Lives' , a quite heartbreaking (but also quite real) love story. I liked that although it does have some clichés, it doesn’t show the typical Hollywood love story like: “...And they lived happily ever after”, but rather a more… Logic kind of love? I’m quite tired of the “love conquers everything” and the “you have to follow your instincts” and blah blah blah. I believe that love is much more than that and that in the end security, trust and what makes the most sense need to take some credit too. Also, Greta Lee already got me in love since the second season of 'The Morning Show', but now, ugh... And since I'm talking to you about my favorites, I'm also going to talk to you about two films that in my opinion are overrated and were nominated in a lot of categories because they have been directed by epic figures in the industry. I'm talking about  ‘Oppenheimer’ and  ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. I found both films too long and their editing lacked rhythm in several moments. Very good photography, very good actors, a lot of money invested but honestly, I looked at the clock about 10 times in each film, and this is never a good sign. It makes me a little angry when directors trust too much in the image they have created and believe that whatever they do is going to be good. I thought they were entertaining movies with interesting themes but I would never watch them again. Both Scorsese and Nolan seem like good directors to me and they have films that I love, but these two in particular, for me, are quite weak and not enough. But hey, at least they haven't nominated 'Napoleon' for best film, which would have already been a total catastrophe. Anyway, I'm not going to mess around anymore. Like every year, there are films that I’ve loved and weren’t nominated for one reason or another, there are some that should be nominated in more categories and others that were unnecessary, but we all know that the Oscars are not the most objective awards.  Even so, I like to see them as a tradition and because, I'm not going to deny it, I love the gossip.

We all know that big cities are a seemingly endless source of possibilities, where you can find all kinds of plans: restaurants, experiences, museums, signature cocktail bars, speakeasies… But sometimes, no matter how much variety a city can offer you, we run out of ideas, alternatives or we simply resort to the same old places or plans that require eating or drinking. Although experiencing different forms of leisure can sometimes get us stuck, a trick I have is to have a note on my phone dedicated solely and exclusively to places I would like to go to or that I would like to try. Every time I see something on the street or while scrolling on TikTok and I say: “wow, I have to go!” I write it down in my notes, because otherwise, the same thing always happens to me: I end up going to the same places because my mind goes blank and having this type of notes is great on those days when I can’t think of anything. One of those days when I felt like doing something different, something other than eating or drinking, so I did some research… And I found a very peculiar place –and, in my opinion, fun– and an alternative to the arcade places (I'll tell you about it soon…) but in a similar style. If you ever have to wait for someone, need a quick plan, or kill time for the next plan you have and want to have a good time laughing at your lack of talent for machines, I recommend Guay Panda (c/ Fuencarral 100. Metro Bilbao / Tribunal) Guay Panda is a leisure place where the only thing there are are grappling hook machines. Yes, the typical machines where you have to catch an object with the grappling hook, like the one in Toy Story. Here you can practice your fairground skills (or try to prove that it's the machine's fault that you don't get anything) and get a stuffed animal. From adorable cats and toast stuffed animals, to dinosaurs and animals or horrible creatures (really ugly ones), the variety of stuffed animals you can get is quite wide. Also, if you get several you can exchange it for a bigger one (not my case). If after several attempts, losing money and the little dignity you had left, you don't get anything, don't worry. After 5 attempts, if you don't manage to catch anything, you can choose a stuffed animal you like and take it home. A bit of a cheat in my opinion, but it made me take home a black cat stuffed animal, which I love. My talent is definitely not mastering the hook but I did find it fun. And you? Would you try it?

Madrid. A city with many fans and haters, with lovers of concrete and heights or, with –what I think are most of us– people with whom the city has a love-hate relationship. Within this universe of brick and concrete, we find places with a lot of history, abandoned buildings, oasis within the city… And I have found a place that is all of these at the same time: The Beti Jai. Many of you will wonder where it is, what it is, or to be honest, what it means. I will tell you. As your trusted researcher, at the beginning of the year I began to read about a very particular and unique place in the city, which has been closed and abandoned for a long time and which, of course, could not be visited. I saw the photos and began to investigate. Scrolling and scrolling I found that Heritage (specifically, Pasea Madrid), was going to start doing guided tours for the first time (in its history!) and that it would be the only way to visit it. But, what is the Beti Jai? At the end of the 19th century, to the surprise of many, Madrid was a city where frontons were very (but VERY) fashionable . With up to 30 frontons opened in the capital, it was a place to socialise, watch sport and spend a different day. One of these frontons, and the only one still standing today of all those that existed at that time, was the Beti Jai fronton (whose meaning is “always a party” in Basque). It was one of the most popular frontons and where authentic stars of Basque pelota were seen playing. This building was designed by the architect Joaquin Rucoba , also the author of places (in my beloved Málaga) such as the Malagueta bullring, the Atarazanas market or the Paseo del Parque in Málaga. Characterised by its eclecticism (or mixture of styles), we can see neo-Mudejar details or iron structures. It was in operation until 1919. After this date it has been used for so many purposes that our imagination falls short: from a police station or a place for band rehearsals, to a car workshop. This 2024 , coinciding with its 130th anniversary, and after a great struggle by the neighbors, it has been restored and reopened . Protected for its great historical and cultural value, we will be able to learn about and enjoy its history and aesthetics (and for free). A 100% recommended visit.

The good weather is here and, although we are witnessing the last shot of the cold and rain in the capital, it is already starting to smell like the end of the school year: San Isidro is here . For those of you who are not in Madrid, let me explain. San Isidro is Madrid's fair . Long story short. These are festivities that were born in honour of the patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. During these traditional festivities, you can enjoy a very wide cultural programme and, what interests me the most, the concerts. For those who are new (and not so new) to this place, these are festivities that are celebrated throughout the city. Days full of events, concerts, lots of music, laughter and, especially, a very cheap way to enjoy the outdoors. In addition to the totally free performances and concerts, as well as places to buy drinks and food, there are also attractions and, most importantly, in most of them you can take your drinks and food with you (win win). Although it is officially from May 11 to 15 , the programme begins this Saturday 3 with –no more and no less– DJ Nano. As your most trusted rookie expert, I will summarize some tips for surviving (or not being left behind) these festivities and which I have been perfecting over the years with my friend and permanent signing in San Isidro, Elena (love you): First of all, buy food and drink. Although the second seems dispensable, it will save you on more than one occasion from unnecessary dizziness or from going out to look for food in a sea full of people (a lot of people) and from which it is a pointless odyssey to try to get out. Secondly: a fridge. Yes. You will think I am crazy but a fridge made of lined fabric and that can be folded into a tote bag will be your greatest ally. You will be the most loved person at the party and the one in charge of making sure all the drinks you bring are cool. Then when you finish after 500 hours, you fold it up and take it home empty. Another simpler option is to carry plastic bags with ice in it as a cooler and throw them away when you're done, but it's less effective, especially if you're there all day. For concerts that aren't in La Pradera , most of them have pretty heavy secutiry on bringing in drinks, or you have to open them. Keep this in mind in case you buy an arsenal and are forced to throw them away or not go in (or become a gentleman who will end your lives right then and there). Jacket. Yes, the sun shines on you and you're hot, you'll even get sunburned, but at night it cools down. Although Madrid in summer is a real hell, we're not in summer yet and as the saying goes: until May 40th... And where do I meet with my friends, Dew? That's a very good question. Trained to find people in large crowds, both at the Malaga fair and San Isidro, we have a foolproof system (and one that requires several years of work): ALWAYS stand in the same place. For example, in Malaga we always stand next to the bottle tree, to the right of the stage. Anyone who knows us, and even if we haven't even spoken, knows that if they pass by there, they'll find us there. Same in San Isidro. We also have our fixed place and if you know I'm going and you look for me there, you'll find me there. You might think this is a bit absurd, but you're wrong. Due to the amount of people in these types of places, the networks are overwhelmed and the mobile phone simply doesn't work . Messages don't get through, they don't arrive... To avoid not knowing where to go, agree on a place beforehand or go to 'that fixed place' is key to not getting lost (or missing anything). EXTRA BALL: It's a great bonus to know someone who lives near the Pradera, either for the pre-party (if you do it), to bring things from there or, when you finish, to take the cooler home and pick it up another day. As for the programme , I recommend and highlight (based on my totally subjective criteria) the performances of DJ Nano, DJ Michenlo, Mago de Oz, Gloosito, Gazzi, Ralphie Choo, Nancys Rubias, Russian Red or Azúcar Moreno, among many others. As if that weren't enough, there will also be a fireworks show at the beginning and end, as well as many other cultural activities that may be of interest to you (and that you can see on the San Isidro website). Will we see you there?