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The art of small details is a talent that can be trained .  The majority of beings that inhabit this planet think that each of us is born predisposed to be a certain way: to be romantic or not, to be affectionate, rude, kind, detail-oriented... My opinion is completely different. Each of these qualities are qualities that we mostly learn and acquire and, of course, train. Today I will talk to you about one of them:  the art of changing people’s lives (or being thoughtful). I have been learning it since I can remember. Making others feel special is something that has always made me happy. Never out of obligation, from a very young age I learned that a small detail can change your day, and that it is very easy to make others happy. I have been changing these gestures over time and, but now I am at a place when I have been on pause somewhat, due to my temporary disenchantment with this planet. But I think its a good time to stop this and return to one of the things that has always made me most happy. Here are  some keys to being the thoughtful person you would like to have as a friend on a bad day : Little Notes.  You will only need paper and a pen. Try writing notes at home, to your friends, to family, whomever,... For example, before you leave to visit your parents, or if you were visiting a friend who lives far away, you can leave a note on the refrigerator as a token of gratitude. A simple phrase like, good morning ... can be enough. Passive gestures . With these you can  help a roommate on a bad day,  when they are really down, and are hardly able to do anything. For example, leaving brewed coffee in the morning and putting a note: “you have freshly brewed coffee!” Pick up some or make extra food to share and say: “I've done this eating, can I save you a plate?” Letters and postcards.  My personal brand par excellence. Because of my work, traveling has been a great constant in my life. Being alone with my thoughts, doing things alone, visiting places alone, and, especially, being very (very) far from the people I love has been my daily life since I was 19 years old.  This has been key to figuring out how to stay in touch with the people I love, make them feel special and let them know that they are still important to me – without having to be glued to my phone 24/7 –: letters and postcards. A form of meditation and dedication that I love is a process that is made up of 3 phases:  The first is the search or spontaneous encounter of greeting cards. There is always a card that reminds you of someone or is perfect for a special moment, or if you just like it, it is the one. The second is to find a place and a time that gives you peace. No mobile, it's a time to stop and disconnect and concentrate 100% on what you are writing and for whom. The third is to close the envelope, send it and wait. It's the most magical (and impatient) part. Organize dinners, lunches or parties.  Whether or not dedicated to a person or holiday, the “little excuses” to celebrate and bring together the people you love can be great for a positive mood shift . Themed parties, with special decoration details or even  personalized notes for each guest, are “nonsense” that can actually touch people's hearts. Some  warnings  I have to give you (and it's almost more important than everything else): Don't do it to win the love of others. Don't do it to expect something in return. It's not about a bargaining chip or about you. It is an altruistic gesture for self-love and love for others. Don't do it if you see that you don't feel well. If you see that it is not well received or that you do not feel well after doing it, don't do it. Sometimes the time or the person is not right. As you can see, it takes very little to be able to train this heart part of us and be that person that we all need on a bad day, or even on a good day to cheer us up. How about you? Do you like to make kind gestures to your loved ones? How do you change the lives of others?

The city of Madrid hides many secrets , even from its own inhabitants and citizens. As a curious person with a great desire for knowledge, as well as absorbing all the curiosities and useless knowledge, knowing the secret places of a city is one of my favorite activities. Places unknown to most, with a lot of history, curious, beautiful, creepy or even an oasis in the middle of the concrete mass that are the cities, as well as accessing places that you see from the outside and wonder: how will you get there? As a good fan of knowing these types of places, I will tell you how to discover these places . Pasea Madrid , or the  Patrimonio  website, are two of my great allies. There you can find all kinds of free guided tours to places that cannot normally be accessed (soon I will show you more secret places that the capital hides). Tickets usually sell out quickly but I recommend that if you know what day and time they are visiting, you show up there just in case (getting on the waiting list when possible). There is almost always someone who does not show up. Once, half of the people didn't show up on one the tours. One of these places is the viewpoint of the Monument to Alfonso XII . Next to the Retiro pond, there is a large monument that does not go unnoticed, and I am sure that most of you know which one I am talking about. It is a double semicircular colonnade and a large tower in the center, crowned by a sculpture of Alfonso XII on his horse. This colonnade, of Ionic order, contains a frieze in which we can see the coats of arms of all the provinces of Spain of the time (early 20th century) and in which there is one that is repeated: the province of Madrid (as It's obvious, being in Madrid). But let's get to the interesting part. Just below the equestrian statue, at the top of the tower, you can see a kind of cabin with windows . It is a viewpoint with 360º views of the city, with a unique and amazing panoramic view of the Retiro and its pond . And yes, you can go up, but not in any way. To do this I had to make an appointment with the aforementioned Pasea Madrid . A 10/10 visit if you allow me. The guide was spectacular, and in addition to learning about history, we had a laugh and he told us a thousand anecdotes and curiosities (have I already told you that it is one of my favorite things?). After not leaving a single detail up our sleeve, we all left there with a smile. A different plan, cheap (free), unique and from which you will leave having learned something. And you? What curious places in Madrid or your cities would you recommend?

As a good Malagueña , I have grown up among local tourists, football and pure-blood Malagueños. And there is a very curious story about English football and the mysterious star of its kit that is worth telling. My interest in English football and the Premier League is no coincidence. Anyone from Malaga (especially the coast) will know what I'm talking about. A unique phenomenon that I sometimes find difficult to explain to my non-Malacitan friends from the capital. Being Mijas and Fuengirola two of the places in Spain where the most British people live (plus everyone who lives throughout the province of Malaga), it had to have some impact. It is a particular universe in which Britons – who do not learn Spanish no matter how many years they have been here – and Central Europeans who have lived here for several generations, merge with the local Malaga fauna in a common denominator that has always united countries: football (soccer) . You just have to see the particular variety of the Málaga C.F. fans. This sport, with so many fans and haters, is part of our culture and, like the most  fife (NPC who likes FIFA, specially straight men) of my friends, it is part of my interest as well. And specifically, there is a story that has always made me curious, on a historical, football, design and, of course, gossip level. When a country wins a World Cup, it is a more than justified reason to want to brag about such an achievement – especially to rub it in the eyes of others – and that is what the stars are for. The stars are added to the team's shield as you win the football competition par excellence. If you have won 1 world championship, you will have 1 star; If you have won 2, you will have 2... And so on. Unlike most countries, the English team does not show off or highlight their star , but rather shows it in a hidden, sometimes almost imperceptible, way. But why wouldn't anyone want to brag about an award like that? Let me tell you. The creators of football have only won one World Cup to date. 58 years ago, in the 1966 World Cup final, during extra time, 2-2 against Germany, England scored the goal that made them the winner. Or that's what was said. There are many theories as to whether or not the ball went into the goal. Faced with such uncertainty, the lack of VARs at that time, and the bad taste in the mouth of winning in a "not at all clear" way, the English chose not to boast about a prize that will never be known if it was won fairly or not. On some occasions it has looked more striking, such as in 2009 or 2013, but for the most part we can see examples that the English are not particularly proud of having won the World Cup that way. Like in 2022 and this year 2024. In particular, I don't think it's a bad idea, but seeing that the damage has already been done, I think: What difference does it make? And you, what do you think?

This article is not promotional nor has there been any payment for it. For us lovers of interior design, decoration and vintage objects, life can be hard, contradictory and, especially, expensive. Period furniture is practically collector's pieces, original to the style of the time in which it was created (and often at a gold price) and, although beautiful and we think would look great in our living room, it is out of our budget. . Luckily for many, there is also style furniture. Style furniture is furniture made in a style different from that of the period it corresponds to. For example, a typical Louis XV style chair that is still manufactured today. It would be a style piece of furniture, but not vintage. In that sense, to all my design freaks, life brings us a gift: reissues of old IKEA designs . Although they have been around for a while, the NYTILLVERKAD collection brings us furniture and objects full of color and unique shapes, inspired by designs from the past that IKEA created and were highly successful, redesigned and adapted to today's world. I show you my favorites. The BAGGBODA side table. My absolute favorite from this collection. A very midcentury table, with metal finishes. It is available in white and yellow. The DYVLINGUE swivel chair. An armchair originally conceived as an anti-stress armchair and which was a complete success, returns to make moments of relaxation in our homes essential (and so that our guests never leave). Available in green and black. The BULLERREMSA rug , designed in 1958, represented modernity and the desire of the most modern designers. It still has a very modern, unique and not very minimalist design (everything we are looking for). IKEA stools are always a classic and a reference (and sometimes such perfect copies that they end up in museums, like the one in the Design Museum in London). The DOMSTEN stool is an essential with a touch of color, essential and practical. Lovers of the 70s, their colors and prints have their favorite piece: the KRANSMALVA duvet cover . Available in yellow and orange, its motifs from the early 70s give that fun and colorful touch that our bedrooms so need.

One of my favorite things in this world is hosting my friends. Being visited is one of the greatest lucks I have. Better said, having people who love me and visit me is the greatest luck I have. A couple of weekends ago, I was lucky enough to experience two of my favorite things: having people visit me and going to take photos of musicians – although my favorites are studio days. On top of that, she is also my friend, co-worker and former roommate: LOLA , or as I went to see her, LA PAINS. After taking a car trip from Barcelona to Madrid, it didn't take long to find my house (lucky to have parking). She called me on the phone and I went down. Loaded with t-shirts, records, instruments, many more gadgets, a gray Golf and a smile on her face. That's how she is, although absolutely destroyed, with hundreds of kilometers behind her and barely having slept, she never has a bad gesture, a bad word and she never lacks a smile wherever she goes. "Like at home". I knew she was going to have a busy weekend so I tried to make her life as easy as possible. I gave her my welcome pack that my guests have, and left her with her things. The next day was an intense day, full of emotions and nothing more than the last concert of the tour . I offered to take things to her at sound check. So I did it. Or I tried. Being at 8M (women’s day)  in the capital, the demonstrations called in the morning and afternoon, and the magnitude of these, together with the fact that the concert could not be deeper in the city centre, complicated the maneuver more than it should have but, after my taxi driver got lost 6 times, left me as close as he could, and an interesting walk loaded with things, I MANAGED TO GET THERE. And here the real adventure begins . Living from within an environment full of energy, emotions on the surface and with the true privilege of being in charge of immortalizing everything in a few negatives so as to never forget what was experienced and felt there. And without coverage. CADAVRA , a room where I have been on other occasions also taking photos, is a bunker that stops time, that forces you to live in the moment and not be distracted. I was absolutely incommunicado from 7 in the afternoon until 1 in the morning (and what a feeling). As a good end to the tour and last minute moments, the sound check did not lack seemingly impossible problems that in the end are not that big of a deal. A test worthy of a concert, it was the prelude to what we would find later. I started seeing familiar faces. Reunions in these places are something very special. There are people that I only see there. No matter how much time passes, it is always something you look forward to, and it seems to me to be a contained moment full of magic. Even if it's a simple hello. All these little details and moments, layers and layers of emotions that pile up, is what makes it so unique and special and makes everything make sense. That began to fill until there was no room for even a pin. We couldn't believe it. I barely changed the negatives on my camera (and with the help of some of my concert encounters). The album of this concert is very particular. The concert was an emotional journey of styles and genres through which LA PAINS took and guided us, in a boat in which we were all. A journey that begins with the letter R (from Raíces (roots), the name of her album), telling us about her native Loja , her differences, disagreements and discomfort with it. Continue with A: Malaga . Place where he studied and lived for many years, fills us with sun, beach, vacations... To continue with the I (Ice), representing ice, cold and one of the most enriching life experiences he has had: her year in Sweden . C takes us to the time of her most intense life and when she fell in love with the city where she lived (and lives again now) Barcelona . A pause in their journey is the inspiring Galician lands in E, a song that has several songs, moments and moods, to finally end at the origins: S. S brings us to the initial box, Loja, but already reconciled with the motherland, home and the place where she grew up. All this, along with some new exclusive song (which we will be able to hear soon), took the audience on an emotional journey, full of ups and downs, perfectly balanced, in which we were all captivated, without forgetting her flute, which everyone loved (myself included). After many photos, a lot of music and many emotions, the end. End of tour . After all the kilometers that had been traveled, the technical problems, different audiences, places, capacity,... The cycle closes. A project that I have seen grow since its beginnings and that I hope to talk to you much more about. It leaves us with a bittersweet, nostalgic and emotional feeling. An addictive sensation that has me hooked since I was 18 to this world that I admire and love so much and in which I hope to be for many years (and about which I have no idea): music, musicians and the magic around them. Last, but not least , thanks for putting on an A+ concert to both LA PAINS and all the artists who were in charge of making an unforgettable night: Patricia Lint, Elena Mesa, Juan, Manu, the girls from El Piti de la Suerte...and to everyone who made everything work perfectly and we went home with a smile.

As if it were a bad joke, it seems that what I just told you is a very tasteless way of kidding. It could also seem like something has been really wrong with me (in my head), and I wouldn't judge you. I would also think the same. But no, I'm totally serious about this. After almost 3 years living in this crazy city , I have experienced the strange event of sticking my head out the window and seeing that you have spent 50 euros , easy. If we add to that going out for a drink, and especially, going out to party, it becomes a real bottomless pit for my pocket . A black hole in which you were planning to spend 5-10 euros on a couple of beers and, out of nowhere, your bank account screams: -50 EUROS. WHAT DO YOU MEAN MINUS-FIFTY-EUROS. My duty as a citizen has forced me to carry out some research to save you from this black hole of bank losses – without sacrificing having a good time. I share my wisdom with you and I leave you here the places where you can go out and party without spending anything. NOTHING AT ALL. Saturday plan.   Bombón de Tarde  at Club Malasaña . An afternoon that lasts until 11 or so at night. With DJs that drove me crazy, it is an afternoon that features surprise performances by emerging artists and DJ sessions of different styles. A 10 in my opinion for a different Saturday plan, discovering new artists (or seeing your favorite artists live) and not spending a dime... Well, the drinks are not free – yet. I don't do miracles, baby. When: Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Where: Club Malasaña (C/ San Vicente Ferrer 23. Metro Tribunal (L1 and L10) Type of music: live + DJ sets. House, reggaeton, pop,… a little bit of everything, literally. Friday at Moondance. Next to Sol, and what was the first home of the mythical Antidoto  party, the Sala Moondance is committed to a more affordable party on Fridays that goes down to the ground. The Perreo is a party of pure old reggaeton. For lovers of the most legendary reggaeton, this party is free for those who choose entry 'before 1:00' (or if it is your birthday). When: Fridays from 11:59 p.m. to close Where: Sala Moondance. C. de la Aduana, 21. Metro Sol (L1, L2, L3), Sevilla (L2) or Gran Vía (L1 and L5) Type of music: old reggaeton. Another Saturday afternoon at FÜNDAY at The Basement. Limited free tickets (limited invitations). When: Saturdays 5:00 p.m. Where: The Basement. C. de Galileo, 26. Metro Quevedo (L2), Argüelles (L3, L4 and L6) or San Bernardo (L2 and L4). Music type: electronic You have the night version with the same name and same dynamics at ART club. Saturday nights are also on FÜNDAY . Free tickets (limited invitations). When: Saturdays 11:30 p.m. Where: ART CLUB. Paseo de la Florida, 2. Príncipe Pío Metro (L6, L10, Ramal Ópera) Music type: electronic Techno Fridays (free). ITACA is a party for those who live between 120 and 150 bpm. A Friday night plan to give it your all and in which the first tickets are free. When: Friday 11:59 p.m. to close. Where: Sala Insomnio C. de Cea Bermúdez, 21. Metro Canal (L2 and L7) and Philippine Islands (L7) Type of music: techno and hardtechno. Who said you couldn't go out on a Wednesday . Moondance is committed to party-all-week and brings us Nectar Wednesdays/Thursdays, a party…. Admission is free if you enter before 1:30. When: Wednesday from 11:59 p.m. to close. Where: Moondance Room. C. de la Aduana, 21. Metro Sol (L1, L2, L3), Sevilla (L2) or Gran Vía (L1 and L5) Thursdays at Club Malasaña. Early Bird tickets are free. When: Wednesday from 11:59 p.m. to close. Where: Club Malasaña C/ San Vicente Ferrer 23. Metro Tribunal (L1 and L10) Thursday MACERA . With free tickets all night, MACERA gives us the party on Thursdays. With its two rooms, there will be urban and commercial music on the upper floor and electronic music for the more daring on the lower floor. When: Thursdays from 11:00 p.m. to close. Where: MACERA CLUB. C. de Ventura de la Vega, 7. Metro Sevilla (L2), Sol (L1, L2, L3) or Antón Martín (L1). Type of music: urban, commercial and electronic. For now that's all. I will continue researching to bring you the best plans at 0 price! See you soon at Madrid’s magical nights…

My love-hate relationship with working remotely from coffee shops is an endless push and pull. How did we get here? How for most of us, has the idea of going into a local library, instead of a coffee shop, to get some work done, seemingly disappeared from our minds? I'm writing this from the city where I was born, Malaga, inside the café Polifonía, a place that used to be a musical instrument store, but is now a bustling hip café. It's very well located - directly in front of Malaga's higher music conservatory. Books and instruments line the walls and the studious aesthetic inside practically screams "working café" (although in many of these places you are no longer allowed to use your computer). I do love this place, but at the same time I feel a certain rejection. The constant chatter, the loss of local identity and the general sounds of a commercial business in operation, are all down-sides for me. Although it could have exorbitant prices and be the total cliché of a working café/specialty coffee shop, it does not - its prices are actually pretty good - especially being in a neighbourhood with as much history as this one (I give it a 10/10 for that). But that's not the issue. I wanted to reflect on how these places have perhaps dazzled us so much, that distracted by our iced macchiatos and hipster playlists, we have maybe forgotten the existence of a place where silence is a given, with facilities better prepared for studying or working, and totally free of charge: Libraries. As a Malaga native, I attribute this forgetfulness to something that is more than justification for those eternally chilled out places full of tables, books and a sepulchral silence to evaporate from our memories - there are virtually NONE in my home town. The small number of public libraries in Malaga is unbelievable. Not all neighbourhoods have, nor are they large enough to be able to meet the needs of, a city in complete ferment. So my home-town alternative has usually been to “sneak” into the university libraries. Something that always makes me a little nervous, but that I have no choice but to do, if I want to read, study or work without having to pay 4.50 for a matcha latte. When I really just want a mitad doble with a pitufo before work. However, my experience is totally different in the capital, Madrid (where I now live). There are libraries in almost every neighbourhood. All with good to decent facilities, they are a perfect place to concentrate and escape. They are some of my favourite places in the city without a doubt, and are wonderful to explore, without the noise, smells, screams of your local cafes, and with an abundance of peace and quiet (in addition to plugs and good lighting!). I recommend you try one, even if just the once. One visit, and I think you'll see what I'm talking about. Or should I say - what I'm whispering about.. Oh - and they also have books, of course. Loads of them . Which you can take out and borrow for free! So get to it. (and, shhh!) Here are some of my favourites in the Spanish capital: The municipal library of Aluche Camarena Street 10 Metro Laguna or Casa de Campo The José Saramago municipal library (Fuencarral-El Pardo) Monforte de Lemos Street 38 Metro Barrio del Pilar, Avenida de la Illustration or Peñagrande The Iván de Vargas municipal library (Center) 5 San Justo Street Metro Tirso de Molina, La Latina or Opera

For music lovers like me, it is not always enough for us to just listen to recorded music, sometimes we want that live visceral experience. But what does one do when the show is sold out when you want to go at the last minute and/or there are no tickets left? I show you the tricks of the most expert rookie in last-minute-plans. From your weekly news to making the cover for a playlist you have created; design lists for every occasion and create collaborative playlists, to have a shelf full of records. Every story, in this case of music lovers, begins with something. My music journey began with the most inveterate, cool and funniest music lover I know - my father. His passion for vinyl records, and fiddling around with all things electrical, as well as his keen sense of the ridiculous, have been a constant in my life since I can remember. I have learned many things from him. For example: I've started my own vinyl collection (which will never surpass his) But it is a lot of fun!. I have begun to learn to appreciate the analogue life, not just on vinyl, but a slower-living and appreciating every minute to dedicate it to a specific thing. I think the buzz word is 'mindfulness'. Thanks Dad. Seasonal music. My father's musical taste changes depending on the season of the year we are in. An example of this is that I knew that autumn was coming because Mike Oldfield's The Voyager was already playing in my house. (Its old, google it.) The importance of music as the soundtrack of your life. At home, in the car, with family, or maybe clubbing with friends, or even during err.. those intimate moments with a special someone - songs to which you can assign life's little memories, forever. And every time you listen to them again, they take you back to those moments. An ultimate appreciation of live music, and delving into the history of those artists. This last thing has led me to even enjoy going to concerts alone, or attending concerts by artists on bands I don't even know! I find the big cities myriad of choices in live music one of the strongest reasons for moving to one there may be. Living in Madrid, this is a constant and fortunate (not so much for my pocket). But many times, concerts, especially by big and international artists, make it impossible to get tickets, or they go on sale so far in advance that you don't even know if you will be able to go or not. For last minute planners like myself, and for those who manage to save the money but there are no tickets left , here are my tricks to be able to go to the concerts, regardless if they are sold out months in advance or even if you decide a couple of hours before. Step 1 is to have all the apps that sell tickets to concerts and events that may interest you. In many you can highlight cities, genres or types of event so that as soon as something comes out they will notify you without having to pay too much attention. In addition to finding out about concerts by artists you like, it is a huge door that opens to discovering new genres and artists, and even getting to know them. When I go last minute, my go-to, the basic of the basics for me is Stubhub. It is an app that belongs to Ticketmaster for legal (and 100% safe) resale of tickets. If they are sold out, many people resell their tickets and that day or the days before, people usually lower the price quite a bit to get them out of the way, plus if they are not sold out, they can be cheaper than normal sales. This way I have been able to go to concerts both inside and outside of Spain for an affordable price or to concerts where tickets have been sold out for months. Similar to Stubhub is Ticketswap. I'm only just new to this one but I know that many people now use it, and works in pretty much the same way and is a good option. Use both! And finally, as an 'anti-recommendation', I'd forget about the app Viagogo. They have been reselling duplicate tickets for years, ie you get to the gig and someone else has the same seat/ ticket number as you. And its legit. And yours is not. Disaster. So If you want to save yourself that risk, I recommend that you avoid it. (no matter how desperate you are). This is all for now. Let us know if you have more tricks! (a crowbar in the backstage entrance door? haha) I have some kick-ass music to go listen to.

Do you love plants but when it comes to looking after them you are an absolute mess? For a long time I considered myself a plant serial killer and I felt very sad because I do in fact love them. Every time I’ve tried caring for flowers they have dried up and died. I am not proud of this, but, I have suffocated a cactus in the past. I learned the hard way that you can not only kill a plant by not watering it but also by overwatering it... Say what? Killing a cactus (they are supposed to be the toughest of plants) especially affected me, and I was actually traumatized by it for a while. It was a pretty hard blow and I decided to retire my murderous green thumb for a while (I know, I’m such a drama queen). I love it when I visit someone and they have plants in the home. They bring such colour and joy to a space and I’ve read they can actually improve your mood. After having tried and given up several times I decided to try to redeem myself, end my curse and educate myself a little so as not to continue vilely murdering plants and I don't want to say it too loud, but it seems that I have achieved it. So if you are like me, I’m going to make you a small list of the plants that have survived me -Earth's biggest mess of a gardener. If even I can do it, you can do it as well! My first piece of advice is go to a florist, and tell whoever is working there your level of confidence, (or lack thereof) with caring for plants. I always tell them I'm terrible at it, and that way they help me by advising me in detail about the things like what light they should receive, how often I should water them, how often they should be fertilized and what type of fertilizer is most advisable to use, etc. So, here’s a list of the plants that have survived even me - the crappy gardener. I'll tell you in advance, these are mostly plants without flowers because every poor flowering plant that has passed through my hands has had a rather dramatic end. Also note (this is something you can also ask at the florist) that depending on where you live, your plants will have different water needs, if the environment is drier, you will probably have to water them a little more often, it is not the same having plants in an inland site than if you live in the seaside or an island. The plants in this article, are in general, plants that need to be watered once a week. I water them by putting a plate with water and leaving it soaking for half an hour. Then, I take it away so that the plant can drink what it deems is necessary. In summer you do have to pay a little more attention to them and do the same operation but instead of once a week, you might need to do it two or three times a week, depending on how much you see that they are drinking when you water them. Regarding the quality of the water, I live in Barcelona so I water them with room temperature water from a bottle or filtered because tap water here can be fatal. A good rule of thumb is if you don't drink it yourself, don't give it to your plants! And finally, during both spring and summer plants are in their growing season, so you have to fertilize them. I use a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants diluted in water that the helpful guy at the last flower shop I went to recommended to me. You have to use it every 15 days or so and in the fall/autumn stop adding it, until spring comes again. Poto: Pothos: Not only is it practically immortal, but it is also super grateful, they grow a lot and the more they hang, the more beautiful they get. Bromelia: One was given to me by a friend who I consider a pro (I love you Mel! ) She assured me that not even I, plant assassin, could kill it, and my God, She was right! (to date it is the only flowering plant that has survived in my care) Monstera:  I have always been in love with monsteras, and I decided to get one because it turns out that in addition to being gorgeous, they are super resistant. Yes, it is true that since it was larger, it cost me a little more than the rest of my plants, because I like big monsteras, but you can also buy it small if you are patient and it will certainly be cheaper. If you want, you can put a band or ribbon on them so that the leaves do not separate too much, otherwise they can be very expansive because the leaves have very long stems that open, although personally I like to leave them free. Calathea: This plant needs a lot of humidity, not water, which is why they say it is the perfect plant to place in the bathroom. I say humidity and not water, because this one has to be watered less often than the others, they recommended I water it once a week in summer and once every two weeks when it’s not so hot. It is one of the most beautiful plants (in my opinion) because of the patterns they have on the leaves. Specimens with reddish or purple tones I find particularly beautiful. Aloe vera: This famous plant is not only beautiful and super resistant, but can also be used to moisturize your skin or to sooth wounds and minor burns. Historically many cultures have used it to aid healing, and although many of us own creams containing aloe vera, I assure you that there is nothing like taking a piece directly from the plant, opening it and putting it directly on your skin, when it is super fresh. You can also put an aloe vera plant outdoors, although keep in mind that it does not tolerate cold weather very well, so if you live in a cold place, be careful in winter. I hope that people with more experience with plants have laughed at my misadventures, and at least had a diverting read, but my big hope is that any other 'crappy gardeners' out there like me, are encouraged. If this is you - good luck! I'd love to hear your botanical (mis)adventures, or perhaps tell me if there is any other plant that you think I should know about and that could survive me, in the comments section or via our social networks. And remember - like a love affair, a plant can break your heart and end prematurely, but it will never run out the front door and leave you!

Barcelona is a city that as a whole seems incredibly beautiful to me. Many times, I find myself riding my bike to go somewhere and thinking: “God, how beautiful this city is.” When people come to Barcelona, there’s a list of things that every tourist has to see, such as the Sagrada Familia (obviously), Park Güell with its famous lizard or other Gaudí buildings such as Casa Batlló or Palau Güell. However, I remember my great admiration for what I consider my favorite building in Barcelona when I saw Plaza España for the first time. At first, the Arenas shopping center caught my attention, which is an old bullring that they converted, and the truth is that it is quite striking. However, when you look to the other side there are incredible views and in the background there is the National Palace, which today is known for housing the National Art Museum of Catalonia, or MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya). The National Palace was built for the 1929 World Expo in Barcelona, and since 1934 it has been home to one of my favorite museums in Barcelona, the MNAC. The building is located in Montjuic, so it is surrounded by nature, something that seemed amazing to me, considering how close it is to the center. The first time I came to Barcelona I didn’t go to see it and I only admired it from afar, because we didn’t have the time to see everything. The second time I went there was to see the incredible views from the stands right in front of the museum, you can see Plaza España from the other side and a large part of Barcelona. Finally, I found out when the free day was to visit it, (see below!) and since then, I have gone several times to see it. The building itself is worth it, so for that reason alone I recommend that you go, in addition, it is not a tourist attraction as busy as La Sagrada Familia or Park Güell, which means you won’t have to wait in long lines in general. In addition to the first Sunday of each month, you’ll find that Saturdays from 3:00 p.m. the entry is free and can be reserved through their website, so no queues at all. The museum closes at 6:00 p.m., so if you go at 3:00 p.m. you still have three hours to visit it, or if you live here you can go for a little while every Saturday and see it little by little. In 1934 it opened the doors with the medieval collection, in 1995 the Romanesque art rooms were added, and in 2004 a modern art section was included. The MNAC claims to have the best collection of Romanesque mural paintings in the world and works by the most representative artists of Catalan modernism, such as Gaudí or Casas. There are also works of Gothic art and European Renaissance and Baroque painters such as Tiziano or Velázquez. In short, it is a very complete museum that will take you through all eras and styles. In addition to the permanent exhibition rooms, right now you can see the following temporary exhibitions that I highly recommend: Pere Formiguera Donation. The Creative Drive: It will be available until June 30 and it’s a walk throughout the photographer’s career. The exhibition includes slides and parts of his processes. Longaron and Friday Foster, The Unexpected Heroine: Available until June 24. It represents the work of historical recovery and heritage reclamation of comics as an artistic genre, through the figures of Jordi Longaron and her weekly series 'Friday Foster'. It was presented in 1970 and Friday Foster was the first African-American woman to star in a syndicated strip. Furthermore, she didn’t represent the stereotypical woman of the time, but was closer to the current image of an empowered woman. The Lost Mirror. Jews and ‘Conversos’ in the Middle Ages: Available until May 26. Through a wide selection of works, this exhibition recovers a medieval mirror: the portrait of Jews and ‘Conversos’ conceived by Christians in Spain between 1285 and 1492.