Monday, 25 August 2008
My problems last week magically solved themselves the day after. I'm not happy about that at all. I rather know what's broken and how it got fixed, but it seems my wireless network is again stable.

However, since I bought a new wireless router, a Linksys WRT160N (which I wouldn't recommend BTW), I had to change my configurations on my Macs. This proved to be very problematic on my old PowerBook G4, running Mac OS 10.5.4.

Here's how I eventually got it to work:
  1. Make sure Airport is off.
  2. Remove /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist (I didn't care making a backup, up to you)
  3. Open Keychain Access, and look for anything related to airport. Look for it in all Keychains. If you don't find anything, you either never used Airport (wireless) or doing it wrong.
  4. Shutdown your Mac, and reset the PRAM. You do that by pressing the Option-Cmd-R-P keys, all at once, while your machine is booting, and before the grayish screen comes up.
Well, that got me my wireless network working again. It's still screwed up though: I still see 'Preferred Networks' which I have deleted long ago. Also, if I say 'Show Password', it shows me a string of '*********' which is not correct.

Anyway, I hope the above might help somebody.. Or if somebody could tell me what's wrong, thanks so much!

Thursday, 21 August 2008
During the day, while doing daily work, my old PowerBook lost network connection.. Just like that. My iMac next to it has exactly the same problem: they can't connect to my wireless network anymore! I opened my MacBook Air, and tata.. FUBAR! iPhone also gone.. And my kitchen iMac too.. NOOOooo..

So, I thought, my wireless in my router is broken, and I started to look at my Fritz!Box Fon WLAN router.. giving it bad eyes. After 2 hours, and dinner, I went to bye a wireless router from LinkSys. I hooked it on my DSL capable router, and after some work setting that up.. Crap! Doesn't work either!

Aug 21 21:35:14 air airportd[252]: Error: __ACNetworkAssociate() failed to find some_abstract_type
Aug 21 21:35:14 air SystemUIServer[98]: Error: airportd MIG failed = -6 ((null)) (port = 50695)
Aug 21 21:35:14 air airportd[252]: Error: process_command_dict() failed
Aug 21 21:35:14 air SystemUIServer[98]: Error joining some_abstract_type: Connection timeout (-6 timeout connecting)
Aug 21 21:35:36 air /usr/sbin/ocspd[253]: starting

It's seriously pissing me off! It has been working flawlessly for almost 3 years now..

Changing the MTU didn't help. Resetting the PRAM neither. Everywhere posts, but nothing helps..

I AM OFF FOR A BEER! FFS!
Monday, 18 August 2008
I'm planning to drive the Main Square which is when you look from the sky to the the river Main, you can form a square. It will probably take me 2 or 3 days in total.

Yesterday I took on the first leg, which is probably the hardest one. It goes from Aschaffenburg over Laufach, Neuhütten, Rechtenbach and ending in Lohr am Main.

It was quite a tough ride through Spessart. In fact, I had to twice get off my bicycle, rest and continue the climb by foot. In total it was about 40km and took me 3 and a half hours. Bad luck my GPS ran out of battery to continue the tracking.

In Lohr am Main I took the train back to Aschaffenburg.
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Yesterday I went with friends, actually the full Freiwild-team, to see Sigur Rós in Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (Germany). For me it was the second time this summer I saw this spectacular Icelandic band.

At the Rock Werchter festival start of July (2008) they gave one of the best performances I saw there, Radiohead afterwards was like 'Oh, well'. Yesterday, it was the first time to get intimate with Sigur Rós together with a packed venue, an old slaughterhouse. I don't know the songs that good to write down a set list, but it was a good mixture of the 3 last albums.

Ólafur Arnalds was supporting act. It was OK, but the only thing I didn't like were the electronic drums..

Go experience Sigur Rós when you can! Apparently it wasn't sold out, you guys missed something!

Monday, 11 August 2008
Coming home.. No motorcade at the train station, no fanfare along the way, no banners on my windows, no arms hugging or tears of joy, but thank goodness: no nasty, bad smell!

Last time I came home I opened the door and.. BAAAWWW.. forgot to put the trash outside! This time all was fine, except of course I forgot a half drunken coffee mug. It was already having a little fun on its own, creating life.

Ah, and the laundry is dry too!

And now off to my friends.. it's raining.. Mmm... think I miss Madrid a bit, really.
Saturday, 9 August 2008
Today I left Madrid, flying to Belgium. Monday I'll travel back to Germany, after first filling up on mussels and visiting family.

Some random thoughts on my stay in Madrid:
  • Highlight was definitely Sobrino de Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world still open, since 1725. Not only for the food, but also the history you can smell there..
  • Madrid's Metro is spectacular: clear, easy signs and relatively cheap. Take a 5 day ticket for 17 EUR (I think it was), and just go around!
  • I was surprised at the weather, I expected I wouldn't cope with the warmth. Yes, it was warm with temperatures always above 35˚C, but it was dry! Low humidity made all the difference, I figured I could actually live there a whole year! (OK, the hotel had airco..)
  • Cool district: Malasaña. I went only to the Tupperware club there, on a Thursday. I definitely have to go back once for a weekend!
  • Cafetarias, tapas bars, streets, shops.. It's all full, from morning till evening, 7 days a week. It's amazing! It's full of life!
  • Everywhere you see people cleaning up the streets, a whole day long. Parks and green spots are getting maintained. I rarely saw so much energy put in keeping a city clean (endless job). Then again, maybe I haven't traveled around enough!
  • I'm a fan of Joan Miró now.
Bad things? Mmm.. not really. Smelly streets sometimes, but that's normal with a city that barely finds rest. Maybe the food is not really good for me, I mean for my diet!
Maybe one bad thing about Spain is the lack of second language. If only more folks would understand and speak a bit more English, we'll come a long way. I will try to get my Spanish better!

Well, 8 days in Madrid (and Toledo half a day), was actually long enough. I'll go back for a weekend to get a bit more attuned to the nightlife and the alternative/rock scene there. Maybe next year while visiting Barcelona and Valencia, who knows..

Friday, 8 August 2008
I do love the word 'revamping'.

Two Wikipedia pages have undergone some serious facelifting, and I must say I'm a little bit proud of it. They also include my own pictures made past days in Madrid. Maybe the english is not good, and I hope some native english speakers will review them.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
The morning of the first Thursday August 2008 AD started as usual: getting up, getting dressed, wash face and get downstairs within 5 minutes. Amazing how easily I can do that, although I had again the clock ticking against me: trying to make pictures of stuff before the sun brightens the earth to much!

First stop today was again Plaza Mayor because the stage for the classical concert was gone! I think it was removed overnight: excellent.

The real reason why I woke up early, however, was to shoot the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. It's where bullfighting is going since 1929 in Madrid. So, it's a rather new building, but nicely done. About the 'sport' itself, I'll keep my opinions to myself.

Plaza de Toros: south

Next thing on the agenda is going to checkout Picasso, Miró, et al.. but I went first checking out this so called river around Madrid: Río Manzanares.
But the Río ain't a river no, it's more like a stream! Maybe a kayak can float on it, but no bigger ship. I went to see it near the Puente de Segovia. There were lots of works going, apparently to make the banks more attractive, and build promenades of some sort.
To my amazement the river does actually contain fish! I read that they introduced them together with ducks, and apparently they managed to survive. Not sure if their DNA is the same (remember Blinky?).


Río Manzanares: fish!

Around 10:30 I finally got around to buy a ticket for the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Long queues at the ticket office, but Metro line 1 was out of service, and I had to go around and walk a bit.
Aah, Miró, Magritte, Picasso, or the sculptures from Julio González, and much much more.. I'm no connoisseur, but I did really enjoy wondering around the surrealism, cubism, and sometimes childish paintings blowing we away; sculptures hitting my head. Gosh, I wish I could accomplish something like that..

There was also a very cool exposition about digital visual art. You really have to check that out! It's called  Máquinas & Almas and runs till end October 2008 in Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid. Probably it will go on display elsewhere later.

Now off checking out some pubs, or something..

You might ask yourself why I'm running around with a beard in Summer, in Madrid? No, well, telling you anyway! I charged my beard trimmer leaving for Spain so it can last easily for a week, I rarely use it anyway. The problem? Apparently, while in my bag, it got turned on and happily got empty somewhere above France maybe.

My beard doesn't bother me, and maybe people will start to give me money, cause I so look like a beggar with my Sun Microsystems mailbag.
 
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Today I woke up very tired. To much walking around and culinary excitement the past days? Who knows. Ten minutes later I was downstairs on my way to the Metro, but with no good plan in mind.

Yesterday I thought going to Segovia. My sister gave directions and tips. Somehow I didn't really wanted to go out of Madrid anymore. On the ride to the railway station I dropped off just before at the Plaza de Castilla. This is where where Puerta de Europa stands, which I really wanted to see.
Puerta de Europa
These twin buildings were build at the busy Paseo de la Castellana, not far from the Charmartín railway station. To me they are quite impressive standing there. Maybe they are the bottom of an X starting going up in the sky.. Imagine how big such a building would be! They incline with 15 degrees and are 115 meters tall. Two ladies to reckon with.
Why it's called 'Door to Europe'? I think because when you look through it like on the picture, you actually look up north where the 'rest' of Europe lays.

Going around the Puerta de Europa I went to Charmartín to get tickets to Segovia. Getting tickets proves to be every time a little adventure in Madrid. Waiting in line I discovered that I had to wait another hour and half for my train. I gave my queue ticket to a guy who was very happy getting more in front, and buggered off. Segovia is for another time.

Strolling down next to the Paseo de la Castellana I went through where Madrileños live their normal lives. Then I saw another tower I really wanted check out closer: Torre Picasso.
Torre Picasso

To me the Picasso tower is 'perfection in design'. Straight, no odd colors, simple, nothing extra, nice. She's 157m high and has 43 usable floors. Don't get to close with a camera however, guards are quickly outside! Actually, I wanted to go up or ask if at all possible, but since it's private ground and pictures are not allowed, screw them!

Next I made my way looking for the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas (bullfighting arena), which proved to be quite a walk! I eventually found it, but to much light to make pictures, so I'll have to go back. Yeah, call me a nerd! Damn sun!
On the way however, I found some bizarre, blueish building: Palacio de los Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid.

This building-day didn't make me hungry, but I eventually went to one of these Vips restaurants, or snack bars, whatever.. It's good there, if you don't know where to go too and/or hungry. Or just bored like me, at the time.

Tomorrow I'll go checkout some museums!
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Plain simple food, served quite quickly, good service, very nice setting: Sobrino de Botín. It's in Calle Cuchilleros, southwest of the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.
It's the oldest, still running restaurant in the world, dating 1725. There is actually evidence that the house was used as eating place since 1590. Goya worked there as dishwasher, Hemingway loved it, and me, I was just melting on my Tarta Botín.

Tarta Botín

No, it's not pricy. For two persons, just main courses, 1/2 Jarre Sangria, bottle of water, and dessert, we had for about 60 EUR. That's NOT much if you see the place! And you get something on your plate, not just an olive sized curiosity!

Funny fact: the waiter took away the Visa and came back for a signature. He actually gave it to me to sign, but I pointed to my sister who was paying! His expression was like first confused, then surprised, then gentle and looking to me like "wuh!?". 
Today I walked around the Paseo de la Castellana (with a pit stop recharging my camera's battery). I must say there were some striking contrasts. On the Calle de Serrano (calle=street) you'll find some design shops of know and local/Spanish brands. The Serrano Mall is a must to check out (if you are into poshly things). But once around Chueca, and going more west you pass Malasaña..

Malasaña
To me it was clear, this was a total new district within Madrid. Checking my travel guide I had entered  Malasaña. I didn't read the whole history while going through it though, and that was good as I enjoyed it more. The narrow streets look fine as of the second floor; on ground level however, they are filled with graffiti. It's not like it's dirty, it was just missing.. the smell of weed I thought at one point.
It went on and on. The streets were not so busy (it was after 17:00), but you hear people working inside, renovating houses.
I did actually enjoy walking through the narrow streets. Much more than going through La Latina.

Reading the history of the Masaña district, it started to make sense. In the 19th-century they fought a heroic battle against Napoleon's troops, and in the 1960s the hippies revived the streets after it deteriorated after World War II. When Franco died, it even became the center of La Movida.

These days, it looks quiet and peaceful. But I should go stroll back through Malasaña during the evenings.. It must be 'nice' and a bid wilder. Especially now I heard a bar was playing AC/DC, while they were opening their terrasse on Plaza del Dos de Mayo.


Aah.. Vacation.. The time of the year you not only think about eating a burger and chocolate cake mixed with a Mexican beer, you actually do it.
It's known since the day people started to use batteries: remember to either charge it, or take backup with you. I was shooting some important statue, and after the second shot it said 'Change battery pack'. Oh, well, it's lunch time anyway, and I headed back to the hotel just to charge my battery.

Odd, but walking around without making pictures isn't fun anymore.
I had some doubts yesterday about what to do in the next morning. At least at work I know what to expect, but on vacation I fear to get bored the next days. Maybe I should revise the way I actually do vacation.

Just like yesterday I started out early. The sun has been a problem for making pictures so I try to go when the sunlight is not so intense yet. Today it was Palacio Real getting shot.

Another accomplishment today was eating Chocolate con Churros. However, it will be a one time endeavor for me: fried stuff with chocolate is just way to much fat! I washed it all away with an Americano (black coffee) and I'm now off to La Castellana.
Monday, 4 August 2008
I'm sitting here slightly getting drunk, but nobody minds and me neither.

I'm dining here next to Plaza Mayor in Madrid (Spain btw), like a good tourist I am. I know there are more kinky places, but with 30 degrees outside one stops bothering looking.. Yes, I did actually check a few places.

I'm drinking here a Cerveza, it might have been the 3rd one already. Dining at an Argentinian place, also 3rd time, next to Plaza major, going Calle del Toledo. I did enjoy something I actually rarely order: some kind of steak. It was really tasty. Now you hate me right? You vegetarians! Oh, that's OK..

I'm sweating.. Today I noticed the salt of my sweat is making white lines on my black polo. Weird I thought, but lesson learned: don't wear black in hot places.

Maybe I should ask for the bill as they are running out of space on their terrasse.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
(Pictures with comments on Flickr)

There seems to be some competition between the two, but for me the Plaza Mayor wins over Plaza de la Puerto del Sol. First, it's actually a square; and second it's totally traffic free! (Traffic goes under it.)

At first it did remember me of the Piazza di Marco, but the only thing Plaza Mayor has in common with it, is that it is actually a square or, for the mathematicians under us: a rectangle.

The sides of the square are actually homes; some are even for sale! On the ground cafés and restaurants are trying to gear tourists to some table. Do not eat here however! Go to the La Latina district or the streets just outside the square, it's much better and people don't try to lure you in!

Plaza Mayor

The main attraction is the Casa de la Panaderia (bakery), in the middle of the northern side of the square. It has some funny looking frescoes and the two towers host a clock, and.. a barometer! I learned the latter one while zooming in on it with my lens.

Casa de la Panaderia

Around the Plaza Mayor you'll find other plazas. Like the Plaza Provinzia just outside with the Palacio de Santa Cruz. A bit further you'll find the Plaza Santa Ana, apparently famous for it's night live. Dinner there however proved to be rather dull; having a drink there was nice though.

Till now, the most interesting place around the Plaza Mayor was Calle de Toledo. It's the southern exit of the square. There is a nicer Argentinian restaurant which serves good food for a fair price.
If you detest street musicians like me, you better don't go here. They just start playing, making loud 'music' while you try to enjoy your dinner. They actually get very annoying, some even angry, when you don't pay. Make sure they don't find out you are tourists, or they'll just press even more for your money. Don't give in! Just a trick! Well, I payed one..

Make sure to check my pictures on flicker if you want to see where I went. I'm not going to blog every day so verbosely!
(Pictures with comments, completing my blog here on Flickr)

This morning I wondered the streets around Gran Via and found them surprisingly vivid! People roaming the entrances of shops still to open, tourist getting maps, churches.. getting no attention, I think?

First thing I wanted to do is buy a travel guide. Lucky I found the Eyewitness Travel guide from Dorling Kindersley; old, but I figured the short historical facts of buildings and places must be still kinda accurate. Old Madrid was my first route.

Puerto del Sol is probably, or better apparently, the most important plaza in Madrid. Maybe a bit like Time Square in New York, or Grote Markt in Brussels. It's not so impressive however. Moreover, it ain't a square at all: it's a half moon! The square's most important building is the Casa de Correos. It's OK looking, but I can imagine better sights to celebrate New Year's Eve. Check for yourself:

Casa de Correos

Probably something that is overlooked by lots of folks without travel guides is the Kilometer Zero marking on the ground, just in front of the Casa de Correos. Apparently, it marks the start of all roads in Spain. But since we are living on a (kinda) globe, it could be center of the world too. I guess there were to few touristic attractions, and they invented one more.

There is also this famous statue.. No, I'm not talking about the equestrian statue of Carlos III, but about Madrid's bear sniffing the strawberry tree. Apparently, this is where the name from Madrid is coming from, but since it's just one of the few theories, I'm not going to elaborate.

Madrid's Bear and the strawberry tree

The buildings around Puerto del Sol square are quite nice looking. They are 5 stories high I think. One on the northeastern side is even having a big old billboard of a sherry brand named Tío Pepe. It actually looks stupid, but the square got associated with it. Makes it again worth talking about; free commercials for Tío Pepe on this blog, mm.. maybe should ask money.. mm.. maybe I should try it.. mm.. The billboard is actually working!

Next is Plaza Mayor..
Friday, 1 August 2008
At last! Again a normal vacation! The last one in November 2007, going to Spain, got cancelled and I ended up in Finland for work (oh, was fun too!). But now, in a few hours I'm flying to Madrid!

Actually, my little sister is their on a language course, so I'll have a guide showing me around. Well, she already knows a place to go for dinner tonight! Good sis!
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