Issue #8 - 15th - 21st June
La Copa Mundial, Aranjuez y oat milk
If you can suspend your disbelief, we can pretend to be football girlies. Just this week.
La Copa Mundial (or the World Cup, for the uninitiated) kicked off last week, but today (Monday 15th) is a special day for España.
If the Campions League was anything to go by, expect even more chaos and gritos from neighbours.
In other news, we have a pop-up! After a short dry spell, one is back.
Also, if you went to the Vaseline pop-up last week, you know what a real pop-up should do. I left with a haul of goodies. Organisers, take note!
For this week, we’ve also got an exhibition opening, a Pilates studio entry offer actually worth signing-up for and the latest edition in our chesecake review series.
We also took a little trip out of Madrid over the weekend, to Aranjuez. If you haven’t heard of, you’re probably not alone - it’s not as well known as Segovia or Toledo.
Read on to see what we thought!
Apricus clothes pop-up - The pop-up by Apricus, translating to ‘warmed by the sun’ in Latin, is the perfect addition para dar un paseo on a sunny day through Salamanca and into Justicia, some of our favourite neighbourhoods for cosplaying pijas. It is very Spanish, think colourful, clashing patterns, perfect for el verano. You can browse the collection at the Flabelus Serrano shop, on Calle de Serrano, 82 until Thursday 18th. F x
Yogalates House intro offer - If you’re torn between being a yoga girlie and a Pilates girlie, Yogalates near El Retiro saves you from having to choose. They offer barre, yoga, Pilates and, you guessed it, yogalates - a combination of the two. The studio’s welcome pack includes unlimited classes for three weeks for 55€. Go twice a week and you’re paying just over 9€ a class, which is about the price of a fancy matcha these days. Find it at C. de Máiquez, 64. Summer bod loading. F x
Laia Abril exhibition at Museo del Romanticismo - The Romanticism Museum, or the closest thing to the majestic estates, and historic houses that belong to the National Trust in Madrid, has a new exhibition: Endometriosis: El dolor silenciado. It’s 3€ to visit el museo, which includes the normal collections, as well as the exhibition. Make sure you time it well if you want to escape the midday heat (or 4pm peak here, it seems) because it’s open 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Mondays it’s shut, and Tuesday to Saturday, it’s open 9:30am until 8:30pm. You have until 13th September to catch it at C. de San Mateo, 13, Centro. F x
ClassPass two week free trial - Eager to live out your yummy mummy, Pilates princess dreams? Well, ClassPass is providing the LA simulation without the eye-watering price (for the latter, head to the Erewhon dupe Nudes for a 12€ smoothie and chihuahuas in jean jackets). The free trial offers you 37 credits (usually 59€/month) over a two-week period to spend as your heart desires, whether that be tango-ing your way around a studio, de-stressing with a spot of downward dog, or completing a static Tour de France in a spin class. Sign up via the ClassPass website. G x
Conciertos en la calle - The Madrid Luxury music event returns for its second edition this Saturday 20th, held in celebration of the European Day of Music. Between 11am and 1:30pm, there will be 16 live classical and contemporary performances from 20 musicians dotted about the streets of barrio Salamanca. Stroll around calles de Ortega y Gasset, Velázquez, Zurbano, Fernando VI y Puerta de Alcalá, dipping in and out of shops as you go, for a free open-air concert. G x
Esenzia Club pop-up - The Spanish brand is hosting its first pop-up in the capital, from the 18th to the 21st June at C/ Belén 4. Their sporty vintage aesthetic is reminiscent of brands like Cold Culture, EME Studios and Scuffers - think oversized graphic tees, striped long sleeves and elevated hoodies. The first 150 people will receive a gift, with further ‘surprises’ for everyone instore. However, as someone still traumatised from the 5 hour queue of the Suspicious Antwerp pop up earlier last month, I would suggest that you err on the side of caution - often ‘free gifts’ is code for free stickers. G x
Madrid Oat (milk) Week with Oatly - Expect workshops, coffee, matcha, tastings, and community events across the city, all with an oat-fuelled theme. Registration is free on Eventbrite, as are most activities, but some you need to book separately. Events start on the 15th and run until the 22nd. If you have a vegan friend, you know what to do. F x
The Basque Cheesecake Review
Alma Nomad Bakery
C. de Sta. Feliciana, 10, Chamberí (just off Plaza de Olavide. They recently opened one in Goya, and have another huge Alma in Quintana)
Safe to say, this cheesecake won’t disappoint. I won’t say i’m addicted but I would go into my overdraft if it meant another slice of this.
To me, it is what a Basque cheesecake should be: crustless with a burnt outside, velvety and almost custard-like on the inside and the prefect balanceof sweetness without crossing into sickly. The price is a little steep, at 5€ a slice. But, it’s a big slice, and it is quite rich so best para compartir.
Rating: 5/5
Will be hard to top this. F x
(p.s. G doesn’t agree with this one - she gives it a 4).
Aranjuez
Sometimes, in order to appreciate the city, you have to get out of it.
As the clouds gathered over Madrid and thunder rumbled in the distance, it was time to venture to pastures green. Arriving at Atocha, we boarded the C-3 cercanías train and cruised through industrial estates and barren wastelands, pulling into the end of the line, and the historical city of Aranjuez, 45 minutes later. A quick ten-minute walk from the train station, down tree-lined avenues, and we were already in the centre of town.
Although a city, don’t be fooled- it’s tiny.
Despite visiting on a Sunday, minus one trundling tour group of Americans, the place was deserted, giving it a slightly apocalyptic feel. Perhaps this is testament to the piousness of its residents, but more likely the Spaniards had shuttered themselves away from the heat to conserve their energy for Spain’s World Cup debut this evening.
It certainly had a more residential feel (albeit for lack of residents!) than the more touristy Toledo or Segovia, though sheer number of empty terrace tables suggested people do show up occasionally.
Following a café con leche pit-stop in a quiet square (manspreading in a very unladylike fashion as the midday heat claimed its first victims), we began to meander in the direction of the main attraction - El Palacio Real de Aranjuez.
Navigating the entrance was like a bonus royal maze experience, but thankfully la taquilla was eventually located. Admission is just 4€ for students, whilst a standard ticket is very reasonable for 9€.
The rooms were spectacular and all highly detailed: the opulent Rococo porcelain walls of one contrasted the Moorish geometric tilework of the next, while the swirling fresco ceilings were truly breath-taking and unlike I’d seen before.
At the end of the exhibition route, you can even view the wedding gown worn by the current reina consorte de España. But with a collar reminiscent of Maleficent's getup, it was a firm no from us both.
Returning outside, the several palace gardens are free to visit and provide some heavenly sombra. Closest to the palace are el Jardín de la Isla (Italian-Flemish Renaissance style) and el Jardín del Parterre (French formal style), both with a smattering of historic fountains.
Just a short walk away el Jardín del Príncipe extends along el río Tajo and, with a perimeter of 7km, is the largest garden in Spain. Within it, you can find the Museo de Faluas Reales (admission is included in the palace ticket), which exhibits a collection of gilded recreational royal barges - some that were commissioned for celebrations or mock-sea battles on el Estanque del Retiro in the 1600s.
We’d recommend packing a bocadillo for lunch and enjoying it in one of the gardens since we were unsuccessful in finding anywhere appealing in the centre (bearing in mind we’re not huge fans of the meat-heavy Spanish cuisine).
That said, we did stop at Casa Pablo - a traditional taberna opened in 1941- for una copa de vino and vermut, accompanied by a tapa of Manchego y palitos de pan.
In need of an establishment with aire acondicionado, we also made a stop at Dolce Fusione Heladería for respective scoops of Bounty and tangy passionfruit. Una tarrina (or cono) if you float that way, was 3.40€.
Having narrowly avoided heatstroke, we ended our day by ravaging the palace gardener’s lavender field and dreaming of ice-cold agua.
Everything was walking distance, and the cercanías are free if you have El Abono Joven. Otherwise, a return ticket is 5.30€.
Aranjuez is definitely worth a visit, and especially if you’re feeling antisocial. G x
Bye for now, Tacañas. Hasta luego!
G and F x
Thank you ladies. Another enlightening issue. Any good spots for watching the football that you know of?
Thank you ladies. Another enlightening issue. Any good spots for watching the football that you know of?