Nordic Capitals

Exams over, and Erasmus approaching fast to its end, we (that will be Albert, Xevi, Clement, Stephan, Adrian and me) plan a trip that will take us to Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and Riga. We left Göteborg a very shitty day, raining cats and dogs. We took a train very early (0600), and we get to Stockholm before noon. After finding a hostel and eating something, we went to the Vasa Museum.

Vasa (or Wasa) is a Swedish 64-gun ship of the line, built for Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden 1626-1628. She capsized in the first mile of her maiden voyage on 10 August 1628. After years of searching and preparation from 1956, Vasa was salvaged with a largely intact hull on 24 April 1961, and is now on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. She is now one of the last surviving ships of the line in the world, along with HMS Victory.

Is funny, isn't it? They built a ship so bad engineered that she sunk in her maiden voyage, and now is famous because is intact.

Stockholm is really beautiful. We did some more sightseeing on thursday and friday morning, visiting the Royal Palace, the Parliament, Stadhuset,...

Friday afternoon we took the ferry to Helsinki, that takes... 17 hours!!! I think you can get there faster swimming. Helsinki is not very nice. It dissapointed me, even more if you consider that we came from Stockholm. There is not much to see in Helsinki, but the Cathedral.

That evening we took a fast boat to Tallinn. Once there, we had some minor difficulties to find Laura (Xevi and Albert's, who was going to host us there), but once solved, we had a shower (we really needed it) and went out for a beer. Saturday night!

Sunday we went sighteeing, and in the afternoon we bought some beers and went to the beach, to drink and chat for a while. We went out to dinner, and then we stop in a tea-shop to smoke a water-pipe.

Monday morning we took a bus to Riga, where we met Anita (a friend from AEGEE-Riga).
The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture, comparable in significance only with Vienna and Saint Petersburg.
We went sightseeing (is great to have a guide!), and that night we made some sangria and we just stayed home, drinking and chatting for a little while.
Tuesday morning more sightseeing, we visited some museums, we walked through the historic centre, and then we met Anita for lunch (she had to work that morning). We had a coffee in one of the highest towers in the city, and... time to say goodbye!

More pictures, at Picasa.

Una vez terminados los exámenes, y con nuestro periodo Erasmus acercándose peligrosa y rápidamente a su fin, Albert, Xevi, Clement, Stephan, Adrian y servidor de ustedes preparamos un viaje que nos llevaría a Estocolmo, Helsinki, Tallinn y Riga, 4 capitales en 4 países, en tan sólo 6 días.
Dejamos Göteborg un día de mierda, lloviendo a cántaros, y cogimos el primer tren de la mañana (0600), que nos dejó en Estocolmo antes de mediodía. Después de encontrar hostal y comer algo, fuimos al Vasa Museum.

El Vasa (conocido también como Wasa, Wasan o Wasen) fue un navío de guerra sueco construido por órdenes del rey Gustavo II Adolfo de Suecia, de la casa de Vasa entre 1626 y 1628. El Vasa naufragó en su viaje inaugural, el domingo 10 de agosto de 1628, en el puerto de Estocolmo. El barco fue luego rescatado el 24 de abril de 1961 y se encuentra expuesto en el museo homónimo en Estocolmo.

Tiene su gracia. Construyen un barco tan mal diseñado que naufraga por un golpe de viento nada más dejar el puerto, y ahora es famoso poruqe es, junto con el HMS Victory, el único navío de linea del siglo XVII que se conserva hoy día.

Estocolmo es muy bonito. Hicimos un poco más de turismo el jueves y viernes, y visitamos el Palacio Real, el Parlamento, el Ayuntamiento,...

El viernes por la noche partimos hacia Helsinki en el ferry, un viaje de... 17 horas!! Creo que llegas antes nadando. Helsinki no es gran cosa. La verdad, me decepcionó un poco, sobre todo si tenemos en cuenta que veníamos de Estocolmo,... No hay mucho para ver aparte de la catedral.

Esa misma tarde cogimos un barco rápido a Tallinn. Una vez allí, tuvimos ligeras dificultades para localizar a Laura (una amiga de Xevi y Albert que nos iba a alojar), pero una vez solucionados, nos dimos una ducha (más que necesaria!!) y salimos por ahí un poco. Sábado noche!

El domingo nos dedicamos a hacer turismo, y por la tarde nos fuimos a la playa a echar unas cervecillas y charlar un poco disfrutando del buen tiempo. Salimos a cenar, y luego paramos en una tetería a fumar en pipa de agua.

El lunes por la mañana cogimos un bus a Riga, donde nos encontramos con Anita (una amiga de AEGEE-Riga).
El centro histórico de Riga ha sido declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, ya que Riga posee la más fina colección de edificios de Art Nouveau en toda Europa.
Estuvimos haciendo turismo (es genial tener guía!), y por la noche hicimos un poco de sangría y nos quedamos en casa, charlando.
El martes, más turismo y museos, y quedamos con Anita a comer (ella tenía que trabajar por la mañana). Luego tomamos café en una de las torres más altas de la ciudad, con una bonita vista, y... hora de decir adiós!

More Erasmus pictures

Yesterday, with all the mess that involves changing my blogs, my account names and my Picasa url, I realized that I have many pictures from Göteborg that I haven't uploaded yet. You can have a look to the 'finished' album now.

I would like to ask to all of you who still have pictures that I don't to please send them to me asap.

Fotos GTB

Ayer, con todo el jaleo que supuso el cambio de blogs, cuentas y la url de Picasa, me di cuenta también de que últimamente había subido pocas fotos de Göteborg. Podeis echar una ojeada al album 'acabado'.

Me gustaría pedirle a la gente que tiene fotos y todavía no me las ha mandado, que lo haga asap.

So that's it... Erasmus is over

And that's it. I've been here for almost 10 months now, and tomorrow I'l leave for good.
There have been good and bad moments, but mostly good ones. The weather has been shitty, but we have survived. We have partied together, we have studied together, we have got wasted together... (well, yes, me most than many of you).
I will miss you all.
Hope to see you somewhere, somewhen, somehow.

Y esto es todo. Llevo aquí casi 10 meses, y mañana me marcho.
Ha habido buenos y malos momentos, pero sobre todo buenos. El tiempo ha sido una mierda, pero hemos sobrevivido. Hemos salido de fiesta juntos, hemos estudiado juntos, nos hemos tajado juntos... (bueno, sí, yo más que muchos).
Os voy a echar de menos a todos.
Espero que nos volvamos a ver, en algún sitio, en algún momento, de alguna forma.

Back to the tribe

Making the most of the two weeks break that we have at Chalmers for Easter (well, actually is only one week break, and one week of re-exams, but I'm a very clever guy and I don't have to take any re-examination), I come back home for one week.
And... well, one week has been enough. OK, it's nice to go down to the supermarket, and buy a bottle of Absolut for 10 €, the beer is cheap. You can go out all night, from one bar to another. Not entrance fee, nor fucking wardrobe... Seeing old friends, taking tapas...
But on the other hand, the traffic jams, the cars parked in double-line, the rudeness, the 14-y-o badass forgiving your life by the street, living again with your parents (even for one week)... Well, I must say that one week of Spain has been enough.
After one year living in Sweden you are sick of many things. But after more than 20 years living in Spain you are more than sick of a lot of things.

As soon as I'm back in Göteborg (high-speed Internet access), I'll upload the pictures we took in Logroño last weekend. Oh!, by the way, that is a new place to add to my World Tour album.

And... next stop? Romania!!!

Aprovechando las dos semanas de vacaciones que tenemos en Chalmers (bueno, en realidad era una sola semana de vacaciones y otra de recuperaciones, pero yo soy un tio muy listo y no tenía recuperaciones), he vuelto a casa por una semana.
Y... bueno, una semana ha sido suficiente. Vale, mola bajar al supermercado y comprar una botella de Absolut por 10 €, la birra es barata. Puedes salir por ahí toda la noche, de un bar a otro, sin pagar entrada, sin puto guardarropas... ver viejos amigos, tomar tapas.
Pero por otro lado, los atascos, los coches en doble fila, la mala educación, los mierdacríos perdonavidas por la calle, volver a casa con tus padres (aunque sea por una semana)...
Después de un año en Suecia acabas harto de muchas cosas. Pero después de más de 20 años viviendo en España acabas muy harto de un montón de cosas.

En cuanto vuelva a Göteborg (Internet de alta velocidad), subiré las fotos que hicimos en Logroño el finde pasado. Oh! Por cierto, eso es un nuevo sitio que añadir a mi World Tour album.

Proxima parada? Rumania!!

Spring is coming!!

We are having extraordinary good days lately here in Göteborg. Today it was sunny. Very sunny, even hot. Believe it or not, last week it did snow one day. Crazy weather.
Anyway, we decided to do a little excursion today, so I went with Xevi to the beach. It was too cold to have a bath, of course, but we stayed as lizards, sunbathing in the stones, eating something and drinking a couple of beers (a wonderful day is not that wonderful without a beer).
I'm going to Spain for Easter, but I hope when I return here the weather will stay more or less like this. If that is the case, we have decided to go all sundays somewhere: beach, park, botanic garden,... At the beggining, when I arrived last year, I didn't do much sightseeing in the city, and then,... well, when it's cold and grey you don't feel like sightseeing.
So now we'll take advantage of the spring to rediscover the city!!

Ultimamente estamos teniendo unos días extraordinariamente buenos en Göteborg. Hoy hacía un sol genial, e incluso calor. Lo creais o no, la semana pasada incluso nevó un día, y ahora... Vaya clima más loco.
A lo que iba. Decidimos hacer una excursión hoy, así que me acerqué con Xevi hasta la playa. No estaba para bañarse, obviamente, pero nos quedamos en plan lagartija al sol, en las piedras, comiendo algo y echando un par de cervecitas (un día maravilloso no es tan maravilloso sin una cerveza)
Me vuelvo a España para Semana Santa, pero espero que cuando vuelva el tiempo siga más o menos así. En ese caso, hemos acordado hacer todos los domingos alguna excursión: playa, lago, parque, jardín botánico... Al principio, cuando llegué el año pasado, no es que hiciera mucho turismo (diurno), y... bueno, cuando el tiempo está gris y hace frío tampoco es que apetezca especialmente.
Así que aprovecharemos la primavera para redescubrir la ciudad!!

Birthday party - Sauna Party - TABARavE

Better late than never, they said. And I got tired of waiting for some lazy people and their pictures, so here is the post of my party!!!

From Spain came my brother Alejandro, Angel, Paula, Fer, Silvia, Violeta and Adolfo. We went out on Thursday and Friday (exams next week? What's that?), and saturday morning we went to the house in the forest to have lunch and start preparing the sauna. I don't know if you have used a wood sauna anytime, but it takes a long time to warm up.

Besides, it was quite cold outside. When we arrived, the fucking lake was frozen!!

People started to arrive at around 5, and, well, we was drinking, having some snacks, having sauna, drinking, having a bath in the lake, drinking,...
It's a pity the weather was so crappy... it was raining all night long, and I guess some people missed the party because of that. Anyway, their bad.
The first part of the party, was Sauna!!



Then, party all night long. I was in the sauna for the last time at 2300, or something like that (I was not wearing a watch, what was the point?), but it was on all night, so I guess someone went to it even later...



We all survived the night (ones better than others, but...) and in the morning people started to left home to sleep. Some of us (the less) stayed there for lunch, and then, everybody home.

Was really a great party, and for sure there will be a second part.
Thak you all for coming!!

And remember, more pictures at Picasa.

Mejor tarde que nunca, dicen. Y como me he cansado de esperar las fotos de unos cuantos vagos (principalmente Angel y Violeta), así que aquí está el post de mi cumpleaños!!

De España vinieron mi hermano Alejandro, Angel, Paula, Fer, Silvia, Violeta y Adolfo. Salimos el jueves y el viernes (ah, que tengo un examen el lunes? esto...)




El sábado por la mañana nos fuimos pronto a la casa del lago, a empezar a preparar la sauna. Porque no sé si habeis estado en una sauna de leña alguna vez, pero le lleva un rato calentarse. Además, fuera hacía un frío de cojones. Cuando llegamos, el lago estaba helado! Que esté algún valiente en manga corta no significa que el valiente en cuestión no tenga frío.



La gente empezó a llegar alrededor de las 5, y estuvimos bebiendo, comiendo algo, en la sauna, bebiendo, bañándonos en el lago, bebiendo,...
Una pena el tiempo, porque estuvo lloviendo toda la noche, y creo que hay gente que no vino por eso. Pero bueno. Peor para ellos. La primera parte de la fiesta, sauna. Luego, fiesta hasta que el cuerpo aguante (el de algunos aguantó más que el de otros).
Yo creo que me metí a la sauna la última vez a eso de las 2300 (no llevaba reloj,... para qué?) y estuve en bañador hasta las 0030, o algo así.
La sauna estuvo encendida toda la noche, así que alguien debió de molestarse en echarle leña, y por tanto supongo que ese alguien aún se estuvo dando sauna y baño entrada la madrugada.
Y por supuesto hubo... tequila!!




Todos sobrevivimos la noche (unos mejor que otros) y por la mañana la gente se empezó a marchar a casa a dormir. Algunos (los menos) nos quedamos a comer, y luego todo el mundo a casa.

Fue una fiesta genial, y seguro que habrá segunda parte.
Gracias a todos por venir (a los que vinieron, claro, XD)

Más fotos, en Picasa.

Tú dónde vives?

Where do you live? I live in the cocktip!!

Tú donde vives? Yo vivo en la punta de la polla!

Kiruna!

I know is a bit late, but I had to wait until I had all the pictures, and upload them, and I've been sick, and... well here is a brief post on our trip to Kiruna!!

We left Göteborg Jan 31st at 1700... it was supossed to be a 22 hours trip but it took 23 because we got stuck one hour in a station due to technical problems. Anyway, I thought it would be harder. I mean, we was chating, playing cards, eating some stuff, playing cards, sleeping a little, playing cards...



As soon as we arrived, we went to the supermarket to buy some food and, of course, to the fucking Systembolaget to buy some beer (did I tell you any time how much I hate this system?)
We went for a walk, trying to see the northern lights, but we were not lucky. Actually we were very unlucky with the weather, because it was cloudy all nights, and the last days it even snowed. So...
We couldn't go out anywhere, besides, so we stayed drinking something in our rooms, and we went to bed not too late.

Friday 2nd we went in the mornig to visit the Ice Hotel. It is amazing. It is melted every year, and every year they built a completely new and different one. It is not exactly in Kiruna, but in Jukkasjärvi (which means, if I remember properly, 'rendezvous point'), about 10 km from Kiruna. They harvest the ice in huge blocks from Torne River, that has excellent stream conditions and that's why the ice is so clear and has no bubbles. They don't use this ice just for the Ice Hotel, but they export it to all the Absolut Ice Bars around the world.
Each year they select the best from the artist that apply to work in the hotel, and, I can tell you, the whole Hotel is a piece of art.
They have also an Ice Bar, and an Ice Church... where people apply to get merried (and baptise their children) quite in advance!!
In the evening we went to have dinner altogether, and, as all the discos were closed (on friday! can you believe it?) we went back to our rooms to have some beers.

On saturday, we had a walk through the city. It has some buildings that has been voted as 'The Most Beautiful Building' by the swedes, as the Cityhall and the Church.
Then we visited the mine, which is the largest underground mine in the world, and one of the biggest iron-producers. We was only in the museum level, that is... 750 meters underground!!



Then, that evening, we went on dog-slide. It was awesome, but it was the moment I feel more cold in my entire life.
We also did snowmobile, and... well, I was playing the fool and I went out of track... the guide had to come to take our snowmobile out of the half meter of virgin snow it was stuck into... That was funny, though.



And that's almost it... we went partying that night, we slept well, and we got ready for another 22 funny train hours back home. I was playing poker until 2 am, and, well, I finish second, so I cannot complain!
It was a really awesome trip!!

And remember, more pictures at my Picasa!


Sé que es un poco tarde, pero he tenido que esperar a tener todas las fotos, subirlas, he estado enfermo, y... bueno, aquí viene un breve post de nuestro viaje a Kiruna!

Salimos de Goteborg el 31 de enero a las 1700... supuestamente era un viaje de 22 horas pero nos costo 23 porque estuvimos atascados una hora en una estación por problemas técnicos. De todas formas, pensé que sería peor. Quiero decir, estuvimos hablando, jugando a las cartas, comiendo guarradas, jugando a las cartas, durmiendo un poco, jugando a las cartas...

En cuanto llegamos, fuimos al supermercado a comprar algo de comer, y, por supuesto, al puto Systembolaget a por alcohol (os he dicho alguna vez cuanto odio este sistema?). Salimos a dar una vuelta por la noche, a ver si había suerte y veíamos la Aurora Boreal, pero nada. Tuvimos muy mala suerte con el tiempo, porque estuvo nublado todas las noches y los últimos días hasta nos nevó, así que...
No se podía salir a ningún sitio, además, así que nos quedamos a echar unos tragos en las habitaciones, y nos fuimos a la cama no muy tarde.





El viernes 2 fuimos por la mañana a visitar el Ice Hotel. Es increíble. Se derrite cada año, y cada año vuelven a construir uno nuevo completamente distinto. No está en Kiruna exactamente, sino en Jukasjärvi (que si no recuerdo mal, significa 'punto de encuentro'), a unos 10 km de Kiruna. 'Cosechan' el hielo cada año del río Torne, que tiene unas condiciones de corriente excelentes, lo que hace que el hielo sea tan cristalino y sin burbujas. No usan este hilo sólo para el Ice Hotel, sino que también lo exportan a todos los Absolut Ice Bars del mundo.
Cada año seleccionan a los mejores de entre todos los artistas que solicitan trabajar en el hotel, y podeis estar seguros de que el hotel en sí es una obra de arte.
También tienen un Ice Bar y una Ice Church (iglesia de hielo), donde la gente se apunta para casarse (o bautizar a los niños) con muucho tiempo de antelación.
Por la noche salimos a cenar todos juntos y, como todas las discos estaban cerradas (un viernes! a quién se le ocurre?) volvimos a nuestros cuartos a por unas cervecillas.

El sábado salimos a dar una vuelta por la ciudad. Tiene un par de edificios que han sido votados como 'El Edificio Más Bonito de Suecia' por los suecos, como el Ayuntamiento y la Iglesia.



Luego fuimos a visitar la mina, que es la mina subterránea más grande del mundo, y una de las mayores productoras de hierro. Estuvimos sólo en el nivel del museo, pero eso está... 750 metros bajo tierra!!

Esa misma tarde, fuimos en trineo de perros. Fue genial, pero también fue el momento en el que más frío he pasado en mi vida.
También fuimos en motos de nieve y... bueno, por ir haciendo el idiota, me salí de la pista y tuvo que venir el guía a ayudarme a sacar la moto del medio metro de nieve virgen en el que se había quedado hundida la oruga. Fue divertido, eso incluso.



Y ya no hay mucho más que contar,... salimos esa noche, dormimos bien, y nos preparamos para otras 22 horas en tren de vuelta. Estuve jugando al poker hasta las 2 am y, bueno, acabé segundo, así que no me quejo!
Fue un viaje alucinante!

Y recordad, más fotos en mi Picasa!

You know that you've been in Sweden too long when....

1. You rummage through your plastic bag collection to see which ones you can keep to take to the shop and which ones can be sacrificed for rubbish.

2. The first thing you do upon entering a bank/post office/chemist etc. is to look for the queue number machine.

3. You accept that you will have to queue to take a queue number.<

4. When a stranger on the street smiles at you, you assume
a: he is drunk
b: he is insane

5. Silence is fun.

6. The reason you take the ferry to Finland is:
a: duty free vodka
b: duty free beer
c: to party hearty...no need to get off the boat in Helsinki, just turn around and do it again on the way back to Sweden.

7. A sharp intake of breath has become part of your vocabulary, as has the
sound ”Jah hahh”

8. Your idea of unforgivable behaviour now includes walking across the street when the light is red and there is no WALK symbol, even though there are no cars in sight.

9. Your bad mood becomes your good mood.

10. Sundays no longer seem dull with all the shops closed, and begin to feel restful instead.

11. "No comment" becomes a conversation strategy.

12. You have only two facial expressions – smiling or blank. Also your arms are just hanging down when you chat with other people.

13. Your old habit of being "fashionably late" is no longer acceptable. You are always on time.

14. Hugging is reserved for sexual foreplay

15. You hear loud-talking passengers on the train. You immediately assume
a: they are drunk
b: they are Finnish
c: they are Spanish
d: all of the above

16. You no longer see any problem wearing white socks with sandals.

17. Indoors you wear sandals with socks, regardless of the season.

18. You accept that 80 degrees C in a sauna is chilly, but 20 degrees C outside is freaking hot.

19. An outside temperature of 5 degrees C is mild.

20. It no longer seems excessive to spend 1,000kr on alcohol in a single night

21. You think that riding a bicycle in the snow is a perfectly sensible thing to do.

22. You have conversations with people outside when it is –10C.

23. Someone calls you ”good moron” first thing in the morning and you smile acknowledgement.

24.It's acceptable to eat lunch at 11.00.

25. You associate Friday afternoon with a trip to systembolaget.

26. You think it's more fun to stay at home and drink then go out.

27. You get extremely annoyed when the bus is two minutes late.

28. When a stranger asks you a question in the streets, you think it's normal to just keep walking, saying nothing.

29. You lose any artistic talent whatsoever.

30. You think that if you smoke a joint you will wind up in an insane asylum.

32. You have an uncontrollable urge to mail this list and point out the numbering is incorrect!

33. You assume that anyone who apologises after bumping into you is a tourist.

34. Paying $6 for a cup of coffee seems reasonable.

35. You start to think that having a sauna in the nude with a bunch of strangers is a necessary part of daily life ... and a necessary part of business.

36. You start to differentiate between types of snow.

37. You get offended if, at a dinner party, someone fails to look you in the eyes after raising their glass for a toast

38. Seeing a young woman with lit candles stuck to her head no longer disturbs you.

39. "Candles" are a permanent fixture on your weekly shopping list.

40. You manage to convince yourself that you really enjoy eating potatoes, tuna, pasta and sausages and it's not just because that's all you can afford to eat here.

41. You accept you must walk 2 kilometres to collect your book/tape from the Post Office, because they don't deliver small packages (or large ones)

42. You accept that you will never again wear your beautiful stiletto heels because
a: there's snow everywhere and even if you did then,
b: you still have to take them off at the door which instantly ruins the hitherto glamorous line of whatever you were wearing as you drop, 10cm, onto your flat feet in your short and sexy little black dress. Not the same effect at all.

43. When offered a bottle of beer the first thing you look at is the alcoholic percentage.

44. You use the alcohol percentage-per-kroner standard for measuring the quality of beer and wine.

45. You think it is normal EVERYTHING is regulated and you obey the rules voluntarily.

46. When someone asks you for "sex" you assume they mean half-a-dozen.

47. You will squeeze past somebody rather than say excuse me.

48.Drinking spirits can only be accompanied by formal singing from song sheets and vice versa.

49. You don't get disgusted by the little balls of discarded snus (chewing tobacco) at your feet at every bus stop.

50. You don't even get disgusted by seeing people spit, constantly.

51. You start talking to yourself in Swedish.

52. You take your shoes off when entering a house while visiting your family back home.

53. You can't throw a plastic bottle away with out having a guilty conscience.

54. You find yourself wobbling home from the pub on your bicycle.

55. You hide 5 or 6 bottles of spirits in your suitcase, one or two in your backpack, and put just one in the duty free shopping bag.

56. Trousers/pants tucked into all shoes, including low-top sneakers, seem like reasonable fashion sense.

57. You don’t think twice about calling someone in the next room using your mobile phone.

58. It's normal for a post office to be located inside the local ICA store, where no one can help you.

59 A 25 % sales tax on just about everything is no big deal.

60. You refer to weeks by their number.

61. If you meet someone you haven't seen in ages you just stay right where you are chatting away even if that happens to be in the doorway of a very busy department store.

62. You think the songs played at "The Eurovision song contest" are instant hits.

63. You don't find it strange that they add tax on top of the taxes.

64. You are concerned when the picture on the front page of the paper is not of some completely random person watering their garden or of a child holding an animal.

65. You stop thinking you're being yelled at every time you hear "Hey!"

66. You no longer look for toilets marked specifically male or female.

67. You accept that fruit juice is always made from concentrate.

68. The most interesting report on the news is the weather.

69. You find yourself eating bay-con for breakfast and talking about Bill Clin-ton and taking a trip to Lon-don.

70. Swedes saying Va' to you is still annoying (even after ten years), not to mention that there is no real word for please, or?

71. You think that reading this list is one of the most exciting things you have done for ages.

72. You only leave the country to stockpile cheap alcohol.

73. All of your conversations resemble a chess game, with each participant quietly and patiently awaiting the other to finish their turn.<

74 Even the 140kg amateur body-builder uses the handicapped door-opener instead of "straining" himself and you think nothing of it. In fact, you do it yourself.

75. A seven-year-old with his own mobile phone seems perfectly sensible.

76. You no longer eat yoghurt, you drink it.

77. Three for the price of two is the deal of a lifetime, regardless of what it is. Even 3 for the price of 2 1/2 surprises you.

78. You use a coupon to save 5 kronor on something that costs over 100 kronor.

79. Your wallet contains more plastic than a Hollywood superstar.

80. At Easter, pre-adolescent boys dressing up as old women isn't a sign of a developing psychosis, it's just part of the festivities (although it may explain a few things down the line)

81. Drinking is the fundamental pillar of your social network, be it coffee or alcohol.

82. You aimlessly chat using SMS.

83. A “big strong one” is a beer.

84. When someone says "Cheers" you look at everyone in turn before drinking.

85. You stop converting Swedish crowns into your native currency.

86. It seems sensible that you need to be at least 25 to buy a bottle of red wine.

87. The only thing in your quick memory is “Hej” and “Hej Hej”

88. You think Sweden is big (because you always compare it to Finland, Norway or Iceland)

89. You think is perfectly normal that nobody talks on the bus, train or tunnelbana (or even in the lifter)

90. You accept that people talk to you only when they are really drunk.

91. You accept that the best answer for a question is always "Jag vet inte" meaning "I don't know".

92. Pronouncing Euro as “Evro” makes sense.

93. You think it's acceptable that builders start banging and hammering at 5.30am

94. You are horrified if you see anyone drinking wine with their lunch.

95. You haven't been to the pub on a Monday for five years.

96. You start thinking about the weekend on Wednesday morning.

97. Bouncing without any rythm is what you call to dance.

98.YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIVE ANYWHERE BUT IN SWEDEN

Sorry, Swedes!!! No offense, but it's fucking true!!!

Extracted (and resumed) from
http://www.coolabah.com/sweden/youknow.html
(this Australian guys are pretty weird also)

Snow!!

Today has been snowing all day long, and thus when I've finished my lectures I've been to the forest behind my place, to take a few pictures. Some observations and conclusions:
-My boots are waterproof. That's good to know.
-To walk in virgin snow is cool,... until you step in virgin snow over a block of ice. That's not cool.
-I love my camera. I don't know how I've survived all this time without it. My parents are great.
-Autoshooter should be in the list of Men Best Inventions, with the wheel and the beer.
-Sunsets here last a lot.
-I saw a girl with a coat longer than his skirt. And the coat was no long at all. Wasn't she cold?
-If any other joins me, and thursday we have still snow, it would be a good idea to go to do some jackass with a slide.










Hoy ha estado nevando todo el día, y cuando he acabado las clases me he ido a hacer unas fotillos al bosque que hay detrás de mi casa. Algunas observaciones y conclusiones:
-Mis botas son impermeables. Es bueno saberlo.
-Mola andar sobre la nieve virgen,... hasta que pisas nieve virgen formada sobre una placa de hielo. Eso ya no mola.
-Me encanta mi camara. No sé como he sobrevivido todo este tiempo sin ella. Mis padres son geniales.
-El disparador automático debería estar en la lista de los Mejores Inventos de la Humanidad, junto con la rueda y la cerveza.
-Las puestas de sol aquí son larguísimas.
-He visto a una chica con el abrigo más largo que la falda. Y el abrigo no era largo. No tienen frío o que?
-Si alguien más se apunta, y el jueves aún hay nueve, estaría bien hacer un poco el jackass con un trineo.

Back in Göteborg

I'm finally back in Göteborg... Do you wonder what I have been doing these days back home? Well, as they say, an image is better than 1000 words...

Ya estoy de vuelta en Göteborg... Os preguntáis qué he hecho estos días en casa? Bueno, como dicen, una imagen vale más que mil palabras...



Enjoying nature / Disfrutando de la naturaleza




Learning capoeira / Aprendiendo capoeira




Sunbathing / Tomando el sol




Doing paintball / Haciendo paintball



Partying with my brothers and my friends / Saliendo de fiesta con mis hermanos y mis amigos



And... well I still heterosexual, believe it or no / I... bueno, a pesar de todo, sigo siendo heterosexual.

Sunday at Chalmers

This weekend I've spent around 15 hours at the University, believe it or no. Yesterday I spent 10 hours, and today I've been there all afternoon, finishing some projects we must hand in. It's cool that we can do that, though.
I mean, I've been kicked out from my University many times, because 'it is time to close'. And I do not use to study at the library, but I know that only one of the many libraries of the Universidad de Zaragoza is open on sundays. It is a shame! Come on! They are putting limits to our study? Deciding when we can and when we cannot study?
That's a pretty cool thing here at Chalmers. It is open round the clock. All the buildings, all the labs, all the studying rooms. You just go there, pass your card, enter your PIN, and that's it. 24/7. I have a very diurnal timetable, and I study well at home, but I have friends that study better at night, or in the library... and what if you study better at night AND in the library? Well, that's no problem here.
What it takes to get some of these civilized idea of responsibility (there's nobody watching us, there are only students at the building!) to Spain?

Este fin de semana me he pegado unas 15 horas en la Universidad, lo creais o no. Ayer estuve unas 10 horas, y hoy me he pegado allí toda la tarde, acabando unos proyectos que hay que entregar. Pero me alegro de haberlo podido hacer.
Quiero decir, me han echado de la Universidad unas cuantas veces, en Zaragoza, porque es 'hora de cerrar'. Y yo no suelo estudiar en la biblioteca, pero sé que los domingos sólo está abierta Filosofía. Es una puta vergüenza!! Ponen límites a nuestro estudio? Deciden cuando se puede y no se puede estudiar?
Eso mola aquí en Chalmers. La universidad está siempre abierta. Todos los edificios, todos los laboratorios, todas las salas de estudio. Llegas, pasas tu tarjeta, tecleas tu PIN, y p'adentro. 24/7.
Yo soy un tio muy diurno, y estudio bien en casa, pero tengo amigos que estudian mejor por la noche, o que estudian mejor en la biblioteca... y qué pasa si estudias mejor por la noche Y en la biblioteca? Bueno, aquí eso no es un problema.
Qué hace falta para poder llevar algo de esta idea de responsabilidad (no hay nadie vigilando, sólo hay estudiantes en los edificios) a España? Porqué los 'estudiantes' (y pongo comillas porque conozco muchos que no se merecen ese nombre) sólo suelen pensar en hacer el gamba? Porqué tuvieron que montar semejantes destrozos en la champanada años ha, para que ahora esté prohibida? Porqué el coyote nunca atrapa al correcaminos?

Jul i Goteborg

Yesterday it was the 'official' inauguration of Christmas here in Goteborg. It was not a very impressive event, but quite original though.
First, we started with a parade, carrying torches through the Avenyn. I think this is the first time they make this, because we were only the International students, and some people looked at us with kind of fear, walking with torches and speaking in foreign langauges... I guess they were afraid we were some sort of sect, or terrorists, or whatever.



Accompanying the parade were 4 or 5 convertibles with blond girls waving... the hell were hey doing??



The act finished in Gotaplatsen, where they played the 'New Jul Movie'. It seems that this is a tradition here. They light up all the christmas lights in the Avenyn and then they play this animation short movie, over the Art Museum, a new one each year.

Those who know me know what I think about Xmas, but, well, it was just about having some fun with friends.

More pictures, at Picasa, as always.

Ayer fue la inauguración 'oficial' de la Navidad aquí en Goteborg. No es que fuera un evento muy impresionante, pero sí un rato curioso.
Primero, empezamos con una procesión, cargando cirios a través de la avenida principal, el Avenyn. Creo que es la primera vez que hacen esto, porque eramos sólo estudiantes internacionales y alguna gente nos miraba con malas caras, como con miedo... no sé, igual se pensaban que eramos de alguna secta, terroristas,... a saber.

Acompañando el desfile iban 4 o 5 Volvo descapotables, con rubias saludando, en plan PP de Asturias... qué coño hacían ahí, aún me lo pregunto.



El acto acabó en Gotaplatsen, donde pusieton la nueva película de Navidad. Esto parece que sí que es tradición aquí. Encienden toda la iluminación navideña del Avenyn, y luego proyectan este corto de animación, que es nuevo cada año, sobre la fachada del Museo de Arte.

Los que me conocen saben lo que opino de la Navidad, pero bueno, se trataba más de pasar un buen rato con los colegas.

Más fotos, en Picasa, como siempre.

M.I.A.

If you wonder if I have been Missed In Action or what the hell happened to me that I haven't post in a while, well...

Si te preguntas si estoy Desaparecido en Combate o qué demonios me ha pasado que hace tanto tiempo que no posteo, pues...

switch week_day
case mon
study_hours=10;
sleeping_hours=6;
gym=true;
comics=1;
NFS=false;
rain_prob=.99;
case tues
study_hours=10;
sleeping_hours=6;
gym=true;
comics=1;
NFS=false;
rain_prob=.99;
case wed
study_hours=10;
sleeping_hours=6;
gym=true;
comics=1;
NFS=false;
rain_prob=.99;
case thur
study_hours=10;
sleeping_hours=6;
gym=true;
comics=1;
NFS=false;
rain_prob=.99;
if heroes_dl
heroes = true;
end
case fri
study_hours=10;
sleeping_hours=6;
gym=true;
comics=1;
NFS=false;
rain_prob=.99;
case sat
study_hours=8;
sleeping_hours=6;
gym=true;
comics=3;
NFS=false;
rain_prob=.99;
case sun
sleeping_hours=4;
gym=false;
sauna=true;
comics=3;
NFS=true;
rain_prob=.99;
if not hangover
study_hours=6;
else
study_hours=0;
end
end

This is not a fucking Erasmus. They make us work too much!! I want my money back!! Where are the crazy parties??!! Where is the cheap alcohol??!! Where are the easy chicks??!! Where is the pass-without-studying??!!

Esto no es un puto Erasmus. Nos hacen trabajar como putas mulas de carga!! Quiero que me devuelvan mi dinero!! Donde están las fiestas salvajes??!! Donde está el alcohol barato??!! Donde estan las chicas fáciles??!! Donde está el aprobar sin estudiar??!!

Post party

Yesterday we went to a party at Chalmers (yes, they really do a lot of parties at our university). The thing is, all this parties end at three. And some of us was too 'happy' to go to sleep. So, we started to talk about where to go for an 'afterparty' and we decided to come to my place (mostly 'cause I had something to drink).
We were just Carlos, Albert, Nico and me. Andat the kitchen we found my neighbour sleeping (she was way drunk).

We ate some chips, french fries and that stuff and we drunk a couple of beers and some vodka. Albert left soon, Nico felt asleep, and Carlos and I kept drinking vodka. We are very nice guys, so we didn't do too much stuff to poor Nico, even though he snoorzes like Little Nicky.

The funny thing is todya I had to go shopping, do the laundry and clean the corridor (it was my turn)... so I woke up around 12 (I don't remember at what time I went to bed), I went to the supermarket (without my contacts and drunk, so...), and when I come back I kept drinking with Carlos. Some more beer, some more vodka. I've been around 28 hours in a row drunk. And I still am.



Ayer fuimos a una fiesta en Chalmers (si, hacen un huevo de fiestas ahí). La cosas es que la fiesta se acabó a las 3 (como casi todo aqui), y algunos de nosotros estabamos demasiado 'c0ntentos' como para irnos a la cama. Empezamos a pensar qué hacer y acabamos viniendo a mi casa (más que nada porque yo tenía alcohol). Eramos sólo Carlos, Alberto, Nico y yo. Y en la cocina nos encontramos a mi vecina durmiendo (mas pedo que Alfredo, también).
Comimos algo de picoteo, patatas fritas y tal, y nos bebimos unas birras y luego empezamos con el vodka. Albert se fue pronto, Nico se durmió, y Carlos y yo seguimos bebiendo hasta... Somos legales, así que no le hicimos muchas putadas a Nico, aunque roncara como Little Nicky.

Lo gracioso es que hoy tenía un huevo de cosas que hacer, como ir a comprar, hacer la colada, limpiar las zonas comunes (esta semana me tocaba a mi)... Así que me levanté pronto, a eso de las 12 (he dicho pronto a boleo, porque no me acuerdo a qué hora me fui a la cama). Fui al super sin las lentillas y borracho (imagínate)y cuando volví seguí bebiendo con Carlos. Más birra. Más vodka. Al final he estado cerca de 28 horas seguidas borracho. Y sigo sumando.

First snow

Yes, November 1st, the first snow in Göteborg. Two days after there's still snow around, so the temperature hasn't risen too much.

Si, el primero de noviembre, la primera nevada aquí en Göteborg. Dos días después sigue habiendo nieve por ahí, así que la temperatura no ha mejorado mucho que digamos.

Outlaw

Yesterday I had my first 'close encounter' with the law. I was going to say 'problems' but there wasn't any real problem, so let's just say 'encounter'.
First, in the tram. We went to a party in Frölunda and then we took the tram to the centre. A bunch of guys, I think all of us spanish. We didn't pay, and suddenly... the ticket inspectors! They climb up to the tram by all the gates at the same time, but luckily they wear clothes very easy to see, so I quickly ticked for me and for Carlos... then we all started to do very strange things. I mean, one of the inspectors asked Alejandro to get down (and he had a ticket), so we did, but afterwards we climb up again... we actually didn't know wtf we were, and where we were suppossed to get down,.. and... well, this kind of things happen when you are drunk.

Then, on the way home, I had this very bright idea, one of this kind of bright ideas you have when you are drunk... Near the channel are some life belts now and then, in case anyone fell to the water. I took one. And I was alking with it at my shoulder through the most populated avenue. So, yes, it was just a matter of time the police saw me. I let it in the ground as soon as I saw the police car, but it was already too late.
A policeman come from the car, very, very angry. He started to talk to me in Swedish, some things in English,... I told him I found it in the corner (of course, he didn't believe me). And he ordered me to go and put it back in its place.
I walked to the corner with it and as soon as the police car went to other street, I left there the life belt.
I should think twice the bright thoughts I have when I am drunk.


MAMA: NO LEAS ESTO
jeje
QUE NO LO LEAAAAS.


Ayer tuve mi primer 'encuentro' con la ley. Iba a decir 'problema', pero no hubo ningún problema realmente, así que dejémoslo en 'encuentro'.
Primero en el tram. Fuimos a una fiesta en Frölunda, y luego cogimos el tram al centro. Un grupo, creo recordar todos españoles. No pagamos (obviamente), y... los revisores! Suben al tram por todas las puertas a la vez, pero por suerte llevan ropa que se ve de lejos, así que marqué el billete para mi y para Carlos (pito por mi!) Luego empezamos a hacer cosas raras... un revisor le dijo a Alejandro que se bajara, (y no era por el billete, que él llevaba abono), y nos bajamos, pero volvimos a subir, y... yo que se, creo que no teníamos ni puta idea de donde estabamos y donde nos teníamos que bajar, y... bueno, esta clase de cosas pasan cuando estas borracho.

Luego, de vuelta a casa, tuve una idea brillante de estas que tienes cuando estas borracho. Cerca del canal hay salvavidas, cada tanto, por si alguien cae al agua. Cogi uno. Y iba andando tan feliz por la avenida (5 de la mañana, pero hasta el culo de toda la gente que salía de los garitos). Así que era solo cuestión de tiempo que me parara la poli.
Deje el flotador en el suelo en cuanto vi el coche patrulla, pero... tarde.
Se baja un madero, muy, muy cabreado. Me empieza a gritar, mitad en sueco, mitad en inglés. Le dije que había encontrado el flotador en la esquina (por supuesto, no me creyó). Así que me mandó a dejarlo en su sitio. Un sueco probablemente se hubiera sentido mal consigo mismo y lo hubiera llevado, pero en cuanto el coche de policía se fue por donde había venido, dejé el salvavidas en el suelo y me piré.
Sí, la próxima vez debería pensarme un par de veces esas brillantes ideas que tengo cuando estoy borracho.

Exams are over!

Yes dudes. Today I had my first and last exam at Chalmers. It was my first, that’s for sure, and it was my last because the other course I had this quarter I passed without exam. It was a bit strange,… I mean, it was my first exam in English (if you don’t count the English exams, of course), and it was this kind of exam you have to write a loooot, so…

Well, anyway, Wireless System Engineering is over, and I hope for good. Now I have a whole week for myself! What to do with so many time? (besides getting drunk)

Today I went to the supermarket (haven’t been since I come back from Spain,… and that’s three weeks son my refrigerator was empty). It is pretty tricky to do the shopping when you live alone, because is very difficult to manage to buy the cheapest stuff (usually big packs), have variety at home, don’t get more weight that you can carry, and avoid going to buy every week. And don't let anything get spoiled in the refrigerator. It’s… a kind of art.

I went to the fucking Systembolaget also, so I have a lot of food, a lot of beer and a lot of chocolate… What else you can ask? (OK, besides chicks, but they don’t sell chicks at the supermarket).

Tomorrow I’ll go to the city centre, to get some tourist information and to try to find a comic store. I promised myself I will only go to check, and I won’t buy anything, but I know my weaknesses.

The rest of the week? Well, mostly, partying and getting drunk. Apart from that, I must finish my ASP notes, print ASP and Wireless, and I should start the Digital Communications project (maybe I’ll dedicate it a couple of hours any of these days). I should shave (has been… three weeks, I think… yeah, maybe it’s time), and I should clean a bit (waitaminute, my room is clean and tidy, but maybe I should do something for the common areas)

What I will do for sure is work out a bit harder, drink beer, read a lot of comics, go party, post more often, post something about comics, drink beer, try to get to the number one of the black list (I’m currently number six, and my Lamborghini Gallardo is ready to kick asses), and go party.

So stay tuned.

Si, troncos. Hoy he tenido mi primer y último examen en Chalmers. Ha sido el primero, de eso no cabe duda, y es el último porque la otra asignatura que llevaba este quarter la he pasado sin examen. Ha sido un poco raro... es el primer examen en inglés que hago en mi vida (si no contamos los exámenes de inglés, claro), y ha sido uno de esos exámenes que tienes que escribir un huevo, y desvariar, y hacer hipótesis, y... vaya, que me he currado 7 páginas de diseño de un sistema de satélites para localizar y rastrear meteoritos, a saber si es lo que el profe quería...

De todas formas, Wireless System Engineering está finiquitado, y espero que de verdad. Ahora tengo una semana entera para no hacer nada! Qué hacer con tanto tiempo libre? (aparte de emborracharse)

Hoy he ido al super (que no había ido desde que volví de España, así que tenía nevera de soltero). Es un tanto complicado hacer la compra cuando vives solo, porque tienes que compaginar el comprar lo más barato (muchas veces cantidades grandes), tener variedad de comida en casa, no comprar más de lo que puedes cargar y evitar bajar al super todas las semanas. Y que no se te ponga nada malo en la nevera. Es... una especie de arte.

También he ido al puto Systembolaget, así que tengo un montón de comida, un montón de cervezas y un montón de chocolate... qué más se puede pedir? (bueno, qué más se puede pedir que vendan en el super).


Mañana bajaré al centro, a por algo de información turística y para ver si encuentro una tienda de comics que he conseguido la dirección. Me he prometido a mi mismo ir sólo a mirar, y no comprar nada, pero... conozco mis debilidades.


El resto de la semana? Principalmente salir por ahí y beber. Aparte de eso, debería acabar con los apuntes de ASP, imprimir ASP y Wireless y empezar con el proyecto de Digital Communications (igual le dedico un par de horitas un día de estos, venga). Me debería afeitar (hace unas... tres semanas?), igual limpio un poco (ojoquietoparao, que mi cuarto está limpio y ordenado, pero igual hago algo con las zonas comunes, que tampoco es que se pueda comer en el suelo)

Lo que haré seguro será meterme más caña en el gimnasio (a falta de nada mejor que hacer, y para sudar el alcohol), beber cervecita rica, leer un montón de comics, salir por ahí, postear más a menudo, postear algo de comics, beber cervecita bonita, tratar de llegar al número uno de la Black List (soy el número 6, y tengo un Lamborghini Gallardo taaaaan bonito) y salir por ahí.

Permanezcan a la escucha.

Sauna party

It was some time ago, but I haven't have time enough to post it until now.

The last of the welcome activities the CIRC prepared for us was the Sauna Party. It's hard to understand or even to believe if you are not here, but just try.
Twenty kilometres east of Gothenburg in Härryda municipality is Lake Sandsjön and by its shore, the Chalmers Sports Hall and Chalmers Student Union Sauna.



The area is owned and mantained by Chalmers Student Union.
Chalmers Student Union sauna is a large timbered building constructed in 1982 and is the third of its kind (the other two having burned down). It is well suited for medium-sized parties, having been built by and for Chalmers students who enjoy partying. About 60 people can be accommodated in both in the meeting premises and the wood-fired sauna (one of the largest in the Nordic region).

So what did we do? Of course, we took a sauna, and afterwards we swan into the lake. The water was bloody cold, but just after the sauna it felt really nice.



Later at night we had a little party: we ate, we drunk, we sang...



And the best part of all is that it can be rented for parties, so... guess where I'm going to do my birthday party!!!

Ya iba siendo hora de postear esto.

La última de las actividades de bienvenida del CIRC fue la Sauna Party. Es difícil de imaginar, o incluso de creer, si no has estado (o si vienes del CPS, donde no te dejan ni usar las salas de ordenadores fuera de horario de clase, y da asco hasta entrar al bar)

A veinte kilómetros al este de Göteborg, en Härryda, está el Lago Sandsjön (que no el Lago Bodom), y a sus orillas, el Chalmers Sports Hall y la Chalmers Student Union Sauna.



Todo el área pertenece y es mantenido por Chalmers Student Union.
La sauna es un edificio de madera construido en 1982... reconstruido tres veces porque estos suecos borrachos mamones la han prendido fuego dos veces. Está preparada para fiestas medianas, y ha sido construida por y para estudiantes de Chalmers que les gusta la fiesta. Hay sitio para 60 personas cómodamente, entre las salas adyacentes y la sauna de fuego (una de las más grandes de este estilo en toda la región)

Y qué se hace ahí? Obviamente, te metes a la sauna. Y cuando sales, en lugar de a la ducha... splash, al lago. El agua está más fría que el copón, pero justo después de la sauna te sienta de maravilla.



Después, pues lo típico, beber, comer, cantar... Hasta hay sitio fuera para hacer fuego!!



Y lo mejor de todo, es que se puede alquilar... adivinad donde voy a celebrar mi cumpleaños!