Travelog for: Yuma

Hello,

Please have some more video... We succeeded in editing a small video of the beginning of our roadtrip from Nivala to Oulu.

I hope you'll enjoy the scenery :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll9Ebt9isz8&feature=youtu.be


Love, Yuma

Hello Mom and everyone!

On Wednesday I continued my adventures. It was time to head to Madrid! Very exciting!

I wrote a card to my new host with Tuija...



...and received a hug and a kiss from my friends Rachel and Prajna




Bye, Finland - see you soon, Spain!



YUMA

Greetings from Madrid! Today I've arrived at a hotter place, I miss playing in the snow with my previous friends. It has been a warm welcome in here and there are many new friends to play with, but I feel a bit small in comparison with them. I've met a Canadian moose called Cuernitos. And also, I've met a rabbit called Indira who is very friendly. My hosts are very happy with the postcard and the sweeties from Suomi. Thank you very much!!!

Hello again, here there are some more pictures of this evening. We've felt a wee British so we have drunk a tea with milk...Yummy!! I've also getting to know two typical food from Spain: aceitunas (olives) and paella (it was fake! just a fridge magnet). And we've been playing cards, a game called 'brisca' and I've felt lost... There was one player who was cheating but I don't want to look at anybody... Finally, I've won, so I guess it is because of the beginner's luck.. And we've been listening to some songs on youtube, I enjoyed this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg

Taking advantage of the sunny sky, I have been taken for a walk to a park called 'Jardines Campo del Moro' which is situated near the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Manzanares River.

These gardens "possibly owe their name to the fact that it was the site of a camp established by the Muslim armies who laid siege to Madrid between 1100 and 1200.Once a private playground for the Royal family, Campo del Moro today is popular destination for residents and visitors to Madrid."

I really liked the place, and I have seen a lot of ducks and other birds. I forgot to take my sunglasses with me!

Hi mum! Today I went to the supermarket to get some ingredients for lunch... I was craving for mushroom cream...



It was such a big place... and I felt tiny. Where can mushrooms be?


So, I had to find a shopping trolley..


I was a bit thirsty, so I went to the beer section


I found some "Jamón serrano", and I felt tempted to try it


It seems, Nesquik and ColaCao are typically drunk for breakfast


There were many different kinds of chocolates. So I stayed for a while...


WoW!!! I can't believe the amount of the different types of olives.. oh dear!


When I got home, I gathered all the necessary ingredients for the recipe


I cried slicing the onion...buaaaa


The fist step was frying everything


Later I mix it with the electric blender, it was electrifying!


A comer!!! Lunch time

(you can also see a picture of Spanish 'croquetas' made up of a dough with ham and besamel and then fried in batter).
Bon appetit!!!!

Hi mum!
We've been sunbathing and watching The Chronicles of Narnia. I'm chilling out a lot. I forgot to put some sunscreen, I hope I do not get burned! We are having a lovely weather in Madrid!

Hi mum! I've been very lucky because I've got the chance to visit a different Spanish city: Toledo. It is really close to Madrid (over 1 hour by car). We took the bus in 'Plaza Eliptica' which is one tube statation where you also can take buses to other cities.

Toledo is at the center of the Iberian Peninsula, and it's now the capital of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha. In 1986 it was named a World Heritage Site.This city is all history with its narrow, winding, cobbled streets, steep gradients, and ancient buildings, all circumscribed by the old city walls. Toledo was capital of Spain from the Gothic epoch until 1560, fact that explains its really impressive medieval architecture. Walking through its streets one feels like having stepped back into the Middle-Ages.

It was a city of three religions, with Muslims (more commonly called Moors in Spanish history), Jews and Christians all adding to the mosaic that made up Toledo.  However, it is the Christian churches, monasteries and convents that now dominate, although Moorish influences are everywhere, and there are two historic synagogues. 

Toledo's importance owes much to its geographic location. Security from outside attacks was enhanced by the deep, fast-flowing Tagus (Tajo) River, which offered a natural protective border.

As for confectionery, Toledo marzipan (so-called 'mazapán) , made with sugar and almond, is evocatively Arab and is famous all over Spain. It is produced here in extraordinary quality and exported internationally. There is also a rich choice of mantecados (a kind of shortcake), Bollos al Aceite (buns fried in oil) and fried honey-dipped pastries, as well as the bizcocha manchega (a pancake soaked in milk with sugar, vanilla and cinnamon), and the bizcocho borracho (rum-soaked sponge cake). Miel de la Alcarria is a locally produced honey.

Although I did not have an opportunity to try mazapán, I ate pasta, which was delicious, lasagna and spagetti...my mouth was watering.... everything was so 'cheesy'!!
It was a fantastic day, fun-filled and full of surprises in this wonderful city.
Lots of kisses and hugs from Madrid.

Yuma

Hello mom! I forgot to upload these pics that were taken in the city centre of Madrid some time ago. I like all those statues of Spanish kings and queens and also I could appreciate the architecture of the buildings of this area. Hugs!

Yuma

Hello!!!
I'm soooo happy and excited! We welcomed another TV  on Monday, and we had some fun together. Indira was also very happy about the newcomer. Here you can see some pictures. Love,

Yuma

Rainy greetings from Madrid!!!

My host mum has been feeling a little bit under the weather so we had to put off our trip to Manzanares el Real which is in the countryside of Madrid, near 'La Pedriza'.

Today, the day has started great, the sun was shining and the sky was bluish, the birds were singing.... but little by little, the sky got darker and darker....and the strom took us by surprise! So we had to take the bus back home and call off the visit to other places in the little town. We decided to get into the castle in order to find a cover from the raindrops, and we couldn't do too much afterwards.
I felt so small in such a big castle! I liked the view of the lake, it was really breath-taking and it was a shame we couldn't come back due to the poor weather.

We spent the day walking up and down, and many shops and stores were closed because tomorrow is the beginning of Easter holidays - I can't wait to prepare 'Torrijas'! Yum Yum, my host mum has told me that this is what Spaniards like to eat during this festivity. I feel soo curious!

I like a lot this part of 'La Sierra Madrileña', there are a lot of prey birds, such as the Spanish Imperial Eagle and the Eurasian Black Vulture.
Despite the bad weather, we have had a fun and pleasant day.
Lots of hugs and kisses from Spain xxxxxx

Love, 

Yuma

p.s. To be continued with 'Torrijas'....

Hi mum!
Sorry for the delay, but I was very busy. Among other things, I learned to cook "Torrijas" with my friend HolgiHH. Torrijas are very tipical spanish dessert.
Here you have some photos of my day as a chef...mmm yummy!

In my recent walks I found a very beautiful plane, I think I would be very useful for my travels! who would be parked there?

See you later mom

With great sorrow, I said goodbye to my friends. But now It's time to go!
Next station: Gemany.

    Kind regards!

Hello and greetings from Germany
I just arrived in Germany. It was a long trip and I'm soo tired
I think I'm going to sleep now so I can visit some places tomorrow