11th April. Palma. What a place ..... we are happy people!
We arrived late avo Friday 9th. straight to Apuntadors Hostel (which we later find out has the charm of a pigs A hole.... i won't elaborate!) Drop bags & we're off...
1st round Pintos @ Tast, Patatas Bravas, chorizo, Jamon, goats cheessy, fishy little morsels of heaven on crusty bread, Beer!

time for a stroll. We are located in the old town.
6 story high apartments with beautiful Terrence windows an array of colours line the cobble stoned alleys with a multitude of food establishments below street level. the trees are in blossom and everyone is out enjoying the evening. The Cathedral a focus point for both local and tourist... it's BIG and very demanding of the area. but just behind we find the sea.

2nd round.... TAPAS @ Cuevo. a little 'vino tinto de casa' and we've settled in for the evening!


Saturday. We meet what is now our local coffee establishment, Bar Born, on Passeig Des Born. Bocodillas with tomato and spanish tortilla + coffee for 2 = 5.55 euro. sorted! a lovely fello runs the show with his wife & his home sourced eggs... yum and the good, good olive oil, a simple table compliment like that of salt and pepper.

Then we walk..... and walk....... and walk...

eventually we hit a beach. sun action, a really cold swim in our undies (well i got to my knees...muy freezo). Summer has only just began!

Back to Cuevo for more tapas.... what a way to eat!

Happy!

Sunday we found the food market that we have only ever dreamed about.....
The Hustle & bustle an attempt at using Spanish. Chorizo to die for. Jamon enough to feed a nation. cheese i wondered if there was enough milk in a day for, veg as big as ur MFA, fresh, pickled, poached.. OMG food heaven people!

We have now moved into an apartment, much better then the pre mentioned hostel and much cheaper. no more Diego(Tapas) but! it's self contained..... p's back on the cooker.... pero no problemo con esto.

hard core job hunting now.....

much love and cross ur fingers for us! XX




WELL! you must have all had your fingers crossed cos we have work.
Tinny bastards we are being at the right place at the right time.
just when all was looking pretty miserable (we were even thinking of plan B) we were drinking 2 euro Sangria and the Agents were putting a real downer on us... shit like "I know chefs with Michelin stars who can't get work" " and as for a stewardess, if you don't do this course for $800 to learn to fold napkins, you won't be getting work".
Well did we have the pleasure of giving them the twin carrots!
but to be honest the dock walking thing was a bit daunting. something that took us a bit of guts and a few warm ups. But it only took as the one walk at Portals, about 15mins bus from the main center. sweet smiles, CV's in hand and a few pleasantry's... BINGO. We got to the end of one dock and there was this most beautiful sail yacht and not a bad looking fella on board too. caught his eye and he came out for a chat. "no work here, but have you gone to that boat. apparently they are Kiwi owners and only hire Kiwi's."
we were off like a shot! 15mins walk later we meet the Owner on the wharf, a hour & half later we are set to return the next day to cook. walking home we were in disbelief 'did that just happen?'

Luckily a few days previous we discovered that most amazing food market. 9am Saturday off we go... the amazing race vs master chef.
Pee kicked ass..... big time! a tidy little 4 course
Baked Mackerel with green olive salsa on a rocket and manchego salad
Harissa prawns on a cheeky little garlic and bread crumb anglehair pasta
Duck Beast with a sweet mandarin glaze on a pink grapefruit and fennel salad (was goin to be parsnip Scordalia, but we couldn't find any parsnips, but this worked in our favor cos not only is Duck Adrian's absolute fav, Peter's fav is Fennel)
all followed by
a black plum frangipan tart
WOW
we started work Monday!
M/Y Awaroa. 39.5 meters.


Two weeks on, we re still pinching ourselves but have settled into a routine.

AMSTERDAM

Arrived Amsterdam early am Tuesday 6th, -5 degrees! P in jandals and shorts.... shame! made our way to hotel, easy. check in drop bags go. What a city, beautiful. we're in a great location, walking distance to everything. we are little kids in the candy store. Canal boat trip 1 hour another perspective.
The light is that early spring kind, sparkling on the water and everyone is making use of the warm sun... people everywhere. not downtown Oneroa now!
Bikes today. Love it! so hard core... remember to stay right and if it all looks like its going to go to shit just keep going don't hesitate. that's the rules.... until when you stop at a coffee shop. instead of a DblFW there is a joint.. (don't tell mum!)
enjoying the atmosphere of this place so much. busy.
i think a trip to the country side tomorrow. slow the pace abit.

Amanda




Hey

Amsterdam wow! Full on.

We are staying in a little hotel with a corner room, quite good really. Ten minutes walk and we are into the out-shirts of central Amsterdam where thousands of people are doing the same as you, walking around looking at stuff and looking for a seat in a restaurant facing the sun (must have been a cold winter!) drinking beer or coffee of course.

The bikeers here are so crazy, I can't get over the ordered system they have. Its so intense when you go walking so have to look both, sorry all ways...cars, trucks, people and did I say heaps of bikes. They seem to live a law in themselves. Incredible!

This is from our room






We hired two bikes today. Nine o'clock sharp we were there to pick two of the finest bikes for the day. We headed to Jordon in the N-West of the city. We headed there looking for a brown cafe that was recommend by the Rough Guide website as being the best in Amsterdam...it was closed of course. So we found another one, called The Greenhouse... We found ourselves there at 10am starting with a coffee (shite) and after a nervous contemplation we had a a wee puff. Wasn't the best timing I must say. Getting back to our location was a mission. Did really well in the end. A few map issues! She recons it was nearly a divorce..I was right of course....hehe..

Jordon was great place, heaps of cafes, small streets and of course bikes galore.


We left the bikes at home!

After a small rest we then walked around some more for a few hours. No shit the longer the day goes on the more people come out. We walked to a beautiful spot where this cafe was right on the canal. We saw it on the boat trip. Beautiful place I must say. It took us some time to get there. Tricky and massive this city is...you think you have sussed it then all of a sudden you are saying..."Hell...I don't recognize this place!" Consult the map and we are back on track.

This is from the cafe by the canal...




This is such a culture shock for us. So much to take in. There is everything you may want from all cultures. You feel like you are standing-out but there are thousands of people in the same shoes as you.

Now food. I'm enjoying the food but Its hard to put my finger on it. I have been starved for so long the choice is over whelming! It takes along time to decide even what type of food we would like. There is everything you may want to eat. There is not really a strong theme of Dutch food....in saying that our complementary breakfast each morning consists of fresh bread, cheese and slices cold meats. Interesting to say the least.


Well we are off again on the bikes..

Till later....

x peeeee