Hey Madrid Insider, do you realize that your sentence about the welcomeguy had like a billion words and made my head go all swimmy? Anyway thanks for the scoop. By the way, I like you site, I have a feeling I will be using it a lot when I get to Madrid in LESS THAN 15 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyhoot, yes, yes, we will plan expat outings and it will be divine and no one will take our money or pump us for free English lessons! I have several thousand things to do in my LESS THAN 15 DAYS!!!!!! so I can't plan a thing until I arrive, but we will hook up then!

Oh, and to Jenny...I just left Boston. I was there for two and a half years. We can reminisce over Harvard Square, cheap Lobster, and Filene's Basement when you get to Madrid!

Ciao all until LESS THAN 15 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Candela
PS. MadridInsider, do you have a name? or shall we call you M I. Or maybe Emeh Ee?

Haha, you guys are so funny. In the past week alone with this site I feel as though I have like ten new friends and I haven't even moved yet! Candela, good luck with the move! Keep us all posted! I too am from Boston, so there will be reminscing! Good luck setting up the meetings and I hope they're in full swing by my arrival in August!!! Merry Christmas everyone! -Joy

Hi all. This is Madrid Insider www.madridinsider.com. My real name is Rocco Salata and I am a working actor www.imdb.com, journalist and group coordinator here in Madrid.
I created the website based on the need I felt for this kind of information while considering whether to come to Madrid or not.
After traveling to Korea, Japan and Madrid within the last five years and having to start over at each one, I thought I could post a few things that could spare people some of the trouble I went through and help get them settled once they've decided to come. :cheers:
I wished that someone would have told me some inside information about the places I was planning to go, because in some cases I wouldn't have even gone or would have done things completely different.
I am like 'Fox News', fair and balanced. This means that I often list things that are my own compitition in order to give everyone the most complete information and options / choices for things that I can. Also, I accept input from everyone who has anything to say about things on the site (The people have spoken).
After all honesty is still the best policy and time will tell who's intetions are good and who's hearts are in the right places.

Thanks for the update Rocco! It seems you and Jer are cut from the same swath of super generous cloth! Okay that was a sucky metaphor, but I am leaving for Madrid in 18 hours and my head is swimming with decisions like what will make the suitcase--roller blades or my faux fur fifties coat? Blank journals or books? Pepper grinder or bath pillow? These are tough choices.

And then there is the article that I have to email to my editor by tomorrow. The cell phone I have to shut off. The trip to Walmart for Cetaphil, brownie mix, and other indispensibles. Oh, and my family is throwing me a crawfish boil this eve. I think they are cangrejos de rio in Spanish?? Anyway, you boil up a mess of them with lots of spices and potatoes until the critters are firey red hot. Then you dump the lot on the sunday newspaper covered table. Roll up your sleeves and proceed to pinch off the tails and suck the heads! :b: They are delicious! I wonder if a crawfish boil would go over in Madrid??

Anyway, despite all of this mayhem, I just had to check in here at multimadrid. It may be weeks before my internet is up and running, so I just wanted to say one more time (though probably not the last time as I am super wordy!) I LOVE THIS SITE. Thanks to everyone for all the great practical advice. I have bookmarked dozens of links that I will be using nonstop as I set up piso down in Plaza Tirso de Molina! Once I am all tucked in, I will definately start working on that expat hanging thing.

In the meantime, cheers to you all and see you reaaaaaallllll soooooooooonnnnn! :cheers:
Candela!

Candela,

I am so happy for you. I will be there in March and I wish you the best of luck and know that all will work out for you.

Besitos,

Shawn

Hello Jer,
Can you or anyone please let me know how that idea of the Expat club is going? I'm moving to Madrid more or less in mid-February, and I'm interested in perhaps meeting some other posters. Although I and every other expat will be excited to be there, I'm sure I'm not the only one who will succumb to a bit of homesickness and loneliness at the beginning. (More specifically, it will not be the US I'll miss but just my friends, and my parents who I love dearly.) I think just offering each the benefit of company would be more than enough help!
Cheers,
Brenda

Hey Shawn, thanks for the kudos! Your posts have always been particularly inspiring.

Brenda, I am not Jer, but I don't think the expat thing has got going yet. I hope to be involved in the planning stuff when I arrive in Madrid...UM...on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!! Read above for the other ideas we have talked about. There are quite a few folks interested. Glad you are one of them!

MADRID MADRID MADRID I AM GOING TO MADRID TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Candela

Hey Brenda, well, I have not done anything with the group yet. To be honest, I was waiting for Candela and since she is probably offline for a bit right now, I do not think we will get weekly meetings together until Feb.

Candela WELCOME BACK TO MADRID!!!

If you check in here, give me a call on my cell phone 656266844 and we can talk about the first meeting.

Saludos,
jer...

Greetings from Boston,

I am brand new to this site, but I will be coming to Madrid on January 12th 2003. I would love to meet some folks who know the town because although I am already enjoying this site I still feel a bit disoriented by all of the info. I will be looking out for info on expat. gatherings!

Stephanie

hey Stephanie, I'm flying out of Seattle today, the 10th, arriving in Madrid Friday. It's my first visit so I'm just as disoriented as you but if you'd like to get lost together I'm staying at Hostal Chelo through this next week. I'm not packing a cell (what are your rates Jer?) but I'll check my email in case you leave me a way to reach you. Seattle-Copenhagen-Madrid-I'm off! Rocky.

hey all, me and my three oversized bags of stuff made it in one piece. but wait, that is debatable. i am totally jetlagged--still after a week (maybe it is all that fiesta-ing con mis amigos!) and i am completely overwhelmed. i forgot how intense (but superwonderful) madrid is! also, i just found out from ya.com that it will be about two more weeks for email, so until then i can only post here at the old cyber cafe once in a while! and hey, where is the ole at symbol on this keyboard...and the quotation marks!

anyway, all fussing aside, i am super thrilled to be back. all of you on your way, be excited, BE VERY EXCITED! MADRID IS AMAZING.

as for the expat thing. i need a few more days to get my head straight..not to mention my lavadora fixed. five gallons of water on el suelo last night! oh, but who cares...i�m in Madrid. if anyone wants to call in the meantime, my casa es 91 429 46 59 or movil, 610 064 964.

thanks again for everyone�s support and great advice and i look forward to our expatty thing soon!
Candela!

hi again! let me restate the obvious...MADRID IS AMAZING! I can't believe I am back! I can't believe I waited so long!

already my life is becoming chocka full of stuff. Tuesdays i have an english writers group which rocks--some very talented folk and great inspiration. Wednesday is Fran's way cool fiesta de intercambio at Cafe Madrid. Also I am hoping to review a little column I used to write here called Barrio Guide which was exactly that and post it right here on multimadrid. And well, eventually I will have to start working plus enroll in spanish course, but still I don't want to let this expat/multimadrid jam thing escape.

I chatted over coffee and tostadas with resident honcho jer and we thought of maybe Mon or Thurs nights. Any thoughts? of course it could be Sat afternoons too. Also, probably every week would be too much. How about monthly and if anyone is really having a crack up hard time with the whole new in spain thing, we're all just a phone call or email away. Let's hear some suggestions. Maybe we could launch in Febrero????
ta lo, Candela

Candela,

I know what you are feeling. I will be there in August and won't look back. Spring break is the earliest that I can get away from my job and that week will be sheer pleasure. I will make plans and contacts with my move to the GLORIOUS CITY.

Let us know how things are and don't forget about multimadrid now that you are in Madrid. Count me in for the meetings when I get there in August.

Shawn

Hi all.

Candela, thanks for popping back in, what Shawn said about not forgetting about multimadrid now that you are in Madrid is key for the success of the board. I know you are still awaiting your DSL and hope it comes soon so you can become a multimadrid addict/correspondent

I am working on that Barrio guide section, soon...soon... I really thank you for your offer to write for the site, I know it will be a cool addition to multimadrid.

I think that the multimadrid expat thang should be on Thursday nights starting around 8pm and we should meet every other week. I also agree that weekly may be too much but once a month seems too little.

We could start on Thursday Feb. 6th at the Caf� Comercial in the Glorieta de Bilvao as it is huge, not far from the center and reasonably priced.

Saludos,
jer...

I agree, twice a month sounds great!! thanks Candela! I will see you all in Sept! PS, loved, the "ta lo" hahaha, that's great. Love, Joy