Tarifa and kitesurfing

I just got back from a 4-day trip to Tarifa (sorry, no pictures this time) and I remember the same trip I did last year and the video I tried to create with the images of that trip.

A year later, I've decided to uploaded in YouTube, and place it also in my abandoned blog. Let me know what you think.

12 and counting! And new professional venture...

Well, another Photo of the Day. I know it's all I write about lately, but to be honest I'm quite busy on my latest business venture (more at the end).

This picture is titled "Shades", and was taken in the coloruful streets of Singapore's Chinatown. Check it out at ImageStation here.

Well, regarding my new venture, I'm now very busy looking for the appropriate site to open the fist My Gym in Spain (Corporate site, Spanish temporary site). My sister is joining me in this adventure, so that's really helping, but we have so many things to do and prepare that I get stressed just by thinking of them.

I would like to tell you more about this (and about past trips) in the future, but lets me honest. I now by now I've lost all your confidence on my ability to keep a blog when I'm not in the road, and I don't blame you.

But keep trying, believe me. It's just that life home and working is not half as exciting as when you're travelling, and there's not much to tell.

I hope all of you are good and happy. And drop me a line from time to time to let me know what you're up to.

Ciao!

And one more! 11th Photo of the Day

This picture of the golden figures of Bangkok's Golden Palace has been the new Photo of the Day at ImageStation. I hope you like it! I titled it "Clones".

10th Photo of the Day!!

Finally, after almost 8 months without a single triumph, one of my summer photographs has been selected Photo of the Day today by Sony's ImageStation!
If you're curious, its title is "Masts" and you can see it at ImageStation here. Let me know what you think.




I know I'm being very lazy with my blog lately, but it's all due to too many (boring) things going on and too little time to write.

My "after summer" resolution is to write at least one short post a week, starting next month. You have my word.

¡Hasta pronto!

What would the name of your favorite olive oil be?

I know, I know, it's an unsual question, but let me tell you the story.

After years dedicated to the harvest of olive trees to produce some of the finest olive oil in Andalusia, my family (well, truly it was all my brother's idea) has decided to move one step forward and create a brand of our own. Starting next year, we will produce a small amount of bottles with our best olive oil, aimed mainly for the outside market.

We spent several days discussing what name to give to this very special product, but I finally decided that since it will be people like you who buy it, it should be people like you who name it. So there you go, a great opportunity to leave a little mark in history. And of course, if we choose the name you propose, you will receive a set of bottles of our olive oil as a gift.

Just to give you an idea of what we're looking for, we would like a name that sounds genuinally Spanish (or at least Mediterranean), but that is easy to pronounce and/or remember in other languages. A name that communicates the quality of a home-grown product. Our olive oil is made of the slightly spicy Picual olive variety, the one with the highest levels of antioxidants and some of the best nutritional values.

I'm very exited about this new project, especialy since it involves something that's been part of my family for generations and what is one of the healthiest natural products available. So, tell me what you think and... Give it a name! :)

My blogs re-organized

Well, as you may have noticed, I have re-organized both my blogs. No big changes, though. I simply left all my Round-the-World related posts on the other blog, and everything since I came back on this one. Nevertheless, you can visit the blog and the photos directly from this blog as before (use the links on the right).

I must also appologize for not having written in so long. Lack of interesting stories to tell and too much time devoted to my future projects are to blame for that. However, I promise you a nice post about my summer. You have my word ;)

Tarifa, 3 years later!!

Almost 3 years have gone by since the last time I went to Tarifa, probably the best spot in Europe for windsurfing and kitesurfing. 3 years without practicing my favorite sport, except for that one time in Cairns where I managed to find a place that rented kitesurf equipment.

For those of you that haven't been there, Tarifa should be on your "Must visit" if you ever come to Spain. First of all, is located in one of those few areas in the Spanish coast that has not been overdeveloped; in fact, most of it is surprisingly wild. Second of all, the view of Africa accross the Straight of Gibraltar, so close but yet so far, will keep you staring at the horizon for hours. Third of all, and I'm not a big fan of that, Tarifa has become a sort of continental Ibiza: chill-out bars, design restaurants and lots of good looking people walking around; coming to Tarifa and not having a taste of its nightlife would be considered a sin by many. And lastly, what put Tarifa on the spot to begin with and what brings me there every time: windsurfing and kitesurfing! I can't think of any place in the world where you will be able to enjoy the spectacle of hundreds of colorful kites sailing the see and thousands more occupying every spot in the sand waiting for their owners to launch me. If it were only to watch that unique landscape it would be worth it to come to Tarifa.

This time I went with my girlfriend María, although we hanged out with quite a few friends from Madrid (or not from Madrid, but still pretended they were) that had the same idea as me. It as a 4-day weekend in Madrid and a great opportunity to run for the beach.

The Eastern wind in Tarifa is well known for its strength and gusty conditions, and that's what we had for 3 days (not ideal for someone lacking years of practice, as myself). However, the Eastern wind was quite mellow this time, so I could enjoy 3 days of kitesurfing with my medium-size kite. However, the wind was very gusty which made everything not so enjoyable.

María decided to take a course, and she did quite well, especially considering the adverse condition for beginners and how crowded the beach was (with Eastern winds, only the smaller Valdevaqueros beach is appropriate for kitesurfing, and everyone crowds over there). She managed to play with the kite in the sand, do some body-dragging in the water and get a 3rd degree sunburn when she decided that no sun block was needed in Southern Spain. How she came to that conclusion is way beyond my understanding, but the fact was that sitting next to her was like lying next to a fireplace.

Other than kitesurfing, we did the usual stuff. Dining out, the casual drink and, my favorite and very critizised activity, people watching. And now, back in Madrid recovering from the hang-over of being away from the sea again.

In a few days I hope to post a message on my trip to Rome. But as those of you that have been following my blogs know, that will have to wait.

And, please, don't be shy and send my your comments. I look forward to reading them!

And 9th Photo of the Day

For those of you that don't know what this is about, ImageStation (Sony's digital photography website) selects every day the best Photo of the Day among hundreds of candidates, most of which are excellent pictures. That's why being chosen Photo of the Day is such a big deal for me :)

Anyway, this new one is a B&W image from the Sky Bridge of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur that was not included in the original album (it is now). Enjoy it!