San Juan Reservoir

In Summer, it's best to dip ourselves in the cooling water. In Spanish, San Juan Reservoir is called Embalse de San Juan. It was built in 1955 and it's main function is to supply water to the city of Toledo. People are welcome to swim and sail too. Many are seen having fun playing water sports.

Thanks to our friend who has a waterproof camera and took many pictures of us having fun!

Its a nice way to spend a day at the reservoir but its quite dangerous too. The water has current and the ground is not built with a slope instead its a sudden drop in height. I am a victim of it and it scares me out of hell as I am not a good swimmer. Lucky my friend was near and gave me a hand.

Above: I was just being brought to safety.
Can you imagine the place that my friend was behind me, is actually very deep.

How to make a Tortilla?

Ok, I think my Tortilla is successful. I get it right on my third attempt but it still can be better because it is not wet and juicy enough.

Ingredients

1. One ten inch pan
2. Two medium size potato
3. One medium onion
4. Three large eggs
5. One teaspoon salt
6. Lots of Olive oil

Method

1. Cut the potatoes in thin slices as shown below and cut the onions into small pieces.
2. Heat up the oil and add in the potatoes.
3. After 4 minutes add in the onions and half teaspoon of salt. 
4. Turn off heat, when potatoes are fully cooked. Take note, not to let the potato turn brown.
5. Remove the potatoes and pour aside the oil.
6. In a separate bowl, beat and whisk the eggs till creamy.
7. Pour in the cooked potatoes and onion into the eggs and mix well.
8. Heat up the pan with little oil
9. Pour in the mixture into the pan and use the spatula to move the tortilla away from the pan to create the shape of the tortilla.
10. About 3-4minutes, use a plate to flip the tortilla.
11. Cook and shape the sides for about 2 minutes and you are done.

Fry the potatoes first then add in the onions. Remove it when cooked.

Try to create the shape by using spatula to move the tortilla away from the pan

The flip

Above: The Tortilla

Roof top swimming pool

We felt great to experience the roof top swimming pool in one of our friends apartment. We believed his apartment was a hotel long time ago as the layout of the lobby, the corridor and the roof top resembled a hotel.

We reached about 6pm and headed to the pool before the sun sets. The water is cooling and its windy too. The roof top pool comes with a bar and the price of the drink is reasonable,  two euro for a beer. It's my first time in the last four years to swim in a pool. I felt great!

It's sad to know that my friend will be moving to London at the end of this month but happy for him as it is a great career opportunity move for him.

We ended the day at a newly opened Ramen Restaurant, Ra-Men Kagura. The broth is nice and it is own by a Japanese. If you are in Sol, you should try it.

Where is Ran-Men Kagura?

Calle de las Fuentes, 1, 28013, Madrid

Nearest Metro- Opera and Sol

Above: Ramen with Shoyu

Above: Char Siew Ramen

Seafood Paella

My friend recommended us to try paella at Costa Blanca Restaurant two weeks back . It was really delicious, the salad was super too. We ordered one seafood paella and one arroz caldoso (soupy seafood paella). The desert was just average. 

If you want to try good paella in Madrid, just head to Costa Blanca restaurant at Calle de Bravo Murillo, 3, Madrid. The nearest Metro station is Quevedo.

Above: Salad 

Above: Seafood paella 

Above: Arroz caldoso, soupy version

And us!

Eduardo is 2

Last Saturday, we had a small birthday celebration for my youngest boy who turned two years old at our humble nest. I decided to make my own tortilla, pinchos and chicken rice. 

Before the eating marathon starts, the men had fun shooting the targets using my boys' toy guns and the kids have fun with the toys and slide.

I said we had a eating marathon because we started to eat the Spanish dishes at 7pm and have the birthday cake at 9.30pm followed by the Chicken rice at 10pm. In the end, with our heavy tummy, some of us decided learn to make the Rainbow loom band.

Above: Tortilla

Above: Pinchos

Above: Chicken rice

Above: Adults playing shooting game

Above: Peppa Pig birthday cake

Above: From left, Enrique, Eduardo and Diego

Above: My family

Above: Our friends with the Birthday boy

Above: Eduardo and his cake

Above: Eduardo opening his presents

Above: Production line for Rainbow loom band

Above: Self made Rainbow loom

Manzanares El Real, Madrid

In summer, it's normal for people in Madrid to go on summer vacations, usually range from one week to three weeks. Many bars, restaurants and shops will be closed for vacations as well. It just doesn't make sense for them to open for business as the majority of the people will be out of town. In August, Madrid is almost like dead town but I some how enjoy it as there are fewer cars on the road and it is easy to find parking.

Last weekend, we decided to drive an hour to Manzanares el real and also visit the nearby natural park, Pedriza. Pedriza is a great place for hiking and rock climbing. If you plan to go, you have to as early as possible. We were there at about 12 noon and the queue was terrible. I was told that they limit the numbers of cars into the natural park each day. Therefore, the cars have to queue to drive in, means, one car out, one car in. After some discussion, we decided to head back to Manzanares el real to visit the castle and have lunch before driving into the park again around 4pm. We were told that after 4pm, the queue will be shorter and faster as many will be driving out. We found a spot where many families settled next to the stream and enjoying themselves in the chilling water.

More information on Manzanares El Real

Above: The Castle

Above: Pedriza natural park