Confira os vampiros mais famosos da literatura e do cinema

Arquivo/AE

sábado, 14 de novembro de 2009, 13:48

SÃO PAULO - Veja lista dos vampiros mais famosos da literatura e do cinema.

Conde Drácula

O mais famoso vampiro cinematográfico de todos os tempos foi inspirado no personagem central da obra de Bram Stoker. Vários atores ficaram famosos com este papel no cinema, como Maximiliam Schrek, no clássico do cinema mudo “Nosferatu, uma Sinfonia de Horror”, de 1922. Até hoje, muitas pessoas acreditam que Schrek era mesmo um vampiro na vida real! Bela Lugosi, ator de origem húngara, foi o primeiro a imprimir garbo e elegância ao vampiro, marcando para sempre a imagem do personagem. Depois de Lugosi, Christopher Lee representou Drácula em mais de uma dezena de produções, sempre com total aprovação do público. Mais recentemente, Gary Oldman também entrou para este rol sinistro com a brilhante atuação em ‘Drácula de Bram Stoker’, dirigido pelo consagrado Francis Ford Coppola.

Lestat de Lioncourt

“Eu quero interferir nas coisas, fazer as coisas acontecerem!”. Este é o lema do vampiro mais famoso da literatura depois de Drácula: o sedutor Lestat de Lioncourt, narrador de quatro livros das “Crônicas Vampirescas” de Anne Rice. Nos cinemas, o personagem foi imortalizado por Tom Cruise em “Entrevista com o Vampiro”, de 1994. Lestat foi mordido ainda adolescente por Magnus, um vampiro de 300 anos, que se autodestruiu logo depois. Com isso, os poderes seculares da criatura passaram para o rapaz, e também toda sua fortuna. Apaixonado pelo jovem Louis, ele resolveu vampirizá-lo, assim como a menina Claudia. Entretanto, Lestat foi traído pelos pupilos e quase foi destruído. Séculos depois, resolveu contar a um jornalista toda a sua história, para transformá-la num livro. Nos dias de hoje, o egocêntrico Lestat decidiu se tornar uma estrela do Rock, na história que também foi levada às telas do cinema com o título de “A Rainha dos Condenados”.

Louis

Louis du Pontlac é descrito por Anne Rice, sua criadora, como um vampiro bastante suave, de cabelos negros e face inexpressiva, exceto pelos brilhantes olhos verdes… No cinema, o super galã Brad Pitt deu vida ao narrador da “Entrevista com o Vampiro”, que foi vampirizado por Lestat (Tom Cruise) aos 25 anos, depois de uma tragédia. A família de Louis prosperava com as plantações de algodão em Nova Orleans, até que seu adorado irmão mais novo veio a falecer. Louis ficou doente e se tornou uma vítima fácil para o apaixonado Lestat. Ao contrário deste, o jovem Pontlac é um vampiro contemplativo, um intelectual desesperançado em busca de respostas para sua condição maldita. Justamente por isso, o experiente Armand (Antonio Banderas), ao conhecê-lo, afirmou que Louis era o Vampiro mais fraco que ainda caminhava sobre a face da Terra…

Vlad

Em julho de 1991, o público brasileiro conheceu o terrível Conde Vladimir Polanski, um Vampiro que marcou época na televisão brasileira. Interpretado por Ney Latorraca, Vlad era o maior dos vilões da novela “Vamp”, escrita por Antônio Calmon e dirigida por Jorge Fernando, um dos maiores sucessos entre os jovens brasileiros. Na história, a cantora de rock Natasha (vivida por Cláudia Ohana) vende sua alma ao terrível Vampiro para conquistar um lugar no estrelato. Arrependida, a Vampira procura abrigo na cidade de Armação dos Anjos, onde acaba sendo perseguida pelo cruel Vlad. A atuação de Latorraca garantiu ao sarcástico Vladimir Polanski um lugar de destaque no rol dos vilões mais carismáticos da teledramaturgia brasileira, imortalizando bordões como o infantilizado “Gotooooso!”, que Vlad exclamava todas as vezes em que sugava um pescoço.

Natasha

Natasha foi a primeira vampira da dramaturgia brasileira, e deixou muitos marmanjos de queixo caído. A personagem foi interpretada pela bela Cláudia Ohana na novela Vamp, de 1991. Ela vendeu sua alma ao terrível Conde Vladimir Polanski para alcançar o sucesso como cantora de rock. No entanto, não era uma criatura do Mal: ao contrário, logo se arrependeu do pacto com Vlad e pôs-se a fugir dele, escondendo-se na cidade de Armação dos Anjos. Lá, ela reencontrou seu amor de vidas passadas, o capitão Jonas, personagem de Reginaldo Farias. Enciumado e receoso de que esse amor medieval pudesse voltar à tona, o Conde Vladimir passou a perseguir Natasha e a família do capitão, causando trapalhadas que renderam boas risadas ao público.

Angel

Este é o Vampiro mais adorado pelas adolescentes de todo o planeta… Protagonista de um seriado de TV americano, Angel é um Vampiro sedutor que usa todo o seu charme e inteligência para ajudar os oprimidos e tirar da consciência o peso de séculos praticando o Mal… Interpretado pelo galã David Boreanaz, o herói fez sua estréia em outra série televisiva, “Buffy, a Caça-Vampiros”. Depois de ser vencido pela protagonista, o Vampiro irlandês Angelus resolveu assumir o lado do Bem e a paixão pela mocinha, interpretada por Sarah Michelle Gellar. O grande sucesso do personagem lhe garantiu uma série própria, iniciada em 1999, que mostra a trajetória do Vampiro justiceiro após deixar a amada e a pequena cidade de Sunnydale para iniciar uma carreira de investigador particular em Los Angeles… Assim como Blade, Angel se tornou uma dor de cabeça ambulante para seus irmãos de sangue, e um verdadeiro colírio para as fãs mais animadas!

Jerry Dandridge

Apesar de serem monstros da escuridão, os Vampiros quase sempre foram representados no cinema como galanteadores incorrigíveis, homens elegantes que não perdem a chance de seduzir uma bela mocinha, para só depois revelar a horrível face do mal… E Jerry Dandridge, o vilão de “A Hora do Espanto”, um blockbuster de 1985, vestiu com perfeição este estereótipo marcante dos sanguessugas. Vestido sempre de modo impecável, perfumado e polido, a máscara de Jerry (interpretado por Chris Sarandon) só não foi capaz de enganar o jovem Charley, que desconfiou desde sempre da boa educação de seu novo vizinho… Com seu estilo doce e sexy, Jerry Dandrige conseguiu vampirizar a namorada do jovem, Amy, e seu melhor amigo, Ed, além de arrancar muitos suspiros da maior parte do público feminino, especialmente quando assobiava romanticamente o clássico “Strangers in the night” (tudo a ver, não é mesmo?), de Sinatra.

David

“Dormir o dia inteiro. Zoar a noite toda. Nunca crescer. Nunca morrer. É divertido ser um vampiro!”. Foi com este lema que o sensual vampiro David conquistou diversos seguidores no filme Garotos Perdidos (Lost Boys, 1987), clássico dos anos 80 estrelado por Kiefer Sutherland. As estripulias bizarras de David e sua turma vampiresca escandalizaram uma pequena cidade da Califórnia. Como em um ritual, suas vítimas precisavam beber vinho de sangue e comer vermes. Foi o caso de Emerson (Jason Patrick), que por amor a Star (Jami Gertz), aceitou o rito de passagem e se tornou um ser das trevas, passando a integrar a primeira gangue de sanguessugas bad boys do cinema!

Bento Carneiro

“Minha vingança será maligna!” – Quem já ouviu esta frase pode até não se lembrar da origem, mas os fãs de Chico Anysio jamais vão esquecer de Bento Carneiro, o Vampiro Brasileiro, o único ser das trevas que morava “aquém do além adonde que veve os mortos”… O personagem, um vampiro atrapalhado, simplório e desprestigiado, foi criado pelo humorista na década de 80 e logo se tornou um dos maiores sucessos de seu “Chico Anysio Show”. Sempre ao lado de seu fiel escudeiro, Calunga, Bento Carneiro fez do mito do Vampiro um veículo perfeito para brincar e ridicularizar, sempre com muito bom humor, as mazelas e contradições da sociedade brasileira.

Os Monstros

Na década de 60, a CBS americana produziu um seriado para a TV que marcou toda uma geração de telespectadores. A exemplo da família Addams, da rival ABC, realizada na mesma época, os Monstros faziam piada com os costumes exóticos de uma família sinistra… O pai, Herman (Fred Gwynne), era filho de um certo Dr. Frankestein. Vovô (Al Lewis), de apenas 370 anos, gastava a maior parte de seu tempo em loucas experiências de laboratório. Os filhos eram Eddie (Butch Patrick), verdadeiro monstrinho de pele verde, orelhas pontiagudas e caninos afiados, e Marilyn (Beverley Owen/Pat Priest), loira, esbelta, de olhos verdes, isto é, um verdadeiro horror para os padrões da família! A única vampira da história era a esposa de Herman, Lily Dracula, uma dona de casa sempre preocupada com a criação dos filhos… Cancelado nos EUA em 1966, o seriado foi exibido no Brasil ainda na década de 60, e reprisado em meados da década de 70, fazendo mais sucesso do que os Addams! As trapalhadas dos Monstros divertiam pessoas de todas as idades, principalmente quando Vovô resolvia dar uma voltinha com seu veículo: um caixão sobre rodas!

Varney

Sir Francis Varney era uma criatura literalmente repugnante. Criado pelo escritor inglês James Malcolm Rymer em 1847 (antes mesmo de Drácula!) no livro “Varney, o Vampiro ou o Banquete Sangrento”, a maior arma dessa criatura era a sua feiúra! Com sua face pálida e mórbidos olhos cor-de-lata, Varney hipnotizava suas vítimas apenas com o olhar… Com unhas e dentes pontiagudos, esse vampiro arranhava as vidraças das casas, fazendo o ruído de granizo. Por isso, também ficou conhecido como o “Vampiro das Tempestades”, agindo sempre em dias chuvosos ou com neve. Esse monstro pavoroso tinha preferência por jovens indefesas, que eram atacadas sem dó nem piedade. No entanto, Varney era um ser bastante temperamental, e se dava ao luxo de se sentir desgostoso com a imortalidade de vez em quando… Então, quando os raios da lua o acordavam e seu humor não estava dos melhores, o vampiro se escondia no Monte Vesúvio, onde nenhum feixe de luz poderia despertá-lo.

Blade

Além da Vampirella, outro herói dos quadrinhos também ficou famoso pelos seus poderes vampirescos. Ele se chama Blade e nasceu das idéias de Marv Wolfman, então roteirista da Marvel Comics. A grande diferença é que o herói negro não é bem um Vampiro de verdade, e sim uma mistura de ser humano com um Filho das Trevas… Como? A origem de Blade é espetacular: sua mãe foi atacada por um Vampiro quando ainda levava o filho no útero. Dessa forma, o bebê recebeu um pouco do sangue maldito, adquirindo alguns de seus poderes especiais. Como vingança, Blade se tornou um impiedoso caçador dos sanguessugas, e para isso utiliza as geringonças high-tech criadas por Whistler, também inventor do soro que Blade usa para poder caminhar à luz do dia sem virar pó. No cinema, o herói já mereceu dois filmes que estouraram nas bilheterias, ambos protagonizados pelo blockbuster Wesley Snipes.

O Vampiro do Brooklyn

Blade, o caçador de Vampiros vivido por Wesley Snipes, não é o único representante da galeria de sanguessugas afro-americanos… Em 1995, Eddie Murphy personificou no cinema o hilariante Maximillian, único sobrevivente de uma raça de Vampiros de uma ilha caribenha. Dirigido por Wes Craven, da série “Pânico”, “O Vampiro do Brooklyn” trouxe a verve cômica do eterno tira da pesada para o mundo dos Filhos da Noite. No filme, Eddie Murphy tem que encontrar a única mulher que pode salvar sua raça da extinção. Vivida por Angela Basset, Rita mora no Brooklyn e convive com estranhos pesadelos. Sem saber, a moça é filha de um Vampiro, e por isso carrega nas veias um destino sanguinolento. Mas uma série de contratempos acontecem (como sempre!) e Maximillian tem de mover mundos e fundos para conquistar Rita e garantir a preservação de sua espécie.

Blacula

Blacula é o personagem principal do filme de mesmo nome, dirigido por William Crain em 1972. Trata-se da versão afro-americana do maior vampiro de todos os tempos. A história começa com Manuwalde (William Marshall), um príncipe africano que é vampirizado pelo próprio Conde Drácula em 1780, e acaba trancafiado dentro de seu próprio caixão. Séculos depois, dois colecionadores de arte resolvem levar a tumba para Los Angeles, onde Blacula desperta sedento de sangue! O Vampiro conhece Tina, a reencarnação de sua falecida esposa Luva, e faz de tudo para conquistar o seu amor. Mas o caminho de Blacula está cheio de obstáculos: Gordon, o melhor amigo da moça, descobre a verdade sobre Manuwalde e inicia uma verdadeira caçada ao vampiro africano…

Zé Vampir

Quem é que nunca se divertiu com as histórias da Turma do Penadinho, escritas por Maurício de Souza? Pois essa galerinha de arrepiar não poderia deixar de ter o seu Vampiro. Ele se chama Zé Vampir e é cheio de classe… Ao contrário dos outros personagens do cemitério, como o Cranícola, Muminho, Lobisomen e a Dona Morte, que normalmente usam apenas trapos ou lençóis (afinal, são fantasmas!), o nosso menino Vampiro se inspirou nos elegantes sanguessugas do cinema para compor o seu visual: smoking, gravata borboleta e uma elegante capa! Como a maioria dos Vampiros, Zé Vampir também pode se transformar em um simpático morcego, coisa que faz sempre quando quer assustar alguém. Apesar disso, Zé Vampir é um Vampiro camarada, e nunca leva seu apetite por sangue às últimas consequências. Na verdade, o morceguinho sempre acaba preferindo alguma guloseima à base de morango ou groselha, bem vermelhinha…

Don Drácula

Protagonista de um desenho animado japonês, Don Drácula (Don Dorakyura) fez a festa de muitas crianças brasileiras durante a década de 80, quando foi exibido. Criado por Osamu Tezuka (considerado o “Deus do Mangá”) em 1979, o pano de fundo da história é a mudança de Drácula para o Japão, para fugir de seu arquiinimigo, o Dr. Rip Van Helsing… Muito desastrado, o Vampiro acaba se envolvendo em muitas confusões com sua filha, Sangria, e Igor, seu criado corcunda. Sem falar no morceguinho Yasu, que narra com muito bom humor alguns momentos da história. Além de Van Helsing, Don Drácula também se esforça para fugir dos “ataques” da apaixonada Blonda, uma gorducha cheia de sangue para dar! Um típico desenho japonês, que deixou saudades em muita gente.

Vampirella

Criada na década de 60 pelo célebre Forrest J. Ackerman (o escritor que utilizou pela primeira vez a expressão “Sci-Fi”), a curvilínea Vampirella povoa a imaginação dos marmanjos desde aquela época. Sempre vestida com um sensual maiô colante vermelho, que revela boa parte de sua invejável forma física, a Vampirella das histórias em quadrinhos já teve duas origens… Para Ackerman, a Vampira era uma alienígena de Drakulon, onde todos os habitantes são Vampiros que se alimentam do sangue que corre nos rios desse estranho planeta. Na década de 90, entretanto, Vampirella teve sua origem reescrita por Kevin Lau, e passou a ser a filha de Lilith, uma Vampira mitológica. Seja como for, Vampi (como é carinhosamente chamada pelos íntimos) continua combatendo o crime com seu peculiar estilo sexy-sangrento, e muita gente boa não ligaria nem um pouco em ser mordido pela simpática heroína…

Mirza

Criada em 1967 por Eugênio Colonnese, um dos mestres pioneiros da HQ nacional, Mirza é a personagem feminina mais conhecida do terror brasileiro. Inspirada na internacional Vampirella, a vampira brasileira povoou o imaginário de várias gerações de leitores, já que foi publicada em momentos distintos das décadas de 60, 70 e 80. O verdadeiro nome de Mirza era Mirela Zamanova, uma condessa exuberante que se tornou um ícone não só do terror como também do erotismo nos quadrinhos. Suas aventuras se davam nos ambientes glamurosos das passarelas da alta moda e nas festas da elite brasileira, já que Mirza ganhava a vida como modelo internacional, sempre vestida (ou despida, é claro!) em trajes provocantes e muito muito sensuais… Em seu reinado de terror, Mirza visitou as maiores cidades do mundo, procurando suas vítimas indiscriminadamente entre homens e mulheres, e deixando uma verdadeira legião de “órfãos”, candidatos eternos aos voluptuosos caninos da vampira.

Miriam Blaylock

A secular vampira Miriam Blaylock, interpretada por Catherine Deneuve em “Fome de viver” (The Hungers), ficou célebre na película de Tony Scott, um dos mais belos e chocantes filmes de 1983. Personagem do livro mais famoso de Whitley Strieber, Lady Miriam e seu vampiro-amante John (David Bowie) tinham uma vida sofisticada, eram apaixonados por música clássica e sobreviviam à base de sangue novo de homens e mulheres. Mas repentinamente John teve um estranho distúrbio celular e envelheceu em poucos segundos, forçando Miriam a procurar a doutora Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), especialista em envelhecimento precoce. Foi a deixa para que a vampira seduzisse a médica ao som da ópera Lakmé, de Léo Delibes, em uma das cenas mais eróticas do filme. Sob o poder de Miriam, Sarah foi perdendo aos poucos sua identidade humana, mergulhando cada vez mais fundo na escuridão dos Filhos da Noite…

Carmilla

Personagem central de um conto publicado em 1872 pelo escritor irlandês Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla foi uma das primeiras criaturas da noite registradas na literatura mundial. De hábitos noturnos, cabelos e olhos castanho escuros, Carmilla logo chamou a atenção de Laura, uma jovem da nobreza austríaca com quem a Vampira manteve um relacionamento conturbado. Na história, narrada pela própria vítima, Carmilla acaba revelando ser a Condessa Karnstein, uma antepassada de Laura, falecida há mais de 150 anos! Linda, graciosa e de porte aristocrático, Carmilla influenciou toda uma geração de Vampiras fatais, e há quem diga, inclusive, que Bram Stoker teria se inspirado na obra de seu conterrâneo para criar o seu Drácula.

Philinnion

Philinnion é a personagem de um conto muito antigo atribuído ao historiador grego Phlegon de Trales, que teria vivido no primeiro ou segundo século da era cristã, e por isso pode ser considerada uma das primeiras vampiras da literatura. A história narra o drama de um jovem chamado Machates, que se apaixonou perdidamente por Philinnion, sem saber que ela já estava morta… Machates morava com os pais da moça, e recebia todas as noites a visita de sua noiva. Quando os pais de Philinnion viram a filha na cama com o hóspede, trataram de avisá-lo que aquilo era uma assombração! O jovem ficou arrasado, e Philinnion amaldiçoou seus pais por terem revelado seu pequeno segredo… Mais tarde, os habitantes da cidade perceberam que a tumba da jovem estava vazia e encontraram seu corpo em casa. O cadáver de Philinnion foi então queimado e oferecido ao Deus Hermes, para que sua alma fosse enviada ao mundo das trevas. A história de Philinnion era muito famosa na época do Império Romano, e serviu de inspiração para Goethe escrever seu famoso poema “Die Braut von Korinth”.

Lord Ruthven

Personagem principal do livro “The Vampyre”, publicado em 1819, o sedutor Lord Ruthven nasceu durante uma emocionante tempestade literária… Reza a lenda que, em 1816, o grande poeta romântico Lord Byron reuniu em Genebra alguns amigos, entre eles Mary Shelley, escritora, e John Polidori, médico. Byron propôs um desafio aos demais: uma competição de histórias de terror, que foi vencida pelo Frankenstein criado na ocasião por Shelley. Foi nesse jogo que Byron idealizou o enredo para “The Vampyre”, mas logo abandonou o projeto. Polidori, que também estava naquela noite, desenvolveu a idéia de Byron e ainda se inspirou na figura do amigo para dar vida a Ruthven, um elegante Vampiro inglês que transitava com desenvoltura nas festas mais chiques da nobreza européia, onde dava vazão a seus instintos bestiais entre um gole de champagne e uma mordida certeira no pescoço de alguma linda donzela… O evento azedou a amizade dos dois, mas deu ao mundo um dos personagens vampíricos mais marcantes da literatura mundial.

Conde Saint-German

O Conde Ragoczy Saint-German é a principal criação da escritora californiana Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, que conta com uma verdadeira legião de fãs vampirescos nos Estados Unidos. Protagonista de mais de uma dezena de livros, Saint-German é um vampiro do bem, um herói que usa a experiência acumulada em 3500 anos de vida para ajudar o próximo, principalmente no caso de belas mulheres… Poliglota, rico e inteligente, Saint-German é um farmacêutico/alquimista, que precisa de sangue para se manter vivo, mas nunca mata suas vítimas, preferindo alimentar-se de suas amantes ou de estranhos que, em troca, recebem sonhos agradáveis por telepatia. Assim como os sanguessugas tradicionais, o vampiro de Yazbro também não pode se ver no espelho, carrega sempre um punhado de sua terra natal (às vezes dentro dos sapatos…), e pode se recuperar de ferimentos que levariam qualquer ser humano à morte! Um herói pra lá de charmoso, que convida o leitor para conhecer as mais fantásticas eras de nossa história.

Azzo, o Cavaleiro

Encravado em algum lugar dos Cárpatos, na Romênia, está o assombrado castelo Klatka. Este é o lar de Azzo, o Cavaleiro Vampiro que protagoniza a obra “A Mysterious Stranger”, de autor desconhecido, publicada pela primeira vez em 1860. Azzo é um Vampiro centenário, com um profundo desprezo pela humanidade, e só tem interesse pelas coisas pitorescas, incomuns. Ante sua presença, mesmo os lobos mais selvagens se tornam dóceis e inofensivos. Com a eterna aparência de um homem de 40 anos, alto e magro, o Cavaleiro tem olhos cinzas amedrontadores, e usa bigode, barba e cabelos negros e curtos. Sempre vestido em sua armadura medieval, Azzo é rude, sarcástico e monossilábico com os visitantes, guardando toda a sua elegância e cultura secular para cortejar as jovens donzelas que acompanham os viajantes. Quando convidado para um banquete, o Cavaleiro Azzo sempre recusa a comida, fazendo questão de frisar que só se alimenta de líquidos… quentes!

O Vampiro de Sussex

Em 1924, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle publicou “The Sussex Vampire” (“O Vampiro de Sussex”), colocando Sherlock Holmes frente a frente com um ser das trevas. A história começa em uma manhã de novembro, com uma carta assustadora. Nela, um certo Robert Ferguson pede a ajuda de Holmes para resolver um espantoso caso de vampirismo! O detetive começa a investigar uma série de mortes ocorridas no vilarejo em questão, que parecem ligadas a um estranho fato ocorrido há um século atrás. Nessa ocasião, os habitantes do local teriam assassinado todos os integrantes de uma família, acusados de vampiros. Assustados, os novos moradores começam a acreditar que um descendente dos sanguessugas é o responsável pelas mortes, sedento de sangue e vingança. Sherlock tem de usar toda a sua miraculosa astúcia para resolver a questão, e acaba provando mais uma vez que os vivos sempre são muito mais perigosos que os mortos… Mas você não vai querer saber o final da história, certo? O negócio é ler o livro para se deliciar com o caso mais sanguinolento do maior detetive do mundo!

VAMPIROS FAMOSOS DA TV E DO CINEMA

1. Lestat – Interview With the Vampire

2. Christopher Lee’s Dracula

3. Bela Lugosi’s Dracula

4. Edward Cullen – Twilight (Crepúsculo)

5. Bill and Eric – True Blood

6. Asa Vajda, 1960’s Black Sunday

7. Angel

8. Mr. Barlow – Salem’s Lot

9. Schuyler Van Alen – Melissa de la Cruz’s Blue Bloods series

10. Gary Oldman’s Drácula

Fonte: Revista Entertainment Weekly

http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/arteelazer,confira-os-vampiros-mais-famosos-da-literatura-e-do-cinema,466500,0.htm

a nega é minha…
07/11/09

Ninguém La Tasca…

Fomos conhecer o restaurante La Tasca, cocina al carbón.

A idéia prum sábado à tarde, só eu e a Dé, seria tapear à vontade.

Chegamos lá e nos surpreendemos com um ambiente extremamente tabernoso …

… com cartazes de touradas…

… leques, enfim, tudo com cara daqueles bares de tapas em plenas Ramblas. Sabe aquela teoria do Riq, o Ricardo Freire do excelente ViajenaViagem, de que cada ida a um restaurante é uma pequena viagem ? Pois bem, estávamos na Espanha!!

Os chefs e sócios Miréia Vila Garcia e Mário Augusto Ott são bastantes atenciosos e conseguiram o intento deles que seria transformar o La Tasca num lugar descontraído e bastante espanhol  .

Começamos tudo com um couvertzinho básico (ou seria bássssico!). Azeitonas, tomates, sardinhas e espinafre com grão de bico. 

Estava muito bom e nós com tanta fome que a foto só foi batida após comermos!

Uma sangria pra acompanhar e a resolução:

pediríamos 4 tapas.

Jamon Pata Negra …

… Queso Manchego …

… Tortilla de Patatas…

… e Chistorra a La Sidra (linguiça espanhola cozida na sidra). Todas foram merecidamente escritas com letras maiúsculas e em vermelho, tamanho o sabor.

Já estávamos satisfeitos, mas não sairíamos de lá sem provar a paella. Afinal de contas, não é em qualquer lugar que ela é feita no forno à lenha e em que neste processo é formado o tal socorrat ou seja, a caramelização do legítimo arroz bomba.

Pedimos à Marinera ( lula, camarões, mexilhões, peixe, lagostim e frango) e pra uma pessoa (dê uma chorada que eles fazem,).

Comemos bastante (e dá-lhe sangria!!) e continuamos esperando tudo acabar pra caminharmos até a Barceloneta, ôpa, a praia do Ibirapuera.

Já que lá  futuramente será um delivery, também fizemos o nosso. Pedimos pra embrulhar as tapas, a paella ( tudo o que sobrou, óbvio) e enquanto isso, experimentamos um excelente Helado de Turrón com amêndoas. Perfeito.

Pronto! Comemos muito bem, nos sentimos na Espanha e ainda estávamos levando comidinha pra casa.
Por falar nisso, fiz a seguinte receita no domingo a noite : peguei a paella que levei pra casa e dividi ao meio após adicionar um ovo. Esquentei uma frigideira com azeite e coloquei uma metade, uma camada de queijo ( pode ser o Manchego) e a outra metade. Esperei dourar de um lado, virei e dourei do outro. Ficou um arroz crocante, saboroso e revigorante. 
Se eu fosse a Miréia e o Mário, colocava este prato no cardápio do La Tasca.

Adiós.

Hey everyone!! Sorry for the late update — it’s been a hectic day!

I was up and at ‘em early (okay, I was up…but was I fully functional? no. ), and then heard the buzzing of my phone, and the familiar ringtone I have for my school e-mail address….first thought — Class canceled??? Alas…no. haha He was going to be late (he totally should have canceled though, in my opinion haha). Either way, I was able to get ready and get out the door without rushing myself. I got my coffee (sorry no pics…although I’m sure by now, you are well aware of what my skinny hazelnut latte looks like), and ran into a friend who was in my class, and we caught up and whatnot while postponing going to class. It was lovely. We did eventually go to class though. haha

I got home from class, and I had to go get a few errands in really quickly. I picked up a present that really is for my mom, but it is meant to share obviously. I just wanted her to know just how much I appreciate what she has done over the last few months for me…driving me back to school after work, and picking me up and all that.

So THIS is what I got her:

It’s this lovely little cupcake shop around the corner from me called Sweet. It’s definitely not cheap and definitely not an everyday thing…but as a treat, oh yes. Perfect. I picked up a half dozen, and boy do they look delicious.

The flavors I picked were pumpkin with cream cheese frosting and a candied roasted pumpkin seed on top, and, my personal fave, red velvet with cream cheese frosting. You could pick as many flavors as you wanted…but I figured the simpler the better. These pictures really don’t do the cupcakes justice…I’ll have to get a better picture tomorrow when they are no longer in the box.

I’m excited for my red velvet!! haha Yes…I claimed cupcakes in my own gift to my mother — I knew she would not object.

Anyway, so it was around 1ish? at that point, and I needed to clean my apartment and eat some actual food…instead of just staring at beautiful cupcakes.

I made myself a yogurt mess with the usual players.

I honestly can’t remember if I ate anything else before dinner — I sure as heck didn’t photograph it…it was a hectic afternoon! In my evening class we watched part of the movie The Fog of War. I really liked it — it was interesting to hear almost “behind-the-scenes” convos of Presidents past…and just how…messed up war and government truly are. I can honestly say that I would never want to have to make the choices that not just US officials, but politicians everywhere have to make…sometimes there just is no right answer. I’m anxious to see the rest of it.

After class, I had plans to go to dinner with my mom. We went to Cafe Jaffa and it was delicious. I got the same thing that I did last time…the falafel and hummus plate. YUM! I also had some mango sangria. — just what I needed!

THIS time…I took a picture of my meal!!

I also got some -unpictured- JP Licks after that…. non-fat peanut butter soft serve frozen yogurt with some oreos on top!!!! Yumm…it was cold out but I was in heaven. Their yogurt is so good!!! I wish I had a picture…but it was too good to resist until I found my camera. haha

I’m officially on Thanksgiving Break! and ahh it feels good! I have stuff to do, but just the fact that I don’t have to drag my booty to class for the rest of the week is a weeeelcome change!! Anyone else get a decent break this week??

What do you guys like to do when you get those rare moments of relaxation??

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!!!

Peace, Love and Munchies.

I’m in Seattle this week, and last night my family had a Moulin Rouge-themed party. Before the party there was some debate about what exactly Moulin Rouge meant – did it refer to the actual Moulin Rouge in Paris? Or the Baz Luhrman film? Or just French stuff? Or red stuff? After the party, it’s still unclear. Everyone interpreted it differently, so it was a bit of a mish-mash. In a good way!

This was our menu:

• Roasted Red Onions with Balsamic
• Stuffed Red Peppers
• Orange and Beet Salad
• 19th Century Herbed Potatoes
• Red Pepper Pesto Salmon
• Cherry Clafouti
• Red Velvet Cupcakes (more on this in a later entry)
• Red Wine Sangria

Everything went together surprisingly well!

We listened to a combination of musicians who have performed at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and songs from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

For the evening’s activity we had decided to create tableaux vivants – living re-creations of famous paintings from turn of the century artists who worked in Paris, including Renoir, Lautrec, and Van Gogh. Since we are all very competitive, we turned it into a contest. Here are two of the three winners:

Dancer Adjusting Her Tights by Toulouse Lautrec

Dancer Adjusting Her Tights by Leah

The Seated Clowness by Kris

The Seated Clowness by Toulouse Lautrec

We have some fun and very nice drinks for you to taste this Saturday at Bourbon & Canal. And at some unbeatable prices, too.

As always, we “pop the corks” at around noon, and continue sampling all through the day and evening. We usually run out around 9-10pm. Stop in any time that’s convenient for you.

First up: Oliver Sangria

From Indiana’s most-popular and best-selling winery, a new ready-to-drink sangria. Semi-sweet red wine with fruit juices makes for a tasty, refreshing combo good anytime (don’t worry about food pairings, just pour and enjoy).

For beer drinkers: Fat Tire amber ale

This beer has a cult following across the country. It took years before they finally released it into Indiana a couple of months ago. It’s a really nicely done ale that everyone should try. And here’s the best part: to celebrate the (finally!) launch in Indiana, we have 12 pack cans of Fat Tire on sale for $6 off (sale: $10.99, reg. $16.99, while supplies last).

A special treat in spirits: Hangar One Raspberry

The team at Hangar One makes some incredible spirits; they are among our favorites of all time. Small-batch by-hand production, made with all-natural gourmet-quality fruit….they do it right. Their raspberry vodka is released only once per year, and it is made with raspberries from the Fraser River region, which are highly coveted by top-tier California chefs. You can really taste the quality difference, and we hope you’ll take a minute to experience it with us Saturday. And, another bonus: while this is regularly a quite-pricey bottle ($36.99 a bottle) on Saturday we will give it to you for a relative bargain of $29.99. That’s $7 off, which makes it less costly than Grey Goose (and a much tastier choice!). We only have an allocation of 15 bottles, so if this sounds like your thing we suggest you come earlier rather than later in the day.

That’s the scoop for Saturday. We look forward to seeing you!

My bartending style tends to run less towards the carefully measured, tried-and-true recipes and more towards the “What’s in my fridge right now?” trial-and-error method. I rarely use actual measures, because what is “good” depends on how many people are drinking, how liquored up they want to be, and how well they hold all that liquor.

That being said, I have a few favorite drinks that do really well in cold weather.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate:

This ain’t your grandma’s hot cocoa. (Or maybe it is…) I like to add a few drops (or shots) of Peppermint Schnapps to hot chocolate for an immediate warm-up. Make the cocoa with milk if you like it creamier.

Cinnamon Vanilla Cream:

One day my love of Starbucks and alcohol collided, and this drink was born. I just poured some Cinnamon Schnapps into my Vanilla Crème, and – voilà – an innocuous looking brew. Yes, I did keep it all in the Starbucks container. You can make your own Vanilla crème by warming up milk, adding a drop or two of vanilla extract, sugar to taste, and topping it off with whipped cream.

Hot (Spiked) Apple Cider:

First, you need to find some alcoholic apple cider. It’s probably somewhere between the beer and wine sections. Two bottles is a good amount to start with. On the stove, get it simmering with two cinnamon sticks, a tablespoon of cloves, a little bit of sugar and some nutmeg. What really makes it piping hot though, is the addition of either rum or apple brandy. Be generous, ladies – the apple cider has lost most of its alcoholic content in the heating process.

Hot Spiced Wine:

Hot spiced wine is like Sangria, only warm. With cinnamon and cloves. You start by boiling about a ½ cup of sugar in a ½ cup of water (for a 2 bottle recipe). Once the sugar is dissolved into the water, add the wine and spices. When you feel that the mixture has sufficiently blended, turn off the heat and add orange and lemon slices and either rum or brandy to taste. Vodka works too, and you can get creative with the fruit you choose to put in. It is best if you make it an hour or so before you serve it.

For a more sophisticated cocktail try the Blushing Reindeer, or any one of these being made at the hippest New York bars. Personally, if I’m the one making the drinks, I shouldn’t have to work to get drunk. I leave the creative mixology to the bartenders.

Any of your own favorite recipes that you want to share?

[Always drink responsibly. Photo courtesy of countryliving.com]

kyle and i got off of work early one day and decided to get $3 margaritas at blockheads which eventually turned into this:

red-nosed bulldog (the drink, not kyle)

just a warning, this was probably the grossest thing i have ever drank.  but i did it—aaaaaand i’m never doing it again. (crunk ain’t dead.)

what are the ingredients?  1. frozen margarita 2. extra shot of tequila 3. sangria 4. upside down corona bottle.

let’s just say it got the job done and after that kyle and i found ourselves walking to the park with a dragonfly (what the hell.)

what up dawg?

i'm ready for my closeup

want to see the trailer to a really bad kevin costner movie?  click the dragonfly but don’t say i didn’t warn you….

Roses are a weakness of mine (for obvious reasons). They solve all problems. Vivo knows exactly how to shmooze the ladies and keep them coming back for more. Not only is their food fantastic, but every woman who leaves the restaurant is given a rose upon her departure. Who doesn’t like receiving a single stem rose?

The restaurant is dark and cozy. The walls are covered with unique (and sometimes provocative) artwork, which are available for purchase if your little heart desires. To start your meal off right, you must try one of their signature drinks. I always order the vivo-ria, which is their own unique version of Sangria. It’s a gorgeous purple and comes with a purple hibiscus flower floating on top.

One thing I never deviate from is the California Nachos. These little guys are absolutely fantastic… and healthy(ish?)! They are loaded with refried beans and melted cheese, topped with homemade pico de gallo, and (here’s what takes the cake) alfalfa sprouts! The crunchy chip, the texture of the sprouts, and the melted beans and cheese stimulate all areas of your brain and scream, “Heavens to Betsey, this is what the angels eat!”

California Nachos at Vivo

The picture above is only the half order of California Nachos, which is definitely enough to fill me up (especially after devouring a basket of chips and their delicious salsa).The full order is double this and could be split among two people. Actually, the next time I go I might order the full order for myself so that I can take leftovers home to indulged in on another day.  I wish Vivo delivered because I would have them on speed dial.

They have a nice atmosphere on the inside, and a wonderful patio on the outside.

Vivo is located at 2015 Manor Rd Austin, Tx 78722. Just East of I-35.

www.vivo-austin.com

Tuesday Nights see both of these venues packed full of locals denying the weekly grind and celebrating student life. Arrive between 6 & 8pm, for a (few) drinks and a satisfying feed – easily paid for with a ten dollar note.

What: Enjoy 2-4-1 food & drinks (Gerties) & Cheap drinks & tacos (Alibi)

When: Every Tuesday night! 6pm-11pm

Where: 699 & 720 Brunswick St, New Farm, Brisbane (gmap)

Links: Gerties, The Alibi Room

I have been looking for a great sangria recipe for a while. There are so many great recipes out there I could never decide which one to choose.  Inevitably, I never ended up trying one. Until NOW! I was loafing around Foodbuzz.com and found a recipe that sounded absolutely delicious! Thanks to Inn The Kitchen I found this unbelievable recipe.

Ingredient:

• 2 bottles of cheap red wine (Merlot)
• 3/4 or 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves

heat all these ingredients in a pot until they dissolves.

Add them to a seal-able container with apples slices and cinnamon sticks.

Let it sit overnight in the refrigerated for the flavors to absorb.

Before serving, add ginger ale for some fizz (its optional, the recipe is great either way)

I am so happy I tried this recipe. I have found my signature drink!

This is where I found this amazing recipe: http://innthekitchen.com/wp/2009/09/07/autumn-sangria/

Don Ricardo’s is a family-run Brazilian/Peruvian restaurant in the South End. When I went there on Thursday night, my dining companions and I were greeted by Don himself. We got there around 7:30 and the restaurant was completely empty, which gave me pause. Don was friendly enough and patiently addressed our queries about the food, but still, only one other couple patronized the restaurant that night, making me wonder how Don’s stays in the game in a really strong restaurant neighborhood. My conclusion by the end of the night: the apps and the sangria.

Unable to decide between the sweet and green plaintains (Don prefers the former and I the latter), we naturally ordered both. The maduros (fried sweet plaintains) with “carrot sauce”:

Here’s the latter, also served with the mysteriously yellow carrot sauce, which did actually have a pronounced carrot flavor when eaten on its own:

The no-frills guacamole was awesome:

For my main, I split the seafood paella, which disappointed. The lobster was juicy but the rice was underseasoned and lacking the infusion of seafood flavor that makes this dish. Also, the rice was noticeably missing the hot crustiness that should come from being cooked properly; as such I suspect the dish was not fresh, else just poorly prepared.

J ordered a special, the beef chimichanga and was rewarded with one intense beast.  Interestingly the insides were layered very similar to lasagna. Not sure if there were multiple flour tortillas layered on top of one another all within the fried tortilla shell.   Mm, deep-fried lasagna.

The sangria was the best part of the meal. A pitcher for $15, plenty for two and just the right amount for four on a weekday night. I’d come back for the sangria and guacamole but would prefer satiating my main event munchies elsewhere. Don and his wife are an adorable couple and make a mean pitcher of alcohol, but sometimes being cute just doesn’t cut it. Perhaps when the restaurant is busier things come out fresh but customers that come in on a slow night are customers nevertheless.  Don’s been in business for awhile so he’s doing something right; it’s really just too bad his magic was missing that night.

Don Ricardo
57 W Dedham St
Boston 02118
yelp it

I like Melbourne. Yes I said it! I like Melbourne.

But please don’t tell anyone! I have kept up the pretense of disliking it for so long that it would be such a loss of face at this point in my life!

My Melbourne mate Ben actually sent me this article just after I left: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/tale-of-two-cities-vain-sydney-trumpets-its-supremacy-to-itself-20091025-hem6.html

Hilarious! About the great divide between Sydney and Melbourne and the ongoing rivalry. I think the best thing about the article was in fact the comments below. The residents of these two cities JUMP on the defensive when this topic is mentioned…. It’s rather amusing when you wish to ruffle some feathers.

I went to Melbourne to visit a number of friends, predominantly 2 of my best friends Sam and Adair who I met in Mexico. We basically lived in each other’s pockets for 4 months and then didn’t get to see each other for 4 months. A reunion was in order.

As mentioned in my earlier blog ( http://lovellyinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/airport-travel-with-a-broken-back-verdict-not-bad/) I was apprehensive about travelling with my broken back.  However, the alarm was for no reason and after touching down safely I was only filled with joy and excitement.

My lovely friend Ben picked me up from the Airport which was great to be able to catch up with another friend before setting off to see my gorgeous Adair’s house. It was incredible when I met her family as we had heard so much about each other that we really felt as if we knew one another well. Very strange feeling, but very comforting.

A quick change and then off to FITZROY GARDENS for a night of frivolity with the Melbournites that are Adairs circle of friends. We drank and ate in the park until the early evening then strolled to Brunswick Street for more…. frivolity. A quick duck into the incredible LITTLE CREATURES Bar, which actually more resembles a barn, where we witnessed an amazing fire dancing show and sampled their signature beer. Then it was off to PERSAVERENCE which was a mere hop, skip and a jump down the road. We danced, I sat ( back needed a rest by this time) and then we overpaid for our drinks – $12.50 for a vodka red bull is a joke regardless of the venue! Cab home and flop into bed. It was a big day out!

Adair was working Sunday so it was just a lazy day of looking at photos from Mexico, playing with the new baby kittens, and watching odd movies with Adair’s brother. An afternoon stroll took us through St Kilda to Carlisle street which is bustling with little boutique stores and trendy cafes.

We ducked into one cafe and decided to have an afternoon snack. It was 3pm on Sunday, I guess time was getting on, but really you would think a cafe would have a good stock of ingredients for their menu items…. well no, not always the case. All three of us asked for something on the menu, and all three of us were politely asked to choose an alternative as they had run out of that for the day. So, although we didn’t get what we asked for, we got what we were given… service in Melbourne is world-class I tells ya!

We continued our stroll to the Melbourne highlight of Luna Park and the lovely beach down at St Kilda. I was excited to see it as the TV series from a few years ago The Secret life of Us was filmed here. One of my faves I must admit. It’s a trendy, calm, relaxed place with some great venues. The sun was shining and the blue skies were all around- the perfect afternoon to grab an ice cream and sit on the beach. All visitors to Melbourne must go to TRAMPOLINE ice cream! Spiced chocolate, Caramel Pear and Violet rumbly just to name a few!

Sunday evening was a nice meal at home with my gorgeous friend Sam who I had spent so much time with in Mexico. The three amigas reunited! We told stories and reminisced for hours. A curry, some wine, good company and a lovely Spring evening. What more can a Sydney girl want from the Melbourne hospitality!

Monday was to be a busy day of sightseeing- MELBOURNE STYLE! But as I slept in til 10.30am ( apparently I looked angelic and peaceful in my slumber and was left to rest) it was a slower start to the day. We managed to cram in a lot though.

- Lunch with Ben near Elizabeth street… I don’t remember the name or exact location….I’m new to this city!

- Collected my Mexican friend JCarlos from the hostel on Flinders Street and proceeded to Flinders Street Station ( stopping briefly at my Little cupcake for a delicious little treat) and then on to watch a short street performance.

- Met Adair’s friend Steph and shopped in the lovely little lanes

- Rooftop – A very hip bar on a 7th floor roof terrace for Sangria and to meet another friend Vas who I lived with in London. Alarming how many people were drinking at 4pm on a Monday. Doesn’t anybody work anymore?

- Off home, with a slight detour to a political rally about the boat people and Tamil, whilst managing to collect yet another friend to add to our party.

- Home to Adair’s to make a 6 litre bucket of Sangria and homemade pizzas before retiring to the balcony to watch the sunset and enjoy each others company. 6 random people on a balcony on a Monday- I was in heaven.

A 5am start was required the next day and an after thought about the Sangria perhaps not being the best idea before an early morning jet setting adventure. We made it though! Got to the Airport in plenty of time but left feelingvery sad as I left new friends and my new love… Melbourne.

Melbourne. I hate it but I love it.

Thanks for showing me such a great time and I’ll see you again soon!

I made my first trip home to Massachusetts in two years, and believe me, I did not slack off in the tasting department.  I hadn’t had a chance to savor my favorite beers with some of my favorite people in what felt like ages, and I knew I had some serious catching up to do.  Nonetheless, I felt like I was able to pick where I left off.  Anything that wasn’t comfortingly familiar was immediately decided to be “exotic and interesting” by my Japanized mind, so every situation was a win.  For a vacation in my own hometown, it couldn’t have been better.

I could write a good 5-10 posts on all the old hometown favorites I got to visit, but instead I’d rather focus on a place that was actually new to me:  Armsby Abbey in Worcester.  Worcester is a city I’m almost completely unfamiliar with, but the Abbey was a great introduction.  Granted, they are newcomers, just having opened in the summer of 08, but they seem to have made a good impression on the locals so far.  I was visiting my friend Erica, who goes to school in that city, and she insisted that this was the place to be.  If I ever end up in a position to take a friend out in Worcester, I’m sure I will make the same decision she did.

This bar/restaurant really means in when it says its menu is artisanal.  The beer menu changes regularly, and most of the cocktail menu, not to mention the entire food menu, is seasonal and made with local ingredients as much as possible.

My friends and I each ordered a beer sampler to start.  Here’s what I got, from right to left:  Bear Republic Double Aught (CA), Maredsous Blonde (Belgium), Unibroue La Terrible (Canada), and Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine (CA).  We also ordered a pizza whose recipe included the Bear Republic Double Aught, and some flavorful toppings of asiago cheese, basil, zucchini, and a hint of lime juice.  The beer was complementary enough to be good for washing down the pizza, but I thought it was a little thin on its own.

As for the others, I found the Lagunitas a little too sweet for my taste, even before having any food, but the Maredsous was lovely.  The beer that won my heart that night, though, was without a doubt Unibroue’s La Terrible.  It was the darkest ale I have ever seen; and it was rich and flavorful without feeling heavy, which is something of an accomplishment for a beer with more than 10% alcohol by volume.  I’ve had a few other beers by Unibroue and have yet to try one I don’t like.  I shared a bottle of their tripel, La Fin du Monde, later that week, and I declared that it was “a perfect beer.”  Those Quebecois do seem to know what they’re doing.  I liked La Terrible so much that I asked for a full-sized glass when I finished my sampler.

For dessert, Erica ordered pumpkin chocolate bread pudding, Hillary got a glass of the Abbey’s autumn sangria, and I sampled a little of each.  The bread pudding was great, but the sangria stole the show.  It required about 10 ingredients, almost half of which were fresh New England fruit, and it tasted like pumpkinpie-cranberrysauce-wine.  It was a sight to behold.  If you find yourself in central Massachusetts, stop by and have one for yourself before they determine anything “autumn” to be out of season already.

Pamplona – July 9th, 2009.

So its our last morning in Pamplona, which also means our last chance to watch or particpate in a bull run. Its up bright and early again, for those who want to go in, at about 5am and a chance to get our stuff together and get on the bus. Some people brought bags and that, others stayed asleep.

The sleep is always a welcome treat, especially with not much sleep happening. Once again we go past the park and see all the people who have passed out or slept there before making our way to the Bull Run. I end up hanging out with John again and we make our way to the holding yard in the main square for the hour or so wait for us to get out onto the course.

The quiet before the storm. Arena before the bullrun.

Its a rather nervy feeling this morning, not due to the fact that 6 bulls are about to be let loose on us, but the fact that with not long to go theres plenty of room unlike yesterday where it was jam packed. Not to mention the drunk Michael Jackson walking around.

Its not long til we’re back onto the course and I lose John in the commotion of getting our spots, before getting to about the same spot as before. This time I’m not as nervy or jumpy, but more cautious and understanding about what is about to go down.

At the stroke of 8am, the first rocket goes off, and you see the faces of those around you just drop and scream “holy shit!”. I don’t loose my shit like them, but I still get a fright and start to jog a little towards the arena. The second rocket goes off and then a lot of people straight sprinting straight away. I get to near the entrance to the arena when the first steer goes past, followed quickly by a few bulls.

I look to my right as I am going through the arena entrance, and see more of the bulls coming for us. As soon as I turn around, this fool thats half a metre in front of myself decides to trip over himself, and seeing as I cannot go left as there is a wall or right as there are bulls, I basically trip over the poor sap. Land on my knee and then roll over as the bulls go past and chase them into the arena.

Running into the arena.

Its again, a great experience making it into the arena. Just that electricity and excitement that is in that arena when this goes down is an unbelieveably experience. Its not long til they start releasing the ’small’ bulls onto the crowd.

But for some reason, they seem a lot, lot angrier than they were yesterday. One bull cleared through the crowd with ease, picking up at least 4 casualties. Another did the same, but then went to the people on the fence, and starting going along the fence, taking out punters, I was about 3 people away from being taken out, before the bull turned around and went out a punter that was taping its tail – the guy really deserved it.

A full arena of people.

The last bull out was going at it, but about half way into its stint, it got rather distressed and couldn’t stand up for itself. The whole thing was quite traumatic for the young bull, and its not exactly the nicest thing to watch go down. I felt appalled at the punters that jumped on it and made the situation much worse.

In some way, I feel that this letting the bulls go nuts on half drunken fools, lets the bulls get their own back before what is an inevitable slaughter later in their life.

After the last bull, its back to the bus stop, and a goodbye to some people who are leaving now and not going back to the campsite. After a bit of breakfast and a quick pack – along the way noticing my thongs have disappeared, well no just one thong. A few of us go down to catch the bus back into Pamps.

Its not til we get there that we realise we cannot get a bus back into Pamps til 2pm, and seeing as its 11am. A few of us try to rally 6 people to get a taxi into Pamplona. Its a tight tight fit, but the ride goes smooth and once there, I go straight to the ticket office to try to get out of this place. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the next bus doesn’t leave til 1am.

So I dump my bags at the Lockers and head out into Pamplona for a cruise around and see whats going on. Which isn’t much, it kind of sucks when you aren’t with people. Though the locals are quite fun and still being quite friendly.

I end up at the bus terminal, waiting for the bus to come. I basically sleep on the floor til 12, when I wake up to a guy pissing on the opposite wall. I decide I should go to the where the bus is going to leave, and wait for it.

The bus is fairly packed. However, I have a spare seat next to myself. And the whole journey goes like a blur – mainly cause everyone is so tired and wrecked that they’re all asleep, just like myself.

I drift off as I see the Pamplona Park whiz off in the distance, and hope to wake up to Barcelona.

Pamplomna – July 8th, 2009

I wake up at about 5am, to the same noise as yesterday. This time I don’t have to worry about stumbling around getting ready. I somehow managed to get to sleep in my clothes and only need to chuck my shoes on.

The bus ride in, I catch up on some much needed sleep before being chased by a pack of bulls, literally. Once off the bus, I go and have one last nervous piss, before going to find everyone. I don’t find anyone, but run into John and Dean, who are also running, so head in with them. We pit stop and grab a gatorade to hydrate before going to the cattle pen.

This is where every man and his dog waits to run with the bulls. We hang out and see some photos from the paper. Luckily there wasn’t anything too bad in the paper. It gets a bit nervery towards the end of the wait. About 15 minutes before the run, the place is jam packed full of people, and its very tight. They eventually let us out onto the streets and I lose John and Dean. And start walking down the narrow streets. I get to about 50m past Dead Mans Corner. And begin Jumping up and down, the excitement is just getting to me.

I keep jumping up and down. The anticipation is burning up inside of myself. Everyone around is either like myself or jittery and on edge thinking ‘what the hell have I got myself into?’. Then all of a sudden the first rocket goes off and my heart starts pumping a hundred beats faster, and people start screaming and yelling.

I start jogging and walking a bit. Just to get my body moving. Then all of a sudden a heap of people run on by, I take this as the cue that the bulls are not far behind. And I’m not wrong, I see one massive bull(the steer) and go “Fuck” and start running as hard as I can. About 200m up the road on the final stretch before the turn into the stadium 3 fighting bulls run past about a metre away from where I am, still trying to dodge slow runners and not get in the road of the angry beasts.

At some point in time, running down around the corner some fool trips over, so I try to jump him, only instead of clearing him, his thrusts an elbow up at the last minute and connects with my foot, sending me on a tumble just before the entrance. Then as I look to my right, just over my should I see 2 massive bulls running past litterly half a metre fromwhere I’ve tumbled.

I get up as quickly as possible and run as fast as I can into the arena, still with all that adrenalin pumping through my veins. As you run through the corridor into the arena you get a sense of safeness, til you realise how small it is. Then as you come out into the circular arena, you get smashed in the face by a huge roar that still to this day sends tingles down my spine. Its an amazing experience to just make it into the arena and be met by that huge crowd cheering everyone coming in.

I quickly make my way to the left side of the arena (not trying to make the mistake of the stupid guy yesterday that went left, then right and got cleaned up by a bull). I gather my breath for a second, still puffing I let out a massive yell and raise my arms in the air. A lot of people are doing it. I catch my breath for a second and then spot John and he snaps a quick photo of myself in the Arena.

In the Arena after the bullrun!

We try to get a good position in the ring for the second round of entertainment. Yep, after the main event, they let out smaller and younger bulls into the arena to litterly ‘go nuts’ on the idiots who get in their way. Its rather hilarious seeing still drunken men literally getting into the way of bulls to show how ‘manly’ they are. I just think its rather stupid. But at least the bulls don’t have horns, they put rubber on the ends so that they don’t gore anyone.

Some carnage in the arena.

They let about 6 bulls out into this rather large arena (bigger than I expected) and let them run around for a few minutes each. I remember standing on the fence, on the edge of the circle of where the people where surrounding the bull, and the bull just looking dead at me. A tad scary.

A few girls (Ena, Alica, Tessa, and Angela from the campsite) spot myself in the arena and yell out to me and snap a few photos before yelling at me and pointing behind me, only to see the crowd running in the opposite direction and a bull chasing them. Another tad scary moment.

That guy is gonna feel it tomorrow.

After the last bull, a big raucious applause goes up throughout the arena and everyone makes their way out. We walk past a shop and grab a bite to eat before going to the bus stop. A lot of the tour group is going to San Sebastian today, so the few that are remaining at the site are either going home or have been their already.

After some breakky and a shower, I chill out with those that are remaining. We just chill by the pool, and do nothing. Its a fairly quiet afternoon compared to yesterdays. But Dean and I make our way into town on the 4pm bus to get into the mood.

I have to go make a police report and he has to go get a train ticket. So we plan to meet up afterwards. I thought my police report would take ages, but it was done in 5 minutes, so I go to get to the station but don’t find it. So instead I go and get some more sangria, fill up my slouch and go and drink with the locals.

I mingle around til about 8-9 and go back to the bus stop and find them there chowing on KFC. A bus shortly arrives and Ena, Alica and Tess get off and recruit myself to go see a bullfight, but as we get down there we see people coming out, flooding out to be precise, so we go and find a place to eat and drink. Before walking around the streets before heading back to camp and crashing.

Pamplona, Sanfermines 2009, originalmente cargada por Nino Lasaosa.

Una foto para un día: Guiris clónicos. Perfectamente uniformados y pertrechados; misma vestimenta, mismas protecciones, misma bebida.

Haz clic para ver más fotos sobre los Sanfermines 2009

last night was muy divertido. mi amigo nay, mi novio tomas, y yo had a little sangria party at zocalo thanks to a gift certificate i won on a twitter contest (isn’t the internets amazing!?)

zocalo is an authentic mexican restaurant in allston/brighton. i actually lived across the street from it before moving out to the ‘burbs so i have been to it a few times. i love mexican food but zocalo’s dishes have never blown me away, so i decided to spend the gift certificate on something i knew i’d enjoy- sangria! zocalo has some good sangria

we started with guacamole, which is made fresh table side. they use a huge mortar and pestle to mash up avocados and a whole mess of other ingredients like onions, peppers, tomatoes, lime juice, etc…

nay said the guac tasted tangy and i have to agree…they put so much stuff in it that it starts to mask that wonderful buttery taste of avocado. my perfect guacamole is just straight up avocado and nothing else.

but you know i still did some serious damage…their guac costs almost $9 and there was no way i was leaving any of it behind. the pestle was the size of my head (and i have a big asian head), so needless to say i left the restaurant stuffed!

i also ate a side of plantains…

(sorry horrible pictures! it was really dark and i couldn’t decide if flash on or off was better!)

and finally- the sangria! we ordered two pitchers. tom couldn’t drink much since he was driving, so nay and i basically drank a pitcher each…best way to spend a tuesday night if you ask me.

before:

after:

omg. look at tom’s ghost to the right. creepy.

can’t forget a pic of nay:

okay, sorry…better pic:

good times.

afterwards we went home and there was cake.

i’m holding on to my hair so it doesn’t catch on fire

mmm…i love asian bakery cakes with whipped cream and lots of fruit!

yum! i think i’ll go have another slice now

Pamplona – July 7th, 2009

We get woken up at the ungodly hour of 5am to the sound of a megaphone screaming “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole!” to get everyone up. Its a bit of a ruckus in the morning, people trying to have showers and people freezing their balls off. Its freaking cold. Everyone is stumbling around trying to get organised and onto a bus by 5:30pm.

I don’t bother with a shower, just get my outfit on and wait around in the cold. And it was pretty hard to get changed with how cold it was it was get changed outside or in the warmth of the tent. So I chose the tent, and it sucked.

We all pile onto buses once again and try to get a bit more sleep on the bus. I mean cmon its early, and I doze off for most of the trip but once I get to Pamplona its a hilarious sight pulling into the bus station. Above the pamplona bus stop is a huge park, and this park seems to have been home to a few thousand souls last night, either sleeping there because they are backpackers and have no where to sleep or they just randomly passed out. Those that did pass out looked like they were in the most awkward positions.

Once we get off the train, I can already feel the buzz of the place. Everyone is getting excited. We gather up the top and make our way in. Whilst grabbing a bite on the way to the bull run. A few of the boys are running, I decide I’m gonna sit out and try to watch this one. We farewell the boys who are running and make our way to a decent spot.

The cold streets of Pamplona on the way to the Bull run.

The boys heading to run, most likely with brown undies.

We stumble down the streets and end up on the course, and its packed not to mention a little surreal seeing people still drinking and dancing. As well as the pungent smell of urine. We dart over to just outside the stadium. We find a position on the fence, but can’t see over the people camped out on top of it, so we just peer through the fence rungs. Its a long and cold wait for the run to start. I can feel myself get more and more excited as the hour approaches.

Waiting for the run. Myself, Lauren and Steph.

The view of the course, with security guard in frame.

We are fighting off people trying to get closer and its a good wait, and then we see a bunch of white outfits running down the street. Then about 5 minutes later we hear a rocket go off (this signals that the bulls are out on the course) and then not long after a 2nd rocket goes off (to signal all bulls are out on the course). We then hear a mass of thundering feet heading down the street. Its a blur of white and red basically. I did’nt really see much. I saw the bull for about a quarter of a second. A 3rd rocket goes off, and the security guard (seen in the photo) disappears, so I run through and jump ontop of the first fence, only to see a massive steer that guides the fighting bulls run straight past as well as a crazed mob dressed in white running to get into the arena.

The bull run.

Even without seeing much of the bull run itself, just to hear the thundering of the feet, and the bulls rampaging into the arena was fantastic. The crowd is so abuzz with excitement, well as abuzz as one can be at 5 past 8 in the morning. I’m as excited as can be, I just wish I ran, but I have 2 more days to do that. I am glad I watched it though. We all make our way back towards the campsite, finding out that only 2 of the 4 boys made it in – the other 2 had cameras and were taken out.

We get back to camp and chill out, in preparation for the Sangria BBQ that is going to unfold later on in the day. We chill outside the pool, some got sleep, some swam. Then we go over to the campsite and wait for the Sangria and BBQ to be let loose on us. And by 1pm when this is meant to start the TopDeck crew are filling up our glasses with Sangria and we aren’t even allowed to finish our drinks at first, you would get half way down and then its filled back up. Cannot complain about that kind of service.

The BBQ was pretty awesome. And incredibly loose. Apart 30 minutes in, there was already boat races and drinking games being played. Its hard to escape it. There is a tonne of drinking being done. Its loose and messy. At one stage on the way back from the toilet I notice about 5 people passed out. There was a lot of stupid things being done. I saw one of the boys spew out of his nose. Nice. It finished at about 5 and allowed people to get ready to go into Pamps for the night.

Sangria Party

Sangria Party getting loose.

Before things escalated!

a

A thorn between a few roses.

The bus trip in is fine, and pretty packed. We walk through the streets and dance and party with the spanish. Its pretty fun just cruising around and drinking sangria. Well it was, then after walking through a crowd, I realise my camera is missing. A good search and nothing coming up with the girls that I was with and we don’t find it. Shit huh. All photos from Madrid, San Sebastian and Pamplona now gone. SHIT!

So I do what anyone does, keep drinking, and partying. Though somewhat in a shitty mood. I demolish my drinking slouch and we make our way back to the bus stop to see the fireworks. The fireworks are pretty good from memory, and then its back to camp and try to get to sleep for tomorrow.

Pamplona – July 6th, 2009

Its up fairly early, about 8ish or something. Well early for myself when I struggle to get up at 9 or 10am. After a quick wake up shower – I don’t want to be in the line for the shower in the morning I whack on my white pants, white shirt, red sash and my panuelo around my wrist (you are not meant to put the panuelo around your neck until the mayor sets off the chupinazo and thats the start of the San Fermin fiesta). And scoff down some breakfast which is little more than some cereal, bacon and eggs on rolls plus some juice and coffee.

Then we wait around and psych ourselves up for the Opening cereemony. From what I hear this is meant to be absolutely crazy and nuts. Not to mention a lot of drinking and a massive food/sangria/beer fight that ensues, not to mention that my clothes will not come out of the thing as being white.

Before the bus ride into town

Clowning around before the bus departs.

So we all pile onto about 5 or so buses and head off into Pamplona. Its a short but anticipated bus ride to get things moving. We get off at the bus station and make our way into the town square, getting supplies on the way such as a sangria drinking bag and plenty of sangria. Some others brought champagne and flour.

Bus ride into town.

We make our way down the small cobblestone streets of Pamplona to the town square. We realise that the square is already truly packed out, and start to push our way into begin the festivities. People are already drunk, dancing and singing to nothing in particular. Balls are flying around everywhere. And people are being flung up into the air. Its pretty intense.

Prior to the Opening Ceremony.

This whole partying thing continues for a few hours. Everyone still drinking and being doused in sangria. People still singing “Ole, Ole, Ole” and other spanish songs with people jumping around like crazy. It is a ridiculous experience. Something that I simply cannot describe to you on these pages. Such an intesne experience.

It gets rather crazy just before Noon, when the Mayor sets off the Chupinazo (a rocket to signal the start of the festival), when everyone pushes and goes crazy. Everyone, and I mean everyone, takes the paneulo off their wrists and holds it high in the air with two hands whilst shouting “San Fermin! San Fermin!”. As soon as the Chupinazo goes off, its carnage, people pushing and shoving everywhere, girls are trying to push their way out, whilst guys are trying to get in. So many people on the shoulders, and so many inflateable balls being smacked around. Definitely an incredible experience.

A Bunch of Bulls at the Opening. Not as scary as the real kind.

Just before the Chupinazo went off.

The town square, just a few of your closest mates.

Dance. Dance. Dance.

We all catch up afterwards and keep drinking our sangria and once everyone is there we decide to do the Encierro which is the spainish word for Bull run. We get up to the bull pen and go a little stupid pretending to be bulls. Before I notice the bull horn marks on the top of the bull pen. They are above my head, eep. We walk down and then see the damage of what happened in the main square, which is incredible. So many broken bottles and rubbish everywhere, but the waste patrol was out and already clearing it up.

Walking from the stable to the first corner.

The clean up starts pretty much straight away.

In the main square doing our bull run walk.

We get to the very end where the stadium is. Its actually quite bigger than I imagined. And walking down the narrow streets has me wondering about the carnage that is going to ensue over the next week, or days for myself. Seeing Dead Mans Corner (a 90 degree corner where the bulls basically slide and hit the wall) is a daunting part of the course and one I intend to not run with the bulls at.

Along our walk we meet so many locals and spainards just wanting a good time. Everyone is sharing drinks and partying still. Its good to see this thing goes on, its amazing. We continue and join in, before making our way back to the bus stop to get back to camp.

A quick wash – try to get the pants a bit more respectable, I basically ditch the T shirt as its soaked with Sangria, and dry them on the roof of the tent. We all hit the pool up or doze off in a siesta. The rest of the day is spent laying about, drinking some more sangria or beer, a bit more swimming and a bit of food (I stick with a budget and go for baguettes) before being entertained by the other tour groups ‘dj’ and join in on the festivities with boisterous sing a longs to classics and plenty of table dancing. I try to crawl in at a respectable time as we leave at 5:30am tomorrow morning for the first bull run, but I think I failed miserably as I don’t get in to after 12 sometime.

Pamplona – July 5th 2009.
There are two festivals that I were on my to do list on my European travels. One is a small little spanish festival called the San Fermin Fiesta otherwise known as Running with the bulls. Yep, I was making my way to the capital of Navarre to get amongst thousands of punters in one of the craziest festivals in the world.

I wake up to the annoying beep of my alarm clock. And then the cracking of the headache comes in. I grab a quick bite to eat and pay the hostel for my accom before setting off for the bus station. I get there rather early and chill for my bus. I mistimed how long it would take to walk with a backpack on. Oh well.

I get chatting to two cute Aussie girls who didn’t know where to get tickets from and we get on fairly well. Its only a quick trip to Pamplona, just over an hour. I fall asleep as soon as I’m seated in my seat. And wake up as we pull into town.

The 3 of us try to figure out how to get to our respective campsites, til we realise we cannot a bus to about 1. So we go to get a taxi, til we realise our camp grounds are in completely different directions. Oh well, they go off and I go and wait for the bus.

On my way back into the bus stop, I ran into another Australian guy, Dan aka Miyagi, and we work out we’re going to the same tour groups camp site. So we start to chill, then a whole bunch of people Miyagi knows turns up. Pretty much all Australians and a welshman. After a bit of dirty bird – it was the only thing to eat – and it didnt really make me feel that good. We finally get on the bus to Camping Estella – well Estella. And its a good 50 minutes out of Pamplona.

Pulling in we think theres a shuttle bus, but we dont see one at the Estella bus stop, and we go to get a taxi. Til we actually see the shuttle bus and pile on in. We check in and get all the details about what is happening over the next few days. Then we get given our tents and I end up sharing with Mr Miyagi.

Its a scorcher of a day, so we all head to the pool and see Edi and go and say hello to her, its been a fair while since I saw her so we catch up. I go and catch up on some laundry too, drying it all over the tent.

The campsite itself is pretty good. Its big and its pretty clean. Its not exactly packed out either, considering its proximity to Pamplona. But there are two tour groups here so theres a good amount. The campsite has its own supermarket and also a bar which comes in handy for a late afternoon drink.

Whilst having some sangria and beer in the afternoon. The bar gets fuller and fuller due to the amazing Wimbledon final that is being played. Roddick v Federer in a tough game. It goes down to the last set and the place is full and buzzing. What an amazing match to witness in a tiny bar in some tiny town in Spain. Amazing.

The night is fairly quiet, but the other tour group has organised a bit of a party and encourage our group to get involved. So we duly oblige, albeit sitting on the grass and drinking our big cups of Sangria. There is a good crew hanging out and its definitely welcome to meet some amazing people.

I try to keep it quiet, but with the party raging on til all nights it is a tiny bit hard. So I end up crawling in pretty late.

Sangria is a sort of wine punch with Spanish origins. You can make it with red or white wine. It’s a simple way to spice up a glass of wine during a cool fall evening. This recipe comes from Cook’s Illustrated.

Ingredients:

2 oranges, one sliced, one juiced

1 lemon, sliced

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup triple sec

1 bottle cheap red Spanish wine

Recipe:

Put sliced fruit in large pitcher or other container. Pour sugar on top.

With a large spoon, crush fruit slices to release juices. Pour orange juice, triple sec, and red wine on top. Let sit for two to eight hours. Serve over ice and enjoy!

San Sebastian – July 4th, 2009

…Not  a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Thats hardly what happened on this day. But it definitely has that day/night before magic to it. I’ve wake up with a giddy sensation, knowing one of the best festivals in the world is not far away.

After a bit of breakky at the hostel, this one actually provides a decent breakky, a bunch of us head up to the bus station to buy tickets to Pamplona for tomorrow. I go with the 8am one, to get there as quick as I can and not fuck around all day in San Seb – its been to long really. Before getting some food – my staple of salami, ham and a baguette also comes in handy.

I split up with the rest of the people in our room and end up walking around town finding and exploring san sebastian for my sanfermines outfit – which for those of you who dont know is all white with a red sash and hankerchief. And its an effort but I do find all the essential gear for about 20 euros. So it isn’t too bad.

After a bit of an email check I head back to the hostel via the beach, and see that there is a floating pontoon with a diving board on it. I decide I should go for a quick dip and swim out there. It doesn’t take too long but it did take it out of me, it was a good 500m plus swim out there. Maybe I am over exaggerating but it felt that long.

I end up chatting to a few blokes who are camping at pamplona and are lazing about on the pontoon. Before having a few dives off the board. It starts to get a bit overcast so I dive off and head in before going up to the hostel.

I realise as soon as I talk to all the guys after a shower that I left my sunnies somewhere. I run back into town and find them at the netcafe and then race back and catch the guys from the dorm. I only really remember one name – Baz. They are all going to a 4th of July party at a club with all you can eat and drink hours.

I dump my sunnies then head off with them. I catch up to them at the club, and the thing hasn’t started yet. Apparently its gonna start a bit later as the venue wants to cash in on tourists who want to eat. So we go grab a few cans of San Miguel and watch the game of Beach Soccer on the surf beach.

We head up to the club and wait for the food to be served, and its quite suprising. Its all ribs, chicken and hamburgers. Fuck yeah. So I grab at least 3 plate fulls during the hour of power eating edition.

After that its time to wait for the drinking hour of power to begin. However, we get smart about it, we line up and order 3. Drink and wait for the line to go down, and get another 3. We basically keep going til our whole table is covered in Sangria pints. And then we are set for an evening of drinking without paying a cent. Its not bad, theres some decent tunes on and loose people everywhere. We even make a tall pint glass snake tower that misses the ceiling by 2 pint glasses before it gets notice. A major achievement, if I do say so myself.

We head off into town and go to the 2 for 1 bar, but that deal is over after 12. So we just have a few san miguels anyway before the majority bail and its just me and baz drinking. We decide to head off and find another bar and come to Tas Tas. Baz buys 2 vodkas and red bulls as you get a free Pamplona Scarf. And we demolish them whilst watching some Bullrun carnage on the tvs. I remember going to the toilet to find it blocked – some poor sap was locked in and couldnt get out – the door wasnt budging either. So we let him be, but told the waiters at the bar (we’re cruel but not that cruel).

We bail after last drinks and head off to the hostel via the beach and end up talking to some spanish girls who only know sydney from finding nemo. Weird. By then we’re fucking beat and the girls run off to talk to other people so we bail on them and go to the hostel and crash. Its only about 3 hours before I have to get on the bus to Pamplona. Shit.