Happy New Year

I wish you, all my blog readers, a happy and prosperous new year.

Susanne

.

Lewinski 30.12.2010.

Yesterday I made a video clip of the last line dance night of the year at Lewinskis.
Please, click on the small arrow to watch it.

I will sing tonight as well but only for 2 hours.
When I finish Grupo Frontera (a Canarian band) will take over and sing and it will be a lot of Canarian guests and the party will go on til the morning.

.

Shopping

I was out shopping yesterday.
I decided to go to Scandibar to see some friends over there but I never got so far.
When I got to 'Calle Suecia' (the commercial street) I started a criss-cross on the street, going from one shop to another, and I found a few pieces to buy for my wardrobe. When I finally came to the end of the street where the Scandibar is it was already 6 o'clock in the evening and I had to hurry back home to dress up for the night.
It's not really a problem. I didn't have an appointment at the Scandibar. If I had I would not have started shopping. Then I would have went straight over there.


Please, click on the small arrow if you like to watch what I bought.

.

Asadero Central

The restaurant looks like a private home from the outside and
it's only the sign on the top of the roof that tells you it's a restaurant.

Yesterday I had the best chicken ever here on this island. I also like the Adeje chicken that has a taste of garlic, but this one had a very nice smoke taste from the charcoals in the grill which made it very special.

I went with Brito for lunch up to a small village called Valle San Lorenzo.
The restaurant is called 'Asadero Central' and I think you can't find it on your own.
Somebody must go with you the first time and show you where it is.
We were driving on a very small road out from the town, it's not in the center of Valle San Lorenzo, and the restaurant looks from the outside like a private home.
Oh, I like so much to go to these places and I'm so happy Brito prefer to eat in these kind of restaurants and that he ask me to join him.
For me every time is like an adventure and I like it so much.

The country of Valle San Lorenzo.
This is the view at the 'parking lot' of the restaurant.


There's a small copy of the church of La Orotava in the yard.


Inside the restaurant.
The ceiling is decorated in Canarian style with a lot of baskets and stuff.


We started with my favorite cheese, like always.
The taste of goat milk, which is a taste I normally don't like, is very mild.
The cheese is called 'Queso de cabra' and it's made by the local goat farmers.
It's a little bit like with the local wines; the taste and the consistence can vary from
restaurant to restaurant but all the cheeses I've tried so far have been very nice.
You can buy this type of cheese in the shops but it's not really the same when
it's made in a cheese factory. To get the right stuff you must buy it straight from the farmer.


'Pollo Braseado'.
I have never had such a good chicken in a restaurant before.
The taste is just excellent!
As you can see the food is served like in the style of the manors. Everyone take the portion they like to eat from the plates and you don't get a plate on your own where everything already is served like it is in many other restaurants.
It causes a lot of dishes but I like this system when you never receive stuff on your plate that you don't like to eat.

.

Bodega Vargas

Oh what a day this has been again! I'm so excited! Normaly I'm off Mondays, but I will work tonight... and this day has anyhow been like a day off for me.

Brito picked me up with his car around 2 o'clock in the afternoon and we went up to 'Bodega Vargas', a very nice restaurant up in the mountains, in a village called Vera del Erques.
The meal was just fantastic!

I become more and more spoiled with the Canarian cuisine and to be honest with you I don't really like to have anything else anymore. It's absolutely the best food on the island, but you have to go to the right places to get it.
In the Bodegas, Tascas and Guachinches where we have been eating lately everything is so fresh and nice. I feel like a princess when I get the possibility to enjoy this special food.
It's also very relaxing to get out of the tourism and spend time in the mountain villages.
I would like to get a little 'charlet' (house) up in the mountains in the future where I can go and relax on my day off. We both stated today it's like getting to an other world and it's very good when you like to chill out a little bit.

Oh, my ears are locked at the moment. Many times I become deaf when I get down from the mountains and now it has happened again.
I just hope I will not be too loud with the sound at Lewinskis tonight.

Inside the restaurant. I like this style.
It's Canarian country style.

The view is just amazing.
Today the weather was a little bit foggy but we got to see
the neighbor island La Gomera and the Atlantic Ocean while we sat there.

We started with 'Queso de cabra con guayabu' and 'pan con mojo salsas y aioli'.
This is my favorite Canarian cheese at the moment.

Then we had 'Morcillos'.
This is a Canarian sausage that is very delicious.
The taste is a little bit sweet.
Sorry two pieces are missing on the photo when I forgot the camera.

Then we had 'Conejo Salmorejo' with 'Papas Arrugadas'.
He,he! I had it and liked it and after we had finished Brito told me I had been
eating Canarian rabbit. Conejo = Rabbit.
He knew that I can't eat rabbits when I think they are too cute and because of that he had a secret with the waiter, that they would serve us rabbit and let me think it's chicken.
He,he! The waiter must have been thinking I'm stupid when Brito , in the end of the meal, told me in Spanish that I had been eating rabbit and I asked what the difference is
between a chicken and a rabbit. I didn't understand that 'conejo' is rabbit and thought it
was some special type of chicken because he told me we will have chicken.
I didn't understand it was a trick to get me to try out the rabbit, even when he told me!
I will absolutely have more rabbits now. I like it! But, of course, I will try to not
think about the animal while I eat.
I recommend you to have 'Conejo Salmorejo' while you are on Tenerife.
And the cheese and the sausage too!
Everything we had today was, in my point of view, much better than
you ever get at a dinner in a 5 star hotel!

On the way back to Los Cristianos we had a coffee stop in Los Menores.
The coffee is called 'Cortada Condensada'.
It looks very nice when it's served but you have to use the spoon and
mix it to get the right taste.

.

Veronicas & Tramps

I will make a quick blog before I go to bed...I will not anyhow fall to sleep directly if I go now...

Last night after I finished work I went over to 'Veronicas' and 'The Tramps' with 3 Norwegian guys.
I took some photos and made a short video clip to show you what it's like.

Veronicas and Tramps are two popular places in Las Americas where the younger tourists go to have a night out. This night was a quiet night but specially in the summertime the area is packed with British youths.
Veronicas is in the night time the most dangerous area where to be, here in the south, and I don't recommend you to go there.
The music is not even like music. It's more like a noise and the atmosphere felt, in my point of view, both cold and unreal.

I must tell you that this kind of entertainment is not really in my style but it was interesting to go there ones and look what it's like.
I've been working in the next house from Veronicas during two winter seasons + one summer, at La Karina, but tonight it was the first time I visited Tramps which is just opposite the road from where I sang before.

Erik, Didrik, Tomm and me.

I had a chicken kebab and it was really nice.
Yes, I know it's too much calories!
Last time I had Kebab was 1994.

4 happy British guys outside The Veronicas.

The Tramps bar.
The light effects in the restaurant made the photo look like it was taken in the daytime.

Please, click on the little arrow if you like to watch the video clip.
It's a short pole dance and some light effects from the Tramps.

.

Holyday Agenda

This is how I'm working during the Christmas:

Friday 24.12. OFF

Saturday 25.12. 8.30 - 11.30 Country night.
(Lewinskis have a special 3 course menu for 25 Euro per person)

Sunday 26.12 8.30 - 11.30. Line dance night.

Monday 27.12 8.30 - 11.30 Country night.

Tuesday 28.12 8.30 - 11.30 Line dance night.

Wednesday 29.12 8.30 - 11.30 Country night.

Thursday 30.12 8.30 - 11.30 Line dance night.


To make it short I work 3 hours every night from Saturday til next Thursday.
I will give you more information about the New Year next week.


Welcome

Merry Christmas

Dear blog readers,
I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
May this season bring you joy, good times and happiness.

Susanne

.

My New Laptop

My New Computer.

They didn't have the laptop that I ordered from Finland and instead of ordering an other one I decided to go out and buy one here.
I don't get all the Swedish letters, but I changed my mind when I anyhow don't speak much Swedish anymore, and I could get all the programs in English.
I mostly use Spanish and English and it's almost only when I go to the Scandibar I use Swedish.
I also meet Scandinavian people at Lewinskis but I don't get much time to talk with everybody when I only have got two short breaks per night.

Tonight I will use Britos laptop when Clas first have to load my new computer with all the programs that I need on the stage. I will try to get it in order til Sunday night...

Have a nice evening all!

.

Computer Error

Oh what a night last night!!!
The adapter for my laptop gave up and I only could sing one song!
Today I have ordered a new laptop from Finland when there are no adapters to buy, of that model, here on the island.

I will use the Mp3 player when I sing tonight.
Why I order the computer from Finland is only because I like to get the right keyboard (with all the Swedish letters on) and the programs in English.

I spend my 'extra night off' with Brito and Jesus on my balcony.
We had a small fondue with all the left overs from the Monday night fondue and the night turned out fine.
First I felt so stressed, because of the computer, but a glass of wine cooled me down.
It's not fun to have to cancel a show.
The people who had planned to spend the night at Lewinskis had suddenly to figure out something else to do and I felt so sorry and stressed because of this.

Brito will bring his laptop tonight and I will use it tomorrow when it's the big line dance night

Jesus and Brito open a bottle of wine.

During the meal.

Me and Brito.

Jesus and Brito.

Me and Jesus.


.

My Christmas Bed

I have been working with (read; cleaning and preparing) the bedroom the whole afternoon.
This is how my Christmas satin sheet bed looks.
The satin sheets are very slippery and because of that I choose to use normal sheets on the mattress. You don't like to end up on the floor!

He,he! A boyfriend of mine ones slid out of the bed when we were cuddling.
It was just like a bang at the floor and he had disappeared.
It happens very quickly so, please, be careful if you aren't used to have satin sheets and
now decide to get some.

Oh, I look forward to go to bed tonight!!!
I'm gonna sleep like a princess!
Sweet Dreams!!!

.

Herring Lunch

This is what I had for lunch today.
The base is some left over salad from last night, when I had a fondue dinner with
a friend on the balcony. It was my night off yesterday.
To the salad I added two small boiled eggs, some cream fraishe mixed with dill and
red onion pieces and a few pickled dill herring pieces from Sweden (Ikea in Sta Cruz).
Very delicious!!!!

.

Satin Sheets

A couple of days ago I went to 'El Kilo' and bought some satin material.
I have been looking for red satin sheets the whole autumn, but it seams like it's not possible to buy them here on Tenerife. I finally decided to buy the material and sew them myself when I really like to have red satin sheets for Christmas.
By the way, I always use satin sheets in the bed. I like them when they are cooling in the summer time and warming in the wintertime and it looks very nice.
The ones I've got I've bought in Finland.

Today I have been sawing the sheets. I borrowed the sewing machine from my friend Jesus.
He has got one when he every now and then have to repair the sails for his boat.
Not many people that I know here have got a sewing machine.

The result of my sewing work was quite good and I'm quite proud at the moment.
I will show you a photo of the bed later when I have been cleaning the whole bedroom and put the sheets into the bed. Probably on Tuesday or Wednesday...
I'm actually so satisfied that I will go back to the 'El Kilo' shop tomorrow and buy some more satin material in gold if they've got it. Golden sheets would also be very nice in my bed and I send a prayer to God that they will have it.
If I get it I will sew one more sheet set before I give the machine back to Jesus.

It's raining here in Los Cristianos at the moment, but I will sing tonight.
The new terrace roof at Lewinskis is very good and I can sing even when it's raining.
Have a nice evening all!
God bless!


.

Lewinski 16.12.2010.

It was a lovely night yesterday at Lewinskis.
I thought it would not be so many line dancers when many, of the ones who
stay here on Tenerife in the wintertime, have left for England for the Christmas.
Oh so wrong I was! It was 18-20 dancers in during the night.
I made a short video clip in the beginning of the night.
Please, click on the little arrow to watch it.





.

La Ruta Del Guachinche

Sometimes there are signs telling where the Guachinches are, but
some can be quite difficult to find.
Like the sign says you can buy the 'Vino Cosecha' from the barrels in
these kind of restaurants, but you must bring your own bottle.
That's what I'm gonna do next time!

It was my day off yesterday and I went with Brito, who also had a day off, to Ikea in Sta Cruz to buy some stuff for the Christmas.
I bought among other things a new covering and pillows for the bed, a red carpet, a typical Swedish Christmas straw buck and some candles etc.
The best bargain of the day was a little red lamp for the balcony. It just creates a perfect romantic relaxing atmosphere and I like it so much.
I also bought some Swedish Christmas products like herrings, ginger cookies, glögg etc.

After the shopping we went on a Guachinche excursion in the north of the island.
We don't have many Guachinche restaurants here in the south of the island but there are many in the north, specially in the area between Sta Cruz and Buena Vista. (on both sides of the motorway)

The Guachinche restaurants are really like small pearls. They are not easy to find if you don't know where to look for them.
They only have a few different Canarian delicacies on the menu (mostly no written menu) and they are very small in size. They are clean and nice and the food has got the best quality even when the prices are very low.
I just love them! To be honest with you I'm very tired of the normal restaurants here and I prefer at the moment to eat this special home made Canarian cuisine.
The wines are also very special in these restaurants and yesterday I got to taste many different when Brito ordered a small 'jarra quarto' (1/4 carafe) in every place we visited so that I could try them all. Oh, it was such a lovely day!
I've now got a little bit more insight in the Canarian culture, that I didn't have before, even when I have been living on the island for 6 years.

The first place where we stopped is called 'El Requinto', in Tacoronte.
Here we had like a starter.

'A ' jarra quarto'.
The wine glasses have had this style in every Guachinche I have visited so far.
They are very small, only about 1,5 dl.
Like you can see both the carafe and the glasses have been in the
freezer. That's why they look frosty.
The locals like to drink the wine in the right temperature.

First we had 'Croqueta patata'.
These homemade potato croquettes are stuffed with different ingredients like
chicken, vegetables, meat etc. Delicious!


Then we had one more plate with croquettes.
These are called 'Croqueta queso frito con almendras'.
It's cheese croquettes with a crust of almond and you have it with blueberry jam.
Oh! I love it!!!!


Antonio Jesus Santos Brito.
At the bar, tasting the wine.


Me dressed in jeans. I normally only use skirts or dresses.
Brito has told me to dress in jeans when we go to the Guachinches.
My short skirts could be too chocking to some of the locals. *giggle*


This little restaurant had a dining room with 4 small tables, but we prefer
to sit at the bar like the locals mostly do.
If you like to be alone you choose a table, but if you are open for a chat with
the barman and the locals you better choose to sit at the bar.

Next stop was in Santa Ursula.
The restaurant is called 'Tijarafe' and they are famous because of the special coffee they make.
The coffee is called 'Saperoco' and the receipt is a secret.
It was lovely!
I'm sorry I forgot to take a photo of the restaurant which also is very nice.


We were driving on the small roads and here you can see
Puerto De La Cruz from a 'mirador' on the way to the next restaurant.


Here we are in La Orotava.
This Guachinche restaurant is called 'Bar Cachimba' (means 'The pipe' in English).
The restaurant is so popular that it was a small queue on the outside even
when it was Monday.
We decided again to eat at the bar and because of that we didn't have to wait.


We had sardines. Oh so good they tasted!!!
The quality is high in these restaurants.
And the wine was absolutely the best!
I will bring a bottle next time so that I can buy some, from
the barrel, to bring home with me.


We had next stop at 'Barranco del Ruiz'.
Here we stretched the legs and had a short walk in the park.
We also had an egg snack + tasted the local wine at a caravan bar in the park.


These two gulls were sitting spying on a cliff in the ravine.



Barranco del Ruiz.


Garachicco.
The view at the 'mirador' above Garachicco is amazing.
Here we only stopped for a few minutes while I took some photos.


On the way down from the mountains I took a few photos of the beautiful sunset.


Here you can see our neighbor island 'La Gomera'.


Isn't it beautiful? Very romantic!


We decided to have a last coffee stop at a restaurant in 'Los Menores'.
Then we went down to Los Cristianos and brought all the stuff I had bought to my home.
After that we went out for dinner to an Italian restaurant here in Los Cristianos, with
Britos' son Jesus, who had birthday yesterday.
We all had fillet steak. Guess if I was stuffed!!!
My diet was somewhere up in the blue yesterday but I have gone back to the normal today.

Oh what a day it was! I got home around 12 o'clock in the night and went to bed.
I'm happy I didn't stay up late when a new working week starts tonight.


.