0:00:40 > 0:00:44You're going to Spain for a short break,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47but it's not quite the short break you had planned.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51First, you have to find Teresa's flat - 'el piso de Teresa'.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15He says it's off 'Embajadores', one of the main streets.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23That's 'la Puerta de Toledo', the Gate of Toledo.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29Over there's 'la estacion de Atocha', the Atocha train station.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Now we're looking for the right-hand flat on the fifth floor,
0:02:47 > 0:02:48'el quinto derecha'.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14She said, 'say hello to Merche'.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Who's Merche?
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Here we are.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40That's odd.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45Teresa hasn't been in Madrid for months. Someone else has, though.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10'Quien eres', who are you?
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Quick, say that you're Teresa's friend!
0:04:38 > 0:04:43Ah, so this is Merche, she's Teresa's sister.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48She doesn't know you're a beginner in Spanish, so say, 'I don't understand'.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48DOOR BUZZES
0:06:06 > 0:06:10The neighbour, with a present, 'un regalo'.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28'Vamos a salir' - we're going out.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Maybe Merche doesn't like 'cruasanes y palmeras'.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37This is 'la Plaza de Oriente',
0:06:37 > 0:06:41and across the square, 'el Palacio Real'.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11HE LAUGHS
0:07:44 > 0:07:49To get back to the flat, you have to take the metro.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54'Lavapies', it's only one stop.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03'El proximo tren llegara en un minuto' -
0:08:03 > 0:08:06the next train will arrive in one minute.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11He looks familiar!
0:08:43 > 0:08:44And isn't that Merche?
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Get more help and practice learning Spanish with Mi Vida Loca online.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Now, where is 'el piso de Merche'?
0:09:06 > 0:09:08MOBILE PHONE BEEPS
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Here we are - the UNED building.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36It's a rooftop cafe.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:10:14 > 0:10:17So, Merche is a journalist.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29That's her name - Mercedes Munoyerro.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Mmm! Looks as though it's time for some food. We're going for tapas.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08These are big tapas portions called 'raciones'.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18'Que rico' - this is delicious.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21'El Rastro', Madrid's Sunday market.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Merche will be here in a bit.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Her tape recorder didn't turn up, probably stolen by that pick-pocket.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Let's buy her something to cheer her up.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42How about a bracelet? 'Una pulsera'.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Now, there's a good idea.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Good choice.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Now, where is Merche?
0:13:30 > 0:13:35Aha! A ride in the cable car - 'El Teleferico'.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Yes, it's a small one, but a river goes through Madrid.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52The destination of this Teleferico is in fact not a mountain top,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54it's a park.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:15:01 > 0:15:06Before she goes to work, she's dropping you off at the tourist office.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29She's off to get her tape recorder back.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32But how?
0:15:37 > 0:15:44After a quick trip to the tourist office you go to see the magnificent Palacio Real, the Royal Palace.
0:15:46 > 0:15:51Despite this being the King's official residence, he doesn't actually live here.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54The palace is only used for official ceremonies,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58which means it's open to the public for most of the time.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Ah! That was a nice bit of culture.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14I wonder whether Merche's back?
0:16:24 > 0:16:29This is a timetable, 'un horario', for a bus service.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31'Que pasa aqui'.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32What's going on?
0:16:35 > 0:16:43Try Mi Vida Loca online with subtitles you find most suitable.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50MOBILE PHONE BEEPS
0:17:37 > 0:17:39There's her 'agenda'.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41That's the diary.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48We'd better get off to the bus station, 'La Estacion de Autobuses'.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00You know, what we're doing is a little crazy, 'un poco loco'.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03You hardly know this girl.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13I wonder what's really going on!
0:18:13 > 0:18:18I suppose all will become clear in Medina de Rioseco, wherever that is.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Here we are - 'La Estacion De Autobuses'.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45This looks just like an airport, 'es muy grande',
0:18:45 > 0:18:48because getting around by bus is extremely popular.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Right, let's check the departures.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58'Salidas'.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02A lot of buses are leaving, 'A las diecisiete trienta',
0:19:02 > 0:19:07at 17:30, including yours, which is going through Valladolid.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Time to send Merche a message that you're coming.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16I'm coming to Medina de Rioseco.
0:19:19 > 0:19:25The bus arrives at 20:25.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Just in time. Let's hope Merche gets your message.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53We are now in Castilla Y Leon which has a population similar to Wales,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56but is almost five times as big.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03The next stop, la proxima parada, is Medina de Rioseco.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12Hopefully Merche got your message and will be picking you up.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Maybe she'll be here soon.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Could anything have happened to her?
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Still no sign of Merche.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Maybe it's time to think about getting a room.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Luckily, a taxi driver knows a hotel with rooms available.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14'La posada' actually means the inn.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20You could try ringing Merche again.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Well, there should be a phone in the room.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Typical Merche.
0:22:36 > 0:22:42Well, she's coming to get you tomorrow, and there are worse places to be stranded.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Esther is a Spanish teacher and runs classes from her home.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53Merche says that at Esther's house you're going to be fine, 'Vas a estar muy bien'.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00You still have Merche's diary. She's probably forgotten you brought it.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Here is your diary...
0:24:35 > 0:24:37DOORBELL RINGS
0:25:38 > 0:25:39SCREAMING DOWNSTAIRS
0:25:42 > 0:25:44LOUD SCREAMING
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Today is market day, 'dia de mercado'.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Someone has to do the shopping.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18So, armed with a long list, you head off to do the shopping.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Medina de Rioseco is an old market town.
0:27:23 > 0:27:28The wooden arcades have provided shelter against rain and sunshine for centuries.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41But hang on a second.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46He looks familiar.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15Try the full interactive version of Mi Vida Loca online for extra video.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22You're back from doing 'la compra'.
0:28:43 > 0:28:49They've decided to eat out, 'comer fuera', in the next village.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03But you still have to break the bad news to Merche about the man from Madrid.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Merche looks a bit worried.
0:29:47 > 0:29:53And you still have to tell her who you saw this morning.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Esther's gone a bit quiet too.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30Merche hasn't eaten much of her 'segendo plato'
0:30:30 > 0:30:35but she probably won't enjoy her 'postre' much either after what you're about to tell her.
0:30:35 > 0:30:41The simplest way to say it is, 'el hombre de Madrid esta aqui'.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43The man from Madrid is here.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10PHONE RINGS
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Merche needs to take her mind off things.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Esther knows that Merche loves her wine.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43So she's enlisted the help of her brother Carlos to drive you
0:31:43 > 0:31:45and Merche to a 'bodega' for some wine tasting.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04Rueda is well known for the quality of its wine.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06So this is Merche's lucky day.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17The wineries, with their huge warehouses, are often referred to
0:32:17 > 0:32:22as 'bodegas', although the term strictly speaking means wine cellar.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31Having decided to give up her investigation, Merche is going back to Madrid,
0:34:31 > 0:34:35but not before she's taken you for a canal trip.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40This canal stretches over 200km.
0:34:40 > 0:34:45It was originally designed to unite the north with the centre of Spain.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37But I thought she was going back to Madrid.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Want to try the interactive version?
0:37:49 > 0:37:51Go online.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Merche's been researching an article about illegal property development.
0:38:00 > 0:38:05Despite recent events, she's carrying on her investigation here in Gran Canaria.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08She's invited you along once again.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17She's booked you into a hotel in Las Palmas, the co-capital of the islands,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19which are just off the North African coast.
0:38:19 > 0:38:26They are an international tourist Mecca, but Merche's probably not here to relax.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30PHONE BEEPS
0:38:53 > 0:38:56She's busy, but her photographer, Raul,
0:38:56 > 0:39:00will pick you up at the hotel and you'll meet her at a fiesta later on.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55You can see where Las Palmas got its name from.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59It's not surprising that Merche came here for her article.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02'No mas cemento!'
0:40:02 > 0:40:04No more concrete.
0:40:22 > 0:40:27This is the last day, 'el ultimo dia', of the fiesta in Raul's neighbourhood.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06Well, horse races ARE more exciting than donkey races.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Merche is worried.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51She's still thinking about work, despite the fiesta atmosphere.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Raul's car is in the garage
0:42:22 > 0:42:25so you're getting the bus to meet Merche in the south.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37He says the south is where all the tourists normally go, it's the tourist "zone".
0:42:46 > 0:42:50But despite of all the hotels and resorts, there are more developments planned
0:42:50 > 0:42:54which is, of course, why Merche is here.
0:43:03 > 0:43:09Merche asked Raul to rent a car, 'alquilar un coche', and pick her up.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19Es el. It's him.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
0:43:55 > 0:43:58No need to get petrol, 'gasolina'.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02The tank is full, 'El deposito esta lleno.'
0:44:26 > 0:44:28PHONE RINGS
0:44:41 > 0:44:43Raul has lost contact.
0:44:43 > 0:44:47She must be in one of these tourist complexes.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38The house next door is for sale -
0:46:38 > 0:46:42'se vende' - so Raul wants you to arrange a viewing
0:46:42 > 0:46:45so he can sneak into theirs round the back.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55The estate agent is going to show you around.
0:48:19 > 0:48:26It's time to get going, but to make your viewing more believable, how about asking the price?
0:48:37 > 0:48:41'Trescientos noventa y seis mil euros.'
0:48:41 > 0:48:47396,000 euros, including taxes, plus service charges.
0:50:01 > 0:50:05Try Mi Vida Loca online with the subtitles you find most suitable.
0:50:37 > 0:50:44You're driving up the Barranco de Tirajana, the Tirajana Gorge, to try and find Merche.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55Despite everything,
0:53:55 > 0:53:57Merche is carrying on with her interviews.
0:54:42 > 0:54:47There is a nature reserve, 'una reserva natural', right next to the beach.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39Behind the palm trees there's an example of sustainable development,
0:55:39 > 0:55:43'desarollo sostenible,' one of very few.
0:56:59 > 0:57:04So that's who he is - the right-hand man of a corrupt developer
0:57:04 > 0:57:08who wanted to intimidate Merche so that she wouldn't publish her article.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01To read Merche's published article, test your Spanish,
0:58:01 > 0:58:05and for more practice with your grammar and vocabulary, go online.
0:58:21 > 0:58:24Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:24 > 0:58:28E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk