English Commentary Mi Vida Loca

You're going to Spain for a short break,

but it's not quite the short break you had planned.

First, you have to find Teresa's flat - 'el piso de Teresa'.

He says it's off 'Embajadores', one of the main streets.

That's 'la Puerta de Toledo', the Gate of Toledo.

Over there's 'la estacion de Atocha', the Atocha train station.

Now we're looking for the right-hand flat on the fifth floor,

'el quinto derecha'.

She said, 'say hello to Merche'.

Who's Merche?

Here we are.

That's odd.

Teresa hasn't been in Madrid for months. Someone else has, though.

'Quien eres', who are you?

Quick, say that you're Teresa's friend!

Ah, so this is Merche, she's Teresa's sister.

She doesn't know you're a beginner in Spanish, so say, 'I don't understand'.

DOOR BUZZES

The neighbour, with a present, 'un regalo'.

'Vamos a salir' - we're going out.

Maybe Merche doesn't like 'cruasanes y palmeras'.

This is 'la Plaza de Oriente',

and across the square, 'el Palacio Real'.

HE LAUGHS

To get back to the flat, you have to take the metro.

'Lavapies', it's only one stop.

'El proximo tren llegara en un minuto' -

the next train will arrive in one minute.

He looks familiar!

And isn't that Merche?

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Now, where is 'el piso de Merche'?

MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

Here we are - the UNED building.

It's a rooftop cafe.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

So, Merche is a journalist.

That's her name - Mercedes Munoyerro.

Mmm! Looks as though it's time for some food. We're going for tapas.

These are big tapas portions called 'raciones'.

'Que rico' - this is delicious.

'El Rastro', Madrid's Sunday market.

Merche will be here in a bit.

Her tape recorder didn't turn up, probably stolen by that pick-pocket.

Let's buy her something to cheer her up.

How about a bracelet? 'Una pulsera'.

Now, there's a good idea.

Good choice.

Now, where is Merche?

Aha! A ride in the cable car - 'El Teleferico'.

Yes, it's a small one, but a river goes through Madrid.

The destination of this Teleferico is in fact not a mountain top,

it's a park.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Before she goes to work, she's dropping you off at the tourist office.

She's off to get her tape recorder back.

But how?

After a quick trip to the tourist office you go to see the magnificent Palacio Real, the Royal Palace.

Despite this being the King's official residence, he doesn't actually live here.

The palace is only used for official ceremonies,

which means it's open to the public for most of the time.

Ah! That was a nice bit of culture.

I wonder whether Merche's back?

This is a timetable, 'un horario', for a bus service.

'Que pasa aqui'.

What's going on?

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MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

There's her 'agenda'.

That's the diary.

We'd better get off to the bus station, 'La Estacion de Autobuses'.

You know, what we're doing is a little crazy, 'un poco loco'.

You hardly know this girl.

I wonder what's really going on!

I suppose all will become clear in Medina de Rioseco, wherever that is.

Here we are - 'La Estacion De Autobuses'.

This looks just like an airport, 'es muy grande',

because getting around by bus is extremely popular.

Right, let's check the departures.

'Salidas'.

A lot of buses are leaving, 'A las diecisiete trienta',

at 17:30, including yours, which is going through Valladolid.

Time to send Merche a message that you're coming.

I'm coming to Medina de Rioseco.

The bus arrives at 20:25.

Just in time. Let's hope Merche gets your message.

We are now in Castilla Y Leon which has a population similar to Wales,

but is almost five times as big.

The next stop, la proxima parada, is Medina de Rioseco.

Hopefully Merche got your message and will be picking you up.

Maybe she'll be here soon.

Could anything have happened to her?

Still no sign of Merche.

Maybe it's time to think about getting a room.

Luckily, a taxi driver knows a hotel with rooms available.

'La posada' actually means the inn.

You could try ringing Merche again.

Well, there should be a phone in the room.

Typical Merche.

Well, she's coming to get you tomorrow, and there are worse places to be stranded.

Esther is a Spanish teacher and runs classes from her home.

Merche says that at Esther's house you're going to be fine, 'Vas a estar muy bien'.

You still have Merche's diary. She's probably forgotten you brought it.

Here is your diary...

DOORBELL RINGS

SCREAMING DOWNSTAIRS

LOUD SCREAMING

Today is market day, 'dia de mercado'.

Someone has to do the shopping.

So, armed with a long list, you head off to do the shopping.

Medina de Rioseco is an old market town.

The wooden arcades have provided shelter against rain and sunshine for centuries.

But hang on a second.

He looks familiar.

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You're back from doing 'la compra'.

They've decided to eat out, 'comer fuera', in the next village.

But you still have to break the bad news to Merche about the man from Madrid.

Merche looks a bit worried.

And you still have to tell her who you saw this morning.

Esther's gone a bit quiet too.

Merche hasn't eaten much of her 'segendo plato'

but she probably won't enjoy her 'postre' much either after what you're about to tell her.

The simplest way to say it is, 'el hombre de Madrid esta aqui'.

The man from Madrid is here.

PHONE RINGS

Merche needs to take her mind off things.

Esther knows that Merche loves her wine.

So she's enlisted the help of her brother Carlos to drive you

and Merche to a 'bodega' for some wine tasting.

Rueda is well known for the quality of its wine.

So this is Merche's lucky day.

The wineries, with their huge warehouses, are often referred to

as 'bodegas', although the term strictly speaking means wine cellar.

Having decided to give up her investigation, Merche is going back to Madrid,

but not before she's taken you for a canal trip.

This canal stretches over 200km.

It was originally designed to unite the north with the centre of Spain.

But I thought she was going back to Madrid.

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Go online.

Merche's been researching an article about illegal property development.

Despite recent events, she's carrying on her investigation here in Gran Canaria.

She's invited you along once again.

She's booked you into a hotel in Las Palmas, the co-capital of the islands,

which are just off the North African coast.

They are an international tourist Mecca, but Merche's probably not here to relax.

PHONE BEEPS

She's busy, but her photographer, Raul,

will pick you up at the hotel and you'll meet her at a fiesta later on.

You can see where Las Palmas got its name from.

It's not surprising that Merche came here for her article.

'No mas cemento!'

No more concrete.

This is the last day, 'el ultimo dia', of the fiesta in Raul's neighbourhood.

Well, horse races ARE more exciting than donkey races.

Merche is worried.

She's still thinking about work, despite the fiesta atmosphere.

Raul's car is in the garage

so you're getting the bus to meet Merche in the south.

He says the south is where all the tourists normally go, it's the tourist "zone".

But despite of all the hotels and resorts, there are more developments planned

which is, of course, why Merche is here.

Merche asked Raul to rent a car, 'alquilar un coche', and pick her up.

Es el. It's him.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

No need to get petrol, 'gasolina'.

The tank is full, 'El deposito esta lleno.'

PHONE RINGS

Raul has lost contact.

She must be in one of these tourist complexes.

The house next door is for sale -

'se vende' - so Raul wants you to arrange a viewing

so he can sneak into theirs round the back.

The estate agent is going to show you around.

It's time to get going, but to make your viewing more believable, how about asking the price?

'Trescientos noventa y seis mil euros.'

396,000 euros, including taxes, plus service charges.

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You're driving up the Barranco de Tirajana, the Tirajana Gorge, to try and find Merche.

Despite everything,

Merche is carrying on with her interviews.

There is a nature reserve, 'una reserva natural', right next to the beach.

Behind the palm trees there's an example of sustainable development,

'desarollo sostenible,' one of very few.

So that's who he is - the right-hand man of a corrupt developer

who wanted to intimidate Merche so that she wouldn't publish her article.

To read Merche's published article, test your Spanish,

and for more practice with your grammar and vocabulary, go online.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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