RTgoes2spain: Valdepeñas aka WINE CITY

So I have decided I got all my homesickness out of my system. Although it is normal (I think at least!) to have feelings of homesickness at times, I'm done with it! No more! It's already March 2, time is flying, I am going to disfrutar (enjoy) my time here in Spain! And plus! I found out today that my good friend Julie from Ohio (we've been good friends since college) is coming to visit next week! Thennnn the same day Julie leaves, my parents and my little brother will arrive to visit! And thennnnn the 2nd week of April, my boyfriend comes to visit! I'm so excited to see everyone and to travel this beautiful country with them. Ahhh I can't wait!! :)

Ok so Valdepenas is where I went last Friday for a tapas (usually free appetizers that come with drinks at bars) fair. And Valdepenas happens to be one of the two most well-known cities in Spanish wine production (the other well-known city is La Rioja). It it was BEAUTIFUL weather---mid-50s (sorry Spanish friends, I'm a Fahrenheit girl at heart!!!!), the tapas were fantastic (although I tried callos (pig intestines)...yeah not...my fave), the wine was buenisimo (so good), and it was fun hanging out with my friends Armando and Esther and their friends.

These are generadores de viento (wind generators) that are very common where I am in the region of Castilla La Mancha. Took some scenic pics on the way to Valdepenas. Such a tourist!

And here is a pic of a viNa (vinyard). They were everywhere.

I forget the name of this tapa, but they made a specific point to tell me that these were not just normal eggs, but these were baby chick eggs. Wonderful thank you.....lol

Cazuelo de judias (bean soup). The beans were the size of my face. Oh and as I learn everyday, Spain Spanish uses pretty much different words from every word used in Latino countries. For example, I say frijoles, and they have no idea, or they laugh. I learn new vocabulary everyday! Oh but be careful, it's cazuelo de judias (soup made with beans) and not judiOs, because that would be "soup made of Jewish people". Cuidado (careful)!

Oh and speaking of learning new vocabulary, I also learn new English words all the time that are British words. For example, maybe I'm just not domestic enough and I don't cook enough to know, but I had NO idea that "aubergine" is another English word for "eggplant"? And "courgette" is another word for "zucchini"???

Statue of Don Quijote, a big symbol of this region in Spain.

This is Eño, Armando and Esther's friend who lives in Valdepenas. In this pic, we are in the separate section of one of his friend's homes that is called a bodega, which is where wine is produced and stored. Also interesting language difference (for language dorks like me), bodega in Latino Spanish is known as a little corner store where you can buy quick food, drinks, and household things.

Starting with this picture, we are now in Eño's and his wife Remme's, home. They told me it is a typical Manchego (the adjective to describe things, food or people that are in or from the region Castilla La Mancha) house. It is HUGE. It goes back in the family many generations. This beautiful patio courtyard area is INSIDE the house. Gorgeous.

In the house, Remme asked me if I wanted to go to see las cuevas (caves). I um, wasn't exactly sure what she meant. She had a flashlight and said to follow her. Ok! lol . So we all go down to their own private bodega. This bodega, however, is not in service anymore like the other one we visited earlier. Very cool though. And huge! There were like 4 different "wings" I guess you could call them of these huge ceramic wine containers (I forget the name...).