Thoughts of the day

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1- So my roommate's boyfriend, Manuel, was giving me a hard time about how my people (meaning tourists, of course) always wear chancletas y calcetines (sandals and socks). I laughed and said oh come on, not everyone. However, when I was in Granada today, sadly, I could not keep track of how many socked- up classic-tourist-trekking sandal wearers I saw. I lost count haha. It is so hideous....why???? Why is that what people pack for vacations?

2- Ice cream is super popular here with the warm weather. Love it. However what is so comical to me is how it is the norm to eat ice cream out of an ice cream cone with a tiny plastic spoon. It is such the norm that sometimes I feel as if people look at me like I'm barbaric for not using a spoon. If I wanted to use a spoon, isn't that what bowls are for?

3- Spain loves canned tuna, excessive amounts of mayonnaise, and eggs. I was looked at strangely when I nicely passed on putting hard boiled egg chunks on my spaghetti with tomato sauce. Haha oh and I was also looked at like an alien when I made meatballs to put on top of pasta and tomato sauce. Meatballs aka albondigas are very common here but apparently NOT with pasta and NOT with tomato sauce.

Ok that's all for now :)

Solana del Pino

Last Sunday, my friends Toni and her husband, Fede, invited me to go with them to a little town called Solana del Pino.  It's a little town in the mountains about an hour away from Puertollano (really not that far away distance-wise, but the mountain roads are so curvy and terrible--got super carsick)  This little town is where Fede used to work before he retired 3 years ago.  He was the doctor for the whole town (that's how small it is). 

It was so cute, Fede was like a celebrity walking through the streets and in and out of the little bars.  EVERYONE was his patient for 15 years.  It was a cute little day trip, met some really nice friends of his.  And as you can see, the views of the mountains were incredible.

Toni's daughter, Natalia, and our little friend, Rocky.

Una fiesta de despedida (Going away party)

Here is one of my favorite classes!  It was the same class that threw me a surprise Welcome-To-Spain party earlier in January.  This party was different though because I told them instead of them bringing the food, I wanted to bring them some dishes that are common in the U.S.  Since everyone here thinks Americans eat hamburgers and hot dogs each day for every meal, I wanted to impress them with something else---believe it or not, we DO eat other things! :)

So I made cheesy scalloped potatoes, pork roast....and...

..Mom's famous carrot cake! 

I also brought everything to make Shirley Temples with cherries, which they loved.  Although in Spain, they don't sell grenadine ANYWHERE.  So I made a mixture of pomegranate and cherry juice with some cranberry-ish grenadine.  Still good!

There were actually a few more bites of potatoes in this picture.  Shortly after, they were gone---I'm talking they almost licked the bowl and plates clean! :)  They also loved the carrot cake---were def weirded out at first by the sound of it, but were pleasantly surprised by the amazing non-carrot-tasting taste after taking their first bites.  Gave some of the leftover cake to the teachers in the teachers lounge.  After I put the trays of cut pieces down on the table for teachers to take, I left for a sec, came back, and they were completely GONE!!  Everyone loved it. Mom, you should be honored---people are asking for la receta (recipe) left and right over here!!

Great group of kids.  Some of the girls gave me some special gifts and notes as goodbye presents.  Very meaningful...

Another fair! La Feria de Cordoba

As this is the time of many of the fairs in Spain of different cities, of course, some friends and I took advantage of the party atmosphere and went to see Cordoba's fair!  Lots of fun!

The beautiful entrance to the fairgrounds.

My friend, Ana, and me.  Ana teaches math at the high school where I work.

Cordoba is extremely well-known for its beautiful patios that are absolutely filled with flowers.  The walls are also covered with hanging potted flowers like below.  These were all throughout the fair.

Though this is a marca de ron (brand of rum), I like the message:  "Live now". 

Me, Judith, Susana, Ana

Haha there was only one color babydoll offered.  I like the one in the left-hand corner in the green haha.

Back in BarTHelona!!! ;)

A couple weekends ago, I went back up north to Barcelona to visit my friend Merce, who I visited for New Year's way back when I first arrived in Spain.  It was so great seeing her, her friends and her family again.  Oh and this trip was overall muuuuuuch better than the first time visiting----didn't get food poisoning along with 5 other people in her family and have to stay in bed 3 out of the 5 days there! 

Though she was technically my student back in New York last summer, she and I have become really great friends since!  When I left her at the airport, we said it's not "goodbye", it's "see you later"!  Whenever or wherever that may be---in Spain or in the U.S. again in the future! :)

Plaza de Catalunya (Spelled differently in Catalan, their region's language, but I forget...)

As I promised you before, here is one of the many guaranteed famous-guy-on-a-horse-statues in Spain's cities.  Though here, we've got a naked woman holding a ship.  Changin it up a bit.

Of course you HAVE to go shopping in Barcelona.  It definitely is a big city with lots of stores and lots of shoppers.

This is an art museum (name above).  The artist uses a lot of colors in a speckled way, and he has artwork all over Barcelona.  Very abstract building.

This below is another art museum/gallery that is down the street from the museum above.  I loved this piece of art on the building.  So wild.  It's called La Silla (The Chair) because if you take a look, on top of the hot mess of wiring, there is a little part that resembles a chair haha.

This used to be a bullfighting arena that has been converted into a huge mall.  Barcelona is one of those cities that is pretty much against the whole idea of bullfighting---they believe it is animal abuse.

Near the beach is this really tall statue of Cristobol Colon (Christopher Columbus).  Apparently he is pointing in the direction of America.

Walking along the docks and boardwalk of Barcelona.  Such a gorgeous day.

Merce is so cute, she said to remember me, she wanted to buy a simple silver ring like mine that I wear on my index finger.  We found one at along the boardwalk at a little artisan tent fair.

 One night Merce and I went out to a dance club along the beach. We also went with her primo (cousin) Alberto, in the middle, and some of his friends.  Fun times.

Alberto rocking one of my earrings.

On Sunday, Merce took me to a cute little amusement park called Tibidabo.  It is located at the top of a mountain overlooking the whole city of Barcelona. Amazing views.

I had no idea Merce was taking these pictures haha!!  We were at the top of the classic pirate ship that swings back and forth.  We were lifted up off our seats at this time haha so funny.

Hahahahahah love it.

Waiting in line for the log ride.

Haha on this cute little indoor rollercoaster.

One of the rides was this cool 4D movie.

Fun little seating area.

HAHA so one of the attractions was this crazy fun house with mirrors.  While we were waiting in line, the woman hands everyone these huge, awkward plastic gloves.  I was like whaaaat is this about??  But it makes sense because in the fun house, you are always running into the mirrors in one part that's like a maze....so it keeps the mirrors cleaner this way!  So funny, at first I'm like what kind of ride is this????

Of course, good ol bumper cars!!!

This is what I like to call my "race face".