Mark made a lovely dinner for a small get together we had this weekend. His own sort of form of gazpacho to begin, and a delicious meat and vegetable dish for the main course. After we'd dug in, he grinned and said, "want to know what's in it"? I figured by the slightly sinister and amused look on his face that I did not. "The chewy bits are blood sausage," he said and smiled. Well, of course they are! I just kind of stared at my food. Yum. I was with him when he bought it and clearly remembering saying, I will not be eating that. Hm. Guess I was wrong.
Also, I've been trying to call the U.S. to change my ticket home and I've had no success, I've only watched too many Euros go down the drain as I sat on hold listening to bad French music. For some reason the internet and phone shops keep telling me I can't make international calls in their phone booths (I don't understand why not b/c I always did that in Germany, and by the way, why advertise international if you're just going to insist I buy a calling card, use my cell, and then not even get to talk to the person on the other end b/c my money runs out before they pick up and I'm stuck without any money on my phone at all???? Sheesh.). I am trying to find another way to call, but my ticket has to be changed in the next few days. Oh dear. If anyone knows how to do this, please let me know!
Last night Sonia and I climbed on top of her roof, enjoyed a splendid view of the rooftops of Seville, and watched the sun go down. We also did a bit of waltzing. Can't say I ever waltzed on a rooftop before last night. Oh, we also saw the Giralda and climbed up it (bit and famous cathedral in city center that was Muslim and Christian and is very beautiful). Pics are on Facebook.
That's it for now. :)
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
One more
I forgot one: when you are happy to be shat upon. Yep, it's happened to me twice in the past few weeks. Getting pooed on by birds in this country is good luck. When it happened to me last night, my friend laughed at the disgusted face I made, grabbed a napkin from a nearby cafe table, and cleaned up my sleeve, saying "muck for luck"! Um, yeah. We'll see. Maybe people just got tired of so many poo-instances that they made it good luck so it wouldn't be such a dreadful occasion.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
You know you've lived in southern Spain too long when...
1. You start throwing your napkins and trash on the ground and think nothing of it.
2. You don't go to bed before 1 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on the weekend.
3. You start to drop the ends of your words because who can be bothered to properly pronounce full words?
4. After ordering an item on the menu twice and not getting it, you shrug your shoulders, hunt down your waitress and pay.
5. You order something on the menu twice and the third time you ask the waiter finally tells you they don't have that tonight. So you shrug your shoulders and order something else. Or just pay and leave.
6. You give up trying to be productive between 2 and 6 because nothing in the world except cafes are open.
7. You forget to wash your hair a few days in a row and realize you don't care. Who washes daily anyhow?
8. You are overly grateful and amazed when you get any kind of service, anywhere.
9. You stop feeling like a prisoner with all the doors and windows covered in heavy iron and actually think it's pretty.
10. You forget what it was like to have a clothes dryer.
11. You can't go a whole day without having at least one meal dripping with olive oil.
12. You think there's nothing wrong with having beer or wine with lunch. And then returning to work.
13. You think public buildings and streets are toilets. (They are not, so people please stop using them as such!)
14. You think it's ok to stare freely at anyone who passes by. Or who's just around you. For as long as you want.
15. You don't eat lunch before 2 p.m., dinner before 9 p.m. and you don't go out before 11.
I'm surprised our flat didn't burn down today as my lovely roomie forgot and left the iron on ALL DAY. I didn't find it til this evening. We will have words tomorrow.
It got chillier today, in the low sixties! Ahhh, I need a coat!
I was planning on going to Cadiz this weekend, but it looks like it will be a quiet one in Seville. Sadly we don't have Halloween plans, though Mark's parents are coming to visit for a week over that weekend. That ought to be fun. I offered to lend my bunkbeds, but Mark just made a face at me. I think he thinks his parents would prefer his nice double bed? Personally, I think they should take my bunks. I mean, just think of the possibilities! Did someone say "fort"?
2. You don't go to bed before 1 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on the weekend.
3. You start to drop the ends of your words because who can be bothered to properly pronounce full words?
4. After ordering an item on the menu twice and not getting it, you shrug your shoulders, hunt down your waitress and pay.
5. You order something on the menu twice and the third time you ask the waiter finally tells you they don't have that tonight. So you shrug your shoulders and order something else. Or just pay and leave.
6. You give up trying to be productive between 2 and 6 because nothing in the world except cafes are open.
7. You forget to wash your hair a few days in a row and realize you don't care. Who washes daily anyhow?
8. You are overly grateful and amazed when you get any kind of service, anywhere.
9. You stop feeling like a prisoner with all the doors and windows covered in heavy iron and actually think it's pretty.
10. You forget what it was like to have a clothes dryer.
11. You can't go a whole day without having at least one meal dripping with olive oil.
12. You think there's nothing wrong with having beer or wine with lunch. And then returning to work.
13. You think public buildings and streets are toilets. (They are not, so people please stop using them as such!)
14. You think it's ok to stare freely at anyone who passes by. Or who's just around you. For as long as you want.
15. You don't eat lunch before 2 p.m., dinner before 9 p.m. and you don't go out before 11.
I'm surprised our flat didn't burn down today as my lovely roomie forgot and left the iron on ALL DAY. I didn't find it til this evening. We will have words tomorrow.
It got chillier today, in the low sixties! Ahhh, I need a coat!
I was planning on going to Cadiz this weekend, but it looks like it will be a quiet one in Seville. Sadly we don't have Halloween plans, though Mark's parents are coming to visit for a week over that weekend. That ought to be fun. I offered to lend my bunkbeds, but Mark just made a face at me. I think he thinks his parents would prefer his nice double bed? Personally, I think they should take my bunks. I mean, just think of the possibilities! Did someone say "fort"?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A new post
I know, I haven't posted in forever. I really feel like the past two months have been a crazy and very busy whirlwind, and a non-stop adventure. I'm a bit exhausted, to be honest.
I am coming home for the holidays and am very excited. I do miss home and especially the people!
As for my life here. I live above a noisy bar in the happening part of town called the Alameda de Hercules. There are a million things that need to be fixed in my flat, such as not having a shower curtain. I have been squating down to shower for three weeks now. Oh, the joy! And the ONLY piece of furniture I have in my bedroom is--get this--children's bunkbeds. Yes, I am 28 years old and living in a room with only children's bunkbeds. I find it highly amusing and thoroughly annoying. My landlord is such a sweetheart I just couldn't object when he showed up at 10 PM one night to assembly them. Sigh. So I have nothing else in my room, which is interesting.
After weeks without a fridge we finally got one. The really hilarious and frustrating part was that it was the FOURTH time it was delivered! The delivery men kept damaging our fridge evey time they brought it, and had it not been for Mark, they would have done it again. He started yelling and directing and finally we got to keep our fridge. What a happy day that was.
We lack an oven, two of our stove burners aren't working, we have doors to the outside that won't close, and living above a bar means that people are noisy outside our windows until 2 or 4 in the morning. The south of Spain is definitely a different world. Things work completely differently, people do not speak English, and it is taking a bit to get used to.
However, the city is beautiful and the people are lovely. I can't get enough of tapas! I am addicted to Spanish coffee. The Alcazar has some of the most lovely gardens I've ever seen. The architecture is breath-taking and there are winding, tiny roads and gorgeous tiling, etc.
I can't wait to see some of the surrounds areas like Granada, Cadiz, etc. Andalucia is an amazing part of Spain and I definitely want to see more of it. I also can't wait for Dad to come visit so I can show it all to him. Anyone else wanting to come visit, just let me know! I'll let you pick which bunk you want! Lol.
My friends have a flat not too far from me where you can climb on the roof and overlook a fair amount of the city. There are churches everywhere, and newer projects resulting from the last time Seville hosted the Expo. You can see two of the modern and architectually stunning bridges from their roof as well. I love just sitting up there, and will have to take some pics soon.
On another note, it's Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!
I will update more often. :)
I am coming home for the holidays and am very excited. I do miss home and especially the people!
As for my life here. I live above a noisy bar in the happening part of town called the Alameda de Hercules. There are a million things that need to be fixed in my flat, such as not having a shower curtain. I have been squating down to shower for three weeks now. Oh, the joy! And the ONLY piece of furniture I have in my bedroom is--get this--children's bunkbeds. Yes, I am 28 years old and living in a room with only children's bunkbeds. I find it highly amusing and thoroughly annoying. My landlord is such a sweetheart I just couldn't object when he showed up at 10 PM one night to assembly them. Sigh. So I have nothing else in my room, which is interesting.
After weeks without a fridge we finally got one. The really hilarious and frustrating part was that it was the FOURTH time it was delivered! The delivery men kept damaging our fridge evey time they brought it, and had it not been for Mark, they would have done it again. He started yelling and directing and finally we got to keep our fridge. What a happy day that was.
We lack an oven, two of our stove burners aren't working, we have doors to the outside that won't close, and living above a bar means that people are noisy outside our windows until 2 or 4 in the morning. The south of Spain is definitely a different world. Things work completely differently, people do not speak English, and it is taking a bit to get used to.
However, the city is beautiful and the people are lovely. I can't get enough of tapas! I am addicted to Spanish coffee. The Alcazar has some of the most lovely gardens I've ever seen. The architecture is breath-taking and there are winding, tiny roads and gorgeous tiling, etc.
I can't wait to see some of the surrounds areas like Granada, Cadiz, etc. Andalucia is an amazing part of Spain and I definitely want to see more of it. I also can't wait for Dad to come visit so I can show it all to him. Anyone else wanting to come visit, just let me know! I'll let you pick which bunk you want! Lol.
My friends have a flat not too far from me where you can climb on the roof and overlook a fair amount of the city. There are churches everywhere, and newer projects resulting from the last time Seville hosted the Expo. You can see two of the modern and architectually stunning bridges from their roof as well. I love just sitting up there, and will have to take some pics soon.
On another note, it's Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!
I will update more often. :)
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