Semana Santa (Holy Week)

It's Holy Week craziness right now in Seville! People have flocked in from all over to crowd the streets and watch the brotherhoods's processions. They wear the robes with the hoods (sometimes a bit creepy for me!) and walk through the streets with bands, candles, crosses and big pasos that have Jesus and sometimes Mary on them, which are shouldered by lots of big strong men! The processions take anywhere from 5-14 hours and most are during the day except for Thursday when they go all night.

Dad is here and it's great! We are off to the Costa del Sol (Rincon de la Victoria) on Wednesday to find a beach and hopefully start work on that tan! It's fun times in Seville! :)

Dad's hard at work back home

Dad has been redoing my wc back home. It has been a long time coming, and I am soooo excited! It had this horrible dark brown wallpaper that made it feel tiny, and linoleum that really needed to go. So Dad got rid of the wallpaper, fixed the walls, painted the ceiling and walls ("latte" - Jennie just like the house!) and is ripping up the floor to put down tile. Dang! But he is waiting for me to pick out fixtures when I return. Talk about some serious work! He sent me some pics, so here is the progress!

Check out the before pics! And below the ceiling was in desperate need of some paint!

Soooooo much better! Thanks Dad!

As I was walking to my various classes today I was observing the other people in the streets, as usual. I still love how the Spanish dress their little children like old people, especially the little boys! I just can't get over the brightly colored tights under shorts and matching bright and shiny shoes. And of course the copious amounts of hair gel that usually matches their father, who is generally walking beside the stroller with his arms clasped behind his back.

I also admit to have taken to the habit here of washing my hair every other day. Ok, so maybe they wash theirs even less, but I'm liking the every other day thing. As I sat in Spanish class this morning, exhausted after another night of poor sleep, I realized most of us had not washed our hair. And I was the only female wearing make up. Sometimes I adore Europe. Lol.

Of course in all fairness, the Spanish women, especially in Seville, also have a tendency of dressing up like crazy. Sometimes I find myself staring at them, in their amazing outfits, hair, make up and shoes. Or sometimes I stare because of the crazy trends, like the sudden affinity for very brightly colored tights. Under shorts or skirts and with equally bright foot wear. Purple seems to be a favorite at the moment. And fur seems to be big. That Flo Rida song that Emma and I enjoy so much, "boots with the fur"? Maybe it was written here! If only I could photograph the people and send pics home. The entertainment never stops!

Dad gets here this weekend as Semana Santa starts and I get a week (sort of) off of work and am sooooo ready for it!

I thought I saw something else crazy today that I felt the need to share, however now it is eluding me. Oh well, just another day in Sevilla....

Rain...

I had so hoped for a sunny weekend so I could enjoy being outside and get some color, but no. Rain today and supposedly tomorrow. So I've been inside and not too happy about it. I briefly went out this morning to get some more prunes and chicken from the market. I do love that market! It's not completely open-air, but very nice and they have the freshest foods. I stay away from the fish area because the smell is a bit much for me, but sadly the flowers are over in that direction!

I and the people around me noticed how appalling my Spanish was this morning. Though they were kind and forgiving. I was reduced to pointing and using hand gestures. How sad.

Dad'll be here in one week! Yay! And it will be Semana Santa and I have a week off of work and that will also be lovely!

A New Season

Sorry for slacking on the posting!

The weather suddenly changed about a week ago and it has been lovely ever since! 60s and 70s during the day! Last weekend the girls and I couldn't believe it and took the opportunity to sit on their roof one day with chocolate and music (bliss!) and sit down by the river the next. When the sun is shining and it's warm, the city comes to life and I fall in love with it all over again.

Today we took advantage of our short work weeks and met Paola for coffee. We'd not seen her in months due to the cowering in our apartments, hiding from the hideous weather. But today we sat in a lovely square and had coffee and discussed the news. Sonia is off to Japan to teach for a year come August and we are well excited for her! Paola is moving to England come summer to teach and hopefully stay there for a bit (she's from Argentina but has lived in Italy, Spain and England as well - I'm a bit envious!).

Then Sonia and I walked around town and we bought some black flip flops as we are both in need of a pair and soon we will be able to wear them! You can tell the tourists from the Spaniards will no trouble at all at the moment. The Spanish are still trekking around in winter coats, boots and scarves. The tourists wear flip flops and shorts and sun themselves. The natives won't break out summer clothes until after Feria in April. My desire to blend in is competing with my love of the sun and wanting to walk around in sandals. But I think we'll continue to sun on the roof on the weekends to get a bit brown, as I am feeling so pale!

The city is preparing for Semana Santa, or Holy Week, and Jesus and Mary are suddenly everywhere. During Holy Week schools are off and people have vacation and people from all over come to Seville to see the festivities. It is insane, or so I hear. I think Dad and I will see a few days of it and then leave the madness, probably to the Costa del Sol and then up to Ronda. I am excited to have some time off of work and travel a bit, as I've not traveled in quite awhile! I can't wait to show Dad around.

I am also glad Dad is bringing my new Sketchers as I have now sown up my only pair here twice. That is slightly pathetic. But they are my best walking shoes, and I walk a lot to my classes. They only need to last one more week!

I also heard that Jennie is having a baby boy! How exciting! Personally, I wanted her to have a girl, but I don't think my vote had much sway.

That's it for now! Greetings from the (finally) sunny and lovely Seville! Hasta pronto y tenga un buen fin de semana!

Dios mio la lluvia...

The constant rain and dark skies are getting me a bit down - it's like being back in Hamburg! As I walked out of my last class of the evening, I was on the top floor of the apartment building on the outside walkway, and I looked across to see the other roof full of people's clothing and bed sheets. There was row after row of them, just blowing in the wind and pouring rain. And I took a sick pleasure in knowing that other people's clothes got soaked as well. Not a proud moment, but true.

As I walked home I ran into a student's mother, and I expressed my dislike for the constant rain. She said yes, it's a special year, at which I laughed. Then she said, "I guess we'll just have to keep singing in the rain!" Now, on as far as the corniness factor is concerned, let's just say it was muy grande, but I had to appreciate her good humor about the sucky weather. So thank you, Maria Luisa's madre, for the perspective.

Still, I will stay inside tonight and make soup and try to watch Buffy Cazavampiros and try to understand what they heck they are saying in Spanish. English anyone? :)

19 days til Dad gets here and I can't wait!!!!!!!!

And Dad is sending me rain boots. I can't express my gratitude with words!