Isn´t it the best feeling to wake up in your bed and hear the storm settling over your home? You listen to the pitter patter against the windows, hear the chilly winds spiraling outside, while you lay there, warm and comfortable, hours before any need to remove yourself from the cacoon of blankets and pillows. Well that was me this morning, as the first storm settled over Granada, thundering and blustering through the neighborhood. The only difference: I woke up eight minutes before my alarm was set to go, and would soon be thrust out into the rain, a downpour of gray, forced to walk to school at least half an hour away.
Well, I walked, and it rained, and Granada, a mountain town built, I think, specificically for people to fall, was covered in smooth and beautiful but also incredibly slippery stone walkways. There I was, sliding to class, a fell into a puddle, and quickly attempted to recover, knowing that about twenty people saw the foreign girl fall into a murky pool of water of the edge of a street. I came into class, wet and dray, my umbrella protecting parts of me while leaving others (like my backpack) exposed to the harmful rain. SO, this has been my morning, and now, I sit, typing away in the computer lab, wondering, when or if the rain is going to stop.
Now, onto more exciting adventures. After many days of discussions, and shifts of groups of people and caravans, I have officially rented a car with three other girls and we are headed to Portugal!! The plan so far is a short drive to Lagos, a coastal beach town, for a day of (I HOPE) sun, then a drive north to LIZBON (okay, its Lisboa, but c´mon...c´mon) for a few days of meandering. The most exciting part about this whole thing is that I know NOTHING about Portugal, I have no idea what to expect. And there is something incredibly exciting about that fact. I know one word, obrigado, thank you, in Portuguese. I know is is on the Coast of the Iberian Peninsula and that it produces Port Wine, I know family that has gone there and loved it, and I know that for some reason I imagine it to be blue tinted, kind of like CSI New York, but more romantic. I hope its chillier there, the heat is killing me and I am ready to wear some fall appropriate clothes. I hope its cheaper there, although I have been living relatively inexpensively, I wouldn´t mind any cut in costs. I hope its alive there, because since I am now used to siesta and children playing in the park at 11pm, I expect life to bubble up out of nowhere in Europe. I hope a lot of things, but I expect NOTHING and that is what is the most fun.
Ofcourse, I am nervous. I am the only one driving, and European driving is a whole new experience for me, I have seen it done, but I have never done it myself. I guess, I just have to be both SAFE and CONFIDENT while FOCUSING ONLY ON THE ROAD. Well, cross your fingers for me!!
I mean, all is well, one of those, ¨I feel like a brat for complaining, my life is so great and I still manage to find reasons to sulk¨ feelings, is floating over me. Its hard being away from home, but having the oppourtunity to travel so much and to experience life, well, I will never have that again. So I am here to live, DAMNIT, and to explore, and to do things that I would never do otherwise (only if reasonably priced and safe, which may be why I won´t go to Greece) and to see the world. Its almost like one of those Grand Tours in the Victorian era. Take a trip around the world, experience culture, see things, meet people, go to museums, etc. etc. I am here to see what is around and to test myself emotionally and to, I dunno, drive to Portugal. ha.
Spain is weird, its different, and its hard sometimes to feel so alone. Yet, it is also something that I love and will never forget and try to cherish every moment. Know that I miss you all! I love you all!
Now, some side notes:
In Spain, bras are always OPTINIONAL, no matter how large you are or how old.
In Spain, there are always two light switches in a bedroom, one by the door and one next to your bed, so no need to get up out of bed if you´re falling asleep with the lights on.
In Granada, a free tapa is expected. And if you order a second round of drinks, you will get another one. The tapas I have seen: entire baked potatos, tuna salad and bread, paella, a fried egg with tuna and lettuce in between, sitting atop a piece of bread with tomato sauce, deep fried mystery fish, and, russian salad (yes, ensalada ruso) which consists of potato, some other cut up veggies, all tossed together in a mayo sauce...sounds familiar, no?
In Spain, if you order a cheese sandwich, you will get bread and cheese. That is all.
In Spain, Olive Oil goes with EVERYTHING.
In Spain, sometimes its okay to have a mullet.
Alright,
I guess thats all for now.
Miss everyone!
Love Love Love,
Me
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10 comments:
Liza, do not be nervous while driving, you are a good driver, remember, you've been driving for a while, take it easy. The only minusz is that you will be looking around and see the stuff around yoy less than your passengers. Also, find out if your partners have a credit card which has a car insurance. There shouldn't be more traffic than in France, and it was lite, as you remeber. Make stops to look around.
In Lisboa, and in Portugal, stuff is cheaper. In Lisboa they have a main street, /?/ gold or silver or something, it's nice, and a cathedral with /?/Vasco de Gama, it's nice. But you'll see for yourself. Have a nice time, when do you leave?Papa
hey zaika
i am really glad to hear from you. sorry you had to walk under this pouring rain and fell down. it's only 7am here, and i'm already at work, and it looks like my day is not up to a good start either. let's hope it'll get better.
i know you're getting a little homesick. i miss you too. A LOT!!!
I know you worry about being the only driver to Portugal, but I believe in you - I know you can do it. Just focus and drive defensively, and get people in your car to help you with watching signs, finding places, parking etc.
I recommend to read up on Portugal on the Internet, find places you are going to, and develop some kind of a concrete plan beforehand.
I think I have to go back to my work, which I really hate at the moment.:(
Love you and miss you!!!!!
...just wanted to add: when we went to Cleveland for papa's birthday, we bought hot dogs from a street vendor who had a mullet - real classic one. so it's apparently okay to have a mullet in Cleveland.
I was surprised that you are not familiar with what Spanish calling a russo salad. What have you been eating on a family gathering all this time long. "Olivie salad" dose not ring a bell? I will not accept no for that question. ;)
Russo salad ( Olivie ) is very popular in Spain and came where ( you Know) from Russia where it was invented in 1860's by French Chef in a one of the fancy Moscow restaurant called Hermitage.
You should not be afraid of Portugal. This is a fine small country. Portuguese speak English, due to the long relationship with England. abrigadu will do, and the rest you can continue in English. It also mach chipper than Spain and cooler due to procimety to the ocean. I know, You will enjoy it.
Gena
hey! sorry i missed your call the other day. i was sleeping and by the time i realized that it could've been you calling it stopped ringing. i'll get the pennytalk number from mama and papa and will try calling you then. by the way, it's pretty hilarous that mullets are ok in cleveland. so you don't have to go far for some spanish experiences at all.
have a great time in prtugal! and like papa said, just make sure someone assumes the navigator role if you're driving because it's too difficult to drive and try to figure out where you're going at the same time, but just driving on someone else's direction, even in a place you don't know, it's all that bad!
also, of course you're going to be homesick and sometimes lonely in a new place with all new people, no matter how amazing the place. so if you're going to expereince these feelings, you don't also need to burden yourself with guilt over not appreciating being there! you're allowed. just keep taking advantage as you obviously have been.
i have to leave for work in less than an hour. that really sucks, but i guess at least it isn't raining, not yet. this week's been relatively light, so it feels like the calm before a storm.
sveta is coming to visit this weekend! i'm excited about that, it's kind of great to have visitors.
well, just wanted to say hi. i miss you a lot! have a great time in portugal and drive safe. love you!!!
i meant it's NOT all that bad... driving with someone navigating:)
hey whats up? first, SORRY for blowing you off today! i feel like i was one of those dead-beat dads/husbands blowing you off for work. i feel terrible! plus, i have to go to that conference, they take attendance... anyways i am really excited for you to go to LIZ-boa, your homeland! be careful driving in spain/portugal, although you know how to drive stick try not to show off too much! yea, the food sounds pretty good actually, and its hilarious that noone wears a bra. dont feel bad about feeling lonely or feeling like a brat or whatever, everyone is entitled to feel that way no matter where they are. just try to have fun for your own sake! also question: are the mullets worn because theyre like somehow cool again, or because they never went out of style here? how is your spanish? are you improving? you probably still feel like you suck but i bet you are a lot better than when you first came. do you guys still take siestas? anyways thats about it for now, keep writing, happy or sad!
anuta
I have only one question for you Liz: Would you really expect more than just bread and cheese when you order a cheese sandwich??
haha, I miss you Liz and I LOVE reading your blogs because you are hilarious and have all the same feelings I imagine I would have if I went abroad <3 <3
~ martha
1. I did not get LIZ-boa until I read Anyuta's note
2. On some european cars they have a ring under stick handle , which you have to pull up to put gear in reverse, and some have another stupid feature, usually it's a button to regulate height of the headlights, find it out, because it must be adjusted to drive at night,and stupid thing # 3, you may change power steering assist,for city/ highway driving, too much for those junk cars..Hope you have fun in Portugalia!!! After all of this
Liz,
Your parents' posts are my favorite of all. When did we get to that age when all of a sudden we realize that everything thing they ever told us was right? It freaks me out. Anyway, I'm sorry you fell down in the rain. I would have laughed at you because I can't help laughing at people when they fall down. It's a trait I inherited from my beloved Meemaw. But it's still sad that you fell down. I have this dramatic film image in my head of what you looked like as you were getting up trying to scrape together all of your belongings and crying a little. Maybe? I don't know. Now, I'm rambling like you do. Oh well. Have fun in Portugal! Love you and miss you all most as much as your parents do!
Love,
Allison
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