Thankful for THANKSGIVING!

So for some reason or other, this year I am really excited about Thanksgiving, which is quite odd because Thanksgiving doesn’t exist here in Spain, but you know what they say, if you build it, he will come. Maybe I am also excited because last year on Thanksgiving I didn’t plan anything to celebrate, and then in a bout of depression I baked an apple pie and rang in Turkey day eating a large majority of it, in a cold, musty apartment.

So in all my excitement I made an announcement to all the teachers at my school last Thursday at lunch, I told them this Thursday was a very special holiday in the US and I wanted to share this special day with them and prepare some special things for Thanksgiving. After giving my little speech everyone gave me a round of applause and I was so excited and pumped for Thanksgiving.

However as Thursday approaches I realize I have bit off a little more than I can chew. Preparing a Thanksgiving feast is a task in its own, under all the right circumstances, but can you imagine preparing a Thanksgiving feast, ALONE and then transporting this feast via public transportation, to a town 20km away, all by a girl who only has two hands?! Ha good thing I like a challenge. Some might think this task impossible, but this is what living abroad is all about, getting creative, concurring problems and kicking ass along the way!

I was lucky enough to find a store that sold canned pumpkin and cranberries, but being the thrifty and sensible girl I am, I laughed at this canned pumpkin, way over priced, I can do this myself. So I am off to the produce stand to buy a pumpkin, cook it and make my own. Yes a little more work but a girls go to save a buck, got to buy that bird you know.

Look out StoveTop, there is a new sheriff in town. That’s right, found a recipe for homemade stuffing, and actually just made a test round of it (I wanted to make sure everyone’s favorite Tgiving dish was up to snuff for my fellow teachers). I will admit it is pretty good, but I do think stovetop is better, those people at Kraft have been doing it for years, oh well, can’t win them all. If I learned anything from the movie/book Julie/Julia, it is the more butter the better, so next time more butter, less bread.

I think cooking this feast should honestly be no problem, just very time consuming. My biggest challenge figuring out how the heck to get this stuff all to my school. Good thing for every problem there is a solution. Wish me luck!

Two Dozen, it Aint so Bad (Return to my Pueblo)

If someone would have asked me a year ago where I would be spending my 24^th birthday, I am not quite sure what I would have said, but one thing is for sure I definitely wouldn’t have imagined I would be venturing back to spend my birthday in Almonte. Funny how things change, we open up our minds, break down our walls, exit the box and we discover new things, meet new people, form new bonds and we begin to become attached to a place…at least that is what happened to me last year in Almonte.

I had been wanting to make the long voyage back south pretty much since I left last May, when I learned Luisa was planning a surprise visit back to the Pueblo I knew I had to partake, and the rest is history. Last Thursday I left school early and thus began the journey.

Arriving back in Almonte was crazy, there were new shops and bars, but other than that, everything remained the same. After my arrival Thursday evening we were all lucky enough to reunite for a lovely Italian dinner, cooked by a real Italian…que rico!!!

Friday morning I woke up surprising late, due to the fact I was sleeping on an airbed not much bigger then my body…but I was in my old apartment so I felt like I was at home and didn’t really mind. To begin the festivities Armando, Julia, Tina and I headed to our favorite breakfast place to have; café con leche, fresh squeezed orange juice, and toast…doesn’t get much better than this.

After breakfast we prepared a picnic and headed south, direction PLAYA (beach). I don’t know what it is, may my roots as a water sign, or always growing up near the water and loving it, but being away from the water give me a little type of anxiety…I am not sure what it is, regardless I miss it and it had been almost two months since my last sight of water, it was time.

Another thing I forgot to mention is the weather in Andalucia was amazing; it felt like summer in the afternoon. It has been every warm and dry there since pretty much last April, looks like the place could use a good ‘ol Seattle down pour. I originally had not packed my bathing suit, who goes swimming in the ocean in Novemeber? I do!!! The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky not a breath of wind. So shortly after our arrival at the beach, I had to strip down to my birthday suit and take a dip. It was amazing.

Part of the beach in Matalascanas is actually in the National Park, Donana. The park is a wild life reserve and there for the beach there is completely virgin, nothing but sand and waves for miles and miles. It was a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of daily life in the big city of Madrid. We spent the entire afternoon at the beach—relaxing, it was paradise.

Later that evening, Tina decided she wanted to throw a party at our old apartment! Good idea Tina! Man she sure does know how to throw a party. There was delicious food, lots of drinks, beer and three cakes to boot! Everyone had a fantastic time. We danced, talked, drank, ate…pretty much all my favorite things.

No sleeping in after the party, the next day we were up early to head to Sevilla to go on a tapas tour. The day was perfect weather and temperature. We toured the city, drinking beers and ordering tapas at each stop, too delicious to describe, I wouldn’t be able to do the food justice, all I can say is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!! Yumyum.

Breakfast

Spaniards are typically not known for the breakfasts. Going out for breakfast in Spain you do not get the same typical fair you would expect to get back home, eggs, bacon, potatoes, etc. Spanish breakfast in more simple, usually some kind of carbohydrate and a café con leche.

While I do hold a special place for American breakfast in my heart (probably thanks to my dad who made me wonderful hot breakfast before school every day) I also love going out for Spanish breakfast, especially on Sunday. Something about getting up early, going to have a coffee and toast with tomatoes and olive oil and catching up with a friend that is just a great way to start the day. I also love to people watch. (These are some pictures from Tina’s latest trip to Madrid, and our breakfast in my favorite neighborhood, La Latina).

El Rastro

El Rastro is one of the biggest flea markets in Europe. Every Sunday in Madrid they shut down the streets in the La Latina and Puerto de Toledo neighborhoods and vendors take the place of cars and eager shoppers fill the streets. There are all sorts of shopping opportunities at El Rastro, you can get jewelry from all over the world, scarves, clothes, flowers, leather good from Morocco and so much more. A very fun way to spend a sun day morning, walking around, people watching, maybe getting a few goodies. I love El Rastro!!!

Plaza de Castilla, My Hood

I live in the northern end of the center of Madrid, which is located close to Plaza de Castilla, a square that has been under construction for as long as a can remember. A famous viewpoint for this square is the two slanted towers in the picture above. Usually the street where I am standing is slammed with traffic, but this day there happened to be some kind of parade going on so the street was closed.

Segovia

Segovia is the capital of the Spanish province, Castilla and Leon, and is located about 100 kilometers north of Madrid. It is the perfect place to head for a day trip with easy transport via bus or high-speed train.

Segovia is a very old city with heavy Roman influence. It is home to an aqueduct that dates back to late first and early second century (whoa that is old). The aqueduct carried water 10 miles from the Frio River to the center of Segovia. It’s the most well preserved Roman structure on the Iberian Peninsula.

Segovia is also home to the Alcazar, a fortress and royal palace, which was Walt Disney’s inspiration for the Royal Palace in Disney Land. BEAUTIFUL!

A well know Segovian specialty is Cochinillo, a roasted baby suckling pig. In ever restaurant in the entire town you see advertisement for the cochinillo menu of the day, along with displays of a dish of en entire baby big. Unfortunately I had to pass and didn’t try the typical dish, those pigs were too damn cute, but I hear that it is delicious. I opted for some delicious little cookies instead.