Hey, Hey We're the Monkees, and People Say We Monkey Around...

Went to Gibraltar yesterday.  The tip of Europe where Hercules pushed Europe and Africa apart. The city of Gibraltar is actually English territory to it was fun to read signs that said Piccidilly Ave, Bristol Hotel, and unlike in England the paint on each street crossing says "Look Right" for the confused British travellers.  I went with my older clas, the vocational studies in IT.  We split up into groups of five for the cable ride to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar.  My group decided we were due for an English breakfast including over easy eggs with toast, beans, sausage, and bacon! We when went to the top of the rock. It was GORGEOUS!  You can see Africa in the distance.

There are also wild monkeys all over the rock. They are klepto's so beware! It was a 500 pound fine for feeding them, BUT we were in a quiet corner with 2 and I brought tangerines!  They first monkey looked like he would fight me for it, but when one of the guys handed it to him he politely accepted it with his own hand! We also watched one sneak up on an old man with a sandwich and go to steal it, then when the man noticed the monkey turned and looked back as well scratching is head as if to be trying to trick the old man by looking for who would do such a thing! Me encanta los monos!

I also made friends.  These were some of the guys in my group that day that took me in so I wasn't a loser.

All in all, it was a wonderful day.  I was practicing spanish, but mainly healping the guys with English.  We ate, took pictures and played with monkeys...SUCCESS!

Lagos, Halloween, and the Purse

Well, Keith, Ashley and I decided to go to Lagos, Portugal on for the weekend.  It was gorgeous just as I remembered it to be.  This time we decided to go on a grotto's tour.  I had never been on one.  It was incredible! The caves and formations were breathtaking. Here's a few pictures! (Finally)

This was our Portugese Tour guide, and Keith.  He would say what the rock formation looked like and if we couldn't figure it out he would immate it i.e. Elephant he did the typical arm trunk.

He said the Policia were after him if we didn't put on life jackets. So we did. A few times he was close to the sharp rocky edge, so I wasn't opposed to any sort of protection.

This is in Cabo San Vincent.  It is in Sagres. The end of the world as they new it. It is the very tip of Portugal.

The first night in Portugal we went out for dinner at about 7:30pm which is already a tad bit early for the Iberian Penninsula, but we went to NahNahBah for great food (hambergers that I had been dreaming about since my last trip to Portugal). It was we went to a bar at about 9 and the only people there were employees; at 11 we were thinking where are all the people!?! Apperently, there is a time difference in Portugal...they are an hour behind! We got date light savings 2 weekends in a row!

Which brings me to Halloween.  Apparently spanish people have only seen halloween in the movies, the really bad halloween movies where everyone dresses up like dracula, devils, mummies, ghosts, corpse brides and the like. Gross. So we went the first night as the Black Eyed Peas. The second night I went as a bum and Ashley went as my cat. The third night (actual halloween on Sunday) I went as a whimsical/mystical/glittery thing and Ashley went as Audrey Hepburn. I am trying to Upload photos but it doesn't seem to want to let me.

The last piece of news is MY PURSE WAS STOLEN!  I was in the Irish pub that Keith is a manager in and was hanging out with him and some of his friends at the bar.  All the sudden a waiter runs inside and asked if anyones purse had been stole.  I looked down at the hook where I had placed it and it was gone. I was freaking out! My iPhone, credit card, ID, spanish phone, sun glasses, and change purse were all in there.  Keith and I went outside and the Taxi driver on the curb said he tried to stop him but he put the purse in his jacket and got on a bike.  He said that the bum across the street says that he knows the guy. So we went and spoke to the bum. He told us he could show us to the place where the robber sleeps.  So we went. I was thinking we were going to show up as someones door, I really had no idea.  We go deep into El Centro following this bum on crutches and arrive at a park.  Apparently he showed Keith who the robber was because before I knew it, he was pushing this guy saying, "Where is the Purse? Give me the purse!" (obviously in spanish) He was caught unaware so he was flustered and denying it until he lost his step and fell and all of his (my) change fell out of his pockets. He said Ok, OK and led keith to a dark corner of the park and pulled out first my change purse, I said THATS MINE! then my iPhone (hallalujah!), my sunglasses and my spanish phone. I look in the change purse and of course all the money is gone (about 20 euro) and we start to walk away I remember all my cards. Keith turns around and yells at him to get those to.  In the end I only lost about 20 euro and a purse that probably should have already been retired.  You know me and purses! I was very thankful to the bum expecially since he put his neck on the line with the stealer bums. I gave him all the money I had in my pocket, ten euro.  He promptly followed us back to the pub and ordered a beer. Keith told all of his employees that if they ever see him to give him a coffee. Keith was the hero of the night and a great friend to Ashley and I. We may all go to Cadiz this weekend for one last beach trip.  Who knows!  I promise it wont be 20 days again. Until next time...

I Have Clean Clothes!

It only took me 22 days in Spain to figure out how to use the washing machine!  I'll have you know this is a success story.  I have clean clothes!  Other practical things I have done this week include getting a bank account and residency card, sweeping my floor, changing my sheets, and walking through the crosswalk (directly translated from spanish: zebra passage) when it says not to go but the lanes are clear.  We also finally found the Salt and Pepper in the grocery store.  I am still hesitant to buy fruits and veggies that aren't prepackaged because there is a weighing device that looks quite uninviting.  Ashley did it and said it was a piece of tortilla though so... I think I will be ok.

Now for the fun stuff:  I went to the beach this last weekend.  Punta Umbria, Huelva.  I burnt my bum, but other than that it was a positive experience.  We are renting a car and headed to Lagos, Portugal this weekend.  Search it in google images.  It is gorgeous!  I went last year and have dreamt about the burgers from a little place called "NaNaBa" and will finally be reaquainted with them in just a few short days.

OH the lasagna barbacoa was NASTY.  I don't know what I did wrong, but I don't care. I will never consume such a strange combination again. I had you all concerned for good reason... YUCK! I'll be sticking to chorizo and cheese sandwiches with more olive oil than I have ever consumed, it is a safe bet.  Ashley and I have devoured over a liter of olive oil in 3 weeks.  That doesn't include the olive oil we use outside our house.  Yikes. 

I miss you all terribly, but am having a wonderful time here in Spain.  I promise some pictures soon! 

Lasagna Barbacoa

When Chelsea and I were here in Spring 2009, our Spanish "Mama" would randomly feed us lasagna. The first time she served it we were in for a wonderful surprise because the marinara sauce was not marinara at all, it was BBQ sauce. You may be cringing thinking about how any Italian food, especially lasagna could be good with BBQ sauce... Well don’t hate it till you try it. As I was walking through our local grocery store today I saw the frozen food section. PERFECT! I looked in the freezer bins next to me: 1st Item - Lasagna Barbacoa. So I promptly bought it and will be enjoying it here in about an hour. Or maybe frozen pizza.



Grocery shopping was fun until I couldn't find the bags to load my stuff into. I asked the checker, apparently that question she asked me after, "Do you have a "Tarjeta de Dia" or "Dia Card" was do you need any bags of course I said "No." I always say "no" to questions I don't understand. Anyway, 33 cents and a lecture later I was filling my bag. At least my food that will last for the next few days only cost about 12 Euros.



My school doesn't have a schedule for me yet. The first day I was just introduced to all the teachers beso after beso after beso. I was introduced to the class and was accused of have a "strong" American accent. I thought California was the only state without an accent!?! There is only one bilingual class in the whole high school and they are 12 year olds. They have different classes as 7th graders do in the states so I will be helping out in Math, History, Science and English class for 2 hours a week each. There is a building next to the school that has some prep school classes and the students are anywhere from 17-22. I will be helping make one of their computer classes bilingual 2 hours a week. I'm a little rusty on my computing and technology vocabulary so that mixed with people my age won't be intimidating at all.



More to come, as long as my internet stops being temperamental.

Ok BBQ lasagna here I come!

Volver

It is incredible being back here in Sevilla.  It all seems so fresh in my mind... like I never left.  In a city that is over 2000 years old, I guess things just don't change too often.

The amount of paperwork I have to fill out seems like a full time job.  Residency cards, bank accounts, lease agreements, cell phone contracts, and much more... It's worth it though.  Being back in the city I fell in love with a year and a half ago is priceless.  The people here are so precious and kind.  Ashley, my roomy, and I went to our old school and they welcomed us with open arms.  The director said come back anytime, this is your home.  AKA I have WiFi and printing capabilities in the city center. SWEET!

My day of travelling was incredible.  It started with free extra poundage, luggage, and gate passes for my parents.  We had to sprint across the airport in Madrid to catch our flight in 20 min, but made it luggage or not. I got my final piece of lost luggage today. Of course it was the one with all my clothes, thankfully I had too much stuff to fit it in that suitcase so I had one set of clothes in my carry on. ANYHOO...

We are looking at a place to live tomorrow and it should work out.  It is in a shnazzy part of town so we will be surrounded by nice people and safe resturaunts, stores ect. I am supposed to be going to tapas at 9:30pm and it is 9:33 so I better run. 

Be back with updates soon!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

For those of you who have ever been to Sevilla, Spain, you know why I named this blog NO8DO.  But… for those of you who have not, here is a little background:

As you walk down the narrow streets of Sevilla you will see this city motto inscribed on bus stops, fire hydrants, benches, taxis, and monuments.  NO8DO is a rebus.  The figure eight in the middle is actually a skein which translated into Spanish is “medeja.”  The emblem read exactly as written would then read No medeja do which means absolutely nothing.  BUT say it ten times fast and it sounds remarkable like “No me ha dejado” which translated into English is “She (Sevilla) will never leave me.”

As I am a closet romantic and self proclaimed history buff I wanted to check out the tale behind this enchanting motto.  Apparently, King Alfonso X son of Ferdinand of Castile had a greedy and irreverent son Sancho.  As King Alfonso X grew older and his eldest son died, Sancho began his quest for the throne.  Sevilla was one of only 3 cities in Spain who stayed loyal to the rightful King Alfonso X.  Thus, he gave them this motto in recognition of their devotion. NO8DO

For now, I am in Denver.  My last day in the US for a while… I have a new niece Jada Violet who is the most adorable little girl I have ever seen.  Who knew something so small and precious could capture the hearts of my entire family in 5 days.  Typically she is sleeping, crying, eating and pooping, but sometimes she just stares at us and it is so captivating we don’t dare look away.

Well, I’m signing off… I need to spend time with the little bean.  See you next time in Spain!