Epicurean Diaries Vol. 1

As mentioned before I had almendras de Alcalá today and I really need to start remembering to take photos of all my food. How touristy, I know. It's important though for me.

Mahou

Very, very, very, very shitty lighter beer made in Spain. It's like a poor man's Beast Ice or something. Horrible. Never drink it. To give you an idea of the quality, they sell pints of it at McDonald's for 1.20€. Yeah.

Mahou Negra

So I was at El Perro Verde last night asking for a dark beer "como Guiness. Un stout" (which is actually the word in Spanish for stout) and he said Mahou Dark and then mumbled some other stuff I didn't understand so I went with this beer. Came in a fancy dark bottle with black tin foil on it like the Ola Dubh we had at work did. Once I poured it (came with a special glass unlike the regular Mahou) I held it up to the light. It looked pretty dark. Wasn't very thick though nor too bitter like the dark beer I prefer. I didn't mind the taste at first (wasn't what I was looking for) but as it got warmer and I drank more the worse it got. By the last few drops I couldn't stand it anymore. Felt very bloated the rest of the night and didn't drink any more.

Vino Dulce

Not sure exactly what it was called but today at lunch I asked the waiter for vino oporto (Port wine) and they didn't have anything but he recommended a wine "muy dulce" (very sweet) so I ordered it. It had a very similar taste to Port. As Monica suggested it tasted like grapes, very sweet indeed. Dry as well. Towards the end though I started to get a bit tired of it. And tired physically (though I was tired earlier, so the wine only helped).

More on the foods and wines later, hopefully with pictures.

Jetlag Blues

I don't believe this is still jet lag. It can't be. More so I think I've fallen into the Spanish estilo de vida. I am always tired by siesta and can sleep for hours. But then I'm ready for bed by at least midnight. Not looking forward to getting up for school, though at worst it'll be done by 2:00pm each day. Maybe 5:00pm on Mondays. Fridays are off. 

Visited Casa Natal de Cervantes today. Nothing special. Not even his real birth house. Only lived in Alcalá for four years anyways. It's my birthday, of course, so more so than usual people are actually knowing it's my birthday and saying happy birthday. Feels nice I suppose. Went to the shopping mall today and got myself a new sweater and shirt thingy. More for autumn. Will have to post photos of my new wardrobe later. And more of Alcalá and folk here. Haven't had a chance to explore much. Planning on doing that tomorrow. With my good camera. Only seen three bums so far. One that came up to me twice within an hour while sitting en terraza.

Had almendras de Alcalá today. They're special candy coated almonds made from the nuns at some convent here in Alcalá. Very famous, or at least particular to Alcalá. Going to start doing a separate food and drink posts because there is just so much to cover. I love sitting en terraza for hours and talking and drinking.

Success!

Finally got internet...in my room. Monica lives just down the street and her host family has password protected internet. She gave me the key. I get near perfect signal. Awesome. No more buying shitty beer to let you all know that I'm still not dead yet.

Good times in Alcalá. After my last post we went to the same bar Samuel and myself visited yesterday. Same waiter working, very happy to serve us. Finally had a drink. 43 y Coke, mi favorito. Nice place, sat on terrace. Excited for when I come back, want to sit out in the beer garden at Silver Creek with some friends. That's basically what I'll be doing every day after lunch here. Forget siesta, it's time for the cafés. 

It's been, what? Four days and we're already talking trips. Of course there is the late September class trip to Asturias-Cantabria...then the middle October trip to Extremadura. Side trips that others want to take (save for the probably weekly trips to Madrid--half hour by train why not?) include Barcelona (a personal fav for me), Amsterdam (:darts eyes:)...and well..that's about it. We do have one four day weekend which will be advantageous. 

Going out tonight. Let word to a few folks here that my birthday may or may not be occurring tomorrow. Might be a celebration or dinner tomorrow night. We'll see. Not sure whether or not to tell my host family. It's always weird having that early birthday with school stuff. It's usually a new group of people and I don't want to go "So, it's my birthday, HONOR ME!" or anything like that. Of course I never like celebrations in my honor anyways, it's especially weird when it's new people around since they don't know me as well yet. That's a problem when I'm at a new location every year. And it's my 21, ¡qué horror! Sorry I'm not there in the States to party it up big time with you folks. Remember, it ain't a big deal here. Just had a drink an hour ago in the bar. Although, either have a drink for me tomorrow (those in the States) or have an EXTRA drink on your 21, and I'll buy you a round when I get back (or you buy me...I'll be straight up broke when I get back.....).

Rambling, as seems to be the usual with me. Well, at least I'll have plenty to remember this trip by when I look back at this blog.

First Photos!

Colegio de Malaga, originally uploaded by itsthinking.

Are up. Only my Flickr, which is linked to on the right, although for some reason my news photos aren't updating on the fun little side bar. Oh well. Click this one and it'll take you there as well.

Bean soup for lunch again today! Yay! ...

Tired constantly. Can't stress that enough. Had ten minutes before had to meet people...took a nap.

Went to the supermarket today. Almost died of happiness. Didn't help that it was before lunch and was starving. Everything looked AMAZING. Giant legs of pigs hanging there. Unpasturized milk. Coca Cola with CANE SUGAR in it. Delicious, having some right now actually at an internet café. CUARENTA Y TRES! Bottles of wine from 79 cents ($1.12). Almost cried. The other people in my group enjoy watching me anywhere there is food because I just go crazy. Even the simple bean soups here I don't mind. Usually. Eat a loaf of bread for every meal. Breakfast of instant coffee stirred into microwaved milk and galletas (cookies, which were very, very dry). Need to find a bocadillo joint.

Took a placement test today. Funny. Was from the University of Wisconsin...probably had taken it for retro placement. Easy enough. Going to be taking four courses. Decided not to take a university course second semester. I love Spain, but by May I know I'll be ready to come home and hang out with all of you guys, or at least the people that I miss (ha, love all you guys).

Learning a lot already here. Not just Spanish wise. The family life is completely different. Candela's grandchildren visit every day. Multiple times. Had lunch with them today. Was very quite for some reason. They like to play piano a lot, or at least Candela forces them too. Shower was interesting this morning. Forgot soap (bought some at the supermarket later). The showers here all have detachable heads. And sometimes don't have stands to put them in. So it's washing yourself one handed. End up writing in my journal often. Several pages a day (so they weren't a waste of money, mother). Often find myself throwing in Spanish words or wanting to write in Spanish. So I often do. Interesting to read, when I switch off and on mid sentence. Beginning to think in Spanish. Good news, I suppose. Will try to keep this in English, or at least half and half, so I don't forgot English.

Battery is dying, must go. Will try to get internet tonight. Friend gave me password to a signal I can get from my room. Hopefully it will work.

Hasta.

Realize photo is wider than post. Will fix that for future posts. Better to go to my Flickr anyways to see the photos at bigger sizes and such. Enjoy.

Wifi (pronounced WEE-FEE) troubles

Only got 12 minutes on my battery before it dies. Fast. Okay.

Met family today. Larger piso than I imagined. Very close to town center. Good lunch and dinner, if small. Has grandchildren whom I met today. Her son in Madrid visits every weekend. Her daughter in Alcalá visits much more. Just met her a few minutes ago.

Went to McDonalds in search of Wifi, Starbucks was closed. Bought a very shitty beer, Mahou, and the internet wouldn't even work on a Mac. Didn't even finish the beer. So now I'm at a internet café on Calle Mayor drinking another very bad beer (not as bad as Mahou though). At least this Wifi works.

So much to talk about, not much time.

Slept way too much today. Before lunch, after, before dinner. Very tired here. Had café with Samuel, fun times. Enjoying everything so far. Music in the Plaza Cervantes tonight. Haven't listened to my own music since the plane ride. Starting to miss the States a bit, or at least some people in it. The atmosphere here is wonderful, especially at night. More or less I feel very safe. I love strolling down the narrow corridors. Wonderful times. It can get a bit hot during the day, then again I'm a weakling when it comes to heat. Looking forward to winter, though I'm told it's very mild. Next to no snow.

First field trip is to Asturias. Exciting, up north. Oh wow, this is a horrible beer. I've had maybe a few ounces of my half liter. Want to meet more people. Have a feeling most Spaniards don't like us. Host mother said different, that plenty actually like Americans, at least more so than the French. Got to go, juice is running out. Once I have time I'll get back and type more.

Hasta luego (no one says adios here...)

Day Two

Second day of orientation. In the Hotel Campanile again. Almost 10 at night, ready to go to bed. Explored campus today, met some teachers, finally had some solid traditional Spanish meals. Lunch was melon y jamón serrano for the first plate then eggs and bacon (strange lunch, right?). All quite good. Dinner was a treat. Primer plato (first plate...I'm going to start introducing Spanish words to those who don't know) was paella. I think it was one of those frozen ones they heated up. Lukewarm at best. Didn't have quite the same taste as authentic paelle. Segundo plato was tortilla española. For those unaware--it's nothing like Mexican torillas. Think more omelet, or as Marisa (one of my fellow students) put it, tastes like scalloped potatoes. And finally for postre (dessert) I had my first café con leche in Spain. Decent. Still looking for a good café.

There is free WiFi everywhere in town. You can get it either at the McDonalds or the Starbucks that border the Plaza de Cervantes (the town's main square) or nearly anywhere else. Don't think it'll be a problem staying connected with everyone.

Heard about my host family today, which I'll be meeting tomorrow. The mother is Candela Esteban and the father is Jesús. Candela was born in 1937 and Jesús in 1931. They're a bit old, and have children living in Alcalá whom they visit often on the weekend. Candela teaches piano, I'm told there is one in the house. Also, they enjoy reading and cooking--good news for me, I'm dying for home-cooked Spanish meals. Haven't had a bocadillo yet save for the makeshift one I created from my serrano at lunch. Both born in Zamora, which is just west of Valladolid in Castilla y León. Looking forward to meeting them, hear they are very nice and Candela speaks perfect, yet slow Spanish, so I'll have an easier time understanding and learning from her. They live very near the Plaza Cervantes, which is basically the center of old Alcalá and very close to where I'll be studying. 

Everything is going well, just purchased a mobile phone today, a Movistar. Received calls, even from the States, are free..not going to post my number here though. If you really want to call me hit me up by email and I can send you the number.

Hope classes are going well for everyone back in the States. We start Monday here. End early December. Shorter semester for us, so--ha! I feel a bit like a freshman, lots of Spaniards are staring at us since we're in this group of 15 people wherever we go. Plus, we're Americans. Doesn't help. Two Spanish guys walked pasted today and (what I can only assume was sarcastically) said "¡Hola americanos!" Hoping what Matt told me about the Spaniards in Valladolid isn't true here in Alcalá--but I'm sure they don't enjoy a bunch of Americans invading their town every year like us in Madison don't enjoy (or at least make fun of) the freshman in town every year. For my third straight year out of high school I'm practically a froshie. Columbia, a real freshman, Madison a transfer, and now Alcalá, basically another transfer PLUS I'm American. ¿Qué divertido, no?

Enough for tonight. Although the café con leche I just had is keeping me up, I really should get some sleep--have almost worked off all that jet leg.

Llegado!

So here I am sitting in the Hotel Campanile in Alcalá de Henares, Spain!  Long flights but no trouble connecting in Madrid. Have had very little to eat in the past 24 hours or so. Looking forward to lunch in a bit, really want some tortilla española or jamón serrano. Definitely need coffee, going on only three hours of sleep during the plane ride. Meet a girl from Marquette who is studying in Madrid, was traveling with a large group of her classmates. Not too many people with CIEE in Alcalá. Only two other guys besides me. Was talking to this one girl, Rebeca, in the airport when we realized we were in the same group. She was born in France to an American mother and Spanish father (or the other way around) and lived the first ten years of her life in Spain. 

Don't move in with my family until Thursday. Lots of orientation stuff to go over the next few days. Mostly just want food and sleep right now, but it's only 1pm and we got the whole day ahead of us. Post more if I have time.

Saludos.