OH MY GOSH. I have to blog about this one... So, in Boone there is a restaurant called Macado's (for all of you who do not know the magicalness of said establishment, we need to change that). On Mondays, there are chicken wings in like 12 different sauces for $0.29 a piece. And they are SO GOOD. Well, tonight, I found a place in Sevilla, that is the Spanish version of Macado's. My friend Landon and I decided that we need to keep the tradition of "wing night" or the "two-for-one-appetizer" Thursday night by creating our own in Spain. Tonight, I found our restaurant.
Let me introduce you to, "Cien Montaditos." Cien is Spanish for 100 and a montadito is basically a small Spanish sub sandwich. Yes... they have 100 different kinds of these little sandwiches. They are all between 1 and 2 euro, so like $1.50-3.00. They also have tinto de verano for 1.5 euro and the glass is "American" sized (thank you for the term Rob, it is very appropriate) instead of "Spanish" sized. So you get more bang for your buck basically. You can leave spending 5 euro for your whole meal, including the alcohol. And in Spain, you don't give a tip, so its like $7 flat.
Cien Montaditos is right next to la Universidad de Sevilla (not my school, but another in the city) so that makes it even more like Macado's. They even have ice-cream for desert. It's amazing.
Maybe we will have Los Montaditos Miercoles? In any case... los montaditos son ricos!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wait, what was I saying?
BIENVENIDOS A ESPANA!
So, I'm in Spain. I got to Sevilla at 12:30pm yesterday, so that would be like... 6:30am in the States. I was traveling with my friend Emily who also goes to App. One of our Spanish friends who lives in Madrid picked us up from the airport in Madrid (muchisimas gracias Christina!) and dropped me off at the train station. I took the train to Sevilla with my two massive maletas (suitcases). Each one weighed 50lbs, yes, I know, it was ridiculous. My room mate, Carmen, and her boyfriend, Jose, were there to meet me in Sevilla.
My apartment is in a perfect location. It's close to a lot of restaurants and shops. Its about a 15-20 minute walk to get to the main part of the city and the train station is like a 5-10 minute drive away.
I can already tell that my Spanish is getting better. Its hard to go back and forth between English and Spanish. Carmen speaks English almost fluently so it is easy to talk to her in English, but even when I do I try to think of how to say things in Spanish, so I might as well just talk to her in Spanish, you know? My other room mate, Irma is from Lithuania. She speaks Lithuanian, Russian and Spanish but hardly any English, which will definitely help my Spanish. Who knows, maybe I can learn some Russian too! Over lunch today I was talking to Carmen about something and I had to explain something in English because I didn't know how to say it in Spanish and by the time I figured out how to say it in Spanish I forgot why I needed to say the phrase. It was hilarious. But anyway, I expect more moments like that in the next few weeks.
The vocab in Spain is a lot different than in Latin American countries. For example, yesterday I told Carmen that I like her "anteojos de sol" but in Spain you say, "gafas de sol." So that should be fun, learning new vocab and the accent and the vosotros form (kind of like saying "y'all" in south).
Yesterday after I took a nap, we went to the store, I got a phone and some other things like bed sheets and towels and all that crap. My phone is amazing! It's a pay as you go smart phone, who knew they had those? Then we had dinner, at 10pm, which is normal dinner time here. I had tapas y un tinto de verano con limon! We had ham croquets and manchego cheese puffs and fried cod. Tinto de verano con limon is basically red wine with sprite and a little lemon. I know, I know... I thought the same thing the first time I had it, red wine and sprite?! But its delicious. And, apparently, whenever someone wins a futbol game, a restaurant will give out free shots. So I had some limoncello and some gummies after dinner. Drinking is much more of a social thing in Spain.
I woke up at 2pm today, Carmen made coffee and lunch (Spanish coffee is so much better than American coffee, lo siento). Then I finished unpacking and Carmen took a nap, well, is taking a nap. This afternoon (mind you it is already 6pm) we are going to explore the city and Carmen is going to show me some important places. Nothing in Spain is open on Sundays. Nada. So tomorrow we are going to go shopping, open my bank account, etc etc. Emily comes in tomorrow too so we will pick her up at the train station too.
Oh Spain... I am already in love with you.
Besos :)
So, I'm in Spain. I got to Sevilla at 12:30pm yesterday, so that would be like... 6:30am in the States. I was traveling with my friend Emily who also goes to App. One of our Spanish friends who lives in Madrid picked us up from the airport in Madrid (muchisimas gracias Christina!) and dropped me off at the train station. I took the train to Sevilla with my two massive maletas (suitcases). Each one weighed 50lbs, yes, I know, it was ridiculous. My room mate, Carmen, and her boyfriend, Jose, were there to meet me in Sevilla.
My apartment is in a perfect location. It's close to a lot of restaurants and shops. Its about a 15-20 minute walk to get to the main part of the city and the train station is like a 5-10 minute drive away.
I can already tell that my Spanish is getting better. Its hard to go back and forth between English and Spanish. Carmen speaks English almost fluently so it is easy to talk to her in English, but even when I do I try to think of how to say things in Spanish, so I might as well just talk to her in Spanish, you know? My other room mate, Irma is from Lithuania. She speaks Lithuanian, Russian and Spanish but hardly any English, which will definitely help my Spanish. Who knows, maybe I can learn some Russian too! Over lunch today I was talking to Carmen about something and I had to explain something in English because I didn't know how to say it in Spanish and by the time I figured out how to say it in Spanish I forgot why I needed to say the phrase. It was hilarious. But anyway, I expect more moments like that in the next few weeks.
The vocab in Spain is a lot different than in Latin American countries. For example, yesterday I told Carmen that I like her "anteojos de sol" but in Spain you say, "gafas de sol." So that should be fun, learning new vocab and the accent and the vosotros form (kind of like saying "y'all" in south).
Yesterday after I took a nap, we went to the store, I got a phone and some other things like bed sheets and towels and all that crap. My phone is amazing! It's a pay as you go smart phone, who knew they had those? Then we had dinner, at 10pm, which is normal dinner time here. I had tapas y un tinto de verano con limon! We had ham croquets and manchego cheese puffs and fried cod. Tinto de verano con limon is basically red wine with sprite and a little lemon. I know, I know... I thought the same thing the first time I had it, red wine and sprite?! But its delicious. And, apparently, whenever someone wins a futbol game, a restaurant will give out free shots. So I had some limoncello and some gummies after dinner. Drinking is much more of a social thing in Spain.
I woke up at 2pm today, Carmen made coffee and lunch (Spanish coffee is so much better than American coffee, lo siento). Then I finished unpacking and Carmen took a nap, well, is taking a nap. This afternoon (mind you it is already 6pm) we are going to explore the city and Carmen is going to show me some important places. Nothing in Spain is open on Sundays. Nada. So tomorrow we are going to go shopping, open my bank account, etc etc. Emily comes in tomorrow too so we will pick her up at the train station too.
Oh Spain... I am already in love with you.
Besos :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Carpe diem, ladies and gents!
Today's the day! I'm off to Spain. You can bet your bottom dollar that at 4:25 this afternoon my heart will be beating like a racehorse. Around 12:30am (our time of course) I will be in Madrid, and by 2 or 3pm Spain time (quick! do math!) I will be in my apartment, with my lovely room mate and about to crash land into my bed.
It's been a great summer, one of the best I've had in a long time. Now, its time to get my Europe scene on!
Send me skype names, if I don't have your's already.
Paz.
It's been a great summer, one of the best I've had in a long time. Now, its time to get my Europe scene on!
Send me skype names, if I don't have your's already.
Paz.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Oh boy...
Alright kiddos, this is my last weekend in the States. Kinda weird? Over breakfast this morning with the parents (we went to the Flying Biscuit, if you haven't been, go now!) I decided that come Friday, I'm going to be more than ready to be in Sevilla. Anticipation kills me.
Yesterday was my last day at the USNWC. It was a good run. Nothing like the smell of booties in the morning!
This week is going to be full of shopping, doctor appointments, a spa day at Aveda (another place you should check out if you haven't already), packing, packing, packing. Oh, and picking up a few things for my companera de piso (roomie). She wants Wonka candy, pancake mix and cigarettes, I thought that was cute. I also need to pick up a jar of PB, because even though I could bathe in Nutella, I know I will miss my peanut butter.
The flight leaves at 4:25pm on Friday.... I should be in Madrid by midnight our time, or 6am their time, yeah, talk about jetlag and in Sevilla before the siesta (you know I'm looking forward to those). Should be good times.
Keep it real :)
Yesterday was my last day at the USNWC. It was a good run. Nothing like the smell of booties in the morning!
This week is going to be full of shopping, doctor appointments, a spa day at Aveda (another place you should check out if you haven't already), packing, packing, packing. Oh, and picking up a few things for my companera de piso (roomie). She wants Wonka candy, pancake mix and cigarettes, I thought that was cute. I also need to pick up a jar of PB, because even though I could bathe in Nutella, I know I will miss my peanut butter.
The flight leaves at 4:25pm on Friday.... I should be in Madrid by midnight our time, or 6am their time, yeah, talk about jetlag and in Sevilla before the siesta (you know I'm looking forward to those). Should be good times.
Keep it real :)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
It's my party dance if I want to...
Last night was my going away party. I must say, I did not shed one tear, I am quite proud of myself. Family came in from out of town, so did a few friends, we had Spanish tapas and sangria, played bingo, had an pinata (totally a Mexican thing, but who doesn't love a good pinata?). You really can't go wrong with that combination.
We had flamenco music playing through the house last night, so I have another goal to add for my time in Spain. Buy castanets for my "History of Flamenco" class and learn how to dance flamenco. I mean, it originated in Sevilla for heaven's sakes. I'm gonna do it.
It was a really fun party. I got some practical things which will be very useful in Spain. Emily brought me a few things from Raleigh. I do love surprises :)
Thanks to everyone who came out, it really meant a lot. All you in Boone, Raleigh and Ohio, see you at Christmas!
Besos para todos!
Friday, August 5, 2011
A little twinkle, tingle, pitter and a patter.
So, every day when I drive to work I pass the airport. It's pretty cool seeing all the planes coming in and landing. As I am driving sometimes I see 3 or 4 little lights up in the sky and watch then get closer and closer until they land. The past few nights I have had to stay at work until close, meaning like 8:30 or 9 at night. I have learned that the planes follow the same schedule for the most part. There is usually a big flight that comes in around 8:45 every night and then about 3 or 4 smaller flights that come in around 12 or 1 every afternoon. The landing strip runs parallel with 485 (the interstate I take home). So at night, when the 8:45 flight gets in, the plane literally lands right next to my car (at least it looks like it is). It's a pretty cool sight to see, I must say. When I see those planes, of course I think about Spain, considering that in exactly 3 weeks from today I will be getting on one of them big steel birds and flying over the ocean. I get a little twinkle in my eye, a tingle in my feet and a pitter patter in my heart. Then I smile real big and just keep on driving.
Darn tootin! 3 weeks from today. Baaahhhh!!
Darn tootin! 3 weeks from today. Baaahhhh!!
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