SCENES FROM WORLD CUP 2010

                                           

Da' Plane

Over the past ten years Miguel and I have traveled the United States/ Western Europe flights countless times. We have the routine down pat. Always keep calm and an open mind. For instance more often then not your luggage arrives well after you arrive to your destination. East coast International  airports are harsh places, relax and try to enjoy the humiliation that the TSA puts you through. European airlines are far superior in service but more expensive then American airline companies. Pack light because there is not much worse then lugging a 50 pound suitcase up three flights of stairs under a subway station, and their is nothing that you can't purchase that you may need. Taxi's are a ridiculous waste of money when public transportation is so readily available and economical. (footnote; the subway from the airport to city center in Madrid is 2 euros, the subway from airport to city center in Paris is 18 euros.)

The Fish Truck

I adore that home delivery and personal service are still in existence in places. I have previously posted how the local grocer delivers fresh bread and any other items that my mother in law requires daily. In addition  is the  local fish truck that comes through several times a week. I watch from the local bar as the truck pulls in and lays on the ever present horn that Europeans simply can not drive without.In no time at all the Spanish housewives pour from their apartments and stand in line to view the fare of fresh seafood. This is normal life to these ladies but it's picture worthy to a farm girl from Kansas.

Piquero! Piquero!

This is my amigo Piquero. I have been watching him goal tend for many summers in Spain.He is amazing to watch and has his own fan club in Veguin.. People yell Piquero! Piquero! Before he was my friend he offered me a taste of his dinner once in a bar. After I tried it I learned it was horse meat..... If you ever find yourself in Tudella Veguin during the month of June, take time to watch a futbolista game before my friend retires!

Creepers Jeepers

Random creepy bar patron , every country has one.

No fumar!

This is a photo I took of an actual pack of cigarettes in Spain. "Smoking shortens your life." The no smoking ban in Spain took place at the beginning of this year and it is WONDERFUL!  If Spain can make this law work, any country, anybody can quit!

Bigaros

 Last night my husband Miguel and I met Fernando and Chari for a few ( quite a few) bottles of sidra and then dinner. I've said before that Spaniards are famous for eating lunch and dinner very late. In fact we got done with our meal around 12:30 am. Dinner was stupendous and I was able to try bigaros (sea snails) for the first time. I have eaten escargot in France before, but these are totally different. As my friend put it, "they taste like the sea".

Miguel in the Chestnut Forest

My friend Fernando always try's to incorporate a learning lesson in all things new he shows me. As we walked through Las Medulas he told me about how the Romans mined the mountains for gold using slaves to dig tunnels and then pumping water through the mines, thus collapsing the mountains and usually killing the expendable slaves trapped inside. He pointed out massive and majestic chestnut trees that were introduced by the Romans in order to feed the thousands of slaves. I ALWAYS get somber when I am told a story like this,  as I am under no illusion what so ever that I would have been one of these slave laborers had I been born 2000 years ago. Today's lesson .... Count my many blessings as I am so fortunate!

Un paseo por Bueño

My very good friend Goyo picked me up in his Citroën after breakfast yesterday. Our mission was to seek out a cider bar that was in a Spanish movie filmed in this area. The movie is" Ashes from the Sky".....anyway we never really found the actual bar but we DID drink a lot of cider! I am so glad I remembered my camera, as you can see from the photos below... you don't walk through villages like this every day!  

Excursion to Roman Gold Mines

Yesterday our best friends Fernando and Chari  picked us up in their big awesome car and off we went on a day long journey to Castille Leon in search of gold ....Actually the Romans mined all the gold 2000 years ago, but I kept my eye out all the same!

                                             
                                            Farmacia in Spain : )

                                             Pharmacy in United States : (

yeah, Toledo pissed me off...

And still making fun of the city that tried to squeeze me of my last dime....and succeeded in putting me in a horrible mood for at least 10 minutes..

Toledo es muy caro....

I  really really wanted to love Toledo Spain. It is possible that I can blame it on PMS, but I dont think so. I could say with certainty that the THING that really pissed me off is that : THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TRIED TO MAKE ME PAY 20.00 DOLLARS TO WALK INSIDE THEIR CATHEDRAL!!! PUTA MADRE. And they were rude as hell about it. So maybe its just me but I so refuse to pay money to the richest hypocrites in the world.

I am ALIVE AGAIN

Anyone that knows me well, (or not) knows that I am with the socialist party in the United States and Spain. This was taken in Madrid Spain at Puerta del Sol. Sadly I had to leave Madrid to travel north to Asturias, but I plan on spending time with the protesters at the end of June.

Spanish Revolution 2011