28 Septiembre 2007, Viernes
I woke up to the sound of “Like breakfast is at like, 8 so we like, have almost, like, an hour before like breakfast…” as our lovely roommates were discussing their morning eating rituals. Shivering in my one sheet, and drifting in and out of sleep, I finally climbed down from my lofty location on the top bunk to discover most of the backpackers had already started their day. Breakfast was toast with jam, and coffee one had to prepare for him/herself in the little kitchen. Everyone sat in a mutual morning grumpiness that transcended language barriers. As we waved goodbye (and good riddance really) to Melting Pot, Natalia and I headed to do some damage to our carteras (wallets) and help the Malaguenan economy. I bought some postcards and engaged the kiosk owner in conversation (he corrected me on my improper use of “para” DAMN por and para!) and he told us his whole life story, and the story of Malaga’s climate for the past twenty years, which was…nice. I also bought a copy of Anne Frank’s diary in Spanish, and a Spanish classic to enjoy during our many lengthy planned travels.
In one of the shops which was blasting house music, the tag line to the techno beat was a girl’s voice saying “My name is Melissa, I am sixteen years old” over and over…’nuf said.
After a morning of browsing, we decided to try out a “menu del dia” which is when you pay a set amount and choose between several options for lunch. I swear we wandered around for an hour before we found a tiny café called La Bueno Mano, for lunch. Again Rachael Ray would be proud…for 7.30 euros, I enjoyed bread, a drink, soup, grilled fish which was amazing, and a typical Spanish dessert. I don’t know what’s it’s called, but it’s a yellow custard with a little galleta (cookie) on top.
I bid goodbye to Malaga, and basically just passed out on the train ride back. Haha, quickly: Natalia and I tried on these shirts at the station that said “YOU, do no be so fascinated, that already I know that you like me.” In huge block letters….ohhh yeahh… For twenty minutes at home, I showered and ran to meet my parent’s friends by the cathedral to tapear and receive my new camera…
It was raining as I ran to meet them, and the first thing the typical Russian-Jewish mother noticed was my lack of umbrella, to which she told me she would inform my mother. (to which I replied “Ya ne saharnaya…” [im not made of sugar]). I took them to Cien Montaditos, the little place that is so popular all over Spain where you choose from over 100 different sandwiches, then El Patio Sevillano, the place Celeste took us. During our walks, I think I pointed out at least ten different heladerias/pastry shops…it’s obvious what I’ve been doing here…
We walked down Avenida Cristobal Colon, and finished at a tapas bar in Triana. They tried: 3 montaditos, patatas alioli, pimientos con atun, croquetas caseras, salmorejo, and gambas ajillos. It was really fun to show my city to someone else, and although it seems like I have only been here a week rather than a month, I had a lot to show.
Afterwards, I met Petra and her friend Diana for a stroll down Calle Betis in the moonlight which was the perfect ending to a Friday evening.
29 Septiembre 2007, Sabado
I packed my bag for the long-looked-forward to Chiclana beach weekend. Although the weather looked anything but beachy, I still wore a beach dress and was in high spirits. The drive to Chiclana was nice, and Natalia and I finished listening to the Malaga playlist I made on my Ipod. We arrived to the Vincci Resort and descended from the bus taking in the sea breeze. The resort was very nice, four stars I think, and we walked through the maze of rooms to find ours. It was perfect…a living, separate bedroom, bathroom, and beautiful balcony leading into a lawn and golf course. The weather was a bit foreboding, so we opted to eat our bocadillo lunch on the patio. After, Natalia, Petra and I did the first thing any sensible girls would do: we headed to the local Supermercado to load up on…junk food…. We wanted to hit the tiendas for a bit, but it was siesta and there really was no town…just the beach. We had café con leche and postres…delicious…my favorite postre is this chocolate covered crunchy croissant type thing. (im going on a diet as we speak).
We basked in the glory of nothingness and mingled with the others from our program on all of our porches. Though the afternoon was gross, we went to the glorious pool in the center of the resort. Braver than me, Petra and Natalia went in, as I took pictures poolside. In the evening we totally pigged out to the amazing buffet dinner….amazing, amazing….they had every kind of tapa imaginable along with meat, fish, french fries….everything! since there was no where to go really, we just hung out in our rooms and played silly games like movie titles charades (in espanol of course…dirty dancing=bailes sucios??)
I missed my family like crazy today because it was my nephew 5th birthday, and I can only imagine the crazy over the top shenanigans my brother and sister-in-law had planned for Elliot’s birthday party…
I woke up to the sound of “Like breakfast is at like, 8 so we like, have almost, like, an hour before like breakfast…” as our lovely roommates were discussing their morning eating rituals. Shivering in my one sheet, and drifting in and out of sleep, I finally climbed down from my lofty location on the top bunk to discover most of the backpackers had already started their day. Breakfast was toast with jam, and coffee one had to prepare for him/herself in the little kitchen. Everyone sat in a mutual morning grumpiness that transcended language barriers. As we waved goodbye (and good riddance really) to Melting Pot, Natalia and I headed to do some damage to our carteras (wallets) and help the Malaguenan economy. I bought some postcards and engaged the kiosk owner in conversation (he corrected me on my improper use of “para” DAMN por and para!) and he told us his whole life story, and the story of Malaga’s climate for the past twenty years, which was…nice. I also bought a copy of Anne Frank’s diary in Spanish, and a Spanish classic to enjoy during our many lengthy planned travels.
In one of the shops which was blasting house music, the tag line to the techno beat was a girl’s voice saying “My name is Melissa, I am sixteen years old” over and over…’nuf said.
After a morning of browsing, we decided to try out a “menu del dia” which is when you pay a set amount and choose between several options for lunch. I swear we wandered around for an hour before we found a tiny café called La Bueno Mano, for lunch. Again Rachael Ray would be proud…for 7.30 euros, I enjoyed bread, a drink, soup, grilled fish which was amazing, and a typical Spanish dessert. I don’t know what’s it’s called, but it’s a yellow custard with a little galleta (cookie) on top.
I bid goodbye to Malaga, and basically just passed out on the train ride back. Haha, quickly: Natalia and I tried on these shirts at the station that said “YOU, do no be so fascinated, that already I know that you like me.” In huge block letters….ohhh yeahh… For twenty minutes at home, I showered and ran to meet my parent’s friends by the cathedral to tapear and receive my new camera…
It was raining as I ran to meet them, and the first thing the typical Russian-Jewish mother noticed was my lack of umbrella, to which she told me she would inform my mother. (to which I replied “Ya ne saharnaya…” [im not made of sugar]). I took them to Cien Montaditos, the little place that is so popular all over Spain where you choose from over 100 different sandwiches, then El Patio Sevillano, the place Celeste took us. During our walks, I think I pointed out at least ten different heladerias/pastry shops…it’s obvious what I’ve been doing here…
We walked down Avenida Cristobal Colon, and finished at a tapas bar in Triana. They tried: 3 montaditos, patatas alioli, pimientos con atun, croquetas caseras, salmorejo, and gambas ajillos. It was really fun to show my city to someone else, and although it seems like I have only been here a week rather than a month, I had a lot to show.
Afterwards, I met Petra and her friend Diana for a stroll down Calle Betis in the moonlight which was the perfect ending to a Friday evening.
29 Septiembre 2007, Sabado
I packed my bag for the long-looked-forward to Chiclana beach weekend. Although the weather looked anything but beachy, I still wore a beach dress and was in high spirits. The drive to Chiclana was nice, and Natalia and I finished listening to the Malaga playlist I made on my Ipod. We arrived to the Vincci Resort and descended from the bus taking in the sea breeze. The resort was very nice, four stars I think, and we walked through the maze of rooms to find ours. It was perfect…a living, separate bedroom, bathroom, and beautiful balcony leading into a lawn and golf course. The weather was a bit foreboding, so we opted to eat our bocadillo lunch on the patio. After, Natalia, Petra and I did the first thing any sensible girls would do: we headed to the local Supermercado to load up on…junk food…. We wanted to hit the tiendas for a bit, but it was siesta and there really was no town…just the beach. We had café con leche and postres…delicious…my favorite postre is this chocolate covered crunchy croissant type thing. (im going on a diet as we speak).
We basked in the glory of nothingness and mingled with the others from our program on all of our porches. Though the afternoon was gross, we went to the glorious pool in the center of the resort. Braver than me, Petra and Natalia went in, as I took pictures poolside. In the evening we totally pigged out to the amazing buffet dinner….amazing, amazing….they had every kind of tapa imaginable along with meat, fish, french fries….everything! since there was no where to go really, we just hung out in our rooms and played silly games like movie titles charades (in espanol of course…dirty dancing=bailes sucios??)
I missed my family like crazy today because it was my nephew 5th birthday, and I can only imagine the crazy over the top shenanigans my brother and sister-in-law had planned for Elliot’s birthday party…
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