Last Friday I went on a trip to a nearby island to go snorkeling. The boat ride was a good time, and the view was beautiful! It was nice to relax in the sun! Unfortunately, many people were stung by the jellyfish invading the water. I did not, but I had some come close! We ate a delicious meal of different types of tortilla (sort of like a gigantic omelet) and a glass of sangria (a drink with wine and juice). What a day!
On Saturday morning, Paqui, Olivia, Rachel, and I headed to a market to buy some clothes. Everything was so cheap! I got some shirts and dresses for 3 euros! Paqui is the most aggressive woman I know, and I was amazed at here ability to talk any vender down 2-3 euros! As soon as we got home, we headed out to the country house in Guardamar. We made homemade sangria for the next day, and it was amazing! It was so hot out that Olivia, Rachel, and I slept on the hamacas (hammocks) after comida (lunch) until seven or eight in the evening. The house there is adorable, and I LOVED having a break from the city! That evening we got a little crazy when it cooled down.
The next morning we got up and went to yet ANOTHER market, this time in Guardamar. This was my favorite because the prices were lower and there was more shade. I was proud when I caught a vender giving me only 2 euros instead of 4 for my change! When we got back, the family started arriving for the birthday party! I had so much fun with the family! It was good practice to speak with so many different Spanish speakers. Also, I was surprised at how much I already felt like part of the family. Olivia and I played with Paula on the hammock for a long time, and it was SO much fun! She gets a kick out of our grammar mistakes, and we get a kick out of her personality. For cena we had a ton of paella (a rice dish-super popular here) and sangria. After the family left, Paqui took us girls on a walk through the country. The roads there are much narrower, and there are a LOT of huge dogs without leashes... it was a little different from the country roads I know. I wish there were lemon trees in Nebraska, though, because they are so beautiful! We headed back after supper.
Monday class was pretty normal, but the bus ride home took an hour and a half... Las Hogueras (the biggest festival of the year in Alicante) had begun! At 2 p.m. I went to see the mascletás with Olivia and Paqui, and I was blown away! I almost started crying when the people clapped along to the overwhelmingly loud explosions. There are hogueras (big statues made of wood and paper mache) set up everywhere, and entire streets are blocked off for barracas (closed in areas for neighborhoods with music, food, and drink... families have to pay about 600 euros to be a part of one for four days!). I headed to the beach for the evening, then went out to experience the festival for a few hours. I decided to get a good night's sleep while I could... the festival had only begun!
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a good day. The mascletás at 2 p.m. were even louder and more impressive! I went to the beach after lunch and laid in the sun for a few hours. Then I went to dance class where we learned some more salsa moves. After supper, I headed into the city to get ice cream and see more of the festival. There are more people every night!
Today I had three subsitute teachers in my class because my teacher was gone. After I got home from school, I saw the mascletás, and they were so powerful! Ever since comida I have been trying to fight off this cold with a little relaxing because we are going out ALL night tonight-no class tomorrow!
My room in the country!
Making sangria with Papa Jose!
Ahh... looks so good!
Feeding the chickens and ducks... someone's gotta do the work around here!
Lemons!
Mmm... paella!
Mama Paqui hid here on the windowsill to scare me!
Pictures of Las Hogueras to come!!!
I wish that there were trees in Nebraska...
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