Saturday, June 27, 2009

SPAiN!!

As I type this.. we are slowly being tugged out of the Port of Cadiz, and saying goodbye to Spain :-(
 
Spain was wonderful and I absolutely loved it here!  Everything is just a lot more slowed down than in the US and one of my favorite parts is that the whole city shuts down for lunch and dinner.  Seriously, most shops are open from like 9:30-1:30 and then from 5-9:30 or so.. just because of lunch and dinner.  Lunch in Spain is a big deal and lasts from 2-4.. you don't have lunch in between 2 and 4, you are eating lunch from 2-4, the whole time.. and then dinner isn't until about 10:30, and most Spanish people won't go until atleast 11 for dinner.  It's funny how everything is open so late, and then in the morning you won't see many people until after noon, since after dinner (which won't end until about midnight) most people under 30 go out until 4, 5, 6 in the morning!!
 
The town of Cadiz was amazing!  There is some really pretty buildings, landscapes and architecture here, and a lot of littles streets filled with shops and cafe's.  I am really going to miss sitting outside at a cafe.. that's all anyone does here!  Where all the cafe's are, nobody can really drive, so there are tables and chairs everywhere in the streets and it's kind of unheard of to be eating inside... not unheard of i guess, it's just so normal to sit outside.. but its so different than the outside seating in America.. the restaurants don't have fenced-in areas designed for eating.. there are just tables and chairs set up wherever there is room and most cafes set-ups flow into each others, and it's no big deal!
 
Eating in Spain was alright, a lot of seafood, which I don't like, but the food I did have was good.. and the desserts here are soooo good as well as the ice cream! yumm!  Also.. the famous drink of Spain is Sangria, which I had a few times at lunch and dinner, and that is deeelicious!  One of my favorite things here, though, was "chocolate churros" which are more of a breakfast food, but are served all day.. they are skinny sticks of deep-fried dough, and you put some sugar on them.. and then you get a cup of something like hot cocoa, but thicker, that you dip them in and eat them! ahh! sooo good.. another one of Spain's specialities!
 
Yesterday and today, I found myself at the beach for a little bit each time.. and let's just say the dress code at the beaches here is a lot different than in America.  it's no uncommon to see women without a top on.. actually it is pretty common for them to not be wearing one, and nobody thinks anything of it.. well except for tourists! so, that was interesting.. but the water was warm and very pretty, and we're still in the atlantic ocean not even in the mediterranean yet!  Today's beach we went to was the same beach/water where they filmed the part of the james bond movie with the famous scene of Halle Berry walking out of the water in her suit... yeah I was in that water and on that same exact beach!! the local boys will only talk about seeing halle berry in a bikini.. not about james bond at all! it's kind of funny especially because everyone thinks that was filmed in Cuba, when really it was right here, on a beach of cadiz!
 
It's sad to be leaving Spain because it was such a great country and the fact that I have finally managed to find my way around Cadiz, and now we are leaving.. and I will be having to find my way around Italy next!!  So, to sum things up: I loved Spain and want to come back!  I'm sure I missed a few things about what i did/saw.. so I will be posting when I remember them!
 
Now, it's back to reality called school tomorrow :-(  3 days of class, 2 essays and a midterm, and then ITALY!! Atleast we will be entering the Mediterranean Sea soon!!! Ohh.. and this morning from like 5-11am, we have to stop in Gilbraltor (I think it's still spain!?) to get more fuel.. so atleast I will get one last look of Spain in the morning before we head out for good!!!
 
PS.. If you're reading this and want actual emails from me, post your email in a comment so i can have it and email you!

1 comment:

  1. I LOVE CAFES.. they are probably one of the things I miss most about Europe.

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