Keep em coming! Hey Chellio, I LOVE reading your blog. I agree with the other comments- I want to turn the page:) Little Pedrito sounds like he adores you. How sweet. You have a way with the little ones. I can't wait to hear more! We love you! Jilly
Hooray for Meech-ell! I love it. The only part I don't love is that there's not another entry for me to read right this very minute! I want to turn the page to see what our heroine does next. I guess the cliffhanger is the allure of a series, whether it's Regina's El Tormento or your wonderful weblog!
TINTO SEE WHAT I PICKED UP ON..RED WINE! WHAT A FABULOUS JOURNAL..KEEP THEM COMING; I LOVED READING ABOUT CAST AND SCENE. YOU WRITE SO COLORFULLY I CAN ALMOST SEE THE CAST AND HEAR THEM SPEAKING.
GOOD FOR YOU ON THE SPANISH CLASSES.
Oops! I bet you Tenga Verguenza depuis saying that "Yo estoy embarazada." I've made the mistake myself in Portugues - except you get even stranger looks when you say this as a guy! Cheers Chellio!
good words everyone should know Hey, I'm glad that insults in spain are virually identical to mexico. Your pictures look great and I hope you continue to have fun. Dont forget to talk to the local boys and teach them some palabras cochinas en Ingles. I'll keep check in on you from time to time dog. See you later Michellio
'embarrassing' phrases Here's one I learned the hard way: If you want to say your embarrassed, DON'T say "Estoy embarazada", which means "I'm pregnant". "Tengo verguenza" is more appropriate!
Oh yeah - here's a weird one. As far as I know, there's not a separate word for "borrow" in Spanish. To lend is 'prestar' and to borrow is 'tomar prestado'.
i heart campers! Michelle- sounds like you're finding your rhythm and enjoying the sites. I'm really enjoying the journal- at least I get a momentary lapse into the world of the traveller, and you set the scene so fantastically!
I wouldn't worry so much about hitting the american chains-- every once in a while they can be lifesavers for milkshakes and public bathrooms. BTW, what is a tinto?
Good luck as you settle in and break in those new campers!
Molly
sounds great! Oh Chellio! It sounds like a great time. That Regina is going to love Americans after she gets to know you. I LOVE being able to read all that you are doing. You, by the way, are a wonderful writer..I can't wait to read more. Love you!!! Jilly Jill
Sola You would be wise to travel at night in groups. I do recall that being an issue. Same thing as if you were in NYC or parts of LA or San Fran vesus, say, Denver or Seattle. I do not miss the whole no breakfast hypoglycemic crash that happened to me on a daily basis the whole time I was there. I would scrounge around for anything. I wound up keeping some whole wheat biscuits in my room that I picked up at the local supermarket. Those usually kept me going until 3PM or whenever I could actually get some food in me. I also had a hard time with the 10PM dinner. If I were to go again, I would eat a susbstantial late meal in hopes that I would not feel so bad by mid morning the next day.
Draw and sketch away! Don't forget to go to Figeures for the Dali museum! If you want to see some bike racing, The Veulta isn't until August but I'll bet you could take a weekend trip to The Basque country and see greats like Ivan Mayo in local races.
Prado! Aha! I knew it was free on Sundays. Sometimes my memory surprises me. I think it was Goya who went completely nuts. lived in this little shack and painted the walls with very creepy paintings like "The Goat"- which really looks like Satan. Anyway, after his suicide (?), the-powers-that-be scraped these paintings from the walls of the house and installed them in a basement room in the Prado. The only other time I have been more scared by something was the time I stayed in what I believed was a haunted house. Anyway, these paintings are worth a look but go mentally prepared (I wasn't) or you will have the heebie-jeebies for the rest of the day.
Retail Therapy "Retail Therapy": What a great verbal description; I might have to borrow it. Wishing I could see those great paintings in the Prado but not the 4 hours of walking!! Keep the homefolks posted as we eagerly await the next chapter of Blog.
Culture Shock Sounds like you are 'diggin' yourself right in there getting acclimated. Perhaps you can stockpile some snacks to get you through to the late lunch! This travelblog is a great way to share your experiences. I will be checking frequently. Viva la American breakfast.
I will be looking foreward to comments on the Prado.
Viva Espana! I can't do the upside down exclamation but oh well. Your certainly soaking in the culture of Madrid by now. I hope you are having a good time and staying out of trouble :). Don't forget hang out on the Plaza Mayor downtown and watch the artists. Careful with the Gypsys, though. They will take your money in no time flat. Cheers and have fun. I will check back later for more bloggage.
You go girl Michelle- You are going to have so much fun. Sounds like a great program, and I can't wait to read about your adventures. Don't worry- even if your Spanish is lousy, you'll be able to speak to other travellers in English (and French?). And after three months- you'll be able to hack out a conversation with the best of them! I'm so jealous. Anyways- have a great trip over and enjoy- you deserve it!
Molly
I'm killing a few months between grad school and med school. I'm staying with a family in Madrid, teaching them English in exchange for room and board. Good deal, eh?... full info
Rob
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Oh Michellio!
Thank you so much for sharing these magic moments with us. You transported me away for a few moments to a world of dreams. :-)