And so it is, tomorrow evening I embark on a 12 hour bus ride to Barcelona where the following morning I board a long long plane ride to plant my feet upon american soil once again. Que va.... [View Full Entry]

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Word Association Game Part I: "SPAIN" "FLAMENCO!!" "GYPSYS WITH ROSEMARY, para suerte con amor!!!" "OLIVES!!!" "DRY AND HOTTER THAN HELL!!" "LADYS IN POLKA DOT DRESSES" "OLE!" "BULLFIGHTS!!" "WINE!!" "SIESTA!!" "CASTANETS!!" "MADRID!!" "PICASSO!!" "GAUDI!!" "BEAUTIFUL WOMEN" "EURO-MULLET!!" "BICI'S!!!" "ALHAMBRA= THE BEER ANDDD THE PALACE" "TORTILLA AND OR PAELLA!!" "JAMóN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" "TAPAS" , eagerly shout my prodigious students. "Very good" I say, positive reaffirmation, they have done their homework it seems. Above are some examples of things people think of when they think of SPAIN. It is all true, to various degrees. But most of that is Andalusian imagery. And a completely other world [View Full Entry]

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Finally, a bit of work. I feel like I have a purpose when there is work to be done. Today, Juan Carlos is trusting me enough to cook lunch ALL BY MYSELF. Mostly, I doubt myself more when i sense that other people are doubting me. I don't blame him though, for being a good experienced cook who likes to eat well. I am merely a 20 year old nina who can only prepare a few different dishes such as carne asada that will bring a grown man to tears, and gazpacho. Both very time consuming. after lunch, i will go [View Full Entry]

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So here I am in Barzana, Quiros, Asturias, Spain. haha. WWOOFing. It is very tranquil and I am living in an old house with owls as upstairs neighbors. Literally right off a tiny highway tucked inbetween mountains on each side. GREEN LUSH MOUNTAINS a sight for the eyes. perhaps even a feast Today I cleaned the house and plan to cook dinner. I am going to the store in a minute to purchase tomatoes and lettuce for a salad. I have been briefed on the fact that I will be asked many questions as the few townsfolk that exist here are [View Full Entry]

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With this final drive along the northern coast to San Sebastian we bid Spain goodbye. Our two-week tour of this most amazing country has drawn to a close. We will meet up with our French tour manager this afternoon and begin a journey to the French Riviera. This is the first overcast morning we have encountered, and it feels appropriate, for I am truly sad to leave Spain. The mountains around me are drenched in mist and the rolling hills are damp with morning moisture - it feels as if Spain is grieving our departure… Groups of overfed white sheep appear [View Full Entry]

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My travelling companions, Sandi Heath and Lynne Rose, and I finally found an internet cafe in Spain. And, guess who we found inside it clacking away? My lovely friends, Jim and Linda Lequesne. We last saw them a few days ago in Bilbao and then went our separate ways. I wonder what the odds are of finding friends at 8:30 p.m. without having made arrangements to do so? Higher than I think? Anyway, it was good to connect and share a story or two. England for 22 hours was great. Lynne and I dashed to Wimbledon for a cup of tea [View Full Entry]

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See text in "English" below 16 de enero de 2008 Cuando salgo del albergue está lloviendo y todo está muy oscuro. No importa que haya alerta naranja en toda Castilla y León por viento y lluvia, yo circulo, sigo para adelante. Dejo a Joe y a los coreanos durmiendo como angelitos y me dice la chica de la recepción: "¿Pero como sales para Astorga, si está el tiempo muy mal?" -"Que sí, que sí, que voy poco a poco y llego" Me vuelve a repetir una señora que trabaja allí limpiando: "¿Pero como sales ahora con la bici, si hay alerta [View Full Entry]

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Las despedidas como todas no son fáciles y sobre todo cuando son para tanto tiempo. Por eso nos gustó mucho despedirnos con vosotr@s comiendo, bebiendo y riendo que es lo que más nos gusta. Del abuelo de Vanesa y su familia nos despedimos en una comilona en su pueblo Piedraceda en Pola de Lena. Sencillamente estuvo genial. Para despedirnos de padres, madres, hermanos y hermanas, como no, otra comilona en "El Bodegón". Mirar que familia tan hermosa. Ahí queda esa foto para la posteridad. Finalmente quedaba toda la infantería y que mejor que con la última comilona y una buena fiesta. [View Full Entry]

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Here we are. After waiting for so long for this moment, it has finally arrived. The final arrangements to ship all our stuff to Spain and the packing of whatever was left in the car is done and dusted. We left Brighton on the 14 October with tears in our eyes, the saddest was to leave some good friends behind. We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao. We had good weather and the crossing went well, we even were lucky enough to see some dolphins. We arrived in Bilbao on the 16 and drove down to Avilès. The car was [View Full Entry]

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Estas son algunas fotografías de nosotros antes de coger las maletas. La verdad es que esta entrada nos ha quedado muy ñoña, pero a nosotros nos gusta . Fueron momentos muy especiales y de esta forma los recordamos con frecuencia. Además nos encanta compartirlos con vosotr@s. [View Full Entry]

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