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Published: October 29th 2011
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011
When we got back to Cádiz on the 23rd we went to La Hotel Victoria so Mom and Dad could check in and put their backpacks down. Naturally, everything except for a few restaurants was closed down because it was Sunday, but we walked around so I could show them New Cádiz. We ran into what I would consider the Spanish equivalent of tailgating. There was a Cádiz soccer game tonight so everyone was dressed in yellow and blue jerseys.
We headed back towards their hotel so we could walk along the shore while the sun was setting. It was cloudy so it wasn’t the ideal day to watch the sunset, but it was still pretty. We couldn’t settle on a place to eat in new Cádiz so I suggested that we go back to old Cádiz and eat in one of the plazas. We ended up at La Ristorante Francia, where my dad proceeded to order Sepia, which was almost unbearable to look at, much less than eat. He is a trooper for eating the majority of it without complaint. I thought Mom was going to vomit just looking at the tentacles in the
plate! I am very proud of both of them for stepping so far outside their comfort zones this week and trying so many new things.
After dinner they walked back to my house with me so they could get their suitcases. I am proud to say that they found their way back to their hotel without any problems! I can’t say that I would have been able to do the same my first week here.
Monday, October 24th, 2011
I had class this morning, but afterwards I took a bus to Mom and Dad’s hotel to meet up with them for some shopping. It rains probably less than 5 times a year in Cádiz and yet somehow it rains when Mom and Dad are here! I was really disappointed they didn’t get to spend the day on the beach like we had planned. We walked around new Cádiz going to a few stores here and there, but I don’t know my way around that area as much so I didn’t know of anywhere specific to go. During siesta time, we went to old Cádiz to have a little snack at my favorite café. The café is close to
my house, has a bathroom, free wifi, and the workers are unbelievably nice… what more could you ask for?
Afterwards we did a little bit of shopping in old Cádiz, which poor dad didn’t seem to enjoy very much. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot to do in Cádiz when it is raining so our options were limited. Eventually it was meal time once again and we met up with Hayley and went on a hunt for a place to eat. We attempted to go to La Gorda de Comer, which was recommended to us by a few people, but it is closed on Mondays. Instead, we ended up at a tapas restaurant that we had passed earlier in the day. We each ordered three tapas. The first tapa was Bricks de queso, which tasted kind of like a mozzarella stick. The second was tender beef and French fries in a creamy sauce. The third was chicken in another creamy sauce. All of them were very good.
After dinner, there was a significant moment for me, because my parents finally got to meet the other API members (with the exception of Susan who had plans already). Mom and Dad
bought ice cream for everyone and got to talk to the people that they had heard so much about. I am glad they could finally put faces to their names and I know that my friends were really excited to meet my parents as well. Everything went really well. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay for an incredibly long time to hang out because we all had to get up in the morning for class, but the time we had together was wonderful. I walked Mom and Dad to the nearest bus stop only to find out that the bus they needed to be on was no longer running for the night. They ended up on a random bus (the only one that was still running) that took them to a familiar area from which they found their way to their hotel without problems—thank God. I thought I was going to have heart attack because I was so worried that they were going to get lost.
Tuesday October 25th, 2011
Today was my parents last full day here. I am sad to see them leave so soon. They explored the fish market and checked into their next hotel while I was
in class until 2. They thought the fish market was awesome. At 2:30, they came to my house to have lunch with Josefa, Hayley, Milagros and I. They finally got to meet Arturo, Josefa’s 20 year old son and the only family member they had not met the night they met the first time they came over. Josefa cooked Puchero, a typical Andalucían dish that cannot be found at a restaurant. They both really enjoyed it, especially Mom! It is difficult to obtain all of the ingredients to make it in the United States, but Josefa said she is going to send some home with me. For dessert we had a fruit that I have never seen before called a chirimoya. It was roughly the size of a large pear with a green exterior and a soft mushy yellow interior. It was really sweet and tasted like a cross between a peach and a pear. It meant a lot to me that my parents were able to experience a typical meal with my Cádiz family.
After lunch we walked around the town and went into a few shops. We ended up watching the sunset on the beach by the lighthouse
near my house (La Coleta) and it was beautiful. My parents finally got to see how beautiful Cádiz usually is without the rain. On our way to La Gorda de Comer, we stumbled upon a small church, hidden in the tangle of streets and went inside to observe a Spanish mass. It was beautiful and I enjoyed really enjoyed it. The rest of the night went well. We ate yummy tapas and Mom and Dad tried their first glass of tinto de verano. I was sad to part with my parents so soon. I felt so comforted with them here, but part of this experience is to step out of my comfort zone and learn to be completely independent. I am so grateful that they could be here and experience a little taste of my every day life here. It will make it so much easier when I come home for Christmas because they will be able to visualize the places I am talking about and share some of the memories with me. I got a little teary-eyed when I left my parents hotel and walked home, but as fate would have it, I ran into Mo (the student from
Washington that lives upstairs) and he cheered me up. He is always such a pleasant person to be around and just talking to him for a few minutes puts a smile on my face. I am lucky to have him as a member of my Cádiz family.
November 1st is Halloween here in Cádiz, I am looking forward to experiencing it and writing all about it!
Hasta pronto,
Jerica
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PawPaw & MeeMaw
non-member comment
Wonderful Mom & Dad Visit
Jerica, We are so happy that your Mom & Dad were able to share a few days in a wonderful part of the world with you. It seems that all had fun and we are now on our way to their house for trick or treat night and we will get the full details of the visit. Love ya, MeeMaw & PawPaw