¡No pasa nada, en Granada!

This weekend was a successful weekend spent in Granada. Traveling gets tiring after a while, and wears on my Spanish speaking ability. That's why some touring in Granada was necessary for this weekend. Thursday night was fun because we discovered some of the discotecas right here is Spain. It's so much fun to go out in Spain because you never know who you are going to meet. Us girls met some people from Madrid that on Thursday that we could even meet up with when we travel there later on in our semester. Not only that but it helps to practice your Spanish with locals when you go out too. I have come to actually find that some vino or cervezas actually make my Spanish come natural : ) I have no idea how to explain that one cause without alcohol the thought process is much longer to speak another language.

Friday was a beautiful day that got up into the 70's here in Granada. My friends Martha and Ann came with me to the best look out point in Granada. Its called Mirador San Nicolas. From there we ate our bocadillas that our señoras made for us and spent two hours basking in the warm sun, listening to the hippies play their Spanish Flamenco music, and looked out onto the beautiful Granada scenery. I felt like I had to pinch myself because it didn't seem real. In our casual day time we met a family that was from the Catalonia region of Spain. They had a conversation amongst themselves where they went in and out of 3 languages. We of course noticed the English and Spanish and later learned that they speak Calalan the language of Catalonia. The two young boys were fluent in all three and were both under the age of three. We were all baffeled because we wish we could be like those boys. It is so easy for them. Seeing this European lifestyle really opens my eyes to the necessity of languages here. It is not as necessary in the US, but I wish it was. I really feel that it is a gift to be taught another language at such a young age because not only does it brighten your future but it widens the amount of people you can communicate with and have relationships with in the future. Maybe someday there will be more stress put on Americans to be bilingual.

Saturday was a great day. My favorite day yet, maybe even my favorite day in my life. For most of you who know me, you know my love of food. I actually think food and I are more emotionally involved than anything. I know it very well, and it knows me very well. To celebrate Valentine's Day together, us girls went wine tasting after visiting a local market. The place where we went wine tasting is known as La Oliva and is close to my school. First we tried some different olive oils and then we had 3 delicious different wines with a selection of tappas that complimented each wine. Oh my God, I was in heaven. Every olive oil tasted different. Francisco our host explained how olives are essentially like apples. A green apple is different from a red one, and all taste different depending on when you pick them. This is exactly how olives are and changes how olive oil is. It was amazing. Our first white wine was a dry wine, but definately not sour. It was from Granada and my favorite of the day. We had many tappas that complemented it. The pate was phenomenal and so was the sardines that were flavored in a lemon olive oil. I know that would have been my dad's favorite. Another thing that Franciso did was take a piece of whole grain bread and have us spread some avocado on it and place a piece of Jamón ibérico (Iberian ham). The flavors and aromas blended so well. I know that avocados can be fatening, but what a great difference to mayo or mustard!

Our red wine was delicious that was paired with a goat cheese that had been rolled in aeromatic herbs and another cheese that was a combo of goat and cow milk. This last one was comparable to parmesan but out of this world. We also had an assortment of chorizo, salchicha, and black sausage (Spanish meats). I could not of been happier. The last wine was a desert wine that he paired with spanish pastrys, candies, and chocolate. Taking the time to enjoy everything and compare the food really gave us a new sense of Spanish food and culture. It was amazing because I couldn't want anything more in life, let alone on my trip to Spain.

On the way home Kelley, Amy , and I went and saw Granadas Bull fighting ring. It felt old to look into, but definately something I would like to maybe see in the future. I don't necessarly support the slaughtering of animals for fun, but it is Spanish culture. What a better time to really see Spain then when they are practicing a old custom.

This weekend was great. Today was spent catching up on relaxing, homework, and my Grey's anatomy. I just wish this feeling of content could last forever!