First of all, I think my favorite time of day to be out in the Spanish streets is between 10:30 am - 1 pm. The lighting is beautiful and the city is just beginning to wake up and thrive. It's not too hot and not too crowded.
Today I experienced my first brush with Spanish bureaucracy. I went to get my visa/ residence card figured out. When I called on Friday, they said to just stop by between 9 am and 2 pm and to bring my passport because they didn't know exactly what I needed to do. Neither do I. So, I left school early, biked to the city center, got lost (as is my custom), and finally found the office. There was no one there. You have to call first to see if they are in on a particular day. Ugh. All was not lost though as I saw my friend Jenny (long story), she sits outside of a church in the center all day. I also bought a beautiful bracelet from the artist market. The man who sold me it had to call his wife and ask her how much it was because she makes the stuff and he sells it. It was awesome. Hoorah for local artists.
Please note the immensity of this paella: This is Patri's dad and Patri and myself (obviously)
So yesterday, I went with Patri and Stefan to the country. Patri's dad is one of 10 siblings and every Sunday they get together on some land in the countryside and one of them cooks. There were so many people there!
Patri's family is as awesome as Patri herself. They were so friendly and showed me the PURE Andalusian chickens they raise, as well as their peacocks. There were also pomegranate trees. I picked pomegranates and ate some; I also collected a few more and brought them home! Along with the pomegranates, they have grapes and oranges which are not quite ready. They painted the orange trees with lime (the mineral) to keep ants from climbing them and eating the oranges. Also, Patri's DOG was there and I was happy to pet her head. (The dog, not Patri)
Orange grove:
Pomegranates:
Peacock:
Paella: (note the eyes. When they served me, they made sure I didn't have any of these creatures creeping around my bowl. I did get an antenna, but it's cool. I picked around it.)
6 comments:
Whoa, My eyes glanced at the seafood, and I thought, "How did Ellen eat that!" Then, I read what you wrote...good job. Where did they cook that HUGE pan...in an open fire?
no, it was actually some kind of heating element attached to gas, like our grill. I wonder if it came with the HUGE pan... It maintains even heat throughout the whole pan
What? No Barcelona posts? Where am I supposed to get my inspiration? ;-)
that is the biggest paella i've ever seen!
That is one ginormous skillet. And that is a lot of ocean creatures. An antenna? Realment..que asco. Remember the bones in Marías chicken and rice dish? Us sitting there and watching the other as we bit into something small and decidedly not-chewy and you not properly warning me when the news was broadcasting a piece on a nude beach race? Those were the days...
PS. I am reading Harry Potter in Spanish. I think you already knew that, but I'm almost done with the first book, Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal. It's pretty great, because, not only do I get to satisfy my curiosity about Harry Potter, but I also get to read a children's book without looking a bit silly, because I'm reading it in my second language. Woot! Win-win!
Oooh, that paella looks delicious! (seafood and all)
I'm kind of jealous that you got to pick your own granadas...that's pretty sweet, not gonna lie...
So, I'm definitely looking forward to checking out Jerez this weekend with you!!!
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