The World's Oldest Restaurant.

The World's Oldest restaurant is based right here in the center of Madrid. It's called Botin and it is on a street called cuchillero, which means knifemaker. So the story goes like this: My beloved Grandpa & Sweetie Pie. (Thats what I call my grandparents) went to the restaurant when they were in Madrid some years ago and now, years later, invited me and a friend to go to the restaurant as well. Well, the downfall is that we didnt really all get to go together at the same time. But we imagine us all together.

So Javi and I took off our harnesses for a day and cleaned up pretty nice, if i do say so myself.....

These are alll the little "suckling piggies." They are cooked in an oven that dates back to 1725. Yep thats before we had a constitution.

Our dinner, well actually it was late lunch, at like 3:

- ummm i suppose i would call it scrambled egg and esparragus.

-Clams

-Suckling Pig

This update is a little behind schedule. Write again soon.

Back in the Swing of Things

Semana Santa finished off with a rainy friday. We were inside basically the entire day. I used the opportunity to master the rubix cube and study a little. It was nice to have a day of rest from the beach and vacationing.?

Unfortunately, Saturday morning we left. 6-7 hour car trip home.

Goodbye house in Roche. I dont know when/if I will see it again. No this is not in the house.... at a restaraunt. When we are in Cadiz we love the SEAFOOD!
Back again in Madrid. Back to School for the kids. Back to studying. Back to teaching.

I have tried all week to get up early to study before my day starts NO SUCCESS. NONE. impossible. What has become of me? Lazy? Well, it is 10am and I am writing from my bed in pajamas.

In my english class we are working on writing business letters. FUN! :) If anyone has any questions I am an EXPERT. or at least I lead them to believe so....... I think our next topic will be "Welcoming a visitor."

Since we got back to Madrid the weather has been a little colder. Since we are back inside the house, I am using the opportunity to continue working on some of my artwork. Here are some of my latest pieces. Untitled.

This weekend probably crappyish weather. NO climbing plans.

Right now I am listening to Enya. The END.

Spring Break

For spring break we made the trip down to the house in Cadiz. The weather is beautiful and cooler in the evening. The kids haven't convinced me to get in the ocean yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up in the water by the end of the week.

So far I have been catching up on sleep and sun, and successfully avoiding studying. Studying is getting more and more difficult and the exercises more and more tedious. We are gonna be here until Friday or Saturday, date TBD.

Here are some pictures from the beach and a walk that we all took together this morning. It was too cold for the beach today. We are thinking about flying a kite one of these days. Other than that it's just relaxing and enjoying. We have been hooked on Rubix cube, 20 questions and a new game I made up yesterday: I pick a topic and the kids sing a song about it. Hilarious. They are soo funny and creative.

Today

I had the best English class today. "I laughed so hard I broke my butt" (that is a literal and direct translation of what they would say in spanish for laughing really hard.)

I am still not sure I am cut out for teaching, but we are having a good time. Today we were practicing phone calls. One person would go into another room and call the rest of the class (and me) on speakerphone in the conference room. It was, well, ummm, they struggled a lot. But in the end we all laughed a lot. We are gonna have to go back and practice it again another day......... This should be a 1-2 day lesson. So far we have been doing it 3 days...........I am giving up.

I think the next topic we are going to do is hotels. Checking in/out, reserving, complaints, requests etc...... Any ideas you all have are always appreciated. :)

Oh This weekend I saw Grand Torino. I am certain it must have the same title in both English and Spanish. I cried and cried at the end. Not just a little. A lot. I always cry during movies these days. i am no sure what has happened to me. I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing? Well, here's my theory. After being approximately one year without really watching television or anything, I am have become completely SENSITIZED. to any sort of movie or television... maybe? i literally dont watch any tv or movies. maybe a little hannah montana, but thats it. I suppose i could research it. OR maybe it could be i am just really comfortable with my emotions.

Well its been a while since I have studied ANY spanish. i swear, this week will be better........

My sister is gonna have a baby BOY due in August. and Thats the latest news on my mind. See you next time. Have a good day.

Did you know that Johann Sebastian Bach has a classical piece called "Air on the G-String"

I have been really into classical music lately......really into it.

Finally got that picture of me with the Botijo. Thanks to Jorge (George for english speakers).....

Actually three.

What exactly is a botijo?
Its this sort of magical ceramic jug that chills water. It has something to do with science, but as the temperature rises, the water inside cools.

Climbing season is in full swing. The weather is beautiful, breezy and sunny. :) Anyways last weekend I went out climbing with Javi, Jorge and a new british friend that i made. Her name is charley.

This week i have given up studying for a little. I am into teaching my classes and they are a lot of fun. However, I think that I am not teaching the students enough. We get through material really sllllooooowlllllyyyy.

I have no clue how to teach, but my theory is that I would prefer to go slowly at the students' pace and have fun rather than rush through material, hate class and not learn. Maybe I just am a push-over who wants my students to like me too much. Whatever, we all just wanna enjoy class. To me that is important. I hope they dont fail the test!

I got a bitchin deal on my plane ticket back to the states. Dates: June 23- September 22.

We'll see what this weekend holds........

Helloooooooo

Well I skipped writing last weekend because I was waiting to get a picture of me with my shiny new botijo. I still dont have that picture. Hopefully I will get it soon. Until then you can just imagine me with it......hahaha good luck, Who even knows what one is!?

Oh first and foremost I have some news to share..... I started teaching on Monday! Yeah all professional and stuff. I do important things now. I make a difference in the lives of 5 really prestigious business professionals. I teach them how to connect and communicate with the rest of the world through the use of the English Language. I'm pretty much a hot shot. People run to fetch me coffee with two packets of raw organic brown sugar and soy milk.

Okay, so I just go to this business two times a week for 1.5 hour long english classes, but its fun. Well, Ive only had one class so far and time flew. We will see how things unfold, but I am excited to test the waters and get my foot in the door for my return in fall. Today is class #2.

In light of the new job, I took last weekend off from (the ever stressful and terrible world of) climbing and spent saturday relaxing in a gigantic and amazing park called the park of Juan Carlos I. (he was a king in spain) The day was highlighted by a nice sun burn on the back of my right shoulder. And Sunday was spent around the house for the Birthday of VICTORIA. YEAHHH!!!! She is now 41. :) We had a little party and as most of you already know, ate.

This might be getting too long without fotos. So i am gonna cut to the chase.... Tomorrow is the feast of St. Joseph's and FATHER's day. Makes sense, right? So everyone here is off tomorrow and Friday! Goin climbing!

See ya, wouldnt wanna be ya.

To be continued....

Some random thoughts to let you know I am still alive:

-When and how did I become so dependant on coffee?
-The weekend was great and I am back to studying.
-Everyone seems to have some sort of cold or flu or something.....
-Dang I am so happy winter has gone. I think we are gonna start eating outside on the terraza this week..... :)
-Javi's parents went to Chinchon and brought me back a botijo. (I dont know if that is how it is spelled.)
"The Spanish botijo is a water bottle made of unglazed earthenware that cools the water it contains by evaporation. It is a very environmentally friendly way of cooling, which has proved to be successful during hundreds of years."

Off to my intercambio. Ill expand upon these later.