Letting the team down

It’s been just over a week since my last Spanish lesson of the year and I have not picked up the book once.

I have not conjugated a single verb, in fact all I’ve really done is read the Spanish part of the Robbie Burns menu and I really don’t think that counts!

I am about to go to the beach for 9 days and so far I haven’t even packed my Spanish folder either – its just too big!

However, I have packed Hemingway’s The old man and the sea. And I’ve also packed a book by Jonas Jonasson called The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared which I think is about the Spanish Civil War (I hate reading the blurb of books in case it ruins the surprise).

I’m also packing a few of my Spanish travel guides (yes, I have a lot) so that I can finally plan this holiday!

So overall, I think I’m fully booked reading-wise. The Spanish homework is going to have to wait until the New Year.

I’m looking forward to my first Christmas with my partner of almost 5 years, my first Christmas away from family and my first Christmas as head chef of Christmas lunch.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season – wherever that may be.

Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano y Felicidad

FelizNavidad ensRus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One thing that surprised me about Sevilla

And this will sound silly because it is obviously famous for it..

The abundance of oranges! and orange trees!

But they are literally everywhere, in the city. Its amazing.

In the plaza near where we stayed there were a heap of them. Most nights we ate dinner amongst the orange trees, muy bonito.

Alcazar in Sevilla

I also loved the gardens of the Alcazar. Like an understated and less complicated version of the traditional garden at la Alhambra, it was so tranquil.

And it only cost us a Euro or 2 to get in, thanks to our ‘student’ cards – The Alhambra was a lot more than that. But still, it is also well worth the trip.

The south of Spain just has a certain feeling about it. And a definite heat, even in late May!

Definitely want to head back there one day.

View from Alhambra to Granada

Those Galegos know a few things about squid..

I’d sure like to pick their brain.

When we were in Donostia (Basque country, Spain) last year we had the best Galician squid.

And it can’t have been the best, since we weren’t even in Galicia.

As you can imagine I am super excited for some Galician squid from Galicia in 5 months time!

Somehow all they need is a bit of paprika and olive oil and shabam! the lightest and tastiest lunch ever.

I should investigate where in Galicia has the best squid and use this as a deciding factor on where to stay in the region.

This weeks homework is to memorise the various tenses of the verb vivir, meaning to live.

The bf and I have decided next year will be a year of living – we are going to buy a van with a mattress and little kitchenette and do some weekend wandering around the countryside.

nosotros viviremos – we will live