Spring Break 2008!

Friday I slept in and went running and dinked around doing who knows what. I always have the best intentions when I don´t have to work to be productive and accomplish a lot that turn into me doing everything except what I was going to do and being late. But thats ok. I took a bus to go meet my teachers at 12:30 for a drink and tapa. About 1 stop later people started looking around and yelling at the bus driver that smoke was coming out of the back of the bus. So we stopped, waited and finally all got off the bus and I had to pick another one, making me even more late. I also didn't get off at the right stop and had to back track. So I finally made it and they thought it was funny I was running on Andalucian Time. So we chatted, mostly about problem children, and drank and snack and after and hour or so the party broke up and we went home. I made some food for lunch and watched Fama until I had to go to class with Pablo. Then after class I don know what I did, probably more dinking around and TV until Victor got there in the evening. We had dinner with his parents and Raul and watched a movie on TV about Cameron de la Isla, a very famous flamenco singer. Pepa had made torrijas, a typical Easter food, which is kind of like fried french toast. Raul gave us the keys to his house in Mojácar and a long list of instructions, do's and don'ts. Then bed.

Saturday morning I slept in, woke up and got ready and packed for our trip. We didn't leave till about 1 after a late breakfast of more torrijas. So we started on our way to Mojácar. Before we stopped there we stopped at a place called Mini Hollywood. It is a place in Almería where they filmed a lot of the old John Wayne Old West films. I had wanted to go for a long time. Unfortunately, it cost 18€ to get in! They have showed and a zoo there too but all I wanted to see was the mini old west town, but we didn't go in. I took some pictures though. I'll go back when I'm richer. Then we continued on to Mojácar and finally there around 4 or so. We were pretty hungry by then but couldn't really find a place to eat so we decided to find the house and then worry about food. Raúl's house is huge and amazing! It has 3 large floors, 2 full bathrooms, 1 half bathroom, 3 bedrooms, a huge kitchen and living room tons of closets and lots more rooms waiting to be finished and furnished. The house also has a fireplace that sticks in the wall, beautiful sea views, a pool, a cactus garden and a yard with 2 palm trees in it. So I explored the house and then we went looking for a grocery store. We finally found one and started to buy groceries for the week. Then we came home and made spaghetti (from my special sauce packets that have been sent to me) which was really good. I like sharing my American food with Victor or people who appreciate it, since my roommies mostly don't. Then we rested and watched Tv and then went out to rent some movies. We got Shrek and The Kingdom of Heaven. Back and home we started Kingdom of Heaven but Victor fell asleep and went to bed so I finished it and then went to bed too.

Sunday we rewatched Kingdom of Heaven (Victor for the first time) and then went to get lunch at El Tropiko, a resturant everyone had reccommended to us. It ended up not being that good. We got a salad, fried baby squids and two plates of fish. First they brought us the salad, then Victor's main dish, then our squid appetizer and then my fish. So Victor's had gotten cold and mine ended up not being very good. So we didn't leave a tip and left. Then we went and explored the town a little bit. It is really cute and small and touristy, so I had a ball looking in all the souvenier shops and buying my magnet. Then we left and drove down to a beach and walked around a bit. Then back home and watched Shrek. Then returned the movies and got 2 more, The Prestige and 300. We got home and ate dinner and instead of watching the movies, ended up watching Camera Cafe and Aída, the usual Sunday night shows, and then bed.

Monday we woke up and drove to a beach called Monsul. First we stopped at a pueblo that Victor thought was a beach he had been to before, but it wasn't exactly what he remembered. It was another little touristy town so I dragged Victor to all the shops so I could buy a magnet, a necklace I really like and earrings. The symbol of Almería is the Indalo, which is this ancient cave drawing that I really like. Then we finally made it to Monsul. It is a very famous beach, out in the middle of no where and parts of The Goonies, Conan the Barbarian, some movie with Jane Fonda and Indiana Jones have been filmed there, and certainly others. Everytime I talk to somebody, they tell me another movie that was filmed there. Then after Monsul, on our way back we stopped at a tiny, tiny pueblo called Agua Amarga, Bitter Water. It was really peaceful and quiet and we hung out on the beach for a bit before continuing on. It was so tiny that it didn´t really have any magnets, so that was a bummer. Then we stopped and got gasoline and a bag of ham flavored Ruffles for lunch. Then finally at home we stopped by the grocery store and bought some more food and went home and made dinner. We had chicken and rice and we were really hungry. Then we watched 300 and then The Prestige. I was the only one who watched The Prestige though as Victor fell asleep. Then we returned the movies came back and fell asleep after a long talk.

Tuesday we hung out at home in the morning and then around lunchtime we went to Vera to visit Nacho and Alicia. They were getting there and invited us over for lunch. They have a cute tiny appartment and we hung out there with them and the kids and had lunch. Then naptime, and then Victor and I drove to Lorca, Murcia. Rafa at my work had told me that they have a really amazing Roman Semana Santa with cool processions, so I was hoping to see something like that. We drove in and up to this big castle, that was closed so we just barely looked around. Then drove down through the city and left again. We didn´t see any processions and it was almost kind of pointless to go there as we drove for an hour and then were there less than 1 and then drove back for an hour. Then on our way home we drove through the town of Vera, which turned out to be another disaster as it was dark and creepy. Then we stopped back by Nacho and Alicia´s place and visited for a bit before going home, eating dinner, watching House and going to bed.



Wednesday we got up and got ready and cleaned the hosue and washed sheets and towels. The washers and dryers here take a loooong time to run so we were waiting for a while to leave. We made some pasta which was kinda gross for lunch and I ruined a new shirt opening a can of tuna. I got oil all over me. Then we finally left and drove to this beach called Cabo de Gata, Cape Cat. It was very beautiful and solitary and we took a nap there. Then we drove to the city of Almería and walked around and looked at things. It was a pretty cute and small city but I was going a little bit crazy because there were no magnet or souvenier stores and I really wanted to find one. We asked around and finally found the only souviener kiosk in the whole town and I bought my magnet. Then we left and drove back to Granada. We made the mistake of driving along the coast, which had horrible traffic. It took us a long time to get back but we finally did. There we showered and ate dinner, Pepa had left us a big pasta salad, before she went down to the beach. Then I watched Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso. We had come back from the beach to see La Procesión de Los Gitanos, or the Gypsy Procession during Semana Santa. But as we went out around 12:30 PM or so, it was raining, which meant that the procession was cancelled. So we went and hung out with Santi, Lucía, María and this other girl in Liberia. It was fun and we were out till about 3 or so. Then home and bed.

Thursday I slept in and then Victor and I did absolutely nothing. We just sat around allllll day, watching TV and being really, really lazy bums. So we watched tv all day till we ate a pizza and pasta salad for lunch and then took a nap and watched more tv. Then around 9 PM I showered, ate a little sandwich, and we went to Lucia's house and hung out with her, Santi, María and her boyfriend Buitre. We were there for a while, just chilling and then we took Santi home and Victor and I went out to see the Procession of Silence. It was pretty cool, its completely silent, no music and they turn off the street lights where it passes. Some people wear chains on their legs and you can just hear the clanking as they walk through the streets. Its the most somber procession as its the one where Christ is crucified. Then we went home, watched House and I went to bed.

Friday was more of the same, tv and no movement all morning. We got lunch from McDonalds and just ate a ton of junk food. It was good but I felt gross as soon as I finished. Then around 4 or 5 I had showered a little earlier and we went and watched the procession that left from Los Escolapios, the church and school next to my house where Victor went to school all his life. It was cool and then at the end my sister called me. Then we came back home and I talked to her on the phone for a long time and then we went back out for a walk. we saw a lot of processions right in teh city center as they all converge there and there is like a traffic jam of them. Then we walked around and down to Plaza Einstein, had a few tapas and then walked home and watched a documentary on killer hippopotami and I went to bed.

Saturday when I woke up I was really dizzy and I fel that way all day long. I tried to eat a little breakfast, watched some Tv but then we had to clean the house because Pepa and Emilio were coming back. So we cleaned, Victor made a rice and tuna dish for lunch which was really good. So I showered and the house was all clean and the dishes done and we watched TV till Pepa and Emilio came back. I was still feeling dizzy and not so good, so when they came home, I went up to my house and watched tv there with Adrian. We talked and he told me that he didn't want me to leave because he liked me so much. Victor was running some errands and getting a hair cut but then stopped by later and I think we went downstairs for dinner. Then he went out with some friends, I used the internet at home till the power went out in the whole building and I went to bed.

Sunday morning I finally felt better and I woke up and got ready for church. As an Easter miracle, Victor went to church with me! We went to the new one close to my house, which Victor seemed to like more than the other one. Its much more calm and laid back. It was a good service and we both sang. I was really happy that he went with me and we had a pretty good time. Then we came home and ate paella with the family and Nacho and Alicia and their family and grandma. I shared some chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs that Carmina had given me with everyone. After lunch everyone fell asleep except for me, Alicia, and Pepa, so I took pictures of them. I also talked to my mom and my dad on the phone. Then I don't think we really did anything in the afternoon because everyone slept so long, but I think Victor and I went to Nacho and Alicia´s for a pizza dinner and then he left for Malaga. Then I probably went home and watched TV and went to bed. And that was my Spring Break 2008! :)