Gramma Barbie Goes Global

So, my phone was sluggish so I did a restart and what to my wondering eyes did appear….no, it wasn’t Santa….my pictures and videos reappeared……I will be able to post the procession after all….

First you hear the sound of cow bells then you see the herd of goats followed by a dog and his master.  Yesterday we were amused when some of the goats hot separated and were chased back to the herd by a barking dog and his yelling master.  Today the goats are behaving which is not as much fun for onlookers. 

I ate lunch at a restaurant in Lagos when I first arrived.  When they brought the bill they didn’t bring candies or fortune cookies……they brought 2 small bottles of liquid with a tiny glass and explained that the larger one was non alcoholic and the smaller one contained alcohol.  I was to drink whichever or from both….of course, I tried both.  My teachers explained that this was an old custom that most restaurants no longer do.  I guess I was lucky to have the experience.  I had seen other tables get blue and purple liquids…not sure if they tasted different. 

The first morning in Malaga I went to a cafe and sat at a table outside.  The waiter offered me coffee and bread.  This is what arrived.  Apparently this is a common breakfast in Spain.  The bread was warmed and the small dish contained a tomato sauce not jam.  Butter was not offered.  If I had asked for milk in my coffee it would have come in a small glass.

The bread with the tomato concoction was very tasty.  The two breakfasts I have had at the villa have included this only here the tomato dish is thicker and tastier.  

Here I also get a lot of fresh fruit from their orchards.  I will take a picture and post it. They grow quite a variety.  I especially like the fresh figs so they put quite a few of them on each fruit tray.

Of course it is not really personalized for me, but I thought it was kinda cool that it has my name on it.  The full writing on it is Barbadillo…..LOL

Supper time included a flash quiz on the new words I heard today.  I got better than 50%, but forearmed is forewarned as it is said, tomorrow I will study during siesta time…. I will also start carrying the small notebook they gave me for that purpose.  They are determined to see results for their efforts as am I. 

Here are a few more pictures of the villa. 

The main entrance and driveway

Being the only student here this week is a plus.  Today’s lessons were conversational and interesting.   I learned a lot about my teachers, Spain, and Spanish.  Just the opportunity to listen to conversations has been great.  The first lesson was inside in a classroom and the second was outside. I prefer outside…..

Here are some pictures of the villa that houses Agualivar Spanish School. My room and bathroom are enormous and beautiful.  I step through the door to a patio with a gorgeous view of the sea.  It is very tranquil.  A great setting in which to improve my Spanish. 

The grass has wide blades and is very different from the lawns at home.

We eat on the open patio during the day and in the glassed in patio for the late evening meal.

I’m here and no English has been spoken.  I  understand a lot and am hoping that I will be understanding almost everything by the end of the week.  Classes start tomorrow and I am the only student so I shall be getting all the attention.  I hope that works out to my advantage…..

The picture is the view from my room.  More pictures tomorrow….if my phone cooperates…..

So…..the weirdest thing happened.   I took pictures and videos during the procession last evening.  Even pictures from above when they passed under my window…..this afternoon, when I looked for them to decide which to post, there are no videos of the event on my phone and only a couple of pictures.  Weirdness!! I have never had this happen before.  Weirder still, when I was telling my Spanish teachers they said it had happened to one of them 2 weeks ago.  Also, when I left home I had over 2,000 pictures on my phone (excessive, I know) and now there are just over 600.

Anyway, the procession was rather impressive with a spectacular ‘float’ carried on the shoulders of dozens of men.  I  do have a picture of that, but I had video and pictures that were far more impressive.   The procession was for Santa Maria del Monte Calvario and there are you tube videos of it.  I guess I will just have to be content with looking at them :((

The picture of the square was taken before it was filled with people.   You could hardly move a short time later. 

The bells in the tower tolled very loudly before and during parts of type he procession.  I had video of that as well.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have picked a place to stay that was right by the procession.   My Airbnb hostess did not feel so lucky.  It took her an hour to find a parking spot when she got home from work.