Sunday, June 24

The Yummy Food

The food in Spain is not like in Texas; that has been both a good thing and a bad thing.

I suppose the ships were overloaded with gold from the Americas that spices were not a top priority. Salt and pepper are not at every table. Instead, you find oil and vinegar. When I ask a waiter for pepper (looking for a hint of spicy) it has been brought to me in its original container. There are McDonald´s and Burger Kings in every city. I have not made it in yet. Today I craved a taste from home but was recommended to try Bodega SantaCruz in Seville. The taste combined with the atmosphere was delightful.

The restaurant I suppose was a fast food place. It was a bar with many small tables and only a few benches in the corners to sit on. Most people were standing. I walked up to bar, stood and watched for a few minutes. I like figuring out the process. There were two chalk boards with a list of specials to choose from. I ordered a pringa, a tortilla espaƱola and a beer. The pringa tasted like a grilled chopped bar-b-que sandwich but was half the size. A tortilla espanola is scrambled egg with potatoes in it. I´m already making plans to make this at home. The bartender wrote my order on the bar with a chalk. He brought me my food and totaled my bill. After I paid he wiped it off.

This was a great recommendation. I have been willing to try anything new. Kim has a travel guide with suggestions of restaurants to try in each city. Our stop in Bilboa directed us to Ojo-Rio Bar. Kim ordered white asparagus served with a glob of mayonnaise and delightful lamb stew. Richard had a fresh garden salad and bacalao (cod in a bubbling lemon sauce.) I enjoyed a tasty garbanzo and pork rib soup and a very rich simmered ox tail with veggies.

Our breakfast and dinner meals are included as part of our tour. Spaniards like eat jamon. I do to just not at every meal. I am not going to want eat type of cured meat for a long long time. I am looking forward to a piece of fresh grilled tenderly seasoned meat.

Friends in Spain

OK!! The days have been increbible here in Spain but I am ready to go home!

I miss my husband Ric, my boys Ricky, Josh, Peter and Andy. We have been in Spain for what seems like an eternity. The last few days are a blur. I understand why musicians find it difficult to remember dates and names of cities. I am glad I have taken so many pictures. I am on second 1 G memory card.

My roommate Kim has been wonderful. She is amazed at how quickly I get ready in the mornings. Not having to rush any boys to get dressed has cut my time in half. I have been trying to keep things organized but moving nearly every night to a different city has made it extremely difficult.

I have been blessed with an incredible new friend Richard. We share many interests. We are both the youngest child with a our closest sibling more than five years apart. A rule we established from the beginning was to speak as much Spanish while in Spain. I am sure he has tired of hearing stories about Ric and my boys. If he has he has been gracious enough not to show it and just listen.

Being in a group of so many people can obviously get overwhelming. Personalities clash and situations arise that can very easily cause tension. I am thankful for not being a girly girl and getting wrapped up in the drama. I live in a house full of males so I have learned to get over it and move on.

Thankfully Richard and Kim have been awesome. At lunch meals we have together each one of us orders a differnt dish and then enjoy a variety of flavors.