Christmas in Spain... is basically eating a lot. Ready?

-Polverones: almond powdery sweets

-Tortilla: egg, onion, potato

-Turrón: fudge-like almond butter squares (in strawberry, more almond, chocolate and cream flavors)

-almendras: almonds

And there's more; there's much more.

So. Christmas. :

-Family dinners on Christmas Eve that last until 6 in the morning, and fireworks, sparklers and poker.

-Family lunches on Christmas Day, where there are four types of cake, which you are told you must try all of them.

-Skyping with real family in the U.S, opening presents over skype.

After Christmas:

I took a trip to Pamplona, in Northern Spain, near Basque country to visit an exchange friend. Pamplona is known for the running of the bulls during San Fermines in July every year

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_of_the_Bulls )

Pictured above is the statue in the middle of Pamplona dedicated to this tradition in which over one million people come annually to watch (or participate....) But thats not for another 188 days (as I found out on the clock in Pamplona that counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the start of the run). But in the meantime, there are other things to do.

Pamplona is wonderful, and Navarra (the province) is BEAUTIFUL- castiles and vineyards in every direction. The town where my friend, and where i stayed is called Ciriza, which means "cherry" in the basque language (euskera). This is because, as I found out as we pulled into the family's driveway, because every house has cherry trees which bloom in the Spring in Ciriza.

So Christmas, then Pamplona, back in Tres Cantos. Relaxing, drinking my chocolate milk ( I really drink about 3 cups daily ) , studying for my "recuperation" exam in Math for when we return ( I'll admit it, I failed math class), AND, most importantly, getting ready for a ski trip to Andorra in a week. For that.. you'll have to wait for next time.

And happy (almost) 2010 (how much better does that look than 2009?).

Till the new year,

Megan

Pre-Navidad vacationing.

Week 1: SEGOVIA. On the long weekend, I went North to Segovia with an exchange friend, and it was so great to see castles (el alcázar pictured here) and aqueducts and beautiful Spanish streets. We went for a full 12 hour day and saw everything, everything.

Five days later, I took a trip to TOLEDO with my friend Toni, from Berlin and we.... didn't see everything. We stayed in McDondals, playing cards and eating bread with cheese on account of the freezing cold outside and not having any money left. It was great, but a little non-toledo-ish. The next day we went to the Madrileño flea market and later tried to go into the soccer stadium, but didn't enter since we refused to pay 30 euros to look at grass in a building. So we saw the Madrid decorations and enjoyed a nice wintery day.

This week is the last full week of school before the holidays, so that means grades come out, and everyone stresses. But in one week, it will be christmas, and everyone will be jolly again, sitting around the family table, singing songs (I made that part up) and eating polverones and chuches.

p.s. first snow today.