Sarah and I taking over Bilbao. Took the elevator up to here.
Chris and I at the beach in San Sebastian.
Me on top of the hill we climbed in San Sebastian
Andrew (lovely tour guide) and I at the Guggenheim ("The Gugg") in Bilbao
The puppy in Bilbao!
Chris and Sarah and turtle island (Santa Clara) in San Sebastian
I got to teach some Halloween lessons in my classes last week and I had a lot of fun. We learned some idiomatic phrases and had fun with some Halloween cartoons. The kids could not understand "you mean you carry around a PILLOWSACK and fill it with candy at people's houses?" You don't realize how strange your traditions are until someone from the outside points it out. The two little kids that I tutor played some Halloween games with me. I taught them words like "Jack O Lanters, vampire, mummy, bat, etc. Then they came and knocked on my door and they had to say "Trick or Treat" and tell me about their costume before I would give them a treat. I adore them. I am so lucky to spend time with them so frequently. I'd be missing little ones like crazy if it weren't for them. I've definitely realized by being here that Elementary Ed is my favorite place to be. And I also don't want to teach ESL. Did you know that in the past you can say "used to" before an action or state of being, but you can only use "would" before an action. For example: He would/used to stand outside and wait every day. BUT. He used to be a happier person. I never would have thought that was a rule, it either "sounds right" or it doesn't.
So this last weekend I took my fifth trip in a row. Five weekends, and now I'm taking a break. Traveling can be more exhausting than working, go figure. Six of us took a train out to San Sebastian (Donostia) on the northern coast of Spain on the Bay of Biscay. It was a beautiful beach town. We went up the two big hills on either side of the beach to get two different views. It really felt like fall and Halloween taking the hike up the hill through all the trees.
The second day we went to Bilbao to visit a friend of mine and to see the city. The puppy at the Guggenheim was beautiful, though the outside of the building was the most impressive part of it. We spent about 30 minutes inside. The rest of the day was spent seeing the river, the bridges, the old part of town, took an elevator up the hill to get a stellar view, etc. It was a fabulous little city that has really cleaned up and is looking quite impressive. People go just for the Guggenheim, and have no idea that there's anything else to Bilbao.
I nearly forgot it was Halloween because of how little they acknowledge it here. This week I really miss upstate new york and fall, pumpkins, cider, the impressive changing landscape, trick or treaters, hot chocolate...Fall is definitely the season I'll miss most at home.
We had our Fall Behind one our this weekend which was super convenient as we were out and about in San Sebastian. We had Pintxos (pronounced pinchos) which are commonly known in Spain as tapas, which are appetizers. They were beautiful but sadly most were seafood.
Towards the end of the trip I was running low on cash and thought I'd see if I could get by without going to the ATM. I came home with about 1,30 euros in my wallet. Impressive, I must say. With 20 euro I saw all the sights in Bilbao, ate three meals, and even squeezed in some gelato. Also, I walked the whole of San Sebastian and didn't see a SINGLE grocery store. We finally had to ask and found one on the underground floor of a mall. I need to find a native and ask how they shop. I'm really very curious.
Also they speak Basque in the two cities we visited, which was pretty interesting. I listened in on some conversations, but it's such an ancient language and has no connection to any other language...therefore I was clueless. Ah well. One language at a time...
I feel lost without another trip planned! I suppose I'll start looking things up to see my friend Nate (maybe in southern France). And then my Christmas plans to see Jaime, my favorite Spanish friend, Megan who's coming from the states, and my lovely Mike and Amy. Hurry to Spain, my loves! I miss you.
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