Salamanca

So, a bit more about Salamanca...


...we went there for 5 day Spanish course. Martin got 1-1 tuition while Kara was in a class with only 5 others. We had opted for "home stay" accommodation which turned out to be awesome...
...Home cooked food everyday, made for us by our "Spanish mother", Marisol. You can see the paella photo. This was cooked in a friend's garden as they had the paella BBQ thing. Ahhh. The most perfect paella in the world, washed down with homemade sangria, followed by ice-cream and some pastries. Marisol is a goddess.



We had to adapt to the Spanish way of life. This was our timetable:

10.00-14.00 Lessons with short breaks in between

14.00 ish Lunch with the two other students staying at Marisol - always 3 courses

15.00ish Siesta

20.00 Take a stroll, head out for football match watching with fellow students

21.00 Dinner (a light meal, only 2 courses!)

23.00-24.00 Bed



We kind of had to adapt it a bit though as Kara has some work to do and we both had homework. It was kind of strange to be up so late and eating all the meals so late, but the siesta felt good!



Well, we were meant to leave Salamanca on Friday when school ended but we extended our stay by one night...that was when our "routine" went out the window...



Things that happened to us that evening / night:

• we began with a stroll round this beautiful city, stopping at a chocolateria (shop totally dedicated to drinks, cakes and sweets that are chocolate) for chocolate con churros and a cold chocolate drink. Stuff to die for. Did a bit of people watching from our street side table.
• watched Spain beat Chile, while sat outside a bar with our fellow students. Much Spanish partying ensued.
• Went for tapas just off the main square. Was awesome. Martin has decided that now he is almost 31 he would rather pay £3.50 for half a pint and 3 tapas than one pint.
• Then it got..."interesting"....
• We spent half the night being accosted by a crazy Irish girl, whose trick was to walk up to people and say "I want that". Things she wanted included Kara's breasts, Martin's beer, and the drink any of the guys in our gang were drinking.
• Fortunately Martin is older, mature and immune to fluttering eye lashes and pouty lips. She looked a bit shocked when he refused to let go of his beer and said "The bar's over there".
• Alas, some of our companions were young and impressionable (16 year old Swedish students - all together now - ahhhh!)
• Then, we saw our first fight of the night... guess who was in the middle of it...yes, pouty, crazy Irish chick...
• Then we saw our second fight of the night. Or rather, Martin walked out of the gents to find himself in the middle of the 2nd fight of the night. Fortunately it turns out that the Spainards are less inclined to bottle random passers by when there is a 6ft blonde chap grabbing them from behind...
• Then we all noticed that the 17 year old Swedish student (brother of the 16 year old) was missing...big stress. Some of us went to look for him and found him quite happily in another club. We learnt the Swedish for "Where the hell have you been?"
• So, Martin, Hamish (top top semi Scottish bloke) and I chose to move on from the scene of craziness...and we ended up in a hip hop club.
• Witness this: the white German 21 year old and the Danish chap, grinding away next to some very rythmic black-US students...yeah, it was as painful as you're thinking...we really hate to confirm stereotypes but...

So, as we are old and had to be out of our room by 11am, we chose to leave early (at 2.30) saying fond farewells to our lovely fellow students, all of whom we hope to meet again. European guys don't go in for the manly handshakes any more - straight into the man hugs. Martin was perturbed.

Luckily the cat woke us up in the morning...

Extremadura

A region not often visited by Brits as it is bloody far away and not by the sea. You have to drive to get here.

Hot, dry and beautiful in a kind of "sit by your tent drinking cool drinks and don't think about moving" kind of way. Plus it does a nice sideline in evening thunder and lightening storms while still being crazily hot.

We came here to hike and were warned to get up early to do so. We've done one walk so far, which was great when we began at 9am but a bit toasty when we finished it at 12.

This area, Parque Nacional De Monfrague, is bird heaven - eagles, vultures, and lots of bloody annoying rose coloured magpies that harrass us near our tent. Oh, okay, they are pretty and quite cute so we forgive them.

You may have noticed the word..tent. Yes, we are camping! In a borrowed tent (thank you Steve Mc!) we have a veritable palace. We even got a little outdoor office going yesterday for both of us to do some work from...

Thursday... the epic journey to Lecce, Italy begins. Over 1500 miles, the width of Spain and France and the length of Italy...why are we going there? Because a bloke called Nicolo we met in a hostel in Argentina is from there and told us to come visit...why not ey?