EPTHere's a short introduction which was also in the first blog:
Just came back recently after a short trip (with my family - with a tour group.), a little over 1 week in Spain and I don't know how was it for other foreigners in Spain but jjjjjoder....... wow it wasn't just a spot on the map anymore hahaha
The usual stuff was really nice as usual, historical sites/ architecture, really different level of food culture, muchísimas bonitas, and definitely flamenco, which was 1 of the main reasons why I learnt Spanish in the first place, wanting to go there to learn flamenco one day. Also other stuff like clean streets (except in Madrid), clean toilets where there's always soap (over here usually if there's soap it's mixed with a lot of water >_>)
But most of all, the thing that made me elated and still makes me smile and grin and laugh is the people! I was half expecting a bunch of depressed people loitering around but was I wrong.
Maybe the the lasting impression was due to the --- stark contrast to the locals here. But almost everyone was nice and the place was full of clowns and trolls but most important of all I don't sense much pretense, a lot of it felt sincere. I've talked to almost everyone I can and I can only recall about 3 grumpy people --- and their grumpiness was somewhat justified :D
The usual stuff was really nice as usual, historical sites/ architecture, really different level of food culture, muchísimas bonitas, and definitely flamenco, which was 1 of the main reasons why I learnt Spanish in the first place, wanting to go there to learn flamenco one day. Also other stuff like clean streets (except in Madrid), clean toilets where there's always soap (over here usually if there's soap it's mixed with a lot of water >_>)
But most of all, the thing that made me elated and still makes me smile and grin and laugh is the people! I was half expecting a bunch of depressed people loitering around but was I wrong.
Maybe the the lasting impression was due to the --- stark contrast to the locals here. But almost everyone was nice and the place was full of clowns and trolls but most important of all I don't sense much pretense, a lot of it felt sincere. I've talked to almost everyone I can and I can only recall about 3 grumpy people --- and their grumpiness was somewhat justified :D
Some more stories:
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In Madrid, where it was much more hectic and people walked faster, I suddenly felt this headache, this stress as horns blared. A woman walks past shouting "AH THIS IS MADRID!" as a horn blared right beside us.
I saw this young schoolgirl in front of me, noting her expensive looking hairdo, handbag and makeup at her age (not a good stereotype around here in Malaysia, or at least in my opinion) and started having prejudices about her. She was about to walk past this beggar on the street when she and her friend bent down, reached into her handbag and asked "Do you want a sandwich?". She doesn't get a reply from the beggar who was sitting there like a statue but leaves it there anyways and continues on her own way, her face showing signs of confusion or irritation.
Now behind me, I turned around and smiled at her, while noticing that the beggar began to reach for the sandwich as the schoolgirl wals away from the beggar.
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I was having breakfast quite early at the hotel (included) and wanted to eat some cured ham and asked the waiter for it. As she proceeded to cut a few slices to me I can't help but to notice how unprepared and ... how she seemed like it was her first time. Naturally I helped her by taking the plates and whatever else she needs (moving some plates around).
10 minutes later I saw another guy with a hat coming out to slice the ham hahahahhahaha it was a chef's job.
It was probably her first time doing it hahaha judging by her willingness to help I would never have known it.
If the same thing happened here the waiter would have asked me to wait for the chef to come out.
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In Valencia, I asked the receptionist for a flamenco tablao and he could only find one that's nearby but after calling them, they told him that aren't having any performances that day, only a dance class. I was interested nevertheless, thinking it was a good opportunity to watch how it works.
Turns out it was a pub and they were having their class in the pub. He invited me and my family in with a free drink, knowing it was me who called earlier.
I asked them what palo were they going to and the boss said that it will be a bulerias. Later the dancer came in and she saw us and said that it'll be a rumba (rumba is 99999999 times easier than a buleria rhythm-wise)
So they invited us to join the class and my sister and I joined while my parents sat down watching. After sometime the dancer realised that my sister didn't understand Spanish and she started conducting the class more and more in English, struggling to come out with the words she need to explain to us, despite knowing very well that the students aren't good at English. (One needed to confirm that baila means dance. Twice). She moved from "Baja! Ariba! Gira!" to "Up! Down! Turn!", frequently looking at my sister, telling her "toooRn! toooRn!" while she was turning herself and facing us, her students.
Sadly, I wanted to hang out after the class but my father was really tired and wanted to go back and didn't let me stay........ I didn't bring my camera and wanted to run back and get it too but.... the boss says no >_>
That night when I returned to the hotel, I knew I'd have troubles falling asleep because of the surge of delight and regret I was having.
The following day, I still so filled with gratitude (and astonishment) that I called him, by using the number given on the card of the pub I got from the hotel to thank him and the dancer the next day, feeling terribly restricted by the limits of my Spanish vocabulary.
"But we're still open today." he replied confusingly.
I was already in Granada.
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Going to sleep soon, please check back for replies tomorrow.
Please PM me if you'd like to help me with my Spanish or just chat, especially if you use MSN/Skype :D
