Saturday in the 'Manc

“Wake up in the morning, smellin’ like an ashtray!” This is something I did not miss about Spain.

Lazin' around the house for the morning, madre had me try on one of Isa’s really nice dresses in an effort to have me take it for myself as it was too short for Isa. This was awkward because while it was SO sweet of her, I didn’t really like it and she even went to the trouble of showing me the expensive price tag. Somehow I got out of that one insisting (no fewer than 10 times) that I have nowhere to wear it and no room in my suitcase.

Lunch was one of madre's most famous dishes: paella with chicken, egg, shrimp and peppers, with bread, watermelon and cherries.

I finally left the house a little after 3, yikes. No rain until evening, but very overcast with threatening clouds all day. My first plan of action was to check out the souvenir shops by the university for a few random goodies being that Saturday was yet another Spanish holiday (something about the patron of Salamanca or San Juan or both), virtually every other store was closed. I resolved to purchase some postcards and plop myself down at a café in the plaza, under a large white umbrella with a café con leche.

While writing home, I was serenaded by large groups of drunken fools, covered head-to-toe in green paraphernalia, singing very loudly. Every Irish pub in Salamanca was busting with costumed people chanting and drinking. Apparently some Irish (soccer?) team would be coming there on Sunday or something…my camarero (waiter) was of zero help to me when I asked. I took a scenic route back up calle Zamora stopping at an open-air market of handmade pottery.

Around that time, Cesar called me and I met up with him and his Chinese roommate Huan…I felt so bad, especially since my Spanish isn’t fab either, but speaking Spanish with a STRONG Chinese accent really threw me off and understood about 1 of every 15 words.

Ces took us foreigners to the Plaza de los Toros. He also made me very aware of just how embarrassing it was that while I had lived in Salamanca for 4 months, I had never been to this part of the city...apparently it's a pretty touristy spot. WHATEVER WHATEVER! Having already missed the running of the bulls, we waited in the cold and the rain for the matadors to come out so we could get our picture taken with them, only to find them already changed into normal clothes in the end. The excursion wasn’t entirely a flop though since we played the "clueless foreigner" card and got to peek inside and walk around the arena. Also, now I can say I’ve finally visited another famous Salamantino site.

Back home for dinner, madre made me French tortilla—another all-time fav of mine--salty and oily salad, and some leftover paella from lunch.

Around midnight, I met up again with Cesar and his friend under the clock and went to another new bar for me, where I ordered my first calimoxo (red wine and coke) in a while!! Upon Huan's request, we headed to Irish Rover :/ and then upon mine, to DANIEL’S! We ended up hanging out in the same spot of the bar where we had taken a big group picture—Spanish and American friends together---last Spring, which was cool, weird, and kinda sad. They walked me back home around 5am and agreed to meet the next day. I really feel like I’ve gotten to know Cesar a lot better in even just 2 days here. He is such a nice guy, really smart and very patient with me...a good friend.