Last weekend the same group of girls that went to Biarritz, France decided to go to Bilbao, Spain for the day. It is about an hour bus ride and a much larger city than San Sebastian that is more inland. We met at the bus station Saturday morning and drove to Bilbao! The main attraction in Bilbao is the Guggenheim Museum and their "Casco Vieja," old part of town. After arriving we walked through town to the Guggenheim Museum. The building was absolutely fabulous! The building is all curved and is really neat to look at! It was pouring down rain/hail so that was part was miserable. We toured through the Guggenheim and it was ok. I couldn't find my interest in modern art. Some things looked like my artwork from Kindergarten. But a neat building and cool to actually say I've been there now! After the Guggenheim we walked on their main street into the old part of town and checked out shops on the way. Patrick's cousin, Erica is studying in Bilbao for the year. So we called eachother and she came to meet us for coffee in the afternoon. We had a great time with her! She helped us with the metro so we could catch our bus in time! We took the 6pm bus back to San Sebastian!
We wanted to get back at a decent time, because there was a parade going on that night in San Sebastian. I'm not sure the name of it, or its purpose. But everyone dresses up as gypsies and marches through the streets singing and playing songs. It was pretty funny to see all the costumes and there were tons of adults and kids dressed up for it!
Lately I have been struggling with not having many locals to practice my spanish with consistently. I haven't met many locals other than my intercambio and was really praying I'd get more opportunities to speak spanish. Luckily, my intercambio, Alazne and I met on Sunday night to practice my spanish and her english. After I explained my struggles she invited me to join her family and her at La Cidaría on Tuesday! I was so excited because I knew I would have an opportunity to speak spanish for the entire evening with her and her family! We met a little before 8pm on Tuesday evening. Her dad, brother, and husband picked us up in front of the library in their minivan to drive to the outskirts of San Sebastian. The "cidar house" was three rooms filled with huge barrels that each contained a different type of cidar! There are tables set up for everyone, but no chairs or plates. You just have a napkin, cup and fork! They served us dinner which was bread with an omelette, cod with peppers, and very rare steak. For dessert we had walnuts with a cheese and jello-type dish! It was a great local meal that I definitely enjoyed! Throughout the three hours we were there the Master of the Cidar House walks around without saying anything and stabs a screw driver looking thing into a barrel and cidar starts spouting out! You have to hear people or watch them run over to fill their cups and you have to run and get in line to try that cidar! It was so much fun! Then after everyone that was paying attention fills up he shuts the hole with a putty. It was really neat! I was able to try all different cidars and speak spanish with Alazne's family! A great night...I decided it was my favorite night since I have been in Spain! Such a blessing to have Alazne as my intercambio! Towards the end of the evening we were getting ready to leave and the Master of the Cidar House told Alazne that he wanted me to stay there to live and work at the Cidar House because he liked me. He was probably 70 years old!! Luckily, Alazne got me out of it and got me home safe!!! Alazne's family is excited for Patrick and my family to come and hopefully we can all go again to try cidars!!
This Friday I get to go on an Excursion with my USAC Program to Zumaia to see Basque farmhouses. Very excited for that! The next weekend I'll be going to Germany to see two german friends and Brittani Davis from Flagstaff!! Lots coming in the next week!
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