Tendilla

Yesterday I went with my host family to the small pueblo that Luís is from, and where his parents still live. It´s only about 30 minutes away from Alcalá, but it was still a nice get-away. The day was, for me, a very stereotypical spanish day.

We all got up at about 11 in the morning in order to eat a quick breakfast and head for Tendilla. After arriving at Luís´s parent´s house, we were soon greeted by 2 neighbors and Maria-Jesus´s sister, brother-in-law, and their 2 children. Outside of LUÍS´s house (Luís is the name of my host father as well as HIS father-go figure- so for the sake of being clear the older Luís is LUÍS) there is this cave- looking thing, una bodega, that they store things in. It also seems to serve as a bar of some sorts. Nevertheless, what was so interesting to me was the effect of walking down a few stairs and it being about 43 ºC (about 105 F maybe?) outside and now it has to be in the 60´s F- also this sensation of a breeze- very neat. Well besides their awesome collection of old wines and things that was about it for the bodega. We grab a bottle of wine and the paellera (paella making pan) and head back to the scorching inferno. We all sit in the house and have good wine, cheese, chips topped with clams, and great conversation(keep in mind that I´m keeping my conversation at minimum: I don´t think I´ve ever not spoke this little in- well ever). After conversing, Luis, Maria-Jesus, Daniel, and I walk to a restaurant that is down the street in order to meet some of Luís´s friends. We all hang out for at least an hour or so and around 3 we go back to LUÍS´s house to start the paella. I have no idea what time we ate lunch but it was late- even for spaniards, but it was worth it. The paella was gigantic, and there was bread, salad, and wine- I think that´s in an encyclopedia when you look up "Spanish Cuisine."

After eating lunch, we walk back to the restaurant and meet the same friends as earlier and sat and passed the time by talking and playing this game called Moose- I have no idea how to play. Finally we all slowly wander back to LUÍS´s house to grab bread and tortilla española in order to have dinner outside in the mountains with friends. We jump in a van ,and off we go wandering on this long winding dirt road until it takes us past TONS of fields of sunflowers and up into the mountains where there is plenty of shade, a cool breeze, and a monastery that no longer is used. There were about 25 people in total, and we had dinner that consisted of Jamón ( I say the spanish word for ham because I want to be clear that this isn´t grocery store ham- not even GREAT grocery store ham), grilled peppers, tortilla española, cheese, and of course... bread.

I have absolutely no idea what time we left there, but nor did anyone else. It was dark and very nice outside is all I know.

We packed up and started back for Alcalá.

The sky was completely clear, the stars were brillant, and the air fresh as we winded back through the small pueblos. As we crossed the mountains that block out the cool air of the night, you can see the bright lights of Madrid and Alcalá- the same that block out the stars. We were back in civilization- I guess I need to see what time it is.