The time to say good bye to Spain has arrived. The two weeks have just rushed by and we`ve had a really good time. I have now an official diploma, that I´ve accomplished level A1 in Spanish and can talk about personal and familiar things and everyday life at slow pace. Not bad, eh? In addition to the diploma, I also got written remarks from la profesora, that I´ve been an attentative student and have worked hard. Or, to be honest, that is what I make of the lines in my still-so-poor spanish. I´m considering to continue with spanish, in the form of an evening class. It could be the project of autumn 2014.
Thursday afternoon I took a stroll around the block and saw this flyer, advertising a musical Matilda, 8 euros between 18.30-20.00. I decided to go since I´m well aquinted with the story. So a short visit to the playa del Bil-bil (long enough, though to get the lower part of my stomach gingerly red) and then off to the theater. Five adorable children and four almost adults amused the audience (14 relatives and me) with the story of Matilda, an extraordinary intelligent child with super natural powers. Mrs Honey is her teacher and Mrs Trenchbull the bad principal and aunt to Mrs Honey. I estimated that I understood every 20th word and that is not too bad, eh?
I met up with Christine again and we had this plan to eat paella as farewell dinner but it wasn`t that easy to find. Most restaurants in Arroyo serves paella but only in Sundays. So we went down to the playa, again! a walk for 20 minutes and to the restaurants lining the beach and found this lovely fish restaurant. Chistine ordered the sword fish (pez de espada?) and I took the paella marisco. Gorgeous!
fredag 4 juli 2014
torsdag 3 juli 2014
¡Hola!
The countdown has started; we are leaving Spain tomorrow. It`s been two lovely weeks! If we are to do this again, perhaps next year it will not be an easy thing to top this stay. We`ve had an excellent professora and the most suiting apartemente, five minutes walk from school, a most ample stay.
During these two weeks I `ve had lousy sleep at nights. I haven`t been able to turn comfortably in my bed and I am a most frequent turner, like a chicken put on an electrical skew. I`ve had this feeling that the bed is to narrow which it isn`t and every time I turned I woke up with my heart pounding and expected close contact with the floor. I´ve put pillows from the sofa under the mattress, to make a barrier but it doesn´t help. Hopefully it will adjust when I get home, perhaps it´s my husband´s snoring I'm missing... not.
The countdown has started; we are leaving Spain tomorrow. It`s been two lovely weeks! If we are to do this again, perhaps next year it will not be an easy thing to top this stay. We`ve had an excellent professora and the most suiting apartemente, five minutes walk from school, a most ample stay.
During these two weeks I `ve had lousy sleep at nights. I haven`t been able to turn comfortably in my bed and I am a most frequent turner, like a chicken put on an electrical skew. I`ve had this feeling that the bed is to narrow which it isn`t and every time I turned I woke up with my heart pounding and expected close contact with the floor. I´ve put pillows from the sofa under the mattress, to make a barrier but it doesn´t help. Hopefully it will adjust when I get home, perhaps it´s my husband´s snoring I'm missing... not.
onsdag 2 juli 2014
Miercoles
We are heading towards the end of this trip. If we were to do this again, we would have expanded our stay with two or three days, free from classes. It would have been nice to spend some more time at the playa or perhaps take a trip to Gibraltar, Marocco or other places nearby. For now, we finish class Friday at 14.00, then back to the flat for inspection and then off to the airport.
Yesterday we spent some time in the kitchen making gazpacho; tomatoes, crumbles of bread, peppers, cucumbers, onion and garlic, easy-peasy. We talked about kitchen vocabulary in class and in the book there was this recipe for gazpacho so you could say we did our homework. After the delicious soup I had a powernap and then we were headed for the ........ tada! playa. It's a treat in the evening, no risk for burning accidents and less populated. I took a swim and it wasn't my intention to soak the entire body, inclusive the hair but it was a bit windy and the waves were high so it just happened.
Christine found this dress in a beach shop, one of many, white with fringes and straps laced with strass, so elegant and it fit her perfect. This trip has doubled Christine's dress wardrobe, I think the white dress and in addition to the shopping list yesterday, a beige one in linen, they were number four and five. Lovely!
To finish off the evening we had our pictures taken, dressed in hats, gloves and jewelry and heavy make-up imitating the fashion in the 1920`s. It as really fun an a bit nervous, all was made in full display and we had a bit of an audience but the woman taking the photos was in full control, choosing hats and steering us into the correct poses with a firm hand. I'm very pleased with my photo, considering the model, ha ha.
I have made a discovery today; once upon a time, beeing a spanish student back in the gymnium I must have learnt one or two things. Somewhere, deep down the knowledge has been hiding, waiting for a moment , just like this, a similar learningsituation to pop out. Twice I have used tempus and grammar that we haven't had in class yet. I am amazed! Fragments of Spanish grammar being there! I used past tense once ( hacer comida) and objects direto (Me gusta cocinar las dineros por me hijo, me gusta hacerlas or something like that) spontainiously. It happened by accident so I was as surprised as anyone. Happy, happy!
Yesterday we spent some time in the kitchen making gazpacho; tomatoes, crumbles of bread, peppers, cucumbers, onion and garlic, easy-peasy. We talked about kitchen vocabulary in class and in the book there was this recipe for gazpacho so you could say we did our homework. After the delicious soup I had a powernap and then we were headed for the ........ tada! playa. It's a treat in the evening, no risk for burning accidents and less populated. I took a swim and it wasn't my intention to soak the entire body, inclusive the hair but it was a bit windy and the waves were high so it just happened.
Christine found this dress in a beach shop, one of many, white with fringes and straps laced with strass, so elegant and it fit her perfect. This trip has doubled Christine's dress wardrobe, I think the white dress and in addition to the shopping list yesterday, a beige one in linen, they were number four and five. Lovely!
To finish off the evening we had our pictures taken, dressed in hats, gloves and jewelry and heavy make-up imitating the fashion in the 1920`s. It as really fun an a bit nervous, all was made in full display and we had a bit of an audience but the woman taking the photos was in full control, choosing hats and steering us into the correct poses with a firm hand. I'm very pleased with my photo, considering the model, ha ha.
I have made a discovery today; once upon a time, beeing a spanish student back in the gymnium I must have learnt one or two things. Somewhere, deep down the knowledge has been hiding, waiting for a moment , just like this, a similar learningsituation to pop out. Twice I have used tempus and grammar that we haven't had in class yet. I am amazed! Fragments of Spanish grammar being there! I used past tense once ( hacer comida) and objects direto (Me gusta cocinar las dineros por me hijo, me gusta hacerlas or something like that) spontainiously. It happened by accident so I was as surprised as anyone. Happy, happy!
tisdag 1 juli 2014
El primero del July
Yesterday evening we went to the playa. Amazing feeling to sunbath at eight in the evening. I took a dip in the sea and stayed in the water for at least 20 minutes. Cold at first but then lovely, similar to the sea at the east coast of Sweden, in Ahus. ! I thought that if this was to be the only time I took a dip this summer it had to be worth it.
Before the playa we ate at an Indian restaurant, a full menu (starter, main course and postre). I asked for media spiced dish, curry with chick peas and rice but it was more spicy than I expected. But later that evening the rumble in my stomage was from the icecream not the spices. The icecream was heaven sent, very creamy and rich and of course, made of full fat cream, en masse. Thank you for this rançion lactose, I heard my stomach mumble.
Today´s lessons were intensive, as always. Reflexive and pronominala verbs and we practised in writing and retelling the events and hours of an ordinary working day. The general feeling has changed from complete blank to accually be able to ask and answer, not only si or no' but to extend the answers and to make follow-up questions. Nice feeling indeed. Christine and I are still forming a group of our own. The fellow who came to class yesterday chose to get one-to-one teaching with Elena. Imagine, that was us a week ago!
Before the playa we ate at an Indian restaurant, a full menu (starter, main course and postre). I asked for media spiced dish, curry with chick peas and rice but it was more spicy than I expected. But later that evening the rumble in my stomage was from the icecream not the spices. The icecream was heaven sent, very creamy and rich and of course, made of full fat cream, en masse. Thank you for this rançion lactose, I heard my stomach mumble.
Today´s lessons were intensive, as always. Reflexive and pronominala verbs and we practised in writing and retelling the events and hours of an ordinary working day. The general feeling has changed from complete blank to accually be able to ask and answer, not only si or no' but to extend the answers and to make follow-up questions. Nice feeling indeed. Christine and I are still forming a group of our own. The fellow who came to class yesterday chose to get one-to-one teaching with Elena. Imagine, that was us a week ago!
måndag 30 juni 2014
Weekend en España
This weekend we kept the speed up. Friday evening we went to Torremolinos. The initial plan was to eat grilled fish but we ended up having the fish eating us. We ouldn't resist the call from the fish spa so we put our dirty sweaty feet in a basin and the small fish started doing their work, nibbling at our feet. It was tickely and a bit gros at the same time. All of the fish swam gingerly when we left so it couldn't been that bad for them. Ten minutes for 10 euro but we were the only customers for a long time so the woman let us sit in peace.
Saturday morning the quest was to find the bus station and take the bus to Ronda. But we gave up the search and took the bus to Mijas instead. A lovely little village with burro-taxi, horse carriages with jingle bells and white mended houses. We did some good sight-seeing and had some great tapas; potatosalad, porc casserole, pickled vegetables, some salad and of course beer. Then we took the bus home to Arroyo de la Miel, some siesta and then tada! we found the most lovely plaza, just around the corner. We just stumbled upon it when turning left instead of continuing straight forward. Some good music, more tapas and more beers. Lovely evening.
Sunday we had breakfast at a restaurant run by the owner of our apartment, Carmen. We had a sturdy full English breakfast with eggs, bacon and sausages; lucky us! We asked our way to the bus station, in Spanish of course and this time we ended up, in the bus to Ronda. Ronda is originally an medieval castle, built by the Arabs on top of a huge canyon. The numbers of stairs we have climbed this weekend; countless. Awesome place, well worth the 2 hours busride each way.
Toremolinos was final stop so we had a stroll by the sea back home to Arroyo. In a small shop I found this dress, at full lenght, peacock pattern with a laced backside. I haven´t had a long dress in decades! Together with my new shoes, with black flowers; watch out!
Saturday morning the quest was to find the bus station and take the bus to Ronda. But we gave up the search and took the bus to Mijas instead. A lovely little village with burro-taxi, horse carriages with jingle bells and white mended houses. We did some good sight-seeing and had some great tapas; potatosalad, porc casserole, pickled vegetables, some salad and of course beer. Then we took the bus home to Arroyo de la Miel, some siesta and then tada! we found the most lovely plaza, just around the corner. We just stumbled upon it when turning left instead of continuing straight forward. Some good music, more tapas and more beers. Lovely evening.
Sunday we had breakfast at a restaurant run by the owner of our apartment, Carmen. We had a sturdy full English breakfast with eggs, bacon and sausages; lucky us! We asked our way to the bus station, in Spanish of course and this time we ended up, in the bus to Ronda. Ronda is originally an medieval castle, built by the Arabs on top of a huge canyon. The numbers of stairs we have climbed this weekend; countless. Awesome place, well worth the 2 hours busride each way.
Toremolinos was final stop so we had a stroll by the sea back home to Arroyo. In a small shop I found this dress, at full lenght, peacock pattern with a laced backside. I haven´t had a long dress in decades! Together with my new shoes, with black flowers; watch out!
fredag 27 juni 2014
Friday 27th June
Hóla, yesterday was a treat. School at 9.00-13.00, just a quick snack and then off to malaga. It's so easy to travel when at Costa del Sol. You take the train or accually it`s more of a metro, monorailed. Easy to get a ticket and the trains leave at short intevalls. We arrived at Malaga, at about three o' clock and spend the afternoon visiting the Picasso museum, with sketches, small statues and paintings from early to late work. It was also a temporary exhibition, of Lissinsky an russian artist of early 1900 -ish. We ate at a bar, gaspachos and calamares and a huge bowl of sangria but had to refill with a roll kebab and falafel, before returning to Arroyo de la Miel. Really nice!
Friday today and after siesta - welldeserved! we're planning on taking us by foot to Torremolinos and try the grilled fish on skew - pescadora asado.
Friday today and after siesta - welldeserved! we're planning on taking us by foot to Torremolinos and try the grilled fish on skew - pescadora asado.
onsdag 25 juni 2014
25th of June
This morning`s wake-up call came as a surprise. Why is my phone buzzing at this hour, in the middle of the night? Well, accually the night was long gone and time to get up,07.30. We had a good breakfast, eggs mayonnaise and tuna, a combo made in heaven! and went out for school. But the sleepiness hasn't left me yet, I could kill for a lie down. Class was intense and two hours just rushed by. Today's lessons started with repetition and went on with prepositions and more verbs.
Yesterday evening, we went out to orient ourselves and ended up behind the village, not exactly in the mountains more likely at the feet of the mountains but all the same, we had a splendid view. Overlooking the area we could tell that the village is bigger than we initially thought. It's a bit confused what part is called what, we have Benalmandena, Benalmadena Port and Arroyo de la Miel. I think we're staying at Arroyo de la Miel but every paper and e-mail we got from the agency said Benalmadena.
Christine and I decided on a trip to Malaga tomorrow to visit the Picasso museum and to do some shopping. Today`s activity will probably be a short stroll down to the beach.. The weather is a bit windy and clouds block the sun occasionally so the bathing will be in the sun, not in the sea. You can feel the heat when facing the sun so the wind and clouds makes it really enjoyable.
Yesterday evening, we went out to orient ourselves and ended up behind the village, not exactly in the mountains more likely at the feet of the mountains but all the same, we had a splendid view. Overlooking the area we could tell that the village is bigger than we initially thought. It's a bit confused what part is called what, we have Benalmandena, Benalmadena Port and Arroyo de la Miel. I think we're staying at Arroyo de la Miel but every paper and e-mail we got from the agency said Benalmadena.
Christine and I decided on a trip to Malaga tomorrow to visit the Picasso museum and to do some shopping. Today`s activity will probably be a short stroll down to the beach.. The weather is a bit windy and clouds block the sun occasionally so the bathing will be in the sun, not in the sea. You can feel the heat when facing the sun so the wind and clouds makes it really enjoyable.
tisdag 24 juni 2014
Diá segunda
We entered a high speed class, my dear companion and I. There are the two of us and the teacher Elena. No way of dodging the question, you have to stay focused and on your toes all the time. We start at 9 and finish class at 11, with a short break between. First day we took our time during the break and ordered coffee, sat down and chatted away some valuable minutes. Back in the classroom our techer scolded us and we got the message: we are here to study not drink coffee. Today we ran out, bought a cup and took it back into class again. At this stage, we are handling the regular verbs, how to express time, building the vocabulary and exercise pronounciation. Maj god, it`s been 30 years since I studied Spanish back in the gymnasium and most of it is buried and long lost. Now I have to start all over again, from the beginning but we keep good speed. After class we spend two hours at the computer, with selfstudies; exercises, reading and listening comprehension... you know the drill.
The weather today has been a bit windy and cloudy and in the afternoon it started to rain. After the rain the temerature fell at least 10 degrees.
The weather today has been a bit windy and cloudy and in the afternoon it started to rain. After the rain the temerature fell at least 10 degrees.
måndag 23 juni 2014
Here we go again!
¡Buenos dias, mes amigos!
Here we go again and this time EN ESPAÑA. My very dear collegue Christine and I decided after our success in Munich 2013 that we wanted to do it again; a combined holiday/studying trip. I voted for England but Christine insisted that we study Spanish so Spain and spanish it is! For two weeks 22th of June til 4th of July we are going to refreshen our idiomas and palabras.
We contacted "our" agency Avista and they recommended us to go to Malaga, not in the very heart of Malaga due to our lack of teenagerness but to a small city outside the coast, Benalmadena. After our first day at school we are muy contentas; Christine and I form a class of our own, with a teacher, Elena for two hours, between 9-11. After that, it¡s two hours of selfstudies, at the computer.
The weather is sunny and windy and for lunch we had spanish hamburgers and viño verano, aj loove viño verano. It took us 45 minutes to get back to school after lunch and it wasn't the shopping that delayed us but more likely a slight touch of we- got- lost.
Yesterday when we arrived at Benalmadena, at approx 22.00 we asked a police man for directions to our street, Calle del greco 27. For sure, if we had followed his directions we wouldn't have found the apartment yet. He wanted to send us out to the coast, 5 kilometres from the center. When we asked the taxidriver he just looked at us and pointed over his shoulders " it is 50 metres that way". It is a lovely apartment, three bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom and access to a great terrace on the top. We celebrated our journey there, with a beer mixed with lemon juice before we went to bed. I had this dream I was sleeping on a doctor's guerny and every time I turn around, it felt as I was going to hit the floor.
Here we go again and this time EN ESPAÑA. My very dear collegue Christine and I decided after our success in Munich 2013 that we wanted to do it again; a combined holiday/studying trip. I voted for England but Christine insisted that we study Spanish so Spain and spanish it is! For two weeks 22th of June til 4th of July we are going to refreshen our idiomas and palabras.
We contacted "our" agency Avista and they recommended us to go to Malaga, not in the very heart of Malaga due to our lack of teenagerness but to a small city outside the coast, Benalmadena. After our first day at school we are muy contentas; Christine and I form a class of our own, with a teacher, Elena for two hours, between 9-11. After that, it¡s two hours of selfstudies, at the computer.
The weather is sunny and windy and for lunch we had spanish hamburgers and viño verano, aj loove viño verano. It took us 45 minutes to get back to school after lunch and it wasn't the shopping that delayed us but more likely a slight touch of we- got- lost.
Yesterday when we arrived at Benalmadena, at approx 22.00 we asked a police man for directions to our street, Calle del greco 27. For sure, if we had followed his directions we wouldn't have found the apartment yet. He wanted to send us out to the coast, 5 kilometres from the center. When we asked the taxidriver he just looked at us and pointed over his shoulders " it is 50 metres that way". It is a lovely apartment, three bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom and access to a great terrace on the top. We celebrated our journey there, with a beer mixed with lemon juice before we went to bed. I had this dream I was sleeping on a doctor's guerny and every time I turn around, it felt as I was going to hit the floor.
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