Spain Day 18 - Showing Burts around!
Trip Start
Jun 25, 2008
1
24
77
Trip End
Sep 01, 2008
Pie de concha, Spain
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
And now, back by popular demand, ... more Janice blogging!:
Nostalgic is the word for it I think, the way I felt today. My mom and I walked the kids down to the playground and came across the same group of pre-teen/teenage boys that we've been seeing around town since we arrived here. A little boy came up to Samuel, who was playing alone on the teeter totter, jumped up on the other side and started going up and down. They were trying to communicate as best they could, mainly through laughter. I finally asked the little boy his name and age. He informed me that his name is Adrian and he's 9 years old. Cute little boy. At this point all the boys started asking about my kids names and their ages. The little boy then offered to started up a soccer match for Samuel to play. I jumped at the chance and to their surprise told them that I would like to play too.
They elected me and one of the older boys as captains and then we had to call odd or even and put out however many fingers we wanted then we added our fingers together to see who won the first pick. I called even and we both put out two fingers, even number so I win the first pick. Of course I pick my sweet Sam. Samuel is excited but nervous to play and he by far is the youngest of the bunch. I start out as goalie, but don't do a very good job and the other team scores two quick points. The little boy Adrian switches with me and I started running around trying to score a goal. This was the most competitive, skilled soccer match you've ever seen! ;)
Samuel was frightened of getting too close to the ball and I was out of breath almost as soon as we started playing. I realized that soccer is an exhausting sport! So although our team lost, I had the best time pretending like I was a kid again playing with the boys. It reminded me so much of my childhood in Mexico (remember that Ronnie?). I was so vividly remembering playing all kinds of sports with the boys in the neighborhood trying so hard to impress them so that I could hear the coveted phrase: "You play pretty good for a girl."
Granted I am 31 now, a tiny bit slower with a lot less endurance, but the feelings of nostalgia are sweet.
...
Asher back now...
For dinner, we head out towards "Casa Miguel" which of course (as is the Spanish way with directions and such) .. its not actually called Casa Miguel at all, but Taverna Miguel (www.tabernamiguel.com). We arrive a little early for dinner ... 8:45pm ... so we go for a walk around the countryside and come back in thirty minutes and enjoy a wonderful experience. Our server turns out to be by far the kindest and most helpful waitperson we've been served by since our arrival in Spain. He speaks with a smile, answers all of our questions with patience, gives great ideas and input on the menu, and is just a really nice guy. Even Samuel mentions how much he likes him! Turns out ... he is the owner! After we tell him how thankful we are for his kind service, he goes on to tell us that recent construction in Spain has lured away most of the experienced wait staff for higher wages. That's left restaurant owners scrambling for good help, ... and is the reason (he believes) that we've experienced poor service. I don't know ... it seems more of a cultural thing, but maybe its particularly worse at this moment in time due to the economic changes.
The restaurant has a good sized menus with smaller plates, so the deal is you order four or five things and all eat just a bit from everything. The people in town who had recommended this restaurant also recommended several dishes, and so we ordered them: Sarten Huevos con Jija (fresh ground chorizzo topped with fried egg and potatoes), Callos (cow stomach topped with fried potatoes), Chopitos (fried squid type dish, not squid I guess ... but very similar), Pimientoscon Anchoas (the local sliced red peppers with anchovies), and desserts of Leche Frita (a Spanish sort of fried ice cream) and Natillas (a flan pudding sort of thing). All of the food was EXQUISITE (well, none of us liked the Callos, but thats understandable. Just not something we are used to!). Great prices, great owner, ... great fun.
Hilarious moment of the night is when I brave the Callos. First bite I grimace through. Second bite, I try to ditch my fear and really chew right in to the fatty stomach in the plate. Actually doesn't taste too bad. Not too good either, but ... not horrible. "Bob, you gonna try some of this?" ... He grimaces. ... "Come on, we tried turtle soup in China! You can do this...". That gets him. He serves some up and starts eating away. At the very moment that all of us turn to see wether he enjoys it or not, we see him surge toward the table in a gag reflex and instantly his hand goes in to his mouth and pulls a big wad of half chewed Callos out of his throat as he tries desperately not to puke. The whole table erupts in laughter as he says, "This is not gonna work for me." I kid you not, I was in tears laughing so hard. "Its not the taste, its the texture..." he says. No joke. Its like fat mixed with tongue. Thats the texture. Tons of laughing. I see Ella laughing hard too, but also a twinkle in her eye as she watches me cracking up. I don't think she has ever seen me laugh to tears before. Good times.
Back home, and some sleep.
Comments
Callos??? ....
Hi there!
Hello to ALL the family! Parents, kids,... and grandparents too! We see that you are having a good time together.
We don´t like callos neither (well, Iñigo can eat everything, but callos don´t like him very much). The texture is really strange in the mouth, isn´t it?
Kisses for all,
Iñigo and Jaione
I am so glad you're having a great time
Hi guys, Janice, you are still a kid! You play pretty good for a girl! :D
I like how you guys are so adventurous with food. It really makes me hungry after reading all of your restaurant experiences.
Spain has been so beautiful and fun for you guys. I'm glad.
We miss you all--xoxo
Marita
Co blogging
Yeah! So glad to see you back in the blog Janice. The soccer game sounded like you may have found a new workout routine ha ha Glad to get your perspective. The Burts look very relaxed and right at home.