La Vida Buena

It has been such a great week. Great 2 weeks.  I just feel like I need to post something to spread the joy and zest for EVERYTHING that I'm feeling right now.


Highlights:


Playing with kittens

they're only a month old and still bottle fed

Garbonzo

Garbonzo and Gumi

Julie, Garbonzo, and Gumi

Cooking a deliciously scrumptious and healthy dinner with friends.

making tofu zucchini croquettas

salad fixings

home made chummus

Sangria

tri-carrot and grilled onion quinoa with a kick!

finished croquettas

YUM!

I also got to take some leftovers home for the next day's lunch.  Funny story: I was literally licking the last bit in the tupperware in the bus on the way to class and some woman behind said my food must taste really good, and then told me that it was good I ate so much because now I will be able to concentrate in class.  I know its bad to display my giant love of food so publicly...but it was soooo good!!!!

the tupperware

Parque de Juan Carlos I (sorry, I failed here and didn't take any pictures, but I plan on going back!) Well i got a few pictures of Felipe skateboarding on this really cool monument thing in the middle of the park. Until we got yelled at to get off.

That was the stupid little moat thing I was scared to jump over. I told you it was lame.

Sitting outside everyday after class and just enjoying the sun and working on becoming the most morena person in Spain


Giving money to this awesome duo of guitar/ukelele/south american flute and singing that graced us with their presence in the metro. I swear these guys must make a pretty good living...


Conquering my fear and jumping over a dinky little moat thing at Juan Carlos I.  It was lame to be scared, but I did it anyway and was super proud of myself!


Completing a sudoku (granted the easy level) in 4 minutes.


Semana Santa starting on Wednesday at 12:00 pm thanks to the Huelga General (strike).  Since lots of things will be closed and there will be minimum services, we don't have class! YES.


Plans for a giant picnic/botellón fest tomorrow in Retiro, since we can't really do anything else because of the strike.


(Sorry I started this blog on another day and am finally getting to finishing it).  But the botellón fest was great. The night before I slept over at an apartment where some of the girls in the program live.  It was much fun! We woke up and made french toast in the morning!


And then the Huelga started.  Well I didn't really notice actually.  It seemed like the metros were running just as frequently (more or less) and like more stores were open rather than less.  However, walking around at night after the protests (I had some intention to actually go check them out, but ended up coin other things...) But after the protest, walking through Sol, the main area where it ended was a complete mess.  There was trash everywhere and all over the city and in the metro, I saw guys working already to remove the stickers that had been stuck on the walls and signs.  Also, there was a lot of graffiti through out the city related to the Huelga.  


I don't really understand the politics behind it either.  There have been a few strikes in the last few years, against a labor reform that happened in 2002.  Not quite sure what the reform was...(sorry I can't provide more information on this).  But apparently this one was probably not so successful since the economy is so bad, a lot of people went to work anyway, and the government also said that they are not changing anything regardless of the strike.  So it seemed a little pointless actually.  Also, I don't really understand how the strike (other than making a statement and causing minor problems) really influences the government to do anything.  Really, it seems more like a pain in the ass for the people who live in the city. But this isn't a political blog, and I don't understand politics anyway, so enough of that!


Back to my lovely day in Retiro!


I met David at around 1:15 to head into the park.  We were a silly looking duo (well I was looking silly) with a crop top, ripped shorts, and this great hat I found on the street one day (people have to yet to start wearing shorts here even though its like 75 every day.  They are still in boots and coats and scarves...I don't get it, but I sure get a lot of weird looks with my bare legs, especially in the morning on my way to school!)  ANYWAY, I had my backpack stuffed with the essential: frisbee, sunscreen, water bottle, pocket knife (thanks Dad), wine + lemon soda to make tinto de verano, peanuts, book...I also had a bath towel in my hand and Sergey's skateboard in the other (I'm trying to learn how to skateboard/longboard.  Seems random but theres a reason) and David contributed some bread and cheese. 

my not very Spanish looking outfit

tinto de verano supplies

Cacahuates

The problem (well not really) with Retiro is that there are a lot of trees and not many wide open spaces, but we found a great spot that was pretty open and near a land mark in the park so we were easy to find.  We were soon joined by a few other friends and commenced tanning/botellón fest.  It was so relaxing.  Also got a lot more weird looks for being in a bathing suit in the middle of the park...but I could care less at this point.  Day Goal: be the most morena chica in Spain!  It kinda worked. 

part of the crew. Note the hat...(it also has ear flaps!)

After 6 or 7 hours in the park, it was getting a little chilly and time to head out.  The night ended with kebabs and hanging out friends, and sitting in Plaza Mayor at night.  A great way to start Semana Santa!


And now....Leitner-Berrin family conquers Spain/Portugal 2012...Stay tuned.

40 hours in Budapes(h)t

Week: 


Tuesday- Come back from Galicia at 6 am
Wednesday- Turn 21
Thursday- BUDAPEST!

hence why I was so tired on the plane....

first experience with the crazy Hungarian language, which is apparently the 5th hardest language in the world to learn.  I learned one word: Kussi (thanks)

 Upon arriving in Budapest, we didn't even bother to figure out the public transportation but took a taxi to the hostel, checked in, made a plan for the next day, and promptly went to bed.  It was my first dorm room hostel experience...not too bad except all out roommates were up and out by 6 am. But breakfast was free!

Good morning Budapest!

 Before our free (!) walking tour we walked through the square with traditional Hungarian stuff, like these cool truffle spreads, food products for sale, food to eat, artisan things, fur hats, and more... 

Truffle spreads. My favorite was the spicy tomato chutney

all my sample spoons...

To start the tour we got a really interesting quick history on Hungry.  I could tell it to you, but you could also just read it in a book with more detail.  One thing to note...the Hungarians have only been victorious in one war....which apparently is why they have a reputation for complaining a lot and being surly and why they like to go out...it makes sense...they also picked the wrong side (*cough* world war I and world war II)


Also, Budapest has two sides...Buda and Pest.  I bet Julie we were on the Pest side (neither of us really knew). I won 1 euro cent!


After the history lesson, we started walkin'!  We saw...

The Little Princess (a famous sculpture by the river) You rub the knees for good luck.

Hungarians apparently invented Love Locks

And they're really good at it...

St. Stephen's Basilica with Emma (our tour guide)

Rub the fat Austrio-Hungarian policeman's tummy for good luck

View from the Royal Palace (view from Buda to Pest)

Changing of the guards.

Matthias church with cool Turkish tiles on the roof

The turkish tiles were a trend on the Buda side. 


Then....LUNCH!  The food in Budapest was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. My dream came true....I had goulash in Hungary!

salivating just looking at this

pickles beets and cabbage with fennel

Royal Palace

Parliament modeled after Westminster

 Currency exchange rate: approximately 300 forints to 1 euro. and everything is cheap cheap! 

Cheap candy bar...

Famous Hungarian candy bars....sweet cheese covered in dark chocolate. YUM

 We also went to the Terror Museum, which was really cool since it talked about a lot of Hungarian history and the Hungarian revolt against the USSR in 1956.  Coolest part was the reconstructed prison and torture cells in their original location.  Also a really interestingly set up museum...

Opera House

Photo cred to Julie

 On the way back to the hostel (which is in the 7th district (aka the Jewish district/party district)) we ran into a Jewish community center, so we popped on in to look around.  

One thing I didn't get to do was go on the Jewish walking tour or explore the Jewish history.  When I go back to Budapest I will most definitely hit this part up...

The synagogue

 We got back to the hostel and were greeted by free crepes!

 Then, we went out!

Navigating the Pest streets at night.

 First we went to  Ruin Bar

I tried the local beer

 And we had Polinka, a 70% shot of some type of alcohol famous in Hungary

I had plum flavor

it burned going down...and continued to burn

 Then we found another bar, filled with people drinking weird green drinks, lots of Hungarian young people, cigarette smoke, and arcade machines

i tried the dark local brew...

The friends we made in the bar...They entertained us the rest of the night

NO.

The next morning we went to the Turkish baths...the only thing left from when the Ottoman Empire ruled Hungary. It was a beautiful day to take in some sun and enjoy the warm pools.

There were lots of old leathery Hungarian locals...aka men in speedos and women in silly swim caps

Chillin like a Hungarian

This dude was sleeping (and snoring) on the shallow step.  We sat next to him for awhile.

 To get to the baths we had our first Hungarian metro experience.  Its a piece straight out of the communist era, with rattly trains, the most violent shutting doors (they will seriously kill you if you're in the way) and a scary and loud bell that rings before the doors close and the train takes off.  I felt like I was being driven straight to Big Brother in this one.  We also managed to ride all the lines in 4 hours!   (There are only 3).

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 After the baths we went to the Great Market Hall for some traditional grub, food market, and artisan goods

outside...

baked goods

meat goods

fish goods

pickled goods

Then, we lunched! 

My stuffed cabbage (with some kind of meat and rice) and extra cabbage on the side with LOTS of paprika. Covered in some yogurt sauce.  YUMMMMMMY! (and cheap! only 990 forints!)

Julie's traditional (i can't remember the name) fried bread with garlic sauce and cheese

no pepper...just salt and paprika

Hungarian goods

Took this one for you Omi...

 LOVED Budapest! It was definitely a different side of Europe I hadn't seen before and hope to see more of!


Until next time, Budapes(h)t