viernes, 17 de mayo

Day 2 marked our first official full day in Valencia.  Breakfast consisted of fresh squeezed OJ and toast with cacahuate spread (aka peanut butter) and a banana.  We began the day by having our host family walk us to the institute so we would know how to get there.  It was an experience for Jen and myself to get ready because neither of our straghteners functioned so natural has been the way to go.  And of course we have to have a little pizzaz in our mornings and right around the time to leave for classes, Jen found herself locked inside the bathroom.  So naturally our host dad had to use one of the biggest kitchen knives I have seen to pry the door's lock open, quite the entertainment!  We had a brief orientation and met all the professors at the school and then sang our hearts out to some Spanish songs with everyone, fue muy divertido! While Jen and our other friend Holly had history class, a group of the other girls and myself went on a hunt for toitletries and other necesities people needed.  Of course nothing can go as planned for us so as we were on our venture, once again the heavens opened up and the rain came pouring down.  Classic American girls that we are all screamed and ran under a bus stop.  After it all subsided we finished the shopping trip and went back to the institute to pick up Jen and Holly.

Everyone split back up to have lunch with our homestays again and we enjoyed a lovely meal of spaghetti carbonara which was delicious as is everything else they prepare for us.  A little after lunch and relaxation we met up with Jake and John to wander around the city a little before our bus tour of the entire city.  Jake showed us the "cactus field" that he found and we found a interesting store to say the least.  I was on the hunt for a beach towel and both of us in desperate need of a hair straightener and we saw this particular store run by two Chinese women.  We walked in to what could have been a hoarders episode.  There was everything in this store from "prom dresses", bird cages, to even an entire wall of electronics.  Apart from being quite interesting I was able to find a beach towel and alas a straightener!

We met up with the group around 6 for our city tour and went around all of the city.  I saw the sciences building again which is one of my favorite parts of the entire city as well as Las Arenas y the best place for Sangria as Christina previously showed us, San Patricios.  The tour bus dropped us off in La Plaza del Atyuntamiento where our walking tour contiuned.  The weather was cold, drizzly, and miserable yet again and of course Jen and I are the smart ones who could "tough the weather" and not bring a jacket or umbrella...aka Lewis and Clarke failed.  We then explored the Cathedral and other plazas before returning back to Plaza del Ayuntamiento.  We knew exactly how to get home from La Plaza de Virgen but had to return with the group and then backtrack.  Well, needeless to say Lewis and Clarke failed again but we brought others down with us this time...oops.  We "thought" we had our directions right but ended up a little confused but after about a 45 minute walk we made it home.  Jake and John deemed themselves Sacajawea and Squanto during our "adventura" and the other two girls were just along for the ride.

After making it home we ate a fabulous mini pizza Jamel made and a calzone thing that consisted of vegis, tomato sauce, and tomoatoes all in a pastry baked crust.  Of course we tried it but I wouldn't want to again but the pizza was delicioso!  Our homestay parents went out for a "yankee night" at their friends which was an American party with hamburgers and everything (they're a fun group of party people too).  We got ready and then headed out to meet the group for drinks.  Learning our lesson earlier, when we felt the rain after walking a good 50 ft from our apartment, we turned around and got jackets...best decision ever.  We met up with the group and ended up at a bar called Lola.  A Cuban bartender was set up under an awning outside and every Spanaird made sure we knew he was "un Cubano".  He made all of us margaritas and pina coladas and eventually brought a round of shots to celebrate Melanie's birthday!

While sitting inside enjoying our drinks, we hear a women yell "Are there Americans in here?!?! WHAATTTT" and was overly enthused to see us Americans.  Her name was Julie and she is from Missouri but has now lived in Valencia teaching English for 8 years now.  She and all her friends were a hoot to listen to and her friend asked us "Why do Americans have such long eyelashes" and we all just laughed and said "it was the mascaara?" She was un poquito boracha (drunk) at this point so she just shrugged and then gave us lots of advice of where to go and not go.  After a bit me and Jen had long conversations with the bartender lady inside and her friend, Mar y Mercedes.  They were so much fun to talk with and we helped a little with their English while they helped our Spanish.  They told us to come back the following night so we can hang out more and they would let us try "agua de valencia" which is a surprise cocktail.

The bar was closing down so we started to head out but ended up chatting with the "cuban bartender" a little more while drunk Julie the American kept talking to the other group.  Eventually we were able to break away from the conversation and Jake and John walked us back to our apartment.  El primer noche fue un exito! (The first night was a success!)