colloquially means WOW! but literally means OYSTERS! In conversation, it doesn’t really translate. Try it if you don’t believe me (Pilar usually has a hang-loose-type hand gesture accompany the expression, held closer to the chin and shaken in a rapid manner).
When you’re nervous… ¡CHOCOLATE!
or when you’re premenstrual… ¡CHOCOLATE!
or when you’re waiting for a boy to call… ¡CHOCOLATE!
and after you hang up… ¡CHOCOLATE!
and sometimes during the conversation… ¡CHOCOLATE!
Barceloneta
Speaking Spanish all the time has made me so much more aware of my brain. If I don’t get much sleep or am up really early, things grind through at a slower speed.
Pilar: ¿Cómo se dice novio en inglés?
Ali: Boyfriend.
Pilar: B-OY. Fre-hend. Chico amigo. Sí. Y, también, ¿cómo se dice marido en inglés?
Ali: Husband.
Pilar: Huz-BANd. Sí. Y… ¿cómo se dice amante en inglés?
Ali: Lover?!?
Pilar: Luh-VUR. Sí.
Y… ¿cómo se dice ¿quieres ser mi amante? en inglés?
Ali: Do you want to be my lover?!?
Pilar: Do YOO… wahnt to bee… mai luh-VER? Cuando ir a los estados unidos, voy a preguntar el primer hombre en el aeropuerto: do YOO… wahnt to bee… mai luh-VER?
“The Oscars are this weekend!” she said, melting at the mere thought of George Clooney. “I wasn’t nominated this year.”
Last night, Pilar told me she was only having vegetable soup because she can’t get fat due to her nephew’s upcoming wedding in September.
She served me a plate of french fries and 10 rings of greasy calamari.
Today I woke up to the sounds of drums and horns and children screaming. March 3rd is a holiday in Gracia in which people ride through the streets and make noise and toss candy to anyone who wants it. Kind of like trick-or-treating for the lazy— or masochistic (all hard candy).
It’s better than waking up to the clanking of metals, which is my normal routine. Pilar once explained the reason for this alarm clock: many of the houses here are still running on antique systems, sans pipes, and so gas-tank salesmen walk up and down the streets clanking metal to say gas is here, come and get it.
So, I’m okay with it, because knowing when to get your gas is a worthy cause— right? Oh wait. It’s the 21st century. We have pipes, and better yet, STORES.
Cordoba is exactly how you picture Europe to be. Narrow, cobble stone streets, white-washed buildings with flowers and laundry hanging off the balconies and huge, humbling pieces of history around every corner. While the town is small, there’s so much to enjoy… if you do it right.
1. Stay in Hotel Maimonides. Not only is the lobby done up to match the Great Mosque of Cordoba, but also the actual mosque itself is just ten steps away. This convenient location also serves as a good north star when getting lost in the city’s tiny streets, as you can always make your way back to the tall minaret.
2. Wake up early and check out the Great Mosque; it’s only steps outside your hotel room after all.
In the height of Cordoba’s power Jews, Muslims, and Christians were able to peacefully coexist within the city’s walls, but, in the mezquita, you’re able to clearly visualize the clear-cut power struggle between the Muslim and Christian worlds. You’ll feel as if you’ve walked into your 8th grade history book when you get lost in the bosque (forest) of pillars.
3. Take a walk through the “Barrio Judio.” Stroll down “Calle de las Flores.” Visit the statue of Maimonides and the Jewish synagogue (made by Arabs).
4. Take a 20 minute breather at the hotel, and head out again for some shopping. Cordoba has some great leather goods. Don’t be afraid to bargain.
5. Sit down for lunch in whatever semi-cheap, well-deserving tapas place you can find. At the place we went to: the olives and the patatas bravas were to die for, the waiter was absolutely adorable, and the food was coming out of his kitchen at home— we’re pretty sure.
Also: you must try salmorejo and the eggplant covered in honey.
6. If you’re lucky, the Mercado Medieval will be in town. The only way I can do this time-warped festival, this place of costumes, no silver-ware, and tons of rejoicing, any justice is through pictures. So enjoy. And, don’t forget to get dressed up warm and go back for dinner.
Living abroad can be a strange experience because the burning need to get the most out of “the best time of your life” (as the adults call it) can leave one feeling unfulfilled and needlessly greedy.
SPAYNE SEZ WAHTURR IZ 4 BAYBEEZ
1. You´re in Europe
2. Your 20-year-old friends have no trouble getting into bars and clubs
3. You´re in Europe
4. The weather is warm enough to sit outside
5. Spanish conversation is returned in Spanish
6. The sangria is better here (and so is McDonald´s at 4am)
7. You´re in Europe
8. If you´ve got good friends, they´ll celebrate like it´s a big deal anyways
the tile in the bathroom.
