Sabado 12 de junio 2010 18.45h

Hola:

This experience has provided a lot of opportunity for reflection on life's journey and considerations for those experiences ahead.

The various things that have happened here in Spain have generally been the most fun anyone could hope for and often unexpectedly great at times. Even the things that were not fun, can be entertaining in retrospect - hopefuly I can paint the image when I sit to write the story.

As we approach the end of 9 months here I need to try to share my day yesterday, so you feel how wonderous it all was.

In one of my classes I had a conversation with a student who is from Columbia, it seems I gave him my number so we could get together for intercambios. On Monday he brought it up out of the blue asking to get together on Friday (the 11th). I said yes. He needs the practice and he is a bit down as his divorce is coming to a close.

When Friday arrived I had no idea what to expect - he had not been 100% clear due to the language challenges; as always I remained open to what ever we shared. We met in the city and took a bus 3 minutes southwest to Navalcarnero, where he lives.

First stop - Plaza de Torros, but it is closed, we can not see inside the modern facility, but we had a 2nd round of canas with pintxos. Then we headed toward the cathedral. Isabel la catolica was married in this cathedral and may have lived in the town at one point. Note the city is close to Toledo, one time capital of the united Spain. My host has shared that he knows many people in town and several own restaurants and we wil eat lunch at one of them and visit caves. Now I think that will be an activity after lunch, wrong.

We get to the restaurant - meet/kiss a waitress - meet and kiss another - meet and shake hands with the owner Jesus. Then I am escorted into the Cave - yes, it is in the restaurant and is what we would call the basement., a crude one, but one none the less.

It was awesome - very old - walls and ceiling with brick supports and arches. I am told it is in the original form, has not been remodeled. There are old bottles of wine and antiques decorating the entire cave as it decends deeper into the earth. There are alcoves along the path down and many are set with a table and benches for guests to hang out enjoying food & drink. I am then introduced to the 4 men who are there having a drink at the bar. They all decide it is now time to introduce me to a tradtion in the caves. They have a catholic prayer station - you know those padded stands they kneel on during communion - well, you kneel and they pour PORRON - envocado vino - down your throat and count to see how long you can last. WHAT A BLAST! My host once lasted until the count of 80!

Now what - we have vermouth on the rocks and olives and then hide in an alcove as a wedding party comes into the cave to experience the tradition. A waitress brings us tapas.

After 3 cocktails - we return to the dinning room upstairs and enjoy more beers (4) and an appitizer of pimientos y anchoas, followed by a platter FULL of logistinos, gambas grande y pequeno and a salad with bread - I was so full. OH, but wait you are not done - wine with your 2nd plato? Si, por favor! Are you keeping track - beers(2) - wine(shots) - vermouth(3) - Beers(2) - it is only 15.00h. Jesus the owner observes me watching him pour sidra - and brings me one - the tradition is to swollow the entire glass at once - I must!

My fish arrives - it was delicious! served with more salad, potato and wine. Now I am really really full! OH, but wait, there is dessert - a sampling of three tiramisu, ice cream, fruit; cafe con leche and the traditional after dinner drink - yes more alcohol. I can not move - but, now we have to go, we have a bus to catch as we both have plans right after lunch. So the waitress kisses us good bye and slips me an ashtray as a gift, along with the unopened bottle of wine on the table. Jesus shakes our hands and slips me an ashtray!

I really can not convey how awesome this experience was, but hope everyone has the opportunity to visit a cave in Spain.

But the story is not over. My dinner plans are with Maria Jose, Carlos, Patrick, Javier, Jorge and friends of Maria Jose's - somewhere near El Escorial. Again, I had no idea what to expect. Maria is 45 minutes late - that is okay - I am not ready to eat and it gave me time to catch up with Patrick and Javier.

Load up in the 2 cars and head Northwest of the city toward El Escorial About 1/2 way there we exit and drive into a very wealthy neighborhood of large homes. We park in front of one of the high barrier fences and entered when the gate is opened.

We are introduced to our hosts and proceed to follow them around as they give us a tour of their modest 4,000 sq foot, 4 bedroom home with views toward Madrid beyond the fruit trees, pool and Paddle ball court. Wow. But it looks like they are remodeling and it looks as though there is no food being prepared. OH, we are leaving? Where to I wonder.

We all load up into 3 cars and head out to the highway toward El Escorial again. Exit the highway and pass through two small villages - the 2nd is Galapagan - and onto a dirt road. This is odd...

On this secluded country road a gate is opened by remote control and we continue further to another gate - again opened my remote. The buildings consist of one LARGE main house and two small side buildings. The desert is landscaped to support the natural environment with an amazing view of the reservoir (Madrid's water supply) and of San Sebastian Del Escorial.

The house - beyond words - maybe 5,000 sqfeet? 6 to 8 bedrooms, a dinning table that could seat 12 or 14 comfortably, a common area with room for 12 in the pit in front of the open fireplace with fire blazing. We are offered sidra - our host does not pour it in the traditional manner - he has a machine that does it for him - oh my - avoids spills. The caterers bring out - cheese & bread; olives; chips; clams; peanuts. What do you mean dinner is served - I thought this was dinner.

Oh now - salad - low sodium paella and wine - dessert: flan, ice cream, ice cream cake - All without sugar and tasty!! Cafe con leche. Fantastic night of food, drink and Spanish!!

About 00.15h we started to leave - was back in the city at 01.00h. WOW - now what?

Met Peter for a beer - talked about his project! He headed home - I went and met up with Juan Petro at a late night club for a night cap, well a beer. Was home and in bed at 04.30h.

Quite content to have had another most memorable day here in Spain! How awesome

Gotta go meet friends -
Adios
Beto