faux real

So my senora didn't comepletely forget my birthday...last night I was exhausted so I stayed in and decided to do some reading. I sat in my bed and wound up falling asleep until Jesus knocked on my door saying it was time for dinner. Apparently I didn't hear him, so he opened the door and I had passed out I was so tired. When I got into the kitchen my senora handed me a cute little bag with teddy bears on it and apologized for not seeing me the day before. She got me a really pretty stationary set and a necklace:





















Yes, yes, that would be fur.

Fortunately, I haven't quite figured out intonation in Spanish and I'm hoping my "que bonita" sounded convincing. Sadly, it's so hideous, I love it. I wore it all day today and I'm a little sad that the little ball of fur is balding. It's fun, I can tickle my chin with it and Alex and I spent quite a bit of time trying to find the perfect top to wear with it. The only thing we found was a faux fur shawl that I tried on and has left me feeling itchy since. It was $12, how much more could we expect?
I actually had dinner with my senora and the twins last night. We spent pretty much the entire meal discussing Julian's mullet. We were all trying to convince him that it is absolutely horrible, while he was trying to tell us how cool it will be when he bleaches the top part and shaves the sides. It was a very entertaining dinner. I went straight to bed after.
Today I was awakened by a text message at about 11.00 and took my time to get ready, out by 13.15 to cash a check before the bank closed at 14.00. The bank was a crazy experience in itself. There are little teleportals to go though, but you have to take all metal objects out of your pockets and put them in a locker on the outside, take the key, and enter the portal. One side of the doors close and seal, you stand there for a few seconds and the other side opens up to let you in. Same deal for the way out.
After the bank, Matt and I decided to check out the movies. We were going to see Walk the Line, or La cuerda floja, but we waited too long and they took down the poster advertising it. We decided on Syriana instead. Supposedly it was hard to understand in English, and even more difficult in Spanish. I did understand a lot of it, and Matt had already seen it, so it wasn't too bad. The entire experience was amazing though. The theater was an actual theater...the architecture was beautiful, really big red velvet seats, extremely dark. The popcorn was also the best I have ever had. I think they make it in olive oil, like everything else here. So good. I think we're going to make movie day once a week. $4.50 matinee, $5.00 large popcorn/ drink combo...how can you go wrong?
Alex had texted us saying he was bored, so we met up with him and went shopping and had a drink in the place where Socialism was founded in Spain. It was packed, but delicious. I liked the whole concept of it...you walk in, buy a few tapas, stand around in a crowd and the waiters run around with drinks. There isn't much of a selection and it's not a place you really hang around for too long. I'd definitely go back though.

















After, we walked around Sol for awhile. Alex bought a...I guess you would call it a liquor keg that is tipped on its side and it has a tap and little shot glasses that look like tiny beer mugs.


Matt bought some shirts for $3.90. I tried to buy a sweater, but I couldn't get over the itchiness. We headed home around 9.30. We have to be up and out of here to meet the group for Extremadura at 7.45. I'm so exhausted, and also very homesick. Everytime I call home (actually Skype) my dog goes crazy for my voice looking around the entire house barking looking for me. Oh, H-dog.











Matt also met a penguin friend.