Tapas y Vino Tinto

On Thursday, I awoke slightly earlier than the previous day, but I still seemed thrown off by the change of time zones (six hours, if I'm not mistaken). My favorite way to start the day is with a run, so I stepped outside, greeted by another picturesque day. Circling back to the Albaycín, I hit the steep climb at a walk on account of the elevation and the cobblestones.

That afternoon, I returned to the city center to have lunch (the main meal of the day) with my beautiful Spanish host family. I was almost in tears to see my host mother, Delia, and her daughter, Laura. I was also greeted by a new addition to the family--Laura's puppy, Noah. Delia had prepared a grand entree with chicken, potatoes, and vegetables, but the oven (having more than 20 years, mind you) was not heating properly. And so, Delia threw together a tasty pasta and bacon dish, accompanied by a salad topped with pomegranate seeds. For dessert, a mango and banana smoothie.

Much had changed for the Fernandez family since I left, particularly in the past year. They faced several hardships, but their strength prevailed. I feared that I would not get the chance to see them during my short visit, and was therefore thrilled at the lunch invitation. Everyone has said that I've kept up well with my Spanish, although I will be the first to admit that I'm a bit rusty on that thick, Andalusian accent.

I was also pleased to meet Delia's current U.S. exchange students, Megan and Reinie. I recall a visit from one of her previous students during my semester abroad, so it was interesting to be on the other side of the table this time. They are lovely girls, and have been enjoying their time with Delia in Granada. Before I left, Delia insisted that I return the next day for lunch, to share the meal that we supposed to eat that day. How could I refuse such a request?

I spent the next hour or so walking through the nearby neighborhood of Realejo (the old Jewish quarter).

Just in time for sunset, I climbed to one of my favorite gardens--Carmen de los Mártires.

That night, I reunited with my dear friend, Trini, for "tapas." Tapas are a small portion of food, very typical for dinner. Granada, however, is the only Spanish city where tapas are free when a drink is ordered. Trini and I met earlier than most Spaniards dine (around 10pm) at a popular bar, Los Manueles, in the city center. We were served a series of tapas including red meat and croquets. Ham, bread, and wine are the staples to Spanish cuisine, with seafood trailing closely behind. All in all, a fun night catching up after four years!

Friday began with my usual run. I've reached a point where I can no longer use jet lag as an excuse for sleeping in; either I've converted to the Spanish ways or my body realizes that I'm on vacation (probably a healthy mix of both).

I had an hour or so to kill before lunch, so I climbed Sabik Hill to visit the famous Alhambra--the impressive Moorish fortress built centuries ago. As a student, I participated in several class trips to the Alhambra, eagerly studying the intricacies and symbolism of the Islamic art and architecture. This time, however, I was perfectly content to leisurely meander through the surrounding grounds.

Descending to the city center, I noticed an interesting display containing pictures and statistics of the highest mountains around the world. It was quite informative and an excellent geography refresher!

That afternoon, I joined my Spanish family again in Plaza Bib-Ramble for lunch (the meal that Delia had prepared the day before). She also threw together my favorite salad--tomato and avocado. Wonderful company and wonderful food.

Afterwards, I strolled through downtown along el Río Geníl before returning to the Albaycín at sunset.

 

For dinner, I went out again for tapas (realizing then that there wouldn't be a need to go grocery shopping for this trip). The streets were full of people, enjoying themselves after a long week. I joined Trini and her friend Gabriella, as well as Gabriella's friends, all of whom are currently completing medical residencies. We went to a bar in the city center known for its pig-shaped jars filled with chilled white wine. Our tapas included an array of red meats, ham, seafood, croquets, and potatoes. Struggling slightly to keep up with the conversation--especially after such a long day--but an enjoyable time nonetheless. While many Spaniards continued "la fiesta" until the early hours of the morning, I called it a night around midnight!