The First Weekend of CARNAVAL - La Tortillá

February has arrived, which means CARNAVAL is also here! Remember...Carnaval? The famous month-long fiesta for which the province (and city) of Cádiz are so well known?? If you don't remember, and need a refresher...google "Cadiz Carnival" or refer back to my posts in February 2009. :)


This weekend was the first official weekend of the Carnaval celebrations in Ubrique. Saturday festivities included the "Jomoná," the "Tortillá," and the presentation of the seven Chirigotas, Comparsas, and Cuartets that will be singing catchy and witty tunes throughout the month. This year, I went to the "Jamoná" and "Tortillá" with a new group of friends...two of whom were celebrating their birthdays. Needless to say, we spent over 13 hours in the streets celebrating birthdays, carnaval, and the beautiful sunny day! The "Jamoná" is celebrated in the Antonio Vega neighborhood, which is positioned about half-way up the hillside towards the east side of town. The main plaza overlooks a good portion of town, and is a perfect location for drinking Cruzcampo (well, if you like beer...I still can't stand it), snacking on the free mondatidos (ham sandwiches -- hence the festival's name "La Jamoná"), listening to the various carnaval groups sing, and chatting with friends, neighbors, and townsfolk. After the "Jamoná", the crowds slowly meander down the hill to the "Tortillá", which is celebrated in the Plaza del Algarrobal (a plaza built around a natural water well). The carnaval groups continue to sing, people continue to drink Cruzcampo, but instead of little ham sandwiches, they munch on free tapas of Spanish tortilla (hence...the festival's name, "La Tortillá"). After a good five or six hours at the "Jamoná" and "Tortillá", my friends and I continued to enjoy the festive atmosphere for a good six hours longer. It was a beautiful, cheery sunny day, followed by a pleasant evening of partying and enjoying friendly company and life to its fullest. Frankly, I couldn't have asked for a better start to Carnaval 2010!


From here on out, every weekend there are various gastronomical and musical events and festivities in Ubrique. Next weekend, however, I will be heading to Cádiz (city)to celebrate one of the world's most famous Carnavals!!!!! While I did go to Cádiz last year, I didn't go during the most important weekend. However, it is just one of those things that you can't pass up - I mean, I can't live in Spain for two years and not say I went to Cádiz Carnaval. So, I'm going this year, and I'm going all out! Check back next weekend for updates...and some crazy carnaval stories.

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Febrero ha llegado, lo cual significa que CARNAVAL también esta aquí!!!!

Este fin de semana fue el primer fin de semana de las celebraciones de Carnaval en Ubrique. Las festividades del sábado incluyeron la "Jomoná," la "Tortillá," y la presentación de siete Chirigotas, Comparsas, y de Cuartetas que estarán cantando melodías pegadizas e ingeniosas a través del mes. Este año, yo fui a la "Jamoná" y la "Tortillá" con un nuevo grupo de amigos...y dos de ellos celebraban sus cumpleaños. En total, pasamos más de 13 horas en la calle celebrando los cumpleaños, el carnaval, y el buen día soleado (SIN lluvia!). La "Jamoná" fue celebrado en el vecindario de Antonio Vega, que es posicionado arriba de la mayoria del pueblo hacia la zona del este. La principal plaza es como un mirador y da una buena vista del pueblo, y es un sitio perfecto para beber Cruzcampo (bien, si usted quiere cerveza...yo todavía no me gusta nada la cerveza), comer un montadito de jamón (por eso se llama la fiesta "La Jamoná"), escuchar los varios grupos de carnaval cantan, y charlar con amigos, con los vecinos, y con los ciudadanos en general. Después de la "Jamoná", las multitudes vagan lentamente cuesta abajo hasta la "Tortillá", que es celebrado en el Algarrobal de del de Plaza (una plaza construyó alrededor de un pozo de agua natural/un nacimiento). Los grupos de carnaval continúan cantar, las personas continúan beber Cruzcampo, pero en vez de bocadillos pequeños de jamón, ellos ronzan en tapas libres de tortilla española (de ahí...viene el nombre de la festiva, "La Tortillá"). Después de unos cinco o seis horas en la "Jamoná" y la "Tortillá", mis amigos y yo continuaron disfrutar de la atmósfera festiva para unos seis horas más. Fue un día buenisimo, con sol y muy alegre, seguido por una tarde agradable de fiesta y de disfrutando de los amigos y la vida. ¡Francamente, yo no podría haber pedido un mejor comienzo a Carnaval 2010!

De aquí delante, cada fin de semana hay varios eventos divertidos, con musica (bueno, lo de las chirigotas y comparsas) en Ubrique. Pero el próximo fin de semana, me voy a Cádiz (la ciudad) para celebrar uno de los carnavales mas famosos del mundo y de España! Aunque fui a Cádiz el año pasado, yo no fui durante el fin de semana más importante. Y ir durante Carnaval (la parte grande) es una de las cosas que no puedes perder - quiero decir que en buena consiencia, no puedo vivir en España durante dos años y irme sin haber estado en Cádiz por Carnaval. ¡Así, voy este año! Os escribo el fin de semana que viene y seguramente os cuento algunas historias locas de carnaval.

El Salto de Cabrero

For the past year and a half, I have been driving by the Salto de Cabrero, a mountain formation about 10 km outside of Ubrique, and I've had it on my "to-do hiking list" for quite some time. I bought a coffee table book on the Sierra de Grazalema and surroudning national parks last year before coming back to the States, and one of the most featured photos was that of the Salto de Cabrero. It drove me nuts over the summer when I was flipping through the pages pointing out the various mountains I had hiked...and continually having to note that I still hadn't hiked through Salto de Cabrero. Needless to say, as of today, I can finally say that I've walked from Grazalema, through the Salto de Cabrero, and back to Ubrique.



A group of nine of us caught the 7:30 am bus to Grazalema this morning, and started hiking around 8:15 am. It was drizzling when we set out, and the mountains were hidden by fog, but it eventually cleared. After passing a few Pinsapos (or Spanish fir trees that are native only to Andalucia (Spain), northern Morroco, and Russia), we started along the trail to the Salto de Cabrero. It was difficult to see it through the fog, but it was an impressive sight nevertheless. Once down in the Salto de Cabrero, we stopped for breakfast (enjoying some bread, tuna, cheese, sausage, and ham). Then came the difficult part...a steep descent filled with giant slippery boulders and a flowing river at the base of the mountain. And yes, I went slipping down the mountain twice...and somehow managed to not so gracefully cross the river, and ended up hiking the last 8 or so kilometers with soaking wet feet.

Overall, it turned out to be yet another lovely day for hiking. And to top it off, we even ran across some very friendly pigs (who, when they saw how interested I was in them...came and stopped right at my feet!), some beautiful horses, and of course, lots of goats and cows. :)




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Por mas de un año, he querido andar por el Salto de Cabrero, una formación de las montañas que está aproximadamente 10 km fuera de Ubrique. El año pasado, antes de irme a los EEUU, compré un libro del treinta aniversario de la sierra de grazalema (o algo asi) y una de las fotos que parece mas frecuente es la del Salto de Cabrero. Me molestó mucho durante el verano cuando estaba enseñando el libro a mi familia y mis amigos, mostrandoles donde he estado y las rutas que he andado...pero cada vez que habia una foto del Salto de Cabrero, tenía que admitir que no he pasado por ahí. Sin embargo, desde hoy, puedo decir que finalmente he andado desde Grazalema, por el Salto de Cabrero, y hasta Ubrique.

Voy con un grupo de 9 personas, y esta mañana cogimos el autobús a las 7:30 hasta Grazalema, y empezamos a andar a las 8:15. Estaba chispeando y las montañas estaban escondidas por la niebla, pero eventualmente el día se mejoró. Después de pasar unos Pinsapos (un árbol que es nativo sólo a Andalucia (España), el norte de Marruecos, y de Rusia), comenzamos por el camino hacia el Salto de Cabrero. Fue difícil verlo por la niebla, pero no obstante, fue una vista impresionante no obstante. Una vez dentro del Salto de Cabrero, paramos para desayunar (disfrutamos de pan, atun, queso, salchicha, jamón, etc). Luego, llegaba la parte difícil...la bajada con un montón de piedras super resbaladizas y un río en la base de la montaña. Y sí, fui resbalando hacia abajo la montaña dos veces, y mientras que crucé el río no tan elegantemente, conseguí poner los pies empapados. Jaja. Tenia que andar los 8 últimos kilómetros con pies mojados.

Fue otro día encantador para ir de excursión. Y para mejorar una excursión ya muy buena, encontramos algunos cochinitos muy amistosos (quienes, cuando ellos me vieron, me acercaron y pararon justo donde estaba yo de pie!), vimos algunos hermosos caballos, y por supuesto, muchas cabras y las vacas. Pasé un dia estupendo en el campo. :)

525,600 Minutes

English up top/Español abajo.

Yesterday I learned that the body of Molly Hightower, a friend/classmate from the University of Portland that was volunteering in an orphanage down in Haiti, was found. While she did not make it out alive, her legacy and inspiration will continue, and in fact are stronger than ever. I'm doing my part to continue her legacy - and suggest that everyone visit her blog, 525,600 Minutes http://mollyinhaiti.blogspot.com/ . She was an incredible young woman, full of life, full of hope, generous and selfless, and an inspiration to all. If her blog doesn't make it immediately evident, please feel free to google her name. The list of articles and tributes is astounding.

It is amazing how people come together in times of crisis. We saw the world unite after the attacks on September 11, 2001. We saw the world unite after the tsunami that hit Thailand just a few years ago. And again, we see the world coming together to help a nation and a people so desperately in need. My only question is: Why do we wait for catastrophe to bring us together? Molly's death, and the death of SO many others in Haiti, should be a wake up to us all. Life is too short. It can change in a matter of seconds. And death does not discriminate between the good and the bad, the young or the old, the healthy or the sick. Don't take life for granted - and stop putting things off until tomorrow. It may not come. Start making a difference today.

Here is how you can start: I am asking all readers of my blog to make a contribution in Molly's name. The amount doesn't matter - every single dollar will help. Instead of going out to dinner this weekend, why not do your part to continue Molly's work? Her family has asked that all donations be made to Friends of the Orphans, where Molly had spent the last 6 months volunteering. The link is as follows:

http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org/molly




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Ayer aprendí que el cuerpo de Molly Hightower, una amiga/compañera de clase de la Universidad de Portland quien estaba trabajando en un orfanato en Haití, fue encontrado. Aunque ella no sobrevivio esta tragedia, su legado y la inspiración continuarán, y de hecho son más fuerte que nunca. Pongo de mi parte para continuar su legado - y sugerir que todos visitan su blog 525,600 Minutes http://mollyinhaiti.blogspot.com/. Ella fue una joven mujer increíble, lleno de la vida, ilusionada, generosa, y una inspiración a todos. Si su blog no lo hace inmediatamente evidente, por favor pon Molly Hightower en google.com; la lista de artículos y homenajes asombra.

Asombra cómo personas se reúnen en tiempos de crisis. Vimos el mundo une después de los ataques en el 11 de septiembre de 2001. Vimos el mundo une después de la tsunami que inundo Thailand hace algunos años. Y otra vez, vemos el mundo reúne para ayudar una nación y un pueblo tan desesperadamente necesitado. Mi única pregunta es: ¿Por qué siempre esperamos una catástrofe para traernos juntos? La muerte de Molly, y la muerte de tantos otros en Haití, debe ser una llamada a nosotros. La vida es demasiado corta. Puede cambiar en un segundo. Y la muerte no distingue entre el bueno y el malo, los jóvenes o el viejo, el sano o el enfermo. No dé por sentado vida - y no piense que puedes dejar las cosas importantes hasta mañana. Puede ser que mañana no viene. Hay que empezar hacer una diferencia hoy.

Aquí es cómo puedes empezar: Pregunto a todos lectores de mi blog que hagan un donativo en el nombre de Molly. La cantidad no importa - cualquier donativo ayudará. En vez de salir a cenar este fin de semana, ¿por qué no pone de su parte para continuar el trabajo de Molly? Se puede hacer a traves de cualquier ONG (Unicef, Medicos sin Fronteras, etc). O se puede hacer un donativo a Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos/Amigos de los Huérfanos (Friends of the Orphans), donde Molly había trabajado los últimos 6 meses. El enlace es:

www.friendsoftheorphans.org/molly

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/91409894.html?tab=video

Christmas in January...???

Well, I guess I should begin by noting that my blog was featured in a local blog here in Ubrique, Spain (http://loscallejones.blogspot.com)! I was completely unaware of the fact until several people came up to me and told me "I saw your blog!" I must say I was slightly embarrased, but also quite proud. I mean, it's not everday that someone writes about you or your blog :) But...because of this, I decided I should probably try to write a few things in Spanish as well...

Anyway, as many of you already know, I spent the holidays here in Ubrique. My Mom sent me a package of Christmas gifts on December 8th. I wasn't too worried, because typically pacakages arrive in two weeks. However, on Christmas day (Dec. 25) I still didn't have the package. On December 30th, I received a letter from Customs saying that the package had been retained in Madrid Customs and that I would have to hire a third party to assist me in claiming it. First I was told it had been retained because it didn't have the proper paper-work (which was not true) and then I was told it was because it exceeded the dollar limit for packages shipped from outside the European Union and as such I would have to pay taxes. I finally got in touch with Speedtrans, Int, who helped me through the process. I had to pay 25 euros to Speedtrans, write a verbal declaration of the contents of the package, and fax a lot of paperwork. However, it has paid off! Today is Thursday, January 14th...and 36 days after the package was sent, I just received a call that I would be getting my package in the mail! I'm super excited to open my gifts from Mom and Dad (even though I now know what they are haha) and can't wait to have my Christmas in January. I guess this is just another one of the challenges of living in a foreign country so far from home...

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AVISO: No puedo poner tildes, asi que, lo siento! Espero que se entiende aunque no haya tildes

Supongo que debo empezar por decir que algo fue escrito sobre mi blog en un blog que escribe un Ubriqueno! No tenia ni idea del asunto hasta que algunas personas me dijeron que "he visto tu blog" y "he leido tu blog." Tengo que admitir que me dio un poco de verguenza, pero tambien soy un poco orgullosa jaja. Quiero decir que no es cada dia cuando alguien escribe sobre tu blog o sobre ti :) Pero, a causa de eso, decidi que debo intentar escribir en espanol tambien, por si a caso.

Bueno, como algunos ya saben, pase las navidades aqui en Ubrique. Mi madre me envio un paquete de regalitos el dia 8 de diciembre por navidad (el dia 25 de diciembre). No estaba preocupada porque solo suele tomar dos semanitas para recibir un paquete de los eeuu. Sin embargo, mi paquete todavia no habia llegado el dia 25. Luego, el dia 30 de diciembre, recibi una carta de aduanas en Madrid diciendo que el paquete llego en Madrid el dia 24 pero habia sido retenido y que yo tendria que ponerme en contacto con una empresa (Speedtrans, Int) para reclamar mi paquete. Primero me dijeron que habia sido retenido porque faltaba algunos papeles necesarios (lo cual no era verdad) y luego me dijeron era porque el valor del paquete sobraba los 150 euros y porque venia de fuera de la union europea, tendria que pagar impuestos. Despues de mas de una semana intentando ponerme en contacto con Speedtrans Int, y me ayudaron con el processo de reclamar el paquete. Tenia que pagar 25 euros a Speedtrans, Int, escribir una declaracion verbal de los contenidos del paquete, y enviar por fax un monton de papeles. Pero...ha merecido la pena! Hoy, jueves el 14 de enero...y 36 dias despues del envio del paquete, he recibido una llamada y me han dicho que Aduanas me han enviado el paquete!!! Ahora solo hay que esperar! Estoy super, pero super emocionada para recibir mis regalos de navidad (aunque ya se que son jaja). Voy a tener otra navidad...esta vez en enero, pero no pasa nada. Supongo que eso es solo otro de los desafios de vivir en el extranjero tan lejos de casa...

Goodbye 2009

Goodbye 2009 and Hello 2010!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!!

Well, this is going to be a short entry just to wish you all a very happy new year! I hope 2010 is the best year yet! 2009 certainly left a lot to be desired...

Once again I am celebrating the arrival of the new year in Ubrique, Spain. I am having dinner with a coworker and her family. Dinner will include an assortment of shrimp (normal and tiger shrimp!), crab, fish, pork chops, Spanish ham, cheese, bread...etc. :) And in the seconds leading up to midnight, we will each eat 12 grapes (as is tradition in Spain) and make a new year's toast with champagne. It should be a good evening...

Also...I put a few pictures up in my last post of the "after-flood clean up" in Ubrique when it flooded on Dec. 24...but check out these videos (see below). They do a much better job showing the gravity of the situation. And yes, if you were wondering, it is still raining - for the 12th day straight.

A Christmas Eve Not to Forget

Well, once again I’m spending Christmas in Spain. This is my second year celebrating Christmas without my family, and I just have to say it’s not quite the same. But I make do. This evening I will be going to dinner with Reme, a teacher at my school, and her family. They invited me last year as well, and we had a really nice evening. Not to mention, ate quite well: lots of Spanish ham, cheese, shrimp, prawns, mussels, chocolate turron, etc. I have to admit I am quite excited for dinner…I’m already hungry and it is only about 4:30 pm in the afternoon…unfortunately, dinner is served around 10:00 pm. After dinner, most people go out to the bars on Christmas Eve (and celebrate till about 6 am or later Christmas Day). You can pay to enter a bar with a cotillion (an open bar and some minimal snacks) for about 30 Euros/40 USD, or rent a salon and just meet up with friends and family (and pay about 10 Euros/15 USD for beverages). I opted out of dropping 30 Euros on a cotillion, but was invited to meet up with some friends in a saloon they rented. However, I don’t quite feel like going out and celebrating tonight, so I think after dinner I will like just come home and watch a movie. Not to mention…it’s been an interesting day and many Christmas plans have been altered due to good ole Mother Nature. Let me explain:

I woke up about 5:00 am to a torrential downpour and extremely gusty winds. Since I have been in Ubrique (since October 1), it has only rained about 8 days…6 of which have been in the past week. As I woke up to the noise of the thunder, rain, and windows clanking around, I got to thinking that it was really really raining hard…and I wouldn’t be surprised if the river that runs through Ubrique overflowed in a few areas. About 30 minutes later, I feel back asleep.

At 7:00 am I was once again woken up by the wind and rain. I looked out my window, but to my surprise nothing was flooded. Lots of puddles, but for the amount of rain fall, very little water seemed to be on the ground. Then again, it was dark…and I couldn’t see much.

I left my flat to go for a walk and pick up a few things around noon. I walked by a pub near my flat, and was surprised to see it filled with about 6 inches of water and lots of people working hard to clean it out. There was a river of mud flowing down the street. Nothing else seemed to be flooded, so I kept on walking and figured it was just a bit of bad luck that water had entered that pub. I was quite wrong. I got to the Avenida Espana, the main street in Ubrique, and there were police cars, fire-fighters, and lots of heavy machinery running around the streets trying to clear the water and the mud. I saw the aftermath, but apparently missed the two feet of water that went running down the Avenida and parallel streets from about 7 am until 10:30 am when the rain finally let up. Restaurants, bars, and shops were flooded, thousands of euros in damage. When I was walking down the street, I was walking in about 2 to 3 inches of mud, and shop-owners and bars were working quickly to clean out their properties as best they could, and cementing a barrier in the doors and windows to prevent further flooding. After all, the rain continues to fall…

The north of Spain has been inundated with rain and snow for the last few weeks; however, in Andalucia (the southernmost region of Spain) we were still enjoying relatively good weather. Now the torrential and relentless rains are making news around Europe. The south of Andalucia has been (and will continue to be ) hit the hardest…and for those of you that don’t know your geography, Ubrique is situated in the southernmost province of Andalucia…so it sounds like we are in for an interesting and very wet Christmas season. However, we aren’t the only ones, much of Granada is flooded and without electricity, Malaga is getting swamped with rain, and Ubrique, well, for now we are hanging in there with just a bit of flooding. Merry Christmas…right?!

I hope the weather is a bit better for all of you! Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! I miss you all and hope the New Year brings each of you good fortune, health, and happiness! Take care! Feliz Navidad from Spain!!!! Love to all – especially Mom and Dad (miss you tremendously).

Belen Viviente

Although I no longer live in the casco antiguo (historic district), I was invited to participate once again in the town's production of the Belen Viviente (or "living bethlehem"). I had the same task as last year, and worked in the Census, selling hand-made pottery cups and asking people to sign the guest book. The event started at 6:00 pm and we started cleaning up around 1:30 am...but there were still plenty of people at the bars. It was a great atmosphere - people buying handmade gifts, enjoying local tapas, and passing the night at the bars. The best part is that all the money we make, goes to a charity! Now that's the true point of Christmas, right?! In all, this year everything went flawlessly - it was not too cold, the lights didn't go out, and the turn out was good. In fact,there were lots of people from outside Ubrique - Jerez, Cadiz, Sevilla, Tarifa, Huelva - who came to see Ubrique's well known and beautiful Belen.

While there are Christmas lights and decorations adorning the streets, without snow and Christmas carols playing endlessly on the radio, it just doesn't quite feel like Christmas here. At least after the Belen Viviente, I'm a bit more in the Christmas spirit. :) I hope this post finds you all well and enjoying the holiday season. Be merry, spread joy, and pass along some holiday cheer!! Love to all!