ENTRY FROM OLD BLOG (1 OF 4) 16-10-2009

Today I cam across an old blog that I tried starting last fall, but stopped after a month or so, because I realized I wasn´t writing that often.  I will shortly be adding the 3 other entries.  They chronicle 1 month of my time in Spain

VISIT FROM THE HOMELAND

My friend Jess at the Mirador de San Nicolas

The past week I got to play host to an amazing friend of mine, the one and only Jess Holmes.  Jess came to visit me on Wednesday the 7th and stayed for a very quick week.  I took her on a whirlwind tour of the beautiful city of Granada.  We visited all the major landmarks that I love like the Alhambra, the Mirador de San Nícolas, el CEIP Sancho Panza (my old school), mi piso (my flat).  I introduced Jess to the 8th and 9th wonders of the world (tapas and kebabs).  I belive she enjoyed these things almost as much as I do, although she was particularly fond of her new friend, the pastry.  She also got to know my roommates, and brought out a side in them that I had not yet seen (the ones that speak English).  

At the weekend we took a journey the far and foreign land of Gibraltar, UK.  There we saw monkeys, tourists and cigarettes galore.  It was a fun adventure, and Jess enjoyed the day of listening to her mother tongue and my favourite language Espanglish.  

Tuesday night we took a bus down to Málaga and stayed in a hostel called La Casa Mata which is run by very nice Italians.  The hostel is where I stayed with Lery Chavez for New Years 08-09.  It is a very interesting hostel with a confusing name.  La Casa Mata in Italian (according to the employees) means The Crazy House.  In Spanish it means The House Kills.  This night Jess and I stayed with 2 German tourists.  They were the first Germans I have ever met who did not speak English as well as I do.  

Upon Jess´s departure Wednesday morning I returned to Granada to muddle my way through Spanish bureaucracy.  I had been told I would receive my NIE or Residency Card and my Tarjeta Sanitaria or Insurance Card by 2 different departments of the Andalucian Government.  I waited in line in both offices and wound up with neither.  At both places I received papers stating that I am entitled to all the rights of someone with these documents as mine are being processed and should be received ¨soon¨ supposedly in the next 25 days.  I love Spain and the very laid back culture I´ve grown accustomed to here in the former Kingdom of Granada, but punctuality is not a trait I take for granted any more.  But as we say in Spain, NO PASA NA  

        This photo is one I really like because in it you can see Spain, UK and Morocco as well as the Straight of Gibraltar, the Atlantic and the Med.