Life on the country side 

 The second day of my stay, my landlord invited me for lunch at their country homestead. It's the two month long holidays for them, so they are relaxing at their large country home. Just outside of the city it's an ideal image. Two story home, swimming pool in the back, an assortment of fruit bearing vines and trees, animals, and peaceful country-side view.

For lunch, they were cooking a feast! The main course: chicken paella! Along with it was an array of dishes: tuna and tomatoes, clams, oysters, salmon-cream cheese sliders, melons, banana, and for dessert--almond/honey helado (ice-cream). Yum! Another staple to their diet is lemons. Lemons are squeezed over everything. It adds a nice accent of freshness and sour bite. I love it!

The girls showed me their pets as well. Un Pato, muchas patitos, un gallo, gallinas, tres gatas, doce gatitos, dos peros, y un tortuga. Tantos animales! Y muy mono. Yo quería llevar a casa conmigo. :) Then father excitedly showed me all of his delicious plants. I was greatly impressed and would have been satisfied eating all the fruit they had. Tienen tal abundancia!

[Left to right:] Noemi (the oldest at 24), Pepita (the mother),
Laurena (the youngest at 13), Fransico (the father)
[in the back]: Fran (the only son. 18 yrs old)

Cooking is a family affair

They had everything imaginable growing in their yard.
 Figs, oranges, mandarines, apples, almonds, and grapes 

The girls showed me their pets as well. Un Pato, muchas patitos, un gallo, gallinas, tres gatas, doce gatitos, dos peros, y un tortuga. Tantos animales! Y muy mono. Yo quería llevar a casa conmigo. :) Then father excitedly showed me all of his delicious plants. I was greatly impressed and would have been satisified eating all the fruit they had. Tienen tal abundancia! 

Meanwhile, back in the city...

vuelta en la ciudad...

My place is a bit more rinky-dink, but hey it's home. Cheap, livable, and in the heart of the city. As a college student, I can't complain. It's right in the heart of the city and near la plaza de toros :) (and hospital...convenient!). What I find interesting is water is included with the rent (about 200 Euros a month) even though the city is technically a desert. It's not as expensive as the luz (lights) which I have to pay separately for. I find myself in the dark most of the time to save on expenses. 

It's not bad, just noisy and hot. I can hear everything and everyone outside, but can't shut the window without overheating. In addition, I can't differentiate where sounds are coming from. The doorbell, moved chair, phone call, etc. sound like they are in my apartment, but they are from next door, above, or below me. It's too hard to tell. It's a different, but I can grow accustom to it. 

Tomorrow is orientation. Funnzies!

  

Blanco

Finally not living out of a suitcase

View from the kitchen patio

My washer and patio #1

Dinner table (mesa cenar)

Love this shot! 

My dryer and front patio (patio #2) 

The street/alleyway

La Plaza de Toros :)