Tropical like weather in the Manca

Long time since I've updated, soon I'm going to do a post about Spanish exams, when I have more time.

Anyway the last few days the weather has been absolutly fantastic, after leaving Amelies house due to the lack of nice food/or lack of anything that wasn't French, I went to meet Tom for a beer and lunch in the Plaza Mayor, just sitting in the sunshine and the sun was so warm, I have gone a bit red from it, but hey. Then Tom's flatmate phoned us saying her and some friends were going for a Chinese so we went along too, I am totally bloated and I hope you're jealous of the lovely weather

What is Spanish drink/food like????

Well as most of us all think Spanish people always stink of garlic, eat paella and drink sangria I decided to do a post about some of the things I have been eating since I got here.

Start with drinking

Mosto - A kind of grape juice that is very sweet, absoloutly lovely with plenty of ice and a slice of lemon, very popular in bars with people of all ages.

Vino tinto - One thing I have never heard anyone complain is the quality of the wine, if its from La Rioja or locally produced here in Castilla y León (mostly from Valladolid).

Kalimotxo (Calimocho) - Student drink consisting of lots of ice, red wine and coke, sounds horrible but it's not.

Eating

Sortido de Ibéricos - Surely one of the best things ever invented?? Plate filled with Spanish ham, 'lomo' which I dont know how to describe in English, but its like pork but not thick pork or pork chops, chorizo - a bit like spanish pepporoni and salchichón a bit like salami, usually eaten in bars with lots of bread and people just dig in, perfect party food.

Morcilla - Think of black pudding/haggis with rice and there you go.

Well all this talk of food is making me hungry so I will finish it off another time

1*14*08

Havn't really updated that much since I got back to Salamanca, but that doesn't mean a lot has not happened, but nothing exceptional has occured that makes me think that many people would be that interested.
What's new? Well...I've joined a gym and find myself with a lot of motivation to attend almost every day, never thought I would find myself typing this...
At the minute we're on study leave so the days are long and quite boring at times as I don't really have to do that much, so I've taken advantage of this time to research into Chávez and the whole political situation in Venezuela, which is really grabbing my interest the more I dig my heels in,
Last week not a lot happened, hung out with Flip and Tom a lot as Flip's girlfriend had broken up with him and he needed cheering up, what could cheer you up more than some pinchos and unos vinos de la rioja from our favourite wine bar. Kirsty came round to see me and we caught up on the post xmas gossip and apart from that not a lot.
Friday night was Anne's birthday, and a few people had put some money together to get her a few things, a toy sheep, socks, tops etc etc and on the night she had a botellón at hers and after that we headed out to the chupi and then to el potemkim.
SaturdayI watched Boro V Liverpool as it was on live over here, and after that went to Nath's piso for her flamates birthday where he had made loads of polish food, I only stayed about 45 mins as I had already arranged to go and watch a film with Emilie so I went to meet her and explained I felt bad as I had eaten/drunk quite a lot so she said no problem we will go back for abit (probably the fact there were about 10 frenchies there convinced her, plus nath is always a good host) and we had some polish vodka with some fruit thing and tobasco which I have to say was horrible but it seemed to go down a treat with everyone. Kryziek also made sourkraut which I thought looked terrible but I have to say it was lovely.
After we had given him the card from everyone me and Em went to watch a movie, which was quite hard to understand as it was set in Andalucia but a good film.
We then just listened to some music and both feel asleep and slept all the way through untl the next morning.

So yea, not a lot has happened. Oh and i'm home on the 31st for Dean's wedding.

Mi piso/My flat

Welcome to chez Stephen/JuJu/Martin and Glinny.
My untidy room.
View from my bedroom window

Hall (Notice Juliens sexy coat)
From kitchen balcony (una favela)
Julien's favourite room and Léa's least favourite
Living room/passae
Once again, Léa's least favourite room in the house.

Well quite a lot of people have been asking how my house is, so there you go.

Sorry for the crap layout, Im crap at these things.

Time spent being home

I am now back in Salamanca. Got the plane from Edinburgh Saturday afternoon and got to Salamanca in the early hours of the morning.

I really enjoyed being home and seeing everyone, from having endless amounts of tea with Thea to hammering Rowney at Kay’s party to drinking wine of reminiscing of old times with Charley. Was so nice to see that I still do feel at home with all these people despite not seeing them for so long, and that after 5 minutes or so after telling them about Salamanca it was like I’d never been away from Guisborough.

Christmas was also very good, as many of you know I spent it up in Carmyle (just outside Glasgow) at my Grans house but maybe that should be rephrased and say that I spent it with Graeme playing on his new Xbox and beating him at PES.
We also went to the Rangers game on Boxing day V Motherwell and it was totally freezing, I was quite impressed with Motherwell and thought they passed the ball around nicely as I was expecting long punts up field, but they went down fighting to clinical finishing from Rangers and the game ended 3-1 with Rangers killing the game in the last few minutes from Kris Boyd. On the night we went to my Auntys for a final few drinks and a buffet before heading down the road back to England as my Mum was up for work the next morning so unfortunately we couldn’t stay Boxing day night aswell but overall I had a brilliant time and it has made me more excited to go to Dean and Katy’s wedding on the 2nd of February.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a very happy new year to everyone.

le jour de gloire est arrivé !!

Last few days back home are going to be hectic, I've been frantically trying to fit everyone in before going back to Spain aswell as sorting stuff out to go back.
Tomorrow I have so much to do it is untrue, gym, pack, wash clothes, make beef bourguignon, then at night I'm really excited to see Charley, as I have not seen her properly for ages, so we're gonna catch a film (maybe volver if I can persuade her and she loves Almodóvar ) and share some wine and generally find out whats new.
Friday, meeting with Thea for coffee at a new Café that has opened in Guisborough then going for a few jars with Cook before going up to Scotland and going back to La Manca on Saturday.