PlenciaOkay...where did I leave off???? On Friday we had our first excursion to Plencia and Getxo. The are northern towns on the coast of Spain that were traditional fishing towns. The day was mostly rainy but it cleared up a little. The town of Plencia is the last stop on the Metro so it will be easy to get to the coast for the day. Everything here is very "antigua", which means old, but incredibly preserved so it doesn't look crazy gross. We had lunch
in Plencia at a restaurant where of course the portions were HUGE! I tried some paella for the first time and it was really good. I had some fish - the most common one here is cod and sometimes tuna. It's all good though! The director of the program, Jon Franco, actually grew up in Plencia and was more than happy to show us around the area. Lots of narrow steps to walk up. Seemed like the little village we were in was built right into the hillside. And then he said "And now, the bar!" He bought a lot of people a round of drinks at some little bar where they started playing American 80s music as soon as we walked in. I had a callimocho which is red wine and coke. Sounds gross - ¡EXCELENTE! No really it was.
Callimochos con LeahThen we went a short way to Gexto. It was pretty rainy so we had some short historical info from our guides and took some pictures. The coolest thing was a bridge that was made very high so 
that the ships could pass through without the bridge having to separate. To cross it people can take an elevator to the top and walk across. Or there is a suspended trolley type car that carries people and cars across. For a small fee, this is the quickest way to cross the river. Cars can park in the middle (up to 6 at a time) and people occupy either side in covered section. It was incredible! Our guide asked if the construction looked familiar. It did somewhat because the man who designed it studied under Eiffel. (You know who he is!)
Afterward we took the bus back and had an adventure at Corte Ingles. It's the everything store. Literally - skis, shower doors, razors, school supplies, guitars, clothes for the whole family and somewhere I think there was a grocery store. We were there to get cell phones. It would just make it easier to communicate with everyone here. Every other place we had gone to the people were very rude and impatient and got us absolutely no where. But the ladies at this desk were easy to speak with and helped all 8 or so of us find the right phones and plans for our trip. In that particular group I think I knew the most Spanish and I made sure to tell them that they were so nice and helpful and that we were appreciative. They asked us about where we were from and told us to come back anytime!
And then it was the first night out! We got dressed up and went out to see the town. A place called Casco Viejo (The Old Quarter) is where it really happens. Just bar, after bar, after bar! Lots of people in the streets having fun. We went to one bar and had a few beers and chatted it up with some other students we met there. It was really fun to see the city at night and walk along the river and see the beautiful Guggenheim and all of the bridges across la ría. (El río = river. La ría = estuary)
Saturday was kind of a lazy day. We checked out another local mall and later that evening went to a friend's apartment and played a few games and talked. Some went out to some bars and clubs but I got a few drinks at a pool hall with a smaller group and got to know some of the other students.
All together the trip has been great, the friends I've made are fun, and I'm very much looking forward to starting school tomorrow.
that the ships could pass through without the bridge having to separate. To cross it people can take an elevator to the top and walk across. Or there is a suspended trolley type car that carries people and cars across. For a small fee, this is the quickest way to cross the river. Cars can park in the middle (up to 6 at a time) and people occupy either side in covered section. It was incredible! Our guide asked if the construction looked familiar. It did somewhat because the man who designed it studied under Eiffel. (You know who he is!)Afterward we took the bus back and had an adventure at Corte Ingles. It's the everything store. Literally - skis, shower doors, razors, school supplies, guitars, clothes for the whole family and somewhere I think there was a grocery store. We were there to get cell phones. It would just make it easier to communicate with everyone here. Every other place we had gone to the people were very rude and impatient and got us absolutely no where. But the ladies at this desk were easy to speak with and helped all 8 or so of us find the right phones and plans for our trip. In that particular group I think I knew the most Spanish and I made sure to tell them that they were so nice and helpful and that we were appreciative. They asked us about where we were from and told us to come back anytime!
And then it was the first night out! We got dressed up and went out to see the town. A place called Casco Viejo (The Old Quarter) is where it really happens. Just bar, after bar, after bar! Lots of people in the streets having fun. We went to one bar and had a few beers and chatted it up with some other students we met there. It was really fun to see the city at night and walk along the river and see the beautiful Guggenheim and all of the bridges across la ría. (El río = river. La ría = estuary)
Saturday was kind of a lazy day. We checked out another local mall and later that evening went to a friend's apartment and played a few games and talked. Some went out to some bars and clubs but I got a few drinks at a pool hall with a smaller group and got to know some of the other students.
All together the trip has been great, the friends I've made are fun, and I'm very much looking forward to starting school tomorrow.
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