Well Lance, you would like both places but I wouldn't go alone at this time. It's so different there.Spain, the people are fast, noisy and they talk with their arms and hands. They are a comedy to watch when they are in a deep conversation. They are up early and don't go to bed until the wee hours of the morning. But, they take a nap from 1:00p.m. until 3:00p.m. This seems to be something they do regardless of anything else going on anywhere in the world. They know how to relax and get ready for the eve. At night it is a whole new world.
In the afternoons it was hard to find places to go as everything closed up. The cabs just park all over and the driver sleeps. All shops close. The streets are quiet. I was making a slide show of the trip so I used the time taking pictures. One didn't have to wait for crowds to get out of the way. I would also take notes and write a lot for the story. When the sleep was over all heck broke out. Nights in Spain were kind of hectic. Everyone was getting ready for night clubs and they wouldn't let me out alone then so had stay with the group. The club we went to one needed ear plugs. The music was fantastic but so loud. The dancers were the best in the world for the Flamingo. Fast and furious it was. Food was very good but if we had been on our own instead of with Norge...I wouldn't be able to afford that kind of eating and drinking. There was wine everywhere. Even in the bathrooms and on your night table. One wouldn't be able to read as they used 25watt bulbs. Putting on makeup was really a challenge.
I had read that a single woman should stick with the tour guides. So I made it a habit to sort of mate with a guide. The other two picked a Norge guy to make it look like they were with someone. I met Tony in Spain and he took me everywhere. A very handsome guardian he was. I was happy to be with him when we went to the bull fights in Madrid sp is wrong.maybe..I haven't time to look up words. Ha.
The bull ring was quite a sight and hundreds of people filled the seats. I do not like bull fighting. I almost cracked up. I finally turned around and looked at things behind me. Tony tried to explain that it wasn't any different than our boxing in America. Well I don't like boxing either so that didn't help. It was finally over and Tony took us to one of the famous castles. We couldn't take pictures inside but we could buy them. Another awesome experience. A week in Spain went fast.
In the mornings you could hear all the different sounds of the city and hear the carts filled with veggies etc. coming down the cobble streets. Church bells sounded from everywhere and all the different voices rang through the air. I hung out the hotel window and breathed in Spain. All the red roofs made a startling picture to remember.
I will always remember Spain and Tony and the energy of their country.
cont.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
when I was in third grade....
When dad was through being Superintendent at school each summer, we would go to grandma's and grandad's farm and mom would help with cooking and dad would help with harvesting. This year I was free from third grade and anxious to get going as summer at the farm was always fun and there were so many things to do.
At that time I was going through the phaze of joining the Gypsies. Each summer grandad would let them camp on one end of his fields as he discovered they wouldn't steal anything if he let them camp. Each year mom would tell everyone to keep track of Neysa Le as it was time for the Gypsies to come through and she knew how fascinated I was with them. I was always going to run away and go live with them.
One evening I was catching Fireflies in a jar and I noticed all the smoke rising in the air where the Gypsies always camped. I ran upstairs to see if I could see them. Sure enough they were setting up camp. This time I was going to join them. I was a big girl now and I was all done with third grade. The next night I went to bed as usual but I later tip toed out the back door and took off through the corn fields to the camp. It was kind of scary as it was dark and the corn stalks made a lot of noise and it was creepy. When I finally got there I hid and watched. Then one of kids saw me and I was pulled out of my hiding place and.....there I was. I had joined the Gypsies.
They let me stay awhile by the fire and fed me something that tasted like smoke and then this big man said he would take me home so my grandad wouldn't be mad at them. They had such pretty clothes on and they sang and danced and played the fiddle. I wanted to live with them.
But soon I was back in my feather bed and I knew I couldn't live with the Gypsies that summer.
When I wrote about Spain and Portugal it brought up memories of the Gypsies. There are lots of them living there. The Gypsies were poorer than the ones in U.S. I found the area where they lived but couldn't find anyone of the Norge Group that would go with me to explore their lifestyle . I was acquainted with one of the boys that helped in the hotel where we were staying. We were together a lot and he showed me places I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I told him I was going to go see the Gypsies there. He said no it was too dangerous and no way was I to go alone. I kept at him until he said he would take me.
These were the real Gypsies. They were very poor. It looked like some of the pictures of Africa. They didn't have enough food or anything but they were all so beautiful. Albano, the young man who took me there, was really surprised they treated me so well. The language was different but we managed to understand one another. They danced and sang for me and we ate something that I don't know what it was but knew I had better eat it. We spent the whole evening with them. Beautiful people and I loved them. This was in Portugal and I also went to visit the ones in Spain. They danced like I have never seen dancing before. Also, I have never heard fiddles played like they played them. Colors everywhere. They were poor but they were happy. They are not liked in their country.
Well it took many years but my dream came true. I joined the Gypsies.
gami
At that time I was going through the phaze of joining the Gypsies. Each summer grandad would let them camp on one end of his fields as he discovered they wouldn't steal anything if he let them camp. Each year mom would tell everyone to keep track of Neysa Le as it was time for the Gypsies to come through and she knew how fascinated I was with them. I was always going to run away and go live with them.
One evening I was catching Fireflies in a jar and I noticed all the smoke rising in the air where the Gypsies always camped. I ran upstairs to see if I could see them. Sure enough they were setting up camp. This time I was going to join them. I was a big girl now and I was all done with third grade. The next night I went to bed as usual but I later tip toed out the back door and took off through the corn fields to the camp. It was kind of scary as it was dark and the corn stalks made a lot of noise and it was creepy. When I finally got there I hid and watched. Then one of kids saw me and I was pulled out of my hiding place and.....there I was. I had joined the Gypsies.
They let me stay awhile by the fire and fed me something that tasted like smoke and then this big man said he would take me home so my grandad wouldn't be mad at them. They had such pretty clothes on and they sang and danced and played the fiddle. I wanted to live with them.
But soon I was back in my feather bed and I knew I couldn't live with the Gypsies that summer.
When I wrote about Spain and Portugal it brought up memories of the Gypsies. There are lots of them living there. The Gypsies were poorer than the ones in U.S. I found the area where they lived but couldn't find anyone of the Norge Group that would go with me to explore their lifestyle . I was acquainted with one of the boys that helped in the hotel where we were staying. We were together a lot and he showed me places I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I told him I was going to go see the Gypsies there. He said no it was too dangerous and no way was I to go alone. I kept at him until he said he would take me.
These were the real Gypsies. They were very poor. It looked like some of the pictures of Africa. They didn't have enough food or anything but they were all so beautiful. Albano, the young man who took me there, was really surprised they treated me so well. The language was different but we managed to understand one another. They danced and sang for me and we ate something that I don't know what it was but knew I had better eat it. We spent the whole evening with them. Beautiful people and I loved them. This was in Portugal and I also went to visit the ones in Spain. They danced like I have never seen dancing before. Also, I have never heard fiddles played like they played them. Colors everywhere. They were poor but they were happy. They are not liked in their country.
Well it took many years but my dream came true. I joined the Gypsies.
gami
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
London
Been following all the Posts and feel like I was on the same trip as you Terah. I saw the same kind of conditions in Spain and Portugal some years ago.
Right now I think your wondering where you are, where you should be, and was it all a dream? I was gone three weeks and it took me sometime and tears and prayers to get myself 'home.'
You did a wonderful job and congrats.
The reason I'm writing is....Lyle mentioned in one of the Blogs that the people in London were very rude. When it comes to a lot of American tourists actions in London....London people have their side to being rude.
I went with a group of 150 people who all worked for Norge. They went to Spain for a meeting of all things. One of the guys I knew had three extra tickets and offered them to me. My sister, Pat, and my Hula teacher from the Y, wanted to go. So we each bought a ticket for $300 ea. This included everything but our film and personal things. Coming home we stayed in London a bit. The Norge guys acted so stupid, so rude, so terrible and were all drinking the entire time. I was so embarrassed to even be one of them. One of the pilots from London told me this was the way people from US acted in London. They left a bad reputation for us as other tourists did also. So the people of London really aren't happy to see us.
Just giving you another side that I saw personally.
gami
Right now I think your wondering where you are, where you should be, and was it all a dream? I was gone three weeks and it took me sometime and tears and prayers to get myself 'home.'
You did a wonderful job and congrats.
The reason I'm writing is....Lyle mentioned in one of the Blogs that the people in London were very rude. When it comes to a lot of American tourists actions in London....London people have their side to being rude.
I went with a group of 150 people who all worked for Norge. They went to Spain for a meeting of all things. One of the guys I knew had three extra tickets and offered them to me. My sister, Pat, and my Hula teacher from the Y, wanted to go. So we each bought a ticket for $300 ea. This included everything but our film and personal things. Coming home we stayed in London a bit. The Norge guys acted so stupid, so rude, so terrible and were all drinking the entire time. I was so embarrassed to even be one of them. One of the pilots from London told me this was the way people from US acted in London. They left a bad reputation for us as other tourists did also. So the people of London really aren't happy to see us.
Just giving you another side that I saw personally.
gami
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