Jazz concert/Garden/Protests

Last week was la Feria de los Libros, which was a giant book fair sent up in the Plaza with concerts, performers, and puppet shows. One day while shopping, Cait and I walked by to witness a one man band. A couple days later, I was surprised to hear of a live jazz concert. It was a beautiful night of jazz, gelato, tinto verano (a summer wine combo), and some yellow shorts. :) Sadly, blogger won't accept the cool video clips I took. So...my jazz segments will be posted on facebook eventually.

I carved LT in the table at O'Haras....shhhh...

Tinto Verano

Every Sunday people go to a giant market by the river people called "El Rastro". They have everything. Clothes, underwear, jewelry, watches, bags, shoes, makeup, sunglasses...there were rows and rows of tents. There was even a food booth for when you got hungry while shopping.

I am incapable of handling technology and accidently deleted my pictures from here AND some from the garden. So here are some courtesy of my lovely roomie, Cait:

SWAG. Kids here are dressed SO cute!

My literature class went on a literary walk of Salamanca. I had to return to take pictures. It was actually really cool. One place in particular that I liked was La Huerta de Calixto y Melibea. It's a garden named after the story Celestina. Calixto is a rich noble obsessed with the idea of Melibea, but because she shrugs him off, he can't let go. Celestina is a witch that manipulates and persuades Melibea to help Calixto and fall in love....but I forget her motive. Regardless, the garden is beautiful:

SALAMANCA has their very own love locks :)

Celestina

Random stuff during walk. (First few are courtesy of Cait):

Protesting in the Plaza

"The utopias of today are the reality of tomorrow. Dream and fight."

Crazy street cleaner. That tube is a giant vacuum that they rotate around the car
 to suck up random trash as they speed by.

On an unrelated note, my roommate Cait is leaving me tomorrow morning to backpack around Europe for the next month. I have NO IDEA what I would've done without her. Definitely would have freaked out by now. She is amazing and has quickly become one of my best friends. A friend that, I can honestly say, I see myself keeping in touch with for the rest of my life. Good luck, Cait. Thanks for everything. I love you and will miss you a lot. I'll see you soon though. Just...on the other side of the pond :)

Random

I've collected some random gems to share with the world that have no real relation with my other photos. So....here they are.

 I get to walk by this beaut multiple times a day.

Here are a few photos of my school building: San Boal. I think it's stunning.

Random pretty park

Hey Guys! Did you know Cait got her ears pierced?! (second hole. Was a BIG deal)

Taco purse!!!

This is a wolf. At a random computer place we printed our tickets off at.
I think BOBZ BASKIN is here in spirit.

Beautiful Casablanca graffiti

:)

Peñafiel

This past Saturday, my API study away group took a trip to Peñafiel, Spain for a winery and castle visit. I was pleasantly surprised at how pretty and "homey" this subtle town was/felt. First, we had the tour and wine tasting at Protos winery. Then had an INSANELY large lunch at a delicious restaurant, followed by a tour of the Castle of Peñafiel.

But BEFORE the winery tour, we had some down time and some friends and I went to a little bar and got some coffee, coke...whatever. The little old owner seemed to like us and handed us some snails from the "tapa" window we were peering into for free. I was the only brave sole to accept the challenge. But...then I enlisted some friends from across the room to try with me. :)

These are bígaros. Small black snails. The big white ones have a different
name and are more "gross" (so says my host mom)

Here we go! Look at those brave faces

Sign on the right is the bar

Here's a view of the Castle of Peñafiel from the winery

Here's the winery from the front! I may have been obsessed with the architecture...

The pathway containing these barrels on both sides went for 2km

Real old section. Walls were carved with pickaxes!

More modern section

Protos!

Distribution set-up. Check out the ceilings.

Cait and I being classy wine tasters :)

Discovery: I do not like wine 

Sidenote: we got to keep the glasses :)

Mini spoon at lunch!

The attempt

The success. But bad weather came and went.

T'was a fun day with a big group of friends. Pretty little town, free stuff, unreliable weather...good times.