Madrid and Salamanca were b'u't'full last week. Salamanca is small. The main square can be seen in a new movie that's out called "Vantage Point." They say the whole thing is in Salamanca, but mostly the overhead shots and the main square are it. The stuff outside the square is in Mexico. But, for a taste of where I was, check out the movie. There's a famous Spanish actor in it named Eduardo Noriega. It's his first American film. He's quite the looker behind the beard ladies... and gents?
Anyhoo, we walked all around Salamanca for one evening and saw the cathedral, the university and the main square. We went for pintxos at night and it was great. The cathedral was kind of creepy as it's all saints week so they have all the dying Jesus floats out on display and those always weird me out. As you remember last year, folks dress up like klansmen, but it's religious garb here, and march the stations of the cross, among other statues, through the street. Everytime I make eye contact with a dead or dying Jesus I get a chill and a cold feeling.
I bought a special t-shirt for good Friday actually... It's from the Big Lebowski. Remember Jesus, the professional bowler played by Jon Toturo in that movie? Well, I found a sweet T in Madrid that had a picture of him on it being super sassy, and the caption reads "Nobody fucks with Jesus." I felt it was approriate. After all, they say Jesus rose, hence, you can't really fuck with Jesus (son of God) because he comes back. As well, in the Big Lebowski, Jesus is the best bowler around. So, it's a double meaning. Anyhow, it's my first religious/raunchy T-shirt and maybe the only one of it's kind. Two themes on one shirt that have no business being in the same sentence, but really, they do. I dunno, I have a twisted sense of humor.
Anyhow, my trip... The university in Salamanca is one of the oldest in the world. They have a large door facade on one side with a million things carved into it and one tiny frog somewhere. If you find the frog, you have good luck. So, we did that... yay luck!
It's a fairly small town, Salamanca, so we saw most everything in one evening and then went for pintxos. Pintxos is how they say tapas in the north of Spain. I actually prefer it to the term tapas because when you say you went to a tapas bar, people always think you said topless bar. Back to it, the pintxos in Salamanca are famous. Not for their deliciousness, though they are, but for the price. Each time you order a drink, you get a free pintxo. And they're not small. We got tiny plates of paella, eggs and potatoes and chunks of bread with various mayo based spreads slathered on them. At one place, we had two wines a paella and a potato/egg/chorizo mix a piece for 9 euros total. It was great. A fabulous ambiance too. The bars are packed and you fight to the front to order, stand on one leg to eat and then off to the next bar, nextdoor to see what tiny treat they have prepared for you. Well, that doesn't sound wonderful when I read it, but such great people watching to do and convos to listen to.
Next, Madrid. I will have to go back. We had one awesome night out. Gma Billie and Pa Pete would be proud of how Iñaki and I cut the rug... or the cigarette covered, waxy concrete floor, as it was. It was a Thursday night and still lots of folks out and about. One club just had really great music, so we hung there most of the night and danced hardcore. I'm talking a little swing, a lot of dipping and twirling and maybe a salsa attempt. Anyhow, great fun.
We walked around on Friday as well and it reminds me of NY how it's sectioned off into various neighborhoods, with big buildings everywhere and a large park in the middle and museums. Everything was closed on Good Friday, so I'm going back some weekend soon. I'll take more pictures then.
Here area few links for a bit of visualization...
Alive and pretty healthy. Lovins' by the tubfull!
No comments:
Post a Comment