Alicante y la Pijamada

I started off the morning with no concrete plans other than that Sandy and I wanted to go on a daytrip. Plans for Cieza (and some UNESCO World Heritage cave paintings) fell through. We talked about Lorca. Lorca planning got complicated, then Sandy got into contact with her long-time best friend Rosi from Orihuela (the town where the two grew up together). We hopped on a train to Orihuela to meet Rosi and her girlfriend Encarni.

We changed our minds from Elche to Alicante...so the day was full of spontaneity and me never knowing exactly what we might do next. I've finally gotten accustomed to flying by the seat of my pants and really letting whatever happens happen. In Spain, at least as a study abroad student, you really feel as if you have been stripped of control. Whatever artificial control you thought you might have had is usually bogged down by bureaucracy, Spanish time customs (think siesta), or other weird things happening that you never would have expected. I'm finally learning to go with the flow.

Upon arrival in Alicante, we took some photos of the beach and went on a bathroom search. I used yet another toilet-seat-less bathroom that didn't even have a holder where toilet paper might go. Another great cultural difference..

We even got to go to a castle! The view of the beach was pretty neat and the weather was perfect--a tad on the cloudy side, but thankfully not too hot. It felt like we were on top of the worrrld!

Me, Rosi and Encarni

How I feel about Alicante

cactus with little cacti growing on it

Alas, sweet, sweet McDonalds...

After we filled our tummies with some health food, we stopped by Rosi's house to grab sleepover gear. It was a really neat experience to get to see another Spanish home.

Outside were a host of pet peacocks (including a white one), terrifying (but chained) dogs, some chickens, and other various animals. Their mini-farm was nestled at the foot of a mountain in a relatively rural setting. I took the video just to show what it sounded like outside-->

Inside on the couch sat Rosi's mother, aunt, and grandmother; multi-generational, friendly, and very Spanish! Catholic candles and other effects accented the living room. On the TV was some intense, very bizarre Spanish show where a doctor pulled out some unwilling guy's teeth. The room was bursting with family photos and memorabilia.

Just a huge flower arrangement on the kitchen table (Bowl of fresh apples: not pictured)

 I asked if it would be appropriate for me to take a photo of this altar. Rosi's brother had recently passed away so I wanted to make sure it wouldn't upset the family.

An altar dedicated to those family members who have passed away.
To me, it was both sad and beautiful; definitely Catholic.

Some orange trees and various potted plants

I can't resist you, flowers!

Me and my chiqui  with our flores!

We came back to my place for my first Spanish "pijamada" or sleepover! Rosi and Encarni cooked us some delicious fajitas (Cinco de Mayo?) and mixed us some fun Spanish drinks that I'd never heard of.

So dang tasty

Having trouble...

As if I didn't already think Spaniards were crazy...then this whipped out this bad boy.

With a little liquid courage, I began to ask about the Spanish government and current economic situation. I learned so many interesting things and it was great to get the view of young people who seemed to be so knowledgeable!

Here is what I gathered*:

• Spain's government is technically a  monarchy, but the rey does little more than represent the Spanish people symbolically (think: Queen of England). Sandy called it "marketing." 
• There is also a parliament and a president. The current political party is PP or Partido Popular and is rivaled by the PSOE or Partido Socialista Obrero Español. The former (current) government is conservative right. The latter is liberal left. 
• Elections took place in November of last year, but the new government began in January 2012. 
• The Republic is an idea that many Spanish would like to see replace the monarchy. It is symbolized by a flag similar to the actual one, but with a purple stripe:

She's carrying the flag of la Segunda Reublica Española
source: http://pcastell.blogspot.com.es/2011/04/la-ii-republica-espanola-mas-que-una.html

•  One reason the people are upset is because the current Presidente del Gobierno has failed to fulfill the promises he made in his campaign (among others: not to make budget cuts on the two most important things--health and education).
• They also explained the change from pesetas to euros in 2001. Apparently everyday items like bread and milk nearly tripled in price! 

It seems as if there is quite a bit of political/social unrest here in Spain right now, though all that I have seen has been totally nonviolent. I'm curious to see how the situation develops (and I'm hopeful for Spain)!  *What I gathered is not guaranteed to be right, or really even represent what the people actually think. This could be entirely misinterpreted.