Cliff's European Adventure: Reflections from Spain

10 Interesting things I've observed so far (not in any particular order):

1. Pedestrians really do have the right-of-way in crosswalks. A pedestrian can enter any crosswalk at any time and all the cars will stop for them.

2. Every intersection really is a rotunda (circle). Except in big cities which have semaphores (traffic lights). And in villages which have houses and streets (the side of the street is the house).

3. People don't get mad at each other in traffic. It's no problem.

4. Yes a siesta is typical. Luis' normal work day is: he gets in at about 8:30 and works until 2, comes home for lunch and a "nap", then works from 3:30 until around 9, Monday through Thursday.

5. Everybody lives "in community". It dawned on me suddenly while driving: there is a village, then there are 10 or 20 or 30 km of fields, then another village. Where are the farm houses? Everybody lives in the village!

6. It's the same in the city. Everybody is a cousin, or a friend. Every place we go, there are a variety of people coming and going.

7. When one or two or three people pass by one or two or three other people (strangers), everyone says "hola".

8. There are a lot of meals, small meals, and the food is delicious!! Everything is very local with very few ingredients. Every morning a fresh loaf of bread is at the front gate.

9. Stuff that is old is hundreds of years old. Stuff that is very old is thousands of years old.

10. Everyone I've met has been friendly, gracious, cheerful, and sociable.

We went to Sunday mass at Abadia de Santo Domingo de Silos - where all the music was in Gregorian Chant, then toured the grounds. Built from the 12th - 14th centuries.

Not Caleruega? And that means? Answer: every village has a sign like this without the red line which means "entering", and like this which means "leaving".

Near where we stopped for lunch (that's at about 3 o'clock) in the village of Tubila.

Every lunch (at home, or on the road) is served communal-style. There are lots of potatoes, eggs, cheese, and bread. Salad is always served with olive oil.

Yolanda, Claudia, and Samantha.

Claudia, Sandra, and Samantha enjoy having their photo taken...

While Luis waits patiently.

A lot of chocolate was consumed. This is a chocolate sandwich! For breakfast one day they made chocolate milk and dipped buttered bread in it. (When I said all the food is delicious, that excludes a few things I managed to politely excuse myself from.)

This is "very old". This Roman aqueduct was built B.C. to carry water from the mountains to the walled city of Segovia. Not only is it still standing after > 2,000 years, but every block is cut and fitted so precisely, that the entire structure was built and stays in place with no cement/mortar/caulking of any kind - only stone!!