Adventure #1

Today we started school! I had two classes: Business Spanish and Basque Language and Culture. Both were only 50 minutes long, and I was home by 2 in time for lunch and a nap. Since it was a beautiful day yesterday (sunny and about 60 degrees) Summer and I had our friends Arielle and John come up to Algorta/Gexto, which we just found out was the name of our town, to go check out the beach and explore. I thought it was warm, like late April in Minnesota, and was surprised to see that neither my American friends nor the Spaniards agreed with me, and as I walked around yesterday I recieved many stares as people in coats, hats, and scarves stared at me, my tank top, and light sweatshirt. We walked back down to the beach that Jone had showed us the first day we got there, and it is so beautiful there in the daylight! After we left the beach, we decided just to find our way around the town by just walking wherever, and on this walk we discovered: 1. That our town is much bigger than we thought, 2. The most amazing, delicious little pastry shop, where I know I will spend a lot of my money, 3. Cute little bars and cafes really close by, and 4. A beautiful and busy boardwalk right next to the beach! It was fun walking around, with everyone from the age of 1 to 90 out walking around with their friends and families. We decided that people in Spain and probably Europe in general are much happier, especially the elderly. I can't even count how many groups of 80 -90 year old men and women I saw out hobbling around on their canes with their friends; the women gossiping and the men smoking their cigars. It was the perfect day to finally get out of the apartment and see a little bit of our town (we live in what Summer calls "the 'burbs"). I can't wait to explore further in the future!

Sea near my homestay

Algorta, Spain