Day 44: Skype Date (01/10/10)
I woke up at 4 am to some guy pounding on the front door of the hotel. At first I thought maybe I was just hearing things, but then it started up again.
Then there was a phone call and the owner got up to see what was going on. He and the person talked for a bit and then finished and he locked the doors again. The guy came back a couple more times. I think he finally quit around 4:30-4:45.
I woke up around 9, stayed in bed for a bit and then got up about 9:30.
I got dressed and headed to desayuno. The owner asked if I was writing in Spanish. I said no, but told him that my classes start mañana (tomorrow). I told him after that, only Spanish. He said good and joked about beating me with his belt if I didn't start writing/speaking in Spanish.
There is a parade this morning. The end of the street has been blocked off and on for the past few days. Yesterday there may have been another parade, or it was just a practice run.
There were people and horses dressed up. Today they made their way down our street. There were also cars decorated going by today. It looked almost like a Christmas parade. All the Christmas decorations are still up.
Today I think my plan is mostly just to read. I want to finish my book today and maybe do some walking around town.
After my shower I quickly checked my email, etc., then took a walk to the river and back.
I was hoping to have lunch at the vegetarian place around the corner, but I guess they're not open Sundays.
I walked around for a while and hoped to find the New York pizza place or a good looking almuerzos place. I didn't find either (hardly anything is open on Sundays) and settled for the Chicago pizza place.
I had calzone and Pepsi. It was alright. The calzone had two kinds of cheese. One was weird, the other was good.
After I ate I walked around for a while.
I saw a cathedral a ways down and decided to check it out. It was really nice, but obviously not an area packed with tourists. It made me a little nervous because I only kind of knew where I was.
I walked back to the hotel and watched TV for a long time. I watched some ice skating movie with Joan Cusack and Samantha (from "Sex and the City") and then "Princess Diaries:2."
At about 8 I got up and went to the bar around the corner to grab some dinner.
I just ordered the hummus plate and a glass of wine. I talked to one of the servers a while. It turns out he, his brother and his brother's wife actually own and run the place.
I finished my first glass and got a second. After a bit I payed and headed back to my room. The guy had shown me the rooms they had in their hostel there. I think I may stay there when I get back from Venezuela. The room was nice and the dormitorio only had 4 beds and a bathroom, not too bad. It's $8 including breakfast.
When I got back to my room I finished reading my book and then went to sleep. I reminded myself that class is at 3 tomorrow.
Then there was a phone call and the owner got up to see what was going on. He and the person talked for a bit and then finished and he locked the doors again. The guy came back a couple more times. I think he finally quit around 4:30-4:45.
I woke up around 9, stayed in bed for a bit and then got up about 9:30.
I got dressed and headed to desayuno. The owner asked if I was writing in Spanish. I said no, but told him that my classes start mañana (tomorrow). I told him after that, only Spanish. He said good and joked about beating me with his belt if I didn't start writing/speaking in Spanish.
There is a parade this morning. The end of the street has been blocked off and on for the past few days. Yesterday there may have been another parade, or it was just a practice run.
There were people and horses dressed up. Today they made their way down our street. There were also cars decorated going by today. It looked almost like a Christmas parade. All the Christmas decorations are still up.
Today I think my plan is mostly just to read. I want to finish my book today and maybe do some walking around town.
After my shower I quickly checked my email, etc., then took a walk to the river and back.
I was hoping to have lunch at the vegetarian place around the corner, but I guess they're not open Sundays.
I walked around for a while and hoped to find the New York pizza place or a good looking almuerzos place. I didn't find either (hardly anything is open on Sundays) and settled for the Chicago pizza place.
I had calzone and Pepsi. It was alright. The calzone had two kinds of cheese. One was weird, the other was good.
After I ate I walked around for a while.
I saw a cathedral a ways down and decided to check it out. It was really nice, but obviously not an area packed with tourists. It made me a little nervous because I only kind of knew where I was.
I walked back to the hotel and watched TV for a long time. I watched some ice skating movie with Joan Cusack and Samantha (from "Sex and the City") and then "Princess Diaries:2."
At about 8 I got up and went to the bar around the corner to grab some dinner.
I just ordered the hummus plate and a glass of wine. I talked to one of the servers a while. It turns out he, his brother and his brother's wife actually own and run the place.
I finished my first glass and got a second. After a bit I payed and headed back to my room. The guy had shown me the rooms they had in their hostel there. I think I may stay there when I get back from Venezuela. The room was nice and the dormitorio only had 4 beds and a bathroom, not too bad. It's $8 including breakfast.
When I got back to my room I finished reading my book and then went to sleep. I reminded myself that class is at 3 tomorrow.
Day 45: Half Way Point (01/11/10)
Today I woke up and rolled over. I wasn't worried about the time because my only obligation wasn't until 3. A short while after falling back to sleep, I woke up to a knock on my door.
The woman that works at the hotel (sometimes) was at my door. She told me that my class time had been changed to 10am (it was 9:30).
I quickly got dressed and scarfed down my breakfast. Just as I was finishing my juice Mayra (the woman form the school) called to let me know I should come at 10:30.
I brushed my teeth (a second time) and decided to head over.
She told me there was internet access upstairs I could use while I waited. The two computers were already in use, but I sat at a table to write.
I made my way back downstairs just before my lesson.
The lesson went very well, I think I like my grammar teacher a lot. This afternoon, I'll have a different teacher for conversation, hopefully I'll like him too.
For almuerzo today I headed around the corner from my hotel to a veggie place I hadn't been to yet.
It was delicious. The soup was pretty plain (mote, onion, something else?) but the broth was excellent. Then there were some shredded carrots (and a few other things) as well as some kind of root (that I've decided I don't care for) with cauliflower and a little sauce. Mashed potato-y things, brown rice and some type of veggie with tempeh. It was so good. Definitely worth $2.00.
Afterwards, I headed to the internet shop.
Gabe apparently had turned his phone off all day Saturday, which was why he didn't answer when I called. Steph and Alina also wrote to me.
When I left the internet shop, I headed back to the hotel for a second and then Spanish round 2.
My afternoon conversation teacher is running late because of traffic. I made a mental list of things to do or look into later. I need to weigh the pros and cons for going to Venezuela. I'd really like to go, but I would be spending $400 just on plane tickets to be there for a weekend (not even a long one at that).
When my teacher arrives he apologizes for being late and asks if it's okay to start 15 minutes early the next two days (to make up the time). I say it's fine and we start our lesson.
So far I think I like him pretty well. I'm having a hard time remembering some of the vocab, but it's only my first day.
After class I came back to the hotel and rewrote my notes so I can understand them. I also did laundry. I still need to do some written homework for my grammar class, but I think I'm going to eat first (it's almost 8).
I wandered around the neighborhood and finally decided to go to a place called "Chipotle: subs and shots." I had a Pisco sour and a burrito de pollo. Both were good and the bill was only $6.50. Afterwards, I headed to the internet shop to call Gabe, but both international phones were being used. So, I checked email, etc., until one of the phones freed up.
I called Gabe, but it went straight to voicemail, so I called Hana. She didn't answer and her voicemail doesn't work, so I called back a minute later.
I talked to her for a bit, but she had to go grab some cleaning supplies before the store closed (she's having an apartment inspection tomorrow). I told her I would call back after (hopefully) talking to Gabe.
I tried Gabe again and he answered this time. He was record shopping with Morgan.
We talked a bit, but not too long because they were going to grab some food.
He asked me to call again tomorrow.
I feel too tired to focus on Spanish right now. I already did some studying, so I think I'll save my grammar homework for the morning (hopefully I'll get some sleep and feel revived).
Crossing my fingers for solid sleep tonight.
The woman that works at the hotel (sometimes) was at my door. She told me that my class time had been changed to 10am (it was 9:30).
I quickly got dressed and scarfed down my breakfast. Just as I was finishing my juice Mayra (the woman form the school) called to let me know I should come at 10:30.
I brushed my teeth (a second time) and decided to head over.
She told me there was internet access upstairs I could use while I waited. The two computers were already in use, but I sat at a table to write.
I made my way back downstairs just before my lesson.
The lesson went very well, I think I like my grammar teacher a lot. This afternoon, I'll have a different teacher for conversation, hopefully I'll like him too.
For almuerzo today I headed around the corner from my hotel to a veggie place I hadn't been to yet.
It was delicious. The soup was pretty plain (mote, onion, something else?) but the broth was excellent. Then there were some shredded carrots (and a few other things) as well as some kind of root (that I've decided I don't care for) with cauliflower and a little sauce. Mashed potato-y things, brown rice and some type of veggie with tempeh. It was so good. Definitely worth $2.00.
Afterwards, I headed to the internet shop.
Gabe apparently had turned his phone off all day Saturday, which was why he didn't answer when I called. Steph and Alina also wrote to me.
When I left the internet shop, I headed back to the hotel for a second and then Spanish round 2.
My afternoon conversation teacher is running late because of traffic. I made a mental list of things to do or look into later. I need to weigh the pros and cons for going to Venezuela. I'd really like to go, but I would be spending $400 just on plane tickets to be there for a weekend (not even a long one at that).
When my teacher arrives he apologizes for being late and asks if it's okay to start 15 minutes early the next two days (to make up the time). I say it's fine and we start our lesson.
So far I think I like him pretty well. I'm having a hard time remembering some of the vocab, but it's only my first day.
After class I came back to the hotel and rewrote my notes so I can understand them. I also did laundry. I still need to do some written homework for my grammar class, but I think I'm going to eat first (it's almost 8).
I wandered around the neighborhood and finally decided to go to a place called "Chipotle: subs and shots." I had a Pisco sour and a burrito de pollo. Both were good and the bill was only $6.50. Afterwards, I headed to the internet shop to call Gabe, but both international phones were being used. So, I checked email, etc., until one of the phones freed up.
I called Gabe, but it went straight to voicemail, so I called Hana. She didn't answer and her voicemail doesn't work, so I called back a minute later.
I talked to her for a bit, but she had to go grab some cleaning supplies before the store closed (she's having an apartment inspection tomorrow). I told her I would call back after (hopefully) talking to Gabe.
I tried Gabe again and he answered this time. He was record shopping with Morgan.
We talked a bit, but not too long because they were going to grab some food.
He asked me to call again tomorrow.
I feel too tired to focus on Spanish right now. I already did some studying, so I think I'll save my grammar homework for the morning (hopefully I'll get some sleep and feel revived).
Crossing my fingers for solid sleep tonight.
Day 46: Big Breakfast (01/12/10)
This morning I felt pretty well rested, but I still didn't want to get out of bed. I made myself get up at 9:15. Showered and had about 30 minutes for desayuno.
Today my breakfast was huge. He made me eggs, a bowl of yogurt with fruit, 2 rolls with jam and tea. I only ate one of the rolls, but finished off everything else then ran to class (I did some of my homework while eating).
Grammar class was good today. She looked over my homework and taught me a few new verbs (which we then practiced). I have more homework for tomorrow.
I need to do some studying before conversation class.
For lunch I came back to the veggie place (same as yesterday).
Today I had brown rice with beans, a small side salad, fried ripe plantains and veggie soup. I also had jugo today (mango and something else I think).
After lunch I headed back to the hotel for a bit, then decided to go to the post office. I sent Christina/Steph's letter, Natallie's, Hana's and Gabe's. It cost $2.00 per letter, a little expensive.
When I got back to the hotel, I decided to go to the internet shop until class (I had about 30 minutes left).
Gabe emailed me. I'm gonna call him tonight. I miss him and hope we can take a trip.
Tonight I'm having dinner at the place with the "Club" overhangs near my hotel. I ordered a veggie wrap and a dirty martini. Martini's good, hopefully the sandwich is too.
The wrap was pretty good, not spectacular, but just the right amount of food.
After eating I headed to the internet shop to call Gabe.
He wants to send me a package. I would love to get one, but I've got a feeling I probably wouldn't end up actually getting it. It was good to talk to him when he was alone (most of our other conversations are when he's around people, it makes it more difficult).
After talking to him for a good amount of time, I headed back to the hotel and got ready for bed.
Today my breakfast was huge. He made me eggs, a bowl of yogurt with fruit, 2 rolls with jam and tea. I only ate one of the rolls, but finished off everything else then ran to class (I did some of my homework while eating).
Grammar class was good today. She looked over my homework and taught me a few new verbs (which we then practiced). I have more homework for tomorrow.
I need to do some studying before conversation class.
For lunch I came back to the veggie place (same as yesterday).
Today I had brown rice with beans, a small side salad, fried ripe plantains and veggie soup. I also had jugo today (mango and something else I think).
After lunch I headed back to the hotel for a bit, then decided to go to the post office. I sent Christina/Steph's letter, Natallie's, Hana's and Gabe's. It cost $2.00 per letter, a little expensive.
When I got back to the hotel, I decided to go to the internet shop until class (I had about 30 minutes left).
Gabe emailed me. I'm gonna call him tonight. I miss him and hope we can take a trip.
Tonight I'm having dinner at the place with the "Club" overhangs near my hotel. I ordered a veggie wrap and a dirty martini. Martini's good, hopefully the sandwich is too.
The wrap was pretty good, not spectacular, but just the right amount of food.
After eating I headed to the internet shop to call Gabe.
He wants to send me a package. I would love to get one, but I've got a feeling I probably wouldn't end up actually getting it. It was good to talk to him when he was alone (most of our other conversations are when he's around people, it makes it more difficult).
After talking to him for a good amount of time, I headed back to the hotel and got ready for bed.
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