TIME IS TICKING AWAY .....

A view through the arches on the Plaza Mayor

Hola there again! Well here I am writing my first blog of 2012 back in Salamanca, and the penultimate one from Semester 1 of Erasmus! I’ve been back here a week now, and I can’t believe how quickly the time goes! I had a really lovely time at home in the UK with my family for Christmas, and then I had a great New Year with Kat up in Solihull where it was lovely to spend some time with her! My birthday was a lovely day too thanks to my Mum; we enjoyed a day out shopping in London and saw Legally Blonde the musical which really was a laugh! I am enjoying being back in Salamanca now though, although I’m constantly aware my time here is ticking away like a mini time-bomb..... There are only 12 days left now here and then I leave Salamanca for good! That’s half of my Erasmus Year gone, and I don’t know when I’ll be back in Spain again! On the more positive side, I now have accommodation for my Second semester in Pavia, Italy sorted, as well as all travel booked for the 22^nd of February! Exciting times ahead as mi vida erasmus will turn into la mia vita erasmus as we go all itaaaaaaaaaaaaalian! 

I’ve spent the last week just relaxing and enjoying spending time with my closest friends here- you know who you all are! And in that time I’ve also been cracking on with completing some last pieces of Uni work which are needed before my time here ends. I’ve had a presentation for my ‘Historia y cultura italiana’ course to prepare and managed to write 2 pages in Spanish on a 1940’s Italian film. I think the exam will go well next week- I just need to finish off my powerpoint presentation and that’s all done! I’m also over halfway through a film analysis essay for my Literatura y cine module where I’m translating a past essay from English to Spanish. I’ve really enjoyed the translation so far, and it’s made me consider doing a Masters in Translation after I graduate next year!  All that’s left now really is some Italian grammar revision for the test on the 28^th Jan and that’s it! It’s all under control, as always.

My favourite view- across the river to a very sunny Salamanca!

Elizabeth and me! =]

 On Saturday I had a lovely meet up with Elizabeth, and we went for a long walk around Salamanca and down by the river as it was such a lovely day- although freezing cold I might add. I couldn’t resist taking a few photos looking across at the cathedral from across the river. It is probably my favourite panoramic view in Salamanca! We then went to our favourite tapas bar ‘Mandala’ in the centre for a bit to eat! We were both happy and silent munching away and happy to be reunited with our spinach and cheese topped tortilla tapas dish! 

The bridge and the Cathedral

Speaking of it being freezing cold on Saturday, Irene (Elizabeth’s Spanish flatmate) told us that the temperatures are regularly dropping to below freezing at night and that she had seen the forecast for snow on Sunday! And right as she was, Sunday evening I was in my room doing some work when Laurie started screaming that snow was falling thick and fast! I leapt up out of my seat and we both rushed to the lounge window to see large thick snowflakes falling down! It seemed that everyone in Salamanca was excited about the snow (Facebook was very informative that night!), however the snow only lasted for a few hours, failed to set and then eventually stopped much to everyone’s disappointment! I’d have loved to have seen the cathedral and plaza all covered in beautiful white snow! It would have made some amazing photos! I didn’t make it out to see the snow, but I have borrowed a few photos from friends of the city on Sunday evening during the short period of snow fall!  

The Plaza Mayor with a sprinkling of snow!

The snow falling down!

Maryse..... a French Erasmus student on the Plaza de Anaya! Lovely snowy scene!

Yesterday was a great day too as in the evening Florian and I had planned to go to the cinema to see a comedy which I was excited to see, however when he was searching for the film times he found out that a black and white film called ‘The Artist’ which he had been wanting to see had been released in Spain! It is a silent comedy/romance set in the 1920’s and has won the most Bafta award nominations- 12! At first when Florian begged me for us to go and see it instead of my comedy I have to admit I wasn’t very taken- a black and white silent movie set in the 1920’s isn’t really my kind of feel-good film after a long day of essay work! However after my Dad telling me I needed to be more open minded and embrace new things, I decided to trust Florian’s judgement after him saying I would love the film- and he even offered to give me his iphone if I didn’t like it he was that sure! 

The film's promotional poster!

 Anyway we went for a spot of tapas around 10pm and then headed over to the cinema. Armed with popcorn we made our way into the crammed theatre...... a joke, we were two of six people in the whole room! Haha. At first I wasn’t very impressed and was contemplating going to sleep.... but gradually I got into the film and the storyline and surprisingly the mute nature of it didn’t bother me as the classical music made up for it, as well as the exaggerated body and facial movements of the characters. Overall a wonderful storyline which left us smiling whilst leaving the cinema! Check out the YouTube trailer below to get an idea of what it was all about as I think that many young people will avoid this film just due to being black and white and silent, when they would be missing a truly wonderful film. (I nearly did remember, and if it weren’t for Florian, I wouldn’t have seen it!) My rating? 10/10- A must watch. 

Right, that’s all from me for the moment- I’d best get back to translating that essay! I’ll be back for the last blog in Spain next week! I’m really looking forward to my Dad coming out to see the city on Saturday the 28^th and I’m going to show him how beautiful Salamanca is, and of course make sure he tries some local tapas dishes before we both head back to the Isle of Wight on Monday the 30^th armed with my 2 huge suitcases and 2 cabin cases! 60KG of luggage....... wow I don’t travel lightly do I! 

Hasta luego, Zoë

WEEK 14- NOCHEVIEJA UNIVERSITARIA & CENA DE NAVIDAD

HOLA!! What a week >>> WHAT A WEEK! It has really been one of the best weeks of MI VIDA ERASMUS here in Salamanca, and quite fitting seeing as it is the last week before the Christmas Holidays. I really can’t believe that there are only 3 more days until I fly home! This is the end of week 14, and I was reading some of my first blogs from back in September and it seems so long ago now! People I met back then are now so important in my life, and it seems like I’ve known them forever! – I’m thinking of three people especially- Laurie my Frenchie, Marta my lovely Spanish girlie, and Florian too of course! You’re all great people and have really made my time here amazing. OS QUIERO!!! (I love you all!)

The promotional logo for the event

Another promotional poster

A view of the plaza and the stage

The 40,000 people on the plaza.... photo taken from google!

Wow where do I start with week 14’s events then? Ok the most important event I think was the Nochevieja Universitaria (University New Year) which took place on Thursday 15^th December. Basically as the majority of the foreign students of the University of Salamanca are not here in the city for the real New Year, there is a night organized especially for all students before everyone leaves for the Christmas holidays! It is incredibly well known throughout Spain, and people come from all over the country to Salamanca just for this night as it is known to be ‘de puta madre’ (AKA fucking amazing). The event started 10 years ago when a small group of foreign students gathered in the Plaza Mayor to say goodbye to each other and eat the traditional 12 grapes eaten at New Year (one for every chime at midnight to give luck for the coming 12 months) and then the following year the group staged a party in collaboration with a few of the bars in the city, and then two years later around 5,000 students joined on the plaza to celebrate, followed by 30,000 in 2007 and now over 40,000 students participate in the event every year! More or less it is a ‘macrobotellón’ (gigantic out-door drinking festival) but there are cultural activities during the day such as a tapas market with lots of different stalls of local gastronomy, as well as live music on the Plaza Mayor until midnight! Also check out the video I found on Youtube below- there are some amazing views of all of the people on the plaza!

Me, Irene, Rachel, Elizabeth, Marta, Ana, Laurie & Morgan on the plaza

Elizabeth and Me

Laurie, Ana, Irene, Marta and Me!

Laurie, Morgan, Florian and Me!

Me and Laurieeee! (the best 'compi de piso' *flatmate* you could ask for!)

Florian and Me! <3

Florian and Mee!

The night really was great- it was just an amazing atmosphere, and the live music was fantastic! It was also great when the crowd were hitting inflatables all over the plaza! (see the photo below taken by Laurie- she's one amazing photographer!) Elizabeth and I had bought a bag of grapes to eat at midnight- one for each of the 12 chimes; however we left them in her flat! (We’re entirely useless!). After midnight, Laurie, Morgan, Florian and I went to one of the local bars ‘Posada de las animas’ for a few drinks and a dance, however the place was packed!    

The throwing of the inflatables! Amazing photography here Laurie!

View of the crowded plaza from one of the side streets!

A panoramic photo of the plaza.... once again all credit to Miss Laurie Charvet!

Students, santa hats... and one very pretty lit-up Plaza Mayor!

After all of the excitement of the Nochevieja Universitaria, we then had a wonderful Christmas dinner party hosted by Elizabeth and Irene to look forward to on Friday! We all put on our nicest clothes- dresses/skirts for the ladies and shirts for the gents! and had a lovely evening being wined and dined! Many thanks to Elizabeth and her sidekick Martha for an amazing roast dinner, home cooked apple pie and yule log... as well as several bottles of alcohol, truffles, chocolates and turrón! It really was a night of fantastic conversation and yummy food with good friends! 

The wonderful dinner party!

Me, Elizabeth, Marta and Stephanie!

The lads! Florian and Morgan!

Laurie and Me! guapasss! <3

Elizabeth (the lovely host!) and Me!

Me and Florian

After the wonderful dinner, a few of us walked home in the freezing cold (Yes here in Sala it’s around 0 degrees now!) but we stopped in the Plaza Mayor to take some photos as they had put up the Christmas decorations! I thought that they would have put a traditional tree up, but it was some kind of Christmas display with pretty lights! It wasn’t up for the Nochevieja Universitaria, and Marta explained that if then there had been this display, or a tree, then people would have tried to climb it like in previous years when the decorations were up before the Nochevieja! Anyway, I think the Plaza now looks lovely and very festive!

The Christmas display on the Plaza Mayor

Florian, Me, Morgan and Laurie!

Florian, Me, Laurie, Morgan and Stephanie!

Florian and Me! <3

Now if all that excitement for two days wasn’t enough, this evening Laurie, Morgan, Marta, Anne-Lise (a French Erasmus student) and I all met up for an evening of tapas! The problem was however that being a freezing cold Saturday evening, hardly any of the bars and tapas restaurants had tables free! I think we entered in 5 before we finally found a table in a small tapas bar in the centre not far from the plaza. It was crowded so we were very lucky to even get a table without a reservation! I had a goat’s cheese and red pepper tostada, a small vegetarian pizza portion, and a slice of Spanish tortilla and a diet coke! The tapas were so cheap though- the first one was 50 cents if you bought a drink, and then further tapas dishes were 1 euro 20. The funny thing was though, that when Marta and I went up to the bar to order our tapas dishes, I saw that my goat’s cheese and red pepper tostada had an anchovy on the top! And being a vegetarian, I don’t eat fish... so I very nicely asked the waitress behind the counter if she could take off the anchovy for me before bringing it to the table...... to which my reasonable request (I am the customer remember... and we all know the customer is always right!) was met with more or less ‘er no, how about you take it off yourself eh!’ HAHA! I didn’t know what to do so just looked at her with my eyebrows raised, and then went back to the table! Honestly, some Spanish are so rude it’s incredible! We all enjoyed our tapas and then went to the Chocolatería Valor for some indulgence time! I had a HUGE portion of chocolate cake, Marta had a cheesecake AND a vanilla milkshake!! Laurie and Anne-Lise shared a chocolate truffle dessert and a set of 4 different melted chocolate drinks and Morgan enjoyed a vanilla milkshake! 

Anne-Lise, Morgan and Laurie!

Anne-Lise, Laurie, Morgan, Me and Marta!

My chocolate cake! Mmmmmm!

Marta's extra-large cheesecake portion!

Anne-Lise and Laurie tucking into their little chocolate heaven!

Ok it’s now just passed 3am here in Salamanca, so I think I’ll call it a night now! This is the last blog of 2011! Wishing you all ‘Una Feliz Navidad y todo lo mejor para el año próximo!’ (HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR!) I’ll be back with my VIDA ERASMUS in January when I have 3 weeks left in Salamanca, followed by the start of a whole new Erasmus adventure in Pavia in Italy in February! I’m incredibly excited, and should find out in the next few days about my accommodation there! I have asked for a flat-share with some Italians, so we’ll see what I get allocated! Fingers crossed! Anyway, thank you so much to everyone in my Salamancan life; it really has been an amazing semester 1.... See you all in January- let’s make the last few weeks unforgettable.  =]  xxx