Pleasantville

We are back to Pleasantville weather on the Costa del Sol and boy is it about time. There is nothing like seeing 80degrees and sunny (no cloud picture) on weather.com for my last week here. Really time to hit the beach and work on that tan!

Nashville Needs You

Even though this blog is dedicated to life offshore, I have to comment on what has happened in Nashville, where I lived for four years. I have spoken to many friends at Vanderbilt the past week who have tried to describe what is going on, aside from canceled exams. The pictures are mind blowing and have really upset me because I recognize every street corner, restaurant, landmark and highway completely submerged in water. My heart goes out to all Nashville residents who have been affected by this disaster.

This article was sent to me today by my landlord in Nashville, please read it and watch the video. Get a bikini wax, save a family (you'll understand after you read the article).

Iceland volcano promotes Rioja wine??

This article from the WSJ is cute and gives a little history on Rioja wine. LOVE Rioja wine by the way.

Here's the beginning bit of the article "Nature's Effect on Rioja":

Fortunately, my Tastings diary didn't clash with the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. With much of European air space closed last week due to the advent of a precipitous volcanic-ash cloud, winemakers joined the long list of would-be travelers stranded in remote destinations. In northern and central Europe, all eyes turned to Madrid, as Spain's skies remained open for business, blissfully clear of any trace of volcanic ash. As passengers from across the Atlantic funneled through Madrid airport, my wine historian antennae was alerted that it wasn't the first time that a natural disaster has benefited the Spanish economy.

Eyjafjallajokull

No that is not gibberish, it's the name of the volcano causing all of the air travel chaos throughout Europe. And possibly major economic repercussions??? Joder!!

Earthquake!!

Apparently there was an earthquake in Spain yesterday morning! News to me!!

JINX

OK I completely jinxed myself when I said that I had a good feeling about March. The rain is back and with a vengeance. It's been POURING with VIOLENT WIND since Monday. Just today I was on my way back from my new clase particular (50minute walk away) and got DRENCHED. I am STILL without rain boots. Feel MORE than free to fed-ex me some or get in contact with Mother Nature and tell her to chill out.

I've got a feeling

...that March is going to be a good month. Today was the first sunny day in... I can't even remember how long. It was so nice that I actually put on a bikini (one month before my body wanted me to), grabbed a towel and went to the beach with my friends. The bikini and towel were slightly over eager moves, given that it was only 55degrees, but the man doing laps in the ocean made me feel less radical.

Hopefully there will be plenty of more beach days to come in the near future. This month I will be super busy with new clases particulares, traveling and entertaining visitors (hopefully on the beach). So excited!

When it rains, it pours

My biggest regret in life right now is deciding not to bring my rain boots to Spain. Madre mia, it seems like it has rained every day here for the past month for at least part of the day. Last Monday I wore my brown leather boots and by the time I arrived at school in the morning they were completely soaked, as well as my socks and feet. It was quite the spectacle and all the teachers were trying to help me dry them and find me new shoes.

I awoke this morning to doors slamming in my apartment from the violent wind outside. I put on my tights with flat shoes (the only shoes I have here that dont retain water), coat and prepared my umbrella for some action. There was so much wind outside within 3 minutes my umbrella, which was a birthday present from Emily in August, and is very well travelled most recently to Cadiz for Carnaval, was unaccostomed to this turbulent wind and flipped inside out. So before my day started I was sin paraguas. Joder. "La costa del sol"? I beg to differ.

El río

The rain we got this past month actually did a little something nice for Málaga. It partially filled the dry river that I walk past every day. The two groups of people who are not so happy about this: the homeless and dog owners. Word of the street is that the former can no longer sleep down there and the latter can no longer take the canines out for a nice stroll. I'm sure it will dry up again in no time. Today was 60 and sunny!

Above: A view of the "river" facing the sea.

Below: A view of the "river" facing the mountains

The rain in Spain

I have seen all different kinds of rain before: fat rain, horizontal rain, monsoon rain, sheets of rain, drizzly rain, and misty rain... but the rain in Spain, or the rain in Málaga I should say, is unlike any other rain I have seen. Today it was very cloudy all day and looked like it was about to pour any second. It did in fact rain later in the day when I was conveniently walking 40 minutes to my client's house. The reason why the rain is so unique to me is that it is very...subtle. When it was raining I could barely see the drops and when I put up my umbrella I couldn't even hear it hitting the umbrella. And even though it didn't seem to be raining hard enough to create puddles there were in fact small ponds all over the streets. I assumed my body wouldn't get that wet because the rain was so light and unobtrusive and seemed to only be coming down in a vertical fashion... but when I got home I realized my whole body was moist. So I'm not too sure about the famous lyric from My Fair Lady, "the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain..." all I know is this rain is a big PAIN!

And then there was heat

After hanging out in my living room today and witnessing my Italian roomie repeatedly blow hot air into his hands and then rub them together I decided today HAD to be the day. I went to Corte Ingles and FINALLY bought a space heater. It not only provides heat, but also functions as a fan which will be perfect for when it starts to actually feel like I live on the Costa del Sol. Although I will be using it for personal use in my bedroom I currently have it placed in our living room and everyone is extremely thankful.

You know there is something seriously wrong when...

• You are wearing gloves, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, a scarf and socks to sleep

• You find yourself turning on the toaster not to make food, but to keep the feeling in your hands

• You are petrified of getting out of the shower

• You think there is a chance it is warmer outside

• You want to go to bed at 9pm just so you don't have to be awake anymore

• You squat every time you pee because the mere thought of not doing so sends shivers down your spine

• You think about which item of furniture could be sacrificed for a fire and not be noticed during the end of year inventory check

Alternate title for this post: You know it's winter in Málaga when...

November, is it really you?

I don't think I have a favorite season...Obviously everyone loves summer because that means warm weather, tans, weekend getaways and for those of you still in school, an internship or summer program that you have spent your entire year carefully crafting so that it is secretly more fun than work, but will also make you look like an all-star on your resume.

Winter is probably the least popular. The shorts, skirts, dresses, white pants, and open-toed shoes have already made their way to the back of the closet and unless you really know your way around the sunless tanner aisle at Duane Reade you are pale...the worst. But being able to sport fur and go ice skating does have its redeeming qualities.

Spring is exciting because the snow starts to melt, the leaves and flowers come out again and you know its almost summer time. The rain however seems endless and you are constantly debating if it's better to ruin your heels so at least your legs still look skinny or just forget it and wear flats that will not only get your feet soaked, but will also ruin your chance of getting hit on.

However I personally am a really big fan of fall. Some people think fall is depressing because it is the end of summer (why does everything have to revolve around summer?) and means it's time to go "back to the grind." But I think although it is not technically the start of a new year , it is definitely the time to turn over some new leaves (no pun intended). You vow to start going to the gym again since summer really did you in this time, read more, work harder, and over all improve yourself. At least this is what I find myself doing every fall. The weather is starting to change so instead of panting up the subway stairs swearing, "I..will...never...ride...this sardinepackedhomelesspersoninfestedACbrokencontraption ever again to a date..." you are wearing your fall layers and are cool, calm and collected.

For so many reasons I cannot BELIEVE it is November. First and foremost the weather here is not what I am used to for this month. Every day it starts out pretty chilly, but by noon it is definitely time to pack your towel and head to the beach. As I have said before, my white pants are far from retired and my tan is only getting better as the days go on. I am by no means complaining, but is it going to be beach weather all year round?? November, I don't recognize you! For the past four years November has meant watching the leaves change color on Vanderbilt's campus (a national arboritum), coordinating which pashmina, pair of boots, dress and jacket looks best to the football tailgate and dying for midterms to be over so I could go home for a week to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family.

Even though the leaves here are not changing color I have kept true to myself and decided to turn over several "new leaves": consistent working out, intercambios, perfecting Spanish and learning French, just to name a few. I have been able to sport my leather jacket a few times even though I find myself perspiring if I wear it before 6pm. Weather aside, it is amazing to me that I have been here for a month and a half. Everything has gone by so fast, but at the same time I feel like I know Málaga like the back of my hand...Either way I feel very adjusted, but also so grateful and excited that I am here for longer than the equivalent of one semester so I really have time to perfect my skills and accomplish my goals.

'Tis the season...or not

Everything in Spain is seasonal. Towns, stores, clothing and fans. This is something that I respect, because the Spanish do not waste anything and are very practical, but it is extremely inconvenient and basically defies what most people love about America. Convenience. For example, although it is October and technically we are in the season known as "fall or autumn" it is extremely hot here and therefore my room is stuffy. I went to over 5 stores this week looking for a small fan to put in my room. Nada. They all told me summer was over and they were no longer selling fans. Really? Any department store/electronic store/drug store in America is most definitely selling fans and I am pretty sure it is a lot colder there than it is here. However today I popped into a chino store in Torre del Mar and found a fan! SO satisfying. It is the perfect size, but it makes a humming noise when I turn it on. I also have to put it on top of a towel or fabric because otherwise it moves along my tile floor making an even louder sound. It will just be another song on my life soundtrack. Are you high maintenance? Not if you live in Spain.

Malagueta

In case you have forgotten what sand looks like I made a little video this past weekend at the beach.

weather.com

Weather.com is for the most part accurate in the US, but when I plug in "Malaga" it gives me basically opposite weather information. Earlier this week it said it was going to be “heavy rain” for two days. I wore jeans and brought an umbrella in my bag with me all day but it ended up being gorgeous all day long! I am in desperate need of a european weather.com. eltiempo.com???? Today is so beautiful. Greg, Clay, and I are going to the beach (at 5pm). For some reason the weather gets better as the day goes on and the sun doesn’t set until much later. Right now on weather.com it says its going to be "mostly sunny" in the 80s and high 70s for the next ten days. I hope that's right!