Time is flying by, and I can’t believe April is almost half over! When did that happen?

Mom, dad, and John-Hector are here! Woo-hoo! I’m excited to be a part of their first big travel experience. Eric, mi amor, arrives April 18, and will be staying until May 10. We’re going to go to Dublin, Rome, and Valencia, so be on the look out for updates about those experiences.

A number of the teachers from my school have been kind enough to invite me into their homes and introduce me to their home-towns. I consider myself very lucky and blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know so many places in Spain through the locals. One of whom was recently Jose Carlos, one of los tenistas…
The Little Segoviano with a Big History (March 23-25)

One can expect to hear Segovia and/or San Cristobal mentioned whenever talking to Jose Carlos. A conversation could be as simple as, “I had a muffin this mornin”" and Jose Carlos would pipe in with a “The best muffins are in my village, San Cristobal!”

The pride for his homeland is amusing at times (especially when he belts out a traditional tune), but most of all it is admirable. I find myself looking away in shame some nights as I watch news about the USA or when another teacher asks me a difficult question about our government. Jose Carlos doesn’t realize it, but my trip to Segovia was key in renewing the faith I have in my own country.
Jamon in Segovia

Jose Carlos let me have an attempt at carving a Spanish ham.

After hearing so much about his little pueblo of San Cristobal, I decided it was high-time I see it for myself. Jose Carlos and I took to the road at about 1pm, and after a stomach-churning, but beautiful trek through the mountains seperating Madrid and Segovia, we arrived in San Cristobal early friday afternoon. San Cristobal is a small village right outside of Segovia at the base of the mountains.

After a filling lunch and short siesta, Jose Carlos took me on a hike through the fields of his tierra (land). He is an avid bird-watcher, so we hiked to nearby eagles’ nests to make sure the eagles were in their usual places for the season. He knows every path, rock, bird, plant, fence, and tree. I was in complete awe at how connected he was to his land. He shared memories of his childhood, told me local legends, and taught me the names of plants and birds as we walked. At one point we walked through a field of toros (bulls). While I was wide-eyed and sure I was about to face my young death, he chased them around, and yelling over his shoulder, assured me I was perfectly safe and the bulls were harmless…unless I cornered them. I chose to keep my distance and climb the stone fence as fast as possible.

Later that night, I met Belen, Jose Carlos’ mujer (woman). She took me on a drive around Segovia at night. The castle, aqueduct, and the city’s walls were beautifully lit.

It’s going to take me forever to write narratively about every moment, so here’s a list of what else I did…

* Jose Carlos and Belen built their house from the ground up. They laid every brick, stone, and tile. Their lives were tied to the house every vacation and weekend for 2 years. It’s a beautiful home with a mountain range view from the back yard.
* Jose Carlos and I went on another hike to some man-made waterfalls in a near-by river. On the way, he picked some oregano/parsley-looking plant from a very wet-part of a field. When he got home, he washed it and ate it with his salad. He told me it would make me sick if I ate too much, so I just tried it…it was kind of like eating grass.
* Jose Carlos showed me his childhood home, an old, grey-stone building in the old part of San Cristobal.
* We saw the castle and aqueducts of Segovia…both very impressive! The aqueducts are made from stones that have never been “glued” together.
* I met and played hide-and-seek with Jose Carlos’ nephew and niece.
* We went on a guided tour of La Granja, a palace nestled at the base of the mountains, and we walked around the palace’s amazing gardens. The gardens go on forever, and are now a part of my TOP 10 Things You Must See in Spain list.
* Jose Carlos’ mom made us leche frita (fried milk). It´s this gelatin-like pudding covered in cinnamon-sugar and fried….VERY DELICIOUS!

The excitement Jose Carlos has for his home-town is infectious. I saw myself in him, and I’m pumped to return to Colorado and…I don’t really know…read more about our history and be more connected; more connected with the people and the la tierra. Thank you Jose Carlos!