My New Spanish Apartment

Long Weekend in La Rioja

How Quickly Autumn Flew By...

It has snowed in Logroño already this year... and it will likely snow again--maybe even this week! There are mountains all around, and so snow is no unusual thing in Spain; although it doesn't often snow much in some of the cities. The snow in Logroño, for example, doesn't stay for more than a few hours before it melts. The elevation here is about 450 meters or so, and so we don't catch too much of the white stuff.

Fall was nice, and now it's gone, really. The temperatures are not that cold here, I'd estimate the average to be around 40 - 45 F during the day and 35 - 40 at night. It's been raining more these past few weeks, and so it often feels slightly cooler, although I have no need for my Minnesota winter jacket here.

I haven't traveled much this year so far... I was basically waiting to get paid, which finally happened for the first time last week; the government is a little slow in getting our grant money to us, though now they should be on time. I posted for your viewing pleasure a collection of photos of me and my friends I've made here in Logroño so far this school year. Some of these friends are Spanish, some are not, some friends are from the govt program, others are not. Enjoy.

Spanish supper at the old apartment! With me, David & Elena (two Spanish teachers from a local high school) and Gareth (dude from D.C. who joined the program a bit late--he's the assistant teacher at the same school as said teachers).

Same living room; different night. These are my friends Deborah (from London), Claire (from northern England), Andrew (Scotland), and Marcos (Florida). They're all assistant English teachers like me. We like to sing and play guitar together. Yay!

Adventures in cooking. Here's some fish I cooked up with the help of some egg and flour.

Here's a typical Spanish kitchen: small, electric stove, oven, mini table, washing machine, no dishwasher, yes there's a microwave and a fridge. You get used to it, it's just fine. This is my old kitchen, my new one is bigger.

Here's me and Deborah. She's from London, and she has a wonderful accent that they tell me gives her away.

Big group; all English teachers. Claire, me, Jennis & Lucy (both from Alabama), Jon (England). Jon doesn't work in Logrono though; he's in nearby Burgos.

You wanted to see Halloween? You got it. Purple hair is Isabella (German exchange teacher), poncho is Michelle (Louisiana), maid is Iñaki (from Logroño), jumpsuit wearing murderer is Rafael--Rafa (from Brazil, has lived in Logroño a while), the Japanese man is me, and the samuri is Andrew (Scotland).


Me, potato chips, and Ilze (from Latvia, working in Logroño).

Spanish guy in the back is Sergio, friend from Basque Country, Spain. Foreground is Natalie from England and random German dude who was in town visiting.


We've taken to bowling on occasion. It's probably less common in Spain, although not less fun.


Lastly, here's me, Sergio, and friend Celine from Scotland.

Party on Logroño.

A Hike Around Logrono...

It was a nice Friday afternoon in Logrono, and so I packed my backpack with water and some snacks and I went down by the Ebro River and hiked up a rocky hill that took me over the highest point of the city. I had lived in Logrono for nearly a year and I had never done this. A friend of mine recommended it to me, actually, and so the very next day I went.

Here's the Stone Bridge that crosses the Ebro River. You can see three churches in the background, all located in the Old Part of the city.

The walk up the hill took me through several vineyards, and just yesterday was the first day of the autumn grape harvest for many farmers. The grapes I came across were definitely ready to be picked; they were deep purple and in big thick clusters, hanging from the scraggly grape vines, covered with green and red and violet leaves.

Here is one of the vineyards with Logrono in the background. Logrono is basically in a large valley, and you can see the hills all around it in the distance.

Nobody was looking, so I snatched some grapes to keep me going on the hike. They were all of the 'tempranillo' varietal, which is probably the most common of grapes from La Rioja and Logrono. They're small, red, and they have several small seeds in each one; so, while they taste good, you have to eliminate the seeds as you go. I prefer drinking wine, as do most Spanierds.

The little unripened green grapes. I don't think these will be ready this year.



Here we have the RiojaForum on the left of the picture (a big concert hall), the Plaza de Toros in the center (the Bullfighting Ring), and the rest of the city behind.

The Ebro River twists a few times and flows beneath four or five bridges within the Logrono city limits. Grassy green parks skirt the river and provide it and the people coverage from most of the regular city life.

Here's one of the peaks I climbed with some other hikers (who probably drove up; ha!).





Two days later I took another trek outside the city to visit the largest park in the area, called la Grajera. La Grajera is also on the route of the famous Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), the Christian pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. I didn't see any pilgrims walking the path with their giant packs, hiking sticks, and funny accents (many of them are from Germany, Belgium, Norway, France............ so on.) It's a little late in the season to be doing the 'Camino'.

Here is the symbol of the 'Camino', the shell, which I think was used as a rudimentary tool way back in the days of the first pilgrims. Anyways, it's a beautiful walk. Lots of nice Spanish countryside.

There is a big manmade lake at la Grajera. There are many trails around it, and it's a santuary for many breeds of animals and birds.



I hung out at the park for a few hours and then took the bus back into town, walking one way was enough, as it's like an hour's back to the city center where I live. I found a nice tree away from all the other 'campers' and people celebrating their Sunday having barbecues and picnics, and I had myself a nice relaxing read and write session, listening to the birds and the trees and watching couples and families walk past on the dirt trails. Gotta take advantage of the weather, y'know! We'll see if I can get out a few more days this year... it's starting the rainy winter season soon.

Better than all that snow though.