Ourense & Carnaval 2013

Hi! I haven't written for a while, so here's a catch-up on what's going on here in 2013! We went to Ourense last weekend to hang out with some other Americans, and to watch the Super Bowl. The game started at 12:30 AM here, so with the delay and everything, it didn't end until almost 5! Everyone brought food, I made chocolate chip cookies from a mix my parents sent me! Others brought guacamole dip, sheet cake, homemade salsa, beans and rice, and a delicious peanut butter dip. We also all celebrated our half-way point of being here, it's hard to believe it's been 4 months.

I also had my first taste of churros & chocolate for breakfast. It was delicious, but I don't think I could ever get used to having that for breakfast. They also have churro stands around town (in O Barco, too), where they sell filled churros, and chocolate-covered churros. Healthy!

The little train we took to the hot springs.

 There are hot springs in Ourense, so we took a little train to the outskirts of town. It was nice and relaxing.

We also had surprisingly nice (not rainy) weather, so we went for a walk by the river. There is random exercise equipment by the walking path, so we took some pictures. The bridge in the photos is the Puente Romano, which was constructed in the first century. 

CARNAVAL at CEIP Virxe do Camino

Each day this week the students had to bring something a new article to wear to school (wigs, ties, vests, mismatched gloves)

Waiting for the parade (hippies, princesses & knights)

Jota, one of the funniest kids. He pronounced himself king and screamed "sin cabeza" (off with your head!) to anyone he encountered.

Héctor, one of the infantil kids dressed as a caveman. (Ironically, the word for caveman is troglodita)

Parade

More cavepeople (not sure why the little girl has a pink wig...)

Rubia

Marina & Noelia!

Caught some knights mid-battle

We are staying in O Barco this weekend. People dress up in their costumes and wear them to the bars, and there will be a parade here on Tuesday afternoon, where everyone wears their costumes and I think there's traditional food afterwards.