¿Estás contenta?

How many times a day in the US does a stranger ask you if you're happy?  I'd guess not very often.  As I sat earlier at a cafe working on my blog, I became aware that no one else was in the place except me.  Then, I noticed keys in the door.  I quickly jumped up and asked the woman behind the bar if they were closed?  She APOLOGIZED to me that only on Sundays did they close early but if I wasn't finished, I didn't need to leave!  Can you imagine this?  She and a man, probably her husband, were quietly waiting until I was ready to leave !  Then as I hurriedly paid for my coffee and toast and said I was through for now, she asked me if I was writing a book?  I said "no" just a blog to my family and friends in the US about my adventures in Spain.  Her next question was the title of this entry "Are you happy?"  I replied I was very happy and if it were not for family and friends, I would stay here forever.  She was so glad to hear that and suggested maybe I could retire to Spain some day!  As I walked home, I realized I needed to say the above because it so epitomizes the attitude of everyone I've met here.

For example, my dear friends Cristina and Fernando, who include me often on their adventures, invited me to join them on Thursday, December 8th (Dia de la Immaculada and a holiday), to go hiking in the mountains and eat a traditional meal at a small restaurant they knew of that doesn't even have a sign.  We drove about an hour to a site in the hills named Carballedo and commenced our hike following trail signs along small roads, wide paths and some narrow, steep ones that lead to a nearby village, a river valley and through a forest that made me think of the movie, Pan's Labyrinth.  We even saw an old cannon left from the Civil War.  Our group of 14 consisted of doctors, teachers, businessmen and a hairdresser.  They were very friendly and several asked the question I often get "Is Texas like the films or is there anything green there?"  I need to start taking my book about Austin with me so I have evidence!  Fortunately, Cris and Nando had seen it and backed up my assertions of hills and trees!

The group!

River and old water mill

older Galician house

We ended our hike back where we had started from:  the restaurant run by an 86 year old woman named Ines, my grandmother's name....when I told her this, she was delighted and insisted on taking off her apron before she posed for a picture with me.  We ate wild javelina shot in the hills nearby and cooked with potatoes, onions, wine and I don't know what else until it was so tender a knife was not needed.  The flavor was fantastic!  We also had a tossed salad, bread (of course!), wine,water and fried milk (tasted like French toast) for dessert.  The discussion was lively and enjoyable and I think I can really tell an improvement in my understanding of random conversations in a group.  They asked me what I was up to in Vigo and when I mentioned swimming they got a good laugh out of the fact that it took a foreigner to tell them about the adult swimming program in Vigo.  In fact, one woman, Soledad(Sole) was so interested that she will meet me tomorrow night at swim practice to give it a try!

Ines, the owner and chief cook

Spaniards always toast before beginning!

And, oh, did we begin!!

It was my idea of a perfect day:  good hike, good food and good friends!