To first start, I am super bummed that it seems my camera didn’t save today’s pictures.  I’m not sure what that means but I will now change the batteries and see if that is the problem (even though I shot a whole day watching them record somewhere).

Never fear however, I have plenty of pics that can hold you over and now is as good as a time as any to talk about this memorial that I obsessed over the day we were at the art school.  It is a memorial dedicated to the civilians of Zaragoza who fought the French (I’m not sure when but a long time ago).  The city had banned together to fight what was really a losing battle.  They were outnumbered but went down fighting.  The French remarked how crazy they were to put up such a fight against all the odds… It seems Zaragoza is proud of their tenacity and their ability to band together during such strife.

But really today was about getting everything over to the studio and seeing where it was.  Juan came and picked me up and we were able to fill his (little) car so much that Sergio had to ride his bike there.  It feels like it is far away however both Juan and Sergio swear that it takes longer to get there by car because of the traffic and one way streets.  I guess I’ll take their word for it since Sergio left after we did and was there waiting for us when we arrived. 

Paco and Fernando have offered a place for me in their studio.  There is a front area that I’ll be working in and the studio is tucked away on a tiny street by a little park.  It’s a good place to get dirty.  We then took off to the hardware store to get some straggling supplies and to see the Spanish version of a mall which pretty much looks like any mall I’ve seen.

After shopping, we returned to the studio where I dyed some cotton and then headed back home.

Today I went out in stores on my own… I have been out on my own a little bit however not where I actually had to talk to people.  Today I went to the art store and bought paint and a palette.  It was a little challenging and the store owner did not speak any Ingles so that contributed to the struggle.  But with my very broken Spanish (and lots of miming), I was able to get the point across. 

I seem to blurt out whenever possible, “no habla Espanol.”  People usually are good about it- they either switch it up or excuse themselves.  I’m looking forward to understanding more words.  Tonight I learned “poco” = “a little- very very very little (as in, “I speak muy poco Espanol.”).  By the way I mis-spelled “muy bien” in a previous post… Sergio, who is keeping up with the blog, corrected me which is good so that maybe I can read a little something too when I leave here.

After strolling through some stores today, I came home and Sergio had gotten me a ticket to see a concert at the Teatro Principal.  It was a performance of traditional Portuguese music, “Fado”.   From what I understand, she started with 19^th c. traditional songs and worked her way to contemporary fusion of Fado and new age music.   At first I have to say, I wasn’t that into her singing.  It was all very high with not much range.  It took a while for me to warm up to her voice BUT the band I loved and they did a few numbers by themselves.  The band comprised of a classical guitar, violin, cello, upright bass, accordion, and two percussionists.  Some of the combinations where interesting and I loved how all the different tones played into the music.  At times it was a little bit if a “play off” between the guitar and accordion which was funny.  All in all, I ended up enjoying the night- “Muy bein!”

Now keep your fingers crossed the camera works tomorrow!

(this was taken on the way home from the theater in the Spanish Square) 

PS:  After I wrote this I was able to get everything working again… aside from shorting out the entire flat this morning by trying to charge my batteries, I´ve become a rather handy girl!