Get Up! (Get on up)

The landscapes of this area are unlike any place I have ever lived in. Logroño is surrounded by mountains on all sides, although it doesn't feel as though we're very high up. The mountains earn that name by being steep, as many of them are little more than very large hills in my estimation. In any case, Eric, Megan, and I have done several hikes in the time we've spent here, but all them of originated in Logroño. Last Saturday, Eric and I finally managed to get out of the city and hike in the more formidable heights to the south.

Taking advantage of Logroño's 1.5-month-old metropolitan bus system, Eric and I rode to Albelda, one of the villages in which I work. Albelda is on a mountain, so walking through town is a hike in itself. The two of us strolled with no particular direction other than up. We quickly found ourselves in the midst of farmland, nearly bumping into donkeys and getting barked at almost incessantly by (well-restrained) guard dogs. The steepness of the mountain has led to some interesting developments, such as houses built into the mountain itself. Comparisons to hobbit holes are definitely appropriate. We found ourselves needing to avoid stepping on people's chimneys as we descended.

The views were probably the best part of the whole experience, as we were actually in the steep mountain range that divides Logroño from the southern part of La Rioja. While we were still able to see Logroño and other mountains that we've climbed, we were able to see the southern range in much greater detail than we ever had. The brilliant sun, and the sight of snow at the higher altitudes, only improved the experience. And yes, I have pictures.

The view that greets me every morning I arrive in Albelda.

Note donkey on the left. There was another above who was more camera-shy.

Can you say "Spaghetti Western?"

One smiley, happy hiker.

Bodegas built into the mountainside.

Not to sound like an ad, but there's a completely different La Rioja up above.

Our hike was brief, but every minute brought many hours' worth of enjoyment. As we got on the bus to go home, we spotted a local man riding a donkey through town. We were, regrettably, unable to grab a photo, but it was hard to tell what was funnier - that this man was riding through town on a donkey, or that nobody else seemed to notice or care.

One week later, Megan joined Eric and I for another hike along the Rio Iregua, which I cross every day on my way to work. My camera battery decided to die before I could take any photos of that hike, but I did manage to wade through the (very shallow) river. It's a poor substitute for the swimming hole I'd like to find, but it was still refreshing and chilly.

More adventures to come, stay tuned. You can read Eric's account of the same hike and our dinner that night on his blog here. He's a much better photographer.

Funny is as Funny says

My interest in this position stemmed more from my interest in language than my interest in teaching, and it has certainly served that interest well. The exchange is mutual; I'm learning at least as much about Spanish as my students are about English. In fact, my classes are a little relief from the constant learning process that is living in a country that doesn't speak my language, and hearing Spanish people make mistakes in English can be downright funny.

Recently, one of my teachers was discussing the difference between short and long vowels in English to our class. Spanish only has one sound for each vowel, so this can take some explaining. For instance, Spanish children always say "feesh" instead of "fish" because they do not have the short "i" sound. But it was another typical Spanish mistake that made this instance so funny. In Spanish, there is no difference between the "b" and "v" sounds. Thus, for example, "volunteers" can come out either as we say it in English, or as "bolunteers." And what was my teacher talking about? That's right, short and long...vvvvvvowels. I'll let you put that one together.

On the other hand, I have been taught several tongue-twisters in Spanish that almost literally twist my tongue. In Spanish, they are called trampalenguas (literally "tongue cheats"). The first, practicing the "tr" sound, goes like this: tres tristes tigres comían trigo en un trigal (three sad tigers were eating wheat in a wheat field). It's a little easier than the second one, which is to practice the notorious rolled "r": El perro de San Roque no tiene rabo porque Ramón Ramírez se lo ha robado/cortado (San Roque's dog doesn't have a tail because Ramón Ramírez stole it/cut it off). Interestingly, I have found that people think it sounds better if I overemphasize the rolled "r" - even to the point of tiring out my tongue - than if I say the "r" as we do in English. By the same token, I tell my students the same thing about the difference between "b" and "v." But at least that doesn't cause them to risk swallowing their tongues.