25 May 2009

Andrew and the Sidra Festival

el 25 de mayo de 2009

So this whole story book thing is a lot more fun for me than you would think, and as such I'm going to continue rolling with it. Today's story:


"Andrew and the Sidra Festival"

Introduction:

Once upon a time in a magical land called the "PaĆ­s Vasco" someone created a low alcohol content drink from apples called Sidra (Cider). This is a special drink that you consume small amounts of in large quantities. Now, the Sidreria where they make this drink only opens for about one month every year to allow the people to come in and enjoy their tasty beverage. "Txotx!" (Essentially "Now Serving, grab your glass") can be heard resounding in between the barrels throughout the storage room as the worker's open a new barrel for the people to enjoy. At the end of the season, there remains Sidra in the barrels that needs to be drank. And so there was created a series of festivals in which the Sidra is sold at a reduced price in order to empty the barrels such that the next year's batch may begin to be made. The 1 or 2 euro cover charge allows an entire afternoon and evening of Sidra drinking, from Sidrerias all over the land.

On one such afternoon, our hero finds himself heading to just such a festival. And oh! the wonders he would encounter...


--- The Story of Andrew and the Sidra Festival ---

Andrew and his American friend Cory followed their Spanish guides Ernesto and Andoni to the train station to catch the train to Usurbil.

Finding that their train had left without them, they took a different one but had to got off in the next town over. Sans car, they began to walk


Choosing the highway as the quickest route.


After an hour of wandering and close encounters


They finally found their way to the festival

And oh! what a scene did they arrive upon!


The Sidra flowed freely


And at half past drunk, the shenanigans began




Though the festival was over, the trip home lie before them. Resting up for the walk home was key


Because the weather took a turn for the worse



But all made it home safe and sound... and wet... and still drunk.



Epilogue

Our hero and his companions enjoyed the Sidra Festival and survived all the dangers along the way. Though he has Monday off, our hero returns to his normal work schedule for the rest of the week. He admits he could use the rest, and looks forward to spending some time relaxing. Suddenly he recalls something someone said yesterday that makes him smile.

"These festivals continue every Sunday for the next several weeks."


To Be Continued?? . . .

23 May 2009

Germanic people look like me!!!

el 23 de mayo de 2009

So I went traveling again, as I do. This time it was to Friedrichshafen, Germany and then off to Zurich, Switzerland. The first part reminded me of why Rob and I need a babysitter when drinking together. The second part taught me the beauty behind "Hair of the Dog." Due to the fact that my book long posts never really inspire much conversation, and due to the positive response of the last post (by that I mean Ayla liked it) I'm going to do another photo filled children's story type post. So here we go!!


I arrived at dusk...


In the land of War Machines...


Where security really isn't that tight...


And I was able to slip across the border by boat...


and take shelter in a magical place of music.


I was accompanied by a master crew...

Who had to play medic after things blew up.


The cool water ran down from the mountains...


as we took naps in the park.


But the water could not squelch the fires...



And in the end, the Germans wore funny clothes.



Hope you enjoyed it.


A few comments that some of you may be wondering.
  • There are few pictures from Friedrichshafen because the little time I spent there was spent either drinking copious amounts of alcohol or vomiting said alcohol back up into a toilet. Port wine is meant to be sipped, not chugged.
    Rob said it best: We chugged like champions, and ralphed like rookies.
  • Our hotel was music themed. Every room was an artist or group. Our two rooms: Guns n' Roses and Journey. Shibby.
  • Cory was, in fact, with us but hadn't gotten there yet when we took that "group photo."
  • The bandaged hand: we bought some Cuban cigars to enjoy in the warm sun by the lake at in the evening. Upon trying to light mine I accidentally lit the entire matchbook on fire. Problem: the matchbook was in my hand at the time.
There was live music that I don't have photos of. I'm not going to try and describe it. I refuse to take away from the utter magic of the scene by trying to describe it over the internet. For now, know that it was truly amazing. I've never before seen that many people so entranced that they would sit on a sidewalk for hours at 10 at night.

Well, that's all.

Saludos,
Andrew
San Sebastian
Spain