Today was a very different one for us. After breakfast, we walked to the town of La Alberca for a history lesson. We learned about how the village was 'saved' by a documentary showing the Spanish gov't how poor the area was. Showing starving sheep falling off the mountain, the film maker convinced the gov't that money should be poured into the town to save it from extinction. After this was granted, it was learned that the sheep had actually been killed and pushed off the mountain. Too late...
About the pig. As I mentioned earlier, the Spanish love ham. The pig is almost revered. In this town, there is a local pig that roams freely, sleeping, eating, and -- you know--sugar, honey iced tea(ing)as Melanie would say--anywhere he wants. You can pet him, if you are stupid enough to want to. I have several pictures. There is a long history of this 'free pig.' It began as a gift from the Jews to the local peoples in a show of unity; that everyone can live together peacefully. In June, the town receives the pig. For 6 months, the pig can do anything it wants. If it comes to your house, you feed it. If it comes into your house, you let it sleep. In January, the pig is raffled off and the winner can take the pig for food or a pet. I have to say that this is a great story about unity but I had to be careful where I walked the entire time so I didn't see much of the town.
We visited a hole in the wall, seriously, where we were treated to a great aged cheese. No one seemed to know the name of it. Also, there was ham, chorizo, and something else. And, of course, wine. I loved the cheese and the chorizo, but truly, the ham just isn't that good. There was a drinking wine contest (I didn't participate) won by a Spanish woman, Ampera. She managed for 30 seconds; the closest male was 12 seconds. Go girl!!!
We went to lunch where we were served pork and potatoes. This is pretty much what we eat every meal although I do have options for lunch and dinner. We had an interesting ice cream that wasn't very cold. It was odd. For dinner, the first plate was peas with ham. My second plate was pork and potatoes. For dessert, we had a torte which was good along with coffee. I have coffee (half coffee and half milk) at every meal, even when finishing dinner at 10:30 P.M. It doesn't keep me from sleeping. Go figure.
For our group activity, my group had to create a new product, market it, and demonstrate it. We did "clone at home." You can use an iPod shuffle-like item to clone yourself for 5 minutes to one hour. After that time, the clone evaporates, which makes it environmentally friendly. There is no messy after-clone. Our celebrity spokesperson was Silvio Berlusconi. Our slogan was Don't be Alone, Clone at Home. Mrs. Berlusconi was Very, Very happy for the clone at home.
The funniest invention was the Baby Translator, with Angelina Jolie as the spokesperson. Who knew that babies wanted elaborate french meals and spoke with a British accent?
So, I promised myself to get to bed early since I overslept this a.m. It's 11 p.m. and I am going to bed. Adios.
