food, again

We've decided to conduct a series of experiments in restaurants here. We have been calculating what percentage of menu items contain pork. Of the few restaurants we've taken this poll, we are averaging in the 60%. 11/17. 5/8. That range. This doesn't seem that bad on the surface but it's a lot of ham.

Salamanca

We spent a few quiet days and nights in Salamanca, one of the oldest cities here in Spain. Home to the University of Salamanca and large numbers of students. Also decent Chinese food (who would have figured).

Wonderful honey-colored stone buildings, clear blue skies, warm weather, crisp and dry. It was a peaceful little rest from the barrio. At night, the city lights up the buildings so they sparkle and the whole town seems to gather in the Plaza Mayor, the main square. Each city has it's own Plaza Mayor, but according to the guide books, this is reputed to be the most beautiful Plaza Mayor in Spain. I'd agree. It's baroque-glamorous. Especially at night (photo above). Gen shot both of these photos and I think they're amazing.

el superbowl!

Ever try explaining the game of football to someone who knows nothing about the game? Not easy. Okay, so there’s two teams and the one with the most points wins. You score points by…. Yes, the general framework is easy, but what about the rules, and we get some odd questions such as : Why 11 men? Why 4 downs? Why are those men standing together and those separated? Why are they playing the nickel when they should be in cover-one? Isn’t man-to-man on Moss going overboard, I mean c’mon?

We had a little model UN assembly at our place yesterday for the superbowl, without the superbowl. The game started at midnight so we didn’t watch it – we’d have to find someplace that was broadcasting it and that would not be easy. So instead we started our little fiesta at normal game time, 4pm, and served standard superbowl fare (Mexican – Gen’s rightfully famous 7-layer dip and burritos), and watched a football movie. Mostly we talked and ate. I gave a burrito-making demonstration (see visual). The 7-layer dip lasted about 8 minutes. If we had any couches we would have had a ward full of food coma victims.