While we all diligently worked on our Rosetta Stone over the summer, and Celia is digging up the remnants of her high school Spanish, we've felt unprepared in our speaking abilities. Even small, daily tasks take additional energy without the mastery of language. Zaragoza has few English speakers; to attempt a new language has required us to check our vanity at the door, knowing that we probably sound ridiculous. On the occasion when we've been able to formulate reasonable sentences, replies from locals are so rapid and filled with new vocabulary that we usually nod and look at each other, 'did you get any of that?”
Our neighborhood is filled with boutique shops. I've never seen so many shoe and clothing stores (both genders) in just a few blocks. Kelsey and I went shopping for a pair of black sandals for our Italy trip. In the first shop, I asked for cuarenta y dos (42), and was told, 'no, I'm sorry we don't have that size. The biggest size we carry is cuarenta (40).' Like Cinderella's stepsisters, I knowingly tried on the too-small shoes, and not surprisingly, my big toes were hanging off the end. Kelsey and I stopped by 2 more stores and received similar responses. At the 4th store, the saleslady said that they had one rack of 'zapatos grande' (big shoes for Gigantor). Even then, the largest size was 41. In jest, I commented, 'Americanos necesitan muy grande zapatos,' thinking I might get a chuckle. Ergh, no such luck but some good eye rolling. Online ordering, here I come!
The first days were lovely in the 80s and relatively cool by Zaragoza standards. More recently, it's been consistently in the 90s but at least it is not muggy. To cool off, we've visited a local, municipal pool that's about a mile or so from our house and is attached to El Parque Grande. It's been a great find given the hot temperatures. Kelsey has asked why some of the women don't wear the top half of their swimsuits.
Parker's future hairstyle?
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