Orienting-without the chineese

This place is perdy.

• Slow day
• up before sunrise (thanks jet lag)
• making aquaintances (thanks soccer, rudy fernandez, and mediocre spanish)
• purchased necesities (cell phones have a very odd system here)
• Went for a grand tour

Outside my window at sunrise:

Today was designated by our organizers pretty much as jet lag recovery day. Not sure if i needed it, but considering i was up before sunrise its probably a good idea. Probably the most excitement came during our attempts at purchasing cell phones. Keep in mind, the system here is completely different from the states and i still am not entirely sure how it works, so trying to figure that out in spanish was loads of fun. Luckily we had Gabriella, the 30 something assistant with us who is fairly bi-lingual. First you go to the Chino, thats right, the chineese store called the every so politically correct Chino and try to buy the cheepest phone you can find. Mine was about 75 bucks US. Then comes the really fun part, you go to the provider store (vodaphone or Orange) and buy a little prepaid cardy thing that actually goes into your phone. We went first to Vodaphone, where we asked for the little cards and they responded "sorry we are all out", "why", "because more chineese than i have seen in my life came in here yestarday and baught them all". our dear chineese friends had cleaned out Vodaphone! So then we went to Orange, where i attempted to translate the terms and agreements of a phone licence, and eventually just signed the papers. I asked, and they know who Dr. Faustus is here too.

All that aside, it was a laid back day of wandering the city. The weather here is like a pleasant Maupin, about 80 with the sun beating down through sparse clouds. The section of the city for townies and that for the tourists melt together, although within the Walls is strictly tourist, and out at the shopping center is strictly locals. The streets are endearingly haphazard, take a look at avila on a map and it looks almost completely random, with some of the most confusingly angled intersections i've ever seen (I almost was run over so they also might have been the last intersectoins i ever saw). All in all, it is a beutiful town, with more history than it can maintain, and a generally happy place. Oh, and those walls, yeh they were not messing around when they built those:

Also, the main cathedral is a central part of the battlements: this baby could take a direct hit from a blockbuster:

I am trying to make friends at meals: hogwards style. Two long tables for the entire school, and when you get there you sit in the closest in open seat, no matter who you'll be sitting next too. So far talking about the states, my being a goaly, and Rudy Fernandez have all been good openers. Hopefully i can find a party or a get together this weekend and meet some more! But best of all my Spanish is good enough.