"¿Dónde está ....?": A shadow on the streets

So, per the advice of one of my friends back home, I have approximately one week to walk around with my camera (and meander with my fanny pack, buy "I <3 Spain" shirts, etc), and then I should try to blend in with the locals (which is turning out to be a rather difficult task - everybody here thinks I'm Swedish...). So in any case, I've spent a couple of days just wandering aimlessly around the city, camera in hand.

But let's talk for a moment about the University.  And then we can talk about the aneurysm that I suffered because of it.  I had to travel up the hill a few times my first weekend here.  One nice thing though, the bus ride up to the Uni is really nice.  Vigo's a really green, really scenic place.  So I was that gringo pressing his face against the window, drooling over the sights of the neighborhoods as we climbed the hill rolling down to the ría. (Side note: apparently, there are wild horses that just wander around campus sometimes!)  So the first time I'm supposed to go there, I was supposed to meet my Spanish amiga Andrea and another American student Chelsea.  This was my second day in Vigo, so I still hadn't acquired my sea legs at that point (not that I have them now...).  I was asking everyone on the streets: Hey, do you know where the bus for the Uni comes? Several very helpful, nice natives later, I finally make it.  So I'm waiting at the bus stop, not knowing if I'm late or my friend's late, or what day it is, or if this is real life.... and I end up asking a dozen or so (not exaggerating) of the students there "Do you know where the ORI (International Office) is?" and everybody (again, not exaggerating) told me some place different... but, being the savvy, super-sleuth that I am, I happen upon the ORI at last!  Andrea finds me there - my little Spanish angel, sent from God to help this American navigate the madness that is Vigo University.  So we work some things out with the ORI, they give me a small list of appointments to look at some flats, and I'm on my way (we'll talk more about apartment searching next time).  The best thing - I got to meet a few other internationals there too! These are the best people ever!! And I met another lovely Spanish lady there, Ana, and as it turns out, she's really good friends with my flatmates - a couple of the most fun people I know.

View from ORI building on campus.  At least it has a view.

I had to return to that labyrinthine place for our orientation meeting.  This is when my suspicions had been absolutely confirmed: NO ONE HAS A CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON!!!! But it's fine - our academic counselor Javier enters the scene a couple days after that and herds us all in the right direction.  Anyway, the meeting consists of two Spanish ladies trying to explain the registration and matriculation process (which is, if you can believe it, even more byzantine than Truman).

So I spend most of the rest of the time those first few days either wandering aimlessly through the city or sleeping through the jet lag.  I've eaten almost exclusively at little cafés around the city, and the food here is incredible!  And what's even better is the coffee. When I get back to the States (if in fact I decide to go back), I'm going to have one hell of time either reacclimating myself to American coffee, or dealing with a huge caffeine withdrawal.

I also had a few random encounters with the locals those days.  The best people to talk to are the servers at the café - I really like the combination of the patronizing look on their faces that say "Awww - look at this foreigner" when they realize this blond kid isn't from here and the feeling of achievement when you realize you're successfully communicating with a Spaniard!
 I also came across a homeless woman who wanted to sell me a plastic rose... she was a little upset that I only had like one euro in my pocket.  And then this guy on the street came up to me to shake my hand...and he didn't let go... He wanted to know if I had a cigarette, and he wasn't letting go of my hand until I assured him that I did not in fact smoke.  But as he walked away, he yelled to me that my Spanish is really good, so that made me feel nice!

In any case, I leave you with a few of the photos I took on my little journeys:

Just a church...

Spaniards playing on an octopus. Per usual.

Peguins!!! (Mom'll get it)

This guy was blowing bubbles in one of the little plazas.

Everybody here has a dog.  EVERYBODY

Who's that handsome shadow?

Just me being creepy. Two things to note: 1) the Spanish youth have all forgotten how to walk and can only get around by skateboard, and 2) All Spanish people have nice butts.  All of them.  Seriously, there are no Kyle Modde butts here.

At the entrance to the Parque do Castro- a park in the middle of the city that sits on a hill.  I'm just preparing myself to start huffing it up this trail.

On top of the Parque do Castro looking onto the ría.

One of the many many malls here.  Can you see it? No? It's because it's underground - this is the best place!!!