This post got an update 1/26/22
Jump to RecipeI like so many things about Spain, specifically, the Costa del Sol where I live. I suppose you could call this a gratitude post in honor of Thanksgiving. What things are you grateful for in the town you live? If you were to move there all over again, what would you notice? Here is what I like about my locality.
Cafes in Parks
There’s always somewhere to get a snack, meal, coffee, or drink. Indoor, outdoor, near the beach, in a park. The photo below is in the park near our apartment. My kids play while I get a double espresso and do my Bible study. Everyone’s happy.
The Beach is My Gym
When I get to the “gym” early, I get to see the sunrise. At least 3-4 mornings a week, I leave before anyone else wakes up and run, walk, and/or do yoga near the beach. I can feel the anticipation as the water comes in view and the sky is just starting to lighten. It feels like a gift every time. I pray, listen to worship music, and feel in awe of a God who creates such beauty every single morning.
Art is Everywhere
There are many beautiful fountains and statues. Literally, art is everywhere. There is an appreciation for beauty here that permeates every part of life.
Hanging Laundry
Here, you don’t pay anything to dry your clothes. The sun does it for free. Some apartments have terraces, but the ones that don’t, well, you just kind of lean out the window to hang your laundry, and hope you don’t drop anything.
No Trash Day
This last one is kind of funny, but I love it. There is no set day for trash and recycling. Throughout towns, there are trash receptacles that are underground. You drop your trash or recycling down the shoot whenever you need to, and the city picks it up at night. People even leave furniture or mattresses out, and it’s gone the next day. There was no sense of dumping, it was simply just throwing it away, and it got picked up. It was all very clean.
And Now for my Salad
This was my almost daily salad. I changed up ingredients from time to time, but it was nearly always lots of veggies, protein, and fat. With lots of olive oil. I never got tired of it. Below is the basic recipe, but you can add your favorite veggies and change it up how you like.
I hope you give this salad, or some version of it, a try. It really is so satisfying! Thanks for reading, and see you next time.
Rebekah.
My Daily Spain Salad
Ingredients
- 3-4 leaves of crisp lettuce chopped
- 3 anchovies minced
- matchbox size of blue cheese crumbled
- 1/2 avocado sliced
- 2 tbsp really good olive oil or more to taste
- splash apple cider or red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup other veggies, such as cucumber, celery, carrot, radish, etc.
- 4 oz cured meat, such as jamon serrano or salami
- olives to taste
- flaky sea salt
- optional sourdough bread and butter on the side
Instructions
- Pile everything on a plate, and enjoy!
Hi Rebekah, what a nice post! I loved reading some about your routine and the things you like about Spain. I also might make your salad 'recipe' after the holiday has passed — it looks so fresh and tasty.
I have been thinking about things I like where I live, too. I'm new to Wisconsin, and it's not where I thought I'd end up, but I love the wheel/circus community here, and I really like my job too! It feels very small town, which is mostly nice. We don't feel nearly on edge about crime. I live about three blocks from the circus space where I can train and pitch in to do little chores to keep the (all-volunteer) place clean and welcoming. I'm getting to do things I never anticipated, like Cyr wheel and teeterboard!
I have a nice commute by bus, which is not stressful because of the good public transit around our home and throughout the city. Double bonus because I'm not confident driving in winter weather, so I'm going to just stick to public transit until the snow and ice are gone (in May or so!). I'm also looking forward to new things, like walking out onto the lakes surrounding the city, and feeling what it's like for this formerly inaccessible part of town to turn into a large recreation area that is accessible for most of the city. I like the quiet of snow here, and I like the way the slow pace of life enables others (and myself) to be more thoughtful and kind. I could go on.
I also miss you and wish we could tumble some together. Amanda and Margaret from Sokol are coming up for a wheel workshop that is happening here in two weeks and staying with me! I hope that you can come someday for one.
Sending the best for your family, and happy expat Thanksgiving to you all.
Amanda from Sokol 🙂
Amanda, so nice to hear from you! Thanks for sharing what life is like in your part of the world. It's nice you get to experience a "real" winter. Being from New England, I love snow and miss it in Baltimore. I thought this would be the first winter season I wouldn't see snow at all, being in Spain and all, but we went to Sierra Nevada last weekend and got to see some snow.
I'm glad you feel like you're where you're supposed to be. It sounds like you have so many opportunities for every area of your life: work, play, tumbling. How is/was the wheel workshop? I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well, and Merry Christmas! We will be spending it in Portugal.
Take care, friend.