Christmas under the palm trees and sunshine - it sounded to me from the beginning very funny, but somehow alluring. Together with my friends we had previously considered in Germany: Are we all go home and celebrate there, or do we celebrate Christmas in Spain? We decided to celebrate in Spain, which led to great confusion on the part of our German and English teachers: "What, do not you drive home? Why? "Despite the lack of understanding we were looking forward to it. Of course we had always homesick, but ultimately it was in retrospect, I think a great, unique experience. But before I write more about the real Christmas, I am a little bit about the Advent season in Murcia.
Christmas atmosphere in Murcia
end of November I had already decorated for Christmas. My parents had sent a package with lights, baubles and German Christmas sweets. In early December were suspended in Murcia, finally, the lights in the city. Sorry, but they were only on 6 December on. Why? The Crisis, the English economic crisis, it had to save money. But when the whole town lit up, it was all the better. Yes, the lighting was sometimes very brightly-flashing-corny, but it was Christmas lights and the fact I was so happy! In addition, there were in the Plaza de Santo Domingo Eisbäume bright, almost like food!
Murcia also has its own Christmas market ", which is open until January. This Christmas market there is everything - except mulled wine and bratwurst. Instead, you can also buy handicrafts from the region as well as cakes and pastries. However, no one would get the idea to eat at the stands or something to drink! It passes by and buys and then you go home.
addition exist in the inner city a little Christmas village with Filzschnee! In Murcia it snows at all, but since the Murcianicos have such a longing for snow, there is snow made of felt. We are flexible. So then a whole snow scene was built, including snowmen. There were also reindeer, penguins and a panda, which could even move. The highlights in the winter landscape, however, was the home of Santa Claus. The English children were with their parents in line to even sit on the lap of Santa Claus can. Cute, but strange, after all, get the English children but the gifts of the Magi ...
do not know what the English is an Advent wreath. There were in the church (both Protestant and the Catholic church) candles and Christmas decorations, but no Advent wreath. In Lidl, did in fact chocolate advent calendar from Germany. In this guidance: "We should every day until Christmas a little door open and eat the chocolate. Because I would have never come so it! There was also to guide it to Lidl mulled wine: "You drink with friends when it's cold. Those who want to can eat biscuits that. "
Christmas party in my flat
I had my English roommates now so much about the mulled wine that I had been thinking of making a small Christmas party in the WG. When I tried to get the mulled wine for it, he was sold out and the imm Lidl and Aldi. It was mid-December. Who had just bought the whole mulled wine? Surely there were German. So I ordered from my parents to send the recipe for Finnish Glögi and made the mulled wine (vino caliente) itself
I had the whole living room decorated for Christmas and bought next hot wine still galleries, dominoes, biscuits and so on. There were eight Spaniards, three German and a Belgian woman there. The Germans came into the apartment and said. "It smells sooo delicious mulled wine after" The Spaniards came to the apartment, I asked her if she Moeche a mulled wine, they said. "A little bit of fear I've been before" Nevertheless, she overcame her fear and tried. "Funny, but delicious" was the most common response. When I prepared the mulled wine, my roommate said to me: "What are you doing? You can not the wine into the saucepan and make it hot, "I said,"? But, that's what I'm doing now. What do you mean, why is mulled wine mulled wine? "" We had a very pleasant evening and the Spaniards have sometimes a Part of German culture met.
Cena de Navidad
Just before Christmas I was at my Christmas dinner Uniklasse (Cena de Navidad). In Spain it is customary to eat together just before Christmas with the students. We went to the Italians. Meeting point was at 21:30 clock before the university. I was half since shortly after the other Erasmus Studis were waiting. The first Spaniards came to around 10. At a quarter past 10 we were at an Italian restaurant. It was very nice, but extremely loud, for there were a total of seven groups that where their "Cena de Navidad" made. The food's classic was in the middle of the table and everyone was werkt with his cutlery around in it.
From salad I knew this already, but now we did the same with the appetizers, pizza, salad and dessert. The Spaniards had dressed up totally. I had good clothes on, but my fellow evening clothes, as if they would go to a ball. A bad fit to the festive mode, the Partyspielchen that we organized. A Spaniard had without looking at a rose petal toss on the table. The girl, in which landed the paper, he had to kiss. The waiters have participated. There was gossip games where they sang "We want Xy Xy dancing." Then each had to dance the flamenco or something else mentioned, much to the delight of everyone at the table. After we finished by 1 clock was, it went to the disco. I wanted 3:30 to go home because I was so tired. That was strange for the Spaniards. A lovely evening, a good experience.
Christmas Eve
On 22 December was my first Christmas visit to: Martha of Jaén. Her first comment when she got off the bus: "Is that hot here," a seven-hour trip was behind the mountains themselves. After a city tour and set up in my flat we went Christmas shopping at Lidl, Aldi and Mercadona with my huge Trolley, as we had to carry everything. We also bought our nativity figures at Chino with a second child Jesus to do this because the baby Jesus from the set, unfortunately, had a black eye. The crib itself, we had not, so we designed a cardboard and paper. I think she has become very good. In an attempt to get a mattress in the cupboard, on which was the manger, was the figure of Jesus down unfortunately. Head off. We are nursing him with adhesive tape. Then it looked like a neck brace.
We also painted a welcome poster for Ruth and Lisa, we are on 24 picked up from the airport in Alicante. The
They had been through the night and were totally exhausted when they arrived. The bus to Madrid airport had taken longer than expected and therefore there was a huge spreading hatred to the aircraft. But they were finally here!
My roommate wanted to do for Christmas Eve we had tapas and a few weeks earlier, every now and again, and cooked me to try given: "Let the your friends," He was busy all day trying to prepare the tapas. Once we sang a mix of German and English carols. When it was dark, Martha and I read the Christmas story in German before and then there were presents. We were all a little sad that we had no Christmas tree, with candles and fairy lights but we still had a nice atmosphere. To 22 clock we started with the Christmas dinner. There were mussels with a red pepper salad, breaded and fried hard-boiled eggs, with salad and canapes Ensalada Rusa (a type of vegetable and potato salad) with bread buns. I had trained bratwurst with curry ketchup and Swabian potato salad. For dessert there were chocolate tartlets with cream and a cinnamon-cream milk and cream on it. Yummy!
At midnight we went to Mass in the Cathedral. It was very solemn and beautiful, and thanks to Martha and Ruth I knew about when I stand up or kneel needs. Strangely, however, was that one could end the show kiss the baby Jesus in the manger. The people stood in line!
even more visitors, fantasy parade and light spectacle
On 1 Christmas Day was even more visit my sister and my brother in law! I would have to be honest not anticipated that there will be something, because because of the snow the day before the flights were canceled from Weeze. But the two came from Düsseldorf airport and it worked - albeit three hours late. I was so very pleased to see again the two! After a short flat guide there were tapas, because Juan had on Christmas Eve made endless! was
evening, much to see: the "Desfile de Navidad de Fantasía (Christmas Fantasy parade) was the early evening across the city. I could not even imagine really something underneath, but what it really was then that I had not thought of. It was like a carnival parade, but with fantasy figures Disney and other movies. So went Spiderman, Superman, Mickey Mouse, Shrek and Merlin in the streets. Behind the car were children dressed in colorful costumes dance groups such as girls as Snow White. There was also a group with blue (!), Santa hats, I think that this should be the reference to Christmas.
Then we went to the place at the cathedral, since there the "Luces de Navidad "(Christmas Lights) should be seen. This is something I've never seen! Spread over the whole place had lifts, were the opera singer. All the lights of cafes and shops have been identified and there were lights projected on three buildings in the square, on the Cathedral, City Hall and another building. These lights were pictures, films and suitable to sing the opera singer. The show lasted about an hour, the place was packed and it was an incredible atmosphere.
Águilas: Sun!
On Boxing Day (ie in Germany, in Spain there is the second Weihnachstag not, it is a normal working day was only this year on a Sunday) we went to girls Águilas. Lisa had already returned the next day in the north and wanted to see the sea. It was really nice and warm, so we indulged in after the first arrival of an ice cream in a small ice cream parlor with ocean views. We then made a photo session on the beach and tried to make nice jump photos. I think we succeeded. Then we climbed the mountain to the typical English windmills that look like Don Quixote. We had the idea of Don Quixote against the windmill readjusted. That worked but not as good.
We paused at the Town Hall and treated ourselves to a café con leche y tostada con tomate - delicious!
We then ventured to climb the Castillo of Aguilas. We just wanted to show our study cards to the Castillo to visit free of charge, as the cashier said, "You were here once before, with your parents. You're from Germany, right? "Yes, agreed that. But who had noticed that! Then he wanted to know how my friends. Burgos, Valladolid, Jaén and I from Murcia. He was impressed. From Castillo had a great view of the sea and the city and we made great sun photos. In the evening we drove into the sunset back to Murcia.
More program
What else did I have with my visit? look at the "Casino of Real Murcia. Köttbullar eat at Ikea and test the China Buffet in the shopping center "Nueva Condomina" (that is really so, but I do not know why).
I also showed the two Arab girls Tearooms in Murcia, which I like really good! And of course we also strolled through the city and made walks along the river.
Björn's birthday
On 29 Björn's birthday in December. "I have never had such a warm birthday!" He was glad. Because he was right! But he goes anyway since he is in Spain, only the T-shirt around. I'm so used to 40 degrees in Murcia that I'm cold at 18 degrees and I wear winter boots, scarf and gloves. Completely incomprehensible to him! On his birthday, we took the bus to Torrevieja, for there was the apartment of the two. Torrevieja is situated on the coast and is very touristy (not just the end of December). This was seen even in the translations. The best I liked the translation of "Country House". In German stood namely "rustic property."
We were shopping shortly and then made a birthday coffee. Then we went to the beach, which is more beautiful than in Aguilas. We had bought at the supermarket candles with numbers and they wanted to set fire on the beach for Bjorn. It has encountered difficulties as something, as it was blowing so hot. Finally, we found a calm place in a small hut, lit the candles and sang German and English birthday songs. That was really cool!
afternoon we went by car a trip to Elche to the palm gardens. I think my visit was very impressed with the many palm trees and the delicious, fresh dates. We went for a walk afterwards through the city. There was even shining star balls as in food. The birthday dinner at a restaurant was international: tostada con tomate, hamburgers and Coca Cola.
Los Reyes Magos
me all the time I had been wondering what is a funny column on the Plaza de Santo Domingo. As always so many children were around. It was a letter box for the Three Kings! We had the idea of the Three Kings this year to write a letter. So we sat down one afternoon and wrote down our wishes in English. Juan would have liked to read, but that's Briefgeheimis! It was very solemn, bringing the colorfully decorated letters to the mailbox, but also a little difficult. After all, while besieged by young children and their parents. Eventually we found yet the right moment to smash the letters and taking photographs. On 5 January he will be cleared by the three kings at a public event. But will read them all? I do not think so. Regardless, the action was great!
New Year's Eve
I thought so, the New Year's Eve in Spain is so much like New Year's Eve in Germany. However, I was surprised that in Mercadona absolutely no firecrackers, etc. now admitted. Nothing! No fireworks! So I went to Aldi and Lidl to Martha, but again there was nothing! The only what you could buy, champagne and "uvas de la suerte" (was lucky grapes). Is eaten at midnight on each stroke. There are twelve grapes, canned, without shell and without seeds, so that they can eat well quickly. Each grape symbolizes happiness for a month in the new year.
Actually we wanted to go to 10 in a bar drinking something but everything was closed. So quiet it was in Murcia never! I had forgotten that the English people eat so late. At half past eleven we went to the Plaza Santo Domingo, but there was nothing going on. Only patio heaters were around 18 degrees, waiting for someone to warm. At ten to twelve the stage was cleaned up, at five to 12, they began to install the projector. It worked really, that was shown at midnight, the English television program and we could eat with the bells of Madrid, our grapes. It was really tough to eat as fast as many grapes. But it worked! Now, Martha and I have very good luck!
it was fireworks not really. A few children had sparklers, but even that must have been imported from abroad. The only thing that had any, were a kind of grab bag with glitter masks, noisemakers, streamers and party hats. It did not look particularly beautiful.
Shortly after midnight there was a rock concert on stage. Honestly: A beautiful fireworks I would have preferred. My roommate told me then that we Germans are so irresponsible to make such dangerous things like fireworks. Furthermore, there is even fireworks to the festivities. Yes, I have seen too many. But if it's a celebration of four fire stations were installed on New Year's Eve, that would be have been nice.
Conclusion: Christmas and New Year's Eve in Murcia - a great new experience!
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