Alosno - Where Olivia Teaches

We left La Alhambra on Wednesday night, tired and happy!  Olivia had planned for us to return to Huelva that night, sleep in the apartment, and have a day of rest in Huelva on Thursday.  I had my doubts about driving back so late (3 1/2 hours), but I loved that there wasn't a lot of traffic! (It made me SO nervous the whole time!!)  We didn't have any problems, didn't get sleepy because we were talking so much, and actually stopped at a McDonald's on the way back.  Although we didn't arrive in Huelva until around one o'clock in the morning, we slept well and woke up ready for an exciting new day.  We didn't realize at that point that EVERYthing would be closed because of Semana Santa (Holy Week).  We did manage to have our morning cafe con leche at an outdoor cafe, but most restaurants were closed.  The post office was closed.  Stores were closed.  The market was closed.  Hmmm.  So we just explored Huelva!

Cristóbal Colón, or Christopher Columbus

Columbus was supposedly born in Italy around 1451. After years of trying to get funding for an expedition to find a sea route to Asia, Columbus finally came to an agreement with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain--they would back his expedition in return for rule over any new lands that he might discover. Columbus would be awarded titles and a percentage of any fortune that was made.  On August 3rd 1492, the Pinta, Niña, and Santa Mari­a sailed from Huelva on their voyage to discover America.  And the rest is HISTORY!

This is Kedaro, where Olivia teaches English to adults who want to add an English certification to their resumes in order to get a better job or a pay increase.  She enjoys teaching this age group!

After walking around town awhile, we headed to the river and the dock.

It's a double-decker dock, really long, and very unique!

Not a lot of locks yet, but the fad that started in Paris to represent undying love has definitely caught on!

We bought our lunch (chips, cookies, bread and cheese) at a Chinese grocery store.  Nothing else was open!

Alosno



After lunch we headed to Alosno, a small pueblo about 45 minutes from Huelva, where Olivia works as an English teacher assistant in an elementary school in a program sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Education.  She works three days a week, and rides to school with another teacher, Rosio, who also lives in Huelva.  Each morning they stop at a cafe right outside the pueblo for cafe con leche (Olivia) and espresso (Rosio).  There's no such thing as a "to go" cup in Spain--you go in, sit down, order, drink, then leave!

Welcome to Alosno, Cradle of the Fandango. I don't know if Olivia has learned to dance the Fandango yet! I think she needs to put that on her list of things to do before she comes home.

These are the STREETS in Alosno!  So clean.  And narrow!

I want to do this with all my chipped dishes at home!

 Orange and lemon trees in Alosno

 Olivia's school in Alosno

We ran into three beautiful girls near the school.  Two of them were Olivia's students, and one was visiting.  Olivia introduced us to them.  "These are my parents."  And to us, "This is Maria.  And this is Maria.  And I'm sorry, I don't know your name."  And they all answered, "Maria!"  Yes.  Maria, Maria, and Maria. And guess what?  They were out looking for their friend, Maria.  HA HA!  When Olivia speaks to them in class, she calls them by their first and last names so there is no confusion.

 

After seeing the school and meeting Olivia's precious students, we walked to a hill at the edge of the pueblo.

I think I could work in this beautiful place!

We left Alosno and headed to Punta Umbria, the beach nearest Huelva where Olivia and her friends go for rest, relaxation, and recreation on their days off.

On the way back from the beach, we saw a flock of flamingos wading in the marsh.  I wish I had taken a picture to send Alex!

What a perfectly WONDERFUL day!