Happy Lie! Happy Hypocrisy for all!

I don't like Crhistmas time. I hate it. All people smile, sing, hug, kiss, "love"... but, why in this specific moment of the year? Why not during the entire year? Why do they wait for Crhistmas to try to be a "better person"? Moreover, the system sales you the Christmas time as if it would be a perfect opportunity to give "love" mainly by wasting money. There's nothing more that makes me feel more sick than that. I've never been a fanciful or a wasteful person (I hadn't had the chance of growing in a family which have plenty of money either) and I can't understand how people can waste so much money in presents in order to make a good impression to their family when they rarely see each other, haven't any relationship during the year or even they don't get along with the family members.
This year, I haven't had any presents but, I'm happy! Not like other people I know that if they don't have presents, they get angry. And I am happy because I could stay with my family and spend a good time with them. And I'm happy because I think that money isn't important from me, so I can be content with the little I have. I have very good friends, I have love from any of them, I have my wonderful mother, and I have my special crazy family. And the really present that I had this past year is the opportunity of being at university. And the other great present to this year, is the opportunity that I will be able to pay me the rent of a little house in Castellón to be closer to the university (as I live in Valencia) and to do my best in order to pass this course. There's nothing better than seeing that what you are doing and all the effort you are making, although you find it more difficult than other people because of your economy situation, it's worth. Feeling good with myself is the best reward in this past year.

"Notes from a little village"

Bill Bryson has marked me with his way of writting. So, I've decided to write about my village (I mean, my grandmother's village, but where I have lived for several years).

My village is named "Banyeres de Mariola" (is the one which appears in the photo). It's a mountain village in the interior of Alicante. It's beautiful because all around it it's nature. There are a lot of precious virgin places.
From the one hand, there is the "Toll Blau", one part of the river "El Vinalopó" which cross the mountain "Sierra de Mariola" (If you have noticed, the village has the name of the closer mountain). The next village to Banyeres is Bocairente. Since losng time ago, Bocairente and Banyeres don't get along very well. So, the two villages are always competing for many places. The "Toll Blau" is one of them, amongst many others. (Of course, I will not mention that those places are really from Banyeres)
The "Toll Blau" is a wonderful place which has a lot of vegetation and a little lakes along the river with a lot of big rocks where you can lie down with the toweling in summer. It's the paradise in summer time because the water is extremely cold. So, you can go for a swim there, feel the cold for a while, and quickly go off to turn your face to the sun. I promise you that it is like a complet renewal of your body. In the next photo you can see this place. (The one who appears there like "Gollum" of the "Lord of Rings" is my friend Torres)


From the other hand, there are three mills around the village: "Molí Pont" - in english it sounds like "bridge mill", ""Molí Sol" - "sun mill" and "Molí l'Ombría" - "shade mill". Time ago, they were the most important centre of production of paper. But, in my view, the last mill is the most significant. "Molí l'Ombría" is closer to the village and it hardly has undergone alterations. It's a special place because it's covered with a lot of big trees and plants. From here, you can do trekking through the several paths. There is one named the "Ruta de los Molinos" - "mill rout"- which covers the three mills said previously. The "Moli l'Ombria" it's in a pure atmosphere (obiously, it's in the middle of the nature) and in my view, it becomes even in a magic place because it's very relaxing and paceful.

What's characteristic of my village and what everybody hate are the hills. There are a lot of very steep slopes and it's a nightmare to go walking (better if you have car or motorbike). I always say it, but never do it. One day, I have to throw myself downhill doing the "croquette" (it must be funny).

With regard to the history and culture of my village it's important to enhance the most important annual festival: "Moros i Cristians" - "Moors and Christians". All the village stop its jobs and spend the previous days getting ready for the festival. The festival involves in street bands. There are several groups of bands who represents the different historic characters and they differ from each other thanks to their typical dresses (I must say that these typical dresses are impressive due to their complexity).

As I have said, that's the most important festival however, my village seems like are always having a party. There are several holidays during the year.
Banyeres de Mariola -and its surroundings- has a typical and special drinking called "Herbero". It is made with natural plants of the "Sierra de Mariola" and a kind of liquor that I can't say because I don't know it. The only thing I can assure you is that the "Herbero" is a strong drinking capable of making your temperature increase and making you laugh and relax.

Banyeres' people are people with their small town ways deeply-rooted. That's not bad. I mean, they are very talkactive (maybe the correct word is gossip), pretty coarse, generous, and they know all about the village and its people (maybe with "gossip people" I can say it all)

What more can I say? I can't say it all from Banyeres because I don't find the appropriate words to describe it.
To know about Banyeres de Mariola, you only have to go there and watch it by yourself because, no matter how I could say, it's indescribable.

My lovely dog, Nika.

Yes, today I'm going to tell you how lovely is my dog. It's the one which appears in the photo. It's a female and it's very fussy. I hate this of it. Because, as it is said, the dogs looks like their masters and I'm not so vain that my dog is. But I love it!
I will tell you the story. When I was a little child I spent a lot of time insisting on having a pet. My mother didn't want a pet in home but one day, my father ignoring my mother take me to the "Plaza Redonda", a valencian central market, in order to buy me a dog. I was going around the square looking at everything when I saw one man and one woman both dressed with red jackets standing there. When I went past them a little head come out from the woman's red jacket and looked at me. It was Nika, my dog. It was very little, hairy and lovely. I turned my head to my father and scream: this, this dad!. And we take it to our home. When my mother saw it, so little, first she looked serious. Then, she change her appearence and said: It's beautiful! Oh mum! And you did't want to have a pet! (now she loves Nika more than me)
Nika loves the food and hates the street. Every time that I have to take it for a walk is horrible. And when it's raining, it's a nightmare. Nika doesn't like the water.
Thanks to my dog, I met my two best friends since they have dogs too and they live close to me. So, since I have my dog I have seeing them every day at 9 p.m to go for a walk and, therefore, my love to them and to Nika have increased until nowadays.
Everybody like Nika because it is very affectionate. Nika loves pampering and it could spend all the day with you if you are treating it with care.
Now it is very fat. I don't know why because I don't give it so much food to be like this and I don't think that Nika is pregnant. Now I name it "croquette".
I will miss it when I go to live in Castellón!

My trip to Eatbourne, England.

The last summer (2009) I asked for an grant, well it were like a scholarship since I had to achieve a good mark in English subject, to go to somewhere of England, and it was given to me. I was posted to Eastbourne, a little seaside town in the south of England. I was very excited because it would be my first trip out of Spain. I traveled for a month, for an entire month (it was a lot of time out of home!), but I wasn't afraid of it at all. I love new experiences and I am very daring in these things. So, I went to Eastbourne with a little sensation of uncertainty but with a lot of joy too. At the airport I first met my traveling companion. We were much more grils than boys (what a pitty!). Meeting each other didn't take much time. At the second day, we were already giving each other kisses and hugs. Soon, we stick together. We got on well with all us. I've spend a month with the craziest and interesting people.
I've stayed in a house with a native English marriage with another spanish girl. They were so pleasant and generous. They offered all they had to us even their bed! What a bed, God. The bed was called "aerobed" - I will never forget it!. It was the best bed I never lie down.
A part of the marriage, we first were with other four boys. They were german and stayed in the next room. I have to explain that the house was very little. It had only two bedrooms: the one where the other girl and I sleep and the one where were the germans. So, Pilar (my roommate) and I were wondering for the two first days about where the marriage slept. We say goodbye to them at night (and of course, they were awake) and the following day, in the morning, we see them awake. So, we started to think that they didn't sleep! There was no more place in the house to sleep! But finally we found that they were sleeping in the living room. We were astounded because we were wondering about why they did that! We said them that if they wanted to change the situation and if they wanted us to sleep there, and they in their bed (as usually) but they refuse it. They said us "You are the guests. And you have to felt like you are in home. We do it with relish". We didn't have complaints about them (while other people do have a lot of problems with their family).
The entire month that I spend there was incredible.
Eastbourne was very pretty but a little boring -it's more like a town to rest than a town to get fun, but I was all right. I loved the landscape, the mountains, the sea..all! We also visited the Beachy Head (the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain). My "father of there" told us that people usually go there to commit suicide. It's good because your last view in your life is wonderful!, so you can leave this world having seen one of the most lovely place in the world, from my point of view. Going there was amazing, brilliant. I remember that my view wasn't able to see all was there. A space so extended, huge and green. And the sea down there...Incredible.
My trip to Eastbourne was memorable. I think I was very lucky to go there in that specific moment of my life. So, I am very happy to have had that opportunity. I hope that isn't the only!