Day 14: Day in Granada

10.24.2012

Granada is one of them colonial towns where the Parque Central serves the city center.
We buy cheap coffee from a street vendor (it's always instant coffee), find a bench under a tree, and just sit for a lazy 15 minutes. The sun, bad coffee and perfect recreational setting forcefully makes us decide (without any words) that we will stay another night here, in Granada.

A stroll down to the lake, 25 cents to walk out onto the pier, another dollar to exercise along the beachside park, a few cents to climb up the cathedral bell tower, and a wander into the dirty locals' market. There's no need for expensive, guided excursions anymore; we've learned how to entertain our eyes and cameras just roaming the city by foot.

While taking a break at our hotel I find the owners, Luis and Francis, eating dinner at the shared dining space.
Looks yummy, "what is it that you're eating?"
Francis responds, "Try some! Bring your dad out, you two can have a taste."
And so we are served a heaping portion of stewed chicken with vegetables, rice, and fried plantains.
It was by far the most homely, heartwarming, and healthy dinner we had on this trip...for free.

At night Luis, Dad, and I watch the first game of the World Series.
I sit next to Luis, and throughout the game he keeps mumbling to me in swift Spanish under his breath.
I finally realize what Japanese nationals mean when they say someone's English is easy/hard to understand. Luis' Spanish is impossible for me to comprehend.
I figured though that there are 3 ways to respond to Luis' quick murmurs.
1. NOD - when he makes a statement about a player.
2. YES/NO (usually YES) - when he asks a question about baseball in the US.
3. KEEP QUIET - when he talks to himself.
By the end of the game, I could guess correctly from the 3 types of comebacks, and swear I actually started to understand what he was trying to say. Who knows if we'd really communicated, it was a pleasant time spent sitting next to Luis.

78 years old, 36 children living all throughout the Americas, uncountable number of grandchildren (he really didn't know), and a hospitable wife that cooks lovely meals. Luis and Francis, I'd like to come back and stay here again.