Today's post is going to be a little rushed because I need to leave in half an hour to meet my Dad and Sue.

I thought last night was going to be 'just another night on my own' but it turned out to be quite good. First of all I went for a walk, near the river where there is a lot of shade and vegetation. When I had finished I was very hot and thirsty and I came out near a bar that I had been to before. I went in and ordered a 'clara' (shandy) and sat at the bar inside. The bar man instantly recognised me and said "You've been in Toledo for quite some time haven't you?" (in Spanish of course). I ended up sitting at the bar and chatting to him for a long time, probably about an hour. I told him I was hungry and that I wanted a 'bocadillo' (baguette), and he asked me what I wanted. I said I wanted jamon and tomato, and he started looking through the cupboards behind the bar. The then went on to explain that he would make me a baguette but he didn't have bread (which is quite an important ingredient, no?). He picked up a piece of bread off the side and said "bueno, tengo pan pero es muy duro!" (well, I have bread but it is very tough!) and started smashing it against the bar.

After that I walked to my favourite bar in Toledo. It's a tiny place near the centre of town, but I like it because it is always full of people and I can sit at the bar and have a baguette. I ordered a baguette and afterwards a tapa with some kind of fish (very similar to pickled herring). The bar maid in this bar is Chinese, and seems to be the fastest barmaid in all of Toledo! There are normally 10 - 15 people in this bar and with only 1 barmaid, she is always very busy! After I had eaten I ordered a couple more beers, and she kept giving me free food despite my protests. First I got a small toasted sandwich with ham and egg, and afterwards a piece of cake which was delicious. I haven't really spoken to her much because she is always so busy, but every time I come in she looks very happy to see me and the free tapas get better each time!

On my way back home I vividly remember feeling very happy. Walking back home in Toledo is always wonderful: At 11:00 the temperature is warm but not unbearable, and because Toledo is so high you can watch the lights of the city below. I stopped for a while to watch the cars going round the roundabout in the distance and driving out of town. I felt very content.

When I returned to the house, Elvira, Oliver and Paula had returned. We sat outside for a while and talked, and I learnt how to say that I missed someone in Spanish. It was interesting to talk to Oliver and Elvira, because Oliver is a police officer in Madrid, and we could compare the police in both countries. I told them how the police in the UK don't really have any power to do anything, and Oliver said it was the same in Madrid. This is not what I have heard before about the police in Spain, but I think it is possibly different in a big city where they are so visible.

Today in class we did the subjunctive. We skipped over a lot of material in the book because I wanted to do this topic, and it's extremely confusing!

After class I returned to the house for dinner, which consisted of tomato, egg and tuna salad, followed by roasted chicken, with natillas for desert.

Just as I finished eating my phone rang and it was Sue telling me that they had arrived. I spent the rest of the afternoon in a bar with them, and it was great to see them again. The bar was outside of the casco, and was not the kind of place that I would normally go in by myself, but it was great fun. The barman was from Ecuador (in South America) and we chatted with him a bit. He told us that he likes it here, and it is much better to work here because the economy is better, but in a few years he is going to return to Ecuador. After quite a few cañas (beers) I returned to the house for a siesta, and then quickly wrote this article, as I am due too go out again very soon!

Sorry if this has been a bit rushed, but I don't think I will get another chance to blog for a few days, and I wanted to write this down before I forget it! Now I am going to meet my Dad and Sue, but for the first time it is raining outside!

Hasta luego!

EDIT: When I wrote this it was raining. Now it is pouring, and there is thunder and lightning, and we have decided to postpone our meeting until it stops.