Te echo de menos España

It has been 10 years since I lived in Granada. Here are the ten things I miss the most;

1. Kissing on both cheeks: a very nice greeting when you especially liked the person you were meeting ;-)
2. Cafe con Leche: coffee was richer in Spain, and velvety. And the milk... you can't be lactose intolerant in Spain... no way.
   
3. Walking everywhere: I walked to school, I walked to see friends, you could just get lost in your own walking thoughts.
4. The gardens of Carmen de los Martires; up by the Alhambra, there were these public gardens. Walking through them, you could always hear water trickling in a fountain somewhere. Nice corners for sitting and staring into space.
5. My host family: They were the sweetest people ever. I was so vulnerable when I arrived in Granada and they treated me as their own. My host mother called me "hija de mi vida". I haven't kept in touch with them and I am so bummed about that.
   
6. Jamon serrano: Giant pig legs hanging in butcher shops seemed off-putting at first, then you had a taste of some when you got tapas. Yah. Best served with bread drizzled with olive oil, and a tomato rubbed on it. I am actually drooling now. You can't be a vegetarian in Spain... no way.
   
7. Barcelona: Yes, I lived in Granada, but Barcelona was this giant city that felt like a small town. I can't recommend it enough.
8. The teterias in Al Albaicin: these Moorish teahouses on a crooked little street in the Albaicin. They smelled like incense and had the sweetest Chai. We sat on cushions on the floor, so great.
9. Chocolate filled criossants: while walking, you pass by a panaderia and this waft of chocolate and bread assaults you, pins you down and takes your money. Well, they weren't that violent but they were irresistible.
10. Siesta: hey, it is 2:30, you have just finished an amazing meal, time for a nap!