aventuras de alyssa

We had a field trip today to a nearby pueblo called Serrada. It was with 3rd grade and we went to Campoveja Queseria, which is a cheese factory, and Bodega de Alberto, which is a wine cellar. I was so confused when the profes were telling me we were going to a bodgea, thinking it was a store! At the queseria, we learned how to make cheese and were able to try some – the whole tour was in Spanish and I understood everything!! The cheese at the queseria is artisanal, which means that it’s made by hand and natural – without added chemicals/ingredients. The milk used is from sheep and creates a strong flavor in the cheese than cow’s cheese. It was delicious!

The cheeses!

This is Ana, she’s my Spanish teacher!

This is Ana María, she’s the school coordinator and one of the English teachers I’m with!

At the bodega, we had a tour of the wine cellar. It was quite the labyrinth and cold – our tour guide told us it’s the same temperature all year round. The cellar is just for tours now, but in the 1940s it was functioning as the actual wine cellar. I was so impressed by how it was made and how they could’ve built it back in the day! This tour was a little more difficult to understand, but it was neat to see the old bodega and the new machines they use to store and create the wine. They also keep wine in huge jugs outside, that use the sunlight to ferment, in order to make dessert wine. I didn’t get to try any, but I did buy a bottle 🙂

The Bodega

Barrels where the wine is kept

New silos where wine is stored

The three Anas and me! Behind us is the dessert wine fermenting in the sun.

The field trip was a ton of fun!! Tonight, we had a birthday celebration for Juanjo’s mom and we had some pastries to celebrate! I thought it was interesting that we didn’t sing Happy Birthday – I’m not sure how common it is here to sing it. Elena, Juanjo’s niece that’s 2, is still shy around me. I hope she comes around soon! I have his other niece, Paula, in class tomorrow!

Hasta mañana 🙂