My French and German are OK, but my Spanish speaking skills are fairly poor, so I've been doing some brushing up. Food and drink words are some of the most essential to know - at least in my case, for I love food and drink. I can now ask with confidence for dulce de membrillo (quince jelly) - which is rather good with a spot of manchego cheese - and los mariscos (seafood), which is invariably excellent all over Spain (crustáceos = shellfish, langosta = lobster, langostinos = king prawns, pulpo = octopus, calamares = squid). However, it's likely that I won't be eating out all that much as I'm on a limited budget, and food isn't always available at pilgrim-friendly times (ie before 9 pm - at which time most knackered pilgrims are crawling into their sleeping bags). So thank goodness for the old staples, getting staler by the hour in one's backpack: chorizo, queso and una barra de pan.Thanks to my Lonely Planet Audio Pack I now know how to say: 'No, I don't want a blood transfusion' (No quiero que me hagan una transfusión de sangre), 'Please use a new syringe' (Por favor, use una jeringa nueva), 'Are there any eco-lodges round here?' (Hay algún ecolodge por aquí?), 'Where can I buy a padlock?' (Donde puedo comprar un candado?) and 'I need a pregancy test' (Necesito una prueba de embarazo). So, you see, I'm ready for all eventualities.
8 comments:
Good luck with your language learning! I have been using the "Rosetta Stone" Spanish language program and it is helpful. Before we went to Italy I bought a book of "essential phrases," and found it amusing that within the first 2 pages they taught how to say, "It was not my fault," and "I did not break it." Seemed to me that someone was starting off on the wrong foot!
Dulce de membrillo sounds like the phrase I would be using! It's years since I've tasted quince jelly, and how delicious I remember it to be!
That was too funny. Hopefully you won't have to actually use any of those phrases.
Don't forget to learn the Spanish for "My postillion has been struck by lightning" - always useful in an emergency in any language.
I can't see myself ever needing a pregnancy test, Grace... but, let's face it, you never know when you'll have to refuse a blood transfusion, do you? ;)
Weaver, that phrase wasn't in my book, strangely enough. I'll have to find the translation elsewhere and memorize it. As you rightly point out, it's a useful one to have up one's sleeve.
Have you thought about joining the Caithness & Sutherland Walking Festival 2010 - see details at http://www.walkcaithness.com.
Ok..lets just think about this...if you DO need the pregnancy test...paying for anything while on Camino won't be an issue! You'll be famous, and if you play your cards right...rich..and staying in the Parador's along the way!
Thanks for a great laugh and a reminder get back at it, learning Spanish for my next go!
Karin
come on ... the water is fine!
{maybe see you on this strange & beautiful road}
kimberly
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