The Wedding in Vitoria..

You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen

- Abba's "Dancing Queen" -

Ok, back to Spain...

We woke up rather early on Saturday morning, and had breakfast at Cafe Casablanca, a few minutes away from the hotel.btw, our hotel is Hotel Dato on Calle Dato..we had the potato omellete(again) and some fish sandwich..then we went round the small town of Vitoria..we went up the Medieval Quarter where there are gothic buildings with tiny steps leading up to them (all the way up the hill!) and small alleyways dividing them..we went to the park, which i've forgotten the name (darn!) but its something to do with Florida (?), amused ourselves with taking pictures in the Spanish photobooth...main belasah je tekan2 the buttons there cuz it was all in Spanish :p we went round the town, and managed to locate the train station and the bus station, so we enquired about our trip to Madrid the following day.."no habla espanol" of course, so Kak Moonie did all the asking..lunch was just some bread, and more potato omellete..we were pretty beat, cuz we were walking under the hot sun, on cobbled roads, and with no proper destination..but it was fun and nice...Vitoria has a large population of senior citizen :p so there were many old men and women sunning themselves, having drinks at the cafes, and generally walking round...

but the best part is: being Asian..as we quickly realized, there are hardly any Asians in sight in Vitoria, and wherever we go, people tend to kinda stare at us, altho's mostly by the corner of their eyes, but curiously..well, it is a small town, think Besut...do u find any Brits walking around there? nooo..although, KAk Moonie beg to differ and asked me to compare it against KAngar :p anyhoo, we were practically BASKING in the attention...well, they're prolly looking at our shock of curly hair (we both have this HUGE mass of curls on our heads, and we're both petite...would that look funny? ) anyhoo, heheh, we got used to it, and started to strut around haha...but people in Vitoria are generally really, really nice people...they tried to communicate with us, even though they don't speak that much english (some not at all)...there's this lady who practically ran after us, calling us "chicka, chicka" cuz we left our English-SPanish dictionary behind..so nice!

we got back to the hotel at about 3 p.m., as we needed some time to rest and get ready for the wedding...our party is leaving at about 6.30p.m. for the church where the wedding is to be held..so we had a little nap, then bangun, showered, and primped..haha! while waiting for the others, we watched the royal wedding preparations on the telly..btw, the shows are all in Spanish, so we watched Starsky and Hutch, CSI, a few movies, and pokemon (digimon?) in Spanish, hehehe... unfortunately, all the while it rained...so, we were kinda worried about getting to the church, as it seems that everywhere in Vitoria is within walking distance, and we were expected to walk there...oh, another thing, we went traditional to the wedding...yups, kebaya and the works...KAk Moonie was in her selendang, kerongsang and high heels lagi...so, you could prolly imagine our predicament laa kalo nak berjalan dalam hujan tu....

luckily, we bumped into Rob's mom in the hallway of the hotel, and she told us that a few of the others are waiting for the cab, and if we hurry we might be able to join them..so, we rushed to the front entrance of the hotel..there, KAk Moonie met another ex-classmate, Nico (Danish) with his girlfriend Bibi (Indonesian, who speaks like 5 languages)..then Ido and Cyril joined us...Philip came with the umbrella and whisked his mom off, leaving us wondering what to do...at first Nico wanted to drive to the church (he rented a car for the trip), and the rest of us waited for him as he rushed off (mind you, they were all in their suits and tuxs..sangat smart!!).tengok2, he just went off to put more money in the parking meter!! boleh takk??? we were kinda late by then so, the guy rans off to hail a cab...we ladies, had to rush off in the rain as well, and took shelter under some shops...the guys managed to get a cab, a Merc...unfortunately, they couldn't get another (there were 6 of us)..so guess what happened? yups, pile 5 adults in the backseat, of course! it was hilarious!! Kak Moonie was sitting on me, i was squashed against Ido who had his knees by his chin, and Cyril could barely close the car door, as he balanced Bibi on his laps...Nico was the only comfortable one up front, but itupun sebab die podgy sikit (but comel, nonetheless)..we were like giggling and laughing all the way..and Ido was like, isn't anyone going to sit on me? Kak Moonie was like, yeah, and hit the ceiling! someone else commented that its like those movies when they're all late for the airport...(huh?)...

anyhoo, made it in good time..again, still getting attention because of our kebayas..hehhehe...the whole Dutch and English gang plus us sat together in the church, and managed a few pictures before the ceremony started..then Irune walked into the church with her dad..she looked soo beautiful! her wedding dress was simple, and she just had small rosebuds and baby's breaths in her hair, and some calla lilies for her bouquet...but she looked soo gorgeous! Rob, tak yah cakaplaa..memang sooooo handsome! anad soo tall! i realised this as i looked at the photos that i've just developed earlier, Irune only came up to his shoulders! soo comel!

the ceremony went well..it was in Spanish and Latin, and there were this melodious choir behind us..yang a bit the kelakarnye, there was this bit when the priest stopped talking, and the guests (Spanish side) turn towards each other and shook hands, and kissed each other on the cheeks..our side, the English, and the Dutch just looked at each other cluelessly..haha! guess its not part of their ritual as well..JEan leaned over and went, i think we're supposed to shake hands or something...so we did! me and Kak Moonie salam orang MElayu lagi, hehehe...Ido was like grinning when he turned to look at us, die pun clueless jugak! then they were pronounced husband and wife *sigh* they had to sign some registration book or something as well...then it was the photo session...the Spanish are very particular about their photos, as Philip sarcastically puts it...family Rob saje, family Irune saje, friends Rob saje, friends Irune saje..and so on...Kak Moonie located Irune's best friend, Blanca, and they were chatting away excitedly...btw, everyone was amazed at KAk Moonie's Spanish yang quite fasih..they can't believe that she only took about 10 weeks to learn it...one more thing, they have this cheeks-kissing thing when they're introduced to people, and Blance introduced us to about 10 of Irune's girlfriends! so lenguh nak kiss all their cheeks...

Then Jean and us walked to the Ciudad de Vitoria, where the hotel reception is being held...we were served appetizers, and Irune was warning us not to take some things which contained pork...but it was nice of them to made sure that the dinner course contains no pork at all..it made us feel less wary...as a matter of fact, Irune even ordered us our drinks and got us only Cokes when we were out to those bars earlier..so baik! and she even remembers a few malay words that Kak Moonie taught her back in their uni years..while waiting to be seated at the reception, we got to know this English couple David and Josie...really nice and friendly people, who apparently, have been to Malaysia on a cruise trip..so, kitorang pun promo Pulau Perhentian for their next destination..

we were seated with Ingun and her hubby, Roald, Ido, Brad, Christina (Irune's younger sister), her 2 friends and Vanessa..Christina and Vanessa's tasks were to let us know what's in the food..which was nice of them...so, makan-makan, and chatted...occasionally, ade this Spanish toast Viva la (something)which someone will shout out..and everyone will shout back..Viva!! hehehe...then there's this chant they do where they get the wedded couple to kiss each other...oh yeah, i just had to go and embarass myself kan...Roald is this really good looking guy..and he's real nice and all..he even has relatives in PJ and KL..oklaa kan..and there i was, going, comel laa KAk Moonie, soo comel..in a not-so-soft voice...while he sits across the table,smiling..what i didn't know is that his dad is half-Indonesian..yup, the Moron of the Year award is confirmed mine..i was practically shrieking when i found out..and Kak Moonie and I attempted to continue our conversations in loghat Utara and kecek Kelate...fine NOnz, laugh all you want...but later, as i casually asked about his family, and he told me about his dad...so i asked him does he speak BAhasa Indonesia..and he says he doesn't..which was *pheww*-fying, but yeah, cannot trust one, this guy..soo malu!

they started to hand out cigars by the end of dinner, and while everyone smoked and drank, we were on a photo mission, tracking down people, and taking pictures with them...we had a few compliments la sebab pakai kebaya kan *rolls eyes*..ehhehe...anyhoo, then the dance floor starts to open up..and everyone got up to dance...ESPECIALLY all the old ladies..and i should really aplaud themcuz they were not only dancing to some Spanish songs, but also to some Shakira and Enrique tunes..woohoo!! go aunty!..hehehe...we were just sitting with Karen, who was not dancing, claiming that her partner Phil dances weirldy..ahah! and i asked her what could get her on the floor, and she replied: Abba...aha...so when rob came near us, we told him that Karen would only dance to Abba, and he was like allright! so later, just when Karen had left the room to go to the ladies, we heard the opening of Dancing Queen..in a flash, KAren came back into the room with her arms widespread and dragged us to the dancefloor...what followed had better not be chronicled as it only serves to embarass us..i mean, please, dancing to Abba, Village People (YMCA), Bonnie M, in kebayas????? do you realise how UGLY that is??? not to mention other songs...sheesh...but it was all in good fun...:p more Spanish tunes, some house tunes, some oldies, some Seventies tunes(that's when Rob's dad came up to us dancing, and said, i feel 20 years younger!).Rob's mom pun equally pulling us to dance with her, twirling us around..

the party dragged on to about 2 p.m, and as we were saying goodbye to everyone (they were going to continue in some club in town) Karen took our hands, pinned it against hers, and said: no, no, no, these 2 are not leaving, they're coming with us!...so, all of us, walked to the nearest club to continue dancing..so, yes Nonz, i went clubbing in Vitoria *grins* haha! but only for a very short while cuz we were soo beat, and we had to go off early the next day to Madrid..so, we said goodbye (again) and Rob showed us the way..he was apologizing to Kak Moonie for not being able to spend some time with her and all..and we were like, its ok! he's really nice, and even speaks with a tiny lisp..comel!

present day scenario: i just have to include this bit cuz it goes with the song...yesterday, we went for Italian lunch, and met up with Athirah (to pass her coachcard back..thanks Athirah!!), and Kak MOonie's friends Karry and Lina...chatted over drinks, took pictures, then went looking for some stuff at Oxfor st..Kak Moonie's supposed to meet up with her pen-pal, Kit, kat Leicester Sq, so we did..its this BBC (British Born Chinese) guy, who's working as a trader..and is really nice...he took us to have one of the best fish and chips in town, near Russel Sq, he treated us to dinner (sampai kenyang takleh nak bangun).and then....he took us.....salsa dancing!!! hehehehehhe..he is a good salsa dancer, and we were like, can we see u in action? and he took us to the club! its this place where salsa lessons are given but only up to a certain time, then the dance floor is open to the public...Kit taught us the basic steps, and danced with us..i was really bad! i kept stepping on his toes and missing my beat and mixing up everything...and sooo takde rhythm!! but he was patient with us tho'..haha! he introduced us to his friend, NAna, this Japanese girl who's also a good salsa dancer..they were really nice, and gave us pointers and all..macamlaa i'm contemplating a career of becoming a salsa dancer..but it was nice!! something different...and the salsa club has a different environment, cuz 1. its not smoky, 2. not dark at all, can see everything, 3. people only go for salsa there, so if u don't want to dance, all you have to do is say no when someone asks you to, 4.they're all learned salsa dancers, so you can see the beginners practicing, and the more advanced ones, really going at it, 5. everyone's really casual, no poseurs, they're only there to salsa!...best, best! Tina Yoohoo, what do you say? *winks*

ok, panjang dah..btw, am leaving for Manchester tomorrow for a weekend trip...heh, baru je habis unpack, kena pack lagi, but this time, its just backpacks for us..hmm, wonder how i'm gonna fit in all my toiletries...

nights!