An uncanny Halloween

We celebrated Halloween at one of our favorite restaurants, Hollywood, so conveniently located in Plaza E. Earlier that afternoon we enjoyed a coffee at the University’s cafeteria with our American friends Johnny and Jenny. We were sharing funny stories of embarrassment and things we found out through accident and other important friendship building anecdotes among fellow foreigners. Well, Johnny casually asked if we had been to Hollywood, to which Matt and I shared our excitement of the restaurant mainly because of the free refills on sodas. This practice of free refills is particularly anti-Spanish, even in restaurants such as Burger King and McDonalds and Pizza Hut where one would expect refills. Hollywood, therefore, is the place to go when one wants to enjoy American food AND free refills, and both Johnny and Jenny readily agree!

That evening at the University’s bus stop, Matt and I decided at the last moment to jump on the U2 bus, which goes to Plaza Espana (a short distance from Plaza E). After browsing in several shops to wait for the restaurant to open at 9 pm, we went in and were escorted to a booth in the back. What a big night for Hollywood! They had decorated for Halloween with spider webs and the like; additionally Seville’s soccer team was playing a rival English team and the game was broadcasted on several big screen televisions.

Matt and I patiently read the menu thoroughly to make sure we weren’t missing even one tempting entre before asking for a nacho appetizer. The waitress shook her head no and told us our choice wasn’t available. Matt and I weren’t terribly disappointed – instead, we ordered an appetizer with chips, salsa, and quesadillas. For our main dishes, I ordered a barbeque burger and Matt ordered a chicken wrap. We immediately set to work on draining our glasses of Pepsi in order to enjoy as many free refills as possible while we munched on our appetizer. When our food was brought out, I unfortunately found my hamburger was pink-ish red, and I just could not bear to eat it. Matt sacrificed his chicken wrap for a few moments to devour my hamburger, but in the meantime a waiter came by to ask if we wanted to order desserts. Matt answered yes, but then immediately asked for the bill. Confused, the waiter asked in Spanish, “But don’t you want a brownie or coffee?” to which Matt answered, no thanks. The man then swept away Matt’s plate with the half eaten wrap; Matt, however, thought the waiter had asked if he wanted the rest of the food in a box to take home. When the waiter came back with only the bill, poor Matt realized his sad mistake and said in a goofy voice, “Hasta la vista comida!” (See ya later food).

We began to laugh hysterically and were only interrupted by…Jenny and Johnny! They had decided to come to the restaurant at the last minute as well! We laughed and told of Matt’s disappearing meal; Johnny corresponded with his story. He said, “Yeah! Me and Jenny asked for a nacho appetizer, but they don’t have it tonight. What a bummer!” Matt and I laughed real hard and then shared that we had asked for the same thing. The four of us giggled for a few minutes before I asked, “So what did you order?” Jenny replied, “The one with chips, salsa, and quesadillas.” That just topped it all. Separately we had asked for the same thing and then ordered the same appetizer when finding out the first was not available! Matt and I laughed all the way home ☺ How fun it is to find friends who are similar to you when in a country where you feel so strange. We enjoyed the laughs and the fun with friends.