[Suki]

Originally Posted by laurel

Oh, you also love literature! Cool!!
I, too, have a huge pile of books on my two desks -- when I was in Japan, my parents were fearful that the floor should be broken someday

The tale of the man of La Mancha is well-known in Japan, but we call him "Don Quixote"; when you visit Japan, you may find his shops as well -- one of the most famous discount store uses this name!

It's strange that while you call the novel "El Quijote", we use the title of "Don" to him. "Don" is respectful expression for the nobles, isn't it? I'm just wondering why then El Cid is just "El" Cid -- will you tell me the difference?

I don't know Spanish literature so much but Garcia Lorca's Bodas de Sangre is really nice! I like the beginning of the 3rd Act, woodcutters' talk about the blood and men's destiny.

As for Dickens, I just read The Great Expectation in Japanese translation and know the plot of Christmas Carol; if you have some recommendation about Dickens's novels, please tell me

Though I've been Barcelona just one day, I travelled to Spain three times. I like Prado, Tissen, Reina Sofia Museum, tortija, cafe con leche, sangria, jamon, sumo de naranha (well... I don't know the spelling ... the two most frequent phrases I said in Spain are "Abras Ingres?" and "Non entienda Espanol"!)
To me, the two most curious Spanish words are beef (baka) and garlic (aho) -- I guess you see?

Wow I see you're well informed!

You're right, the original name is Don Quijote de la Mancha. Don is some kind of royal title but it is rarely used nowadays, it indeed was a respectful way to refer to important men.

I was surprised to hear there's a store in Japan called like this! ^_^

As for El Cid... He was just a knight, not royalty, and Don Quijote despite being poor had inherited this title and was known all around the country (I mean the character).

I love Federico García Lorca!! Did you know he was killed for being gay? Well, and for being communist and republican also. There's a famous Spanish singer who sings his poems, I got the CD.

Great Expectations is actually my favorite book. Have you seen the movie? I would recommand David Copperfield and Oliver Twist, most famous ones but they're good.

I've never been to most of those museus you mentioned cause I've only been to Madrid once and didn't have time to see it all. Don't you drink sangria there in Japan? And orange juice? O.O xDDDDD

Oh and you spelt those sentences wrong. It's okay, spelling isn't that important =P

[Do you speak English? --> ¿Hablas inglés?]
[I don't speak Spanish --> No hablo/entiendo el español]

Easy.


I don't think the word beef exists in Spanish. xDDDD Baka would be translated as idiota/imbécil. And garlic's the English word for ajo (Spanish).

It's cool to see you have so much interest in other cultures, I'm like this too!!