“7 High”

Recollections of a Combat Defense Squadron “Ramp Rat”

Chapter 9.9

“Remembering Zaragoza"

Waking to the church bells.  Enjoying a mostly cold and cramped shower.  Down the stairs, greet the desk staff and turn in the key.  A highlight of the day was coffee and churos.  Fresh churos, right out of the machine and the hot oil.  Spill out a packet of sugar into your saucer, dip and enjoy.  With cafe latte, of course.

Always standing at the counter.  Custom reserves tables for ladies and children.  A good tradition from the old days.

There was a bottle of  (liquor, name will bubble up in my mind later, I think there is even a photo...)***** under the counter for old and regular gentlemen.

Best Churros, Choclateria on Calle San Miguel.

***need photos for

Best Calimari.

Best Patatas Bravas.

Best Burger.

Best Italian

Best Bean Salad

This is where we lived, back in the day.

Juan Pablo Bonet 25 (1965)

Juan Pablo Bonet 25 (2014) Click on photo to explore in Google Maps.

 I noticed that Zaragoza has very little aircraft traffic above the city.  Helicopters were very rare and in two months only saw a couple of the search and rescue type.  Airport and Base traffic patterns must be very favorable for the peace and quiet of the city, I don't remember noticing a military aircraft in the skies during my daily walks.  After the constant aircraft traffic at the head of Puget Sound, it was strange at first. 

The church bells soon became a pleasant substitute.  In my little room at the Juan somebody de Diego or something, on calle San Miguel, they really rocked you out of bed in the morning.  That hotel changes names often, and, according to Google Maps, is under renovation and renaming in September 2015. 

The cuisine...  a ham sandwich is a paper thin slice of ham in a piece of french bread.  Tapas are mostly unrefrigerated leftovers.  I found an acceptable Italian resturant, and another down the alley made a decent garbanzo bean salad.  That and sad to say, Burger King, kept me stable.  You can only eat so much calamari.  The Spanish have no concept of tacos, which I am told is a dirty word, or pizza.

Tipping is not a big thing, and it shows in the service.  You order a drink, they would never think to come around and ask if you would like another. 

The weather...  In summer, wonderful crisp mornings, hot days, and thunderstorms and showers in the evening.  In the heat of the day there is the siesta, and the mid summer shut down to head for the beach.  A sensible schedule.  In winter, I remember weather that seemed as cold as Spokane.  But, that was a long time ago...

Calle Cuarto de Agusto 12

Best underutilized location until Taco Bell moved in down the street.

Summer 2013 we sat in La Pilara across the calle and speculated that this would make a fine taco stand.

Just good home made tacos and beer, through the window, nothing fancy.

This is on Calle Cuatro de Agosto, just up the street to the right in this next scene.

Calle de Alphonso I (2011)

Calle de Alphonso I (2015) Click photos to be transported there in Google Maps.

What a revoltin' development this is!