Me Gusta y No Me Gusta

We've had three full days here. Although we've spent most of our time trying figure out how to feed ourselves, how to get somewhere, or how to catch a nap I've managed to notice a couple of things I like (me gusta) and a few I don't (no me gusta). I'm sure all this will change shortly depending on what stage of culture shock I'll find myself in. Also, some of this may just be sheer ignorance, forgive me. The jet lag is brutal, but I figured I could muster enough creative energy to generate a list for you.

Me gusta 
1. The weather - it's mild and sunny most of the day, getting just a bit hot midday.
2. The slower pace of life - you don't see folks rushing about and it's contagious.
3. Facebook and I have become friends, I sort of snubbed her all these years before.
4. Tons of family time. The last month before we came was filled with rushing to get things done and lots of goodbyes with friends and family. Now that we are finally here we have time together to laugh and play.
5. The beauty of the sound of the Spanish language. Perfecto.
6. Outdoor dining - many of the town centers in the villages of Sant Cugat have courtyards bordered by shops and a couple of cafes. Within those courtyards you nearly always find mini parks surrounded with low wooden fences so you can keep an eye on your kids while you enjoy the a leisurely meal or a cafe con leche. This is in fact how we've decided where to eat, which 'park' looked the best!
7. Menu de dia (menu of the day) - For one low price usually 8-10 euros ($12-$14) you can get an entire three course meal, wine and dessert. You choose from a selection usually found on the chalkboard at the entrance of the cafe.
8. Gazpacho! This is a Spanish cold raw vegetable soup usually containing tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, onion and seasonings. So unique and delicious. It will be one of the first things I learn how to make.
9. Walking to the market to pick up the produce we'll need every couple of days. So so different then the Costco mentality. So so fresh tasting. The tomatoes are amazing!
10. Beautiful history and architecture everywhere you turn. So this is where all those pictures they put on cards are taken.

No me gusta
1. Feeling like an outsider, not sure what's going on or what people are talking about.
2. The smell of sewage noticeable near open water sources, not as bad as Korea. Oh, Washington you are so so clean.
3. I haven't driven yet since we arrived. I miss my independence! My role has been navigator and child management coordinator during our adventures. I'm pretty intimidated about driving even a small mini van on the super narrow streets. I know I'll jump in eventually.
4. On that note, I don't like not having a real mini van where the kids are feet behind you instead of inches. Call me a terrible Mom and gas guzzling American if you like but I've grown accustomed to not hearing the kid's bickering at my ear. On second thought maybe it's just the fact that they are stuffed in the backseat shoulder to shoulder with scarce enough room to buckle their seat belts.
5. Spanish breakfast. I know everyone thinks all Spanish food is amazing. But their idea of breakfast just doesn't do it for me. Particularly unappealing are the 'sweaty meats and cheeses'. These Spaniards love their cured meats. We've found the trays of cheese and so called salami heavily marbleized with fat that have been sitting out at room temperature for hours (thus the sweat) less
 than appetizing. This is the second hotel we've stayed at in Spain with a breakfast buffet, same sorta spread. This topic may be deserving of an entire post. I'm finding I'm more passionate about it then I suspected.
6. Learning the hard way when it comes to ordering food. Lets say I've eat some items lately that I wouldn't of had I known more Spanish. Enough said.
7. Doing dishes by hand, our apart hotel is a little less well appointed then we were led to believe. I know poor baby has to do her own dishes... and everyone else's.
8. Spanish red tape, disorganization, lack of communication. Just when it seems we've met their list of demands they throw a few more at us. Oh we also need a letter from your country of origin's consulate stating x, y and z, another scanned copy of your passport and five other items. Then we may consider sending you what is yours anyway. I'm particularly upset that the 'air freight' shipment containing the kid's school supplies and clothes won't be arriving any time soon.
9. Mosquitos. Okay so I already disliked them, but I wasn't expecting there to be so many bugs after me here too. As always I'm the only one who gets bitten and it's always my legs completely covered in bites. I don't exaggerate. Two evenings out at dusk and I've got 20 bites to prove it. Anyone got some preventive ideas?
10. Stingy hotel staff - my requests for a couple of extra pillows to bolster the flat pancakes they left on the bed were met with "I don't think that is possible." Apparently, I'm not the first to ask, since he said, "They are too flat?" Yup. Too bad.