Years ago after finishing college my buddy Lance and I decided that we wanted to see the world before we settled down into careers and family. And the reason we both wanted to start with Spain was because we both loved spicy food. I'll admit it - food has always been a big reason why I get involved in a lot of things.

Anyhow, Lance and I didn't know any Spanish at all and we wanted to learn so we purchased a book called - Spanish Phrases for Travellers. The first Spanish phrase I can remember learning was - Muchas Gracias - which most people know means - thank you very much.

For some reason Lance couldn't get past this phrase. No matter how often we studied the book Spanish Phrases for Travellers the only phrase Lance could remember was Muchas Gracias. Now Lance is a smart guy and the fact that after 3 weeks of studying all the Spanish he could remember was how to say thank you very much was beginning to bother him.

Meanwhile the Spanish language seemed to becoming to me very easily. I was picking up all the basic phrases such as - Cómo se va? (Which means - how are you?) And Cómo se llama? (Which means - what is your name?) And about 3 dozen other basics questions and answers.

After 3 weeks I had learned enough Spanish that I could even have short conversations in Spanish. I was very proud of myself. While Lance spent night after night studying Spanish Phrases for Travellers and the only thing he could ever remember was Muchas Gracias.

Our first night in Madrid we decided to go to a restaurant that was famous for its fish and spicy cuisine. I did all the ordering for both Lance and myself and all Lance could do was say Muchas Gracias when the food was brought to our table.

After eating a delicious bowl of paella and finishing off a bottle of local white wine I sat back in my chair not only satisfied with the food but satisfied with my ability to order it in Spanish.

Lance also sat back satisfied with his meal but I could tell that he wasn't very satisfied with his ability to learn Spanish. As I looked at my friend I noticed a gleam come into his eyes and I could tell he was looking over my shoulder. When I turned to look at what Lance was gleaming at I saw 2 of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen walking into the restaurant.

Lance grabbed me by the arm and led me over to the table the girls were sitting at. He elbowed me and begged me to speak to them in Spanish. I smiled at the girls and when I opened my mouth to speak - I froze. I couldn't remember a single word of Spanish.

My poor friend Lance looked at me with begging eyes. So I tried again, I opened my mouth and the only words that I could remember in Spanish came out of my mouth - Muchas Gracias. I felt like a first class fool.

But then, out of nowhere, Lance began speaking in Spanish. He was speaking it so well the girls were smiling and laughing. He was speaking Spanish so well he was sweeping the girls right off their feet! It was amazing. It is surprising what beautiful women can do to men. They made Lance remember ever single word of Spanish that he had ever studied. They made me into a fool.

Needless to say that every night for the rest of our stay in Spain I studied that book - Spanish Phrases for Travellers. But the only Spanish words I could ever remember were - Muchas Gracias.

Blake Dexter
http://cnotecity.com/Download_Spanish_Lessons.html