Sunday Miscellany from Spain

I am currently in the Vila2 residence of the Univeristat Autonoma Barcelona. I am visiting Tim Myers at the Centre de Recerca Matematica, again (I was here four years ago for two months on sabbatical). I have a nice little room on campus, with a view:

I have rediscovered some of my favourites from the last visit: persimmons (a different kind than we get in Canada and fresh) and gazpacho soup. No need for a recipe: you can get gazpacho from any store in milk cartons. My favourite style of wine is Malbec, but there is a close second here in Spain: Rioja. Without knowing wine very well, they seem quite similar (and both to my taste). The bottle here is quite good - and only $6.