In commemorating Don Quixote’s 400 years birthday, the Spanish Department held a series of activities at the Chueh-hsuan Guest House last week, attracting an impressive number of curious students and faculty members. Don Quixote, in fact, is a fictional figure in a story created by the Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. His book, Don Quijote de la Mancha, has become the emblemtic work of Spanish literature that is comparable to the histiorical significance of the works written by Shakespear in Enlgish literature, according the Sung Mei-hwa, the Dean of the College of the Foreign Languages and Literatures.

The Spanish Department recreated a typical Spanish tavern, named after Don Quixote at the Chueh-hsuan Guest House, filled with posters about the area, la Mancha, Don Quixote was supposedly originated from. These posters depict local food, wine, and crafts; however, the Spanish Department went futher than pictures only. They actually managed to provide some lovely, genuine Sangria wine for auction on the spot with the price of NT$ 30 per glass! Many students were delighted at the taste of it, and considered money well spent.

Wine aside, There were some other Spanish products, such as olive oil, olive soap, olives, Don Quixote ceramic tiles, comics versions of Don Quixte and T-shirst on sale. Visitors could also see four life-size steel statures made by Jose E. Borao, a professor from the National Taiwan University.