A Boxing Day walk.

It was time to walk off some of those calories taken on board yesterday so we went down to the Via Verde, the old railway track which is now a walking / cycling route, and headed along the Val de Zafán to the old railway station, which is now a 4* hotel and back up the road to return to the village. A 1¾ hour brisk walk.


It was a glorious sunny day, very little wind and not a cloud in the sky - but quite cold.

Margaret felt in an artistic mood along the route.

Above is a view of the 275 metre long viaduct which carried the railway line, now the Via Verde, across the River Matarraña and on towards Alcañiz.

Hopefully, we used up a few of those extra calories.

Winter solstice sunset.

We missed the lunar eclipse as it was cloudy here, (maybe catch it next time it occurs on the winter solstice), and as it was cloudy, we also missed the sunrise this morning.

Click for big image.

The photo above is of the sunset less than an hour ago; still some cloud but with a bit of imagination you can make out where the sun is actually disappearing on the horizon. You can also see the silhouette of the ermita at La Fresneda to the far right of the skyline. Typically, the sky above us is clear!

The village Christmas tree.

It's complicated but this year the task of decorating the village Christmas tree somehow landed with us, so that is what we have been doing this evening with our friends Floyd, Joy and John and Rosi with the help of Antonio and his tractor.

To see any photo full size, click left on it.

One advantage of being in a farming community is that there is always someone with a tractor and lifting equipment on call when you need to put decorations near the top of a tall Christmas tree.

We assembled all our weatherproof baubles and with a few other polystyrene discs covered with aluminium foil and lengths of tinsel managed to make the tree look quite decorative.


Around the base of the tree we put boxes which Margaret had wrapped as presents. They were then tied together on a pallet so they wouldn't blow away and pine branches wired on.

The overall effect was quite pleasing.

Hopefully, our efforts will last for the duration of the holiday season!

¡La ermita con la luna!

The ermita de San Juan at Torre del Compte with the moon - well, actually in the late afternoon with a half-moon in the sky above it.

To see the full photo, click on the image.

OK, so it's a chilly afternoon,
but I just love that blue sky!!

Enrique - a tribute.

Enrique was an outstanding craftsman, builder and stonemason working in the Matarraña area. His first major project was in building our house 30 years ago. Since then he has constructed and developed countless buildings to a very high standard in the various villages.

Enrique era un artesano destacado, constructor, albañil que trabajaba en la zona del Matarraña. Su primer gran proyecto fue la construcción de nuestra casa hace 30 años. Desde entonces ha construido y desarrollado un sinnúmero de edificios a un nivel muy alto en los distintos pueblos.

Click with the left button of the mouse on the image to see the photo full size.
Haz clic con el botón de izquierda del ratón para ver la foto en tamaño grande.

In the photo above he is pictured with his wife Mari Carmen at the official opening and blessing of our friends Reg and Paul's house in Fórnoles in March 2007.

En la foto de arriba aparece con su esposa Mari Carmen en la inauguración oficial y bendición de la casa de nuestros amigos Reg y Paul en Fórnoles, marzo de 2007.

However, the construction trade is fraught with danger and Enrique was the victim of a tragic accident while working on a site in Fuentespalda on Wednesday, 1st December.

His funeral in Valderrobres earlier today was attended by several hundred people. There were a huge number of enormous wreaths and floral tributes.

Sin embargo, la industria de la contrucción está llena de peligros, y Enrique fue victima de un trágico accidente mientras trabajaba en una obra en Fuentespalda el miércoles, 1 de diciembre.

A su funeral hoy en Valderrobres asistieron varios centenares de personas. Había un gran número de coronas de flores enormes y tributos florales.

He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Valderrobres which is situated in a peaceful and picturesque location just outside of the town.

He will always be fondly remembered because everywhere you look there is testimony to his excellent work.

Fue enterrado en el cementerio de Valderrobres, que está situado en una zona tranquila y pintoresca a las afueras de la ciudad.

Siempre será recordado con cariño; por dondequiera que mires hay testimonio de su excelente trabajo.

Enrique Vicente Monserrat Antoli, R.I.P. / D.E.P.

To read the account of the incident in the local paper, "La Comarca", click HERE

Para leer el relato de lo ocurrido en el periódico local, "La Comarca", haga clic AQUÍ

With thanks for help with the Spanish translation to our good friend Carmen.

Along the camino.

The colder weather is certainly on it's way but we have had some excellent days this last week.

For the full size picture click left on the image.

Walking up the track away from the village of Torre del Compte we have enjoyed some clear blue skies and some exceptional views.

The sunlight on the green foliage of the trees with the blue sky behind is awesome.


The (near) full moon rising in the east in the late afternoon sky was amazing...


...as were the views towards the mountains, (Los Puertos de Beceite), which lie between us and the Mediterranean.

Ariadna has arrived!

Our friends Carmen and Raúl now have a baby daughter, Ariadna.

Click on the photo for a larger view.

She was born on Wednesday, 10 November at 16:45 and weighs 3.375 kg, (7lb 7oz).

Mother, baby and father are doing well.

Grasshopper porn!

What's going on here then?

Haz clic con el botón de izquierda del ratón para ver la foto en tamaño grande.

A warm autumn afternoon and with nothing else to do, what could be better to pass the time than what these 2 are getting up to?

The wall is vertical but there was no chance of falling off for this pair.

Hallowe'en!!

It's become a tradition in the last couple of years for witches, vampires and other creatures of the night to meet in Torre del Compte for a celebration of Hallowe'en.

Click the photo for the large view.

At the local bar God and a pirate start the evening with a quick drink.

Later, back at their meeting place, the vampires and others assemble.

Before they enter, they pose for a very rare photo.

Even witches have birthdays and it is customary to give presents.

Count Dracula and friend are members of the guests.

And after a splendid meal, the birthday cake is brought to the table.

Now they will all go away until next year.

Mushrooms!

It's the mushroom season! Yesterday our friend Fernando brought us this lovely collection of setas which he had collected from the surrounding area.

Click left for big image.

Last night they were chopped up, fried in a little olive oil then added to an omelette for our supper. They were delicious - really "meaty".

And we are still here today to tell the tale!

El bautizo de Gabriela

Midday at the ermita de San Juan in Torre del Compte and the christening party trek up from the village.

Es mediodía en la ermita de San Juan en Torre del Compte y el grupo del bautizo camina desde el pueblo.

Click left with the mouse on a photograph in order to see it full size.

For once it is a little overcast with quite a fresh brisk wind.

Por una vez está un poco nublado y hace un viento fresco.

Gabriela is not too concerned about all the fuss...

Gabriela no está demasiado preocupada por todo el alboroto ...

...but wonders what is going on when someone starts pouring water over her head.

...pero se pregunta qué está pasando cuando alguien comienza a verter agua sobre su cabeza.

The music group and choir are in full flow...

El grupo de música y el coro están actuando ...

...but mass at church can be so boring unless you can find other things to entertain you.

... pero la misa puede ser muy aburrida a menos que puedas encontrar otras cosas para entretenerte.

A posed photo...

Una foto posada ...

...and another. There aren't many "tie wearing" occasions around here.

...y otra. No hay muchas ocasiones para llevar corbata por aquí.

The family pose for their photo...

La familia posa para su foto ...

...and Gabriela, having found the whole experience rather exhausting, tries to take a quick nap in the arms of the proud grandmother.

... y Gabriela, cansada después de toda la experiencia, intenta echarse una siesta en brazos de su orgullosa abuela.

With many thanks to Raquel for helping with the Spanish translation.

To the Zaragoza fayre...

It's 8:30 and we set off on the coach with a group of pensionistas from our village to Zaragoza picking up other groups as we pass through a couple of neighbouring villages.

Click left on any image in order to see the photo full size.

This current feria, or fayre, is the 70th general fayre and runs from the 9th - 17th of October. Wednesday, the day we were there, was a special day for the more senior visitors with some special events and entertainment designed for them.

The buildings themselves are enormous with 9 pavilions as well as a main auditorium.


Events were also taking place outside such as this display by the parachute team.


Inside two pavilions were displays by local garages of new and second hand cars.


The food hall was packed with people and local produce of every description was on display...

...resulting in displays of some very colourful sweets,...

...bottles of herb liqueur,...

...baskets with the raw ingredients,...

...tea flavours to cure all ills,...

...more nuts and seeds than your average vegetarian would ever require,...

...and for the non-vegetarian, samples of fuet, and other various sausages.

After a hearty, meaty lunch with wine and cava, it was back to the main hall for some rousing jotas.

No one was going to drop off to sleep when this group were singing!

Further entertainment came in the form of magic acts,...

...traditional singing,...

...and dancing.

In another pavilion the army were putting their dogs through their paces...

...and demonstrating what our dog would do if we didn't feed her!
Another great day out!