Summer time, and the livin' is easy,...
...hydrangea's flowering...
...and the hebe's in bloom.
Nisperos are rippening,...
...and the grapes are hangin',
etc, etc.
etc, etc.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Another day in the country.
When you see those buildings in the middle of the country, just 3 or 4 large sheds...
Such a farm near Valderrobres is managed by our friends where we went for a meal to celebrate Joaquin's birthday with his wife, Rosa Marie.
...and the cooking was done outside. Today we are having "arroz del huerto" which translates as "rice of the allotment" or "rice garden".
Basically, it is pieces of pork and rabbit on the bone, snails, red peppers and onions fried together then rice and water added and finally garnished with courgette flowers.
While the rice is cooking, we enjoy a first course of prawns and salad with smoked salmon.
To celebrate Joaquin's birthday there is a special cake. May he have many more - delicious!!
...with large tanks outside of them, do you know what is in them?
Pigs, or in this case, over 2,000 piglets. And the smell is overpowering!!
Such a farm near Valderrobres is managed by our friends where we went for a meal to celebrate Joaquin's birthday with his wife, Rosa Marie.
The meal was in their renovated farmhouse, only one room...
...and the cooking was done outside. Today we are having "arroz del huerto" which translates as "rice of the allotment" or "rice garden".
Basically, it is pieces of pork and rabbit on the bone, snails, red peppers and onions fried together then rice and water added and finally garnished with courgette flowers.
While the rice is cooking, we enjoy a first course of prawns and salad with smoked salmon.
To celebrate Joaquin's birthday there is a special cake. May he have many more - delicious!!
Meanwhile, Joaquin works out the complexities of some of his presents!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Encinacorba
Encinacorba is a small village some 146 km to the west of us, about 2½ hours away and 760 metres above sea level. It is also the village where one of our friends comes from so a group of us were invited there for the day.
The weather could have gone either way but as it turned out it was a glorious warm, sunny day with hardly a breeze.
The church is in the Mudéjar style and is virtually a mini-cathedral. The main difference between this and actual cathedrals we have been in is that the people here are so proud of their church we were given a guided tour and encouraged to take photos.
It is remarkable to find such a grand church as this in a small village, population around 100.
Brick rather than stone is the main building material here. Lots of buildings have been renovated and look very presentable.
A local spring and trough ensures your horse never needs to go thirsty around here.
And then it was onwards and upwards another 160 metres to the ermita for our paella.
We could actually eat inside as there was a room at the back of the ermita for just that purpose.
The weather could have gone either way but as it turned out it was a glorious warm, sunny day with hardly a breeze.
The church is in the Mudéjar style and is virtually a mini-cathedral. The main difference between this and actual cathedrals we have been in is that the people here are so proud of their church we were given a guided tour and encouraged to take photos.
It is remarkable to find such a grand church as this in a small village, population around 100.
Brick rather than stone is the main building material here. Lots of buildings have been renovated and look very presentable.
A local spring and trough ensures your horse never needs to go thirsty around here.
And then it was onwards and upwards another 160 metres to the ermita for our paella.
We could actually eat inside as there was a room at the back of the ermita for just that purpose.
Outside, the wildlife and the flowers were flourishing...
...in the peace and tranquility.
Another fantastic day out.
Another fantastic day out.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Calanda
Saturday morning and I am the designated driver for 4 members of the Amas de Casa of Torre del Compte to visit an exhibition of patchwork and lacemaking presented by the Amas de Casa group in the (relatively) nearby village of Calanda.
The exhibition is taking place in the very large Multiusos hall and has specialist stalls selling everything you would need to produce lace - except the know how!
People are there from not just the local villages but from far and wide across the region.
Rosario, Rosi, (wearing her Amas de Casa t-shirt), Carmen and Margaret, pose for a photograph in front of a patchwork bedspread.
The exhibition is taking place in the very large Multiusos hall and has specialist stalls selling everything you would need to produce lace - except the know how!
People are there from not just the local villages but from far and wide across the region.
Rosario, Rosi, (wearing her Amas de Casa t-shirt), Carmen and Margaret, pose for a photograph in front of a patchwork bedspread.
Young and old settle down to practise their skills at bobbin lacemaking...
...while some designs just look so incredibly complicated!
It's good to see that these activities are still thriving.
It's good to see that these activities are still thriving.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Cherries!
This has been a terrific season for cherries - this region is renowned for the quality of this fruit.
It took us quite a while but we now have 21 large jars of these cherries to enjoy in the coming months.
As you can see from these photos, they are exceptional.
It took us quite a while but we now have 21 large jars of these cherries to enjoy in the coming months.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Trip to Zaragoza
At 7:30am a group of 17 of us from Torre del Compte set off on a coach to Zaragoza...
...to the Aragón TV studios to be more precise.
The representatives of the village were given their "make-up" - L to R, Antonio, the mayor, Mercedes and Fernando. Carmen just looked so nice she had to be in the photo.
...but Margaret and Rosi were chosen to demonstrate some exercises being discussed during the programme.
The Plaza del Pilar just in front of the cathedral has been turned into a campsite by young protesters.
After a superb lunch we had time for a coffee outside then a stroll around the streets before having a guided tour around the new Museum of Religious Art.
...to the Aragón TV studios to be more precise.
The representatives of the village were given their "make-up" - L to R, Antonio, the mayor, Mercedes and Fernando. Carmen just looked so nice she had to be in the photo.
We were in the audience...
...but Margaret and Rosi were chosen to demonstrate some exercises being discussed during the programme.
The group photo outside the studios.
The Plaza del Pilar just in front of the cathedral has been turned into a campsite by young protesters.
After a superb lunch we had time for a coffee outside then a stroll around the streets before having a guided tour around the new Museum of Religious Art.
It certainly was a very different day out.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Holiday on the Costa del Sol
We decided to take it easy on the way down the country and take 2 overnight stops. First was Albacete.
Our room was very large and modestly furnished with 2 double beds!
Albacete is famous for being the dagger, scissor and knife centre of Spain - hence the statue of the knife seller above. You have to look twice at these statues to see if they move as human statues have become so commonplace.
Also from this region of Castile-La Mancha is Don Quixote with his sidekick Sancho Panza, real statues again.
Second stop was at Alcalá la Real with it's own Moorish fortress...
...and then a very fine paella in the restaurant for the evening meal.
It's good to see the familiar view of the Mediterranean from the balcony of our apartment...
On the way back we have an overnight stop at Almansa with it's 14th century castle.
Lunch the following day is at Peñiscola at a rather nice hotel although the 2 characters behind Margaret look a bit dodgy!
Another great holiday!
Our room was very large and modestly furnished with 2 double beds!
Albacete is famous for being the dagger, scissor and knife centre of Spain - hence the statue of the knife seller above. You have to look twice at these statues to see if they move as human statues have become so commonplace.
Also from this region of Castile-La Mancha is Don Quixote with his sidekick Sancho Panza, real statues again.
Margaret can't resist posing in the hotel corridor.
Second stop was at Alcalá la Real with it's own Moorish fortress...
...and then a very fine paella in the restaurant for the evening meal.
Topiary in it's early stages on a roundabout.
It's good to see the familiar view of the Mediterranean from the balcony of our apartment...
...and out the back the pine trees are flourishing.
On a walk along the beach we discover a sea urchin, (notice the fivefold symmetry - although you wouldn't be too bothered about that if you stood on one barefoot.)
As usual the food is great...
...as is the entertainment from this young lady, Lourdes,
On the way back we have an overnight stop at Almansa with it's 14th century castle.
Lunch the following day is at Peñiscola at a rather nice hotel although the 2 characters behind Margaret look a bit dodgy!
Another great holiday!
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