We went to the 'show' last night which was a representation of the Inquisition in Llerena and how the witches came under the protection of the Village of Villagarcia. It was excellent. We didn't understand much, however it was apparent that it was very well acted and lots of the village took part. The village band played Templars, and most women appeared to be witches.
The first half took place in the village square, with a large stage under the clock tower and big banners and torches (with real flames worrying close to the banners!) decorating balconies. It was to start at 10, so we were not suprised when it actually kicked off at 10.45. The second half took place in the courtyard of the convent (the one which has been rennovated) and included dancing, as well as the acting out of a story, and also the raising of the devil which appeared to be a goat.
It was highly impressive, however was a long time to sit still when we didn't understand much. Typically Spanish, the break between the first and second half was long enough for people to eat dinner and the bars were heaving. It finished at 2.00 (yup - at night) and we went to Bar Tuna and then down to Bar Extremadura. By this time it was 4.00 and the place was buzzing with people young and old. I think we are getting the idea of why this strange nocternal activity takes place. It has been very hot and impossible to do anything in the afternoon, which is why people take to their beds to reappear later.
Tonight there is a band, the village band and also 'coches locos' which translates as 'crazy cars' ie bumper cars! Apparently people from all the local villages come to this fiesta so it will be interesting to see what happens. We have met some more people who speak a little english, which is both good and bad as it means we have other translators, but also it is 'easy' to speak english rather than spanish.
Last night I saw a young lad wearing a football shirt which had 'jesus' on the back, the common usage of jesus as a name still makes me chuckle. The other thing that made me laugh was we found out that Baarrreeeeee's real name is Angel. So it was Angel who was knocking on our door in the middle of the night trying to get Ian to sing Kareoke!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Petals on pavements
Sunday it rained and was cool-ish in the evening so we thought we'd take Basil out for a walk (it has been too hot recently) and that we'd stop in Bar Tuna for a drink on the way back. Bar Tuna is the bar by the Pillar (water troughs) at the Llerena end of the village - so we could have a drink and so could Basil. Our new drink of choice is 'Tinto do Verrena" which is 'red wine of summer'. This is red wine and lemonade served with lots of ice. Basils drink of choice was water with fish in it. When we walked back at around 10, the streets were blocked by alters and lined with plants. We'd only been out for about an hour and there had been no sign of anything when we went. Anyway, we were a bit nervous about walking through the alter-blockades so we walked around the village and came back the other way, only to find the streets strewn with petals. Apparently it was a celebration for Corpus Christi, not sure where the petals came in though.
Monday, being Spain where people are very clean (not satified with just washing their own floors and their door steps, they also wash down the pavements outside their houses), there were little piles of petals swept up ready to be taken away.
Monday also was Spains second football match. They started off badly 1 down to Tunisia. Ian is doing a bit of bonding by watching the football matches. Sport is a good way to break down language barriers as it is quite easy to communicate about what you are watching, so it is a good way to meet people. I said I'd come up to the bar towards the end - however it was still 1 - 0. The village was silent when I walked through - until a sudden uproar which echoed around the place. Spain had scored - phew. When I got to the bar Spain was winning - double phew. There were two televisions in the bar, all the men were watching the big one, and there was a small portible which some others were watching. I kept having to check that the same game was being shown on both, as there was much cheering and shouting and table banging and whistling... coming from the big television, when the little one just seemed to show a few footballers stood around. Goodness knows what it will be like when (if?) they get into the next round. After the football a huge mound of fish came out and the tables were pulled together whilst they tucked into a pretty horrendous amount of things with eyes.
England play tonight. Ian is going to watch it at Pepes. This is our favourite bar, but it is difficult to talk to people, in Bar Tuna there are some people who speak a bit of english so we can communicate, in Pepes it is all Spanish speakers so it is less easy. So anyway, the England game will be a good way for Ian to exchange some words with the clientele which is largely our neighbours.
People keep telling us about the three day fiesta this weekend. It starts 'quietly' on the Friday, ready for a 'big' day on Saturday with a quieter day on Sunday. Oh dear...
Monday, being Spain where people are very clean (not satified with just washing their own floors and their door steps, they also wash down the pavements outside their houses), there were little piles of petals swept up ready to be taken away.
Monday also was Spains second football match. They started off badly 1 down to Tunisia. Ian is doing a bit of bonding by watching the football matches. Sport is a good way to break down language barriers as it is quite easy to communicate about what you are watching, so it is a good way to meet people. I said I'd come up to the bar towards the end - however it was still 1 - 0. The village was silent when I walked through - until a sudden uproar which echoed around the place. Spain had scored - phew. When I got to the bar Spain was winning - double phew. There were two televisions in the bar, all the men were watching the big one, and there was a small portible which some others were watching. I kept having to check that the same game was being shown on both, as there was much cheering and shouting and table banging and whistling... coming from the big television, when the little one just seemed to show a few footballers stood around. Goodness knows what it will be like when (if?) they get into the next round. After the football a huge mound of fish came out and the tables were pulled together whilst they tucked into a pretty horrendous amount of things with eyes.
England play tonight. Ian is going to watch it at Pepes. This is our favourite bar, but it is difficult to talk to people, in Bar Tuna there are some people who speak a bit of english so we can communicate, in Pepes it is all Spanish speakers so it is less easy. So anyway, the England game will be a good way for Ian to exchange some words with the clientele which is largely our neighbours.
People keep telling us about the three day fiesta this weekend. It starts 'quietly' on the Friday, ready for a 'big' day on Saturday with a quieter day on Sunday. Oh dear...
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Kittens wearing crowns
Why is that kitten wearing a crown??This is Schnukems modelling the crown that I have been commissioned to make for 'Posh Pooches' a forthcoming book to be published in the US. Really.
This is the small version, I also need to make another two - spaniel size and a larger one which is Labrador size. Any self respecting labradors watch out...
Dookems isn't quite as photogenic as Schnukems being all black, and also regards anything as being a game and therefore isn't a great model. I think that Dookems is going through an 'ugly duckling' stage at the moment, and he will turn out a very attractive cat, but at the moment he is looking a bit gangly. Dookes has no fear, and he very happy to play with the dogs at any opportunity - even if it means that he is licked till he is soggy.
Massive electric storm on Tuesday night, we found a bedraggled pigeon in the yard. We put him in a box and kept him in the bathroom until he had dried off, and then put him in the barn. Thursday we put him out the back and I am sure that I can see him now, sat on the barn cooing a thankyou at me. Or am I getting confused with a Disney film.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Oranges
I was going to take a picture of our oranges on the first of every month. Unfortunately I forgot – so this is a pic a week late (bottom of page).
Talking about harvesting (last post) we are going to be harvesting carrots soon. Unfortunately our tomatoes never really got going – not to worry though as we can buy the most fantastic toms in the shops. it is hot again, we had another heat wave earlier this week - where the wind is like a heat gun, today it is more normal - hot but with a breeze which doesn't blister paint.
We’re getting a better and better idea of what village life is like for all ages. On Thursday we went for a walk with Adelardo and we saw the local ‘Pensonistas’ going out for a meal. There was a coach picking up 40 or so at 9 in the evening. Goodness knows what time they returned. We also noticed that one of the bars down the road by the bus stop had tables on the pavement. So last night we thought we’d go there for a drink. At Midnight the pub was busy with young children as well as adults. I think this is how they get children in training for later. Anyway we were sat there and two coaches turned up, and off came half of the village who had been to a wedding. As most people seem to be related one way or another then this was probably one family. It was like a fashion parade as the people filed past our tables, the ladies in their typical Spanish fineries.
The village seem quite often to go away together, they arrange holidays and weekends away to other villages fiestas. I suppose that if it is too long between parties it makes sense to turn up at someone elses.
Talking of fiestas there is a three day fiesta soon (sob). All activities starting at 24.00 of course. This is in celebretion of witches. Apparently the mote nombre (nick name) of people of village Garcia is ‘Witch’ this is what they are known by by the people of Llerena. It is something to do with the Inquisition (which apparently Llerena was an important part of) – might be something to do with people escaping from Llerena to Villagarcia. I think the fiesta entails a play which will be interesting. Ian is hoping that it will also entail a bit of song and dance.
Talking about harvesting (last post) we are going to be harvesting carrots soon. Unfortunately our tomatoes never really got going – not to worry though as we can buy the most fantastic toms in the shops. it is hot again, we had another heat wave earlier this week - where the wind is like a heat gun, today it is more normal - hot but with a breeze which doesn't blister paint.
We’re getting a better and better idea of what village life is like for all ages. On Thursday we went for a walk with Adelardo and we saw the local ‘Pensonistas’ going out for a meal. There was a coach picking up 40 or so at 9 in the evening. Goodness knows what time they returned. We also noticed that one of the bars down the road by the bus stop had tables on the pavement. So last night we thought we’d go there for a drink. At Midnight the pub was busy with young children as well as adults. I think this is how they get children in training for later. Anyway we were sat there and two coaches turned up, and off came half of the village who had been to a wedding. As most people seem to be related one way or another then this was probably one family. It was like a fashion parade as the people filed past our tables, the ladies in their typical Spanish fineries.
The village seem quite often to go away together, they arrange holidays and weekends away to other villages fiestas. I suppose that if it is too long between parties it makes sense to turn up at someone elses.
Talking of fiestas there is a three day fiesta soon (sob). All activities starting at 24.00 of course. This is in celebretion of witches. Apparently the mote nombre (nick name) of people of village Garcia is ‘Witch’ this is what they are known by by the people of Llerena. It is something to do with the Inquisition (which apparently Llerena was an important part of) – might be something to do with people escaping from Llerena to Villagarcia. I think the fiesta entails a play which will be interesting. Ian is hoping that it will also entail a bit of song and dance.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Harvest
The farmers are harvesting. One the way back from Llerena we saw combines and donkeys working along side in the fields. Last week it rained very heavily, extremely so, however now we seem to be in the throws of another heatwave. Despite last weeks rain the fields and countryside is now brown and looking much more like the traditional Spain - brown fields and olive trees.
The kittens are well,a nd Schukems suffers no ill effects after his accident. We've noticed that Dookems is growing much more slowly and I guess is going to be a small cat like their mum. Dookems makes up for his lack of size with an extreme amount of interest, and flies out of the workshop when the door is open only to get pounced upon by the dogs. When I pick him up he is covered in dog lick which doesn't seem to phase him at all.
It is very warm over night and Basil is fidgeting, throwing himself on the floor trying to find a cool place. the best place for him would be the bathroom, however he doesn't like to be too far away from Ian.
We have three lemons on the lemon tree, so not going to be self sufficient this year - however seem to have quite a healthy number of oranges. Wonder if they will be the bitter seville oranges or sweeter eating ones??
The kittens are well,a nd Schukems suffers no ill effects after his accident. We've noticed that Dookems is growing much more slowly and I guess is going to be a small cat like their mum. Dookems makes up for his lack of size with an extreme amount of interest, and flies out of the workshop when the door is open only to get pounced upon by the dogs. When I pick him up he is covered in dog lick which doesn't seem to phase him at all.
It is very warm over night and Basil is fidgeting, throwing himself on the floor trying to find a cool place. the best place for him would be the bathroom, however he doesn't like to be too far away from Ian.
We have three lemons on the lemon tree, so not going to be self sufficient this year - however seem to have quite a healthy number of oranges. Wonder if they will be the bitter seville oranges or sweeter eating ones??