Wish I'd had my camera ....
Two things on Saturday when I regret NOT having my camera with me at all times ....
The first was when I was driving into Jalon to the rastro - countless small tractors with equally small trailers overflowing with grapes making their way to the winery opposite the area where the rastro is held, slowing the traffic even more than usual on a Saturday. These little Spanish tractors are just a little bigger than a ride-on lawn mower and are everywhere, almost the vehicle of choice in rural areas. Eventually made it to my usual parking place and walked back to the bar where I was meeting Nick, John and June via the rastro. While Nick and I were waiting for the others we sat in our usual spot, outside the Alleluia Bar, watching the world go by, including many many more of the little tractors.
Jalon's Saturday rastro is always very busy, in or out of season. The rastro is a combination of market and boot fair - stalls selling brand new items mixed with those peddling second-hand and 'antique' goods. I was really only browsing, as much as you can in a place heaving with humanity, but I saw this little beauty out of the corner of my eye - very pleased that it was the last one on the stall, in fact I haven't seen another one like it on any market stall I've been to in the last few weeks. Best of all I managed to barter €5 off the price. I love it! Sorry about the blueish tinge to the pic - the blue part of the bag is more lavendar-grey, depending on the light.
When J and J arrived we went through to the courtyard behind the Alleluia for lunch. You only get one type of lunch here - pan and alioli (bread and garlic mayo), a tomato, onion, pepper and olive salad, and a plate of mixed meats and cheese. Saturday's lunch was particularly good, I'm not sure why exactly, we always have the same thing but it seemed especially tasty this time.
The Alleluia is a family run bar, also selling wine and fruit, the grandfather is a real character and
does a bit of a show whenever there are enough people around to warrant it. Put simply, it involves holding a 'decanter' full of wine above his head and pouring it over his nose into his mouth. Not sure of the correct name for this glass container, must find out!
There's a little ceremony surrounding this involving a lot of shouting from the customers. When 'grandfather' learned about Bob and Noelle's recent wedding and Bob's birthday he returned with the bottle filled with water and made Bob go through the whole thing again. Naturally Bob ended up soaked to the skin and the entire performance was hysterical. Chloe had her camera (she is visiting her mum from Australia) but the rest of us weren't able to capture this very funny moment.
Bob wasn't alone in getting a soaking - as Bob, Noelle and Chloe arrived I was mopping my cropped trousers frantically - Nick had just managed to throw his beer all over them. Thankfully everything dries quickly and by the time we left the bar my crops were completely dry and hardly marked at all! (And whatever stains there were came out in the wash)....
We rounded off the afternoon by going up to the terrace bar J and J are planning to open in October with another couple, to see what it was like and the progress they've made in the two weeks since they took the lease. Bigger than I expected and I'm very excited for them - a lot of work ahead for them before they're ready to go though.
Not much other news - August is always hot and busy in the village but quiet for us - the effort to do anything is just too much!
The first was when I was driving into Jalon to the rastro - countless small tractors with equally small trailers overflowing with grapes making their way to the winery opposite the area where the rastro is held, slowing the traffic even more than usual on a Saturday. These little Spanish tractors are just a little bigger than a ride-on lawn mower and are everywhere, almost the vehicle of choice in rural areas. Eventually made it to my usual parking place and walked back to the bar where I was meeting Nick, John and June via the rastro. While Nick and I were waiting for the others we sat in our usual spot, outside the Alleluia Bar, watching the world go by, including many many more of the little tractors.
Jalon's Saturday rastro is always very busy, in or out of season. The rastro is a combination of market and boot fair - stalls selling brand new items mixed with those peddling second-hand and 'antique' goods. I was really only browsing, as much as you can in a place heaving with humanity, but I saw this little beauty out of the corner of my eye - very pleased that it was the last one on the stall, in fact I haven't seen another one like it on any market stall I've been to in the last few weeks. Best of all I managed to barter €5 off the price. I love it! Sorry about the blueish tinge to the pic - the blue part of the bag is more lavendar-grey, depending on the light.
When J and J arrived we went through to the courtyard behind the Alleluia for lunch. You only get one type of lunch here - pan and alioli (bread and garlic mayo), a tomato, onion, pepper and olive salad, and a plate of mixed meats and cheese. Saturday's lunch was particularly good, I'm not sure why exactly, we always have the same thing but it seemed especially tasty this time.
We'd almost finished eating when Noelle and Bob arrived, with Noelle's daughter Chloe. Noelle and Bob are colleagues of John's from Bay Radio. They got married officially in Gibraltar a couple of weeks ago but held a 'mock' wedding on the beach in Javea last weekend. Saturday was also Bob's birthday.
The Alleluia is a family run bar, also selling wine and fruit, the grandfather is a real character and
does a bit of a show whenever there are enough people around to warrant it. Put simply, it involves holding a 'decanter' full of wine above his head and pouring it over his nose into his mouth. Not sure of the correct name for this glass container, must find out!
There's a little ceremony surrounding this involving a lot of shouting from the customers. When 'grandfather' learned about Bob and Noelle's recent wedding and Bob's birthday he returned with the bottle filled with water and made Bob go through the whole thing again. Naturally Bob ended up soaked to the skin and the entire performance was hysterical. Chloe had her camera (she is visiting her mum from Australia) but the rest of us weren't able to capture this very funny moment.
Bob wasn't alone in getting a soaking - as Bob, Noelle and Chloe arrived I was mopping my cropped trousers frantically - Nick had just managed to throw his beer all over them. Thankfully everything dries quickly and by the time we left the bar my crops were completely dry and hardly marked at all! (And whatever stains there were came out in the wash)....
We rounded off the afternoon by going up to the terrace bar J and J are planning to open in October with another couple, to see what it was like and the progress they've made in the two weeks since they took the lease. Bigger than I expected and I'm very excited for them - a lot of work ahead for them before they're ready to go though.
Not much other news - August is always hot and busy in the village but quiet for us - the effort to do anything is just too much!
posted by CaroleW at Monday, August 31, 2009
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