Domestic Espagna

Here's some views of and around Rose's casa feliz.

The view from my bedroom.

Mum on one of the patios, viewed from the back of the house.

Lucas and Secuanta on the same patio viewed from the front door.

Lucas on the cool bedroom floor.

The house opposite at sunset.

Rose's neighbour taking his dog, Bobo, for a walk.

Same Thursday, different village

On our way home from the mountains we dropped in to see a village which is famous for its display of potted geraniums / pelargoniums.  There were not many geraniums in evidence but signs of very keen growers.

And horticulturists - corn grew right up into the village

I loved this house.  The vine continues

and this is the view from the house

What an amazing day!

Later that same Thursday...

We had a wonderful lunch in this family run restaurant.  The waiter encouraged our attempts at Spanish and also told us about the Christmas Log.  Endearingly he waited until children had left the restaurant before telling us about this tradition.  He reminded me a lot of Georgia's husband, Matt.  Rose and Les are in love with the cooking range in the kitchen here so I took a sneaky photo as we were leaving.

Since I had the camera (aka phone) out, I waited outside for Rose to put in an appearance on the stairs

and who should also materialise but the waiter on his bike - such a Matt thing to do!  Goodness only knows where he was riding to through the mountains.  We walked back to the car through Rupit.

Such tantalising glimpses

Who would think golden privet would look so good in pots.

All day we had had this view in the distance

now we were there.

We sat at the top of a waterfall

Then drove over the shallow river (it was summer and hot) to look at the waterfall from the other side.

Mum and I were ready to go back to the restaurant by now, but Rose and Les had other plans.

Thursday in Spain

Beach yesterday, mountains today.  Les and Rose love this drive.  First off to a sight Tasmanians know only too well

Here's my Mum and Rose's car - note Mum's glass is not too far away...

Then on to a place I found curious

not just because they put nativity scenes in old ham tins

but also because they have an anti-violence against the elderly poster at a spot where an old guy threw a young woman over the cliff (admittedly she didn't want to marry an old blind guy and intended to throw him off the cliff).  I think the final outcome is warning enough.

There's also a church here.

Then off to delightful alpine village for lunch.

This is the welcoming well.

And then look at this.  I was beside myself - filet crochet everywhere.

I love filet crochet but have never had a house where it seems appropriate.  I was led pondering such matters to a fine restaurant

Fortunately I am easily distracted...

and on that cheerful note I shall leave you and finish our day in the mountains in the next posting.

XXXX

The Big Birthday

The next day dawned bright and warm again.  This time we were off to the Santa Clothhilde Gardens which are Lloret de Mars Botanical Gardens.  This is the sort of stuff you see in Gardens of the World documentaries...

I did get some ideas for my own humble little plot... but there was not much time for plotting and scheming.  We had a birthday lunch to go to.  Les's Mum (conveniently named Margaret) was having her 78th birthday.

Yes, there was a slight error in the age on the cake.

Margaret was a little overcome by the occasion but in the photo above she is actually wiping cream off her face which the cheeky waiter daubed on.  Ooh these Spanish waiters...

Les and parents went home.  Rose, Mum and I walked 20 m to the beach and hired lounges and a parasol.

Here's my view of the beach.  For some reason, my feet were quite swollen towards the end of the holiday.  To my surprise I enjoyed being in the sea even though it was quite calm.  The sand is gritty but once you're in the sea it is divine.  And you only have to be about 2 metres out to be up to your shoulders (well yes some people are a little taller...).  Looking back to shore

Lolling around in the sun all afternoon can make you ravenous so we went for paella that evening.

We strolled along the front at Lloret de Mar - very romantic.

Then into the paella performance.

Mum a little aghast at the size of the serves...  Maybe Les squeezed lemon in her eye...

Yummo!

The night cats prowling home

Lloret de Mar by night - moon and castle