Huelga....STRIKE!

Wednesday 14 November

Today we learnt the word for strike, Kev needed to sent a package to the UK to his Father and we needed to get to the Post Office for 10.30 when it opened. We both differed on what the opening times were, Kev thought it was 10.00 - 12.00 Petra 10.30 - 12.30. Either way we had plenty of time to amble down to Riogordo.

We are so lucky this week another brilliant day not a cloud in the sky and it looked set to last the whole day. As it was considerably warmer outside than in we had our breakfast sitting on the terrace bathed in full warming morning sunshine. It was really lovely. Even the dogs kept their traps shut. 

After we cleared away the breakfast things we made our to Riogordo down the now very familiar track past the harlequin gt Dane on the left and the three or is it four dogs in the house on the right all of which completely ignored us. It looks like familiarity breeds contempt in the dog world. Anyway, none of them could be bothered with us today. Even the two German Shepard dogs at the half way mark (usually good for an encounter) couldn’t be bothered. Into Riogordo we strolled.

We made our way to the post office which is situated next to the town hall and is in a corridor that also contains the tourist office and at the bottom a bar, the former we have never seen open despite repeated visits. Wouldn’t you know it the Post Office looked shut. We tried the door, definitely locked. We looked at the sign on the door and it turns out we were both wrong about the opening times. The sign said 08.30 - 10.30am as it was only 10.20am we were about to put it down to the Spanish way and perhaps the Post Office person had made it to the bar early when on the the three men mumbled what sounded like the man will be long presently. We waited.

Sure enough, in a few minutes the man arrived and opened the door the the Post Office. Kev presented the packet to be posted and the man read the address and then launched into a conversation that only he understood and handed back the packet. We explained that it needed to go today on speedy service and he said impossible. Manyana yes. Today no. He kept saying a word that we had no idea what it meant and Petra pulled out the dictionary. Apparently, Spain is on strike today and there is no post. Tomorrow yes today no. Luckily, the corner bar was over the road, after that escapade we both felt we needed a caffeine fix.

Refreshed we decided to take a walk to explore the lower part of the town and on to the river which is a recognised walk that we felt we should take a look at before committing to walk the whole route 10 miles. We needn’t have worried and the mile or so we did was beautiful and we vowed to do it in it’s entirety very soon. We walked back to the house a different route as we wanted to look at the far side of the town. It was worth it, very Spanish and interesting, a bit steep in places as you would expect but we are now getting quite accustomed to the ups and downs. 

One interesting point and on a personal note we went past a Pharmacy and we saw they had a fancy set of electronic scale for public use. This was the first set of scales we have seen since leaving the UK and Kev couldn’t resist getting on them. It was again worth the 50 cents as he has lost 1.5 stone and feels much better for it. Petra also went on and has also lost a couple of pounds so good news all around.

Back at the ranch the weather was beautiful still so out with the sun loungers and we sat in disbelief all afternoon in perfect temperatures sun bathing, reading and watching the goings on in the neighbourhood. Firstly there was the caterpillar tractor towing a water trailer with a spray at the back. It started spraying the olive grove around us. We do not know what the man was spraying out the back of the tank but our best guess is, it’s probably weed killer as we have had so much rain the hills around us are a beautiful green now. Shame really, but if left we doubt you would get amongst the trees in a couple of weeks. As it happened the tractor kept breaking down and every so often it would all go quiet and a metallic hammering would start. Then the tractor would start again and it would be on its way. In the end it all fell quiet and that would appear to be the end of the tractor......for now.

We also had a trio of lads on cross bikes who came along the track to the bottom of the house, we could hear them across the other side of the valley most of the afternoon. It really must be a great place to go ‘off roading’ around here. It didn’t bother us at all and it was interesting to hear their progress as the afternoon went on.

Another bit of good news it that it looks like the Turkey's at the farm behind us have gone to meet their maker. Not that we would wish bad on the poor creatures but clearly their time was up. The result is their is no clacking sound and the place has been cleaned out so no smell when the prevailing wind is in our direction. We are liking it hear more and more with every passing day. 

By 4.30pm it was starting to get a bit cool so we went indoors and Petra made one of her legendary curries.

A brilliant day, lets hope it continues. Oh and how nice it is not to have cleaned Campy and have 3 days without the rain, that makes it a double brilliant day.