Fiesta…

Last nights celebrations went well and, as always, the good looking lass with the wealthy family tree was crowned this year’s winner as the other, less fortunate ones just clapped with acceptance.

But now, in the cold 🥶 light of day, there is a big problem in Ador…

The mayoress of Ador, Greta Trumpberg, last night dictated to the gathered masses in the square, that under no circumstances, and from immediate effect, can any fires be lit for fear of starting a wildfire. 

This now sadly means that the traditional cooking of paellllia on traditional paellllia day can no longer go ahead. Special paellllia police have been brought in to ensure that no sparks fly and anyone found with so much as a box of matches will be kettled up dog shit alley and taken away to the specially built paellllia cells in the square.

Th’Ex-Pats and Anti-Climate change activists are feeling deeply devastated and emotional. They have already been to Aldi for all the ingredients and several crates of beer to have the party rug pulled out from them at the eleventh hour.

A few gas bottles arrived and a sound system started banging out the tunes which signalled that the street party had begun…

As the first few drinks started to get poured, it was then time to leave and head back as the chicken & pie and baked spud dinner was ready and on the table!

Later that evening it was the fancy dress parade…

‘Fiesta’ by ‘The Pogues’ and the late great Shane McGowen who was also known for enjoying a chicken & ham pie or two…was the obvious choice for today’s track.

Hot Hot Hot…🔥🔥🔥

The plants are wilting and the shade is minimal as it topped about 40+ on the roof terrace today in Ador. Almost scalding our bare feet on the scorching tiles as we were summoned down when the braising steak and mash and two veg was ready…

Today is the day before the fiesta starts so the traditional trumpeters have been having a practice around the town.

Tonight is a pageant for the girls of the village and to find out which señorita or senora is this years queen. As the church bells ring out we are summoned once again to the infamous ‘Pool bar’ to wait for the start of the parade.

Todays track with a Carrabian vibe is perfect… move and groove with a belly full of meat and veg in the summer heat with a lead man dressed in a pair of curtain offcuts from the 70’s….u gotta problem with that?

Help the Aged…

As we start to engage with our twilight years it’s nice to interact with the European locals to see how they manage as they advance in time and get closer to the box…
They seem to have it a lot harder than our oldies with all the endless hot  sunshine to put up with, sitting about in the shade endlessly, with noisy secedes chirping in the trees and an overwhelming burden of tomato plants to tend to.

There are no winter fuel handouts or free bus passes dished out here, but there are some other perks which we found out about one of them when we got invited to a ‘Pensionista’s luncheon’. 

Held weekly, every week at the municipal town hall, opposite the Post Office, with free entrance its a good opportunity to mix with townsfolk and try the local offerings.

 ‘Menu del Dia - Pensionista Specitali’

Following the ‘all you can eat’ buffet style ‘pescatore’ starter of locally caught Calamari’s, oysters,razor clams and ‘Gambas alla Oilio’, we chewed the fat contently while sipping a glass or 2 of local Cava.

For the main course, those still with their own teeth were offered a meat option, so we opted for a 39 day hung, kilo of prime ribeye, grilled on a wood fire to medium rare, seasoned with Himalayan rock salt and served with spicy Patata’s bravas and seasonal vegetables….to share, obviously…we are not pigs!

Those unfortunate souls without gnashers had the forfeit of cold ‘Gazpacho’ soup…

I have to say, the 2022 Tinto fino, served from the ‘Arrocal’ bodega, washed it down a treat!

All in all, a hearty meal that will hopefully help us to ‘live forever’

I forgot to ‘instagram’ the dish but this was what’s left so you get the idea.

To finish, the ‘siesta’ on the free coach back was very relaxing, getting us in the mood to rest the tired bones in the pool…

…and leave time to contemplate updating the boat?

Today’s track is by Pulp and includes great lyrical wisdom by old Jarvis Cocker who ironically is over 60 now, so an OAP himself! Pulps new stuff is also worth a listen.

Drinking in L.A….

When on holiday, it’s nice to seek out the local history and our next spot was no exception. It was the original home of lager inventor, San Miguel. In 1890 he was a top brewer and prolific pig farmer around here and from these early roots, his recipe is now known internationally, and even drunk in some far flung places like L.A…

Here, in Salem, Spain, he started production on the farm by soaking locally grown hops and malting barley in an old bathtub and fermenting them with yeast and warm, fresh pigs piss to get the unmistakable flavour and charm of this award winning beverage.

Explosions were regularly heard in the village until the original recipe was perfected, a refrigerator was installed, and the brand was licenced as safe to drink. ABV was around 9% back then and you needed a strong stick to stir it with. 

He bottled some then called his mate, big Andy, who had a van, so they loaded it up and set off to a fiesta and artisan farmers market near to Valencia, where they soon realised that they could flog this stuff at over-inflated prices and make a tidy profit.

 After a few weeks, his aunty Barbara, who lived opposite, worked for a PR company and was put on the books to sort out the marketing campaign and soon after, his crafted cold beer was in demand all over the world with the catchy expensive slogan ‘Si, Si, San Miguel’

Nowadays, smiling, well manicured and affluent sexy friends can gather in bars everywhere to enjoy this popular, delightfully golden lager, thanks to good old ‘San Miguel’

And why am I telling you this?…because you need to know!

“I got a feeling for the flavour, the payback will be later”

A cool West coast track from 1997 by band,  ‘Bran Van 3000’ as a perfect funky vibe accompaniment to a cold beer!🍺 Cheers!

Favourite…

With a bit of Renfe high-speed technology we blasted south in the morning into Valencia and then out the other side on a slower regional train. We are heading for a retreat in the hills, in the ‘Solana de Benecadell’ National Park, swopping the beach for a pool.

Most people use Google maps to get around and find places to go and locate restaurants etc. I am no exception for enjoying a browse to see what other likeminded travellers have written. Just recently, I came across the very best review I have ever read in my entire life. It has to be my favourite and in the words of the song “ will be a favourite for a long time”.

It was for a local kebab shop and the post was simply this “He venido media hora antes de cuando indicaba que estaba abierto y estaba cerrado!”

If you don’t speak Spanish then you will have to use Google translate but I can almost guarantee it will be worth it!

‘Favourite’ just happens to also be a favourite track of mine by them Dublin boys, the ‘Fontaines D.C., here doing a live version for Jools Holland.

C’est Si Bon…

 We need to talk about Vermut… 

I have a penchant for a tasty, unique digestivo and also enjoy seeking out local culture and customs and up and down these twisty little streets they have places called Vermutarias. 

Vermut, historically, is big around here and is a variation of Italian Vermouth, it also comes in 2 colours, Blanco & Rojo and made the same with herby botanical ingredients, perfect to aid digestion. 

Most recipes of these sorts of digestivo’s remain secret, all slightly different which makes exploring the experience a must.

Some say you drink this before lunch as an aperitif, others say afternoon is better? 

It’s refrigerated and served with ice, often with a slice of lemon and with a couple of salty olives floating around. Sometimes you get a soda siphon to play around with but most times it’s just enjoyed neat.

There is another connection with French ‘Chartreuse’ but this will take further research…

In the meantime, enjoy some of the funky Say She She girls with a video featuring my old ‘Silver Shadow’!

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