Greetings from Arcos de la Frontera,
Here’s a short video I made today of the May Crosses – Cruces de mayo – here in the Old Town. It gives you an idea of how the decoration is done.
(CRUZ DE MAYO is the singular form of CRUCES DE MAYO. May Cross, in other words).
Did you spot Maggie, the local blonde bilingual girl? She’ll be 6 years old soon. And to think, she was only 8 months when we arrived in Arcos…
Jim
Friday night has now turned into Curry Night at Casa Campana.
Our resident chef Naz (pictured) has over 20 years of experience cooking delicious Indian meals.
As far as I know, the nearest place to eat proper curry in Cadiz province is El Puerto de Santa Maria.
At Casa Campana we offer a set menu at 18 euros per person including a drink. The following shows examples of what we have offered to date…
- Popadoms served with raita, onion chilli dip and mango chutney
- Beef kebabs with salad or onion bhajees with salad
- Chicken curry or vegetable dhal served with rice and pitta bread
- Ice cream and a choice of drink
- Popadoms and pickles
- Vegetable samosas and salad
- Beef curry (hot or mild) or tarka dhal served with rice and pitta bread
- Ice cream and a choice of drink
We only have seating for 16 so please reserve in advance – ideally by Wednesday for a Friday night booking. Tel (0034) 697697263.
“The most delicious Indian meal I’ve ever tasted” Jean
by Emma
Greetings from Casa Campana!
You all know the saying about how the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain. Well, it’s not true! The rain in Spain, for the Winter of 2009 / 2010 at least, has fallen mainly in the province of Cádiz.
After a Summer which seemed to go on forever, suddenly Winter arrived in early December. That’s when the rains began. And ever since them it seems to have been raining. Those of you who have visited this area in Winter will probably be familiar with clear blue skies and mild temperatures. It is not uncommon that we see a whole month of sunny weather during this period, but what has been so remarkable, apart from the copious amounts of rain (at least 20 inches in the last 3 months) is the almost complete absence of sunny days. Even in the gaps between the rain, clouds have skudded across the skies over Arcos.
So high are the water levels in the series of reservoirs which stretch down from Grazalema to Arcos, that the authorities have had to let huge amounts out into the river Guadalete, which has now broken its banks several times.
As I write these lines, it has just started raining again.
I am reminded of another classic weather saying: Be it dry or be it wet, the weather always pays its debt.
Enough already! Debt paid!
Jim
International Yoga Day is celebrated on 8th February each year. Unfortunately this year, due to inclement weather, we postponed our session until 8th March.
We set off from Arcos at 12 noon and arrived approximately 40 minutes later at our usual picnic spot in the Grazalema mountains. Since it was a beautiful day there were already quite a few families gathering in little clusters around the brick built barbeques. We were a large group of about 20 people and chose a nice quiet spot with some shade and rocks.
While the men set about preparing the barbeques, the ladies joined me for an invigorating yoga session under the trees. (pictured). I was delighted with the turn out and raised over 50 euros for the people of Zimbabwee. A BIG thank you to everybody who participated and contributed.
After the yoga practise we all enjoyed a glass of wine (!) and delicious food served in nature.
A bonus to the yoga day was a football match, which the young and well… the not so young enjoyed alike!! Those still standing also took part in a short walk. Well done everybody, let’s do it all again next year!
If you would like to make a donation, please go directly now to the World Yoga Day site www.worldyogaday.com
Emma
Bicycle Day. That’s how “DÃa de la bici” translates.
Once a year, for the last 26 years, a mass bicycle ride takes place in Arcos. The route is almost all downhill (relief!) and must be about 5 kilometres in length.
On Sunday about 8% of the town’s population dusted off their bicycles (there’s not much call for them around here with all the steep slopes) and made their way to a school called La Salle, from where the bike ride began. There were people of all ages and all abilities, including one old chap whose bike belonged to the 1940s, and serious riders with all the gear.
Along with our travelling friends Leslie, Jim and their son Dan, I took part with Joe. Jim loaned me his bike and the attachment that goes with it for Joe. Here’s a pic:
You can see Joe and I. We were quite a novelty for the spectators, many of whom exclaimed: ¡Qué gracioso! (How lovely!) at the sight of our unusual tandem arrangement.
The boy on the green bike is Dan. He and sister Maddie have been travelling around Europe with their parents since November. It’s their second motorhome odyssey. Last year at around this time, they came to Arcos and chose Casa Campana for a night (of luxury?). We hit it off immediately as friends and saw each other again later in the year. We are all very happy to be reunited once more.
The weather was just right for bike riding: mild, calm and mostly sunny. (That made a nice change from all the rain and strong winds we’re been having in this winter that seems to be going on forever). And the atmosphere between the riders was typical Arcos: full of bonhomie.
It was all about the taking part.
Jim