#410 Crappy Christmas!

We are in Barcelona. We went for a walk down Las Ramblas and saw these Caga Tios for sale. Apparently it's a Catalunyan traditions for kids to have a Caga Tio, translated into English as Uncle Crapper!

It's a festive log with a happy face, held up on front legs and covered by a blanket. The idea is to feed it daily throughout December with sweeties so that on Christmas Eve the lucky children can beat it on the back, forcing it to crap a load of presents (cunningly concealed under the blanket).

We were a bit late to get one and feed it enough to excrete anything worthwhile, but we did go into the huge Boqueria food market and bought a kilo of fresh tuna for a mere 8€. It was delicious.

Continuing the crap theme, another Catalan tradition is to put a little figurine in their nativity scene of someone having a shit. All sorts of figures are made from President Obama to the entire Barcelona football team. It's not considered rude . . . . . . . I don't think - just a fecal thing.

pic from caganer.com

#409 This is London 2011

In Muswell Hill (London N.10) to pick up my Mum, on Friday we fly to Barcelona for Christmas.

Boxing Day we lunched by the sea, with Sally, Tom and Carrie, at restaurant Can Majó in Barceloneta.

#408 This is England 88

I liked the original Shane Meadow's film, This is England. It was about a group of skin heads who went their own ways for various reasons. It was absolutely believable, a bit gritty and nasty but overall - good.

Then came a follow-on as a tv series  (This is England 86). Same cast, same grit, added nasty rape scene but overall - good

Now we have just watched Episode 1 of the next incarnation This is England 88. I'm sort of sorry to say I won't watch any more. It's just too depressing and lacks the redeeming spots of humour from previous stories. Why would you want to watch an hour of miserable people being miserable?

Not so good.

#407 Aprofiti !

#406 Belgium to Barça then home.

Belgium to Barça (got buzzed going through airport security).
Dined on Senegalese with Carrie and a group of her friends.
I don't think they know about spice in Gent, but they do here!

Few more days in Barcelona. Had the best paella for a long time (botifara y langostinos) at a restaurant called 7 Portes. Very traditional, all the waiters looking the part in starched white jackets.

Then home: Taxi to Sants Station, Talgo train top Valencia, local train to Gandia, bus to Denia and a lift with Chelo to our front door. Six and a half hours more or less non-stop.

It's oh so nice to go traveling - 
but it's so much nicer, yes it's so much nicer to be home :-)

#405 New Hips for Old

Dr Koen Desmet, best hip surgeon in the world!

 This is the hip story:

I had pain in my hip such that I couldn't throw my leg over the saddle to get on my bike. I had to lay it down and do a very careful baby step over it and then haul it up under me. Riding was all right but walking became a real pain and I started to walk fewer times with shorter distances.

After 6 months on meds I got to see a Spanish orthopedic surgeon who confirmed I needed surgery and would have to go on a waiting list for a Total Hip Replacement (THR).

I did some investigation and asked advice from old friends in the medical world and decided I really wanted a Resurfacing Procedure. Resurfacing is a more expensive and technically difficult operation but its unique selling point is that you can carry on with normal sporting activity. Apparently with a THR I could ride my bike OK  but not run or lig about that much.

I honed in on Dr Koen Desmet in Belgium who seemed to be the top man for the job and started plying him with questions. On Saturday 18 November I asked what sort of dates he had available, telling him I was ready now but expecting a date next January or so. He replied on Sunday and agreed January but said he had a spot next Wednesday!

Excellent! No time to think (always the best way). Monday cranked up the computer and booked flights, train tickets and a one way car hire to the airport. Then to the bank and sent a vast wedge of €s to Dr Desmet's ANCA Medish Centrum.

Tuesday Sally and I travelled to Gent, booked in to the hospital at 16:00 had all the pre-op stuff, X Rays etc. Wednesday morning operation (don't remember any of this) back to the ward and in the evening was invited by the nurse to take a little walk round the ward. Thursday more physio and Friday I was chucked out and sent over to the Holiday Inn to stay for the next week.

At the Holiday Inn I'm being visited daily by Dr Desmet's physio for PT and nurse for medical supervision. I'm doing so well that I'm only using one crutch by Saturday and Sunday walking stairs normally - not one step at a time.

This is my left hip - I'm going to change it for a nice new one.

Physiotherapy and compression socks.

Now with add cup and ball

On Tuesday we had time to go into Gent and buy chocolate, drink chocolate, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art and eat some (lots) of Mussels.

Mussels & Chips 10/10

At the Museum of Contemporary Art 10/10

Drinking chocolate 3/10

Wednesday can walk without a crutch (but not too far) and Thursday, up and down stairs without holding the banister :-)

Friday - last day in Belgium and goodbye to everyone, including my physiotherapist Linda, who has been marching me up and down the Holiday Inn's corridors and stairs for the last week.

#404 Films

We watched two films recently:

Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. I wanted to like it, the photography was excellent, really made Paris look like you want Paris to look like. The story was sort of OK but I couldn't believe the characters (except maybe Salvador Dali). The leading actor was an Allen clone (but younger) which was a bit spooky. It could have been  . . . . . but it wasn't.

The Way was a nice surprise, also with excellent photography. It's the story of a father walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in memory of his son and the three friends he picks up on the way - that's it! But very believable. Nice.

#403 All Saints Day

As it's a holiday here in Spain we went out for lunch. First we had little clams and braised vegetables, then a big dish of mixed fish and shellfish. White wine and finally some strong coffee . . . . . . . . :-)

#402 Hard to Believe!

I just bought a pair of Vans slip-on sneakers from an internet site in the USA for only €14.12 - delivery to Spain included!

How can that be?

++++++ update ++++++
Because it can't. Should have investigated a bit more before placing order. Google search resulted in many scam complaints :-(

So, canceled PayPal payment and will have to look elsewhere for some new daps.

++++++ update ++++++
Result! Just received a similar pair via the UK,
40€ this time, but that's not so bad :-)

#401 Mérida y Madrid y Arquitectura Moderna

We are driving (a long way) to Mérida in Extramadura. Sally and her friend Christine will then walk north along the Via de la Plata. I'm taking my bike and will ride somewhere . . . . . .

I went for a ride over to Olivenza, stayed in a hotel, rode back a different way, then drove to Trujillo for the night. I called my friend Chus in Madrid and asked what was happening. He said he was having a barbecue with a group of his friends and I should come. So I did :-)

Sunday morning into central Madrid for a short guided bike tour "En Bici por la Arquitectura Moderna en Torno al Madrid Río". Interesting modern landscaping in the new park with some fun metalic bridges and a look at a bit of brutal "a machine for living" influenced apartment blocks.

#400 Feria in Denia

This weekend our high street is full of stalls selling artisan foods and the like.

We bought Gruyère cheese, Membrillo (a solid quince jelly that goes with cheese), a slice of horse ham and a pot of plump olives. (I think we are becoming Spanish).

#399 Someone to Watch Over Me.

I made a compilation of nice jazz tracks sometime ago and replaying it the other evening I have to say this track must be my Number One.

As she scats the last few bars you have to almost have to clap and cheer along with her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga-cBEPtzE0

#398 Benimarfull Two Day

Sally, Tom and I took ourselves off for a bike ride.

We went 67km (on a very hot day) to a stay the night at a nice hostal just outside Muro de Alcoy in Benimarfull.

We hardly saw a car on the first day and the landscape in this part of Spain was dry and rugged and had some steep climbs and descents. Stopping for coffee in Castell de Castells I noticed I couldn't get mobile phone coverage - apparently thieves had just stolen the copper cables to the local tower.  . . !

The temperature hovered around 32 centigrade and we were climbing most of the time so it was a bit of a slog, but the round of beers at the end of the ride made up for it :-) I don't know why the Hosteria Els Banys is classified as a hostal - it seemed like a very nice hotel. Highly recommended!

Then, next day 57km back back via the Vall de Gallinera through Planes and Pego (mostly downhill) to Denia.  Nice trip.

Google Street view of a bit of the road out of Quatretondeta

#397 Felt F1

Sixteen year old, Felt F1 road bike, still going strong!

#396 Honey

Arroz Caldoso - Soupy Paella.



A pot of Honey and a small piece of very fresh Curd Cheese.
Priceless.

#395 Up in the Pyrénées

We left our van in France for the winter and took the train to Ax les Thermes (a mere 28€ for two on TER-SNCF, the local regional French railway company). These trains are very bike friendly with racks to hang your bike, and even better, Free!

Next day 5€ for two up to the French/Spanish frontier at La Tour de Carol, then changed platforms and took the Spanish equivalent down the other side to Ribes de Freser (even cheaper, only 3.70€ for two).

Wednesday we took a mountain train up to Núria (alt. 1960m) and walked back down 7.5km on a narrow, rocky path. I completely forgot that I dislike hiking intensely - so won't be volunteering for any other "walks" in the near future. My poor bones :-(

#394 Montricoux

We've moved to Montricoux which is on the river Aveyron.

We're still in Tarn et Garonne (lots of rivers in France).

My wife likes to be colour co-ordinated.

Our home for the month of August.

#393 French Stuff

The Col de Viandès, at an altitude of only 270 metres, must be the lowest Col ever. In fact, I had to go downhill to go over it!

Apparently, this is one of the first modern electrically operated fuel pumps to be installed in France. The owner gave us a detailed description of its history but I forgot to ask how much a litre of petrol costs back then - around cent sous I suppose?

Ahh! That's just the name of the shop. Our local 8 - 8 doesn't open from 8 to 8. As we are in provincial France it shuts at mid-day for a couple of hours. The French like to get their priorities right: Lunch Before Commerce.

#392 Montpezat de Quercy

August and we are in our Winnebago on a campsite in Montpezat de Quercy, France. Montpezat is in Départment 82, Tarn et Garrone, but mostly we cycle next door in the Lot (46).

Immediately we are doing the rounds of the Fêtes in the local villages. Monday to Cremps for a Repas Champetre, lit "an outside meal" (but in a marquee). We were serenaded by one man and his guitar and served a three course meal with wine.

My Right Ear.

Thursday to Montdumerc. This time a Decouverte Gourmand. Here you bring your own plate and cutlery and then go round the stalls buying your food. We had confit of duck with sauté potatoes for 6€ each, a bottle of local Quercy red wine for 5€ and a piece of walnut pie for 2€. Excellent!

Saturday went to a Blues and Gospel concert in the town square.

Sunday a Vide Grenier, basically a junk market - nothing of interest and, sorry to say, no intersting pics.

Our last Friday in Montpezat and we went to a Marche Gourmand with some of our friends. More duck & fries and wine and cake The youngest two had more cake than wine.