A Quiet Week in Alozaina March 22, 2016
It's been a quiet week here in Lake Wobegon, rather in Alozaina :)! Bruce has been under the weather, struggling to shake off the last vestiges of the stomach flu. We've spent days just reading, resting, doing household stuff, napping, keeping warm by the wood stove most days (temps are not balmy here in the hills) or sitting out on the deck on sunny days - with occasional forays up into our little town.
This followed a burst of delightful socializing during our first weekend, when our PEI cousins had an overnight visit with us, prompting a little dinner party with our old friends, Rod and Alice Friend. Alice is an accomplished folk singer from Vancouver; and cousin, Brian Ellis, is a member of an award-winning family band from Prince Edward Island. Both are skilled guitar players. After dinner, we had a kitchen party here in Alozaina and felt privileged to be the audience!
Alice playing folk songs, while Rod looks on.
The next day was fun, sharing our "typical pueblo blanco" with Brian and wife, Norma. Their month in Malaga was their first trip to Spain, and they hadn't seen much outside of the big city. So we strolled around Alozaina and then inevitably found our way to Bar Nuevo for beers and the menu del dia. They were lovely guests, and we were so pleased with their serendipitous appearance in our lives.
All too soon, we were confined to the quiet of our self-imposed seclusion, as a result of the nasty bug that had laid claim to Bruce. By the time that this past weekend rolled around, he was feeling a bit better and we were both ready for some diversion. We had invited another British friend for Saturday lunch. I hadn't made Spanish tortillas for a while. When they turn out well, they are oh-so-yummy. This one was a keeper! The afternoon was filled with interesting conversation about Britain's proposed exit from the EU and America's scary politics and the life of an ex-pat in southern Spain. It's amazing how many activities are available here and in the surrounding area, including several singing groups, flamenco gatherings, theater groups, Spanish/English conversation groups, art groups. Another friend, Jon Stein, had told us about a new "time bank" here in Alozaina, as well as various initiatives for sustainability. Wow, all this in a small town of 2000!
While we were lounging around our house this past week, Semana Santa (Holy Week) crept up on us. On a Saturday evening outing to the town plaza - just behind our house and up about 100 stairs! - we happened upon a tiny little procession.
This parade was composed of about 20 "pilgrims" walking from a nearby town, two women in the lead carrying big blazing torches to light the night air and two other women carrying a cross made from sturdy tree branches with a wooden figure of Jesus on it. The rest of group, following behind, was made up of all ages. No band, no groups of men in robes - in fact, no special costumes at all. It was much more simple and informal than the processions that we had seen in Guatemala. Somehow, its simplicity accentuated its aura of devotion and authenticity. The pilgrims broke into song as they entered the plaza, then made their way straight to evening mass at Santa Ana, the church that overlooks the village.
The next day, Palm Sunday, Bruce's procession-radar was again working well. Around 5 pm, we unexpectedly encountered a children's procession, everyone clad in shepherd's garb, carrying tall palm branches that waved high over their heads. One of the kids, in the role of Jesus, rode a donkey into town. The young, orange-robed local priest held a microphone and led the entourage in singing as they entered the square. It was raining softly so they didn't linger but made their way to Santa Ana for another mass.
The donkey was not invited to mass and waited near us, entertaining himself by looking at his reflection in the glass and trying to eat olive branches being held by onlookers.
Never mind that this was Sunday - and Palm Sunday at that - our usual selection of cafe/bars were open and thriving as we continued up the main street. We stopped into our favorite, Bar Nuevo. It was full of noisy men watching a futbol game on the big screen tv. We made our way to a quiet table in the back with a view of Sierra Prieta mountain out of the picture window and settled in for a beer and a plate of shrimp. It was good to get out of the house for a bit.
Today our brief excursion took us to the Lima family's "supermercado", next to Bar Nuevo on Calle Calvario. It's about the size of the laundramat in Gorham and filled with virtually everything that you could need, IF you can find it, from rice cakes to window draperies and fresh lettuce. We emerged with two bulging shopping bags. We wonder if they shake their heads at the amount of food being consumed by these Americans, even when one is on a bland diet! Our goal this week is to get Bruce back on the road, literally, before he hits the real road in Portugal next week!
The title Ahorro means "saving".
Our artist friends have websites where you can learn about their work:
Rod Friend, stained glass & pastel artist: www.rodfriend.com
Alice Friend, artist & author: www.holyspiritwisdomcards.com
Brian Ellis, musician: www.theellisfamilyband.com
Jon Stein, musician, writer, blogger: www.jonstein.co.uk/blog
It's been a quiet week here in Lake Wobegon, rather in Alozaina :)! Bruce has been under the weather, struggling to shake off the last vestiges of the stomach flu. We've spent days just reading, resting, doing household stuff, napping, keeping warm by the wood stove most days (temps are not balmy here in the hills) or sitting out on the deck on sunny days - with occasional forays up into our little town.
This followed a burst of delightful socializing during our first weekend, when our PEI cousins had an overnight visit with us, prompting a little dinner party with our old friends, Rod and Alice Friend. Alice is an accomplished folk singer from Vancouver; and cousin, Brian Ellis, is a member of an award-winning family band from Prince Edward Island. Both are skilled guitar players. After dinner, we had a kitchen party here in Alozaina and felt privileged to be the audience!
The next day was fun, sharing our "typical pueblo blanco" with Brian and wife, Norma. Their month in Malaga was their first trip to Spain, and they hadn't seen much outside of the big city. So we strolled around Alozaina and then inevitably found our way to Bar Nuevo for beers and the menu del dia. They were lovely guests, and we were so pleased with their serendipitous appearance in our lives.
All too soon, we were confined to the quiet of our self-imposed seclusion, as a result of the nasty bug that had laid claim to Bruce. By the time that this past weekend rolled around, he was feeling a bit better and we were both ready for some diversion. We had invited another British friend for Saturday lunch. I hadn't made Spanish tortillas for a while. When they turn out well, they are oh-so-yummy. This one was a keeper! The afternoon was filled with interesting conversation about Britain's proposed exit from the EU and America's scary politics and the life of an ex-pat in southern Spain. It's amazing how many activities are available here and in the surrounding area, including several singing groups, flamenco gatherings, theater groups, Spanish/English conversation groups, art groups. Another friend, Jon Stein, had told us about a new "time bank" here in Alozaina, as well as various initiatives for sustainability. Wow, all this in a small town of 2000!
While we were lounging around our house this past week, Semana Santa (Holy Week) crept up on us. On a Saturday evening outing to the town plaza - just behind our house and up about 100 stairs! - we happened upon a tiny little procession.
Bruce is climbing some of the cement stairs leading to the town plaza.
This parade was composed of about 20 "pilgrims" walking from a nearby town, two women in the lead carrying big blazing torches to light the night air and two other women carrying a cross made from sturdy tree branches with a wooden figure of Jesus on it. The rest of group, following behind, was made up of all ages. No band, no groups of men in robes - in fact, no special costumes at all. It was much more simple and informal than the processions that we had seen in Guatemala. Somehow, its simplicity accentuated its aura of devotion and authenticity. The pilgrims broke into song as they entered the plaza, then made their way straight to evening mass at Santa Ana, the church that overlooks the village.
The next day, Palm Sunday, Bruce's procession-radar was again working well. Around 5 pm, we unexpectedly encountered a children's procession, everyone clad in shepherd's garb, carrying tall palm branches that waved high over their heads. One of the kids, in the role of Jesus, rode a donkey into town. The young, orange-robed local priest held a microphone and led the entourage in singing as they entered the square. It was raining softly so they didn't linger but made their way to Santa Ana for another mass.
The donkey was not invited to mass and waited near us, entertaining himself by looking at his reflection in the glass and trying to eat olive branches being held by onlookers.
Never mind that this was Sunday - and Palm Sunday at that - our usual selection of cafe/bars were open and thriving as we continued up the main street. We stopped into our favorite, Bar Nuevo. It was full of noisy men watching a futbol game on the big screen tv. We made our way to a quiet table in the back with a view of Sierra Prieta mountain out of the picture window and settled in for a beer and a plate of shrimp. It was good to get out of the house for a bit.
Today our brief excursion took us to the Lima family's "supermercado", next to Bar Nuevo on Calle Calvario. It's about the size of the laundramat in Gorham and filled with virtually everything that you could need, IF you can find it, from rice cakes to window draperies and fresh lettuce. We emerged with two bulging shopping bags. We wonder if they shake their heads at the amount of food being consumed by these Americans, even when one is on a bland diet! Our goal this week is to get Bruce back on the road, literally, before he hits the real road in Portugal next week!
Our artist friends have websites where you can learn about their work:
Rod Friend, stained glass & pastel artist: www.rodfriend.com
Alice Friend, artist & author: www.holyspiritwisdomcards.com
Brian Ellis, musician: www.theellisfamilyband.com
Jon Stein, musician, writer, blogger: www.jonstein.co.uk/blog
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