SPAIN 2: Orange Blossoms, Goat Cheese & Salsa

'I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.'  ~John Muir

Every morning I awake to a temporary Paradise.  I stretch out and smile knowing that another siesta is only 4 hours away.  Rather than saying goodbye to the sandman and heading towards a grueling 14+ hour day, I know I will meet him again shortly.  Jorge, the little Spanish dog that I am watching, greets me excitedly as I walk upstairs.  We walk together as we greet the town and its people with cheery 'Holas! & Bueno!'.  Jorge is happy to 'walk me' to the top of the town where the remains of a Moorish castle remind you of darker times.  The sunshine kisses my forehead and the tops of my shoulders, promising to bring warmth and light to my day.  The smell of orange blossoms wafts lazily through the village.  Spring mornings in Andalucia are warm enough to wear flip-flops, light pants, a t-shirt and a light jacket.  It is warm except a refreshing, crisp breeze that drifts from over the neighboring mountains.  In a few hours, when I siesta in the afternoon sun, I will resort to a swimsuit.  The locals believe that I am crazy to think that it is warm out.  Their attire through much of day consists of nylons underneath their jeans, a t-shirt, sweater, scarf, and tennis shoes.  

After my walk, Jorge gets his bowl of milk and Rikke, the other work-awayer, and I prepare breakfast.  We are alone this week cleaning, practicing the dinner menu for the guests who arrive next week, and taking care of Jorge.  It's a rough life I'll be the first to admit it, but someone has to do it! After breakfast we walk to the market to pick out fresh fruits and vegetables for the day, then on to the baker to pick up our daily baguettes, and then we head back home for our siesta in the sun.  Everything here is fresh, wonderful and full of flavor! 

OUR MENU:

Breakfast: Musli with plain yogurt, fresh cut fruit, toast with naranja (orange) marmalade, and fresh squeezed orange juice that we make ourselves in the kitchen.

Lunch: Salad, bread and butter, and cheese - 5 - 6 different kinds of cheese ranging from Brie - Goat - Queso Curado (tastes similar to a light yellow cheddar).

Dinner: Well we are experimenting with different meals every night.  We had a vegetarian lasagna the other night and I ate enough for three grown men! Needless to say it was delicious! Accompanied by red wine.

Dessert: Fresh strawberries and mango cut up in a bowl with cream poured over the top! 

THE CLIMATE:

Mostly Sunny, some clouds and rain in the morning, but then clears up for the most part by the afternoon - if it needs clearing up!

Morning: 19*C   (66.2*F)

Afternoon: 25.6*C  (78*F)

Evening: 14.4*C   (58*F)

Two nights ago I found my way to a local's salsa class.  Between my lack of Spanish and their lack of English - it was very interesting to explain why I was there.  We used body language, wrote numbers on the wall, gestured with our hands, spoke slowly and loudly as though it would help us understand each other better and then some how we started dancing! I am not one to follow a dance routine at home and get it quickly, but here I don't know the people, the language, or the dances.  I was able to get out of my own way, remove the 'routine' from my head, and sentir la musica (feel the music).  I amazed myself at how quickly I learned the steps, and the surprise was reciprocated by the woman around me! We danced on the lines of cultural boundaries, laughed until our sides hurt, and joined together for a moment not defined by the lives we lead but by the love we shared.