Shots

Monday 28th April

Yesterday was one of those days when you had one plan and it unexpectedly changed for the better. We did a tour of the local castle, which was built approx 1200 and has had a vast history right up to today where it now is the local council offices and all town meeting occur in the castle as well as civil weddings. However, after the tour (6pm) we had planned to walk this park, but the boys wanted to get a drink at the local Irish pub. Well, we didn’t leave there until our bus at 9.15pm. The bar maid was a ex American naval officer, Christine. She has married a local and works at the pub. An English girl (Emma) was drinking at the pub, but also works there when not doing her nanny job, which she hates. She got us drinking shots! We also met the owners Spanish wife after meeting the Irish owner the day before. The boys had a lot of fun talking to people in English with different accents. An American navy officer and the people mentioned above. There is an American Navy base at Rota (pronounced by the locals as RRRRRRRota). I know we would have stayed at the pub longer if it was not for the last bus run at 9.15pm. So we officially have ourselves a local drinking hole. We had not had dinner by this point as most places do not really serve food until 8.30pm.

The sun rises a lot later than home and sets a lot later. On Saturday at the local park was full with families walking and children playing on the local equipment at 9.00pm. Then, they go home to have dinner.
The place we are staying (Costa Ballena) is a seaside and golf resort town. Think of Sanctuary Cove with apartments rather than houses, and about 20 times bigger. It’s all new and flash and completely soul-less. In the summer holidays the population here swells to 30 000 people (mostly Spaniards after a seaside break). Otherwise it is a ghost town most of the year. I am not sure how some of the shops survive. Rota (20 min south) has a population of about 20, 000, which it increases to 100 000 in summer. Absolute bedlam. The streets are literally one car wide, but still many people drive. Unlike where we are staying, it has a great atmosphere about it

It quite funny, during the siesta, all shops are closed and many food places closed. However, the one thing that is active is the young people in their cars with loud music. It is like they are rebelling against siesta.
I have seen several families dress their children in the same clothes for special occasions.

The rubbish system is interesting. No bin service like home. Instead, you take your rubbish and recycling to large bins on the streets. Apparently there is some sort of underground system.

We are getting used to the hours here. We are not waking until 8.30 to 9.00am. Get ready, have some breakfast, do house stuff, boys school work etc. Then, in the afternoon is when we head out and do not get home until after 9.30pm . If there was a later bus home, I am sure we would head home later.