Need to Book the Ferry... 12 - 18 March

 In one of the Spanish lessons this week we had to do a role play exercise. I was a journalist interviewing Angelina Joley. At the beginning of the ‘interview’ I described her as “La pierna de momento” – “The leg of the week”.  If you saw the recent photograph of her in a split skirt you will know what I mean.  The teacher had not seen the photo and seems to have assumed that ‘…leg of the week’  is a regular English phrase. He will probably use it when with his friends at his local taverna. At the end of the ‘interview’  I accused Angelina of stealing Brad Pitt from Jennifer Aniston - so the lady stormed out saying I was "..muy grosero" - "..very rude".

On Friday after lessons, it was cloudy with a very cool breeze. Not having done a long walk for a few days I decided to take the low route in the valley below the gorge. I wore a fleece and took a coat. Murphy’s law kicked in. While sauntering downhill it remained cold. As soon as the track turned up hill the sun came out. After about an hour and a half I reached a ford. There were stepping stones but a couple of the gaps were a little too adventurous for this older guy not as agile as I once was.  I decided to add more stones. It took over half an hour but with true British perseverance I eventually managed to add them in the right place and stable enough to cross. If nowhere else, I have made my mark in Ronda!

I thought I knew where the track would lead me to. I passed an equestrian centre where I believe horses are trained (similar to the Vienna horses) for (only) one or two Ronda festivals throughout the year. It turned out that the track took me further out of Ronda than I expected. 

I have not been finding the Spanish language easy. My classmates have suggested finding a Senorita. Most of them have Spanish girlfriends/boyfriends/wives/husbands. So far I may have attempted to  suggest a persona of a slightly distinguished, financially inactive, slightly eccentric chap but after this walk I trudged through the town heavily perspiring (..gentlemen perspire) and met no Senoritas who might have been in the slightest bit interested. My criteria anyway is that any young (or not so young) lady must be attractive, unattached, financially independent and have holiday homes on at least two continents…. If particularly attractive or particularly financially independent I may forget the holiday home bit. Any such need not necessarily be Spanish but willing to learn the language – working as a pair may make progress easier. If anyone knows ladies fulfilling said criteria I would be happy to conduct interviews during June and July at Charters… or October in the San Francisco Bodega, Barrio San Francisco, Ronda.

I am still not sure of longer term plans but certainly intend being back here October to March. During the next three weeks I shall be viewing potential rentals. If I can find two or three suitable places at least one will hopefully still be available in October. It would be good and better for the Spanish progress to have a purpose. I have been investigating volunteer activities but here they seem to be connected with wacky, maybe even slightly or somewhat culty organisations.

 I have not yet booked my ferry back but should be on the Santander to Plymouth boat on 2^nd May, arriving in Peterborough on 4^th May…… May the 4^th be with you!  Star Wars fans may appreciate the comment (or not).

It has become something of a fixture to meet up with some friends on Saturday afternoon or evening. Yesterday I had  a few beers and raciones at the taverna mentioned above. Glorious day,  a few wispy clouds and 24c. Thoroughly enjoyable.

A couple of not so desirable residencies... and a pleasant one

This was once a very 'posh pile'.
There is a large swimming pool at the side and a tennis court round the back.



A rather smaller place but the view across the valley is tremendous.

The house I am renting is the corner house



From the top of the street.

Slow Progress... 27 February - 11 March 2012

On Wednesday 29^th I went to a bar to watch the Spain v Venezuela football match. I was just amazed at the complete lack of interest in their national team by the locals. There were six others in the bar at the start and four left after 20 minutes – without having once even checked the score. At half time I went to another, smaller bar but where there were more people and there was the same apathy.  I suppose in recent years compared to our (England's) chronic under-achievement they have been spoiled by both the success and standard of football at club and national level. Games such as  Malaga v Barcelona get them worked up though.

I was invited to a meal at the home of a friend on the following Saturday. Of the five guests, three were Spanish, two of whom speak no English. Although the conversation was not complicated I was encouraged by being able to contribute and generally understand.

I have continued doing a good deal of walking. There are still areas to explore. Although now not intending to buy a property here, I do plan on coming back again next Winter, hopefully with a more reliable car and will go further afield. The cities of Granada, Cadiz, Seville and Cordoba are all between one and a half and two and a half hours away.

I made the following observations to a friend in an e-mail last week:

 ‘One of the bars I go to has a photograph of Manhattan and New York - amazing to think of the number of people that live there and how different it would have looked 10 years ago, 50 years ago, 100 years ago.................. and in its way it is magnificent.

This afternoon I was walking approximately 15 minutes away from that bar.... at the furthest, around one hour away. At times I could see maybe one or two buildings and probably 99% of what I could see would have been the same for one of the Romans here 2000 years ago and maybe 95%+ would have been no different for a Bronze Age settler 5000 years ago..............

I am also reading a novel by Anthony Trollope (he who 'invented' post boxes in the mid 1800's), called 'The Way We Live Now' first published in 1875. The problems some parents had with their children were on a similar level although different to now. Finance was dodgy with folk borrowing more than they could afford to pay back. Millions (equivalent) were made by people who set up companies on the stock exchange but then had difficulty delivering solid results....................... so the genuine investors lost out........’

 The comment I received in response was ‘Are you p*@*!d!?’. I was not.

On Friday, after classes I made my fortnightly visit to the supermarket. I bumped into one of my class colleagues. She was doing her shopping for the second time. She had put her shopping by her car before helping an invalid friend and on returning to her car, someone had taken her shopping bags. That is the first ‘crime’ of which I am aware since I arrived.

The class that morning seemed particularly difficult. Overall I am disappointed with my language progress. I am getting to know more people and although most are English speaking, they live here, are themselves improving their Spanish and I should find it easier to improve next Winter.

On Saturday I went to my second Balonmano (Handball) game. Not as good as the first but it was much closer, with Ronda winning 26-25. Then went for a meal and a couple of beers in the town.