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Published: April 6th 2018
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Hi Dot
You must think me very tardy, nothing since early January! The truth is that I have written about Aguilas for the last three years and have little new to say and life at the Bella Vista rest place for itinerant gentle folk thankfully goes on much the same, discussing the quality of the showers and wifi, socialising and playing boules. The boules this year was particularly popular with up to six people on each side, the most difficult element was remembering who was on which side but a great social event.
Now don’t get me wrong just because I don't write about it, Bella Vista was a good as ever, catching up and socialising with so many friends made over the last three years and meeting new folk. As I have commented before I’m sure I know more people there than at home. All in all a great time and thanks to everyone for your company.
One new visitor was a replica wooden Spanish galleon which arrived in the Aguilas harbour for a few days, showing what life was like on an17
th century trade ship. We spent an hour looking around and marvelling at the carpentry,
apparently it sails all around the world turning up as an attraction in all sorts of places, well worth a visit if you spot it.
Now then Dot, lets not have it said that we don’t do culture! One evening a group of us took taxis to a Flamenco musical evening. When we arrived at a village community centre we appeared to be the object of some interest to the locals but they seemed happy enough to sell us beer or red wine (no other choices) served in large plastic beakers at a very reasonable price. So at about 9.30 pm we took our seats along with the locals and on came a very good magician followed by a flamenco singer and guitarist who were brilliant. The singer’s voice was incredibly dramatic, although it sounded like her entire family had come to an unfortunate end, not cheerful but very powerful. The guitarist also did a solo set which was probably the highlight of the evening for us, Eric Clapton eat your heart out. Obviously these acts were professional but nobody charged us anything, so feeling slightly guilty we all bought raffle tickets only realising later that we wouldn’t understand
the winning numbers when they were read out! As it happened our taxis arrived at 12.30 to take us home whilst the music was still ongoing so we gave our tickets to the Spanish equivalent of the Red Cross who were there.
The weather in Aguilas was probably a little cooler than other years and a couple of times it rained for up to a couple of hours, but when you consider the weather the rest of Europe has been having it has been comparatively as good as ever.
Indeed the first real change was having visitors. Friends and relatives who cannot resist seeing what we keep relentlessly going on about when we are at home. These pale skinned folk arrived with a hire car and gave us the opportunity to show off some of our favourite places, in some instances twice in a couple of weeks!
One such place was the old hill town of Mojacar which now has a museum opened by a Russian couple. From this we now understand that by 1960 the town only had 600 inhabitants down from its heyday in the 19
th century of 7,000 working the local mines and quarries.
During the 60s the mayor offered the existing properties for free to anyone who agreed to restore (not replace) them and paint them white which is why it looks like it does today. What a great idea.
In our case visitors arrive like buses, none for weeks and then Kevin (brother) arriving before Tessa and Anna had left, but it was great to see them all and hopefully they returned home with a little more colour. Kevin came for a week, liked what he saw and stayed a fortnight, not totally from choice as his original return flight was cancelled due to the snow at Bristol airport and the first option he was offered was a week later. Quite clearly the sun got to him during his extended stay as he ventured into the site pool on a couple of occasions and even once into the sea, actually twice as Jane and I insisted he went back in so we could take a photo.
I can also report Dot that we went dog walking at the dog rescue centre another four times always taking Balou out (so as not to be tempted, as we have no room for
a huge mastiff in Otto) as well as a selection of other dogs. Balou has been there for two years and actually seems very happy, well looked after and pleased to see anyone who wants to take him out. Walking him is a bit like walking a lion the way he moves about in front of you, see photos.
We had plans to move on earlier but what with the weather looking wet in other places we delayed and finally left Aguilas for Almeria on Wednesday 14
th March. We stayed at a quirky little site between Almeria and Roquetas de Mar with Otto only about 15 paces from the beach. We were only there a few days but things never quite worked, hot water was either available in the showers or for washing up but never both and, with the exception of one drinking water tap, the water was a mixture of sea water and fresh, quickly everything we ate tasted of salt from the crocks and you had dry skin!
We visited Almeria, once the fifth largest urbanisation on the Iberian peninsular, for two days running. While not an attractive city it has a great castle and
cathedral and more than enough other interesting places to keep us going. Also there was a town tapas competition going on, where you got free tapas with every drink. We got it wrong to start with as it had to be an alcoholic drink, but quickly found the solution second time around.
And so our next stop was Seville which I will update you on soon, take care.
Yours, yes still going
Terry and Jane (long suffering editor)
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