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Published: August 14th 2009
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Well, that was the theory, anyway (Tim and Sue)
We've arrived in Vejer de la Frontera where Sue's house in Spain is and where we will be staying for the next couple of weeks. It's a great little town a short drive from the coast. It looks really pretty perched on the hill - it's won prettiest village in Spain - everything painted white and looking picturesque.
Sue's house is situated with a view down to the sea from the hill it's on and you can just about make out North Africa through the haze. The weather is fantastic - it's 28 degrees C in the shade, fairly dry heat but the breeze that the area is famous for really makes it quite pleasant. Mind you, siestas are a required practice.
It's a fairly big town that you can easily get around on foot from the house and there's plenty to see and do, lots of little shops and restaurants.
Mrs Mop and Mrs Woo Cleaning and Laundry Services
A couple of days of enforced down-time for Tim while the Chinese laundry and cleaning services operate on the house which is in disarray (
mild, I tell Vejer is very beautiful
Optical illusion. Archway and woman are to scale. you - a bloke wouldn't even have noticed) after use by some of the previous tenants. The crowning moment is where Sue exclaims "Thank God they've left me my wooden salad servers I got from Guatemala, at least!" How middle class, I ask you. The place takes a bit of shape and we spend some time at the pool.
Holy Mary, Mother of Christ
We have arrived at the beginning of this festival in Vejer and from previous experience of similar things in Seville it's everything I hoped it would be. Out of tune trumpets, mis-timed drum banging, people chatting to the procession members, utter chaos and everyone having a great time. It's brilliant. I hope the video does it justice.
To the background of this I've been on bit of a mission to try and get some paella and not met with much luck the last few days. I'm aghast. That's like... like... going to a fish and chip shop in Britain and getting "Sorry mate - it's off". We finally find a place where the waiter recognizes Sue from 2 years ago (as one of the few Brits who can actually speak Spanish, rather than
raising their voices and repeating themselves) so we pre-book for the next day. Tasty. Phew - that was getting desperate.
Coche No Va
After a pleasant breakfast out on the patio, we ready ourselves for our first venture out to the beach. Really starting to 'feel it' a bit more now.
Our journey to the beach encounters a long tail-back, so knowing an alternative we turn around and start making a detour. As we're merrily making our way along a now-open road on our detour without warning Pedro (not his real name) in a taxi facing the other way makes a u-turn in front of us and there's no time to stop. I nearly manage to swerve - another foot would have made it - but we impact into the back of him and the car grinds to a halt in the middle of the road.
It's not a great turn of events, let me say, and the ensuing bedlam and confusion is just as bad as you might imagine it to be. Poor Sue was in the middle of the road - "You've destroyed out beautiful car!" was the phrase I'll remember (that was easy to
translate from the Spanish) and at one point I apparently turned to Pedro and said quite vociferously hissed "You've no idea how much hassle you've just caused us". What a careless idiot.
Thankfully (unbeknowest to me at the time as I don't speak Spanish) an older chap interceded who was in fact an ex-policeman and helped us with the exchange of details and the signing of an accident statement and offered to be a witness. Thank heaven for small mercies.
Unfortunately, dealing with our insurers/breakdown service has just been a hassle from beginning to end. 48 hours later we've just about sorted out who's responsible for what, what's happening to the car, how we're getting home and how we're supposed to get about now. The "just dial this number and leave the rest to us" thing just hasn't happened for us breaking down in another country.
The wheel has started to fold up into the bodywork and the car isn't mobile. Since it's worth about 7 grand, given the damage and BMW repair prices we may not see it again, which is a bit tearful if you personify what was a lovely car having carried us faithfully
Ouch!
My metal donkey - he is sick. One of his little legs, it is broken. An' he no see so well from one eye. so far (Sue was tearful when Mini was taken away on Jose's - his real name- tow truck) . Mini adventure. Mini drive across Spain. Mini crash. Mini write-off.
Keep Calm and Carry On
After the initial shock and a lot of phone calls, we headed into town and treated ourselves to a really nice meal at the Trafalgar on Plaza Espana, which which was great with a fantastic wine recommendation from the waiter which we consumed with much need. To top the lot, we were treated to some fine local entertainment to cheer us up in the form of the singing grandmothers. Bless. A surreal end to a surreal day.
And so...
We're not injured, it's only a car, don't let it ruin your holiday, etc, etc. Enough with the licking of wounds - time to get on with the rest of the holiday so we're off to a beach party this evening.
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Leon
non-member comment
didn't realise you were driving to spain, i guess you were planning it leave it at the house in spain and collect it on the way back? big shame... but part of the adventure into soul is to perhaps abandon the worldly posessions along the way. the photos are looking good (just watch the exposure in the foreground if there's a bright background, don't forget to half-press on the area to be exposed and then reframe the shot on the subject). but more importantly, you're able to use the comedy photos to tell the story, i love the "no left turn, jesus to the right" signs!