Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We are not the only Lebanese in the village! Two young Dutch or German girls seem unable to take their eyes off Vikki .... Who could blame them really. They are annoying kind of young ger/Dutch .... Loud, brash and bouncy. They have an air of 'we won the World Cup about them'.
Equally annoying is our neighbour... She has a son Lewis and a fella called Lionel.... They are from the midland area of the uk... Vikki passes pleasantries with them as the are fellow nicotine addicts. In a 5 minute conversation by the pool I was informed that she likes her vodka so much that she disguises it in a 2 litre water bottle to consume by the pool... Thankfully she doesn't go in! She can't stand polish people in 'our country' and we shouldn't be giving people benefits until the have worked for at least 5 years.... My ex husband would never qualify in that case.
The foreign (to us) people in the hotel seem quite friendly and goodness knows they act like our closest family in the lifts and queues; stabding as close as they can to you without hesitating to touch you wherever and with whatever they feel appropriate... Do they not understand the personal body space rule!
Off to barcelona today to escape the pool gossip and antics.
The train station is just on the seafront, the return for both of us was under 20 euros and we were advised by the vendor that the train just approaching was the one we wanted. Luckily we were able to get a seat on the packed train. Again this liberal with body space situation makes for a very uncomfortable hour long journey if you happen to be standing. Even from the seated position the waft of a hundred different kinds of body odour permeates my delicate nostrils ... Just because it's hot there is no excuse for not washing.... A notion that I am reminded of each and every time we venture out, seriously don't these people wash!
Barcelona was worse..... The various body odour mingle with the smells of bodily fluids and excrement.... Human, canine and I dare say bovine! Haven't seen a single cat ... In 5 days not one single cat... No cockroaches or lizards either .... I hazard a guess that the lack of roaches is the cause of the lack of lizards .... I digress
The train journey, hindered only by the smell and the screaming children was quite scenic .. With exception of the many nudist beaches .. The train was fast so although many bits a pieces were viewed we passed so quickly that I'm unable to comment on them further with an in depth description or observation.
We alighted at playa de catalunya and crossed the road to la rambles where I stopped to pose for a picture.
We rambled down the ramble.... Gonna speed up here
Market .... Fabulous but very smelly of raw meat
Coffee in a shaded square .... Not as dear as London
Bead shops .... No better than Hatton garden
Gothic quarter.... Fabulous architecture (we later find out most of it isn't in fact gothic ... But hey we all gotta attract tourists somehow)
Gaudi.... Off his nut ... Him and his Moderniste mates designed some wicked buildings
Lunch.... Tapas .... Well we should really... After bypassing just 4 places (that's good for us) we decided to eat inside a small tapas bar that we would have called a sandwich bar if we were in London... We would have ordered a mug of tea and a bacon butty ... We sat down at a table set for four when a rather gruff lady approached ... Said something I really couldn't understand ... I told her I only spoke a little spannish ... She repeated her phrase louder and gestured the hand to mouth eating motion... I replied 'si gomer' she ushered us both into the window seats.... I suppose to attract passers by. (Methinks the sight of me expiring from the heat will tempt anyone in)
We ordered the set tapas meal, a beer for me and coke for viki. Oh no I forgot to ask for a canya! (Exact translation rod or cane It means a small glass if beer) out came a pint mug! I could hardly lift it but it was cold, I was hot, I'm about to have lunch... Oh in for a cent in for a euro! Down the hatch.
Our waitress brought four of five plates with hot and cold tapas ... She then gestured .. Hands crossing in front of her and spreading like a curtsey 'Finito'.
When she cleared the plates we told her we liked it lots and ordered coffee, she seemed to have a lighter tone and manner about us and asked if we were Australian... No English ... She giggled and said 'ah si si camiyya y Carlos' ... So that's what image is conjured in the eyes of spannish minimum wage workers when you say England .... Camilla and Charles!
I'm mistaken .... She then rushed out a small packet of tea!
- comments