Bedrock

Like parts of the UK, though FAR more consistently, we’ve been having a heat-wave here in Southern Spain recently. Hardly a day has gone by in the past month without the mid-afternoon temperature topping 38c (maybe 100f) in the shade. Accordingly we’ve not done a lot of travel on foot as it is easier to hide indoors or drive somewhere in the heat.

That’s not stopped several car trips as far off as Gibraltar and to various local pools and it CERTAINLY hasn’t stopped us popping out regularly to cafe-bars like Emilio’s (Los Carriones, near Castillejar) for coffee and Tostada – that’s on the cards for this morning in fact.

The weather hasn’t stopped Spanish workmen either – as you see here, three of them drilling holes in the fountain in Galera town centre – the photo really does not convey the fact that it was stinking hot at the time..

Earlier this month after visiting the Neurology Department at a big hospital in Granada (so I could have my head checked to make sure it hasn’t dropped off) we went off on a driving trip with our neighbours/friends Karin and Dave to Gibraltar, Jerez De La Frontera (near Cadiz) and a brief shopping trip on the outskirts of Marbella. Our hotel (La Cueva Park – here’s the link) was LOVELY as was the shopping at the coast. We also had our first visit to SOUTHERN Gibraltar (seen the rest of it lots of times, stayed there, done that) – but will we bother again? I doubt it.

In fact we’ve not let the heat get to us apart from an aborted archaeology dig bus tour to nearby “historical” Orce. The bus was fine but climbing up and down in the heat proved to be too much.

It’s a funny old life. After a severe medical incident in December 2017 then a different but related issue in May 2019 (either of which could have killed me), here I am, looking as I ever did if somewhat slimmer than 2 years ago, simultaneously travelling as ever, acting as if little has changed, blogging as ever and playing with as many new gadgets as I can get my hands on, while at the same time constantly working to re-organise my brain which has taken two severe internal hits now. One thing that has changed is my tolerance for incompetence, ignorance and unfounded “beliefs” (including climate change denial) which was once low to middling and is now zero. I try to make sure I don’t become part of the problem by continual learning and as much travel as possible. Thankfully, by taking lots of photos and keeping records such as the above, I can compensate for the main result of my recent incidents – i.e. rubbish memory.

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