I was aware that something was going on this weekend, well the posters in the village were giving it away actually. We were pretty confident that there was something to do with tractors happening, and I think a sack race, but we were a bit less clear on this. San Isidro is the patron saint of farmers.
Jim and Viv are with us, and we were a bit worried when the lady in the bread shop said there was a bicycle ride to the San Isidro ‘campo’, starting at 11, as we only have two bikes. But seeing that we don’t see many bikes around, I assumed that this bit was voluntary.
We went to the Plaza yesterday in the village to watch the cycle ride, which entailed quite a lot of milling around, before the cyclists who all seemed to be under 12 headed off. Quite glad that Ian and I did not take our bikes down otherwise we would have looked strange.
We then headed off – on foot to the San Isidro campo, and got overtaken by car after car. We were the only ones walking. It was about mid day by then – so we were proving that it is mad dogs and english men who go out in the mid day sun. Well actually just the english man bit as we left the dogs at home.
Anyway, we arrived and decided that we ought to go and get the van so Ian volunteered for the 4km walk back again. He also bought back a picnic and some chairs.
The whole of the village seemed to be there, having picnics and watching the tractor competition, which was not a race, but a competition where they reversed the tractor and a trailor through a slalom course. There was a gaggle of young girls who could not take their eyes off us, they seemed to keep cropping up where ever we were standing.
And then the hospitality started. Firstly, our neighbour called us over and shared some wine with us, and was waving a sausage and pen knife around from the boot of his car. He also had a tub of ham which he was proud of. His daughter then came and took us into a tent/shelter where they were cooking local dishes. There was one pan of a stew looking thing and a couple of huge things of soup, which was lamb soup judging by the ‘baaaing’ noises they made when explaining what was in there. I am sure that both were delightful, but as luckily as a veggo, I didn’t try any. Actually I don’t think we were supposed to be trying any, as I think we were just being shown it.
A couple of other people shouted for us to come and eat with them, as several people had pic nics, but by this time Ian had come back with our picnic. Which was delicious, but I am sure must have looked decidedly megre when compared with the feasts which seemed to be taking place around us.
We then went to look at the tractor competition again, and got invited to share a drink with another family, who took us into their house (summer house?) into the shade and wow – this is when the hospitality really started, beer, wine, meat, bread, cheese – and this was just on the table in the room we were in, in the next room was the largest piella pan I have ever seen, and a table which was full to bursting with local delights. It was only about 4 in the afternoon, but things I think were getting set up for an evening of feasting, we tried to get out at least twice but were grabbed back. There was going to be guitar playing and our lady hostess was very insistant that we stayed, but by this time we felt that it was time to go, so we sneaked out. But we had thanked everyone for their hospitality before we left.
We were offered a mastina puppy, which I think we said no to, and a man was earnestly talking to Ian about somthing which entailed him taking his car key out of his pocket a lot, so I am hoping we’ve not bought a car.
I’m not sure what happened with regards to the sack race, whether we had misunderstood, or whether that was going to happen later. however given the huge piles of food, I cannot help but think that this would end in disaster!
It gave J & V a good idea of what the village is like and the friendliness of the people. And of course a flavour of the local food.
I think I am getting more confident with the language, well at least I think I am recognising a few more words and can guess the rest. One question we get asked a lot is where we come from, and ‘Manchester’ always gets a good response (ah, Manchester United…). But there is still an awfully long way to go yet.
I did understand that there is a 2 day festival next weekend (oh dear), the saturday will be lively and the sunday quiet. I think.