The Plus supermarket in Llerena has closed and a new one has taken it over called El Arbol. It opened on Tuesday, but we waiting till Wednesday before going and taking a look. It’s OK, however more like Waitrose than ASDA. Although we found that we could buy fresh rocket and prepacked salads, and they offer a good selection of local goods, I’m not sure that we’ll be regular shoppers as it was quite expensive.
We celebrated our 6th anniversary this weekend – in style. On Saturday we went to the flea market in Badajoz – it was a proper flea market, ranging from antiques to carboot sale. We didn’t buy anything – however we were really impressed with Badajoz. We have always thought of it as being horrible – I think because the only bit we’d been to before was a Carrefour which seemed to be in a section full of tenement blocks. Anyway, the centre of Badajoz is really nice – it is very pretty – but in an understated sort of way. It is not a ‘chocolate box’ sort of town, the old and impressive buildings just happen to be there. It’s not geared up to international tourism in any way. It is definitely on our list of places to go with visitors – and if that coincides with the flea market (first saturday of every month) then all the better!!
While we were there we went to El Corte Ingles (think John Lewis). We went to the food hall as we heard they had vegetarian food. An indeed they did. One very small fridge full of rather unpleasant brown things. I did buy some vegetarian pate however as I felt we couldn’t go out empty handed. We also bought some stuff for lunch and stopped by the battle field at El Albuero on the way home.
Saturday night we went to the theatre. There was a play by Plauto on at the roman theatre just outside Llerena (the one where they found the busts). It started at 10.30 in the evening and it was lit up and looked very attractive. Being a 10.30 start it was – of course – the matinée performance! I think we are getting acclimatized as we didn’t find it at all strange to be going out this time of night. It was very good and quite amazing to think that we sat watching a play that Romans might also have been watching over 2000 years agi.
Henry had a small wart on his eye lid, when we looked closer we could see that it was in fact part of a much bigger wart that was growing inside his eye lid which was like a little cauliflower. We took him to the vet who froze it off. We took the part of vet nurses again – although I did keep my eyes firmly on the wall. Again, we are getting used to this and now, I actually prefer being with our animals at the vet rather than checking them in and picking them up later. I think it is more relaxing for them, the fact that they are always aware of us being there. And of course it is cheaper doing it this way. There are other vets on site so I guess our vet would call on one of these if he needed a trained pair of hands – otherwise all we are doing is holding the animal and trying not to faint.
Oh yes, the sun dried tomatoes were a success. So much so I’ve got another batch drying now.