So, we were heading towards Seville to take Jim and Viv to the train station when, just outside Monestario, the car made a funny noise. Ian pulls over and takes a look under the bonnet and finds the remains of the fan belt.
Deja Vu anyone…?
We drive – slowly – to Monestario. Ian found a garage and we headed in – thankful for the fact that we left earlier than we needed to. We got to the garage at about 1.45 – and they would be closing at 2 for siesta.
This time the fan belt snapped because the alternator had jammed, so although we had places to go – the car was staying firmly put. The nice garage man informed us that no, we could not hire a car and no, there were no trains. But happily there were buses! He kindly said he’d take us to a bus station – this was a slight exaggeration. He took us to a bar with a bus stop outside.
However, things actually worked out OK. The bus came about an hour later and whisked Jim and Viv to Seville. We waited another hour and got the bus to Fuente de Cantos. J&V got a taxi to the Seville train station and the rest of their trip went to plan. We got to Fuente and found out that the bus to Villagarcia wasn’t for another three hours – however we rang Mike who had us home within 15 minutes!
Phew.
However, this probably won’t be the thing that J&V remember the break for, as they started it in style by having a case stolen from Malaga train station. When we met Jim at Seville all he had was what he was stood up in – literally. The only slightly positive point was that they didn’t get his passport – but they did everything else. So, on Friday we’d planned to go to Badajoz anyway – and just as well. Let’s just say that there are at least two shop assistants whose day – week – or probably month was made by the mad ‘Ingleses’ wandering round El Cortes Ingles trying to work out the sizing to buy Jim an emergency wardrobe. Luckily one of the ladies rose to the challenge – dressing him in the store to make sure that everything fitted.
Naturally things don’t end there.
The Malaga and Seville police were less than enamored at the thought of writing a report – but luckily, accompanied with Adelardo who wasn’t going to take no for an answer, the police in Llerena were happy to write up the report. Ok – ‘happy’ is a slight exaggeration – particularly as it took the best part of two hours to get a very detailed report.
Oh yes, did I mention there was a fiesta this weekend – how that pales into insignificance!
This morning I switched my computer on to do some work as we’d taken the weekend off and I stared at the screen in surprise – I was amazed that it was only four days ago that I’d last logged on – it felt like months ago!!
J&V got home safely!
The car will be ready tomorrow – who will be next for Will-We-Get-Home Roulette…?
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Definitely worth a mention in your book Kate!!