Removal of the skanky jacuzzi contraption made the terrace look a lot better.
And it’s lovely to have a garden that is well planted and laid out.
Leaving the house on a Sunday was a bit sad – we’d just started to get used to being there, but at least we’ll be back fairly soon.
We drove generally east and up the coast before turning inland just past Valencia. Originally intending to stop around Zaragoza we ended up finding an aire well short of that in the town of Teruel. The aire wasn’t too bad – right across from a guarda-civil station and next to a skateboard park. Lots of activity and noise until a certain time, then remarkably quiet.
As usual when going a long distance we passed through lots of beautiful countryside and saw many sites of interest – although also as usual we didn’t stop except to let the dogs out now and then.
We originally planned a three-day trip but the second day’s drive went so well that we made it to the border and decided to keep going all the way to Mansle – stopping of course for a few things from the cheap shops right on the Spanish side of the border.
We hit the Hope Charity shop for more books and jigsaw puzzles, and the next day had a lovely fish-and-chip lunch with Tony and Joyce. The owners of the restaurant have several dogs, and are caring for several others that were rescued from Ukraine – I believe they have 9 now!
We have, of course, visited the bar a few times and it’s so nice to see Edith and Sylvain again, as well as many of the other regulars.
There’s a fund-raising ballet in town tomorrow for Ukraine, and their flag is flying along the side of the church right across from the bar.
Snoopy is doing well – getting a little bit plump from all of the treats they give to all of the doggies. Mo and Henry like going to the bar at least as much as we do!
Walking home the other afternoon after coffee I noticed a door-knocker on one of the houses.
I’m not sure how many times I’ve walked along the street and never noticed but interesting door-knockers are everywhere…
The hands are actually a bit creepy – reminded me of Thing in the Addams Family.
We’ve had some rain but also some lovely days and the spring blossoms are beautiful.
The birds in the neighbourhood are ravenous – we’re not sure how many fat-balls they’ve eaten, and the seeds in the blue ball feeder go down super quick. I guess the birds are feeding their little ones right now so need all the extra food they can get.
The Giro d’Italia is on right now and for the first time in six years we’re not going to see any stages live so we’re compensating as best we can by watching GCN-plus on tv (via Colin’s phone). Hopefully next year…
Sally McKenzie's European Adventures 