After our barely adequate breakfast, we loaded up and headed out
for Sanlucar de Barrameda.It was quite a short trip, skirting Sevilla and
heading due south towards the Atlantic. We drove without any stops to refresh
but very interesting to look at the speedometer showing 38C for the outside
temp. We found the hotel and checked in and we were very pleasantly surprised
by the very generous parking spaces in the garage! Then we headed out for lunch.
I had a glass of gazpacho and a salad, Paul, with eyes much bigger than normal
wanted choco meatballs but those were sold out, so he had bacalao meatballs and a brocheta! Now I knew
this was not going to end well so I watched with great interest! Sandy, do you
remember when we ordered brochetas for dinner, based on the size of the ones we
had for lunch? Uhhuh, same problem, turns out it was way too much food that he
could NOT finish, told you so!!
We had asked at reception about tickets for Donana and we were
given directions. Yeah! Then as we had been getting some odd messages from
Orange, we decided we had better find the Orange store and sort it out. Riight!
We got directions for that too! I swear to God we drove in freaking circles for
what seemed hours! The directions were kinda sorta helpful but no one mentioned
one way systems or pedestrian walkways! Eventually Paul parked illegally and we
hoofed down the street and guess what? It was closed! Right team, let’s get the
tickets for the Park. At the hotel they said it was right next to the Fabrica
de Hielo (ice factory) no one mentioned that it was inside and the Fabrica de
Hielo is actually a museum! You know that tight feeling you get up the back of
your neck and in your throat when you want to scream? Well throw in some
steaming weather and summoning up your Spanish to get some information. Guess
what, no tickets for the 4x4 drive today or tomorrow, maybe Tuesday afternoon?
Seriously lady? She was a bit snotty too and it took all my good breeding not
to give her a mouthful. She passed me off with an aside to someone else. I
really was not in the mood for this shit but I swallowed hard and ask about
what we could do. Turns out there is a boat that heads up the Guadalquevir and
makes two stops with guides to explain everything and there is an opening for
Monday. Sounds like a plan, let’s do it. We can do this before we head out for
Arcos. Paul was disappointed as he really wanted to do the 4x4 thingy but by
this time I really didn’t care! I knew it was going to be super hot and it
seemed to me the river was a better option.
We headed back (barely across the road from the hotel) for siesta,
I was in severe need of wine to bring my blood pressure back to normal!
There are a lot of restaurants on the promenade by the river and
when we were here before we had stopped at one, solely based on the fact that
they did not try to drag us in by the collar, and had some fabulous coquinas.
That was the goal tonight! I swear it was the same group that tried to ambush
us and drag us to their tables but we persevered and found Casa de Juan, which
had coquinas on the menu! Success! (too many exclamation marks, sorry). The sun
was sinking, the temperature was dropping and we were ready to eat, again! It
is Saturday night and the place is filling up. Every restaurant is packed, the
senoras and senoritas are dressed to the nines, the atmosphere is invigorating.
The canopies were rolled back to let the air circulate and the waiters were
attentive. There are whole families with children playing in the sand, dogs
chasing balls, laughter and …….coquinas al ajillo! Sheer bliss! I honesty do
not remember what else we had because Paul was still digesting that huge lunch.
Perhaps he will insert that later when he proof reads and posts! It was a lovely sunset and a lovely evening
and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tomorrow is going to be a relaxing touristy kind of day. I am
looking forward to that. See you tomorrow.
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