Life in Galicia

It is all about him, San Jose. He is our local saint and usually lives quietly in the little capilla in Mer (Sober).

Once a year at least Mer in Sober is not sobrio  (sober in english is sobrio).

Once a year the saint is aired, but before this happenes the wifes are let out out to support the besoms in street cleaning.

Naturally this is critically observed and commented on by the local gentry.

And, like in real life, no sooner has everything been cleaned and sparkles, the sheep (or kids) come through……..

When the saints go marching on………..

I think this picture says it all

WHAT A DAY……!

The full story in pictures is here ->  Slideshow 2011 San Jose Mer

La historia completa de imágenes está aquí -> Presentación 2011 San José-Mer

The second weekend of January sees the begining of the yearly fiesta season. Our perocia Proendos celebrates San Amaro our chosen saint. I highly recommend to read the Wikipeda entry about Saint Amaro. I find it quite entertaining and fitting to our area as we don’t have to search for paradise, we do get a glimpse of it every now and than.

In the old year there is a collection, as like any proud village here, we have to have an orchestra. It is also the custom that on this weekend the extended families congregate and feast.

This year it did not rain! We did not have sub zero temperatures!

So abot 60 – 80 vecinos assembled to listen, dance a bit and watch the scarecly clad female performers.

A good opportunity to meet and work up an apetite for the cena (dinner) to follow. I have been reliably informed that it went on untill 2 or so in the morning.

The next day sees the “banda” visiting all aldeas to deliver what I would call a “wake up – fiesta goes on”.

Whilst writing this, Mer is shrouded in clouds and it rains.

But, because it is so changable, the sun transforms the area immediately.

A drive along the heart of the Ribeira Sacra is always an experience.

After a good rain fall the sun is bright and warm, whilst the air has a cristal cristal clear quality.

As I have written so often, here in rural Galicia no half measures exists. When it rains it rains, as can be seen whilst driving along. Likewise glasses are never half empty, they are  always full.  So don’t ask for half a glass of wine, such things simply don’t exist.

These are pictures of a week ago, when we ventured into the heart of the Ribeira Sacra enjoying a nice sundrenched mild day.

Passing through Doade, one can stop at the Cantina for a bite to eat and than trundle onwards and downwards to the “embarcadoiro” and the only bridge across the Sil in this neck of the woods (sorry vines).

There is also a short walk with breathtaking views or you can hide in a milenium castania (near Doade).

On weekends the catamaran does run, once a day on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you are not fond of the idea of spending 2 hours on the water between steep banks of either vine or trees and bushes, the club nautico is always worth a visit

Sitting on the sunny terrace, slurping coffee and muching a bit of bicca (local cake) whilst watching the world float by, translates into sheer bliss.

There is time to exchange some new and old gossip or listen to a bit of local history, and, as it is outside, no park, school or other such place nearby, one can have  a smoke.

Now we look forward to the next fiesta which is the anual ” Fiesta dos fachos” in Castro Caldelas on Wednesday the 19th of January.

Hasta pronto

Expat

Today is tres reyes or tres magos. This is much more important than xmas, specifically as there are more presents.

It’s also the last day of the xmas tree and we are already starting to look forward to easter.

Normaly on the night of the tres magos a local banda comes round but this year they may have parked their cars in an underground car park.

After two days of heavy rain this may not be such
a good idea.

It is also quite possible that due to the crisis and the new smoking ban the reyes have simply bypassed Galicia and Spain.

Now following brighter glimpses elsewhere.

But its not just all doom and gloom.

Thanks to the cold weather in December the chorizo harvest has ben excellend and last years wine is not bad either.

Now here in Mer and Proendos the next event is only 9 days away.

On the 15th and 16th is our local sints day with a great fiesta.

Than just a couple of days later is the facho night in Castro caldelas (Check this post Fiesta dos Fachos Castro Caldelas) . So you see never a dull moment here in rural Galicia.

HOT OF THE PRESS

Just whilst I was writing this the local banda came round and gave us a short concert.

Thanks to all, it makes us feel part of the community.

Expat