Day of rest

Today was the day our bodies were rested from the food and sherry onslaught of the last two days. But not before the breakfast which was offered by my lovely B&B, El Cojibo. Pork three ways (Manteca, chorizo and the pink floppy one), homemade butter, apricot jam and kiwi jam, tomato sauce, cheese, orange cake, bread…. I had to turn down the offer of eggs. So I did the breakfast as much justice as I could — brought up to eat everything on your plate sometimes has its challenges.

This was the view just before dawn…

I decided to walk off breakfast – big mistake. It was like an oven and every step was an effort. Everyone else who was out (admittedly not many) was hugging the 6″ of shade by the wall. I tried shopping but the shops were even hotter. I don’t sweat (see earlier blogs) but beads formed in every crevice, even in places where I didn’t know sweat glands existed. Returning to the sanctuary of my room, I felt like I had done 90 minutes hot yoga. I spent the next 5 hours cooling down. Whatsapping with Lindsey, a fellow AnnieB student, and we had shared the same experience “damplimplettuce” was a great adjective. So, with a few hours spare I checked out some places to stay in Kyoto – emailed the monastery and am hoping we get a night there. Plus had a brief look at eating places in Tokyo. I have a long wish list so Uncle Bert will have to help out, I think. But this is a definite definite!

Plus the eel place, the udon place, the sushi place. Have found a pizza place for the kids too!  😋

Read some of my book, The Essex Serpent. Book club members look away.  Am struggling with the fact that it is set in Maldon/Colchester and the Blackwater seems to be an integral part. It’s pricking parts of my memories which haven’t been brought to mind for a long time. But the writing is very good.

I dragged myself kicking and screaming (yeah, right) to the beach.  Returned to Zahora – my favourite. Thought I could buy a sun umbrella at the beach but the only options were leather necklaces with plastic shark’s teeth, sarongs or summer dresses. If you were looking for a great business idea, head to Zahora beach and set up a stall selling beach paraphanalia. Sorted.

So, with the potential to get badly sunkissed, I set myself up on a 20 minute cycle, swimming for 20 mins, lying on the beach 20 minutes, swimming 20 minutes. It worked a treat. Am not good on beaches and get sand everywhere so slapping on the suncream means I get a free exfoliation every time.

Lying on the beach you hear the tinkling of a bell every now and then and a fit young man appears with boxes of pastries. What’s not to like?

I popped in to the armana for a final vinto de verena limon, finished off a few more months in my book and headed back to Vejer. Luckily, another AnnieB student was sitting with a beer in the plaça de espagna so I had to stop and join her for a couple. (Note no sherry has passed my lips!)

A refresh and remeet with team AnnieB and we headed off to La Oficina for some excellent tapas and, you guessed it, some sherry! Pictures show just two – a delicious Iberico pork fajita and ensallidia (sp?)

Tomorrow is official sherry day and we have been told to have a hearty breakfast. God help me.