Val-Perspectives on Vejer

The town looks very spruce and clean and extremely busy considering it is coming up to the end of the summer. We have been told there have been 15,000 extra visitors this summer so despite the “crisis” (recession) people are still coming back.

The town was packed last night (Friday). There had been a wedding and the guest must have all been told to wear white, totally, so all the guys were in white trousers and tops and the girls were in different style dresses it was quite a spectacle. The reception party were all gathered on the walls outside Damien’s café, Braza de Sancho. From where they all gathered, they looked down onto Plaza Espana. We walked past the crowd to be nosey, and Damien, the French owner who also owns the Vera Cruz restaurant was busy helping guests to a range of tapas which were put out on a long table. But he came over to give his English pudding-man a big hug! There was much noise and merriment.

There are a few other changes to the town that we had not seen before. The road with steps down (Marquis de Tamaron) which used to be a quiet street (Mustafa lived there the Moroccan guy who made our sofa!) now has a restaurant on it which has lots of outdoor seating. Tables are set out on the wide steps and there is also an interior part. Well now they have a harpist who appears every so often and parks himself on the steps and plays. It all sounds very romantic and adds to the ambience.

Last night we had a drink and montaditos (tasty little savoury toasted snacks) at Bodeguitos and we set off for home via Calle Trafalgar. As we approached the little bar on the corner we could here what sounded like a TV with the sound on the highest setting. As we turned the corner we saw the enterprising bar owner had set up a big screen (may have been just a sheet) and a projector and he was showing old black and white Spanish movies. He had put out about 6 rows of seats across the road and the audience were having a fine time laughing their heads off at the antics on the screen. We thought what a great idea not sure however how they would cope if an emergency vehicle approached not that many cars attempt to get through that part of town.

Bill has been to the ancient barber shop this morning, just a few doors up the road. The guy there (who dyes his hair and sits outside with a plastic bag on his head while the dye is taking) told Bill that this summer the day the Virgin is carried up the hill, at the start of the 2 week long Feria, it was extremely hot. Everyone throngs to the town centre to see the spectacle, evidently this year many people collapsed and had to be taken to hospital. According to el barbero 4 ladies died!

Been to beach today it's now Sunday Sept 12th quite windy but we managed to put up the beach shelter and Bill managed to have a swim. Lots of people on the beach. Now sitting in a bar eating Tapas (again and accessing their intermittent wifi all quite frustrating). Time for a siesta methinks.