Going shopping

Yesterday was our first chance to do a weekly shop, so we drove over to the Eroski supermarket near Torre Del Mar.   It is the main part of a large shopping centre and is a huge version of Waitrose in that it is owned by its staff.   The sheer volume of food and goods available is mind blowing.   Across the rear of the store are the fish and deli counters.   You have never seen such a range on offer.   There are lots of different fish - many unknown specimens, and a huge variety and amount of shell fish.   We bought a load and did paella last night.   It was a great meal.   The number of different hams of differing grades and quality was also impressive.   It's fun when you are choosing and deciding on how much/many you want with staff who largely do not speak English.   Body language takes over!   I needed to buy a cafetiere and passed the electrical department to find one.   I was amazed to see the equivalent Satnav for mine at £80.   It was a good deal because if I were to upgrade the maps on mine it would cost £75 on line and take hours probably.

 

We had slept so well the previous night that it was 11.00am when we set off to Eroski.   Lunchtime was well gone when we got back at 4.15pm!   Since last year the roads have been repaired where we encountered broken surfaces falling away and detour signs.   It was a very smooth ride this year.   Mind you, when we drive the final 400 metres back to Finca Manolo, it is a concrete road and not very well laid.   The final bend is quite challenging as it turns sharply and steeply at the same time.   The Satnav seems to have a mind of its own in this area so we ignore till we are through Colmenar.   We get instructions to turn right over a cliff edge or through houses that seem to have been there for years!

 

What was left of yesterday afternoon was spent reading and swimming.   We also sampled the hot tub but the cycle was too short.   I later discovered that I had pressed the buttons in the wrong order!   But I did remember how to get the huge insulating lid off this time.   Last year I tried to lift it off completely and then discovered it was easier doing it the way the book said!!!

 

Today I have risen, leaving Pauline snoring in bed - as usual.   The view surrounding this place is inspiring.   There are so many hills and mountains in this area that there is no direct way to go anywhere.   We drive round one mountain and then another.   Driving down to Torre Del Mar we could see where our place was from every conceivable angle by taking a bearing from Comares which is on top of a very high hill just across the valley from El Romo where we are based.   In a straight line we could probably make the supermarket in 5 mins!