I just don't have the motivation to get on the train to Jerez this weekend. I was going to see El Torta tonight, and am probably missing big things like Manuela Carrasco's group... If I get too bored or lonely later on, maybe I'll go at the last minute.
Yesterday I got up and went for breakfast at a bar at the corner of Teodosio and Marques de la Mina, the same place I saw the guys labouring under their float. The bar seems to be lively late at night and appears to have some tapas that would suit my foodie friends. It is small, as most are, but decorated in a modern but tasteful style. An older lady was sitting at the bar eating her tostada, and a couple with a weiner dog were at the only high table with stools. The weiner dog was a puppy and got the attention of everyone including the owner/bartender who left an employee behind the bar while he went to play with the dog. An old geezer in one of those hats that European men wear, walked in and livened up the conversation even more, with quite raucous laughter and teasing of the dog. I listened to everyone else talking and was worrying myself about trying to join in, as I can't go through my time living here and be afraid of interacting. Anyways it was morning and I hadn't had enough coffee and didn't really feel like it. I had no need to worry though, as Jorge walked in (pronounce "Hor-hey"). Jorge as well, was wearing one of those caps, thick glasses and carried a cane. He started talking to whoever would give them his attention, which would be me. "Apocalypse..." he said. So many cars, it's like Africa here. And smoking. For goodness sakes. Where are you from? Cana-DA... Yes, in your country... "Apocalyptica Now," he repeated several times, to which the young woman behind the bar laughed, probably aware that he was Spanish-izing the title. I didn't understand what he was exactly talking about, but I believe there may have been a good deal of sarcasm involved, and possibly it would have been about the smoking laws, as he appeared to smoke. He kept saying things were going down, and motioned with his hand like going down a steep slide. I don't think he was crazy; he seemed like a pretty with-it guy who was just annoyed at the world. I have a feeling it was about the vast number of cars that are putting off pollution, yet he is not allowed to smoke. I think he was trying to say the air was clean in my country. Possibly one reason for a person like him to actually be aware of air quality is a large digital readout on the corner of the circumnavigation road, and Calle Resolana. It gives the current percent of particulate and of other bad stuff in the air and then gives the air an overall rating of fine, to not so bad to really bad.
After that I went to the iglesia again and took in the activity, then returned via the same street, and stopped in at the Antigua Abaceria San Lorenzo, where I picked up tiny croissants and very nice bread, and more goat cheese covered in a thick, variegated blanket of mold, as well as a more cured type, covered in rosemary. It is a really cool, atmospheric place that is both a specialty meat/cheese/bread/olive oil/wine shop, and a bar.
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