I had no vegetables in the fridge. It's Sunday night and that means I wasn't going to get any. So I got "fixed" up properly and after a short walk along the river, I ended up at the Abaceria. They have no tapas that are really vegetable - or at least enough vegetables to make it worth while, so I ordered a racion (a larger sized plate). It turned out to be highly composed of goat cheese with a slice of eggplant and potato, but their wine is good there, as is everything. All the people there recognise me, of course, because I buy my bread there practically every day, and often my cheese. A big table was free and one of the girls told me to sit. I don't like to sit at a table alone, here. I would rather stand (or perch) at the bar, where it is more appropriate to be alone. Anyways I went and sat there reading the newspaper and they told me the PP had won the election. I think they are the right wing party. Ramon came along and told me (or tried to clarify) that he had tried to "liberate" me from Cervantes but that I went off to his house... I said, "well he was really funny and it was okay". I'm not sure what he thinks now...!
I ended up spending the evening with a totally lovely German couple, probably about 60-ish. They asked if they could share the table, which I like to do, but is not really ever appropriate in most places.
Despite a large communication problem, we managed to communicate anyways. They bought me a second glass of wine, and we talked for a long time about whatever we could manage to talk about. I desperately reached for any German I could remember. The man seemed to speak more English but a few times ended up just saying stuff in German, from which I could gather a few words. The lady, Martina, didn't seem to know much English at first, but managed more English than my German.
I pulled out my usual phrases, which will be with me till the day I die, and will probably (hopefully) remain useless until then: "mein schlussel ist ferloren" (my key is lost) and "ich bin ein schlukspekt auf dem schlakschiff" which my German friends taught me in Tibet. Martina quite liked that. (I am the drunkard on the battleship). I have gotten some mileage out of that, thanks a million to Nina and the gang for teaching me it.
They had been to a bullfight today and he showed me pictures. They told me Spain is supposed to ban bullfighting next year and we attempted to discuss that, though we only barely understood each other. At least the words "tradicion" and "gut", "schon" are understood. A lot of sign language happened and we also drew in my notebook. I suppose my education gave me more than I know. The word "langsam" is something that comes from my music education. They were not yet used to the Spanish way of serving tables and were mildly frustrated.
They were from Dresden, in East Germany and described the river with mountains on either side. It sounds like a place I should visit. They had driven all the way from Germany, and were planning to drive through France along the coast, Italy and Switzerland on their way back.
Anyways, they were really lovely people, and Martina is one of those ladies, I hope to be like when I am her age.
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