It was a no brainer to sign up for this kind of tour for us. Unfortunately on my mind all the night before was an upcoming strike for the ground handling unions like UGT, CCOO, and USO
This effects Groundforce and Menzies, which provide services like check-in, baggage handling, and aircraft refueling for numerous airlines. The timing could not be worse as these strikes are planned to occur during the
Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week). Oh yay. This totally effect our future flight on Thursday April 2 to San Sebastian.
I told Michelle about it in the morning and tried to find a solution while I should have been relaxing on this tour lol. In the back of my mind I wanted to simply book and take the train as a plan B. If the strike was on, we might have made out flight but our bags probably would not. I did a quick search of train tickets and for less than 300 Euros I could have a plan B that was slick and stress free. Without time to pull the trigger in the morning I got up, ate breakfast and boarded our bus with a lingering solution waiting to happen.
The Alfarnate - Alfarnatego countryside is absolutely stunning. The driving skill required to not kill a busload of passengers was appreciated. I saw quite a few non electrified bikes navigating the roads. I understand why this place is popular.
Our first stop was a traditional Churros maker. They were hot off the press and chopped into big pieces. Everyone was encouraged to grab some paper towel, grab a churros and dip it on chocolate and sugar. They were pretty awesome. The locals use these as a snack for all parts of the day. The Churros maker and Churros delivery process was present by the towns current Mayor. He was a pretty fun guy.
Our second stop was a Coffee shop where we met the current Mayor again handing out Coffee spiked with a local choice of Brandy or Western choice of Baily's. Brandy was the obvious choice at 10 AM. After presenting the Barrista with a much appreciated Canadian pin, we simply had to walk across the street to a Olive Oil Factory. The current process of washing, crushing and centrifuging was explained to us. We had the chance to take pics of the current process as well as a glimpse of the old way.
What tour could not end with taste testing of 4 olive oils and a chance to purchase some? I know the amazing health benefits of this stuff so I bought a 1 litre bottle of the organic stuff. 11 Euros is a bargain.
Soon on the bus we were this time walking towards the Mayors house for silly photos at his kissing corner and a tour of his home garnished with sweet wine, almonds, figs, honey sampling and a store for your desires. He is an enterprising guy. The home really was cute and so traditional.
We were once again on the bus headed for Lunch with the Ladies. We parked along side an older town road and outside the bus were 3 or 4 ladies ready to accept small groups of us. Michelle, Donna, Mike and I soon became a group of 8 with Carl and 3 others. Our host spoke no English but was very inviting on a super steep road to her home. I pushed Donna in a chair and was surprised how easy it was. Training benefits I suppose
Once at the top of a pretty steep hill our host realized her keys were somehow not there. Down again she went to soon be returned by the Mayor.
Once in the beautiful place we were seated at a nice table of 8 with wine and cutlery awaiting. I wound up at the head table and somehow became the Google Translate person. Thank God for Data. She explained the entire meal of:
Fruit Salad - Oranges and Figs
Bread, Homemade Sausages, Salami
Nice soup with Garbanzo Beans, Rice Pasta.
Chicken Potatoes Stew
Fruit, Sweets
Her Brothers homemade Liquor
Mike asked her if she was married and she shared her husband left her for a younger woman. What an honest person she was. She was still in love with him. What do you say? Mike and I carefully reflected how awesome she and her cooking was. He had made a mistake.
She later showed images of her 2 children and subsequent grandchildren. It was a nice distraction for the negativity of her experiences. I gave her a Canadian pin and Mike gave the larger Ontario one. We helped her add them to her sweater and I wound up explaining how out Canadian expression of patriotism is only a recent consequence of recent US actions. In fact she made a comment about were we were America. Marisa explain this earlier that the Spanish see Canada as part of America, It really is. Canada is part of the Americas Continent. Sadly when the Spanish, including our host, referred to us as from America, there was an over abundance of gasps from our table. I tried my best to explain the difference. The Americas are a continent while Canada is a country quite independent of American's or the USA. I explained this shitshow only became necessary to express after a certain person named Trump. She totally got that. It was cool.
It was time to depart and show her thanks with some tips and hugs. In fact I wound up walking her down the entire road by myself using Google Translate to support her in her position of divorce. I thing she got it that not all men are assholes. I'm so happy the Spanish are very supportive of those in their community. She might currently live alone in her house, but she is surrounded by loving support.
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