Stories from my typewriter

MARKET DAY IN EMPURIABRAVA

Once a week, the market appears in Empuria. It is set up along the seafront very early on a Saturday morning and is about a kilometre in length. There are many traders from Spain and North Africa all vying to sell their goods and its fascinating to see them at work. We are up early and start the day with desayunó (breakfast) at Montserrat supermarket. Polly thinks she’s having one too.

Starting at one end of the market we cover the fruit and vegetables first. Tomatoes of all varieties, huge red tomatoes, tiny sweet tomatoes, green and purple tomatoes, plum, cherry, on the vine, all bursting with colour and flavour. Fresh asparagus, white and green, artichokes, fennel. Tiny new potatoes and purple potatoes. Every type of lettuce, cucumbers and avocados. We fill our bags and stop for coffee at one of the many churro (long crispy pastry dipped in sugar) stalls.

After a break, we gradually work our way up to the other end of the seafront. Handbags, shoes, clothes, bed linen, towels, jewellery and copies of every designer label is available. Today we find a stall selling hotel quality bed linen, perfect for any Airbnb business. Ed sees his pal who sells copies of designer watches. They exchange greetings in Arabic and start to discuss the latest offerings. I disappear to look at the handbags and shoes and leave Ed to his bargaining. Eventually he returns with his treasure, two more “designer” watches and I produce my two new “designer” handbags. We walk home for a rest before tonight’s outing.

We are dining at Tagliatelle restaurant this evening. They serve delicious pasta, pizza, grilled fish and meat, plus excellent wine. We walk up to Captains Cabin first where Viv runs a great pub. I start with a Mojito (see recipe) served by the lovely Masou, whose brother Ali works at the El Capitan restaurant (more of this great restaurant in tomorrow´s blog). After our drinks, we walk back to Tagliatelle and enjoy a wonderful evening.

Tomorrow our friends and family arrive for Ed’s birthday. Another celebration in this lovely town – buenas noches

MOJITO RECIPE

2 limes cut into wedges

Around 25 mint leaves

3 tsps sugar

Crushed ice

70ml white rum

Splash of soda water

Put the mint, limes and sugar into a bowl and crush them with a wooden spoon or the end of a rolling pin. Add the ice and then pour the rum over. Add soda water to taste and top with a mint sprig. Pour into glasses and drink – Salud!

VRUISE NEWS

The Norwegian airforce rescues Phil after his night in the Hytte. Jude hasn’t even noticed he had gone as she was enjoying the Western Night in the Casino.

In the meantime, the rest of the passengers are enjoying the fabulous scenery of Norway