notes from an even smaller island

[alantf]

notes from an even smaller island (with apologies to Bill Bryson)

Because you can reach any point on this island with a 100km (62 mile) ride, it seems pretty pointless making a "ride report", so let me introduce you to the area immediately around my home.
My doctor advised me to walk for my health's sake, so every day I have a walk of around 8km (5 miles?)......try to imagine, if you will, a warm breeze, carrying the scent of jasmine, bougainvillae, jacaranda - with the discordant clanging of the church bells in your ears ....This, then, is Sunday morning ......

where all the traffic roundabouts are landscaped, with fountains ......








and everywhere you look are vineyards ......






......and even more vineyards.


Where churches dominate the landscape ......


......along with thousands of religious grottos.


This is where I turn around & go back home .....


passing the bougainvillaea covered walls ......



......then looking down to the sea......


......in an area where you don't go to the supermarket or liquor store for wine ......


......and the old mixes with the new ......


One of the reasons I took my camera, today, is that it's Corpus Christi. Half of the streets in our village are closed off, while the people make carpets of flowers - to be trampled, later, by the religious procession.

Imagine, now, the scents of pine and cedar, incence and grass - while the loudspeakers in the streets play religious chants, over & over again .....








Then home, for a quick shower, & onto the terrace, where my wife's laid out goat's cheese, olives, warm bread (straight out of the oven of the patisserie over the road) & a jug of good red wine.

Finally, into my "office" to download the camera.


Sounds idyllic? Ya gotta believe it!