Field Trips

Last Friday Penny took us on a field trip to a beach town called Almunecar. We met her friend there who's starting a website of "World Schooling." The website connects traveling families together. They do meet ups in her home town every Tuesday. When we travel, we can see if other world school families are nearby to hook up for the day. Pretty neat for us. That way Seth can hook up with kids his age through the web and in person. It's called World Travel, aka homeschooling. You can't use the word homeschooling here in Spain since it's illegal to be homeschooled.
We got to see an amazing Flamenco show at a restaurant on the beach. A man played the guitar, another beat a box drum, a lady singer, and two women who danced. The Flamenco dancing is intense. It involves different clapping techniques as well as stomping on a wood platform. Each woman builds herself up through dancing faster n faster. Then about has a orgasim is the best way I can describe it. Very passionate and sexy with sweating it all out in the end. One woman even did the Flamenco dance with the traditional Spanish fan. The show lasted about 3 hours with breaks in between. The deal is that you come in and buy tapas and drinks then the show is included. It was a blast. After the show, we went to another beach town close by. We busked along the boardwalk for a hour and made back our money we spent at the Flamenco show. Fun times on our field trip day.
On Saturday night, Joe's friend Mathew played bass at a art gallery opening. The art was all in black and white with tons of eyeballs, butts, and boobs. She created lots of interesting and feminist art. I enjoyed seeing something different in Spain. The musicians were a blast. One lady sang and played the guitar, another woman, belted out songs, 2 guys played soft jazz, and Mathew played the bass with loop pedals. Tons of people showed up to the art opening. So many people that there wasn't enough room for everyone.
We played at the Thursday market in Orgiva. Penny set up her Guatemalan stall, Joe and Chris played music, and Seth and I sold some art. The Orgiva market is interesting since they have a artisinal side to it. The Spanish markets usually have clothes (new and used), shoes, spices, sausages, cheeses, nuts, fruits, and candies. Fun to see a different style market and for me to chat with other artists in the area. We had a fantastic day. Sun shinning with lots of people out n smiles.
We took an adventure walk down by the river. There's 2 different communities further down that in the woods by the river. There's a boat that's a free thrift store on land right by a rope swing. It was neat seeing everyone's home done up in a different style. Some motor homes, some dome homes, hand built out of wood, all sorts. Most you can only get there by walking. In and around Orgiva is different kinds of community living. We got lost on our way back and saw an ancient olive orchard. The trunks to the trees were amazing. One even looked like a mans face in it. That's why it's fun to get lost. Never know what you will discover.
This past week we finished up all of our painting job. We happened to come across 6 kittens in Penny's bodega (storage space) while cleaning it out. A stray cat had snuck into the bodega and had 6 healthy kittens maybe a week before we found them. Glad we're traveling, otherwise their so cute that I want one.
We took Penny's camper up to Capileira, which is further up in the mountains. Such a beautiful, old, tiny town. We heard there was a market there on Mondays. It was the tiniest market ever for there was one guy selling fruits n veggies. Penny and us set up to make a scene. Lots of tourists especially the grey haired crowd. The grey haired crowd is the old English people on holiday. Nice people n all but tight in tipping. Hate to say that but it's true coming from other buskers. Joe and Chris lightened up the whole town with their music. Capileira is known for weaving blankets and rugs by using an old weaving loom. The town is built into the mountain with tiny walk ways. In the middle of the walk ways is water ways for when it rains to collect the water at the bottom of the town. They are also known for their delicious chocolate. I indulged in a salted dark chocolate bar and a honey milk chocolate bar. Joe and Chris got the dark chocolate bar with chillies. I had a blast exploring around.
We left Penny's house after 2 weeks of helping her and she helped us. We headed right down the road to her friend Glenna's house to watch her dog while she goes back home to Whales. It works out for us because we're trying to save enough money to go to Granada for 4 days. I've always wanted to go to Granada ever since I lived at Isla Bonita. From Orgiva, it's only 1 hour away by bus. With us working at Penny's during the days, we couldn't hit up all the markets around. Now we're at a beautiful house with olive trees all around and a river. On Glenna's property is an abandoned house. I love walking through abandoned places. In the attic was an old iron bed from forever ago. We just have to keep an eye on the dog so we can busk every day and back at night. The holidays are finally over after 2 weeks. We like it here in Orgiva but it sure is small. Going into town, we see the same people at all the functions. It has been a great place to meet all kinds of fun people. The view you wake up to is amazing. Great vacation spot for us but couldn't live or stay too long.