SEPTEMBER 30TH BLOG#20

SEPTEMBER 30^TH BLOG#20

The last day of September and our 20^th day on this trip it’s projected to reach 81F today and no clouds.  They have end of summer celebrations at all of the important Roman ruin sites today. Tomorrow is the 1 October and the gal at the tourist office said hours for everything will be on the slower winter schedule so enjoy yourselves today….sounds like a plan to me. The Roman history museum is free so why not venture in?? Bilingual signs on everything g, great displays and statutes, the entire building is constructed with the thin elongated bricks of the Moorish style which makes the building quite striking and also provide color contrast to the roman statutes. The Romans were a huge presence here in Merida, in fact, this town has the largest number of preserved Roman artifacts outside Rome! Great stuff.

Merida Spain

Merida Sapin

 Ding ding; I hear the bell of the Tourist Train the one we never got on during our first trip to Merida never found the 6 other people to total the 8 minimum to make a run about town. Second try was the charm we toured the city with about 25 other patrons rambling through the streets and alleyways around every turn this is a Roman artifact that has been uncovered!! The old bridge, the aquaducto, the alcazaba, and we even saw an office building erected on stilts because the entire foundation area contained a Roman ruin of some sort.  The contrast is, as usual, huge. Some areas are quite stunning, the Roman ruins are fascinating, but the train does seem to take us through some of the seedier parts of town!  Anyway back to the Amphitheatre, which is amazing and then on to the Roman Fair. A lot of the town’s folk are dressed up in togas etc it is most colorful. They are selling meaded wine, beer and tapas (not sure of the connection there, but a guy has to eat…right?) and there is a presentation in front of the Temple of Diana by some cute young ladies dressed up in Roman garb. Somehow, the wedge sandals and sneakers do not give an air of authenticity! All in all is was a terrific day. The sun was shining and it warmed up nicely. Quite a change from last week though. It is as though autumn started and the next day it rained and the temperatures dropped. Hope I have enough warm clothes.

We sat in the Plaza de Espana people watching and at the next table were 4 elderly ladies. I realized I have been seeing them for years. Perhaps not the same ladies, but in the early 70s they were sitting having a beer or cup of tea chatting about their families. They were probably widow woman meeting their childhood friends for a paseo and a little beer in the evening. They are of indeterminate age and they are always well dressed. I cannot see the lovely girls we see every night walking with their friends, but surely they were young and pretty too. The hair is sprayed into submission, their clothes immaculate, their rings and earrings sparkling , sometime with a scarf, tied just so. They are having a very heavy discussion and sometimes voices and hands are raised and waved around. Old friends. They probably meet several times a week to keep the loneliness at bay, but how healthy this is to be out and in the world and not shut in. Sigh! I love this about Spain.

Archeological  Museum Merida, Spain

We went looking for somewhere to eat. All the ones Paul pulled up on “Great Places to eat in Merida” were closed and we burned a few calories looking—we only walked 9.8 miles! We ended up at La Bodequilla in some back alley with a Social Club upstairs somewhere, because people kept on coming downstairs and heading home and looking at us and saying “Buenas Noches” , nice people the Spanish always greeting you and smiling. The owner of the restaurant, Emilio, could not have been kinder. We sat outside (better people watching) and had a very pleasant meal: simple salad, grilled lamb chops, fries Emilio wanted us to come in, but it was such a pleasant evening. He treated us to an after dinner drink as well as a homemade desert! The 2 elderly ladies at the table next to us obviously came here all the time and were having a beer and some calamari. What they got was calamari, swordfish and tiramisu! Obviously,  a local favorite eating place. When they hear you speak they think your knowledge of Spanish is endless and they start a conversation at machine gun speed! I nod, smile, pick out the words I know and basically fake it! We learned about a 90 year old mother, how swordfish is much better for you than dulces (sweet things) and how you just have to take care of yourself! With much hand shaking, air kisses and thanks you’s we headed back to the hotel. It turned out to be a fabulous day.