So turns out there is a Medieval obstacle race right here in Albatera mere steps from where I live.. Wow! I have won several medals from running obstacle races in the US like the Jailbreak, the Spartin, etc… They are so much fun running through mud and climbing things… So I went and found the route and to see if I could meet anyone setting up for Sunday morning, I wanted to volunteer. I wander to the edge of town close to the farm areas, in view of the mountains, and there is the mud pits filling up with water where the participants will climb and jump in. I see where the tires are that the participants will carry and the 50 lb jugs of water they will carry as part of the race etc… So I start walking and follow the arrows on the route, I wander over and around the farm land and have a fine walk, the views are lovely in this side of the town, I wouldn’t mind living in view of the mountains…I mety one person who was marking the trail and with broken Spanish found out the start and ending location only 5 min walk from my apartment.. That means I get to watch it in the morning cool..

Then I wander to the other side of the town and stumble on a wedding about to commence. Ahead of me on a side street is people lined up and down, and I’m wondering what’s happening. On closer inspection I see a bride and her father at the her doorway of a home waiting. Suddenly, just before coming down the stairs someone yells out and they light some kind of string that goes maybe 50 feet up the street. Suddenly firecrackers are going off two feet from where I’m standing… pop pop! the sound is deafening and I’m so close I’m afraid one will hit me… no one yelled move American! I jump back and cover my ears..

Then a final boom! and everyone claps yells,. She comes down the stairs arm and arm with her father and begins to walk down the street. The wedding party follows her and her white gown flowing as she walked…

I tentavily follow not wanting to look obvious but I was wondering why was she walking?No car to go to the church? so I cut across a couple streets, then I end up at the square by chance as I wasn’t sure where I was going. I see a huge crowd, assuming oh maybe this is the party for the bride. But I inch closer and instead I see a line of “abualas” (grandmothers) standing at little kitchens cooking with their grand kids. Its a contest called “abualachef” and the town is there filming it and everyone is watching them cook traditional Spanish food.. it was cool, I stand there and see one cooking paella, another some kind of pork foot another some kind of dessert. It was six in all..

Turns out, behind me was the big catholic church in the middle of the square, and there was the bride also! She was getting ready to go up the grand steps to the church…. It was beautiful to watch….she and her father walked up the steps as another held her long veil. Many people stopped and watched…. I felt for her, there she goes to the end of her life…. woops my inside voice slipped…

Then I watched the judges go table to table to judge the food… I wish I could have tasted some of it. But what fun, who knew things like this happen in this small town?

As the crowd thinned out I started walking for something to eat…. I meandered more north and ended up at the local “Hogas de Pensionistas” office…. where the seniors go to hang out.. it sits next to a huge park and has its own outside patio overlooking the park. Inside is their own tavern! with tapas…. but its open to the public… now thats a senior center! but I wonder do the limit alcohol to those using a walker?

So being a geriatric nurse I could not resist, I love the elders and have worked with them most of my 30 years as a nurse.. I feel at home around them… I go in and order two tapas I’ve never seen before an ensalada pescado (fish salad) and a Russian salad something that looks like it was made with lots of mayonnaise, and a nice cold Cana ( small beer from the tap.) Total cost $4.50. I sit on the patio, feel the breeze and look at the park.. An elder next to me is milking his coffee and having a smoke…. he smiles and I smile back….brides and cooking contests… not a bad day…tomorrow Ill go watch the racers and cheer them on in my broke Spanish, but isn’t “go go go! universal? We will see.