A fishy tale and a ferret?

31st May to 1st June
Just been reading Reena’s new web site of lovely recipes and cannot wait to try a couple but we may struggle to find the ingredients here. If you fancy having a look it’s = http://coconutraita.blogspot.com/

As we are staying here until at least Wednesday because the beach is so good and the whole atmosphere totally relaxing, I thought I would just mention a few other things that have happened. As some of you may know Joan is somewhat partial to fish which is apparently due to being a Piscean. Isla Cristina is the second biggest fishing port in Spain so it should certainly be fresh, how fresh we were to find out! We are convinced the locals will be dining out on our visits to their restaurants for some time to come. I should point out that our Spanish does not improve and this is one of the few places where they speak no English.

I am firmly convinced that if you want to know what’s good you should ask the locals in the office and look out for places that are packed with locals - not rocket science. The second part rather falls down as they do not eat until about 10pm and remember we are cycling there and back. The young lady in reception said, well it’s not pretty but there is a traditional bar down near the port where the fish has just been landed and I eat there all the time, and she drew us a route on our local map. At the same time fortunately she showed us where a more traditional restaurant was situated where she also goes and the food is good.

Off we went about 6.30pm cycling all around the back streets of the port. Being so narrow they are all one ways which made it more difficult, it all looked very dark and dodgy. There was not a soul about but like a horror film there would be a sudden noise, a crash or a shout then nothing. When eventually we found the bar it was firmly closed and did not inspire the small one who said could we please go to a street with lights and just a few people?

I of course pretended to be all brave but agreed and we got out to the main road asap. So now we had a problem, we were hungry! Worse, Joan had been promised a wonderful fish meal and it was so far not in sight. Time for plan ‘b,’ the restaurant. This actually did not prove quite as difficult to locate although it was again up a side street, there were lots of people around though. Sadly it was firmly closed but some of the windows were open and when I enquired if it would open soon, a lady sitting on a step in the street said octo something which I seem to remember meant 8pm. So we nipped off to take a look at the beach and get a soft drink to return after eight. What a transformation, all the windows were open now and blinds down over the road with tables and chairs outside in the road. There were no other customers though which was probably a good thing as we took up all the waitresses time. Although it was a glorious night with the sun still shining brightly they were amazed that we wanted to eat outside. Secondly the waitress proudly produced a menu and stood beaming expectantly, she was soo very patient and tried to go through it with us. As far as we could ascertain there was a huge selection of fish but we could not understand how it was priced. She said ah you see, and pointed to her eyes, then when Joan went to follow her she said no and motioned that she would bring it to us. Then we heard lots of shouting in the kitchen and she returned with a selection of fish on a huge tray for Joan to pick from.

Now I know nothing about fish but it looked as though it had been swimming 10 minutes earlier, and the small one was delighted, but as far as we could tell she had to buy all of whichever fish she picked. Well some of them were frankly enormous and would have given her enough food for a couple of days at least. What they had not yet grasped was that we were not going to share it. People often wonder why I go to a fish restaurant, they don’t realise I am strange. Finally she picked a medium sized fish and the girl now whipped the tray away inside and returned to me with a friendly but resigned look on her face.

The only thing on the menu I could attempt were prawns which apparently come cooked several ways. She nipped back inside and returned with a tray of six giant prawns and engaged me in a very complicated conversation of which I swear I did not understand a word! However with all her experience and possibly psychic abilities she left nodding and smiling, while we sat in nervous anticipation. Next she reappeared all smiles with a small plate each, a bowl of olives, some bread and the six huge prawns. Is it your meal or your starter or our starter wondered Joan. Anyway she had one I ate the rest, then suddenly Joan’s fish was served with salad and chips followed by another plate of 10 very large prawns cooked another way apparently for me! Having said all that the small one is still talking about how good the fish was and the prawns were delicious. By the time the poor girl had managed to get our order the restaurant had several customers and judging by the laughter when she went inside I think we were good value, plus we gave her a tip and asked the lady on the campsite to thank her next time they visit.

The next afternoon/evening we decided to spend a bit of time on the beach when the sun had lost a bit of its heat. So we saunter down and as we get onto the sand, as I am sure everybody does, your eyes sweep around to take it in and pick a spot to go to. What happened could only happen to us I swear, directly in front of me is a one legged man so I quickly move my eyes to see a woman getting undressed. Shifting my gaze rapidly I next see a man take off his trunks and finally having given up but found a place to sit, a young lad and his girlfriend appear with a ferret on a lead!

I SWEAR THIS IS TRUE.

Lots of love
Bryan & Joan
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