Some Thoughts from the Day

Today we drove all over the place. Here are some of the shining moments we had.

1. This conversation

K: What are we doing?

Dad: Driving up a hill.

B: Are we getting out?

M: Will there be a mall?

K: Is this the beach?

Mom: Be quiet!

B: Oh no...it's a winery!!!

BMK: AAAAAAAAHHHH!! NOOOOO!

2. I was using the restroom in the restaurant at dinner and didn't realize the lightswitch was outside the bathroom. I went inside, closed the door, and fumbled around for a switch in the dark. I found the light switch string hanging from the ceiling. "Aha!" I said, and pulled it. The toilet flushed.

3. K goes, "Awwww! That is such a cute dog!!!". He goes to pet it until B pushes him out of the way: "Dude. That's a stray." (Side note: dog was light brown but dirt caused it to be black.)

4. BMK getting hypothermia at the beach because we didn't have towels, I dried myself off with TP. Yes. It was that bad.

We head to Segovia tomorrow, and now I have to go to bed. Grr. Buenas noches, amigos!

-M.

You say Txakoli, I say Cha-Kol-ee

A great day in Basque Country.

Swerving at breakneck speeds over narrow 18th century lanes, feeling like a Spanish version of "The Dukes of Hazzard", with Mom playing the role of Daisy Duke.

One of our country lane excursions was to the top of a mountain in Mendaxa, perched over the Bay of Biscay, to pop in to a winery, Bodegas Gurrutxaga. Our trip to the bodega only required 2 stops for directions, one over-shoot of the driveway, and a slightly carsick family. We sauntered in, and Jose, the winemaker/owner was completely cool.

He welcomed us into the tank room, popped open a bottle of their Rose Txakoli (a mix of Basque grape varities), and poured glasses for us, while chatting in Castillian about alcohol levels, the number of botellas that he sells to the States every year, etc. Band I fumbled about in Spanish for about 1/2 an hour with Jose, loosely translating for Mom, when we understood enough of what Jose was saying. He mentioned that the wine writer for the NY Times had visited 2 days ago. We told him that if he gets a good review, he better start making more wine to address the increased demand. He shrugged and said he'd make do, and that he would not increase his prices. His prices, by the way - we bought 2 whites and a rose - 15 euros total. Awesome!!!! And, in my view, the white is even better than the rose.

As we thanked him profusely, and wandered back to the car, where M and K had been glowering for 1/2 an hour, we thanked him for being so patient with our Spanish. He responded that he could have spoken English with us, because his father in law lived in the US for 20 years. We gaped at him, shook his hand, and moved on down the road. Probably the only unexpected visitors that he will have this week - if not this month - until the Times writes that Jose is making some kick-butt Txakoli up there in Mendexa, in the misty, mountainous Basque outback. Then, the crowds will show up...

If you want some of this great Basque wine, go to the website of 56 Degrees in Bernardsville, NJ - they have some in stock, I think.

Dad