Before the Mourn

 I write this for the excuse it gives me, and I need to have an excuse, to follow byways and look at Google Reviews.  I post it here, where up to 77 people get it and a number less than that read it.  I post it on a Blog. I started doing that about 15 months ago for an unfacebooked friend.  I suspect she is not the one reader I get - although sometimes I get three people look at it and wonder what they make of it.  Clearly I have got this being an influencer all wrong.  Maybe I need merch.

The trouble with merch is you really have to tailor it to the audience.  I suspect you are the sort of people who have all the mugs and tee-shirts you will ever need and still have at least one of both you never use but can’t bear to be parted from.  I suppose branded novelty erotica is out of the question and bookmarks are not as popular as they used to be.  Umbrellas could offer an opportunity, especially for the visitors to northern Spain but will they get seen enough to encourage other people to join the movement.  In the end I think we need one of those walking stick shields that I remember seeing in Switzerland in the early 70s.  That’ll be the thing to appeal to the kids daddy-oh!

Next we need some slogans. This is a bit more of a struggle.  I have tried to think of some of the come common phrases and came up with:

‘Five Stars - no words’

‘Streetview doesn’t go there

‘I urge you to go there yourself’

We are enroute to Mazaleon.  We will go near the Escodines altos y Escodines bajos.  https://www.iberosenaragon.net/yacimientos/escodines-altes-baixes/  The site was excavated in 1915/16.  It dates to the 7th or 8th century BC so it either pre- or early-Iberian.  Many hand made pots and loom waits were found there.

The term Mazaleón comes from the Arabic منزل الاعين MANZIL AL-A'AYUN, which translates as : "sale or inn of the sources or springs"   It has about 500 people, just over half the number it has when our old friend, the Geographical-Statistical-Historical Dictionary wrote…

MAZALEON: v. with town hall in the province of Teruel , juridical part. of Alcañiz  diocese, aud. terr. of Zaragoza (24) and cg of Aragon: situated at the end and foot of a hill on rocky terrain to the left of the Matarraña river ; it enjoys good ventilation and the climate is temperate and healthy. It is made up of 220 houses including the town hall which is made of ashlar stone and of beautiful construction, all forming a population body; there is a boys' school endowed with 2,600 rs. and attended by 50 and another for girls boarded with 640; fourth-class parish church, dedicated to Santa Maria, served by the parish priest and 5 beneficiaries: the temple is of Doric order of considerable solidity and capacity built on a rock; The tower has a clock with two very regular bells; finally, there is a cemetery that in no way harms public health. The term borders to the N. with that of Maella; E. the previous one and Calaceite; S. Valdeltormo, Valjunquera and Alcañiz, and W. the aforementioned Maella; the Matarraña River flows through it in a south-west direction, which in times of flooding causes great damage to the orchards located on both banks. The terrain is generally quite broken, of sandy and clayey quality; it has a beautiful plain, some very good valleys for sowing and hollows suitable for planting olive trees and vines. The roads are generally bridleways and, thanks to the repairs that have been made to them, some can be used by carts. Mail is received from the town of the part. twice a week . : wheat, barley, oats, oil, hemp, wine, some fruits, vegetables and seeds; there is livestock of all kinds, although in small quantities, and rabbit and partridge hunting. ind. : agricultural, 4 linen looms and an oil mill. pop. : 253 residents, 906 alm. tax wealth : 912,547 rs. The municipal budget amounts to 21,696 rs. which are covered by the proceeds of some taxes and the deficit from neighborhood distribution.

We will end the day on the outskirts of Mazaleon by the Fabrica Textil clothing emporium.  Four months ago Toni wrote ‘Very good quality of their suits and very cool. Good attention from Tere’  Two years ago Alberto reckoned ‘It is always a pleasure to come to Mazaleon and get a suit made. I have been a customer for 20 years and they are always fashionable and at unbeatable prices.

All the friends to whom I have recommended getting a suit in Madrid always repeat. In Madrid, Graciela is always a magnificent person who cares about even the smallest detail.  Ceremony specialists.  As usual. I'll be back, soon. ☺️’

Tomorrow we enter the town.

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