Tiny Cities, ketchup and a place to commune for the first time.

 It is going to be a bit of a vibes day. Once we get on the N-4 we can do some nostalgia for what major road ways were like before motroways and why traffic jams are so ‘the good old days.’  Until then we have the Recreo la Parra to look at.



The Rec is a recreation centre. It gets 4.8 stars from 34 reviews.  Six months ago Sonia wrote ‘We celebrated a baptism and had a great time. A very nice place with a pool and delicious, plentiful food. The waiters were very friendly.’ I’m not getting trampoline and ball games sensations here so the Google label may be misleading. 

Thais confirms the location with ‘The first time we celebrated my sister's communion, and a few months ago, my wedding. Both times, my family and I were delighted. Manuel and his entire team work brilliantly; they are friendly and very professional!!! I organized my wedding remotely from Madrid; they made everything very easy, and it ended up being perfect. They're a great team, and having followed them from the beginning, I've seen how they've grown in every way!! I would definitely do it again a third time!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻’


You know, I had fun we last did five random Spanish things so I think I’ll do it again.  


Marivi Bilbao was born in Bilbao.  Born in 1930, she began her acting career in the Cultura Hispanica de Bilbao.  As she feared her father finding out if her name appeared in the newspapers she started off using the name Angela Valverde.  She died in 2013. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariv%C3%AD_Bilbao 


Glasses and Contact lenses are now in the Canary Islands.  Residents can claim 12% on health-related expenses.   https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Glasses-and-Contact-Lenses-are-now-tax-deductible-in-the-Canary-Islands


Spain has many loan words from English.  I rather feel the term loan is misleading. It is not as if English is going to turn up and demand them back. English will be far to busy flirting with any number of other languages on the hope of pulling some nouns.  Amongst the loan words are fútbol / football suéter / sweater,  tráiler / trailer (film),  hándicap / handicap,  kétchup / ketchup,  líder / leader and los software.

The UK has the 6th highest Spanish expat community. The 170,000 Spanish born compares to 506,000 in Argentina, 320,000 in France, 220,000 in the USA, 193,000 in Switzerland and 188,000 in Germany.

Spain’s smallest city is Frias.  It is near Burgos and has 275 inhabitants. I think we must have been near there but I don’t remember going to it.


So, more tomorrow on the road to Seville.


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