October 4-8, 2011: Birthday Party in Spain
Tuesday, Oct. 4
The first official event of the birthday party was to meet for
lunch at Pizza Olimpia in the sea-side village of Salobrena. Lars Helge distributed the official
programs as the lunch began.
He had provided me with a copy ahead of time, and I used that to prepare an
English translation of
the programs, which were distributed at the same time by Lars Helge to the
Americans.
Afterwards, there was swimming in the Mediterranean, and visits
to local grocery stores.
That evening, everyone gathered at Casa Emilie for a late meal.
Extra guests included David, the builder of Casa Emilie, and Pat and Chris,
retired British farmers and neighbors just below Casa Emilie.
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Lars Helge delivers the official welcome (and distributes the programs) at Pizza Olimpia
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Gathering at Pizza Olimpia
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Another view of Pizza Olimpia gathering
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Three gals emerge from the Med
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Three guys continue to soak
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Terje S skipping rocks in the Med
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Looking westward along the beach at Salobrena
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David, Chris and Pat
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Spread for evening meal on the 4th
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Banner for IFAPA: International Federated Almond Pickers Association (US, Nor, Spain branches)
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IFAPA "officials" issue a warning to work-boss Lars Helge ...
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... but then present a plaque made from the trunk of an almond tree previously removed from the orchard
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Wednesday, Oct. 5
The day of the almond harvest. In accordance with the program, we were
divided into separate harvesting teams. The method of the harvest was to spread
a plastic tarp under a tree, and to then agitate the branches of the tree by
means of long poles, and/or, in the case of at least one team, climbing into the
tree and shaking the branches. The almonds would then fall from the tree
onto the tarp. Some of the almonds still were encased in an outer pod,
others had already shed the pod and were in the shell that one associates with
almonds at Christmas time. We took a break for a late lunch; by that time
many members of the teams had been reassigned to separating the almonds from the
leaves and branches that also fell onto tarps, and from removing the pods from those almonds
still so encased.
Most almonds are taken to the market still in shells, but Lars Helge knew
that a better price could be obtained if the almonds had been de-shelled.
So when the school in Kristiansand at which Tove teaches put out a request for
suggested projects for an adult technical class, Lars Helge suggested that they
create an almond sheller. The project was adopted, and so it was that
Rasmus and Kari brought a sheller along on their road trip from southern Norway
to southern Spain.
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Lunch break
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Lunch break
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Lunch break
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Lunch break
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Sorting/de-podding almonds
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More sorting, de-podding and removing debris
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Some of the waste collected: leaves, twigs, pods, almonds with recalcritrant pods and crushed shells from the sheller
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Almonds in their shells
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Almond sheller
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Plaque on the sheller
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Sheller w/ front panel removed for adjustment of rollers
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Some of the shelled almonds; cracking was a problem
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The harvesting teams were also assigned separate roles for the evening meal;
each would prepare one or another of the major components of the evening meal:
appetizer, main course, or dessert, each to involve in some way almonds.
Mika was the master chef of the appetizer; Ingunn of the main course; Kari of
the dessert. I was too busy eating to get pictures of anything other than
the appetizer, but rest assured: they were all spectacular.
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Mika preparing the appetizer
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An appetizer ready to be served
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Some of the main-course crew
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Dessert crew presents their creation
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After the meal there were a certain number of spontaneous speeches, and then
Rasmus, Bodil, and Terje rose to announce that the IFAPA would be presenting an
award: Most Valuable Almond Picker, to be awarded to the person who most
embodied the ideal characteristics of a laborer in the almond orchards.
The nominees were Per, Barbara and Lynne. Per was immediately eliminated
as a contender, since he had earlier in the day fallen out of an almond tree
when the branch he was agitating had broken. Although he had shown
superior skills in landing without suffering serious injury, the damage to the
tree was considered unforgivable. Lynne was announced the winner to
resounding applause, although Barb was heard to say to her best friend from high
school: "I can't believe you beat me!", to which Lynne replied: "Of
course, I always do!".
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Rasmus, Bodil and Terje announce "Most Valuable Almond Picker" Award ...
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...and the winner is: Lynne!
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Front of Medal
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Back side of medal
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Thursday, Oct. 6
On Thursday, promptly at 10 am, we formed a 5-car caravan and
went for a drive to see some of the landscape. We first descended down
into the valley to the west, where we passed through Otivar as we worked our way
northward, soon zig-zagging our way up the rugged mountains toward the plateau
that hosts Granada. Our road was once the only way to get from the coast
up to Granada; it is now supplanted by a modern superhighway that is
considerably to the east and runs up from just east of Salobrena up to Granada,
passing along a river bed through a spectacular pass. Our tour took
us up onto the platau and angled northeasterly until we hit that superhighway.
We took that back south for a bit, and then diverted westward onto much more
modest roads that wound through tiny villages. At about noon we stopped in
one such village and had beers and the ubiquitous complementary tapas that
inevitably accompany a drink order. In that same village, which we think
was Meleges, there was a beautiful park with colorful statues and benches.
Just a bit further down the road, a shiny new exercise yard, where we all
sampled the equipment in an effort to refresh our appetites for the big lunch
that we knew was coming. More winding roads and more little villages, and
then we were in
Guajar Alto, site of the restaurant
"Carmen". We were a little early, so we all walked through the
village while we waited for our reserved time of 3 pm. What a feast!
Salad and soup and fried potatoes dripping in olive oil, chicken and goat and
beef. Locally produced (but not very tasty) wine and assorted desserts.
All served family style, with serving platters refilled as soon they were empty.
Then, back on the winding highway, where we stopped to explore
an old fortress and gaze upon an abandoned mansion. Thoughts of exploring
the mansion were soon abandoned when a gang of dogs came out of the grounds in
response to our approach.
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Looking southward after winding up to near the top of the platue.
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One of several stops to admire the scenery
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Quick shot of the group when we were on a short walking diversion
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Stopping for beer (and tapas) in the village Melegis (?)
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Barb posing on one of the many interesting seats/benches in the village park
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A short drive further, we all ...
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... got some ...
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... exercise!
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Peppers drying outside an attractive home in Guajar Alto
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This "gentleman" overlooked our table at Carmens
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Red fortress
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Looking northeast from a site near the fortress
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Waterfall along the winding road
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Much later, evening meal back at Casa Emilie, where the sunset provided a nice backdrop for portraits
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Monica vents her good spirits with a pole dance!
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Friday, Oct. 7
Friday morning, most of us gathered to visit what someone
called "Europe's southern-most winery", where a surprisingly good white wine is
produced, as well as a couple of more-modest reds. Our guide was a young
high-schooler, playing hooky to conduct the tour, the only English speaker at
the establishment.
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Sign outside the winery
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Conveyor to the grape crusher
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Three ageless beauties in the aging cellar
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Tasting room
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We tasted a delicious white ...
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... and several reds ...
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... and the samples were abundant
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Today was the grand climax of the birthday celebration. First, a 3
pm feast at "El Capricho" restaurant in the nearby village of Otivar, and then
that night after the evening meal at Casa Emilie, tributes to the birthday
girls. Norwegians love to give speeches, and love to celebrate
birthdays that end in zero. These loves are combined into tributes the
contents of which most nearly resemble the panegyrics associated with American
funerals. Such a nice tradition: speaking about one's feelings while
the subject can still hear the sentiments. I was asked to be
toastmaster; I think everyone had something to say, and several cycled around
more than once.
Barb was especially touched by the gift she was presented from the Norwegian
couples. Rasmus read the following invitation:
We would like to invite you and Chuck to a round trip to all of our "castles"
(summer cottages) in southern Norway. Starting at 'Vesterhei" at Kirsten
and Terje's cabin in Kongshavn. From there you will be transported by
sailboat to Inger and Harald's cabin at 'Paltorsken'. Further on, by boat,
the next stop will be at Mika and Terje's cabin. Next will be
Ingunn and Per's cabin at 'Hallandvik'. Now you will leave the coast and
head for "Karibu' where you will visit Kari and Rasumus' at their cabin in
Valle. After that Bodil and Rune welcome you to Nybu. The final
destination will be at Lars Helge and Tove's cabin at Skurvenuten. Your
personal guides during this trip will be Tove and Lars Helge."
Their expectation is that we can make it to Norway either in July 2012 or July
2013 to enjoy their wonderful gift. Bjoergulf and Berit, who were
not able to attend much of the celebration, also extended an invitation to stay
at their cabin 'Vivik" while we are up in the Holmavatnet area visiting
Skurvenuten.
During a presentation to Tove that evening, Bjoergulf mentioned that they had
discovered that the mountain in the Holmavatnet area, Tovenuten -- that was
named after Tove for her 50th birthday -- was not the tallest peak in the area.
A GPS had been used and it was discovered that another point nearby was somewhat
higher. Thus they are going to move the cairn that marked Tovenuten to the
higher peak and name the original peak Barb's Point.
Much talk was also made about how to get Tusen Takk II -- which is a
Kadey-Krogen 48 North Sea -- over to Norway where they felt she belonged.
All sorts of ideas were thrown out. The idea of crossing on her own steam
doesn't appeal to Barb, but she is more inclined to use an ocean transport
ship, were it not so expensive. Of course, many ideas along that theme
were also discussed.
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Our table at "El Capricho", restaurant/bar in Otivar
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Table from the other end
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"Pollo a la Manzana" -- chicken with apples -- one of the two meats at the feast
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"Asados de Cordero" -- roasted lamb shoulder -- the other meat
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Enjoying the red wine served with the meal
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Much later, our evening meal back at Casa Emilie
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Desserts for our evening meal
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Kari and Ingunn deliver a tribute to Tove, with English translations thoughfully provided by Rasmus and Per
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Saturday, Oct. 8
Saturday was a "free" day. We went to
La
Alhambra and others spent the day at the beach.
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