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.

Lars Helge delivers the official welcome (and distributes the programs) at Pizza Olimpia

Gathering at Pizza Olimpia

Another view of Pizza Olimpia gathering

Three gals emerge from the Med

Three guys continue to soak

Terje S skipping rocks in the Med

Looking westward along the beach at Salobrena

David, Chris and Pat

Spread for evening meal on the 4th

Banner for IFAPA: International Federated Almond Pickers Association (US, Nor, Spain branches)

IFAPA "officials" issue a warning to work-boss Lars Helge ...

... but then present a plaque made from the trunk of an almond tree previously removed from the orchard

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.

Lunch break

Lunch break

Lunch break

Lunch break

Sorting/de-podding almonds

More sorting, de-podding and removing debris

Some of the waste collected: leaves, twigs, pods, almonds with recalcritrant pods and crushed shells from the sheller

Almonds in their shells

Almond sheller

Plaque on the sheller

Sheller w/ front panel removed for adjustment of rollers

Some of the shelled almonds; cracking was a problem

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.

Mika preparing the appetizer

An appetizer ready to be served

Some of the main-course crew

Dessert crew presents their creation

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!".

Rasmus, Bodil and Terje announce "Most Valuable Almond Picker" Award ...

...and the winner is: Lynne!

Front of Medal

Back side of medal

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.

Looking southward after winding up to near the top of the platue.

One of several stops to admire the scenery

Quick shot of the group when we were on a short walking diversion

Stopping for beer (and tapas) in the village Melegis (?)

Barb posing on one of the many interesting seats/benches in the village park

A short drive further, we all ...

... got some ...

... exercise!

Peppers drying outside an attractive home in Guajar Alto

This "gentleman" overlooked our table at Carmens

Red fortress

Looking northeast from a site near the fortress

Waterfall along the winding road

Much later, evening meal back at Casa Emilie, where the sunset provided a nice backdrop for portraits

Monica vents her good spirits with a pole dance!

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.

Sign outside the winery

Conveyor to the grape crusher

Three ageless beauties in the aging cellar

Tasting room

We tasted a delicious white ...

... and several reds ...

... and the samples were abundant

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.

Our table at "El Capricho", restaurant/bar in Otivar

Table from the other end

"Pollo a la Manzana" -- chicken with apples -- one of the two meats at the feast

"Asados de Cordero" -- roasted lamb shoulder -- the other meat

Enjoying the red wine served with the meal

Much later, our evening meal back at Casa Emilie

Desserts for our evening meal

Kari and Ingunn deliver a tribute to Tove, with English translations thoughfully provided by Rasmus and Per

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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