Anniversary week.

Three anniversaries this week,  yesterday was our 36th wedding anniversary and we took a day off and went out to Berja,  it's about half an hour away,  some nice shops and we planned to wander and have a drink and later on some lunch.  We stopped at the tourist information office to pick up some leaflets of points of interest which we'll tuck into our file of local stuff for when we next have visitors.

This is a recently renovated building on Avenido de Manuel Salmerón  which has been converted into flats,  currently for sale.

The building faces onto Plaza Porticada,  built in 1860,  there are 37 arcos - arches - on the 3 sides of the Plaza.  Some small shops and a bar or two as well.

On with the walk,  found a new supermarket so we had a browse in there, easy to get to by car but not sure about the way out as all roads seemed to lead in the wrong direction for us.  Might try it another time.  But tummies were rumbling by now so we wandered down in the direction of a busy bar.  We had no fixed plans so we ordered a  beer and the waiter bought us a menu,  double sided,  a choice of tapas or  filled rolls or   tostadas and a choice of fish dishes,  with a 'todays special' as well. 

 First up,  mine was a slice of lomo (pork loin)  with alioli (garlic mayo) lettuce, tomato and a few fries,  while John had a home made burger with a fried egg and a few chips.

Second,  mine was a breast of chicken grilled and sliced then drizzled with miel de caña - sugarcane honey.   John had a kebab,  with minced spiced pork and shredded lettuce and onion.

Very tasty,  nice beer,  only 8 euros for the lot.  Well done,  La Tejilla.

A quick supermarket stop in Mercadona for a few essentials then a slow wander up the shady side of Calle del Veintiocho de Febrero on the way back to the car park.  As we went past another nice looking bar with the front open to the street but shady,  we stopped for  another cool drink.

Or red wine in my case,  plus a tapas of green olives that had been marinaded in a spicy oil,  and jamón in bread.  Same price as before, 2 euros each.

Back on our feet and up to Plaza de la Constitutión where the local police station is and next to it is La Iglesia de la Anunciación.  The church was built  after the earthquake (terremoto - what a wonderful word!)  of 1804.  (More pics of Berja are here....)

And then we got back to the car - hot or what!  Started the engine,  aircon on full blast, while we waited in the shade for the inside of the car to get down to some sensible temperature.  Home about 5ish. 

Pepper steaks and a few fries - again! - for dinner and a bought  pudding of profiteroles.  Plus a very very nice bottle of red,  Coto de Imaz Reserva Rioja 2004.  A pressie,  but when I googled it - somewhere between 15 and 19 euros. 

Yesterday was also the 10th anniversary of when we left UK for a different life down here.  The anniversary of our arrival won't be till Sunday as we took a few days driving down,  one day driving then one day off.  So another nice bottle for Sunday night,  but maybe not quite as good as yesterdays.