DAY 5. Wednesday 5 September 2018.
There is a thunderstorm and torrential rain in the morning and the water falls in huge drops and shoots off the edges of the tiled roofs in a dramatic fashion.
Ben and Helma treat me to the ‘Menu del Dia’ for lunch at the local restaurant: paella, calamaris and the ever popular Flam (Creme Brûlée) with a bottle of Estrella Galicia - a very nice beer that brings back memories of walking the Camino.
El Piediera Lavadero
Most of the morning is spent at the computadora and then in the afternoon I walk to three public washing places; some with lovely views over the fields.
Lavadero del Querefil
Walking back through town I notice that the irrigation channels run adjacent or under many of the streets and discharge into the gardens and almond and olive groves which are the main crops. But figs, pomegranates, oranges and vines grow in abundance. The channels are opened and closed with simple concrete or steel sluice gates that are slotted into position or lifted out as required.
A steel sluice gate on one of the irrigation channels in the street.
A concrete sluice in my garden- though it’s seen better days!
In the evening I make a few prints; I’m thinking of making series of Sluices and Naiads (Water Sprits).
The initial sluice-gate prints
On my way home.... a myriad of lovely objects.