So I thought it was about time that I shared a little history with you about the town i've been residing in for the past 7 months and update you on a few events that have happened over the past couple of weeks.
La historia de mi pueblecito
My town Valverde del Camino, population 14000 + 5 extranjeras is famous across Spain for one thing (apart from it's high population of 'chungos'!) .... BOTOS DE CUERO! (Leather boots!)
Leather boots from Spain are celebrated all over the world, and no place is better known for the quality of its footwear than Valverde del Camino! My town is located in the center of the province, 'en el campo,' equidistant between some of Huelva’s best-known attractions - the mountainous Sierra de Aracena park (see the blog on our day trip to Aracena's limestone caves!), the Doñana national park, Sevilla (45mins by car) and the beach of Punta Umbria (where I spent 6 weeks of my summer 2009).
Valverde is a youngster as far as Andalusian towns go, for it is "only" a few centuries old. It arose around a roadside inn which stood on this spot midway between the port of Huelva and the mineral-rich mountains of the north and, due to its infertile terrain for farming or grazing, has always dedicated itself to trade and industry. The town became an important dwelling of the 'Rio Tinto' copper miners, and was the hub of the railway line connecting the mines with Huelva (Kate and I are wondering where the flip that rail line went!-Needless to say the public transport here is...the DAMAS bus that has a very unreliable & limited 'horario').
Splashing out on the town's claim to fame
Local families had always supplemented their income by fashioning rustic footwear for use by farm laborers, but designs eventually became more elaborate and sophisticated. It was in 1873 that a local cobbler won a gold medal at the International Exposition in Vienna, Austria (our first stop on our whirlwind June trip-more on that later), launching the town’s reputation. Valverde has become synonymous with cowboy boots (botos camperos) and the longer riding boots (botos rocieros), used in the famous 'El Rocio' pilgrimage which takes place once a year. Some two dozen shops produce these items and other footwear, and a number of craftsmen make custom boots to order, for instance for polo players and show jumpers. Made-to-order boots, hand sewn with waxed hemp, can fetch prices in the region of 300 Euros! It takes three to four days to make a pair.....I got mine for 50 Euros! TOMA!
Motorcycles...lots & lots of motorcycles
In other news, Valverde is
also the host of the national & annual motorbike race. I have no idea what possessed them to have it here but we do have a lot of dry countryside... so I guess that helps. Where they all stayed was quite the mystery as Valverde only has one small hotel and there were hundreds of people! So we were told by many teachers and friends that 'Hay que aprovechar!' (You have to make the most of it!) so we obligingly went along to check it out. It was actually quite fun and impressive to see so many people from many European nationalities. We heard German, French, English and something else that I couldn't quite decipher! The video below gives you an idea of the random event.A yummy surprise!
I went to a class yesterday and one of my 10 year old students, Miriam, had made me a cake-the typical spanish cake made from 'galletas y leche'! So so good! I know it's a silly thing to mention, but I guess it was one of those moments when you realise "Wow, that has actually made my day!" It's the small things in life and a gesture like that from a 10 year old girl says a thousand words. I left with a smile across my face that day...I must be doing something right as an English tutor!
YUM YUM YUM IN MY TUM TUM TUM!!!
Finally, last weekend (apart from the Motorcycle racing and finishing my Spanish Project for University!!!), the girls and I planned & BOOKED a 2 week trip starting the day after we officially finish our work at Don Bosco (1st June) until 16th June across Austria and Italy. The plan is to head to Vienna, then Salzburg (for the Sound of Music tour! estoy flipando!), a sleeper train to Venice, Florence & Pisa (the last time I went was in 1998!), Montepulciano (to sample the best wine in the...world!), Naples, Capriz (island day trip) and Pompei (the ancient ruins & remains of the volcanic eruption.) Flights, hostels, trains...the lot! RESERVADOS! I'm so excited, this is the first time i've been 'Back-packing' and so we're hoping for some hardcore sightseeing and wine tasting! Kate and Christen will then head off to Ibiza for the opening night of Cream, and i'll be heading back home just in time for Murray and Anna's wedding and to finally be reunited with some old & very loved friends! Apart from a definite trip to San Francisco to see Ry, the rest of the summer is still a blur... a ver a ver!
Besos y abrazos
Cor xXx
Most hostels are usually located near public transportation.
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