What I can and cannot do without
The usual disclaimer: our locked-down minds are taking us into the virtual world of the trip we planned to be on. Places are real, as are the things we planned to be doing, us being there is not.
I like people watching. I suppose who doesn't. It's one of the things I remember convincing Roger about when we visited Crete and I found a perfect cafe in Heraklion in which to enjoy a mid morning Greek coffee, after my breakfast coffee some hours before, and from which to watch people going about their day. The 'convincing' was about the length of time one needed for this activity. It was not about having a quick drink to satisfy thirst; it was about the ritual involved in having a coffee in a new place, in soaking up the atmosphere, in being in a foreign moment. Although he is neither a coffee nor tea drinker, needless to say of course Roger understood what I was saying, just before his eyes seemed to glaze over and he looked at his watch.
I have perfected my people watching over our travels. I can do it standing in a train or in a shop. I can do it whilst walking along the street. I can do it in a museum, art gallery, or cathedral. I can do it whilst walking in a park or forest, well obviously as long as there are people about upon which to do it. However I can't do it while I am driving, as I am totally in that zone of concentration, reminding myself every nano second that I must stay on the right hand side of the road.
People watching is the first thing I think of when I muse about what I cannot do without when we are travelling. Eighteen days into our (virtual, you haven't forgotten that I hope) travels and I am pleased to say that I am indeed enjoying my people-watching experiences. Mediterranean countries are ideal for this activity, as people are so much out there in the streets enjoying their lives. It is not simply purposeful walking to get from A to B, I like to think it is much more than that. Maybe I'm reflecting a bit on how I go about my life in Melbourne, and maybe it's quite different being in an unfamiliar place noticing the differences, compared to the routine of being in a place that is totally familiar. I just notice the difference when I have the opportunity to explore something new on our travels.
The next place to land in terms of what I can't do without on my travels is about good food and wine. No surprise there either I should imagine. Way back in time, or so it seems now, I remember that the first 'themed' collection of cookbooks I built up in the bookcase in the kitchen was a Spanish selection.
There are so many 'go to' recipes for everyday use and there are interesting regional differences. For instance in one of the signature dishes of the country, paella, there are many different versions apart from the main ingredient, rice. The rice that I use is grown in Calasparra in the Murcia region of south east Spain. Paella Valenciana has rabbit in it as well as chicken and pork, no seafood, never peas says some of my cookbooks. Paella Andaluz contains both meat such as chicken and maybe pork, as well as seafood including large prawns and shelled and unshelled mussels. A variety on the seafood version is called Paella de Marisco which does not contain any meat at all, only seafood and is often more 'soupy' than a traditional paella. Then there is Paella Vegetariana which includes artichokes, lima beans, and red and green capsicums. Paella Negra is cooked using squid ink and tastes wonderful. Most of my Spanish cookbooks stipulate that chorizo sausage should never be used in a paella. I'm at peace with this instruction.
I've indulged enough on the rules of paella. There are so many other delights that I cannot do without. Good coffee of course, freshly-baked bread, every sort of tapas to be found, and of course some fine wine to accompany such simple food.
I guess there must be things when travelling that one can do without. A large choice of clothes? Plenty of footwear? Lots of skin products? Ditto hair products? A hairdryer? An iron? OK, I'm scrapping the bottom of the barrel now with most of these suggestions.
I've previously expressed how much I enjoy not needing (or wanting) to shop for food for meals (apart from snacks and breakfast in our apartment), to prepare and then cook meals. Gone also when travelling and staying in apartments is the need to do a lot of cleaning, and then only the need to do a bit of laundry. I don't miss putting lots of effort into the garden, and I especially can do without what at times seems like endless weeding. I can do without knowing the minutiae of Australian politics (almost), although it does become less pressing and troublesome the longer we are away. I can do without knowing or having a plan for each day, although if I refer to Roger's amazing spreadsheet and the relevant pages in the specific folder, I would know exactly what was scheduled for the day. I have learnt (just about) to do without going to my Fernwood Carlton gym each morning, and have given up thinking that every morning on our travels I am going to get up and go for a run. My resolve to do this lasts about 3 days. We walk so much during each day that I just don't have the energy in the morning before breakfast.
That seems like a small list of what I can do without! Maybe as the trip continues I will learn more, or be reminded, of those things that I can do without. I need to conclude here before we go out to dinner by adding one more thing that I cannot do without: Roger. He is, as I may have commented before, a fantastic navigator as we (I) drive along through foreign lands. His navigational skills must have been inspired by Vasco da Gama, who interestingly enough he never met. His research, planning and preparation are extraordinary. As a travelling companion with whom to explore the world and do things I would never think to do and see, Roger (not Vasco) is the best and only thing I need to pack for a trip in whatever (virtual) reality I find myself.
I like people watching. I suppose who doesn't. It's one of the things I remember convincing Roger about when we visited Crete and I found a perfect cafe in Heraklion in which to enjoy a mid morning Greek coffee, after my breakfast coffee some hours before, and from which to watch people going about their day. The 'convincing' was about the length of time one needed for this activity. It was not about having a quick drink to satisfy thirst; it was about the ritual involved in having a coffee in a new place, in soaking up the atmosphere, in being in a foreign moment. Although he is neither a coffee nor tea drinker, needless to say of course Roger understood what I was saying, just before his eyes seemed to glaze over and he looked at his watch.
I have perfected my people watching over our travels. I can do it standing in a train or in a shop. I can do it whilst walking along the street. I can do it in a museum, art gallery, or cathedral. I can do it whilst walking in a park or forest, well obviously as long as there are people about upon which to do it. However I can't do it while I am driving, as I am totally in that zone of concentration, reminding myself every nano second that I must stay on the right hand side of the road.
People watching is the first thing I think of when I muse about what I cannot do without when we are travelling. Eighteen days into our (virtual, you haven't forgotten that I hope) travels and I am pleased to say that I am indeed enjoying my people-watching experiences. Mediterranean countries are ideal for this activity, as people are so much out there in the streets enjoying their lives. It is not simply purposeful walking to get from A to B, I like to think it is much more than that. Maybe I'm reflecting a bit on how I go about my life in Melbourne, and maybe it's quite different being in an unfamiliar place noticing the differences, compared to the routine of being in a place that is totally familiar. I just notice the difference when I have the opportunity to explore something new on our travels.
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| Oblivious to my people watching |
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| Madrid's Plaza Mayor bustling with activity |
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| Newer part of Cuenca, down the hill from the old quarter |
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| Around the modern streets of Valencia |
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| People watching can be very rewarding |
The next place to land in terms of what I can't do without on my travels is about good food and wine. No surprise there either I should imagine. Way back in time, or so it seems now, I remember that the first 'themed' collection of cookbooks I built up in the bookcase in the kitchen was a Spanish selection.
 |
| As Suzette well knows, this is a small sample of my Spanish cookbooks |
There are so many 'go to' recipes for everyday use and there are interesting regional differences. For instance in one of the signature dishes of the country, paella, there are many different versions apart from the main ingredient, rice. The rice that I use is grown in Calasparra in the Murcia region of south east Spain. Paella Valenciana has rabbit in it as well as chicken and pork, no seafood, never peas says some of my cookbooks. Paella Andaluz contains both meat such as chicken and maybe pork, as well as seafood including large prawns and shelled and unshelled mussels. A variety on the seafood version is called Paella de Marisco which does not contain any meat at all, only seafood and is often more 'soupy' than a traditional paella. Then there is Paella Vegetariana which includes artichokes, lima beans, and red and green capsicums. Paella Negra is cooked using squid ink and tastes wonderful. Most of my Spanish cookbooks stipulate that chorizo sausage should never be used in a paella. I'm at peace with this instruction.
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| Paella Valenciana |
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| Seafood and chicken paella |
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| Seafood paella |
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| Pork and chicken paella |
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| Butter beans and peas paella |
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| Lots of peas red capsicum and prawns paella |
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| Paella Negra |
I've indulged enough on the rules of paella. There are so many other delights that I cannot do without. Good coffee of course, freshly-baked bread, every sort of tapas to be found, and of course some fine wine to accompany such simple food.
 |
| Spanish bakery in Valencia |
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| Spanish baked treats |
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| Tapas magic |
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| Spoilt for choice |
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| A fine wine or a glass of fino Jerez? |
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| A new discovery: Tinto de Verano |
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| A previous special indulgence for Roger: a divine Spanish hot chocolate |
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| One a day back in 1988! |
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| Now just water |
I guess there must be things when travelling that one can do without. A large choice of clothes? Plenty of footwear? Lots of skin products? Ditto hair products? A hairdryer? An iron? OK, I'm scrapping the bottom of the barrel now with most of these suggestions.
I've previously expressed how much I enjoy not needing (or wanting) to shop for food for meals (apart from snacks and breakfast in our apartment), to prepare and then cook meals. Gone also when travelling and staying in apartments is the need to do a lot of cleaning, and then only the need to do a bit of laundry. I don't miss putting lots of effort into the garden, and I especially can do without what at times seems like endless weeding. I can do without knowing the minutiae of Australian politics (almost), although it does become less pressing and troublesome the longer we are away. I can do without knowing or having a plan for each day, although if I refer to Roger's amazing spreadsheet and the relevant pages in the specific folder, I would know exactly what was scheduled for the day. I have learnt (just about) to do without going to my Fernwood Carlton gym each morning, and have given up thinking that every morning on our travels I am going to get up and go for a run. My resolve to do this lasts about 3 days. We walk so much during each day that I just don't have the energy in the morning before breakfast.
That seems like a small list of what I can do without! Maybe as the trip continues I will learn more, or be reminded, of those things that I can do without. I need to conclude here before we go out to dinner by adding one more thing that I cannot do without: Roger. He is, as I may have commented before, a fantastic navigator as we (I) drive along through foreign lands. His navigational skills must have been inspired by Vasco da Gama, who interestingly enough he never met. His research, planning and preparation are extraordinary. As a travelling companion with whom to explore the world and do things I would never think to do and see, Roger (not Vasco) is the best and only thing I need to pack for a trip in whatever (virtual) reality I find myself.
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| The resemblance is uncanny |
Here's hoping he doesn't leave me behind in Cazorla!
ReplyDeleteVasco? He'd never have made it as far as Cochin without you!!
DeleteBeautiful article Pat. And I mean article as it could be a worthy & interesting read in any travel oriented publication.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joy. I'm glad you enjoyed the read and I appreciate your feedback, it gave me a real boost! I bet you probably now know more about paella than you thought possible! Roger has been preparing his next blog posting on our 'out and about adventures' in Carmona with Mike and Suzette. Mike has long been fascinated with Carmona, in part as we have 3 posters about Carmona, its churches, medieval walls and one of its beautiful 18th century houses, on the walls surrounding the toilet in the bathroom!
DeleteI was actually very interested in the whole Paella section. In fact it triggered a discussion with my husband about similar styles of rice based dishes. When reading through yours the one with rabbit made me instantly think of our Jambalaya recipe & it wasn't long before we morphed into risotto & biryani! I'm a bit behind with my reading & am looking forward to what you virtually get up to with Suzette & Mike. I'm so sorry they're missing their actual trip as I always enjoy reading Suzette's blog or fb posts. As for the bathroom as a site for educating & enlightening the mind....an oft overlooked opportunity! :-)
DeleteThat's interesting to segue from paella to other rice-based dishes. I hadn't thought of jambalaya as a rice dish, but thanks for the reference. I'm very curious now. I think you might be up to date with reading the blog, as it is only up to Monday early evening. We spend yesterday and today (Tuesday and Wednesday) together before they, I think, travel back to Seville and we travel on to Trujillo in Extremadura , again a place we have visited a couple (or more?) times that we really like. There it will be near the end of the stork breeding season, and is the sound I associate with Trujillo, the 'clacking' of baby storks demanding a good feed. Their nests are everywhere in that region and especially around the old quarter. PS, I agree that the bathroom walls are an opportunity to intrigue and share, also these wall offer space that sometimes is much needed!
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