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Showing posts from June, 2014

Needing Wits and Getting Diddled - Talavera de la Reina, Spain, 1980

My neighbour across the hall,  the Lady from Leon,  rushes over to  inspect my purchases from the Simago supermarket as I step out of the lift. My arms are yanked almost out of their sockets with heavy loads of potatoes, onions, apples, tomatoes, garlic, bottles of gaseosa , and even a rotisserie chicken. Her head disappeared into my net bags as she  poked and squeezed, examined everything carefully for freshness. With huge grunts and groans she then glanced up at me and announced,  “Why pay high prices at Simago for vegetables that aren’t even fresh?! Next week, you and I will go together to the market.  I’ll show you how to really shop.” I guessed she was right. The merchandise at the weekly market was indeed probably fresher, so I decided that I might as well agree to go with her.  The following week arrived and The Lady from Leon rang my doorbell.  Before we could even say an  'Hola' the lift unexpectedly arrived. Many times you had to wait for ages on one, so