The Unwritten Rule of Vigo

Apparently there is an unwritten rule somewhere in Spain that we are not aware of. The rule we think being:

" A local can stare at a tourist long past the point of being uncomfortable with no form of ramifications"

...there also seems to be additional clauses attached to this rule which are equally acceptable:-

a) this include beckoning family and friends over to come join you in the staring

b) physical pointing and squinting at you to get a better look 
and c) even bringing a chair over so that you can sit and be more comfortable to continue the staring.

We are now going to turn being the 'stared' into being the 'starers'. From now on, those who stare at us for prolonged periods and going to get their photo snapped by us, and if we have to walk right up to them and take a nice shot (with flash) of their retina in order to freak them out back... we am fully prepared!


Once again we have our 'Boat of the marina' coming to you today from Vigo. A very clean and especially helpful marina team. This time however we have a tie (Jarvis and I cannot agree). We have this beautiful classic old wooden yacht (my choice):-

and this heap of junk, mast snapped off, 'should-be-sitting-at-the-bottom-of-the-ocean' yacht (Jarvis choice):-

We have been in Vigo now for 3 days and, although we have been here before, it really is a good place to be and explore. There is currently a festival running throughout the evenings where everyone, adults and children alike, dress up in costumes - any costume. We have seen a heard of cows, little red riding hood complete with the grandma and woof and about 50 uni students (boys and girls) dressed up as wailing widows, and doing a pretty fine job on the wailing! Everyone gets very involved, the roads are blocked off and music fills the air. Each night it doesn't seem to last more than about 4 hours but the change that occurs from the high brow, well-to-do, people that walk around in the day to the happy souls that party in the evening is extrodinary! Tonight (if it is still running - we are not sure) we are going to join in and put our box of fancy dress clothes to good use. I think Jarvis is leaning towards the Hawaiian girl outfit again... hummmmm.

Problems

Oh yes, once again we have had a few hiccups with the boat. 

The water pump has needed replacing in the engine and took the engineers 8 hours to machine - costing us well over 300€. Also we found that our super expensive sails had not actually been finished properly buy the sail company back in Ipswich and needed additional work doing. I have however emailed them regarding this and their mistake and I have to give it to them, they have without question agreed to meet the costs we have incurred and gave a very hearty apology - so big thank you to 'Sail and Cover'. 

Our lovely fridge has also decided to play up and a very happy Spanish maintenance man is tinkering away with it as i type (not sure how this man doesn’t have constant cheek ache - he never stops smiling - love it!!) and finally we found that during the crossing our spinnaker pole took a nose dive to the bottom of the sea! Now these things from some research appeared to be pretty pricey, but the lovely Marina lady (that is now her official name) got us a second-hand one for only €150. As you can see Jarvis was very chuffed about this.

Our first crew member Mark has now officially left us now. He went on his merry way back to the UK yesterday and he will be very missed. A great laugh and a great help, we couldn't have asked for a better person to do the crossing with us - thanks Mark! ( Btw - I would like to inform Mel Russel and the Harwich Girls that he has confirmed that the cushions are supreamly comfy ). Our next additions are to be Pete and Suz when we hit Casablanca in a few weeks time. Until then it will be just Jarvis and I for the sail down the Portugeese coast. We plan on leaving Vigo in 2 days time ( tomorrow is exploring day - expect photos of castles) and then the next stop will be Aviero, just south of Porto.

Tia and Jarvis, Over and Out!