After a nightmarish weekend, spent primarily prone in bed with fever and cough, we rose this morning to a clear sky. David and I dragged ourselves through the tasks we promised to deliver on, planing doors and painting details in the hotel, while Cristina chastised us, demanding we take to our beds. But a promise is a promise, and we had offered our services as best we could to help get the hotel up and running by weeks end. So paint I did, each room its own unique color story. I love this place, so creative, so individual. And I love Cristina. She threw her back out on Sunday (she's at the chiropractor now, a 9 p.m. appointment, image that stateside!), yet she persevered with her cous cous for yesterdays meal, and it was stupendous! Problem was most of us were three sheets. Fredi and Cristina with backs out, David and I with flu, Maryanne overwhelmed by the demands for new wines at the bodega where she is vintner. We were a sad crew. But we enjoyed!
And today, sun, and the well. We arrived at the finca to find that Vincen's man had done the job, clearing the way for various trucks, what we had gotten a provicional clearance to do from the delightful engineer in Tarragona, Laura Guitar. To say it was a shock would be an understatement. Like a drastic haircut. But it has to be done. Most of the almonds have been so neglected we have to start again. And olives need to be pruned and tended, some need to go, as old school was to plant them at the edge of the terrace wall, and they are endangering the stones. That won't do. The stone walls are a marvel, and much harder to replace than an olive tree, especially one that has been neglected and hasn't grown so well.
It was complex, there were mixed emotions seeing so much equipment on my beloved finca,like giving one of my babies their first haircut. But it must be done, not only for aesthetics but ease of maintenance and cultivation. So many machines! Tractors, water trucks, drilling equipment. Like Richard Scarry's "Busy Busy World". Kind of strange, after a month of solitude.
When we left at 6 this afternoon (for in Spain this is still afternoon!)they had reached 75 meters. We are anticipating water at 150. So nerve wracking, you can't imagine. We drove away knowing tomorrow is make or break. An amazing sunset, the "golden hour" spreading an extraordinary light over the mountains and pines. I wept from the sheer beauty. Romance cannot be squelched! And, after all, tomorrow is another day.
