Housesitting, Housesitting in Spain, Life of adventure

Fudge in Spain

Suzanne

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In December we initially had one housesit organised which was repeated a few times throughout the winter months.  Then closer to Christmas came the opportunity to care for the neighbour’s cat and how could we resist caring for a cat especially one who goes by the name of “Junky”.

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Our main housesit for the month was a resit.  The main character was Fudge and his family who we now call friends.  Surely you remember Fudge?  He used to walk around the streets of Aubonne, check those moments out by reading: Neighbourhood Walks – Aubonne.

With Africa as his birthplace, a few abodes around Europe you could say he is one well-travelled dog.  This makes him a very adaptable and agreeable chap to look after, and, we are very fond of him, to the point that we shall miss him.

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Our time here has been what we would describe as very much “relaxed”, we enjoyed our walks around the neighbourhood, with daily strolls to the beach.  It had been an ideal time to spend organising future travel.  As we have a roadtrip with five days up our sleeve to get to our next housesit in France and a return one on a different road in the coming weeks.

Back to Marbella, well we are not quite in Marbella, appropriately 8 km away, which is a good thing.  As precisely, where we are there are no highrise buildings and the universal language, isn’t English, with tourists, not being a regular sight.

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Many of the houses are build quite similar, with other streets having traditional Spanish houses.  What is common here, is the use of locked gates and high fences.  Which is surprising for a country that has a low crime rate.  Most I would say are to keep their dogs from wandering.

Fudge has a dislike for some small noisy four-legged varieties.  Especially those that wait until he is near their fences.  Sniffing his way, minding his own business relaxed as any dog could be,  then comes that unexpected yelping, a groan is returned and we move on.  By the time our equilibrium is restored, we are back to square one!  Oh, those annoying yelpers say Fudge.  One day, we met those yelpers on a walk, they didn’t look so scary or noisy when Fudge growled at them as we passed them by.

Every dog has its day.

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In the middle of the housesit, we had our first Spanish Christmas, read more about that in this post Our first Spanish Christmas.   Well, the big fat jolly man didn’t make much of an impact on this household and in fact not for many Spanish as the Feast of Epiphany is traditionally Spain’s main festive holiday, when children receive their presents brought not by Santa Claus, but by the Three Kings.  While in other countries, Christmas decorations have been packed away and normal working life has resumed, in Spain the holiday spirit continues until January 6th.

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On that the day we were heading on a roadtrip to France, while Spaniards are more likely to be tucking into a Roscón de Reyes, a Three Kings cake baked in a ring and decorated with candied fruit and hiding a, sometimes lucrative, surprise.

A small figurine of the baby Jesus, or a little toy for children, is typically hidden inside the dough, as is a dry fava bean. Whoever finds the trinket is crowned king or queen of the celebration, while the one who sees the bean has to buy the Roscón the following year.

We did spot one random King hightailing his way down an escalator while we were in search of a hairdresser on one of our rare “malling” days.  The Squire eventually got his haircut, and we never saw that King or his cohorts again.

As both Fudge’s and Junky’s families are now home, the time has come for us to leave just as the Three Kings arrive, you know, the real ones like Santa.

Fudge in Spain

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Published by Suzanne

Travel and Life Musings from New Zealand and Beyond. . . . . . .

40 thoughts on “Fudge in Spain”

  2. It looks like the traditions in Spain are more similar to the ones in Belgium, with presents in relation to the new year, instead of Christmas. Kind of. Some people celebrate the Three Kings in Belgium as well. Enjoy your sit in France!

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  6. A relaxing start to the year for you both it seems…I hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year ..I love reading about your adventures Suzanne and was hoping for a fudge recipe…lol..but a cute doggie nonetheless 🙂

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  7. Since my birthday is on January 6, I have always felt that it was way more important than that other holiday in December 🙂 I imagine that there have been more than a few teeth broken being the “lucky” one to find the little toy or dried bean in the crown cake. Fudge is adorable, as is Junky… I can see why you miss your furry charges after you leave.

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  8. I love your photos, Suzanne, the sky such beautiful colours and the beach looks gorgeous, as does Fudge! The houses look really pretty too. That cake looks like a missive doughnut which I love, but I am not so keen on the candied peel and nuts!
    I look forward to sharing your next trip with you 🙂

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  9. I do like to be in Tavira for January 6th! We’re near enough to the border to share the celebrations, and in fact 3 kings distribute sweets in Vila Real de S. Antonio, at the border, and then ferry across to Spain to continue the celebrations. Portugal have Bolo do Rei too 🙂 🙂 It’s all good fun.

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    1. Yes, it is all good fun and I love their gaiety when it comes to celebrating. The further up north, we have had more people come up to us chatting away happily with myself nodding and saying Si numerous times. They depart with a smile on their faces, so I must have placed the “Si” in the correct speech position 🙂

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  13. PS: le fève this year was a rather stern looking apostle … I’m not sure what to read into that but I have popped him on the shelf and I feel I should remain on my best behavior hence-forth 😉

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  14. If you had been in France you would have enjoyed Le Fête des Rois on Saturday and if you had been in Provence or Languedoc you would have eaten Gateau des Rois which is identical to that delectable offering. Through most of the rest of France we eat Galette des Rois which is a frangipane and lightest flaky buttery pastry confection but both have in common le fève which translates as a bean but is actually either a religious or commonly these days a secular trinket, the person who gets the slice with it in becomes King or Queen. I have a carefully nurtured relationship with my pâtissière of choice (top tip to anyone coming to France …. make good friends with the baker, the pastry maker and the marketeers – butcher and charcutier too if you eat meat) and they made me a special Galette Individuelle which I carefully cut on FaceTime with my husband, asked him if he wanted the first of second slice and low and behold, he was crowned King. I had declined the cardboard crown this time in case I didn’t win …. I have special powers, I think I must have had a hunch 😉 Fudge and Junky are delectable and your tales of being off the tourist trail in Spain continue to delight – as do your pictures, I can’t get enough. What I actually need is to go running on that beach several times a week to work off all the Christmas goodies and that pesky galette!!!! Bises à vous deux et le chien adorable 😊

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    1. Oh, you are a laugh Osyth 🙂 Thanks for the tips about the patissiere as our first long French housesit we did just that. Not great for the weight. What the heck? We eventually worked it off though it took a few months. Spain is no better 🙂 We are now in Vitoria, nearly in France! Merci Osyth pour ton commentaire le plus apprécié

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  17. How sensible to give presents on the feast of Epiphany. I took my decorations down on Twelfth Night. They go up a few days before Christmas and are only up for a couple of weeks. I like the look of that crown cake.

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