Life in Ciudad Rodrigo

I feel this is may be for completeness rather than because of its nail biting excitement, traditional roots or insight into Spanish life. Today I bought a sandwich, a tortilla sandwich, plus a can of Casera Cola for 2.50€. That's the essence of the post. But the odd thing is that at least three people had mentioned Operación Bocata - Operation Sarnie - to me during the week saying what a good thing it was. Something not to be missed. In reality it was just the WI selling cakes and tea except that there were no cakes, no tea and no WI. The rolls in this case were made by volunteers with ingredients donated by well wishers and the money raised will got to Manos Unidas - United Hands, an anti hunger charity. I was there quite early so the crowds hadn't exactly built up hence the rather empty looking photo at the top.I noticed though, on one of the town websites, that it looked as though it got a bit busier later .

In Madrid each year someone walks a flock of sheep through one of the main streets to maintain the ancient right of way. In England the local priests and churchwardens walk the boundaries of the Parish each year. The ceremony once had an important practical purpose. Checking the boundaries was a way stopping neighbouring parishes pinching bits of territory. In Ciudad Rodrigo local people have the right to sell their produce in the Plaza del Buen Alcalde at Tuesday market. It was a filthy cold, wet, miserable day today but there were still maybe 15 stalls there. Obviously people do it because they want to make a bit of cash from the apples, olives, chestnuts, peppers or whatever else they've grown in their allotments or kitchen gardens. But I understand that, as much as anything, people are there to maintain the right to sell produce without any need to get special permission from anyone. Wat Tyler, Jack Straw and the Levellers would all applaud the sentiment.