Ubeda, Sept 19th 2004

Lace Day in Ubeda was a long day. We set off by coach from Garrucha Town Hall at 6.30am, a stop was had near Granada for breakfast and we arrived in Ubeda at 10.30am. The drive up to Ubeda was spectacular, the area is the biggest olive growing area in Europe and the sides of the mountains were just covered with millions of olive trees as far as the eye could see. The fields of sunflowers were just going over, but a couple of weeks earlier they would have been truly beautiful. Ubeda is high up in the mountans and the views were incredible.

A walk through the very pretty town bought us to the beautiful old building of Hospital de Santiago where the lace day was being held. We were issued with our badges and ushered to our tables, the tables had been set out in rows within the inner courtyard, with more people on the upstairs balcony and the suppliers in the smaller courtyard next door. The queues for the suppliers were huge, everyone stocking up for the next few months.

Lace was made, questions answered, English midland bobbins ooowed and aarhed over, the three of us English lacemakers had 'unusual' (for the Spanish) pieces of lace on our pillows. Selina was working dragon in red metallic thread, Pam was working fine bucks point in fine silk floss and Gloria, who'd only been making lace a few weeks, was working a torchon piece in coloured threads. Bucks techniques were explained as none of the Spanish lacemakers in Andalucia are really familiar with this type of lace. Spanish 'blonde' lace is made in Northern Spain but in this area most lacemakers only make Torchon style lace.

A late breakfast was served - fruit juice, water and cakes - which went down very well and more lace was made. Goodie bags from the local council were given out at 1pm, which included lots of local products (it's amazing how many things they can do with the olives), touirist information, maps and other interesting 'stuff''. Then the entertainment started. A group of mandolin players, in traditional costumes, serenaded us while we worked, the local 'big-wigs' came and gave speeches and then we all packed up so that we could go for lunch.

Lunch was served in the local Old Peoples Centre, what a place! Tables for 500 people had been laid out. Tapas were already in place, along with beer, wine and fruit juice. As plates and bottles were emptied they were replaced with full ones. Several more 'starter' type dishes were served before a fish course, then a meat course with vegetables, Our stomachs were groaning, even the Spanish ladies were struggling - and then the dessert arrived! Enormous portions of flaky pastry filled with cream and almonds, truly delicious. As we thought we'd at last come to end they served us Cava and the mandolin players squeezed between the tables to play for us once again. The Spanish ladies thought this would a graet time to dance, so they did - in a space no bigger than a postage stamp!

Three and a half hours after starting lunch we left the building and struggled up the hill back to the coach, too much wine and food taking it's toll. The first hour of the drive home was quiet, everyone sleeping of the excesses of a laid back Spainsh meal, but after a stop for coffee everyone got their wind back and there was much singing and cracking of jokes. The time flew and we were home by 10.30pm, tired and still feeling very 'full' after a wonderful, very Spainsh, day out.