Building work, ctd

View from Pont Vieux

I begin to think it might after all have been nice to have the end wall stripped and re-pointed.  The bottom meter or so having had to be stripped of its cement render, it doesn't look too bad.  What it'll look like with a lime rendering remains to be seen, of course.  If need be, I'll have it repainted with the same lime wash as further up (which is mellowing nicely, as I'd hoped).  Pierre and friend will first leave it to dry out for 10 days or so.  Chris the joiner will be in touch on Tuesday to decide on the next steps to be taken on the bathroom window.  Meanwhile, I've left a plastic sheet over it to avoid the forecast storms soaking it again.

View from apartment balcony

The village distinguishes itself every year around my birthday with a rock concert lasting three days, running on each night until 03:00, complete with the attendant megawatts.  This being so, the house is shuttered and barred, and your obedient servants are in Catalonia's other capital, where we have rented a nice little flat.  It sits on top of a public car park, and fortunately offers a residents' discount on the public parking rate, reducing it from extortionate to merely eye-watering.  The drive was pretty hellish (truck drivers drifting out of lane while consulting their iPads, insane overtaking and tailgating, etc, etc).  At least the weather improved just as we crossed into French Catalonia.  Thank goodness for air conditioning - it's about 35° outside.  Fortunately, both the car and the flat are thus equipped.  Having gone out to get a few provisions while the cleaner was finishing her work, we're back in and observing the local custom of skulking indoors during the heat of the afternoon. 

We've booked a visit tomorrow to the little church down the street (they've also got the builders in, I see), and aim to visit the Parc Güell some time during the day.  If the weather's decent on Sunday (though the forecast is ominous), we'll take a ride down the coast for lunch.