Joanna Summerscales

Olives with Everything Joanna Summerscales

Two women friends and colleagues team up for this heart-sing, humorous, dream trip to Spain for a couple of months as novice motor home drivers. After the re-mortgaging and hocking of policies they are on the road, journeying through France on the way to Spain. The story begins with the seed idea, the journey's ensuing calamities, learning curves, and the characters they encounter, (Monsieur Le Calvados, Harriet Hydrangea, Monsieur La Lunas and crazy Jean-Claude). We travel with them to cities, towns and villages, visiting cathedrals, palaces, Gaudi, monuments, art galleries, stadiums, shops, bars, restaurants, and naturally camp sites. The non vegetarian becomes one for the trip, as the highlight of the journeying is usually food and drink. The reader is treated to the innovative, tasty, easy recipes they concoct en route. These girly women don't turn on the engine until the 'lippy' is on and the early riser, chameleon-like, takes on the attributes of the night owl of the pair. Amidst the flurry of sight-seeing and navigation, sleep and relaxation play a major role, along with exchanging beds on a weekly basis. Eff, an alter ego, makes an appearance, as a clownish presence, who pops up when tetchiness, the ridiculous, or abject fear raises its head, alleviating the situation. Driving styles can cause one party great consternation, so a rating system is introduced related to the degree of fear-inducing features that eg. a Pyrenean mountain road would create, and gussets needed, metaphorically speaking. Three gussets reflecting a particularly harrowing drive. The reader is whisked through different cities, towns and villages, including; Lourdes, Seville, Zaragoza, Granada, Córdoba, Toledo, Madrid, Barcelona, the Alpujarras, Andorra to name a few. Theses 'Thelma and Louise' friends share with the reader some crazy, funny, fascinating events as well as their special vegetarian travel recipes in this 'on the hoof' tale that will have universal appeal to the traveller, seasoned or otherwise, and anyone with a sense of humour.