The Night of the Flying Ant

Sitting on the balcony having a glass of wine and a chat when we noticed a few more insects around the lights than we normally get, these got more and more, untill they were like a cloud, we retired into the apartment to find they were getting inside under the sliding doors and any space they could. These flying ant swarms last 4 hours or more and outside, covered the walls and pavements. In the morning there were millions and millions of dead flying ants layering the ground throughout the area. An interesting thing is there were no insect eating creatures, like bats, evident during the swarm.

All Hallows Eve in Spain

Halloween all over the world and in Spain a very special festival, The children come around playing tricks and getting treats, but then the seriousness starts. Families go to the graves and cemetries of their past family and pass an all night vigil, and on the following day all saints day they spend the day cleaning and tidying the graves and cemetries, - it is a national holiday. Around forty years ago, people would often put cakes and nuts on graves during Halloween, thinking to bribe the evil spirits. A special pastry known as Bones of the Holy is eaten during Halloween in Spain, and this food is actually an anise seed bread with an orange glaze. The bread is also known as "Pan de Muerto" Bread of the dead, and is shaped into skulls or round loaves, with strips of dough rolled out and attached to resemble bones.