April 8th - 15th 2007
Written by Geoff Forster
We're up early. I must be wide awake it's the Gaucín El Toro de Cuerda. (Bull on a rope).
We set off at 10:00h. parked not too far from the pueblo and I walked in. Jane stayed in the car reading a book. (She can't cope with cartoon fish ...)
It was about 11:00h. before the bull was released onto the streets. The first signs of action were a few hundred people running at full speed down the street followed by the bull. Not a huge bull but it was black and powerful, and very aggressive.
I've done a separate page as not everyone likes bull runs.
I had promised Jane not to take any risks so I stayed closer to the barriers than I had during my first bull run in 2005.
I like this shot.
I'm calling it 'Experience' The older you are the higher you climb.
Having survived the bull run.
We returned to Benarrabá where a procession around the village was followed by an auction of young animals and vegetables in the plaza. Proceeds to the church.
Three statues are taken from the church. I'll have to find out their correct names.
The children carry this one.
Down at the church an Easter Mass was being held.
Jane took this one. Nice sunburst. Without any filters.
The men carry this statue.
The women carry this one.
Juan rings the bells.
Up in the plaza the statues have arrived.
They take it in turns to run towards each other and the the statues are held high in a symbolic embrace or kiss.
The auction was under way.
Back at the house we went for a walk up the track by the apartment.
The wild flowers are beautiful on the mountainside behind the house.
Part of the slope is North facing and is covered in white flowers, mosses and miniature ferns.
We met our guest's Christine and Steve Crewe. They were out having a stroll.
The dogs insisted on making friends.
Mota de Oro had come with us for a walk and was enjoying herself climbing the Olive trees.
A beautiful day.
I spent the night battling with MySQL databases and PHP scripts. I did win and got an important part of the websites up and running.
Later we watched an animation. Not 'Finding Nemo' but another Pixar studios production. 'Cars'.
The drawing is incredible. I guess most of it is computer generated but it is still fantastic.
It's a grey day, but it's not raining.
We're up and out.
A trip to San Luis de Sabinillas.
Jane wants to go to the English Bookshop and then to Lidl's for some shopping.
We parked in the car park near the children's play area. I took a few photographs of the deserted beach.
We'd forgotten to bring towels ...
We had a burger. A rare treat when we come down to the coast.
Jane called into 'The Trading Post' which has expanded.
We shopped in Lidl's which was quiet.
Summer opening times are in operation 09:15 to 21:15h Mon-Sat, closed Sundays.
We tried to get coffee in the Venta Molina but their machine was broken or not switched on.
This is the lower Genal Valley about to get a soaking from the look of the sky.
Gaucín under cloud. We were doing well avoiding the rain.
Back home we lit a fire which Mota de Oro appreciated.
I worked until late.
Then we watched 'Sommersby' starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster.
Recent welcome overnight rains have livened up the campo which is green and growing vigorously.
I went for a walk with the Border Collies out to see the donkeys.
I was surprised to pass a young Rucho on our neighbour Juan's land.
He said a few months ago he was going to buy a young donkey. I believe that it is for sale. So if anybody wants to buy a beautiful looking young male donkey? Drop me line.
The pine trees are in flower.
Quite striking honey coloured cones.
Domingo was first up the hill to get his food.
Little Rosie wasn't too far behind.
In fact she pushed Domingo off his food bin and he had to walk to the other further up the hill. She's only small but she uses her weight.
Domingo looked a bit put out by being pushed around by bossy, barrel like Rosie. His ears were back. I gave him a pat and he started eating.
The donkeys ate their food. Then they had a few carrots and half a lettuce each.
I said 'adios' and walked back to Benarrabá.
I took these photographs of flowers on the way home.
Some very unusual plants.
This one is rare in fact this is the only one I've ever seen.
A purple/pink flower spike.
The leaves are very striking.
A very unusual wild flower.
This is one that is also rare. I now know where there are two plants. Both within about four hundred metres of each other.
The flowers are very beautiful.
There are lots of blue wild Lupins, a few pink and a very rare mauve colour.
The grasses are growing. The Broom is flowering. The blue splashes are the more common blue wild Lupins.
This is a really weird plant. It looks as if this flower spike is going to get to quite a height.
From the look of the flower, it is designed to attract bees. With the pollen from the two sacs being stuck onto the bees back.
Jane spotted this Nuthatch nest last year. We've been keeping an eye on it again this spring.
It is being used again. There seemed to be Nuthatches everywhere. Perhaps they've had a good year and they have all just fledged. I photographed this one just as it left the nest.
Back home I fed and watered the dogs.
Later we went for an evening stroll around the village.
Jane insisted she could manage.
Back home her foot was really hurting. The stroll hadn't been a good idea.
We watched 'Remains of the Day' starring Anthony Hopkins, James Fox and Emma Thompson.
I enjoyed the film. Jane thought it 'dragged on'.
I read the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro years ago, after he had won the Booker prize. His novel 'An Artist in a Floating World' is one of my favourite books. I must look out for a copy.
It's my sister Carolyn's birthday today ... Feliz Cumpleaños 'Sis.
Our guest's Christine, Steve, Justin and Kate Crewe left us this morning. Thank you to them for the bottle of Chinchilla wine. We'll keep it for a special occasion. We hope to see them all again perhaps later in the year.
Jane made a start on cleaning the apartment. Putting in loads of washing. Which reminds me that Kate left something behind ... I might have to put a photograph on the blogs lost property section ... ;-)
I worked all day.
In the evening Jane was playing the new Stevie Nicks CD 'Crystal Visions'.
I took the chance to watch 'Finding Nemo' the Pixar animation. Fantastic as usual from Pixar.
We started to watch 'Enduring Love' starring Daniel Craig (007), Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy and Samantha Morton. A Channel Four movie ... sometimes a good sign, sometimes not. This started really well then put us both to sleep.
These are more of Bryon Blackwell's visit to the Alhambra in Granada.
Thanks to Bryon for letting us publish his photographs.
D you have any of Andalucia which you's like to share with us?
We're up early and off to Málaga airport to pick up our new guests Donald and Margaret Rich. We met Donald and Margaret last year when they had just completed an Inn Travel walking holiday.
They are here on one of our 'Special Holidays'. Which includes airport pickups and excursions.
We got to the airport just before noon. We were surprised to bump into Mark. A jazz drummer who we know. Mark is renovating an old house in the village.It's a small world.
Donald and Margaret's flight was a few minutes early. We were soon heading down the Peage on the way to Manilva before we set off inland up to Benarrabá.
It was good to meet them again and to catch up on what they'd been up to.
A few dark clouds threatened but didn't amount to anything.
Donald and Margaret loved the apartment and we left them to settle in.
We took them to Pub Bar Dami for tapas.
On the way down we showed them a few shops.
Jane collected an Avon book from Juani's corner shop.
We bumped into Cristóbal Montero. A builder who is renovating a house nearby.
He kindly showed us around. It is very well finished with mosaics on the floors and stone walls.
Great views from the terrace.
In Dami's we sampled his tapas. Very enjoyable.
Margaret and Donald went to The Restaurante Kábilas for a meal.
Jane and I went home to cook a chicken curry.
Later we watched another ten minutes of 'Enduring Love' starring Daniel Craig (007 licensed to bore), Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy and Samantha Morton. It could be sometime next month before we get to the end of this 'relationship' drama.ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Another day spent working.
I'm getting a little bogged down in detail and need to step back a bit and think things through.
This week with Donald and Margaret should give me a much needed break from the websites.
Around 16:00h. I went for a walk with the Border Collies to see the donkeys.
The donkeys are looking good and eatingwell.
On the way back home I took some photographs of some of the latest wild flowers.
Many of which I haven't a clue what they are called.
I found four of these. A very pretty plant. Similar to the one with spotty leaves from the other day. Which I havew discovered is an 'Early Purple Orchid'. This Orchid had smaller leaves, a little like a daisy.
One of the Cranesbill family.
A new member of the Vetch family in flower. This one is a ground covering plant.
Just off the track a spotted another pink/purple spike. I nearly passed it by thinking it was one of the Orchids which I'd photographed earlier. I'm glad I didn't. This Orchid is stunning. I guess it's a type of Bee Orchid. The one in the book is very similar but a lot pinker.
Just two of them.
This is one of Jane's favourites. A strange blue flower with a very unusual shape.
This is a strange flower. It has really long stems between leaf joints and can't really support itself. This one was growing through bramble.
One that looks really boring just a a green stalk with brown flowers about twenty cm high.
Quite pretty when you get really close.
This one is so blue. I thought it was a very blue Vipers Bugloss which is usually tinged with maroon/claret. Now I'm not so sure.
Another two toned plant this vetch is beginning to appear in flower.
I have no idea what this yellow flower is called. It isn't in my book. Quite a large flower about 3/4 cm in diameter and as you see a very bright colour.
A few poppies are appearing. Soon the roadsides will be covered in red patches. One of my favourites. This was growing through a clump of blue Borage. A striking contrast.
A good walk.
I got back home just in time to meet Donald and Margaret who had been out walking to the Rio Genal. A lovely circular walk.
In the evening we made it to the end of 'Enduring Love'.
We then watched. 'Meet Joe Black'. A favourite film which we've seen many times. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt and Claire Forlani.
We're out today with Donald and Margaret on a trip to Fuente de Piedra.
Fuente de Piedra is famous for a large lake that is home to thousands of flamingoes and many otherbirds.
The primary reason for our visit is not the flamingoes but donkeys. There is a large donkey sanctuary here. 'El Refugio del Burrito'.
We set off at 10:00h. A quick refuel in Gaucín then off via Ronda towards Campillos. At one point just before Ronda a Hoopoe flew across the front of the car.
We made good progress until we were forced to do a detour through Tebadue to road works.
We turned off the main road and headed to Humilladero, then we drove to Fuente de Piedra.
We had a sandwich and drink in the Fuente de Piedra camping venta.
The town isn't pretty. Lots of building work is going on. The surrounding are is flat and covered in row after row of olive trees.
We drove to the donkey sanctuary which is quite well signed.
Admission to the sanctuary is free.
We parked and walked into the shop/reception.
We were met by Catherine who was enthusiastic and very helpful. She obviously loves her work helping the donkeys.
Armed with maps of the farm and a list of donkeys names we set off to meet los burros.
The donkeys are separated into small groups in decent sized paddocks. Each area has shelter and outdoor space as well as food bins. It was very well kept.
Not just donkeys. Jane soon made friends with a beautifully marked cat.
The cat was getting more attention than the donkeys.
The two that were feeding decided to leave their straw and come to see us.
There aren't just donkeys. this is Terrizo (left) and Jack (right). Terrizo is a twenty year old mule. Jack is a twenty year old pony. Jack is blind. Terrezo is Jack's eyes.
There are donkeys of all ages, breeds, shapes and sizes.
These two youngsters were chasing each other round.
This donkey wasn't going to move too far or too fast.
The donkeys can choose to be inside in the shade or outside in the sunshine.
There's plenty of food.
Beautiful animals. Great to see them so well cared for. Some of them are in poor condition when rescued.
Jane was having fun hobbling between the paddocks snapping away.
Margaret likes maps. She went from paddock to paddock checking all the donkey's names from the map and list.
We had a great time. You shouldn't have favourites ... but little Erica was really cute.
She was rescued from a meat market. Unbelievable. Donkey meat is used in some salami ... be warned.
Margaret decided to adopt Erica. You can do this by setting up a standing order or by paying a cheque.
We bought gifts from the gift shop.
There are lots of horrible stories of neglect and serious mistreatment. The donkeys are all well looked after here and there is a sense of calm and caring about the place.
You must come here!
Please visit the website and adopt a donkey!!!
The sanctuary website.
Contact
E-mail - info@elrefugiodelburrito.com
Address and telephone numbers.
El Refugio Del Burrito,
Apartado 25
29520 Fuente De Piedra
Málaga
Telephone
"English Speaking"Office
(0034) 952 735 513
"Spanish Speaking" Office
(0034) 952 735 077
You can adopt a donkey through their website.
A small payment can be made by Bank Transfer or post.
As you can image with both Jane and I taking photographs of the donkeys, we've published only a small percentage. We will do a special 'Donkey Sanctuary' page as soon as we have time.
Next we headed to the Lagoon. The visitors centre is closed for renovations.
We parked and after a quick stop into the temporary information centre we headed down to the lagoon.
I was surprised that the water levels were so low. We've had a lot of rain in the mountains this winter and spring. Obviously not as much has penetrated this far North and inland.
The good news is that the levels are high enough for the flamingoes to breed.
They are a long way off right in the centre of the lagoon.
There are three smaller lagoons with hides built along the edge.
These afford a better view of the birds.
There were a few flamingoes here so we got quite a good view of them.
The Black Backed Stilts are a favourite.
A magnificent wing shape. Terns are a favourite sea bird.
With no real predators in the area these rabbits can live relaxed lives out in the open on a sandy bank between the lagoons. One of the few places in Andalucia where rabbits are not hunted by just about every predator including man.
They can get their heads and necks into some very strange positions.
Flamingoes do swim ... a little like swans, but only a little.
This one was using one leg trailing behind as a paddle. Okay if you want to go in one big circle. Not exactly graceful.
We drove home avoiding the roadworks at Teba by going further South towards Ardales before turning West to Ronda.
We saw this Buzzard on the way home.
It had been a long but very interesting day.
If you fancy a trip to the donkey sanctuary, check out their website.
If you want to come on one of our no driving 'Special Holidays'. We can pick you up from the airport and we can visit the sanctuary on a day excursion.
We spent the evening on the notebooks.
I started to watch another Pixar animation'The Incredibles'
Another lovely day. The sun is shining and fluffy cumulus are been blown gently across the valley.
I spent the morning going through the hundreds of photographs which we took yesterday of the donkey sanctuary and flamingo lagoon. The blog took hours ...
John and Chris arrived from the UK and called in to get some seed for the donkeys.
We can have a break from walking there for a few days.
Jane's foot is sore and swollen again after yesterday's exertions. She's taking it easy today resting it and reading.
If Jane isn't on her notebook searching eBay, Sophie our cat keeps track of the latest bids for her.
In the evening I watched 'The Big Sleep' starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
I really like this film. Jane wasn't as enthusiastic and did indeed fall asleep after about fifteen minutes.
The remake of the 'Big Sleep' starring Mota de Oro.
Sophie the Siamese.