June 1st - 15th 2005
Written by Geoff Forster
We were up early and headed to Ronda for the day.
Ronda is a wonderful town, I don't think I'll ever tire of visiting.
We walked down the main street Carrera Espinel, Jane and Carol went into every clothes and shoe shop. I got bored and went for a drink in the Hotel Macias.
Jane, Carol, Bob and Esther caught up about an hour later.
We went to look at the gorge and the Puente Nuevo.
We went for a pizza in Da Vinci's. As usual it was absolutely fantastic.
This is the wonderful Jesús Jimenez.
The service at Da Vinci's is always excellent.
I've just added a Da Vinci's webpage in the Ronda section.
----> Da Vinci Pizzeria & Restaurante
We spent a quiet night in.
It's a lovely sunny day. We're not traveling too far today.
Algatocín for some shopping ...
Bob and Esther have been for the bread.
They are all going to the Carniceria (butchers) for some pork lomo.
Jane made a lovely salad and some Salmorejo de potato con tonno.
Carmen popped across just as it was being served and was impressed that Jane was using her recipe for her family.
A quiet afternoon sunbathing and watering plants.
We watched 'The Chronicles of Riddick' with Vin Diesel, Esther and Bob hadn't seen it, unlike us who are well into double figures ...
Up at 7am, we're off to Marbella. Hopefully the weather is going to be okay. The forecast is for scattered clouds on the coast. Which usually means its going to be hot.
This is the sunrise over the Genal Valley this morning. photograph by Carol Anderson, Jane's big sis'.
Lots of good e-mails yesterday. Jean and Lyngard got back to Stoke okay and its raining there ... shame.
Betty writes saying she likes the Gibraltar page. She recently went there as part of the VE day 60th Celebrations as her husband was a returning Hero. Congratulations and thanks to you both.
I'm off to get the bread before we set off ... later.
We drove down the road to Casares.
We saw what I think were Little Owls sitting on poles near the Sierra Crestellina.
We drove to Sabinillas then headed East up the Costa Del Sol, past Estepona, San Pedro Puerto Banus and into Marbella. We found the underground car park where we'd left it.
We walked out into the sunlight into this wonderful plaza with water running around the edge, fountains and copies of ten Salvador Dali bronze statues, there are more statues and great fountains in Marbella.
This is an unfortunate Medusa. Persius the hero holds her head aloft.
This is the fountain of Carmen de Rocio.
We did what all Brit's do on the Costa Del Sol, sat at a Café and had an English Breakfast in the 90F+ sun. The scattered showers were not to be seen, it was blue skies all day.
We had a look on the beach but didn't stay down there long. Instead we walked up to the main street and Jane, Carol and Esther looked quickly in the shop windows ... We walked back to the Car Park and headed to Estepona. Bob and Esther's verdict, "It was good to come here to see what its like, but its not our cup of tea"
We headed to Carrefours near Estepona and bought some supplies for the weekend.
We drove straight home from Estepona in forty five minutes.
Jane, Carol, Esther and Bob have gone to the Restaurante Kábilas for a coffee in the evening sun.
I've walked the dogs into the campo for a little way, now I'm going to go and water the plants.
I've blogged a bit and got a good e-mail from Angelo in Tuscany, Italy about Tagarninas, The Spanish thistle we eat here.
Betty also e-mailed me again with some photo's of Gibraltar and a nice shot of a dolphin. Thank You.
Jane and Carol cooked a lovely pork casserole using Benarrabá pork from the carniceria.
We enjoyed a good 1999 Crianza.
Jane and Carol sat on the sun terrace watching the lights of the villages come on.
The sun is shining we're up early.
Bob's been to get the bread, a relaxing day in the pueblo is planned.
This Lavateria is brightening up the front of the house.
The Passion flower has also done well.
In the afternoon Jane and I went for a walk around the pueblo.
The temperature has definitely gone up today. 'Mucho calor'
We took some photographs for the Benarrabá Bars webpage's.
Here's Jane dipping her toes in pool at the Restaurante Kábilas.
The head and face never get wet!
Not a lot there to get wet ...
I took the dogs for a walk up the track at the side of the house. I like it up there. I've found a spot on the side of the hill where you can look up the Genal Valley, you can see where it doglegs right near Alpandeire and you can just see the tops of both sides of the mountains of the Alto Genal above the pueblos of Igualeja and Parauta.
An early night.
Up early, Jane, Carol, Esther and Bob have gone to the Domingo Rastro flea market at San Luis de Sabinillas. That is if it is on when they get there! It's a little unreliable.
A quick search online and I couldn't find any information about it .
I'm going to get out in the sun and take the dogs for a walk up the track.
Jane and family are back from a successful day at the Domingo Rastro in Sabinillas. They bought some awful Middle of the Road CD's and some more tat that we don't need. They also bought me a Bougainvillea which makes up for the other rubbish (Jane knew this!).
We've just had a visit from Antonia and Javier.
Antonia Barroso is the daughter of José and Antonia who own the Bar Barroso and the Carniceria (butchers).
They called to invite Jane and I to their wedding and reception on Sunday July 3rd. We're delighted to be invited.
Antonia was the first person I met in Benarrabá on the day that we moved out here. She helped to direct me and our Man and a Van, to our house. We'd got stuck in the lower part of the pueblo. She waited for us to do a twenty point turn, leaving scrapes down the side of the Transit and an old ladies house. Then instead of giving us directions she drove in front of us to our house. I'll never forget her kindness and I knew after this that we had moved to a special village with very special people.
We're up early, and off to Ronda, more shopping for nothing in particular. I'm planning my escape already, I'm going to explore more of the old town.
On the way we stopped to watch the mists rising in the Guadiaro valley.
It has been really hot today. Easily the hottest day of the year so far.
So what do you do when it gets hot ...? You go walking around Ronda!
I left Jane and family and headed to the Iglesia Espiritu Santo.
It costs 1€ to get in.
It is at the bottom of the old city near the wall and on the opposite side of the road to the Alcazaba.
The photograph above was taken from the wall, I had to climb this dodgy staircase.
This was nothing compared to the spiral staircase inside the bell tower!
A great view though. this is looking across the road to the Alcazaba.
I met two Americans from near Atlanta up the bell tower. The bells rang just as we left.
This is inside the Iglesia Espiritu Santo.
Out into the scorching sun and the Alcazaba, a centuries old part of Ronda's ancient defences. As you can see it has been spoiled by the modern building on top of the ancient wall. the round tower at the end is about all that is original.
I walked up to the bridge and watched the Alpine Swifts, Pallid swifts, Rock Martins, Lesser Kestrels, Blue Rock Thrushes and Choughs.
The Chough is a member of the Crow family. It is a master of flight.
Here's three taking a break from flying in the hot sun.
I headed off to meet Jane, Carol, Esther and Bob
This is the Bar of the Hotel Macias. We always meet here.
It is very cool and atmospheric, wonderfully old and Spanish.
They still serve tapas free with a beer (1.50€)
Next we walked to Da Vinci's for another of their brilliant pizzas.
We went back to the Puente Nuevo and watched the birds again.
This is a Lesser Kestrel outside its nest on the gorge wall.
We walked across the Puente Nuevo into the old town again and took a right down to near the Casa de Mondragon now promoted for tourism to the Palicio de Mondragon.
A moment of madness and I decided to walk down into the gorge at the Puerto de Los Molinos to get the best shot of the bridge. It was around 3pm and it was very hot.
My efforts (mainly staggering back up) were rewarded by the famous picture postcard view of the bridge. I'd been wanting to take this shot ever since we came to Ronda.
Here's an 'arty farty' shot.
We needed a drink, I was sweating buckets after my climb back up the gorge. A Coke hit the spot and we walked up to the lovely park above the bullring.
It is very shaded and has a lot of water features.
This peacock in the aviary was showing off.
I was walking around when I saw a really strange looking bird. It was singing beautifully.
Answers on a postcard please.
Its so sad ...
I think it's just a bald blackbird.
We got back to Benarrabá around 6pm.
A good day out, I love this hot weather!
Later Carmen and Cristóbal called in with a bowl full of cherries for us.
Another glorious day. Bob's been for the bread.
Now they've gone for a walk around the village.
I've been completing the main four of the Benarrabá Bars pages.
----> Bar Andrés Sánchez
----> Bar Barroso
----> Bar El Porón
----> Bar Pub Dami
Four excellent reasons for coming to Benarrabá!
There was quite a strong breeze in the afternoon which kept temperatures at a pleasant level.
Jane and I cooked a potato tortilla, which was very popular.
Carmen came over later with a plate of Tagarnina revuelta, this is a scrambled egg dish containing the Spanish thistle. Muy Buena.
Cristóbal brought their horse to the side of the apartment for Esther, Bob and Carol to see. He rides it bareback.
We watched 'The Road to Perdition' with Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law.
Up very early. We're off to Gibraltar for the day. There is a market in La Linea near the border (thanks Sue!), Jane, Esther and Carol like markets.
We got back just before 6pm. We've all had a great day out.
The market was huge, there were hundreds of stalls, we walked around a small part of it (nightmare!). But as we only had a limited time, went across the border to Gibraltar. Jane is threatening to return 'to have a proper look'.
We took the bus from the border to the Botanical gardens (near the cable car). They are very beautiful.
This Silk Tree caught our eye. It is a favourite of Jane's sister Carol who has a young tree in her garden in London.
The Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) also known as Mimosa and Silky Acacia. A very pretty tree with wonderful pink silky flowers.
The gardens are a fairly quiet haven. Gibraltar is very busy, with lots of people and traffic in quite a small area.
We walked down the high street (nightmare).
Had lunch in the Lord Nelson. (okay)
Then got a taxi up the Rock. (great)
Our driver Rose knew all the apes very well and Fluffy is the friendliest. He came in the taxi, had a good look around and then posed with each of us in turn.
Here's Jane with Fluffy.
This female ape has a three day old baby with her.
It was Bob, Esther and Carol's first visit to Gibraltar.
Going up the Rock is a great experience. (Ask for Rose!)
We're off to the Restaurante Kábilas to sit in the evening sun on their great patio.
A lovely day in the Genal Valley. Jane, Esther, Bob and Carol have gone for a walk around the village shops.
I've been doing a webpage for the Restaurante Kábilas.
----> Restaurante Kábilas
Jane and Carol are cooking dinner. It's Carol's last night in Benarrabá and we're going to go to the Restaurante Kábilas for a drink.
Here's Bob, Carol, Esther and Jane.
We had an enjoyable couple of hours at the Restaurante Kábilas before we strolled back through the village.
I took the dogs up the track, there were millions of stars out.
Jane, Carol, Esther and Bob have gone to the market in the plaza.
We're off to Málaga airport at around 3pm ... there'll be tears.
A few tears were shed. Carol got home safely.
We had a pretty uneventful journey to and from the airport until ...
We were just climbing up the hill to Gaucín when a bird flew across the road and up the side of the mountain. It was a Hoopoe! My favourite bird, and the first I've seen since we moved here. I thought they'd be quite common in this area, but this is the first in a little over a year!
We stopped to try to get a photograph but it had disappeared.
I took this photo of a Tagarnina, the Spanish thistle that is edible during the winter. Then they are flat to the ground, but now they have sent up flower stems that get to 2 metres high.
They are very striking plants and the countryside is covered with them at the moment.
In close up. They are pretty Dandelion/Keria coloured flowers. The thistle sends up a main stem. Then bigger plants start to send out side branches, a little like a Christmas tree.
Jane has been for the bread and we're off to Algatocín to do some shopping.
We're back from visiting the Gaucín market, which is held most Saturdays? What a great event, two bra and underwear stalls, two clothing stalls, one selling risque towels and a few plants. We bought absolutely nothing the same as we always buy.
Why we come to these things week after week, I don't know?
I guess it has to be hormonal thing?
Massive doses of Oestrogen overwhelming the decision making process? Deluding the brain that what is in reality a pointless totally boring activity is productive and necessary! I'm shopped out and I avoided over 50% of it!
Then to Manolo's bar for a caffeine hit.
Then to Algatocín for food shopping. Ingredients for gazpacho and some good Tempranillo Reserva 1999 wine.
The day is a little overcast/hazy, the sun is trying to burn it all away and is starting to succeed. So a good afternoon of unbroken sunshine looks on the cards.
Jane and Esther have been for a walk round a track at the back of the house. There are some cats living there. Florencio a nice old man who lives at the bottom of our road, feeds them scraps and dried bread everyday.
It's great that we are the last house in this part of the village. The countryside (campo) starts behind us and the village in front of us.
Jane's on the sun terrace, I think I'll join her for a cool beer.
We had a nice meal, and later watched an old Michael Caine film "The Whistle Blower".
Up early for a Sunday, the sky is grey and dull but the forecast is for a hot day later.
Carol, Jane's sister has been staying in the apartment for a couple of weeks. Before she left, she kindly downloaded the digital photographs she had taken during her stay on to my PC.
Here are three of my favourites.
Benarrabá Chicken Run.
Gibraltar.
Benarrabá mists (click on the photo to enlarge this one!)
I have made a web page with more of Carol's photographs.
----> Carol Anderson's Andalucía Photo Gallery
The sun did break through and it was quite a hot afternoon.
We went to Bar Andrés Sánchez for tapas.
Later we walked to the Restaurante Kábilas for a swim in the pool.
We met Dyfed and Anne. Their daughters Rachel and Helen live in the campo near Benarrabá.
Rachel and Helen live in a Yurt. This is a Mongolian round tent.
We had a night in and watched a DVD, Vin Diesel in 'XXX'.
The sun is shining but there are a few clouds about.
We're going to visit Alpandeire later. Jane and I both like this pueblo.
We set off around 11pm.
Going through Algatocín we noticed a strange character working on the road. An young Spanish lad who thought he was Elvis. He had the sideburns and a pair of large gold framed sunglasses.
We carried to the MA-515 turn off to Alpandeire. This road is very narrow and takes you through the Alto Genal Valley. The road was being widened in places which will be good when its finished. It didn't cause us any serious delays. The mountain road twisted upwards and we could see Alpandeire way down below us. "There it is" I said to Bob. "Yes" said Bob unconvincingly. For the last five minutes Bob and Esther had had their eyes closed! There is quite a drop! Plus the MA-515 is about the narrowest road in the area but not for much longer.
We arrived in Alpandeire. Parked and walked down to see the church which is very large for a small pueblo.
Last time we were in Alpandeire we'd stood and watched hundreds of swifts flying over the pueblo, returning to nests around the roof of the church. Disappointingly the church had been cleaned of nests and some unsympathetic repointing had been done. Sadly there were only twenty swifts flying around. The North end of the church has some serious structural problems.
We decided to get a coffee in a bar that we knew of near to the church.
Unfortunately it was closed as was the shop next to it. I asked an old man sitting on the steps of the church what was happening, he said that the owners had gone to Ronda. Another bar was also reportedly closed.
The skies were quite grey. We thought it unlikely to rain but the skies in the distance were darkening dramatically.
Alpandeire is a fantastic pueblo full of twisting streets and some great old houses.
There are some in complete ruins, sun bleached doors, frames windows, twisted roofs and scary guttering. These Genal villages are very special, Alpandeire is my second favourite, it is very steep so today we couldn't walk too far. There is just a good feel to the place. I also felt this in Parauta.
This is the view across the Genal valley. Benarrabá, Algatocín, Benalauría, Benadalid and Atajate can be seen on the other side.
We headed back to the A369 and stopped off at the Venta Aguayar in Benadalid. We tried to get tapas. The owner firstly said that he had some then decided he wasn't going to open his kitchen.
We passed through Algatocín looking out for Elvis. I took this from inside the car.
Okay he needs to work on the hair. His mates thought it was really funny that we took his photo. He kept saying "Elvis, The King, The King".
We headed home and went to Pub Bar Dami in Benarrabá where we know we will get great tapas.
The wind picked up and we had sunny intervals through big fluffy cumulus.
Later I cooked a curry and we watched the Michael Jackson trial verdict on Sky News.
A beautiful sunny day, a little hazy on the horizon.
We're having a day in Benarrabá.
A stroll around the village and some tapas in Bar Andrés Sánchez.
Later we went to the Restaurante Kábilas for a very cool beer.
Sat in the sun ...
In the evening we stayed in and cooked some Spanish minced beef (actually good tasting meat!) in onion gravy with mashed potatoes!
We watched something on television I've already forgotten about!
Today we were going to go to Genalguacil, but Esther and Bob just want to relax in Benarrabá. We may go to Gaucín for lunch and visit Genalguacil tomorrow.
Opposite the entrada of the apartment is a near vertical bank which was used by our builders to throw broken tiles and bricks. We cleaned it up and spread a lot of wildflowers seeds and a variety of poppies.
It looks pretty good at the moment.
This delicate poppy has lovely colours.
We went to El Pilar restaurante in Gaucín for lunch. Monday to Friday 2-3pm you get a lovely three course meal with salad, bread roll and a bottle of wine for 10€ / £7 each. It is restaurant quality and about the best in the area.
It is very popular with the Spanish workers, it has a good atmosphere.
Although today was the quietest we've ever seen it. Perhaps the recent 1€ price rise has made people switch to the Gas station venta opposite where it was 7€ each the last time we were there (but there's not as much choice/quality).
The temperature must be close to 100F, it is very hot.
I'm going to walk the dogs in the campo.
We stayed in and watched TV.
It still feels very warm.
It's midnight and you feel comfortable walking outside in vest and shorts.
I love this hot weather.