www.property-in-the-sun.com

Saturday March 22nd 2008

We're up quite early, we're planning to make the most of the Easter weekend. A trip up the Genal valley to Igualeja the source of the river. We visited Igualeja in the summer of 2004. We both remembered that there were some beautiful weirs and a cavern where the Genal emerges.
We set off as we drove up out of Benarrabá some huge white clouds were blowing very quickly from the Guadiaro. We drove to Algatocín through cold wispy mist. The Guadiaro was full of clouds. We debated all the way to the Super Genal supermarket about canceling our plans.
We decided to drive to Ronda and see what the weather was like there

We stopped off at Venta La Solana near Benadalid. This is the view South down the Genal valley from the venta.
We ordered tostada and coffee. The tostadas weren't great. Tasteless bread and unusually for Spain tasteless tomatoes.
This next photo is for Faye (Sheepy Girl) she's into moths and helps to collect and count them for conservation.
Passed Benadalid as we drove up the Genal Valley towards Ronda the weather was beautiful. Blue skies and sunshine. We drove around the outskirts of Ronda and took the San Pedro road. A few km down the road we turned to Igualeja.
The road to Igualeja is narrow and very twisting. Down we spiraled.
I saw a bird which I'd never seen before. (Back home I've quickly looked through the book and can't find it.) It was perched on a roadside bush (like a Stonechat) it had a (ochre) yellow head, black wings and a white tail. Very striking tri-colour. We also saw a Black Wheatear.
We reached Igualeja and parked. We walked to the river at the Eastern edge of the pueblo. We crossed a small bridge to the municipal piscina (swimming pool). This is looking downstream. The riverside buildings are tall and ugly.
Upstream is the beautiful area we remembered. Lots of photos we both took cameras so a little duplication but it's a pretty place ...
We walked into the village. The church is small for the size of the village and part of a terrace of houses. Very unusual as Andalucian churches are nearly always detached buildings
We went inside the church preparations were underway for Easter Sunday's procession.
The archways and lighting gave the church the look of a medieval banqueting hall.
This is the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall)
We called into Bar Mena for a coffee. Jane felt lucky and did the lottery. We were made very welcome, a friendly bar.
Outside the bar was a plaza wit a fountain.
A religious niche, a small building with iron gates.
We walked up some steep old streets, everyone spoke to us.
A few new builds in this area of the pueblo.
In Spain fences and gates are often home made affairs, Beds frames are commonly used. I guess this is a sign of the times. A two metre satellite dish gate.
There were lots of cats in Igualeja the last time we visited. Nothing had changed. This one posed for us.
We drove out of Igualeja and on to Pujerra. We crossed the Río Seco (Dry River) which wasn't dry. This is a typical hillside. Planted with Sweet Chestnuts, the major crop in this area. The trees are bare but in bud.
Igualeja from the Pujerra road
Across the valley this is CartajimaWe parked at the edge of Pujerra and walked into the village. A fountain dedicated to San Antonio a popular Saint in this area. Pujerra is smaller and prettier than Igualeja.
The church, again we were lucky to find it open. More statues being readied for tomorrow's processions.
Lemons and blue skies,.
Cartajima through a blossoming tree.
Cartajima and an Orange tree ...
Lots of old men were hanging around this small plaza enjoying the sunshine.
More were inside a nameless bar, we had an alcohol free beer and were made very welcome again.
This is Quince blossom.
 We drove out of Pujerra stopping at a modern Ermita dedicated to San Antonio.
This is the view back to Pujerra A lovely day out. We drove home. It looked like we'd driven into the good weather as it was overcast and cloudy when we got back.

I listened to Newcastle United win !!!!


Later we watced 'There will be Blood'. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. With Daniel Day-Lewis, Martin Stringer, Kevin J. O'Connor. It won two Oscars (2007) Daniel Day-Lewis - Best Actor. A film about Oil and greed. Good film. Worth watching.