March 8th - 15th 2007
Written by Geoff Forster
A busy day. We're up early. I'm on the computer catching up with the blog.
Then we're off out at 09:00h. to go to Cortes de la Frontera.
We called into Bar Los Amigos for breakfast. The Cortes de la Frontera carnival starts tomorrow. The streets and bars were preparing for the big event.
Colin and I had jamón and pork lard on toast. Jane had tomato tostada and Julie a peach jam on toast.
The sky was a beautiful blue and the sun was shining. A really lovely day.
Jane took these of a colourful display of potted pelagoniums.
We drove through the Alcornocales forest. As usual it was very beautiful with the sun streaming through the trees.
We didn't see too many animals, some striking red coloured cows and a donkey.
We drove to Gaucín for a walk around the pretty pueblo.
We saw the first few Swallows of the year. (Later I saw House Martins in Benarrabá.)
There are lots of pretty winding streets. We walked towards the Castillo de Aguila.
Colin and Julie in Gaucín.
The first poppy of the year.
The small garden below the castle is a good vantage point.
We saw lots of this daisy in Gibraltar the other day. The name has escaped us ... very annoying.
We had lunch in Bar Paco Pepe. Some lovely fish dishes.
We drove back to Benarrabá.
The property section of the website is proving to be very popular with lots of enquiries and viewings.We showed a couple of clients around the village.
Later we walked to see Rosie and Domingo.
This tree stood out in the green campo. It looks like a Hawthorn or Blackthorn.
The trees are full of birds singing and pairing off. I'm not sure what this bird is it flitted into the tree very briefly before flying off within seconds. I was so busy taking the photograph during it's brief visit that I didn't notice any colouring on it. Looks like an insect eater from the beak.
The first pink Cystus of the year.
Here are the donkeys. They were pleased to see us. We sat with them a while before setting off home.
The campo is bursting into life. The lavender is in full flower now.
Back in Benarrabá we were both tired after a few long days.
I listened to Newcastle United win 4-2 in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup. The return leg is set up nicely. Could be a nail biting evening next Thursday unless we get an early away goal or two.
We watched the end of 'Steel Magnolias'.
A lovely day. Blue skies and the sun is gaining strength daily.
We were going to visit Ronda, but Julie has a migraine so we've delayed setting off for an hour to see if she feels better.
Jane and I went for a walk around the village.
Oxalis Pes-Caprae growing along a white washed wall by the road to the apartment.
Following Bryons's Benarrabá dogs photographs a couple of days ago. Today was a Benarrabá cat day. we spotted quite a few out sunning themselves.
On the very left of the photo is a patch of wild garlic in flower. We pick quite a lot of this. It looks like Spring onions but has a milder taste. Great for salads and for mixing in with cold new potatoes.
Benarrabá. It was a beautiful morning.
We walked through the plaza. It was market day. Only four stalls.
We bought some cinnamon sticks and Brazil nuts.
Julie was feeling a little better so we set off for Ronda at around midday.
We parked in Calle Benarrabá in the Barrio de San Francisco area.
This is San Francisco.
We went to the Bodega San Francisco for a coffee.
Then we walked up through the old town and across the famous bridge.
We walked up the main shopping street. They were just beginning to close ... great timing!
We went to Da Vinci's for an excellent pizza.
Then we walked it off up and down the cobbled streets of Ronda.
Julie and Colin on the puente viejo.
We walked up through the gardens. Watching the Chough's flying in the gorge.
We went for a cake and coffee. In this amazing shop. The cakes and chocolates are incredible.
Keep out of here if your on a diet.
La Plaza El Socorro.
Colin and Julie went for a look around the bullring.
Jane and I strolled around the gardens near the gorge.
There's a very good bronze of a bull outside the bullring.
I tried a few different angles. Trying to avoid cars and tourists meant getting on the ground and angling the camera up through the rails. It did work quite well.
Some Wisteria was beginning to flower. The fragrance was fantastic.
We had a great day out in Ronda.
Someone had scraped the back corner of our car. They'd left their number plate on a scrap of paper under the windscreen wipers. It looked worse than it was. Most of it came off later with a bit of T-cut.
We we'd just got back and were beginning to get ready to go out for a farewell meal in a restaurante. When the phone rang ...
Some women had been on John and Chris's finca where we keep the donkeys. They'd been cutting Sweet Chestnut shoots to make Yurts, a type of tent.
They hadn't shut the gate properly and the donkeys had got out ... they'd driven passed them on the way back to Benarrabá!
They'd made no effort to try and to catch them, or to stay with them to flag down cars to slow down.
They didn't offer to show us where they'd last been seen, or to help us look for them and return them to the land.
We drove out through the campo, no sign of them.
Colin and I walked down to the land, the gates were now locked.
Jane and Julie drove around looking for them.
We met back up and tracked them towards Benarrabá.
It was getting dark and we were running out of time.
We bumped into Juan who has a finca nearby.
The donkeys had been on his land earlier in the afternoon and helped themselves to some seed.
I offered to pay him but he wouldn't take any money. He agreed that they were heading towards the village from the tracks.
A lot of the land isn't fenced so they could have been anywhere in the valley. We hoped they were on or near the road and safe.
About a kilometre from the village we found them.
I managed to get a rope on Rosie and then Domingo.
It was dark by now and we had to decide whether to bring them to the village or trek back three or four km in the dark. We decided to put them back at the finca so Colin and I set off.
Jane took Julie back to the apartment before coming back and slowly driving behind us to light the way.
The Clio can only go so far down this track. We had only starlight to light our way now, but our eyes adjusted and we could just about see where the path was.
We got them safely back onto the land.
We walked back up the steep hill for a second time to meet Jane.
A big thnks to Colin for coming out to help us.
We can only hope Dolly and Molly didn't escape as well. We'll go back tomorrow to check on them if we have time.
We drove back to Benarrabá. We abandoned plans to eat in a restaurante in Algatocín and went to Café Bar Guayacán.
Where we enjoyed some great tapas.
We got back home and Jane and I watched part of 'The Holiday' starring Kate Winslett, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law.
Yet another sunny day.
We're up early. Lots to do. I've been going through yesterdays Ronda photographs and doing the blog.
Jane's been to Algatocín shopping.
Colin and Julie go home today. We have a run to Malaga airport this evening.
We also want to go to John and Chris's finca to see if the sheep are still there.
We drove as far as we could. Colin and Julie came with us to say goodbye to the donkeys.
Here's Colin and Rosie.
I had a good look around for Dolly and Molly. They weren't in their usual spot but after a few minutes I spotted them on a track lower down the hillside, so fortunately they are safe and well.
We fed the donkeys and sat with them before walking up the hill to the car.
We went straight to see Yolanda in Café Bar Guayacán for tapas.
Colin and Julie went to do their packing before we set off for the airport.
A good run straight there with little traffic on the roads.
The views were amazing as the Mediterranean was haze free. We could see the African coastline from Malaga, which is quite rare.
We had a coffee before saying farewell to Colin and Julie, we hope to see them again very soon.
It's been a great week.
Again there was little traffic on the road as we drove back to Benarrabá.
We stopped in Guayacán for a snack and watched the start of the Barcelona v Real Madrid match that the whole of Spain was watching. It ended up 3-3, although we only saw part of an exciting first half.
Back home we watched the end of the Holiday starring Kate Winslett, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law.
A busy day.
Sunny again.
Jane's cleaning the apartment ready for the arrival of our new guests later today.
I'm working on the websites and blogging.
Jane went to see the donkeys while I waited for our guests.
She arrived back a couple of hours later. She'd seen a Hoopoe, which I'm disappointed not t have seen.
Yolanda phoned us to say that our guests were in Guayacán.
Jim and Geraldine have been to Granada and Cordoba during the previous week.
They are amazed by the Genal Valley and are looking to do some walking.
We showed them the apartment.
A 'peacemaker' phoned to say that my words about the ladies and the donkeys had been harsh.
They had come to the house before we got back from Ronda and they did telephone, and they hadn't got rope to catch the donkeys.
So hopefully peace can now be restored to the valley.
We were both tired and watched the first half of 'The Departed' starring Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo de Caprio, Mark Wahlburg, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen. So far really excellent. An amazing cast list.
More great weather.
Another busy day ahead. Which is good. There just aren't enough hours in the day at the moment.
We worked all morning on the blog and websites.
Our friend Stuart from Stoke is here for a week staying in his house in Benadalid.
He's coming over to walk with us to see the donkeys.
Stuart's had a quadruple heart bypass operation. However he's on the mend and wants to test his new turbo charged ticker out on the hills around Benarrabá.
We set off at 15:00h. Jane stayed at home to clean the floors. A rare chance to do this without me or one or more of the Border Collies messing it up before it has chance to dry.
We set off at a good pace.
We passed Sebastian's pigs. Another litter had just been born.
I counted eight little piggies in all. Five black and three an auburn red.
The mother's a big old girl. Quite protective of her new litter as we walked passed.
We walked quickly along to the donkeys.
They were up near the gate waiting for us.
Here's Stuart with Rosie.
Stuart brought them a special treat, a bunch of carrots.
The donkeys enjoyed their carrots and seed. Domingo was too busy eating to have his photograph taken.
We think that Rosie is around nine and a half months pregnant.
The gestation period of a donkey is exactly one year.
She's always been barrel shaped, so it is very hard to tell.
She's lost the fatty roll she had down her neck and is a lot fitter but she still remains a little tub.
I think her shape is changing now and that she probably is pregnant.
We shall have to wait until the end of May or the beginning of June to find out for sure.
Stuart's heart passed the test. I'm not sure which of us was most relieved as we got to the top of the steep concrete slope. The rest of the way is pretty flat for a mountain path.
We got back to Benarrabá in good time.
Jane had got the floors cleaned and dried before the dogs arrived. A lot of the puddles have dried up now so they weren't too bad.
We all went to Café Bar Guayacán for much needed refreshments.
Jane and I are both drinking sin alcohol beer which varies from brand to brand. St Miguel 0.0% is very good and tastes just like beer should.
We're doing well. Eating healthy foods and getting plenty of exercise. I've lost nearly 8-9 kilos (20lbs) and feel so much better for it. I've set a target of losing around 4 kilos more, but over two or three more months. We're not on diets. We've just been eating slightly smaller portions and having a bowl of bio yogurt and muesli a day.
We had a couple of drinks with Stuart before he headed back to Benadalid.
We went back into Guayacán to chat with Yolanda.
Back home we cooked a chicken curry and later we watched the rest of 'The Departed' starring Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo de Caprio, Mark Wahlburg, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen. A good film.
The good spell continues. Blue skies and warm sunshine.
We decided to visit El Colmenar / Estación de Gaucín. It's a lovely railway village set in the Guadiaro valley. Quite isolated on the edge of the Alcornocales forest. We've both always liked the village and often stop here before or after our forest drives.
The drive down is great for spotting hedgerow birds and a myriad of wild flowers. Here's yet another pretty plant that has just started to flower.
This is El Colmenar not far from the junction of the A369.
We didn't spot too many birds this time. The usual Stonechats were posing on wires but the Redstarts, Black Redstarts and Blackcaps must have migrated North as we saw none.
There were three young mules munching daisies on a verge. This one was a good strong looking mule. As a cross between donkeys and horses, some mules seem to take more facial characteristics from one parent than the other. This one was definitely more horse like than some mules I've seen.
The Rio Guadiaro and a hydro electric generating plant on the hillside. There are a few pylons and a large pipe but it is reasonably non intrusive into the landscape.
Two Cormorants were hunting in the fast flowing river. They follow the river up from Sotogrande where the Rio Guadiaro meets the sea.
Downstream the rolling hillsides of the valley look very green.
The bridge across the Guadiaro.
Only a back view ... Corn Bunting?
El Colmenar is a railway village and we timed it just right to see the Jefe (Station Master) come out and gesticulate with his flag as a long goods train trundled through the village.
We had a good walk around. We bought bread at the panadería and Jane bought a huge cream cake. We could have bought fresh fish and fruit from a small market. This chap came trotting up the street on his mule. He didn't mind posing for us. (We always ask).
We walked down Calle Cortes passed a lot of sheds full of yapping dogs down to the river.
The sun was gaining power and these sheep had taken to the shade under an Olive tree.
Jane saw this little Yorkshire Terrier and commented it needed it's fringe cutting. About twenty minutes later we saw it getting a haircut ... spooky.
A pretty cat. Lovely markings.
The Swallows are back, and already their aerobatic displays, skimming through the streets have us enthralled. One just missed me, but they can correct their flight so quickly that a collision was never going to happen, although my heart did jump.
This duck now is the sole inhabitant. I'm not sure how often it gets tins of tuna.
The streets are pretty with lots of pots and this lovely window with very ornate ironwork looked wonderful. Some pueblos do and some don't. It makes all the difference.
We crossed the railway line and headed to the church. This is looking back across the tracks.
The church of Santiago (St Mark's)
There were quite a few donkeys in a field further down the street. This one can't have been very old.
A strange wispy cirrus cloud
A lemon tree and a huge Poinsettia.
We stopped to say 'Hola' to this young donkey on the road up to Gaucín. We saw it a couple of weeks ago.
We had a couple of sin alcohol beers with Yolanda before we went home to work on the notebooks.
Later we watched 'The Prestige' starring Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie.A period drama with an unusual story. Good entertainment.
We're up and out quite early. It's a lovely day, quite a strong mountain breeze.
We're meeting Yolanda to go to Genalguacil. We're meeting Susanna, a friend of Yolanda's, who knows some one, (it's complicated!) who's mother's friend is selling a house.
We drove through the campo across the Rio Genal. The road on the Benarrabá side is pretty good now most of the way down.
This was the view from the top floor of the house. Any one interested in having this view and living in the beautiful village of Genalguacil should e-mail us.
The village is full of art. Sculptures on every corner.
We were just leaving when Yolanda saw Miguel in his van heading to Sevilla to buy stock for his two shops.
We called in a venta for a coffee together.
Miguel speaks good English.
There's an election coming up soon. Yolanda and Miguel are both standing. For the Andalucia Peoples Party.
We dropped off Susanna . She's building a lovely wooden chalet style house in the campo not too far from Genalguacil.
You can see the clock tower from her land.
Yolanda had to pick up Caty and drive to Malaga for stock. She works hard in the bar for six days then on her 'day off' has to restock.
We went to the Venta Solero on the junction of the Cortes de la Frontera road.
We had tapas and coffee. The bar restaurante has just been renovated and it has been done very well. It seemed quite popular.
We met Mary Beker there. It's always good to see her and chat. She's lived here for over twenty years and knows the area well. She has some great stories.
We got back to Benarrabá just after 15:00h.We walked out to see the donkeys.
This striking plant with acid green flowers and a purple black stem is very beautiful.
It looks like a hedge parsley.
We saw the donkeys but they were distracted by some people working below. So after a few minutes we left their seed and walked back home.
In the evening we both worked on the computers and then started to watch 'Ghost Rider' starring Nicholas Cage. A motorcycle stunt rider sells his soul to the devil. We lasted ten minutes then hit the off button. The movie is publicised with the tag line 'Hell Is About To Be Unleashed'. They were talking about the acting and not the action.
More beautiful weather. We're really being spoiled. The days get better and better. A few clouds to the North but no rain is expected.
We're off to Algatocín. We need to buy dog food from the Super Genal but we're also going to have a walk around the village.
We parked near the plaza. Had a coffee in the small bar at the end of the plaza.
Then we went for a stroll.
We went down the street to the left of the bar, passed the entrance to the Ayuntamiento. Took the first left (near Miguel's house with the mule ceramic) then the first right.
If you do the same you'll end up in the Plazoletta.
Where you'll find a hidden square with a huge Date Palm.
In this square is a Panadería. (Bread and Cake shop).
The panadería is run by Antonio. Antonio was one of the builders who did the reformations on our house. He's an excellent builder. He's now a baker. He's an excellent baker. In fact his bread and cakes are easily the best we've tasted since moving to Spain.
We bought six small rolls, a half kilo of integral bread, a coffee sponge and a long madeira cake for just over four euros.
The bread is perfect and the sponges were light and moist. The bakery uses a huge traditional wood fired oven.
We're going to have to do more walking if we start to come here regularly, which will be very tempting to do.
Antonio is open Monday to Friday 07.30h. to 15:00h.
Saturdays and Fiestas just the mornings.
We were given a 'special' integral roll to try. Sugar and salt free.
These are cooked on Thursdays only and are embedded with walnuts and almonds.
Absolutely incredible. If you are having a dinner party and want great bread ... in fact two of these rolls each and you won't want dinner.
You must order on a Tuesday for Thursday.
Either by calling in the shop or by telephoning 669994378
This pretty climber was growing in a shady patio in front of the panadería.
Algatocín church.
The natural spring water from the fuente de San Antonio is popular. A busy spot with people filling up drinking water bottles. The mains water in the area is excellent. However the spring water is thought by most to be better.
Algatocin's a pretty village with great views of the Genal valley.
Worth exploring. Just to find that bread shop!
We bought the dog food and some groceries.
Then we drove home, put on our walking boots. We went with the Border Collies to see the donkeys.
Here's Domingo. They were back into their usual routine again and came to meet us.
He's got to be the best looking donkey on the planet.
The sun was shining, the donkeys were pleased to see us, we both enjoyed our walk.
Lots more flowers are appearing daily.
The wild lupins seem taller this year. They are just starting to open up.
We enjoyed our walk.
Back home we ate some of Antonio's cake.
Later I had to endure Newcastle United throw away a two goal advantage to limp out of the UEFA Cup.
We watched 'The Queen' starring Helen Mirron, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell and Sylvia Syms.
A dramatisation of the turmoil in the week after the death of Princess Diana.
Interesting, good acting, still anyone's guess where fact and fiction start and end.