September 15th - 30th 2006
Written by Geoff Forster
Another marvelous day with sunshine and blue skies yet again.
We walked down to Calle Pósito, where we sat outside Bar Andrés Sánchez. Lots of the village children are budding artists.
In Pub Bar Dami.
Dami was enjoying an ice cream.
Anna his mother had brought some Kaki's (Sharon Fruit). They'd been picked from a tree near the Genal. She kindly gave me one to try.
We had a McDami - A joke about his hamburger tapas.
I carried the Kaki up to Café Bar Guayacán where we enjoyed the company of some good friends.
The ice cream is popular at this time of year.
We walked home to feed the donkeys before it was dark.
One of our neighbour Francisco's dogs has had a litter of pups. This is the sole survivor. We stopped to pet it and take it's photo'
To take the photo' I'd subconsciously put the Kaki that I'd carried very carefully from Dami's Bar earlier in the afternoon into the pocket of my shorts ... having soft fruit in your shorts and bending down to take a six inch high puppies photo's isn't a good idea ... I found a orange mush in my pocket and a strange wet feeling when I looked for our door key. At least I amuse my wife.
It's Sunday afternoon always a great time in the bars.
The church service finishes at around 14:00h.
Lots of families together for the weekend enjoy a meal of different tapas and traditional foods, local to the area and village.
This is looking into Bar Barroso.
One of these girls is our neighbours daughter. the older her cousin.
The family is very important in Spain. Children are always welcome in the bars and restaurants of the village at any time of day or night.
We were having a good time, but the kick off of the West Ham United v Newcastle United Premiership match was nearing and I had to leave to go home.
Jane not 100% enamoured with the prospect of listening to two hours of internet commentary, took the camera and went for a walk through the village.
These two photo's were taken in Calle Toledillo.
This white wall starts next to Cafe Bar Guayacán and ends next to the apartment ... very handy!
Great views across the village to Los Reales the highest point of the Sierra Bermeja.
This photograph was taken from Benarrabá's wonderful plaza, looking West to the unusually shaped Mount Porón which rises behind the pueblo. It has an unusual terracing of Gum Cystus (A large white Rock Rose) we think to prevent soil erosion rather than look pretty which it does to best effect in May.
Great angle of the Ermita Cristo de la Vera Cruz. A small church at the end of the plaza. The larger church with the blue domed clock tower is in the lower part of the pueblo.
Next we get the white marble of this crucifix against the blue skies.
These next photo's were taken looking South from near the Restaurante Kábilas.
Wow!
It's amazing how green the Genal Valley is at this time of year.
The rest of southern Spain looks parched and any vegetation is either watered or burnt bronze.
South to the profile of the northern edge of the Sierra de Crestellina.
Refreshed Jane headed back to the village.
In Cafe Bar Guayacán, she sat in the kitchen chatting with Yolanda and Flora.
In the bar this English family were snapped and names were taken to blog about!
They are Alex and Lucy Lewis and Annie Turner. Alex lives a couple of streets from Jane's parents in London. It really is a small world.
Here they all are again with Yolanda.
This is Andrés. He's a regular in Café Bar Guayacán.
Meanwhile back home. I'm working hard on the PC. The match commentary just happens to be on.
We hammered the Hammer's and left with three much deserved points. Bring on Liverpool away on Wednesday!
I joined Jane in the kitchen of Café Bar Guayacán. Where our Spanish mother Flora spoiled us with tasty tapas and big hugs.
She looks after, and out for us, very well.
Back home I burnt the midnight oil.
All nine of our new web sites are up and running. The web site structures are all in place so that all we need to do now, is to get out and photograph Andalucía and the Costa del Sol. It's a tough life ... I might need a new camera, I've heard Nikon's are very good!
A busy day ahead.
Donkeys have been fed, watered and stroked.
The dogs fed, watered and walked.
I haven't been able to have my morning cups of tea (usually three before I start waking up) as we're out of tea bags.
So we're off to Gibraltar to do some shopping in Safeway (Morrisons').
First we stop at Gaucín to fill up the car.
We we're going to drive across the border and fill up in Gibraltar but it can take an hour to cross in both directions.
Petrol has fallen in price in Spain and is now just below 1€ for a litre. Around 68p/litre.
On Gibraltar petrol is 91 cents / 61p a litre. Not worth the wait with a Renault Clio.
Driving through Estación Jimena a temperature gauge said 38°C/100°F, it was a beautiful day.
Passed the White Storks and on to Gibraltar.
We went for a burger in La Linea.
We met Jan and Pete Stone, a lovely couple from Cardigan Bay.
They have a holiday apartment in Benalmádena.
We crossed the border and bought an all day bus ticket (£1.50).
We got off near the cable car and walked across the car park to the Botanical Gardens.
When you walk around Gibraltar the place is littered with old cannons.
They are everywhere. The military history of Gibraltar is evident at every turn. With statues and plaques, old barracks and monuments.
This is a statue of Molly Bloom from Ulysses by James Joyce, a fictional character who's early years are based in Gibraltar.
Looking up at the rock we could see a few of the Barbary apes running around.
Across the Bay of Algeciras to Algeciras
We walked back to the pedestrianised High Street area.
Gibraltar is a busy place with narrow streets and lots of cars.
You need to keep your wits about you crossing roads.
Off the top of the main street is an old court building.
Lots of buildings in Gibraltar look in need of repair, sand blasting and a coat of paint. This building however was well maintained. It had a definite colonial feel to it.
Jane called into M&S to check our Per Una dresses.
We walked down passed all the electronics and camera shops.
These stores all stock the same items which are not priced.
You are expected to barter with the assistants.
Not my idea of shopping.
In one shop a knowledgeable chap showed me the latest Canon, Sony and yes Nikon cameras.
We all decided the Nikon was best for me!
The one I wanted wasn't in stock so he took our e-mail address.
I'll check the internet for a price guide.
Whether Gibraltar is that much cheaper I'm not sure.
Also if you are taking new goods above a certain value (around £100) across the border you should pay duty. To avoid this the camera shops supply you with a case (you leave the packaging) and you walk across the border with it round your neck. The price would have to be a lot cheaper to make this worthwhile. A lot of the shops may also sell counterfeit goods ...?
Down in Casemates Square we had a quick half pint in the Lord Nelson.
Looking up from the square the Union Jack is flying.
The square is a busy area. Lots of bars and restaurants with tables outside.
We walked to the port area. a huge cruise liner was docked nearby.
The area has a block paved promenade and some decking with seating.
This ship was huge with at least seven or eight decks.
Africa.
Pacified by a half beer and relaxed by a stroll along the port, I'm ready to face the shopping.
The ordeal wasn't too bad and we were in and out quite quickly with our tea bags, bacon and sausages ...
It was a lovely afternoon, blue skies and perfect temperatures of around 30°C/86°F.
We caught a bus to the town centre (4) and then another to the frontier (9). then we crossed the busy border at rush hour without to much delay.
We enjoyed a pleasant evening drive back up to the mountains.
We called in Venta Las Acacias near San Pablo de Buceite to break the journey.
We also stopped off in the hamlet of Gibralmedina, just because we like the family who run Bar Manolo. We always get a smile and a warm welcome.
The sun was just setting as we left.
This donkey looked just like Domingo. It was a lot older and a lot smaller.
Back in Benarrabá, we fed the donkeys, gave them more water.
Jane relaxed watching Hell's Kitchen on TV, I worked on the PC catching up with the weekends blog.
The sun is out again, blue skies, September has been beautiful.
We did our usual routine with the animals.
We need some donkey seed from the Nanta animal supply shop in Gaucín.
Iberbanda/Avired is playing up again. Another go slow.
I've been trying to upload yesterday's Gibraltar photo's.
We drove to Gaucín, got the donkey feed, then went to post a letter.
We decided to spend a bit of time walking around the pueblo.
We found ourselves at the North edge of the village at the old public washing place. Which now seem to be underneath a house.
Here's Jane outside Bar Portesuelo.
A view of the bell in the castle.
There are lots of Brit's in Gaucín. Some have streets named after them. This is Calle Tina Jones ... ?
Okay not really Los Tinajones is a city in Cuba and type of large clay pot.
Take your pick which the street is named after.
I wonder how many Tina Jones's have had their photo taken under the sign?
A great view looking West across the rooftops of Gaucín to El Hacho.
There are some great streets in Gaucín.
We were enjoying our stroll.
Great view South to the coast.
The church bell tower.
The view West again.
Gaucín Castle.
Gaucín goats.
We walked through the gardens below the castle.
Down passed the front of the church.
we nearly passed La Casita which has fairly recently reopened under new management.
This is Lisa. We met Lisa within days of us moving here two and a half years ago, we haven't seen her since. Until today! Turns out she sometimes reads the blog.
This is Don who is now running La Casita. Don is an artist. He is standing next to one of his works. There's a gallery upstairs from the bar. A nice bar, with draught cider which makes a pleasant change.
This is Lisa's mother and her sister Nina.
Nina is a busy masseuse. So if your in the area and enjoy a massage, ask for Nina.
Lisa again.
We spent an enjoyable hour or so chatting in La Casita.
We also met Ally. Who seems to enjoy life in Gaucín.
We walked back through the pueblo.
A young lamb was running up the road. These children had it on a piece of string. They kindly posed for us. Most children in Spain are really well mannered and polite.
Here's Sam from La Fuente restaurante, we said that we'd photograph her face the next time that we met. It didn't take long.
Back in Benarrabá we went for a walk around the village.
This is Genalguacil.
This lad had a tiny baby lizard that he'd caught.
This is the mare and pony on some land behind the cemetery.
This is Rafael, Dami's father. He was walking his mule down to the Rio.
He's going to plough under his Orange trees tomorrow and plant potatoes.
Benarrabá clock tower.
Jane heading to Café Bar Guayacán. Stopping to pose in front of Clarissa and Peter's newly built house.
Here's Yolanda with Lupe and Encarna.
We sat with them for an hour or two before I left to feed the donkeys.
Jane stayed talking to Flora and Yolanda.
I'm up well before dawn working on websites.
There's a little bit of rain at around 06:00h but not much.
It's a cooler start to the day than of late.
We've no plans to go anywhere today.
I've been working all morning.
The dogs and donkeys have been fed and watered.
The sun is out and the sky has cleared.
I listen to the Liverpool v Newcastle United game on the radio.
We should have got two penalties but we're missing a spark somewhere in the team.
Perhaps when Kieron Dyer returns in a week or two we'll play better.
A long day working at the PC.
An early pre dawn start working on websites.
It's little dull as the sun rises.
Our guests Ann, Dyfed, Anita and David. (Could be a 60's pop group) left this morning. They've had a good time seeing their family. They've also managed to squeeze in two trips to beautiful Ronda, a trip to Tarifa and a day in Gibraltar. We hope to see them all back again.
Rain has been forecast but we're yet to see any.
I've walked the dogs and seen to the donkeys.
I work all day and most of the evening on the computer.
Just as I sit down to watch a film, it rains interrupting the satellite signal. So we watched a DVD, 'Cold Mountain' starring Nichole Kidman, Jude Law and Renée Zellweger. An excellent film.
Jane's up early cleaning and washing. She cooks me a bacon sandwich with a cheese triangle instead of margarine or butter. It works really well. Highly Recommended!
It's a beautiful day. Fluffy clouds floating across a beautiful blue sky.
I work all day on the PC.
We have a few trips planned soon, so hopefully I'll have a break from the PC. I'm getting a serious neck ache.
Jane went to Café Bar Guayacán to chat with Yolanda.
I did more work, helped by a glass of Rioja, which is allowed if you are working on Friday evenings.
A lovely day.
We sorted out the donkeys.
Jane's continuing her blitz of the house. Moving boxes from one room to another. We did fill the back of the Clio up with rubbish which we moved to the tip. So there has to be more space somewhere ...
Jane bought a tin of Heinz baked beans on our recent trip to Gibraltar.
She cooked jacket potatoes with fresh mozzarella, butter and black pepper, covered in baked beans.
I've continued with the website I'm designing.
We're going to have a break and walking to the Restaurante Kábilas for a coffee. We'll sit in the early evening sunshine. Hopefully we'll get some good photo's. After a glut earlier in the week they seem to have dried up. To much work and no play ... (for some of us at least).
I planted a Hibiscus last year next to our grape vines. The vines are doing well. The Hibiscus hasn't grown much at all. It has managed a few pretty blooms but it is still not much taller than when it was planted.
The scarecrow still looks good. The vine in the foreground is climbing through an Olive tree. There are cucumber like vegetables hanging down from it.
At the Restaurante Kábilas we had a tasteless coffee, but the views were good.
The skies were pretty with lots of clouds blowing across. The views South are always beautiful.
The Sierra Bermeja.
We had a strong coffee in Café Bar Guayacán. Yolanda is more generous with her beans!
Later we cooked a chicken curry.
We watched 'A Life Less Ordinary' starring Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz. Strange but entertaining.
We're up well before dawn.
I gave the donkeys some water in the pre dawn gloom.
We set off for the Rastro Domingo (Sunday Market) in San Luis de Sabinillas before the sun rose.
This is Gaucín castle from the North.
Looking East. Gaucín pre dawn.
The view South from Gaucín towards Manilva and the Mediterranean Sea.
Over the River Genal, it's good to see that water is now flowing.
On passed Casares (10x zoom) no sign of the sun yet!
The Costa del Sol from near Manilva.
Down into San Luis de Sabinillas we arrived at the 'Rastro Domingo'.
A few stalls were set up but we were far too early.
This guy was cooking chestnuts. The first of this years crop have been appearing this week.
This stall took ages to set up, each necklace individually hung from the roof of the stall.
The fountain is always a pretty sight.
This is Victor from Gaucín. We met him a few months ago with Theresa and Elaine.
Jane loves markets ...
The stalls are well set out. The fruit and vegetables are good quality and reasonably priced.
We left the market after about ten laps ...
We headed inland to Manilva. This is the Sierra Crestellina and Casares from Manilva.
A bit more zoom.
This is the Rastro Domingo from Manilva. Lots of cars and vans.
It's a popular Sunday event.
We walked around the old town of Manilva. We've driven around many times but never really explored the pueblo.
The main street is quite pleasant.
We had a coffee and sat outside.
We were pleasantly surprised by Manilva. Lots of very nice streets.
The hillsides around Manilva and the roads in and out are construction sites. Some huge developments are going up.
The centre of Manilva was surprisingly pleasant and tranquil.
I listened to Newcastle United v Everton. Again a disappointing 1-1 draw.
A quiet night in. Working on websites.
We're up early well before dawn.
We're going to Ronda. It's a while since we visited this beautiful town.
We checked on the donkeys, walked the dogs etc.
We set off for Ronda at around 09:00h.
It was a beautiful morning, clouds were hanging above the higher mountains as we drove along the A369.
We parked in our usual spot and walked down to the Bus station area of town. We went to Hnos. Rojas to sort out a new blind for the patio door of the apartment.
We then went to the Hotel Macias - Bodega 'El Verdad' we had tostadas and coffee.
We split up, Jane went to buy some Christmas presents ... Jane's parents are coming out to visit us in a few days time and will take their Christmas gifts home with them.
I went to try and find a printer, to get prices for business cards.
After wandering up side streets of the main shopping street for an hour I found a printers. I got prices and continued exploring.
This is a beautiful Convent/Church that is close to the Plaza de Toros.
Part of the main shopping street is having new sewers laid and the surface is up. I took a detour round and found a really pretty area of town with a pretty plaza and water feature/rill. Plaza de La Oscuridad.
A little further down near the old fountain.
This was taken standing on the old bridge looking up the gorge towards the spectacular new bridge.
It's a wonderful place, we're so lucky to be such a short drive from this amazing town.
Looking along the old city walls.
I walked up through the gardens by the gorge. I was hoping to do some bird watching for a few minutes.
A man was playing classical Spanish style music on an amplified acoustic guitar near the bridge. It echoed down the gorge and was really annoying, spoiling the usual peace. Classical guitars lose all their tonality if they are amplified. I hope he's not going to be allowed to play here all the time.
Here's the magnificent Puente Nuevo.
The gorge from the top of the Puente Nuevo. I still can't walk across without looking down. Just to scare myself.
It's a long way down.
I visited the new museum where there is a Goya exhibition of bull fighting related art.
Also an exhibition about the great Andalucian gardens.
I met Jane in the Café Bar Capri near the bridge.
We had a coffee then walked up to the car.
This is the view North in the direction of Grazalema.
A stunning view.
We drove back towards Benarrabá, stopping off to do some shopping in the Super Genal supermarket. We bumped into friends and blog readers Stuart and Christine from Stoke. They are here for a week with friends Lyngard and Jean. They have holiday homes in Benadalid and Montejaque. We arranged to meet in Café Bar Guayacán tomorrow evening.
We decide to have a drink in the roadside bar near the shop. Mesón La Ermita. It has been renovated quite recently and is nicely decorated.
The fireplace is very unusual, with the Algatocín church clock tower reproduced in the centre.
Back home we checked on the animals before calling in to see Yolanda in Guayacán.
We met Donald and Margaret Rich from Penrith. They have just completed a weeks walking holiday around Montejaque and Grazalema. Quite a mountainous and difficult area to walk in. They must be really fit!
Donald Rich.
Margaret Rich.
Donald wanted some Sweet Chestnuts to take home. They are just ripening so are a little hard to come by. In a couple of weeks they'll be everywhere. Jane went to try to find some for him.
Jane returned with a pound or two which Anna, Dami's mother had kindly given her. So hopefully Donald can roast them in Penrith when they get home tomorrow.
We had a good evening Flora looked after us with some of her wonderful tapas.
Antonio brought in a two week old puppy for Jane to see.
Cute, but she's been told ...
Back home we watched Jane's favourite program 'Hells Kitchen'.
Sophie our Siamese amused and amazed us by stealing three stuffed olives and eating them after licking and playing with them.
She also chases her tail like a dog, but a lot faster. She's like a little tornado whizzing around. You just can't help laughing.
Another good day.
I'm up at 06:00h. Working on the blog and starting to add content to our other websites. Jane's up a little later and is cleaning and washing again.
It's a perfect day, not a cloud to be seen. Temperatures must be in the high eighties.
We made a couple of trips for straw. Bringing four bales down to the house.
We have to pick up Jane's friend Jackie and her husband Pete tomorrow from Gibraltar airport. The car looks terrible. The boot has a inch deep layer of straw in it. It'll take a few hours to get halfway respectable.
We're meeting Stuart, Christine, Lyngard and Jean (from Stoke) tonight in Café Bar Guayacán they are staying in nearby Benadalid.
We fed and watered the donkeys, they look really good. Rosie gave us a big eehaw as we came around the corner.
We changed and went to Guayacán.
Flora gave us a huge plateful of paella that she'd cooked.
Stuart, Christine, Lyngard and Jean arrived. It was good to see them all again. We enjoyed a good chat, a bottle of good Rioja and some more of Flora's tapas which everyone agreed is the best.
Here's Christine, Stuart, Jean and Lyngard.
It was good to see our friends from Stoke again. Hopefully it won't be too long before we all meet up again.
More glorious weather, hot and sunny temperatures again around 32°C/90°F.
Jane has been cleaning the apartment, I washed the car.
We're off to Gibraltar this afternoon to look at cameras (Christmas might come early this year!) and to pick up Jackie and Pete.
The donkeys, dogs and cats are all happy, fed and watered. So we set off for Gibraltar.
We park in La Linea as usual and walk across the border catching the bus (9) into the town centre.
We walked up Main Street and go into a camera shop. The new Nikon D80 is in stock! Half an hour later and I'm the proud owner of a rather flashy new Nikon D80 and Sigma DG 28-300mm lens.
Jane is the proud owner of a good but well used Kodak. We've taken over 30,000 photographs with it in a little over two years.
We celebrated in the Lord Nelson in Casemates Square.
We then went for cod and chips, one of the few things which we miss from the UK.
We walked up the Main Street to M&S and Next. Jane bought a new handbag. We then slowly walked back down to Casemates Square. The streets were busy there was a good atmosphere. Gibraltar is very cosmopolitan with visitors from many countries. There is also a large Arab and Jewish community. Gibraltar is growing on us the more time we spend there.
There are canons all over Gibraltar. This is a special canon designed in Gibraltar for firing down on the Spanish from the rock. It is called a depression canon.
We caught the bus back to the frontier.
We walked to the nearby airport (50m) which is close to the border.
We went on the viewing gallery to watch the plane land.
A Monarch flight from Luton was due in at 19:05 it was late and came in minutes before Jackie and Pete's flight from Gatwick.
Here's the Gatwick plane coming into land, the Monarch flight is in the foreground.
The cockpit of the Monarch plane.
The BA flight taxiing.
The sun was going down and a breeze had picked up.
We waited for Jackie and Pete at the arrivals gate. They weren't long.
A big reunion, tears and cuddles.
We crossed the border into Spain. Customs are now very relaxed ...
We drove up to Benarrabá, unfortunately it was dark so Jackie and Pete didn't get to see the beautiful countryside.
We showed Jackie and Pete the apartment. They love it!
We went to Andrés Sánchez for tapas. We had some lovely wine from Ronda and the food was excellent. A good evening.
Back home we went to see the donkeys, Pete and Jackie couldn't wait ... they are beautiful animals.
Jackie and Jane.
I'm up early, working on our websites and doing yesterday's blog.
A busy day ahead as we're going to take Jackie and Pete to Ronda.
The pre dawn sky was beautiful. A good opportunity to test the new camera at low light levels. This is where the Kodak used to struggle.
I tried a 'Macro' shot of a rose. I'm really pleased with the results of both this and the dawn.
We set off for Ronda, it was quite cloudy in the lower Genal with mist hanging on the highest of the limestone outcrops.
As we neared Ronda the skies improved, although the sun only broke through a few times all day.
We parked in our usual spot and walked down towards the main shopping area.
If you want a romantic trip around Ronda, there are a number of horses and carriages for hire.
We walked down passed the Plaza de Toros.
In the Hotel Macias Bodega 'El Verdad' we had coffees, beers and beautiful black pudding in tomato and red wine sauce.
The inside of the Bodega is very atmospheric. I tried a non flash photograph to try to show how beautiful the lighting in the room is.
It is a favourite place in Ronda. Juan Macias kindly gave Jane and Jackie a ceramic ashtray as a gift.
The fountain in the Plaza El Socorro.
Calle Espinel.
We walked around the town and down through the Plaza de las Oscuridad. We stood on the Puente Viejo and then walked up through the gardens near the gorge.
Here's Jackie and Pete in front of the bridge.
We had coffee and then walked through the Old City.
We took Jackie and Pete into the Iglesia Santa Maria.
It is a very special place.
Jackie was about to give a sermon ...
Lots of the statues and paintings are very moving.
Outside the church.
In the gorge we watched Crag Martins and Choughs performing acrobatics. Here are two Choughs diving, wings folded back and feet tucked in. They do this for fun.
A close up.
A great sight. We walked up to the car.
The drive home was uneventful although the scenery is spectacular.
In Benarrabá we agreed to meet at 21:00h. for food in Café Bar Guayacán before heading to the plaza for the start of the Feria and Fiestas of San Miguel Arcángel which start tonight and go on all weekend.
I've put the timetable for the celebrations on www.benarraba.com
Anyone living within traveling distance of Benarrabá should come to this wonderful fiesta. You'll be made very welcome.
Here's Jackie and Jane.
John Young a regular visitor to Benarrabá.
Christine and John have a holiday home in the campo, where they have two sheep, Dolly and Molly. John and Chris have kindly said that we can take Rosie and Domingo there to graze.
More regular visitors to Benarrabá.
The group 'Dynamic' They are excellent. Very professional, playing a mix of new and old.
The feria kings and queens were crowned.
This girl smiled all night. She really beamed and deserved her title.
The new camera is smooth and works well at night in difficult lighting.
It is very good for portrait shots.
Here's Silvestre and his family at the shooting gallery. To win you have to hit a cocktail stick from about two metres, which is harder than you think.
It's the day of San Miguel Arcángel. A fiesta day in Benarrabá.
Jane and I drive to the bank in Gaucín for cash to get us through the fiesta weekend. It's a beautiful clear day.
Back in Benarrabá we change and get ready for the procession around the village. Jackie and Pete are going to go to the 'Misa', a church service in honour of San Miguel Arcángel.
Here are a few photo's of the procession.
The new camera has a different width/height ratio to the Kodak. Jane took photo's using the Kodak. The height of these photo's is slightly larger.
San Miguel Arcángel. As usual the flowers in the church were beautiful.
San Sebastián the Patron Saint of Benarrabá.
Medics were on hand in case of emergencies.
Here's Jane, now that she's got sole use of a camera, expect more of her 'arty farty' experimental shots.
It was a beautiful sunny day. A good sign for the festivities ahead.
We walked to Café Bar Guayacán where we can get a birds eye view of the procession from their balcony.
This is Miguel on his beautiful horse. Everyone called Miguel gets special wishes of congratulations on their Saint's day.
The procession headed through the plaza.
We took a short cut down to the church.
We saw Juan up in the clock tower.
He waved at us and beckoned us up.
We'd been wanting to get up the tower for a while.
The ladders up were near vertical, a little rickety and the whole tower was covered in pigeon droppings. We were both dressed quite smartly, Jane was wearing a special new 'Per Una' dress she'd been saving for the feria. We couldn't resist and went up anyway.
We thought the bells would have been rung using long ropes from below. They were being rung by two thick ropes from in the belfry.
Juan let us have a go!
Juan showed us a squab. The name for a baby pigeon.
The views were great we took lots of photographs. I'm going to do a special page on the church when I get time. There is a fund for it's repair, we'll give it some publicity.
The procession wound it's way through the twisty streets of beautiful Benarrabá. As I leaned out taking the photo's the ringing bell was directly above my head ...
Our neighbours, Adrian, Cristóbal, Carmen and Sebastián spotted us up there.
The statues were returned to the church.
Up in the plaza free food and drinks was provided.
Adrian, Carmen and Cristóbal.
Friends, Diane, Ron, Peter and Clarissa.
The band 'La Cala' provided entertainment.
Jackie with Miguel's horse.
On the way home Jane took this great shot of our neighbours dog and her pup.
We had a bite to eat and then went to the Restaurante Kábilas to see Flamenco duo, brothers Luis and Simon Núñez from Benarrabá perform.
Luis and Simon are good friends, we always like to go along to see them perform.
Marion and Onno Henke run a painting holidays course in Benarrabá.
www.paint-in-holidays.com
Everyone enjoyed the evening. Benarrabá is a wonderful place for artists.
We walked along to Café Bar Guayacán where we enjoyed a couple of bottles of good red wine and some excellent tapas.
Quite a day. We we're all too tired to make it to the plaza for the dancing.
We're up early and we're off out to Genalguacil.
Genalguacil is a pretty village with very white streets and lots of sculptures which are left by artists invited to the pueblo. The artists are given free board and lodgings and the materials they need are provide. This has been ongoing for a number of years.
On the way through Algatocín we saw hundreds of House Martins on a cable. They are migrating South for the winter.
The rising sun was directly behind them.
In Genalguacil we parked near the bus stop.
The sculptures are everywhere, most are excellent, some are a little dubious but everyone has different tastes.
We all liked the one's we photographed.
We passed this old mule and chatted with it's owner who tried to sell it to us ... we resisted the temptation.
This is a obvious favourite. a lovely carving.
Pete and Jackie thought this was a representation of Adam, eve and the serpent.
The donkey fountain, another favourite.
There is lots of Bougainvillea growing around the village.
It was a little hazy but the views are still very impressive.
Across the Genal Valley to Benarrabá. The Kodak captured the colours better than the Nikon! The automatic landscape setting isn't very good. I'll have to us a manual setting for landscapes. All other shots are excellent though, especially portraits.
Jane zooms in.
A black cat just like our Daisy and Laura.
The church tower. We wandered through the cemetery as well. Pete and Jackie had never seen a Spanish cemetery, they are very beautiful and well kept. Far better than dreary graveyards.
Jackie sits on one of the sculptures a beautiful root carved ito a chair.
Probably most peoples favourite.
We enjoyed our walk. The streets were quiet, we all needed a drink but no bars were open, there are only three that we know of.
The village is very pretty but really surreal. We bought bottles of water from a shop and drove back across the Genal Valley to the real world.
Our friend Pedro was making a huge paella in Café Bar Guayacán, he invited us along to see him make it in a huge paella pan, cooked on a equally huge calor gas ring.
Pedro is a character, he loves being photographed, he's a real extrovert. We started the paella with a beer each.
The paella began by cooking some large flat bones from a wild black pig and some fat in olive oil.
After ten minutes they were removed and diced meat from the pig that was killed in a hunt was put in the pan. Garlic, Thyme, Oregano and Rosemary were added. All were picked wild from the hillsides.
A couple of red chilli peppers were thrown in. The meat was cooked until it turned a rich dark brown.
Next forest mushrooms went in.
Jane helped by stirring.
A few pieces of free range chicken was put in and fried before six litres of beer was added, one for us the rest in the paella.
A mixture of chopped tomatoes and peppers went in.
Every time the paella was tasted more salt went in.
Flora casts an expert eye over the proceedings ... mas sal.
So more salt went in.
Pete and Jackie came to watch and help stirring.
More salt ...
A few litres of a rich pre prepared stock went in.
Finally rice was added to soak up the liquid. This is a crucial stage, knowing how much rice will soak up the liquid so that the paella isn't sloppy, or worse, there isn't enough liquid to swell the rice.
Cooked slices of red and green peppers were laid on top to decorate the paella. Quartered hard boiled eggs were a final garnish.
Next a tricky stage, getting it downstairs and into the bar where the smell had been attracting large numbers of customers.
Pedro serves the first plateful.
We all enjoyed the 'Paella of the mountains'
It was a great success we all had at least two platefuls, I had three!
We went for a quick stroll around the village.
Then we went to feed the donkeys some carrots.
Next we headed to the sports area where the 'Fiesta de Espuma' (Festival of Foam) was going to be held.
We saw this last year, the kids loved it.
We went to Bar Andrés Sánchez for tapas. Andrés has an excellent selection of wine. Many from local vineyards around Ronda. We had a couple of bottles of a really smooth wine called Chinchilla.
The food was also excellent.
A little after midnight we walked up to the plaza to enjoy the fiesta which was in full flow.
Pete and Jackie Nash.
Jackie and Jane had a good dance.
Our neighbours and good friends Cristóbal and Carmen.
Jane, Jackie and Flora.
The plaza was packed. The busiest we've ever seen it.
This years feria has been a huge success.
Jackie and Jane, still passadoubling ...
It was quite a night! The music stopped at 09:00h! Although I must admit we didn't last that long!