September 1st - 15th 2006
Written by Geoff Forster
Another hot day.
No plans to go to far.
Jane's cleaning the apartment, preparing it for guests Tony and Faye who arrive tomorrow.
I'm working on the computer.
Rosie and Domingo are having a day in the village.
We visit them regularly during the day to spoil them with carrots.
We've decided to buy four new domain names for new websites which we're planning to develop over the next year. We'll put links to them here when we have started the design stage.
We sat on the sun terrace and enjoyed the cool mountain breeze.
I've been watching a re-run of John Le Carré's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'. Jane thinks that it's boring so she stayed upstairs, watching the stars and the distant headlights from the odd car driving through the campo on the mountains opposite.
Blue skies and yet more sunshine.
Jane put the finishing touches to the apartment.
I've been working on the PC setting up the new websites.
I've fed and taken water for Rosie and Domingo.
Tony and Faye have arrived safely. They've been reading the blog since we started it. They enjoy visiting Spain and have been in Nerja the previous week. Faye is a teacher but she voluntarily works with Border Collies and sheep, she has eleven of her own (sheep that is). She also catches and identifies moths for local records. She identified one for us earlier this summer.
I took them to see Rosie and Domingo, they are always pleased to see people, they love the attention.
I watched the football. England v Andorra in the European championship qualifier. 5-0 to England a good result.
I fed and took more water to the donkeys.
Faye and Tony have settled in they like the apartment and the mountains. They've been to Gaucín to have a look around the pueblo.
Later they going to explore the streets and bars of Benarrabá.
Jane and I stayed in with the dogs and cats and watched TV.
Jane worked researching on the PC for information that may be useful for the new websites.
Here's Sophie our Siamese cat asleep on top of a chair.
We're up quite early. We're going to take Rosie and Domingo down to Paco's land for the day.
Faye was on the steps enjoying the sun, bird watching. She was watching a Great Spotted Woodpecker. She's also seen her first Hummingbird Hawk moth yesterday in Gaucín, which she was very pleased about. They are lovely insects.
She told us that she'd also seen a Hoopoe in Nerja.
She's seen plenty of Eagles, Vultures and passerines including a Sardinian Warbler near the apartment.
We took some photo's of Faye and Tony with the donkeys.
Faye joined us and led Domingo down through the village into the campo. Jane led Rosie who wasn't on her best behaviour today and walked very slowly.
Back in Benarrabá, Faye and Tony went to Ronda for a few hours.
Jane and I worked on the new websites together.
I started to watch the Brazil v Argentina friendly but fell asleep.
So I had a quick Siesta.
We fed the donkeys and chatted with Faye and Tony outside the apartment as the sun went down.
We arranged to meet later in Café Bar Guayacán.
Here's Tony and Faye enjoying a cool beer.
As usual there was a friendly atmosphere. José bought us all a drink.
Jane got the keys to the sun terrace from Yolanda, so we went up to look at the stars, and the lights of the distant villages on the mountainsides opposite.
Later we were joined by Pepina, Miguel, Raul and another lad who's name I've forgotten but will find out!
We got home at little after 03:00h. Another great night out.
Tony and Faye left for the airport this morning.
They'd had a good time and loved the village and animals.
We hope to see them again.
I fed Rosie and Domingo, they are well.
We went for a bale of straw, the string binding it came off so there was straw everywhere, the back of the Clio looks like a barn.
I've been transferring our websites to a new server.
We've also bought another domain name so we now have five new websites to develop during the winter. We're going to be busy!
Jane's been washing, I've been having a nightmare with the new server.
Instead of getting easier, setting these things up gets more and more complicated. Too many bells and whistles.
The animals are mixing together quite well, a few hisses and spits but no fights.
An e-mail from Faye and Tony, saying that they arrived home safely.
Jane watched 'Hells Kitchen' which she likes.
I watched 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' which I like.
I give up with the new server just after midnight.
Perhaps it will decide to play fair tomorrow.
A few clouds around today and a strong breeze.
We're up early to walk Rosie and Domingo to Paco's land.
The temperatures are in the high 70's. Perfect for walking.
The sun is trying to get out but only partially succeeding.
We're off to Gaucín to post a letter and we need to check the tyre pressure on the Clio.
Jobs done we went to Venta El Socorro.
This donkey takes less feeding and doesn't need any exercise.
Next time ...
Gaucín Burro.
I tried the Albóndigas (meat balls) in the venta, they were excellent.
Back in Benarrabá ... we walk the dogs and then go to Bar Andrés Sánchez to meet Miguel and Jenine.
Miguel has kindly offered to email me translations and corrections to my attempts at Spanish on www.benarraba.com
We had a good chat with Miguel before going down into the campo for Rosie and Domingo. We walked back to the pueblo as night quickly fell. Fortunately there was close to a full moon as we gave the donkeys water, seed and straw.
I got all the computing problemas sorted out. Strange how a good nights sleep can help you problem solve.
I listened to England beat Macedonia 0-1. Three points from what could have been a tricky game.
At around 22:00h. We went to Café Bar Guayacán for tapas.
This is Cristóbal. Cristóbal lives in Barcelona but comes from Benarrabá and often visits for extended holidays. He's a lovely man, we look forward to seeing him.
I think this lady is called Madruga, her husband is Andrés.
They are good friends of Yolanda's family.
We had a good night.
Great tapas and as usual a great atmosphere.
We're cleaning the apartment, ready for new guests Andrew and Barbara.
The donkeys are munching on barley straw.
Jane and I decide to buy more domain names adding another four to our list of websites. Now we have nine new websites to develop over the next few months.
Andrew and Barbara flew into Sevilla and arrived at around 17:00h after a lovely drive through some fantastic scenery around Ubrique and Cortes de la Frontera.
They loved the apartment, views and are looking forward to a relaxing week. They love walking so will be spoiled for choice about routes to walk.
Jane and I went for a walk to the shops.
We bought a kilo of organic pork tenderloin for 9euros/ £6.
We're having pork medals, setas (a type of mushroom), peppers and potatoes served with a creamy pepper sauce.
We called into Bar Andrés Sánchez for a seafood tapas appetizer.
The meal was beautiful.
The pork was succulent and melted in the mouth.
A beautiful day, blue skies and temperatures in the high eighties F.
Rosie and Domingo are happy eating straw and seeds.
I've been setting up mail accounts for all our new websites.
Chris and Carol Scotford have invited us to their house in Gaucín for lunch.
We get there about 14:00h.
We haven't had a good chat with them for ages, so lots of catching up to do!
Carol had cooked a fantastic quiche served with lovely salads.
We spent an enjoyable afternoon on their terrace drinking wine. Poor Jane drank iced water (designated driver!).
The food and company were fantastic.
We watched a Booted Eagle (female!) hunting on the hillsides below the house. At one point it was so close in a dive we could see its talons.
Of course the camera was in it's case.
Just as we were leaving Carol showed us a house plant she has that is in flower. I've no idea what the plant is, the flower was exotic and very beautiful. Pink with pale blue dotted throughout the centre.
Hopefully it won't be as long before we meet up again.
Back in Benarrabá, I let the dogs out up the track near the apartment.
Here's our youngest Border Collie, Jake running towards me.
We spent the night discussing the best way forward with our websites.
We're going to have to be very organised ...
We walked Rosie and Domingo down into the campo for the day.
It was around 10:30h. and temperatures were already high.
On the way back we stopped to photograph some kittens scrambling through a bramble bush.
At that moment our friend Sebastián came down the track. By coincidence he was about to feed the kittens for friends who are away on holiday. He let us watch them get their food.
The ginger kitten was the largest. It must have been the sole survivor from an earlier litter.
This kitten was playing with an ant.
We walked back to the village with Sebastian, said " 'ta luego" and went home.
We went to Algatocín to the Super Genal for a few groceries.
We collected a bale of straw for the donkeys.
Jane cleaned our bedroom and I messed experimenting with some graphics on the PC.
We walked down to get Rosie and Domingo, it was a beautiful evening.
Later we cooked another meal with organic pork tenderloin from Benarrabá.
More perfect weather.
We don't do much all day ...
Newcastle United lost a 1-0 lead in the last ten minutes to lose 1-2 to Fulham.
I'm suffering from serious depression, I'm not even talking to the donkeys!
Jane wants to go out to sit outside the bars.
Instead we cook a curry and I get Jane to hide the razor blades.
Bring on West Ham and Liverpool away ...!
At least the weather isn't letting me down and it's free! Unlike that multi million pound shower that rained on the North East of England yesterday.
I'm still not happy.
We walk the donkeys down into the campo to feed.
I'm working experimenting with CSS layouts for our new websites.
I watch the Italian GP from Imola.
Jane persuades me to cheer up and go out for a beer.
On the way to Café Bar Guayacán.
Jane took a few photographs.
After Café Bar Guayacán we headed to the Restaurante Kábilas. Jane still had the camera.
A lovely quiet street. The ironwork at the windows and lots of pot plants around the village. This 'calle' is one of the many pretty streets in Benarrabá.
Horse and Pony.
Scarecrow.
Normally flowering in April/May this Wisteria has been producing sweet scented blooms all year.
We sat on the sun terrace of the Restaurante Kábilas.
It was quite busy with the last of the lunchtime diners enjoying beer and coffee.
We walked down into the village.
We enjoyed a beer in the shade outside Bar Andrés Sánchez.
This lady was sketching the men playing dominoes outside the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). This little Spanish girl sat with her.
This is Anabel, Juan Jesús and their daughter Ainara.
This is Andrés Sánchez looking down from the roof of his bar.
Andrés always makes time to talk to us.
She might have more chance of finishing her sketch now that her little Spanish helper has gone.
We moved along to Pub Bar Dami.
This is Anabel, Juan Jesús and Ainara again.
This little girl did get some ice cream in her mouth.
In Bar Barroso we were intrigued by this large rope used as a hand rail down to the cellar where they cure jamóns.
We had some of Bar Barroso's regionally famous jamón ibérico.
Everyone was having a good time. This is Sebastián and his wife.
Outside in the street lots of families were sitting enjoying the evening.
This lady always speaks to us. She has a lovely family.
These ladies were having a chat and a coffee.
We ended up on the sun terrace of Café Bar Guayacán until the early hours of the morning ...
Another fantastic September day.
I've been working on the layout of our new websites.
We met blog reader Chris Pile, his wife Jackie, their friends Chris and
Val. Chris and Jackie have a holiday home in the Sabinillas/Casares area.
We'd arranged to meet them in Café Bar Guayacán for a drink and tapas.
We had a good chat before heading off for a tour of Benarrabá.
Chris, Chris Pile, Jackie Pile, Val.
We walked through the plaza, down into the village passed the church.
We called into Bar Barroso, where José gave us a plateful of his wonderful jamón ibérico to try. Everyone was very impressed.
If you are thinking of buying pork or jamón you should come to Benarrabá. It is the best!
We said goodbye to Chris, Jackie, Chris and Val. They all loved Benarrabá. Next time they visit they want to see the donkeys.
The donkeys are in the campo on Paco's land. We walked down to bring them back to the village.
Our guest's Andrew and Barbara came out to see them.
They've been to Ronda twice (Everyone loves Ronda!) They've also made a jetfoil trip to Africa (Tarifa - Tangiers).
We had a night in. We cooked a lovely yogurt based chicken, lentil and potato curry.
We watched 'The Thin Red Line' a very long, but excellent WWII film set in the South Pacific..
We got to bed at around 03:00h.
A dull day. The first for a while. Temperatures are still reasonable, we're still in shorts and T-shirts!
The weather forecast says 15% chance of rain, so we've moved some of the donkeys straw into their little stable.
The sky was dark grey but sunlight is getting through lighting up the mountains in 'spotlights', it's very beautiful.
Occasional rumbles of distant thunder but no rain in Benarrabá.
Perhaps Ronda or the Sierra de las Nieves got a soaking.
We decided to go out for a drink in Café Bar Guayacán.
On the way we took a few photographs. The skies had cleared and the sunlight was shining on the mountainsides opposite.
This was the view North looking up the Genal Valley.
This is where the skies looked darkest.
As you can see that the skies above Benarrabá were less threatening. These unusually shaped clouds hung above Genalguacil.
We called in to see Yolanda. We enjoyed a couple of glasses of Rioja.
On to the Restaurante Kábilas.
Our guests Andrew and Barbara had just enjoyed a meal.
They fly back to the UK early tomorrow morning.
Andrew and Barbara have really fallen in love with the mountains and the villages of the area. We hope they will return. Perhaps in April /May 2007 to see the wildflowers.
Onno Henke was dining with two artists from the painting course that he and his wife Marion run.
We had a quick drink with Andrew and Barbara who have a very early start tomorrow.
Then we walked back to Café Bar Guayacán where we talked with Yolanda and Flora for hours. They certainly look after us!
Andrew and Barbara left early for Sevilla Airport.
We hope they have a safe journey home.
It's a little overcast, cooler and the dogs are raring to go for a longer walk. We set off along the camino down passed the spring at El Chorruelo.
This is our Border Collie Jake. A lot of the Cork Oak trees in the area have just been stripped. They really stand out. They look the same colour as cinnamon but turn to a deep cherry red later in the year.
Jake rolling in the dust.
Cork Oaks.
Little house in the woods, with a beautiful Cork Oak next to it.
Sally and her son Jake.
Ferdy our oldest Border Collie, he's nearly twelve. He's Jake's father.
He still loves playing.
It was a beautiful day. The sun came out. We enjoyed the walk. The dogs had a good run.
Poor Ferdy is deaf, so we keep him on his lead for safety as he can't here us calling him.
We had a good night in. Working on our new websites and cooking a curry.
It poured down during the night. The first heavy rains for months.
Great news hopefully we'll get lots more. Preferably during the night!
Jane has been cleaning the apartment, I've been working on the website.
We got straw for the donkeys and checked they were well after the rains.
Guest's Ann and Dyfed arrived with two friends.
They are visiting their daughters who have a finca in the campo near Benarrabá.
They thought the apartment was beautiful and the views stunning.
In the evening we cooked yet another curry. We do like them!
We're up early. Walking the dogs and feeding the donkeys.
I catch up with some work on the PC.
We're off to Gaucín to meet up with Maurice and Alison.
Maurice and Alison have lived in Gaucín for thirteen years. They have a house split into three apartments. Two of which they let to holidaymaker's. We went to discuss an internet site.
Here's some views from the sun terrace of the top apartment.
El Hacho.
The rooftops looked great after being washed by Thursdays rains. The sky was so blue. It was a lovely view.
We went to Bar Paco Pepe near the fountain in Gaucín for refreshments.
We saw Sam (Samantha) Duckett. Sam runs the popular and successful La Fuente restaurante in Gaucín with her husband. Today Sam was making a fashion statement with the bright pink and orange. The shoes were amazing and tied the look together. She kindly posed for a photo'. Next time we'll get her to take the hat off so that we can see her face!
Gaucín is very popular with tourists of many nationalities.
A group of young Germans were enjoying the sunny day and some tapas. We took photo's for them with their cameras. One lad had an amazing Nikon digital. (I want one for xmas ...hint!).
This is Maurice and Alison. We had a wonderful few hours with them. They know so much about the area and all the people of Gaucín.
We said goodbye to Maurice and Alison. We couldn't resist putting on our EuroMillions ticket in Bar El Socorro.
Here I am with Juan Jesús our neighbour from Benarrabá, his friend and the bar owner. We tried a couple of dishes of different meat and potato tapas.
Back in Benarrabá, we called into Café Bar Guayacán to see Yolanda. Rosi the girl who gave us Sophie our Siamese cat, was in the bar with her cute puppy. Here's Jane with the pup. I had to stop Jane from dog napping it.
This dog has to be the prettiest dog on the planet.
Next we walked down to Bar Andrés Sánchez. Here's Andrés with his cousin Alberto.
We walked back to Café Bar Guayacán. On the way we bumped into Pam the artist whom we photographed a few days ago.
Pam is from Seattle and is enjoying the tranquility of picturesque Benarrabá. We get a lot of artists visiting the village.
We persuaded Pam to join us in Guayacán.
Pam was keen to practice her sketching.
She drew a number of figures at the bar and then Jane sat and posed for her. Something that Jane does very well ...
Pam finished her sketch which was good.
She left to join her fellow artists in Bar Andrés Sánchez for tapas.
We took lots of photo's of Spanish visitors to the village, many were born here but now live away. They return for vacations and long weekends. Family/village ties are strong in Spain.
I'll put these photographs on www.benarraba.com when I have time.
I will include this one because she was so beautiful.
This is Marina, her mother was born in Benarrabá but she now lives in the mountains just outside Madrid. They have returned to Benarrabá to proudly show everyone their new daughter.
Not all the visitors in the bar were Spanish.
This is Andrew. Andrew is the son of our guest's Ann and Dyfed. Andrew and his girlfriend are staying in the campo with his sisters Rachel and Helen.
We got back home as night fell.
There was barely enough light to see my way out behind the house to feed the donkeys their daily seed supplement.
A really enjoyable day. It's always good to meet new friends.