19 Feb 2015. <ES> Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, & Bailen, & Santa Elena, Jaén, & Granada, Andalucia —
Woke up to a bit of a surprise — our car park was a hive of activity, and there was a weekly market up and running in the park. Well, what could we do, but go shopping. Many of the stalls we recognised from the market in Toledo a few weeks ago, so we suspect they do a circuit round the local markets.
Susie noticed that a couple of the clothing stalls, run by people obviously not Spanish, offloaded their wares in a very haphazard way from rather dirty looking vans. Others were beautifully set up and obviously took a pride in their wares.
The fruit stalls were all grouped round one side of the market, near the plant stalls — the produce looked beautiful. Suzie looked at the clothing, but unfortunately didn't see anything she wanted. But we bought a barra loaf from a bread stall that was almost being mobbed by the locals — a good recommendation — and we indulged in some sweets from a stall on the way out.
Then it was time to make our move, towards Granada. From Valdepeñas down to Bailen (just short of Andújar) we were on familiar roads, much of it flat plains covered with vines and olives, but also we went through the spectacular mountainous region of Desfiladero de Despeñaperros once again.
Then we turned south and east towards Granada. After Jaén (where we took a Macca's stop — superfluous, as it proved later!) we started to move towards seriously mountainous regions. We crossed a couple of relatively minor Sierras, but we were starting to get better and better views of the
Sierra Nevada, behind Granada, with its seriously imposing peaks like Pico Veleta (3394 metres) and Mulhacén (3483 metres), amongst others, all capped with gleaming snow. This is a serious ski resort! But our interest is in the Alhambra. We pulled in to a camping area, conveniently located near La Zubia, in the southern outskirts of Granada. They had space, so we booked in, and will sort out out movements tomorrow. As intimated, our earlier computer stop was superfluous, as there is WiFi access and electricity throughout this whole site, which is a bit of a luxury for your two intrepid travellers!
Distance driven — today, 146 miles ( 235 km ); to date, 13,756 miles ( 22,139 km )
Fantastic scenery, beautifully pictured. So a Sierra is a mountain? Never really thought about what it meant before. I must be getting tired. I wondered what the statue of the white hand pointing into the sunset above meant until I realised it was just my cursor! I thought it meant look to the heavens for the answers to all your problems. Silly me. Perception ain't all it's meant to be at 0341 but it's too hot to sleep indoors and too insect laden outdoors. The olive grove looked lovely but didn't see the vines. They are planting groves of olives betwween vines all around the barossa and Clare valleys here too. Shame really. Olives have to be brutally confined and bird dropped seedlings eradicated here or we'd be inundated with the damned things. Nick made a great damper the other day using olive oil. it was wonderful. At present have a left wry neck and a left SI joint out and muscle-spasmed. Touring locally for a month could be a sort of rest for you. You'll probably come home speaking Spanish like the natives. I'm writing up myy literaturre search some now and finding it ain't Utopia being fat +++ and pregnant. I hypothesise that if these women are continuously managed by an expert team they get to know, and which mentors and educates them sensibly on a need to know basis as things happen without scaring them out of their wits about possible risks, they'll manage pretty well. My research will evaluate how close or distant FMC is from delivering such a model of care. It worked well in Scotland and I adapted it in our highly successful birthing unit at Avoca, So keep on keeping on. Sophie and I loved the little flowering cactii at the market.
ReplyDeleteMy white Frangi has given us a prolific crop of perfect blooms this year and now they have finished a few lovely roses have kicked back in. I love sweet snelling flowers. My pink Frangi has grown leaves galore but given me no flowers this year, We have the Adelaide Fringe festival on. Oh to be 40 years' younger and earning. A lot of the shows look really interesting. Oh well, its 0411 soIi'd better get another ice pack and try to sleep. Lotsa LOVE and be safe, Cathy. PS am looking forward to the Alhambra.
Dearest Cathie, How delighted we have been to read your comments along the way.
ReplyDeleteWe are having a great journey....so much to see !!! So glad that you have joined us.
We have also been delighted to catch-up on the family news,not having contact with you was awful.I just need to remind you though that a blog is an open channel for any one and every one to read..nothing is private.A suggestion is that we keep the e-mail copies that come to us and then delete the actual blog so that your news is private. But we can't answer the e-mail notifications as they have no e-mail address. Are you able please to give us your actual e-mail address? Then continue answering on the blog,we will read and delete and then answer you via your email address.
I am so pleased that you are enjoying your study again....using your brain as you have always enjoyed doing....You have such experience in this topic you have chosen.
when we get back you will have to come and stay,I promise to be a better host than last time...life was a little complicated then .
Love to all
Cheers Susie