I’m writing this in what feels like a cage full of parrots. It is in fact a Spanish campsite, in the Alpajurras mountains south of Granada, filling up with happy Spaniards, overjoyed at the prospect of a long holiday weekend. It’s Constitution Day on Saturday and Immaculate Conception Day on Monday. IC Day refers to the Virgin Mary apparently, quite how or why she was immaculately conceived, I have no idea as I’ve never worried about the sex life of her parents. It surely can’t be the IC of Jesus only 2 weeks before Christmas? They’ve still got to get on donkeys and travel to Bethlehem after all. I digress…..
Back to where we are, lots of happy Spaniards unloading cars packed with dogs, children, bags of food etc etc and spotlights which they rig up outside for communal eating. (Actually, they are currently inside, with the lights on outside! It’s quite cold in these here mountains)
So what have we been up to in these past few days?
Lovely sunny weather at Ronda, warm enough to sit out and eat in. Ronda itself is fabulous, clinging to a cliff face but also bloodthirsty, as people were flung to their deaths In the huge gorge as recently as during the Civil War. The Spanish seem to be a bit bloodthirsty I think, after reading about Torquemada and the Inquisition and remembering the poor old South American native peoples…..
Some twisty slightly hair raising roads through various mountain ranges, all massively impressive. I snap along with my box Brownie, fully aware that I will bin most of the pictures or not have the slightest idea where that particular rock face was…..
The ridiculous sat nav chose to take us down some very narrow streets which was exciting for all concerned, not least the Spaniards in their parked cars as they saw us lumbering towards them down their narrow streets.
Last night we stayed at a campsite with the best showers ever on a campsite. Normally one has to shiver in a draught but these were kitted out for skiers so they had two sets of doors and were vey snug indeed, with really hot water. Bliss.
Then on up the mountains of the Sierra Nevada for Clare to take some footage of the three Bimobils going off-road and into the snow which she could use for publicity and on the company website. I think the idea was more attractive to Clare than the reality, as some of the roads were pretty hairy, narrow with very sharp hairpin bends necessitating the use of the differential gearbox ie you have to use a special gearing which then has all four wheels turning at the same speed for maximum grip in a very low gear. Quite challenging, particularly with some sheer drops behind. ‘Do we have to take the same road down?’ asked Clare. Fortunately not. It was a good experience though – difficult conditions with other capable drivers around to help if necessary. Needless to say Alan and Lottie the Landrover managed admirably. It was lovely and bright and crisp with the sun reflecting off the snowy upper slopes and yes, I did have my vest on, also my tights under my trousers….and socks!
So tomorrow it’s more photoshoots and then back to Orgive for the tapas festival, hurray!
All I have to do now is make sure I have the earplugs to hand in case of barking dogs in the night, they never seem to stop over here…..
As to the morning, well apparently here, you get hot water between 8.30 – 10.30, so that’s the time for your shower!