#638 Almond Blossom

#623 October 25th - Still Incredible Weather

#601 Dinner

We live in a restaurant!

#596 Just a Perfect Day.

“Do you want a lift to Benirrama in the morning?” Sally enquired,
“That’s where we’re meeting to go mountain walking, you could start your ride from there”.

Mmm, I know that means having to get up earlier than usual - 8 o’clock! But still, it’s going to be a nice day and it would cut out the first 35km of local roads of which I know every bump and grind, so OK.

Vall de Gallinera (google streetview pic)

Next morning we get to Benirrama and as I unload my bike I glance at the village sign - Benirrama. I start to think of George Harrison singing  and adapt the lyrics:

(Who’s George Harrison? you might ask, well here is a link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMgEupff-E 
In fact, why don’t you open a new tab and play this in the background).

Benirrama,
Benirrama
Hare Krishna,
Hare, Hare.

An amazing day, late April in southern Spain, the weather is perfect; medium to warm, not a cloud to be seen, a light breeze and as we are inland from the sea it’s crisp and clear.

The start is a gentle climb up the CV700 also known as the Vall de Gallinera. It’s quiet, just bird song. There’s very little traffic, in the first two hours I see less than a dozen cars.

Benirrama, Benirrama

The Vall de Gallinera is a valley with this one road running parallel to a very dry river bed, an ex river if you will. I ride through tiny villages; Beniali, Beniaia, Benissiva. Beni means son of. It dates back to when the Moors from North Africa were resident here. They were mostly evicted about 1,000 years ago but you can still see the remains of their agriculture. Cut into the stony hillside there are terraces where the Moors grew their cereals so they could have couscous for Sunday lunch.

Hare Krishna,

In fact some of the terraces are still used, this valley is most famous for growing cherries, then almond and olives. It’s a rugged mountainous countryside, wild boar live here, not to be seen during the day but walkers see a lot of “evidence”. In the autumn they are hunted and put in the pot, a speciality in some of the restaurants who put up signs saying “Jabali” (but pronounced habali).

Hare, Hare.

After 20km of climbing a left hand turn and the road is now heading back towards the coast. Still no traffic, no more little villages, no houses, just an asphalt road through a wild, rocky landscape. However, It’s very green which is surprising as we’ve had little rain this year. Beside the road many pretty spring flowers, it’s all quite idyllic.

Benirrama, Benirrama

It’s a “sparkly” day. Years ago a hippy looking chap stopped me and told me earnestly “It’s one of those Sparkly, Sparkly Days, Man” I think it had something to do with the cigarette he was smoking.

Hare Krishna,

Zooming along, one short 16% climb and then down hill to the next sign of habitation, the village of La Vall d’Ebo. Options here but I carry on the main road and climb again for 3 or 4km, then the descent of the day; a snaking, wheeling, twisting, flying down whizz. It’s a decent descent.

Hare, Hare.

From the top of Vall D'Ebo,

At the bottom, near Pego, I could take the flat road home through the rice fields. I never thought of Spain as being a rice growing country but here in the Valencia region it’s the basis of our famous dish - Paella! Trying not to think about food too much I turn right, go through Sagra, on to Tormos and another whizzing ride, now through acres of orange groves.

Nearly home, a bit of a headwind, but no matter, it’s been a fabulous ride (apart for that maddening mantra!).

Benirrama.

#588 March 19

Our Fallas Fiesta is this week. On Wednesday the dozen or so that have been built specially for the fiesta get set on fire. This is out local one.

#579 Shorts (and T shirts)

Even the wind is warm :-)

#574 Weather today will mostly be . . . . . .

. . . . . even warmer on our terraza :- )

#564 Blue

It really was this blue.

#530 Mostly Sunny.

#518 Maserof

http://www.maserof.com

All photos with thanks to Al Milligan

#511 Almond

Almond trees in blossom.
Have to photograph it quickly as the blossom will be gone next week.

#510 Pelota

Nice mural on the side a local Pelota court.
Pelota is like a game of squash - but bigger.
Bigger racquets, bigger balls, but only three side walls to the court.

#477 Our Sea

If you were here and turned around you would be able to see our house.

#445 Saturday? it must be Fiesta time.

#441 Day Trip

Thanks to Barbara Butler for this goat feeding pic - all mine got lost :-(

We went on an organised coach trip to visit a goat farm near Quatretonda, a village a bit north from us but still in the Valencian region. Very interesting for us as we used to be goat keepers.

As their milk is not pasteurised they must keep the cheese a minimum of two months before sale. Consequently the cheese is a bit . . . . strong (to put it mildly).

Then in the afternoon to the Museu Internacional de Titelles d´Albaida, which is a puppet museum. I thought we'd be looking at some bits of painted papier-mâché models that only get brought out on a Saint's days or fiestas.

I was surprised to find an excellent collection of international puppets; Chinese, Japanese, Javanese and all types of puppet; glove, string, some worked by rods - I even saw a few Muppets as well.

(pic: valenciaterraimar.org)

#432 Sushi and . . .

There is a new tapas bar called MariSushi across the road from our house. It's a bit bizarre, it serves Sushi and Flamenca (not the music but some type of Southern Spanish tapas) plus very exotic booze.

The other thing is the decor is a bit . . . rococo, if I were to be polite. Anyway, I fit in very well when wearing my new pink jersey ;-)

#426 Fallas 2012

A few days before this years Fallas Fiesta in Denia the weather was good - up to 25c max.

However, on the day of the burning the temperature fell to v cold, then it rained, so we stayed at home.

#410 Crappy Christmas!

We are in Barcelona. We went for a walk down Las Ramblas and saw these Caga Tios for sale. Apparently it's a Catalunyan traditions for kids to have a Caga Tio, translated into English as Uncle Crapper!

It's a festive log with a happy face, held up on front legs and covered by a blanket. The idea is to feed it daily throughout December with sweeties so that on Christmas Eve the lucky children can beat it on the back, forcing it to crap a load of presents (cunningly concealed under the blanket).

We were a bit late to get one and feed it enough to excrete anything worthwhile, but we did go into the huge Boqueria food market and bought a kilo of fresh tuna for a mere 8€. It was delicious.

Continuing the crap theme, another Catalan tradition is to put a little figurine in their nativity scene of someone having a shit. All sorts of figures are made from President Obama to the entire Barcelona football team. It's not considered rude . . . . . . . I don't think - just a fecal thing.

pic from caganer.com

#403 All Saints Day

As it's a holiday here in Spain we went out for lunch. First we had little clams and braised vegetables, then a big dish of mixed fish and shellfish. White wine and finally some strong coffee . . . . . . . . :-)

#370 Fallas

Our local district, Baix El Mar, won this year's Fallas.
I didn't mean to, but woke up at 2:30 and was wide awake.
(must be my subliminal alarm clock).
So we got up and watched the fireworks and the burning.
The firemen are there to keep the buildings wet - it wouldn't do to set the neighbourhood on fire.