Un Árbol Es Hermoso

Trees are beautiful. They fill up the sky. If you have a tree, you can climb up its trunk, roll in its leaves, or hang a swing from one of its limbs. Cows and cats can nap in the shade of a tree. Birds can make nests in the branches. A tree is good to have around. A tree is nice.

Factoid: A Tree Is Nice By Janice May Udry is the 1957 Caldecott Medal winning book that speaks simply and elegantly of the many pleasures a tree provides, why trees are so good to have around as it describes the delights to be had in, with, or under a tree. Also available in Spanish. Janice May Udry is the author of several books for children including The Moon Jumpers and Let's Be Enemies.

Fresco Azul

Loafing by the pool today. Did a bit of cloud watching, got bored and gave up after 5 minutes as I didn't spot any clouds. It's a good job that my vision is good, especially for the colour blue. There's a lot of blue here. Sky, sea, my eyes, the pool. Very Duende just sitting by the pool.

Factoid(s): Spain is the third largest country in Europe. Actress Penelope Cruz was born in Madrid, the capital of Spain. The guitar was invented in Andalusia in the 1790s. The 1992 Olympic games were hosted in Barcelona, one of Spain's biggest cities. The official name of Spain is The Kingdom of Spain. Spain is the nearest European country to Africa.

Ayuntamiento

A day of peace and quiet as the tribe bumbled off to the coast. Something to do with getting paperwork sorted out. I don't concern myself with paperwork much these days, don't seem to have the time. One of my thoughts today was about some of the tongue twister words in Spanish. Ayuntamiento is one such word. It means town hall or town council. Don Duende always gets in a pickle pronouncing it. Don't know why as it's very simple - A*yun`ta*mi*en"to.

Factoid: The town of Motril is located in the Spanish region of Andalucia on the Costa Tropical. It is the biggest town on the coast with a thriving commercial, fishing and leisure port. Nestling at the foothills of the Sierra Lujar mountains, Motril lies at the heart of the Costa Tropical which is one of the most lush and productive agricultural areas of Spain. The Costa Tropical Granada takes its name from the sub-tropical climate which enables the cultivation of exotic fruits and crops such as sugar cane, oranges, lemons, custard apples, avocadoes, mangoes and bananas. With warm winters and long hot summers giving an average year round temperature of 20C, this area is a magnet for Spanish and foreign visitors alike. Motril is the areas main commercial and shopping centre.

La Bandera de España

Although I've always liked flora and fauna my appreciation of the variety and range of colours has increased since I moved to Spain. There is constant change here. These plants are very common, I haven't found out their scientific name yet, they are generally known as flag of Spain due to their colours.

Factoid: The Spanish flag is a red and yellow horizontal triband (the yellow stripe is in the middle, and is twice as tall as each red band). A simplified version of Spain's coat of arms is pictured on the yellow band, towards the hoist side. The height of the Spanish flag is two-thirds the width. Spain's flag was officially adopted on December 19, 1981.

The Spanish coat of arms depicts two crown-topped pillars of Hercules (with red banners displaying the motto in Latin, "PLUS ULTRA," meaning "More Beyond," alluding to Columbus' discovery of the New World). The two columns flank a shield that displays a castle, a lion wearing a crown, red and yellow vertical stripes, chain mail, and three fleurs-de-lis in an oval in the centre. An ornate red and golden crown sits atop the shield.

The Spanish pledge to the flag is called the Jura de Bandera (meaning "oath of the flag").

¡me da asustadizo!

Don't take my picture, I'm shy. Oh really? One of the many good things about Spain is that domingo ( that's Sunday to you non Spanish speakers) is still respected as a day of rest. With the hectic life I lead I need a day of rest every now and then.

Factoid: Spanish Days, Months & Seasons. One interesting thing in Spanish is that the week begins with lunes or Monday, not Sunday. The Spanish do not capitalise months or days of the week.

Days
lunes > Monday
martes > Tuesday
miércoles > Wednesday
jueves > Thursday
viernes > Friday
sábado > Saturday
domingo > Sunday

Months
enero > January
febrero > February
marzo > March
abril > April
mayo > May
junio > June
julio > July
agosto > August
septiembre > September
octubre > October
noviembre > November
diciembre > December

Seasons
verano > summer
otoño > autumn
invierno > winter
primavera > spring

día > day
semana > week
mes > month
año > year

Roja tejado de tejas

From street level I may live in a pueblo blanco, but from where I gaze out on to the world there is more than white. Red and terracotta roof tiles are such a distinctive part of Spain. I'm thinking of writing a play "Cat on a hot tile roof". Tennessee Williams would be proud of me.

Factoid: Felix Lope de Vega Carpio (1563-1635) The exact output of Spain's most prolific dramatist is unknown. He allegedly completed between 1,500 and 2,000 dramas, of which some 426 plays and 42 autos sacramentales, or one-act religious dramas, still survive. Lope de Vega created the mode for European drama, plotting in 3 acts with his denouement coming midway through the 3rd. Of an Asturian peasant background, he wrote for the masses with a graceful, flowing style, mostly in verse, which combined the elegant phrasing of the nobility with the crudities of the peasant. The resultant product, with its effortless rhythm, was so perfect it gave rise to the expression, Es de Lope ("It is Lope's"). His plays were ambitious and full of earthy passion. He created a blend of the serious with the comedic, and gave his characters--especially the women--the traits of being both shrewd and commonly wise.

Lope de Vega read Latin at 5 and translated Claudius when he was 10. When 12, he had completed his 1st 4-act play, El verdadero amante, and 3 years later was off to fight a war in Portugal. Next to Cervantes, who called him the Monstruo de la Naturaleza (the "Monster of Nature"), his reputation in Spanish literary circles was unmatched.

Chav Gatos

Did I mention that I am quite partial to the occasional siesta? This is me taking a catnap earlier. How cool is the Burberry igloo, has all the local moggies jealous, though some of them think I'm a bit of a chav. How funny is that. Me a chav cat! I've just got Duende.

Factoid: Siesta. Spanish, from Latin sexta (hōra), sixth (hour), midday, feminine of sextus. A little sleep

At the sixth hour of the day, after the midday meal, the Spanish have a sensible occupation: the siesta. For an hour or two or three, shops close, people and animals close their eyes, awaiting the abating of the heat of the day. In the later afternoon and evening, life awakens with new vigor. The word siesta originated in Spain where it is a relaxing and enlightened tradition.

Fuente

There is nothing quite like the sound the flowing water. Next to my casa is a natural spring water fountain. Almost every village in the area has a number of natural spring water fountains. The water in the fountains is fed by the the snow melt of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The water tastes wonderful and is very pure, free from additives. People come from all over to fill their bottles. Being the holistic cat that I am it is perfect for me. Just over the mountains near here is the spa town of Lanjarón.

Factoid: Lanjarón, situated on the south-western flank of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, is famous for its spring water, which is bottled here and sold throughout Spain and the world. Its spa waters have been celebrated for centuries for their curative properties and are considered to be some of the best in the country.
Lanjaron Mineral Water

Campo

There aren't many days when I don't feel in top of the world. That's what Spain does to the mind, body and soul. Today I had a double dose as I sat pondering the view from high above the village. Total silence, even the acoustic talents of the cicadas were absent. This must be utopia.

Factoid: Granada is a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by the provinces of Málaga, Córdoba, Jaén, Albacete, Murcia, Almería, and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital is Granada.

Its area is 12,635 km². Its population is 818,959 (2002), of whom about 30% live in the capital, and its population density is 64.82/km² It contains 168 municipalities.

The tallest mountain in continental Spain, Mulhacén, is located in Granada. It measures 3 481 m.

Granada shares the Sierra Nevada National Park (in the Sierra Nevada mountain range) with Almería province.

Campanilla - Morning Glory

I do like mornings. Usually I start off with a round of cuddles, then breakfast followed by wander round the estate. The garden at this time of day is very tranquil and peaceful. It always seems to be in constant change, new colours, growth, bugs and birds. All very tropical, but then I suppose that's why it's called the Costa Tropical.

Factoid: Ipomoea indica, Ipomoea acuminata

Morning Glory, Blue Dawn Flower (Don diego de día)

The lovely "blue dawn-flower" (Ipomoea acuminata), also known as I. learii. According to the famous horticulturist L.H. Bailey (1928), this prolific perennial morning glory may produce 60,000 flowers at the rate of 300 per day. As the name implies, morning glory flowers, which are saucer-shaped, open at morning time, allowing them to be pollinated by hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other daytime insects and birds. The flower lasts for a single morning and dies in the afternoon. New flowers bloom each day.

Cascada

I think Toffee may turn into a fish. Every opportunity he gets he has to play in water. Went for a stroll to this waterfall today and he was in and out of the water non stop.

Factoid: Andalucía is the largest autonomous region in Spain - occupying the entire Atlantic coast and nearly a third of the Mediterranean beaches. With diverse landscapes consisting of snow peaked mountains, deserts, world class beaches, quiet coves, grass lands, and some of the best National Parks in all of Spain. It has an ideal climate with mild winters (average annual temperature - 18 degrees Celsius), hot tropical summers, low average rainfall and the most amount of sunshine in Europe! The region is culturally rich offering Flamenco music and dance, Fiestas, bull fighting, ceramic art, outstanding food, sherry and the obvious influences of cultures from Pre-Historic man to the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Moors along with fascinating and diverse architecture such as the Moorish styled white washed villages, the Alhambra Palace and the Mesquite of Cordoba. Andalucía is a delicious feast for the eyes and a roaring banquet for the mind.

Sunday Sunrise

Was up early this morning. No Sunday morning lie-in for me. An early morning stroll above the village. The sun was just rising over the Sierra de Contraviesa. It's going to be another warm one...... hey ho.

Factoid: La Alpujarra. The Alpujarra is a range of mountains and valleys of outstanding natural beauty and ecological diversity with a long historic past, (the most influential being the occupation by the Moors some 700 years ago).

Dominated by the Sierra Nevada mountain Range with its highest peak (the Mulhacen) reaching 3,482m above sea level, the Alpujarras stretch down to the coastal ranges of the Sierra de Lujar, the Sierra de Contraviesa, and touching the Sierra de Gador to the East and finish on the Mediterranean coastline.

In the mountains the air is the cleanest in Europe and, because of the altitude, the heat in mid-summer is not as oppressive as it can be on the coast.

This area is also a paradise for walking and trekking with a myriad of footpaths snaking their way through the Sierra Nevada, overnight stops too, are possible with the refuges dotted along the way.

Playa Salobreña

I'll walk beside you hand in hand
Where the golden surf cries out for land.
With every dream within our reach
Where the sea comes in to kiss the beach.

Factoid: Salobrena is a whitewashed town clinging to huge lump of rock just back from the shoreline, topped by a Moorish castle and surrounded by lush sugar cane plantations. With over eight kilometres of coastline Salobreña it is a jewel of the Costa Tropical Granada. Salobrena's two main beaches, Playa de la Charca and the Playa de la Guardia are separated by a huge half-submerged rock known as El Peñon..
A mere 45 minutes from Granada, and just over an hour from the ski runs of the Sierra Nevada, Salobrena is also ideally situated for exploring the Alpujarra, some forty minutes away. From October to April, you could be in the happy position of being able to ski during the morning and return to sunbathe on Salobrena's beaches in the afternoon.

Pimiento y tomate

There are certain images that immediately evoke a feeling of a day filled with sunshine, and the welcoming smells of the countryside. Pimientos hanging to dry are very typical in Spain.

Factoid: In 1492 when Columbus bravely sailed westward from the port of Palos, in southern Spain, he was seeking a short route to India and the fabled Spice Islands. In those days, pepper and other spices were brought overland by camel caravans from Asia and were literally worth their weight in gold. He was sure that he had succeeded when, after landing on the island of San Salvador, they found copper-skinned people growing plants with scarlet fruits that were fiery hot when eaten. In fact, confusing the chilli pepper with the pepper he was hoping to find in India, Columbus named it pimiento, or, Spanish for pepper. Chilli pepper, however, has no relation to the black pepper, known as Piper nigrum, for which Columbus was searching. Columbus later brought the chilli pepper back to Spain, calling it a spice even though it is a member of the Solanacenae family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco.

Today Spain is one of the world's biggest pimento (also spelled pimento) producers and the brilliant red vegetable has firmly ensconced itself in Spanish culinary culture, adding the zing to all sorts of traditional dishes, from paella to tapas. These capsicums are found in three grades of heat - dolce (sweet), agridulce (semi sweet) and picante (hot). The feisty ingredient crops up everywhere in Spain, from jars and cans in supermarkets to star turns as the characteristic bright red stuffing in green olives.

In dishes the pimento is included either as an ingredient itself or in the form of paprika - a spice produced in Spain from the small, round ripe type of pimentos - which can range from bright red to rusty brown depending on its strength and heat. Both pimiento and paprika are very good sources of Vitamins A and C.

Café con leche

It was late by the time the band and solemne procesión had finished their round of the village. No sooner had I left the house in search of an evening of Duende than I was rocked off my feet by the blast of another cascade of fireworks. Rocío Cortés, a flamneco artist from Malaga, kicked of the evenings dancing. More fireworks, some scantily clad Brazilian dancers, rockets, dancing. Officially fiesta ended at 3am. Unofficially it ended way after sunrise. As the sun rose I decided it was probably time to head home. Left Don Duende nursing his head over a café con leche. Fiesta muy bueno.

Factoid: With nod to the nation's Moorish past, Spain is a real mecca for coffee lovers. It's served everywhere, except possibly in church. Coffee in Spain is a whole cornucopia of variations. The main ones are:-

café solo - expresso coffee
café con leche - white coffee (expresso with milk)
cortado - expresso coffee with a small amount of milk
café con hielo - iced coffee
manchada - glass of hot milk with a small amount of coffee
“manchar” means “to stain”.
carajillo - coffee with a drop of spirits, anisette/brandy/whisky/rum

Solemne procesión

Toffee has been at his wits end over the past few days. Toffee doesn't do rockets and fireworks. He's been hiding under the sofa for the duration and just as he thinks it's gone quiet and he ventures outside to answer the call of nature it kicks off again. He's had a few close calls. ha ha.

There was another Solemne procesión this evening. I quite like them, they have real spirit. The band leads and all the village joins in. I prefer to take a ringside seat on the terrace and sit back. Don't think I'll put marching bands on my top 10 list of vibes though.

Factoid: Although Spain has no official religion most Spaniards are Roman Catholics. The constitution of 1978 disestablished the Roman Catholic Church as the official state religion, while recognizing the role it plays in Spanish society. Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%. During the conquest of Muslim Spain Catholicism was firmly established in the country by the Inquisition which came into being in the 1480s. Jews who refused to convert were expelled from Spain and Muslims treated similarly. Even those Muslims who did convert (called Moriscos) were expelled in the early 1600s.

Fuegos Artificiales

After all the excitement of the Fiesta de la espuma there was no other option than to retreat for a well earned siesta. Yes I know it's only Tuesday but one has to pace oneself.

In the evening Don Duende took it upon himself to take Poca Muñeca of to the Fuegos Artificiales down on the coast at Almuñécar. So I was left on my own to deal with Hombre del cohete, though I must admit I think he has taken my words in his shell like last week on board and has not been quite as reckless as last year. A pleasant evening. Don Duende and Poca Muñeca were in high spirits when they returned, a barrage of brilliant, cool, spectacular, amazing, fantastico. I think they enjoyed themselves. How do fireworks on water work?

Factiod: Almuñécar is a municipality in the Spanish Autonomous Region of Andalusia on the Costa del Sol between Nerja (Málaga) and Motril (Granada). It has a subtropical climate. Almuñécar is in the Province of Granada and lies on a prominent headland between two rivers Rio Verde and Rio Seco.

Almuñécar began as a Phoenecian colony named Sexi, and even today, some of its inhabitants still call themselves Sexitanos. Under the Moors, Almuñécar blossomed as the fishing town of Al-Munakkap ("Fortified City") or Hins-al-Monacar ("Surrounded by Mountains").

The annual fiesta, Fiestas Patronales De Almuñécar, runs from 9th to 15th August and is honour of the Virgen de la Antigua. The spectacular fireworks display on the night of the 15th is popular throughout the region.

Official Almunecar website

Fiesta de la Espuma

Took a wonder down to the church square and what I saw before me had me frothing at the mouth. The whole square was knee deep (people knee, that is) in froth and frolicking in the aforementioned froth were the pueblos ninos. Pondered if I should join in but decided that I would quickly be lost being of less that knee height and having a fine white coat. Bring on the dancing girls, they're more my thing.

Factoid: Los Guajares is an autonomous district located in the south of Granada province. Composed of three whitewash villages: Guájar Alto, Guájar Faragüit and Guájar Fondón. Only 20 minutes from the coastal resort of Salobrena, this is Moorish Spain at its best. With the ancient Muslim terracing and irrigation system still used to this day, Los Guajares is sandwiched between the mountain ranges of Sierra del Chaparral and Sierra de Los Guajares. Los Guajares comes from the Arabic word "Wa-run" that means steep or craggy, the area boasts spectacular scenery, an abundance of wildlife, and is one of the most unspoilt environments in Granada.

Mi prima Verano

My cousin Summer who lives in England dropped me a note today. I've obviously made her a tad irked by continually twittering on about the sun.

“I may have to sit among the laundry bottles when the sun’s out but I’m as content as the largest summer pudding with cream on top!”

I do like my puddings but at this time of year prefer something a bit lighter. Tinto de Verano - "Summer Wine" - an Andalucian speciality and one of my favourite tipples.

Factoid: Tinto de Verano or Tinto Verano is a refreshing wine-based drink similar to sangria which is very popular in Andalucia. It is simpler than sangria, usually made up of 1 part red wine and 1 part Casera - a soda similar to Sprite, but less sweet. It is served over ice, sometimes with a slice of lemon.

It is very refreshing, and is commonly served in beachside chiringuitos.

Fill a tall glass with 3 cubes of ice and 2/3 red wine. Cheap or expensive, doesn't matter. Top up with 1/3 bitter lemon/lemonade and add a wedge of lemon. Utterly orgasmic.

Fiesta Espectacular

Not long now, only a few more hours and it's paaaarty time. The decorations, flags and bunting are up. My pre planning with plenty of long siestas will ensure I've got the stamina to stay up to the early hours. Ol' Hombre del cohete will be on the scene and I've given him notice that if he starts too early in the morning he'll be having a rocket where the sun doesn't shine. ha ha.

Factoid: The fiesta in Guájar Alto is in honor of La Virgen de la Aurora.

The Feria de Málaga also starts today. Held every August it is the region's biggest and most exciting party and it is claimed to be the second largest fair in Europe. During the day the city centre is transformed, with horses carrying people dressed in typical costume. Thousands of locals and visitors dress up and line the streets. Decorated food stalls offer local delicacies (which should be accompanied by a vino fino (sherry) or a sweet Malaga wine) and there's plenty of music and dance.

In the evening the real de la feria (the feria proper) shifts south-west of the centre to Cortijo de Torres, with more than 200 pavilions open to the public and more food and drink. There are nights dedicated to flamenco dance and music, peña music groups, pop and flamenco bands and competitions. The port is lit up by a firework display, turning the city into an explosion of light and colour.

Sol y Luz

Sun and light, I'm lovin' it. Need I say more?

Factoid: The Costa Tropical Granada is situated between the Costa del Sol of Málaga and Almería on the Costa de Almería. Its closeness to Africa and to the Sierra Nevada, with the highest peaks on the Iberian Peninsula, protect the Costa Tropical from the cold northerly winds. The result is a subtropical micro-climate, with 320 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of around 20ºC. This excellent climate is one of the reasons that the World Health Organisation considers this region to have one of the healthiest climates in the world.

Paco la mariposa

One of my favourite spots for pontificating is the front terrace by the Bougainvillea. It's a cool place just to sit and ponder. I usually manage to catch up with a few friends from the insect world. This is Paco, he's a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (mariposa). He also likes the Bougainvillea, but where as I'm happy just to chill he's always busy hopping from flower to flower. He needs to learn to relax more.

Factoid: The swallowtail butterflies are large, colourful butterflies, which form the family Papilionidae. There are at least 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of Australasia (genus Ornithoptera).
Swallowtails differ from all other butterflies in a number of anatomical traits. Most notably, their caterpillars possess a unique organ behind their heads, called the osmeterium. Normally hidden, this forked structure can be raised when the caterpillar is threatened, and used to emit a foul-smelling secretion containing terpenes.
The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucas) is a strong flier with distinctive yellow and black striped markings on its wings and body (some females are brown or black, mimicking the poisonous pipevine swallowtail). They are called are called swallowtails because they have long "tails" on their hind wings which look a bit like the long, pointed tails of swallows.

In Spain it is ILLEGAL to use a butterfly net or moth trap without a permit from the relevant authorities, even if you do not take specimens.

The Bare Necessities

Out for a stroll this morning and was reminded of the song in the film Jungle Book....

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life

Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

Factoid: The prickly pear cactuses (Opuntia sp.) are familiar to just about everyone since they are very common and grow in a variety of climates. They are a "new world" plant, mostly likely originating in Mexico. The prickly pear was brought to Spain by Christopher Columbus and from there it spread quickly throughout the Mediterranean and throughout North Africa when the Moors were expelled from Spain. In Spain they are known as Chumbera

Perro de agua Espanol

True to his word Toffee did venture into the rio. Bit bracing at first but he soon was bouncing in and out. Had a go at me when I asked him if he could do doggy paddle, ha ha. "yo perro de agua Espanol" he retorted. I think he is a bit confused. He may be partial to water but I think he is not quite a Spanish water dog

Factoid: Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma)and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Comunidad Valenciana, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all located along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)

Info from the CIA World Factbook

Hombre del cohete

There seems to be quite a bit in the news recently about rockets, keep hearing the name Katyusha (Little Katie) popping up. Apparently lots of people are looking for these chaps who are firing these rockets. Well, I came across this Rocket Man earlier and looking at the evidence he seems to tick all the right boxes. He's wearing civilian clothes, he has a whole barrage of rockets ready to go, his aim seems to be rather rudimentary.

Factiod: After the Moors invaded Spain in the 8 th century the region became the mighty kingdom of El Andalus and the capital of Cordoba was transformed into a centre of unimaginable wealth, sophistication, culture and learning unrivalled anywhere in either the western or Islamic eastern worlds.

According to Islamic legend, the people of El Andalus asked Allah for five favours,– clear blue skies, seas full of fish, trees laden with every kind of fruit, beautiful women and a fair system of government. Allah granted them everything except the last favor on the basis that if all five gifts were bestowed, the kingdom would become an unearthly paradise.

Fiesta Siesta

It's fiesta time again in the locality. At least I've got 10 days to prepare my senses before the fiesta in my pueblo starts. In the meantime the rockets and fireworks are still a distant noise. I do enjoy fiesta week but it does mean I have to shift my routine. Although the Spanish are well known for their late night partying fiesta week adds a whole new dimension to late night, it's more early morning. As such I have to take in longer siestas during the day. Shouldn't be too difficult should it?

Factoid: No nation on earth is quite as good at enjoying itself as Spain. There are so many fiestas that even if you could attend more than one a day you would not be able to see them all in a single lifetime. Fiestas symbolise the very essence of Spain and the Spanish people. They’re colourful, vibrant, usually extremely noisy, often chaotic and always great fun. The origins of many of the country’s countless fiestas lie in religious feasts, often honouring a patron saint. It’s the same in northern Europe where many public holidays were born out of religious “holy days”. But northern Europe simply can’t compete with Spain when it comes to turning a religious celebration into a riotous round-the-clock knees up. Perhaps it’s the warm weather or maybe it’s the exuberant, uninhibited nature of the Spaniards who just love to party. One thing’s for certain: when it’s fiesta time, no-one does it better than the Spanish!

La piscina

I do love it here. Rural Spain is very natural and tranquil. Even in the height of summer the plants are green and the rivers flow. One of the favourite pursuits locally at this time of year is to go swimming in the natural pool on the river. Not too keen on swimming myself but I understand that it is great fun and very refreshing. I'm quite happy to watch activities from the sidelines. It was a new experience for Toffee. He told me afterwards that he enjoyed his stroll up to the pool and will probably venture in next time.

Factoid: There are some 1,8000 rivers in Spain. The Río de La Toba is where the pool in the photo is. It flows into the Río Guadalfeo. The source of the Guadalfeo is Mulhacén in the Sierra Nevada. The river flows through the region of La Alpujarra for much of its course and enters the sea near Salobreña and Motril after passing through a spectacular gorge between the Lujar and Chapparal mountains. Although it is often dried up by this point, its waters are often used for agricultural purposes. The Rules dam has been built across the river near Velez de Benaudalla, at the head of the gorge resulting in the creation of a large reservoir and the flooding of a section of the river valley.

Divertido

Funny thing happened today. Don Duende in his infine wisdom managed to wash his Spanish phrase book. Didn't check the pockets - doh! Had me in fits. Ha de ser inteligente. (He must be intelligent) He'll be back to the "Si, claro"

After I had recovered I retired to the back terrace, it's in the shade in the morning so nice and cool. One of the great things about Spanish architecture is the liberal provision of terraces. Suits me just fine as I can follow the path of the sun terrace by terrace.

Factioid: Spanish words and phrases relating to washing and laundry.

Washing powder > el detergente en polvo

Washing machine > lavadora

Put it into the washing machine > Mételo en la lavadora

Where can I do some washing? > ¿Dónde puedo lavar un poco de ropa?

Do you have a laundry service? > ¿Tienen servicio de lavandería?

When will my things be ready? > ¿Para cuándo estarán mis cosas?

Is there a launderette near here? > ¿Hay alguna lavandería automática por aquí cerca?

What coins do I need? > ¿Qué monedas hay que usar?

Is there somewhere to dry clothes? > ¿Hay algún sitio para secar la ropa?

Can you iron these clothes? > ¿Pueden plancharme esta ropa?

Can I borrow an iron? > ¿Me pueden dejar una plancha?

Did you by any chance leave the washing machine door open? > ¿Dejaste la puerta abierta de la lavadora?

I will have washed my book > Me habré lavado la libro

Mucho calor es bueno

You may have seen in the news recently that the UK had the hottest July since records began. People moaned, roads melted, rails buckled etc. etc. Pretty normal here to have temperatures over 37°c at this time of year. You don't see me moaning. I simply use common sense. If you are lacking common sense I have included some helpful tips below.

Factoid: Spain has a National Heatwave Plan. It gives the following advice to deal with the heat:-

Protect yourself from the sun and the heat

Control the temperature at home:

• During the hours of sunlight, keep the blinds of the windows down if the sun shines on them.

• Open your windows at night to keep the house cool.

• Stay in the coolest rooms.

• Use air-conditioning to keep the atmosphere cool. If you do not have air conditioning, try to spend at least two hours a day in air-conditioned places (shopping centres, cinemas...).

• Take frequent cool showers.

Avoid direct sunlight in the street:

• Wear a hat or cap.

• Use light (such as cotton), light-coloured clothes which are not close-fitting.

• Try to walk in the shadow, use a parasol at the beach and rest in cool places in the street or in closed spaces that are air-conditioned.

• Carry water with you and drink often.

• Wet your face a little, and even your clothes.

• Take care when driving at the hottest times and never leave children in the car with the windows up.

Limit your physical activity at the hottest times of the day

• Avoid going out at midday , which is the hottest time of the day.

• Reduce strenuous activities.

Drink a lot and watch what you eat

• Drink as much water and fruit juice as you can, even when you are not thirsty.

• Do not drink alcohol.

• Avoid very hot food and food with a lot of calories.

Jamón, Jamón

Yippee Jamón Serrano is back on the menu. Don Duende and 3 amigos hoofed it up to the high altitudes of the Alpujarras in the Sierra Nevada to collect some of the Jamónes which have been curing since matanza last winter. I do like a little sliver of Jamón with my dinner, it is sooooooo tender and juicy.

Factoids: Jamón, in general English parlance, refers to a cured ham from Spain. There are two primary types of jamón: Jamón serrano (meaning ham from the sierra or mountains) and Jamón ibérico (ham from the black-coated ibérico pig). The fresh hams are trimmed and cleaned, then stacked and covered with salt for about two weeks in order to draw off excess moisture and preserve the meat from spoiling. The salt is then washed off and the hams are hung to dry for about six months. Finally, the hams are hung in a cool, dry place for six to eighteen months, depending on the climate, as well as the size and type of ham being cured. The drying sheds (secaderos) are usually built at higher elevations, which is why the ham is called mountain ham.

Bienvenidos Toffee

Another hot, sticky day, for more reasons than just the weather. Toffee came to live with us. He's 6 months old, a mere pup compared to me. Big paws for such a whipper- snapper, but he'll soon get the sharp end of mine if I get any trouble from him. He's really quite cute for a cachorro. I suppose I'll have to learn a new Spanish phrase "una vida de perros" - a dogs life.

Before he arrived Toffee spent his life at the Sierra Nevada Animal Refuge. They have really taken good care of him hence why he's a pretty cool chap.

Factoids: Spain is Europe's fourth largest country after Russia, Ukraine and France. It consists of the Spanish mainland, which occupies most of the Iberian peninsula, the Balearic islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, Gomera, Fuerteventura and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera. The total area of Spain is 504,782 sq km which consits of 499,542 sq km of land and 5,240 sq km of water.