Approaching Our Last Week

Approaching Our Last Week
Okay, for those of you who may remain uncertain, yesterday’s blog was indeed an April Fools Trick. We are not moving to Bubion permanently. The Creperie is for sale but it costs about $1/2 million.
We have meanwhile been exploring the area around our village and took a couple of hours to walk from Bubion down to Pampaneira which was fine going downhill but a little tougher returning along the mountain path especially when it started to hail. Actually, it was a very pleasant hike and we got to look around our neighboring town, its artisan district, and the town square.

We have also been up to our Northern neighbor Capileira. Here we discovered a very handy gourmet supermercado where we could buy mountain ham and local artisanal cheeses. We ate dinner at a tiny vegetarian restaurant that had a strong Himalayan theme.

Granada and La Alhambra
Yesterday, we took the day to drive down to Granada. On the way down we picked up two young German women who were hitchhiking to the same destination as we were. It was interesting to hear about the abundant travels and experiences of a 22 year-old. Our day’s quest was to visit the exquisite gardens and palaces of La Alhambra, the last fortress of the Nasrid dynasty to fall before the hyperbolically named Christian Reconquest. La Alhambra was perhaps at its peak under the rule of Mohammed V during whose reign the jewel of the complex, the Palacio Nazaries, was built.

Millions of people travel to visit La Alhambra every year. In addition to the Palacio Nazaries, its main components are the fortress of Alcazaba, the Palace of Carlos V, and the Genaralife.
We followed the signs for the Sierra Nevada National Park on the way home and found ourselves rising rapidly up a mountain to the South of Granada. We had driven for a half hour before we realized that we were heading the wrong way. On the way back down we were afforded one of our most breathtaking views below Monachil.

That alone made our detour worthwhile. We then drove back to the outskirts of Granada, had a wonderful pizza and got directions home from the proprietor.

The Orgiva Thursday Market
Today we drove the long and winding road that took us to Orgiva, the capital of the area. The town is famous for its Thursday morning open market. The town market was just getting started when we arrived so we went for a cappuccino nearby and then spent some time checking out the wares of vendors from near and far. There were quite a few African people selling mostly leatherwork, cheap watches and some ‘designer brand’ clothing. Local farmers brought in a plentiful haul of fresh produce and a variety of spices.

Expats primarily from England sold mostly handmade goods including artwork and jewelry. Dreadlocked Hippies were selling homemade bread and offering free puppies with each loaf. We bought a wheat loaf and, although we were sorely tempted, we passed on the cute pups. The town was hopping for the day and people were crowding the main streets. However, just a block away we were once again able to find the quiet serenity that the mountain villages exude. We came upon a great pastry shop and this time we fell to the olfactory seduction of those particular sugary sirens.
So far, it seems that everything we approach, and everywhere we go, exceeds our expectations. We are truly blessed to be able to explore this magnificent part of such a diverse country.