Ancient

Walking group today ... a very easy and pleasant walk in the vega around Orgiva. This is a village that is popular with "washed up hippies" ((c) NorthnExposure). You can see why they like it though, it's in a sheltered, fertile valley with glorious views to the Alpujarras. The orchards are full of citrus and ancient olive trees, and there are pretty cortijos dotted around them (many of them probably illegally built or extended).


There were 23 of us today ... exceptional, and I have to say that we were as noisy as a bunch of Spanish people would be. When we took over a bar terrace in Orgiva at the end of the walk, the chat was mighty -- and we blathered away throughout the walk as well. It was very enjoyable.


It was mid-afternoon by the time I got home ... then I was finally joined by S, back from the UK, at about 7. After he'd tossed a few items out of his suitcase and had a shower, we went out for tapas to celebrate his return. We tried a bar near the park recommended by a number of people, including guiri, and I have to say it was exceptional. Here in free tapas land, every time you order a drink you get a free and generally fairly small tapa (no choice). In this bar, you buy a drink and choose any tapa you want from a very extensive menu. They are extremely copious, freshly cooked, big enough to share; with our four glasses of wine we had a big plate of perennial favourite berenjenas con miel de caña, a chicken kebab in a wrap with salad, patatas a lo pobre with a fried egg, and a chicken pincho also with egg. We were replete; total cost: 10 euros! How do they do it? No wonder this place is popular. We'll definitely be back. Footnote: S bought a glass of wine in a pub in Cambridge and it was 8 quid ...


Back home we cracked open the bottle of LBV port I bought last week, to drink with the pieces of S's mum's Christmas cake he'd brought back with him.