Biking & Baking in Las Alpujarras

Due to poor weather forecasts we decided to do a low level 'stroll' yesterday (not Veleta and El Caballo), to Busquistar, Notaez, Castaras and back to Busquistar and home.  What was planned as a lightweight walk turned into a 13 hour penance, as first my left knee conked out (downhill to Notaez, one ligament stretch too many), then Steve's (cheap) boots and socks began to fail (blisters on both feet) and our water supplies ran low.  Thank goodness for the saving graces of Ibruprofen, gaffer tape, a walking pole and the lovely, cooling and potable fountain in Notaez.  And the fantastic horned Ibex we watched, leaping across the pathway at close proximity.

By the time we got home (down the escarihuela, oh the agony), we had managed to drink several beers and felt a bit better.  Today we are just 2 old crocks, limping around and groaning.  We did manage tostadas in Pitres however, courtesy of Paco's wife, for our breakfast.   I'm not sure that we'll manage our last-minute Olympic training regime, we may have to hand over the baton to other, younger athletes and just watch it on the screen...I'm sure Usain will be glad not to have to compete with Steve in the 100m and I will give all my support to Jessica in the Pentathlon...

Yesterday we took a day off and went to the beach.  We threw our towels, parasols, books and a picnic into the rucksack and went over the Contraviesa to our little cove near Castillo del Ferro and swam, dozed and people-watched all afternoon.  The sea was quite exciting, thanks to a fair breeze, but as delicious as only the Mediterranean can be.  All sorts of folk were enjoying the day, with the odd dog or very small child in tow, and of course some glamour for Steve to cast his eye over!  

I thought I'd put in a recipe here from Morocco, for what is called Serranitos.  An excellent post-beach supper!   Ingredients: 400-500g pork fillet, cut into 8 slices and flattened gently with a knife; 1 garlic clove, crushed with a little salt; 1/2 tsp sweet smoked paprika; 2 green peppers; 10 tbs olive oil; 8 slices of ciabatta or baguette; thin slices of Serrano ham (jamón); salt & ground peppper.

Marinate the pork in the garlic, paprika and ground pepper.  Set aside for 45 mins.  Cut peppers lengthways & in half.  Heat 3/4 of the oil over a medium heat in a frying pan, add the peppers and fry on both sides until soft; season and set aside.  Lightly toast ciabatta.  Add remaining oil to the pan and when it begins to smoke add the pork, frying quickly on both sides until cooked but juicy.  Turn off the heat & season well.  Transfer the fillets onto the toasted bread, then the strips of pepper, then the jamón.  Grind over some black pepper and eat immediately. 

Thanks to the 'extended family' we have just spent 2 sybaritic days perched on the side of the Sierra de Cabrera in a luxurious villa, doing nothing except swim in the pool, eat good food and play cash-free poker by candlelight.  Oh and we did manage a 5km walk (the younger athletes ran, some of them twice...) to make us feel righteous.  This was all on the plus side.  More negatively, and it might just be us, we found the coastal run via Adra pretty beastly and were not impressed by Cabo de Gata.  Maybe we missed the best of the mountains down there (San Jose??) but we were thoroughly relieved when we turned inland onto the A348 and found ourselves hurtling (on the VFR) towards the greenery of Laujar de Andarax and the Alpujarras again.  (The bar in the centre of Juviles does a mean zumo de pina and raciones, even at 3 in the afternoon).

As there were 11 of us in the house, we worked a rota of sorts for cooking and washing-up, and Steve and I volunteered to bring our bivi gear and sleep outdoors if need be.  In fact we slept on the floor of the study, perfectly comfortable on our Thermarest mats, but it was far too hot for sleeping bags.  The liners alone were sufficient and Steve went for a midnight dip just to cool off as well.  Midges were about, but I had packed the repellent...

Now we are happily home and looking at the pot plants, I can see that 3 days abandonment is about as much as they can stand in July, except for the geraniums, but just putting them in the shade 24/7 makes a big difference.  But the cats have vanished, so our absence has had an extra bonus...they've gone to pester someone else!

Another lovely morning in the Alpujarras...still cool at 09.00 because the sun has not yet reached the terrace, still quiet because the village doesn't get going for another hour or so.  A good time to dead-head the geraniums, sweep up leaves and generally potter about.  Steve is somewhere up in the mountains with a French friend, probably having a close look at La Alcazaba and keeping away from Las Siete Lagunas now that the summer walking season truly has arrived.  Too many people!

On Sunday we had some friends round for a tapas and a glass of wine.  11 of my tangueros pals from Granada came over (Linda! Que camino! Las curvas! Como puedes conducir aqui?) and with another dozen or so from this area, we had quite a party.  Fabby food...serrano ham and parmigiano rolls, ratatouille, almond cake, French apple tart...a fabulous Granadino sangria...and eventually some tango...and everyone spoke Spanish almost the whole  time!  At last, a shift from the ubiquituous English to the native tongue.  And we are still eating the remains of the puddings...

I intend to break out the c90 today, to go to the market, two wheels being easier to park than four.  It's looking sad and dusty, so it will get a good clean and polish first, using a minimum of water as we are on a banda (hosepipe ban) following such a dry Spring.  Everything is planned around that Murray/Tsonga Wimbledon semi-final this afternoon, which I think Murray will win...but then probably lose in the Final.  Without Rafa Nadal, the tournament is less exciting, but there is Serena Williams, the tigress of the tennis court to watch.  Chances are, I'll doze off after 1 set and miss everything!  Come on, Tim!!