Enjoying Nick's Estate

Sleep was not a problem but waking was. The initial plan of an early start and taking breakfast on the road was shelved as solids were required before daring to get behind the wheel. A long day lay ahead. It gave us lots of time to reflect on the experiences of the previous week

Hot, sweaty and tiring was the journey but we arrived at our final destination in good time to do a quick shop and settle into Nick’s lovely apartment in Condado de Alhama. The next job was to get organised before Sheila’s arrival the following day.

View along the golf course Condado de Alhama

Once we left the airport with Sheila we began our routine. In the very hot conditions life slows to a sensible pace. In a country like this the access to loads of fresh local grown produce is a treat. Fruit, vegetables, fish and meat in the local markets are of a fine quality and full of the taste that we older persons remember from our youth.

The other joy is the availability of good local wine at ridiculously low prices. In fact the cost of the local Jumilla at the market bodega is just over €1 per litre, less than the price of a litre of beer and that is cheap. When you pay something near to £3 a pint for Amstel think of the poor émigrés stuck here paying €1.10 per litre in Southern Spain. Our daily shopping run for provisions seems to always include a few litres of reasonably priced liquids.

But the trick below is a clever one. Water into Wine.

Water into Wine

Nick has a number of good friends and acquaintances on the site and as always pleasurable company makes for pleasant days.

Good company

Another part of the daily routine has been to release the inner chef from Mick. It is part of the evening organisation that he dons the bandana toque and sweats over a hot stove.

Chef de cuisine

Lots to see in the area and the fascinating sculptures below at Bolnuevo are just one of the sights that are worth a visit.

Sandstone sculpture Bolnuevo

More sculpture Bolnuevo

Nick gave Mick and Sheila some interesting directions for a trip out. Out along the coast. After negotiating the hairiest dirt tracks they came upon the sight below. You may not be able to see clearly but it is a nudist beach and the steward's enquiry commenced on return to the apartment.
Spot the nudie

Another facet of life in Spain is the joy in creating a fiesta for any and all reasons. Awoken by the sound of music the weekend of fun and feasting begins.

Band inviting people to the fiesta

Godfather Gemmeken

Relaxation has become the watchword for this phase of the trip and it is good each evening to have a relaxed meal and watch the sun go down.

Sunset over Condado de Alhama