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Published: April 1st 2008
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Sierra Navada
A light dusting of snow on the Sierra Navada Ola Bo & Dud,
I never thought that we would be sad that winter is over. As we know from experience it is difficult to get any sort of travel insurance for more than 6/8 months at a time (did you know that Howard and I are on a ‘gap’ year and we have a policy that is intended to cover students), so Torre del Mar is emptying of the pensionistas heading back to the UK.
It took us the best part of a week to prepare for departure. We’ve never had the caravan and awning in one place for such a long period of time and to say that everything was dirty is an understatement. I now know why mud walls are called such - I usually just wipe them over with a wet cloth, this time I had to wash them in a bucket. Howard spent a whole day perched on steps with an extendible brush and a hose pipe - at one point he was playing tank commander with half his body sticking out of the roof of the caravan while he scrubbed and hosed. Then there was packing the BBC - we have acquired several bits
En Route
A quiet Sunday on the motorway, just passing Granada and pieces while we’ve been here, Spanish gas bottle, camping gaz fire, two chairs, not to mention the satellite dish which travels on the bed. So, packed to the roofline we departed on Sunday morning 16th March 2008 to head for the hills.
Our journey of approximately 5 ½ hours took us through some interesting scenery. As the coastal motorway is still under construction we took a route alongside the Sierra Nevada to Granada. There has been very little snow this year but it is still very beautiful to see from a distance against a clear blue sky. We passed through Guadix - this is somewhere we have visited in the past. The whole area is known for its Troglodyte cave dwellers, both past and present. On our visit we were fortunate to be invited to look around one of the houses; it was a cosy residence and kept the same temperature throughout the year. It certainly solves the problem of moving house, if you need extra rooms the hammer and chisel come out.
The motorway from Guadix passes through the Sierra de Baza, Sierra de Maria and Sierra de las Estancias and in between are the planes
of Spain - barren, flat landscapes which cover most of this country. We’ve looked out of the aircraft window on many occasions and wondered ‘who lives down there?’ we now know - no one in their right mind.
So, on to Mercia and then inland to Banos de Fortuna and Camping Fuente. We have a fully serviced pitch - very posh, it means we have our very own bathroom, loo, wash hand basin and shower. The pitches are tight but we have room for the awning and the car and our neighbours (both German) are very pleasant. Howard has made a real impression on one neighbour, George - he is 82 years of age and speaks only German. Howard has been practising his German while we have been in Torre and so has been chatting to a delighted George who held a strong belief that the English do not like the German people.
You may be asking yourself why we have come to the middle of nowhere for the next part of our adventure - well, it’s in the name of the village, Los Banos de Fortuna (baths). We are at a thermal spa - the thermal water
Guadix
On the look out for Troglodites apparently leaves the ground at over 40c and after treatment is pumped into the spa at a constant 36c. This is not a place for serious swimming, and, the advice is that you do not stay in the water for longer than 20 minutes; I can’t even last this long. Howard thinks it’s wonderful not to have to swim and I think he would be happy to take his book in with him and stay for the best part of a the day. There are areas of bubbles, jets of water to massage and pummel, sprays and showers, I’ve never experienced anything like it. Each day there is a water aerobic session and I thought I’d give it a go - never again, I thought that I would combust I got so hot. They are set up for people with disabilities with hoists and ramps to access the water - half the pool is undercover and half outside. I can just about cope with the open air bit. The natural minerals of the water are supposed to be therapeutic and very good for you but I actually had back ache last night. Howard says it’s because I’m not use to
More Guadix
This is beginning to look a bit like Arizona! it and I need more sessions; but it does raise the question, would you normally immerse yourself in water that smells of rotten eggs? There are plenty of people here willing to pay their euros’ to do it. Give me a still, cool, deep lake to swim in any day - it wouldn’t do for us all to be alike now would it?
Ugh! Howard’s wanting another session in the pool - still I shouldn’t complain, I can’t usually get him near the water. If my delicate skin goes funny I shall not be a happy bunny - which reminds me Happy Easter.
love & hugs & kisses
H&H x
P.S. Do remember to left click on the 1st photo to get a larger view, then clicking on the numbers scrolls you through them.
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