Leaving Jerez we headed east to La Sierra de Grazalema, the first designated Parque Natuaral within Andalucia where we based ourselves for the next week - not sure if we were brave or foolish knowing that the area is famous for being the rainiest place within Spain! A huge biosphere dominated by limestone mountains, verdant green valleys, and beautiful white villages - a great area for walking and mountain biking - both of us determined to take this opportunity to up our fitness levels and work off those excess calories from the festive season 🤣 We set out to explore!
Arrived on New Years Eve, and as is typical within Spain, all bars and restaurants were buzzing late afternoon, but soon closed for the evening as people headed home to celebrate. We managed a couple of drinks out on the plaza, but also headed home early (not much different to being at home for us 🤣) Grazalema is beautiful, and can see why it’s very popular.
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| New Year's Eve - outside in the cold! |
Unfortunately we didn’t make it to midnight awake, so wasn’t able to participate in the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes, one on each stroke of midnight - managing to do so is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity in the forthcoming year. Here is Alfredo, our Spanish teacher, with his family, eating their 12 grapes 🤣
It warmed up considerably on New Year’s Day and we headed off into the mountains for a walk - practiced our Spanish with fellow walkers - Feliz Ano Nuevo 🤣 The walking was fabulous, and the scenery awesome - at times the limestone reminding us of back home - only the temperatures felt very different 🤣
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| Grazalema below |
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| Rubes leading the way |
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| Limestone country - just like at home 😂 |
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| Passing a herd of young deer - so very tame! |
The village of Grazalema is really beautiful, and can see why it is so popular for visitors 😃
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| Loved the flower pots lining the white walls |
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| Grazalema village streets as steep as Stoney Middleton High Street 🤣 |
Just to the west of Grazalema is El Bosque, also within the Parque Natural - another beautiful small town and a centre for outdoor activities - beautiful palm trees, colourful plants and interesting whitewashed buildings.
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| El Bosque |
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| Loved these on the side of a house - interesting thoughts and sentiments on the plant pots 😀 |
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| Orange & Lemon trees grafted together to form one tree |
Dave headed off on his bike for a ride across the mountain to the next village, Benemahoma, and I set off with Rubes on a fabulous walk along the Rio Majeceite - which also links El Bosque with Benemahoma. The walk was stunning, and the scenery almost tropical- lots of swimming opportunities for Rubes as well, so she was very happy!
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| Time for a swim! |
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| Come on!! |
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| Beautiful Rio Majeceite |
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| Well deserved after the bike ride |
Zahara de la Sierra just to the north of Grazalema is another beautiful village which we explored, and also did a fabulous walk through the surrounding hills. The town is stunning, built into the hillside, and topped by a wonderful castle.
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| Zahara de la Sierra |
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| From the castle - Zahara de la Sierra |
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| Over the rooftops and beyond |
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| Beautiful Zahara at night |
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| Zahara castle |
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| Early evening drinks before heading back to the van 😂 |
Walking in the hills around Zahara was stunning - and warm! Beautiful wild flowers, and again quite tropical looking along the rivers - loads of swimming opportunities again for rubes 👍
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| Around Zahara |
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| Beautiful wild flowers |
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| More swimming! |
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| Harvesting olives |
On the northern edge of the Parque Natural is the wonderful Via Verde de la Sierra - an old railway line converted to a 36km greenway for walking and cycling (just my cup of tea 😃)
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| My kind of cycling 😂 |
Unfortunately the rain got the better of us on our first ride from the western end at Peurto Serrano, but not to be deterred, our second attempt from the eastern end at Olvera was more successful - and got to be said probably one of the most beautiful rides ever!
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| Starting off frosty and cold |
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| Amazing landscape |
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| The sun starting to show! |
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| Olive trees everywhere! |
So, all in all, I think we fulfilled our aim of exploring the region, and at the same time increasing our fitness levels somewhat 😃 There were other walks and rides, all amongst stunning scenery, and still so much more that we didn’t get chance to discover. We really loved this region, and would definitely return at a future date - but for now really pleased to have discovered the area and been able to do so much outdoor activity in stunning surroundings, in relative warmth, in January - one of our hopes for this trip 🤣🤣🤣
It all looks so beautiful Jane. Well done on all the biking and walking too. Looks a fabulous place to explore generally 👏 👍
ReplyDeleteYes, totally stunning area - think you’d like it!
DeleteStunning scenery, really liked the 12 grape tradition, unlike me it's 12 glasses!
ReplyDeleteHaha well that’s another challenge altogether 😂
DeleteLooks stunning. Very impressive pictures and cycling fitness. Loved the Jerez pictures too. I Have probably told you our story of staying there in a one star fonda…
DeleteAh yes you have 😂😂😂
DeleteWow Jane just caught up with you from your preChridtmas entries. Continues to be such an interesting and well illustrated read! So many beautiful places and experiences. All your preparations and planning really paying off. As well and the celebrated and historical cities/spots, some of the countryside and coastline seem completely off the beaten track and so beautiful. Fun to read about your day with Alfredo too!. We are on our 3rd week away on our holiday of a lifetime . Returning home next Monday. Will WhatsApp you a few pics. Enjoy you last few weeks!
DeleteThanks Sarah - it is certainly more than we had imagined, and hoped for 😃
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