Fuentenueva Hotel Baeza

... Ubeda before too late.<br><br>We made the run up the Mediterranean coast to Malaga. The weather was hot, but not humid or uncomfortable. We rode mostly on the two lane highway that hugged the coast and followed the Autoroute, although both combined in some parts. In one small city in particular we noticed that there was an abundance of pharmacies. And when I mean abundant, I mean every block had one.<br><br>Once we reached Malaga, we ...

... early, had our daily cafe con leche ...so much better than the coffee in the states... bought the newspapers and classifieds and complied those with our online listings for apartments we had previously checked on the internet for. We set up near a church in the city center and began calling listing after listing. Most of them were already rented but about 50 calls later, we had 6 appointments set up for viewings that day. The first one we saw was the one we are now living in...and by luck ...

... it ever since. We also learned just the other day that you can also get it with just cold carbonated water instead of Fanta, but why would you do that? :-) So basically it's a wine-cooler, but somehow classier, and it is SO good. It turns out that you can actually buy it pre-mixed in 2-liter bottles at the supermercado, because Mercedes brought a bunch home one day when we mentioned that we like it. The pre-mix is not quite as good ...

... and the water was snow melt (really cold!) At noon we stopped for lunch, then decided we'd better turn back.  We made it back to the visiter center in time to get our bags before they closed for siesta (2PM -5PM).  Then we relaxed at a little bar down the hill.  We caught the afternoon shortbus back to Cazorla, and then the afternoon real-bus back to Ubeda. 

... as well as when we arrived. Also, we rarely pass up an opportunity to improve our skills in the kitchen, and this has been a golden opportunity. Merche has taught us to make gaspacho, tortilla española, albondigas and croquettas. Unfortunately, the last 2 usually require a deep-fryer, (Merche has a countertop model-about the size of a bread maker) but we will experiment when we get back home. We have had such a fabulous time in the kitchen and ...

... us it was "muy rico". It is a form of ground pork, in a dark red greasy looking sauce. We ate it with bread, and it was slightly sweet and spicy. Pretty good. Then Moses came back to the table (after running after Ramon) and began to explain the ingredients. Cerdo, (pig), cebollas (onions), sangre de cerdo (pig blood) . . . Wait, what was that??? SANGRE de cerdo??? The table erupted with laughter at the expression on my face. Don´t think about it ...

We found ourselves travelling from Quito to Las Palmas on a cold and rainy Thursday not quite knowing what we were in for. Somehow we had agreed to look after a hostel and all its various pets including 3 dogs, 3 llamas (one pregnant and soon to be in labour), 3 geese, 8 cats, countless chickens and chicks and god knows how many bats for a week. Now I am under the belief that bats are not strictly proper pets and only live in the rafters of buildings, dive at you when ...

I must be a sucker for punishment cos I am feeling like i need to work or something. Started my new volunteer job in the beautiful cloud forest of Baeza, on the edge of the jungle in Northern Ecuador. Working at the Magic Roundabout. My role is kinda mixed. I am the Chef for everyone (scary thought, considering i havent cooked for anyone,let alone myself, in over 4mths) and decorator. This is such a beautiful place, situated high up on a hill, and i do mean very high. It takes about 10mins ...

... make our way all the way north to Bilbao by the weekend, when we return Val to her rightful owners. It's kind of hard to imagine being home again in just 10 days... We are excited, nervous, scared, ready and not ready at all. It's a conflicting feeling-- when you're sick of shlepping your heavy pack every day, wearing the same clothes every day-- but still, it's worth every second of it all. We will try and write again soon... Love, Jodie, Rachel and Allison

... and before you know it, i am half ******, and so overfull from the huge plate full of supper that i may not hafta eat for a week... as his land is vast, and he owns a few waterfalls as well, i decide to go an adventure hike and see what i can see...it is quite interesting to be wandering around the forest when you dont know where you are...after chilling by the waterfalls and getting to a top clearing, checking out the view, it is time to descend the ...