Hacienda La Laguna Hotel Puente Del Obispo Baeza

... Ubeda before too late.

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.

Once we reached Malaga, we ...

... highest peak the most spectacular. Arriving in Jaen without a hostel reservation, the first place we tried to stay was full so we walked, luggage in tow to the next place, a Pension around the corner where Rafael and his family had a room available with three beds for us. This was by far a better experience than my first ransacking Pension with the girls in Cadiz a few years ago but they did have the same bath tub!!! The next day, Monday the 22nd of Sept, we got down to business. Woke ...

As we've moved into July, the weather in southern spain during the day has gotten oppressively hot. The 2 greatest reliefs from this are LONG siestas (from right after lunch -about 3PM - until 6:30 or 7) and a concoction they have here called Tinto de Verano. Literally translated, this means red-wine of summer, but it is basically a mix of red wine and Fanta (usually lemon flavored) over ice. We discovered it in Malaga, and have been ...

... 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. 

Sorry that entries have been somewhat few and far between these last 2 weeks, but we've been having a great time with Merche and Paco. They are absolutely worderful hosts. Just about every time Paco sees me sitting at the kitchen table (our usual hangout) he offers me another beer or wine, regardless of the time of day. And Merche is a wonderful cook and constantly encouraging us to eat more yummy food. Needless to say, our clothes don't fit ...

... a healthy three. He was very entertaining to watch. After walking for a while Moses and Ramon joined us for beers and tapas at an outdoor restaurant. We spent the rest of the evening there, sipping our beers and sampling all the different free tapas that came with each round of drinks. After four rounds we had sampled quite a bit, but Paco wanted us to try something called Morcilla. Neither he nor Mercedes could describe quite what it was, but ...

... nice guy who helped me recover my lost/stolen wallet. to no avail as i already had canceled my card. ohh well lesson no1. no unattended anything. we have now arrived in tena and are going on an overnight class three four run through the jungle..i am going to get a usb so i can post pics on here..untilll then...

... the work very tiring extremely funny. Nick became a regular at the local mingas while I stayed at the farm with the women making lunch. On one particularly rainy day Nick didnt come home, nor did Stalin. Apparently due to heavy rainfall someone decided to crack open the rum and everyone drunk it neat for about 6 hours straight. There's nothing quite like male bonding is there. So, while I was getting dressed after my weekly shower the first I heard of Nicks return ...

... to Alicante, along the Autopista Mediterrean (i.e. really overpriced toll road that runs along the Mediterranean Coast... some things you gotta learn the hard way!), spent a night in Alicante, and then continued on to Granada, through the Andalusian region and the Sierra Nevada mountains. The drives have been gorgeous, and the radio stations here usually play good, cheesy 80s music. All in all, a great way to end our trip. We are in Cordoba now, and ...

... in the dark, we get dropped off on the side of the road, and ascended what seemed to be about a million steps up into the cloud forest, where a half nutz bloke from england has built a wonderful hostel complex...complete with a couple dogs and about 20 cats, and these are only the ones that are left after many had been poisoned by locals...it was nice to have pets for a few days...the guy who runs the place, ali, is one of the most hospitable hosts i have ever ...