R and I went up to olive country. As soon as we arrived in the Cafe del Parque in Alcala la Real, I felt a deep peace.. I realise this might be the place I want to settle one day. I deeply love Las Alpujarras and the sublime beauty,  yet this time I felt more in tune with the honesty and integrity of the way of life in and around Alcala.

We went to the Nacimiento del Rio San Juan, (the source of the river.) Very peaceful and the water was deliciously cold. We listened to Vicente Amigo as we wound around the olive mountain roads.

Then on to dear friends’ glorious Cortijo Las Salinas in Sabariego where S made us sangria with an array of different alcohols, fruit and cinnamon sticks. We watched flamenco and ate paella. Then much later, back to Tijola which took hours. More winding and precipitous roads beyond midnight.