Lunch among the Vultures

So we decided we definitely should do one of the walks around here. We chose and 8k up the valley and back. Apparently it was relatively easy till the mountain hut, three quarters of the way back.

Relatively easy, compared to what! It was a fairly steady climb, and we had not allowed for the fact that today had no breeze, and though not too hot, the humidity was around 90%. So we were sweating from the first few uphill paces. Luckily the path was on the shady side of the valley. We passed a few shady gum trees, a welcome reminder of home. Also a few cork oaks that had recently been harvested. This side of the valley has a number of local and ex-pat places with wonderful views to the state reserve on the other side where the vultures nest.

We soon reached the top of the valley, well soonish anyway. Not before cursing the biting flies though, and sweating buckets.

Marjan decided not to risk the hard part so went back along the roadway. I went into the state park track. I was soon congratulating myself. The path was fairly flat and quite pretty with a series of cork oaks, Spanish pines, and thistle type flowers. I was enjoying this side of the valley and wishing Marjan had kept coming.

I soon reached the Refugio, a mountain hut, that indicated the descent. There were awesome views of the town. I rested in the shade and started down. I was soon glad Marjan had not come. The path down was quite difficult and hard work. It was narrow, steep, rocky and quite exposed. The worst part though was that a flat footing spot was a luxury. No photos, the camera was stashed as I needed both hands free for balance.

By the time I got down I was sweating profusely and had used up all the water. That is when I discovered I was below town level, so I had to climb again along the main road. By the time I got back I could not get my T-shirt off. Marjan had to pull it off over my head. Three and a half hours of very pretty country, but I was spent, and Marjan not much better.

After a cold shower, I felt a little better and we decided that a proper restaurant lunch was called for. So we walked down into town and up two flights to a patio. Whilst having a couple of litres of ice water and a glass of tinto de verano (will be my drink this summer) we noticed the vultures swirling around the town (ie us) . There were literally a dozen or so. Again no photos, I notice that when I am tired I just leave the camera. However watching them whilst having a lovely salad with heaps of tropical fruit and prawns, followed by a plate of garlic goat was a real highlight. Due to the walk, and the need to freshen up, we were eating around about Spanish time....ie we finished around 3:30.

That is when we realised that we had to walk down two flights and up a steep lane to our hotel for our siesta. Marjan decided Spain was OK, but lacked a few escalators.

We really had very little energy in the afternoon, Marjan read, I mooched. We walked down again, bought some supplies at the Chinese run supermarket, the Chinese diaspora is quite amazing, had a tinto de verano at the main square and watched the old men watching us. Marjan reckons it is genetic trait, and that I watch people just like the old blokes here watch people. She is worried.

One drink was enough and we just had some bread rolls and mooched some more.