Sunday, July 5, 2009

Summer walking in Andalucia, Spain

I have managed to fit in a lovely walk despite the heat! Rona, a friend of ours, came to visit us to exchange some Reiki sessions with me and we went for a walk the following morning in the Genal Valley. Rona is a reflexology and Reiki practitionner and a hang glider instructor and she also runs Suroma holidays, offering activity holidays, law of attraction courses and yoga and 5 rhythm dancing workshops. We meet up once in a while to exchange Reiki sessions, which is always great! We should do it more often really!

We set off for our walk at about 9am and it was already quite hot! But, thankfully, the path we followed meandered through Sweet Chestnut woodland, enabling us to walk mainly in the welcome, cool shade of these majestuous trees. They are actually in bloom at the moment, turning the whole valley yellow. Their yellow blossom is very pungent and I would imagine that the pollen count would be quite high at present in the upper Genal Valley!

The bottom of the valley was also very cool and shady, where we crossed a cristal clear river, which eventually joins the Genal River.
We don't normally advertise walking holidays in the Summer because of the heat, but on the rare occasions we have had walking guests, we normally set off walking at 8am. This way, most of the walking is done when it is still cool. If you are walking independently in Andalucia, try setting off about 8am and aim to finish your walk by 10:30 / 11am.

We then reached Parauta, a Pueblo blanco or white village and enjoyed a welcome andalucian breakfast (toast with olive oil and a coffee) in the lovely courtyard of the restaurant El Anafe, which is covered with flowers. What a lovely way to start the day!


Christmas walking holiday in Andalucia, Spain

Since it is too hot to be doing any walking at present over here in Andalucia, we are planning our next special walking holiday: a Christmas walking holiday in andalucia for those who fancy doing something very different for Xmas this year. We are mainly aiming this Christmas walking holiday to singles or divorced, widowed or recently separated people who enjoy walking in small friendly groups. Christmas can be so stressful but also very sad if you are going to spend it on your own. So, we would like to make it a fun and relaxing time!

We have chosen this time the Altamira apartments for the accommodation of this Christmas walking holiday. The flats are very nicely decorated and cosy with wood burning stoves and central heating. They will make a perfect setting for a fun and friendly holiday. These lovely flats are self-catering, but if you fancy having a fully relaxing holiday, there are 2 bar/restaurants in the village where you can have delicious tapas or meals at very reasonnable prices.


As per usual, the walking will be tailored to the group's need. December is normally nice and dry, so we should be able to enjoy lovely walks in nice weather, in the Genal valley and in the Sierra de las Nieves national park.


An added bonus, for those who are fed up with the Xmas count down and all the commercialism associated to it, Christmas is not a big thing here in Andalucia. They celebrate instead the 3 Wise Men (6 January). So, you can easily get away from it all over here!


For more information on this special walking holiday, click on our Christmas walking holiday.