September Relaxing Break

For those of you who will be working during the Summer, why not treat yourself to a well deserved Relaxing break in Andalucia in September?

We have still a few places left on our September Relaxing Break (20th-23rd September 2011). If you would like to relax fully and be pampered while enjoying some stunning guided walks and well being therapies, this relaxing break will be ideal for you.

This Relaxing break is designed so you can recharge your batteries while being looked after, with attention to every detail, to ensure you enjoy fully your break and come back home fully rested and energised:

• Airport transfers and all transport
• Welcome drink before settling in in your room
• 3 nights half board (B&B and dinners) single or double occupancy in a luxurious boutique hotel/Restaurant just outside Ronda
• Handmade natural soaps and bath salts 
• 2 wellbeing therapies of your choice
• 2 morning guided walks

We are lucky to have in Ronda experienced and qualified therapists, who provide top quality wellbeing therapies. We can offer the following wellbeing therapies for total relaxation:

Reflexology - an in-depth foot massage including foot bath. Each part of the foot connects to a different organ in the body, vertebra, brain etc… So this massage helps to alleviate specific problems and also allows vital energy to flow through the body so that you can feel more balanced, healthy and grounded. Highly relaxing.

Shiatsu - a Japanese method of massage which works with the meridians (energy fluid lines) using pressure points to release blockages. Resulting in a more effective energy flow therefore leaving you less stressed and with a sense of improved wellbeing.

Thai massage - a 2500 year old technique for relaxing the body and calming the mind. Ideal after walking as it can help to relieve back pain, tense shoulders and neck, stiffness, sciatica, etc....

Reiki - a highly relaxing natural healing technique based on Universal Life Force, channelled through the practitioner's hands.

Light Touch Reflexology - less pressure applied than traditional reflexology, making it ideal for anyone who enjoys reflexology but prefers a softer touch. This treatment is wonderfully relaxing and soothing and leaves you feeling relaxed and revitalised.

For further information regarding itinerary, price, accommodation, what is included and what is not, etc, click on Ronda Relaxing break. There is a limited number of places left, so book now to avoid disappointment!

The smurf village or blue village in Andalucía

Nestled in the Serranía de Ronda, Júzcar is now seeing hordes of tourists due to its very unusual attraction... This charming pueblo blanco or white village has been turned into a striking blue village to host the launch of the new Smurf cartoon “The Smurfs 3D”!

This little traditional Andalucian sleeping village hidden in the Genal Valley within forests of sweet chestnuts and against a dramatic backdrop formed by limestone craggy outcrops, just 20 minutes south of Ronda, was thought to be the perfect place to launch Sony’s Smurf cartoon worldwide premiere. And what a fun idea! The very small population of Júzcar felt it was a great idea (they have such a great sense of humour) and agreed to have the entire village painted in blue for the duration of the summer...  Come September, the village will turn to its traditional whitewash again.

All in all, it is very surreal to walk around a complete blue village (including its church) but the colour is beautifully complemented by the contrasting splashes of colours of the geraniums and bougainvilleas. It is actually quite charming, reminiscent of Chefchaouen albeit less subtle with just one shade of blue.

It seems that The Smurfs or “Los Pitufos” has been exceedingly popular in Spain in the 80s when this cartoon first came out and they are all very enthusiastic with the new release.  So far, the inhabitants of Júzcar are not showing any signs of having the blues yet and everybody seems to be enjoying it and not minding the increasing number of people flocking to their village to see this blue wonder. Some even have asked if they could keep their house blue...  They are also going to have a craft market on Saturdays throughout the summer to make the most of this sudden influx of people.

If you fancy going to see this Smurf village for yourself, try and make it a week day as it is very crowded during the weekend, to say the least but avoid Mondays as most bar/restaurants are closed.  If you fancied making a day out of it, why not visit some of the Alto Genal villages?

Coming from Ronda, on the Ronda/San Pedro road, take the first turning on the right hand side before the Petrol station "La Ventilla" and then take the first left to go and see Parauta, a pueblo ecológico part of the Biosphere of La Sierra de las Nieves, with its artistic cobbles and the only remaining Moorish arch (Plaza de la Constitución). Follow Parking signs and park by the church as there are very limited amount of places to park in the village centre.  

Turn back onto the road you came from and at the t-junction, turn left. The next village you will be coming to is Cartajima, the highest village in Malaga province (846m). Turn left into the village and park in the car park signposted for the Hotel Castaño or on the road. It is mostly outstanding for its lovely views over the surrounding mountains and villages (Parauta and Pujerra).

Return to the road and turn left to continue to Júzcar, the Smurf village. Do also visit the newly opened Centro micológico (the mushroom centre) next to the church – it is well done and shows how rich this area is in quality mushrooms.

Then continue onto the same road to Farajan. Notice its lovely church with its well preserved Minaret (most of the churches were built onto Mosques after the Catholic Reconquest) and the particular architecture of its chimneys.

Then, continue onto the last Alto Genal village, Alpandeire, with its imposing cathedral sized pink church. Best to park at the entrance of the village as streets are very narrow. Note round bulges in houses that indicates indoor private wells. Many houses here have one.  This village is mainly famous for being the birth place of Fray Leopoldo, a well known monk who has just been sanctified by Rome. From the Fray Leopoldo view point, you can see Morocco on clear days.

Continue your journey on the same road, and you will come to the Ronda/Algeciras road. At the T-junction, turn right to get to Ronda.

However, if you would like to do a morning walk in the Genal Valley, while it's still cool before visiting the blue village, why not let me guide you? Visit the following link for more information on our guided day walks. 

I hope you will have a great day out! Let me know how it went.