Tuesday 12th March 2013

Rain and dark clouds were the skyline this morning, with the hope of a smidgen of sunshine later, but 14 degrees though so can't complain.

Our first stop was a small cottage in Alcaucinj in the mountains, which was owned by a charming Spanish man called Guillermo.  We got halfway and couldn't work out why we missed the road we wanted, that would take us on the right side of a lake (which was a gorgeous hue to torquisey blue.  We then found out that the signposts had been covered up before the turning, as the road was being resurfaced.  Alot of the Spanish roads tend to require the odd resurfacing - well it's not just the surface they take out the whole section due to underground movement as it starts to slope and crack - especially on hilly and mountainsides.

Well the road was definitely closed, but the little or no redirection hadn't helped.  Anyway called Guillermo and he directed us onto the "Old Road" and we would meet him in Vinuela a small village where he would be collecting his daughter from school.  The weather had turned alot cooler now 9degrees and constant drizzle.

Whilst we had to wait for Guillermo Aston needed the toilet and we found a tiny mercado (market) and the lady greeted us with a nice smile and let us use the staff toilets.  Normally in the UK if a shop doesn't have Customer Toilets you can't go!  But I shouldn't stereotype - the Spanish do have a slightly relax attitude about stuff.

Anyway so we Guillermo and his daughter and followed him some 20 minutes into what appeared to be the sky!  In fact it felt like we were driving through the middle of the clouds, on top of the world!  But the roads were a good width and tarmac which helped.

The house was in a small hamlet of ten houses, and typically rural spanish with the kitchen to the right and a small lounge.  It was very charming with a rustic feel, and ornate with lovely blue and white tiled stairs. But it definitely wasn't small like a cottage, it had 2 double rooms and a large galleria where you could put another bedroom and then another room where there were 3 single beds and still loads of room around the outside.  Two bathrooms containing showers, and Corrine's favourite - a bidet - please just don't ask me why. It floats her boat, or maybe that's not quite the best phrase to use?????

This town house from the outside was very deceiving as it definitely wasn't a "small cottage". Although there were ten houses in the hamlet only three were residents - the others were used as holiday or 2nd homes.  And so there weren't any shops however, the local baker, butcher, etc. would come round regularly pip pip their horn and sell their wares.  Guillermo said that this area show true Andalucian culture, the farmers tended their fields the traditional way,  mule and a single plough and a bit of elbow grease (my expression not his).  However, charming the house may have been it just wasn't for us.  It was just too far into the mountains and no own personal outdoor space for the kids to play.  But you have to see these things to see what's out there and what you do and don't like just as a process of elimination.

Next stop Cuevas de San Marcos (Cave of San Marcos),  this I know will be close to amenities, hopefully no hills though - not sure how much my stomache can take?

Arrived later than expect to a larger village (approx 5k population) and Bob showed us a quirky four storey town house right in the middle of the village near the piazza (square).  The village sounds like it has everything we would daily, however too close and no outdoor space again - but outside the village would be perfect.

Anway, Bob took us to see his wife Nina who was round at their Guesthouse (Casa Bob) they had lived in the village for 10 years and ran a small Estate Agency in San Marcos, so were a minefield of information.  Nina was fluent in Spanish, but they were a very nice couple and we were invited in for a cuppa and got some of the village gossip and tips.  Very warm and hospitable couple that we were there some time, I hope we didn't over stay our welcome!

It was now early evening and the kids were about to kick off due to hunger, but it was going to be 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get back to Las Nuevas, so we decided to go to a Restaurant instead.  Most service stations have some kind of Restaurant or eating establishment, but you really do have to stop and check first, because to me some just don't feel right and you just have to drive until they do!  It annoys Paul very much - but my gut feelings have never failed us yet!   Anyway, tonight I just didn't get the Feeling....... for any of them.  So we stopped at a Restaurant Dallas (a burger and pizzeria) in Estacion de Cartama, which also mean't we were only 30 minutes from home.  But needs must I wasn't looking forward to driving back up the mountain and in the dark - well Paul was driving and I'd be gripping the chair glaring out of the window...... Slight exaggeration but you get my drift.

All fed and well arrived safely up the mountain at Las Nuevas 11pm - kids nicely snoozing in the back.

Learning points from the day - we need to do a bit more research/touring  to individual villages/areas, as the landscapes differ so much.  But it did confirm that the Andalucia that we love is the one of rolling/undulating hills and olive trees.  Similar to Cuevas de San Marcos, but on the outskirts of the village. 
Everything is so much further away, and if you need to cover alot of kilometres don't use a yellow road on my map, as it almost triples the amount of time to get anywhere!