Life of adventure, Spain., Travel

Relaxing in LA GELIBRA

Suzanne

In early December, we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to stay in the Le Gebilra area of Andalucia between housesits. Even though we were looking forward to a new location to explore, we did arrive somewhat jaded.

Why, you may ask?

The reason “Cortijos Haza Tortas.”

It’s the name of a road. Looks somewhat like a simple Spanish name for a road, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. This one is from the depths of somewhere most unpleasant. A road designed for goats on a one-way wander.

Loosely translated by us to mean “Contorted Hazard Torturous”.

Surely I am joking? Right? Was I maybe being somewhat over dramatic? Well, no, I am not!

The road was ripped up due to heavy rain, making the back tyres spin as one part of the car was on the road while the other two had to wait a few more seconds before landing on Terra Firma.  Moving o further came the potholes, significant enough to be classed as bathing holes for a small elephant, with sheer drops with no fencing or trees to enjoy as we rolled around.  There were even more delightful surprises to come, the introduction of 360-degree hairpins, one after another, which made us feel like we were going around in circles; this was undoubtedly the beginning of what seemed a hell of a road trip.  Passing the local Casa where the front door meets the road stood people whom we smiled and waved at gingerly as we moved slowly past; I knew what was coming.  The look returned to us,  which confirmed what they were thinking; we were just another couple of turistas locos that had taken the wrong road.  As far as we were concerned, we had not; we had only been at the mercy of one annoying GPS taking us on a shortcut!

What had we got ourselves into?  How long is this journey going to take?  Both questions were muttered under our breaths more than a few times.

It was time for a breather, and luckily, we found a driveway to pull into to let pass a motorcyclist at the rear of us driving like he was the cartoon character Roadrunner with a good measure of Evil Kevil style.

Who do we blame for this hair-raising drive?  Our GPS was taking us on what was supposed to be the best route possible.  Did this contraption receive a more descriptive name after that trip?. Yes, it did.

Which brings me back to our arrival at our new abode.  When we decided we didn’t want to move out, we had to return to that road again.  Unfortunately, we had taken a route many do not venture over; who would have guessed that reply? Not us. Kindly, we were not told by the neighbour that we were complete idiots; instead, we were shown on our map a more pleasant route back to the Costa Tropical for when we wanted a day out and our departure.

After a deep breath and a conversation with the informative neighbour, we had a cuppa to revive our composure.  It wasn’t time for a walk.

Olive harvesting

In the afternoon, we arrived. It was busy in this small valley section. It was olive harvesting time. With the sounds of chugging engines, the olives were going through the process, and the voices of chattering men could be heard over the loud engines.  If the m were not in the shed, they could be found waiting patiently outside the Olive Press. The women held a more dignified place inside their vehicles, reading or knitting from what I could see as I passed on from my walk down the road.

Approximately seven vehicles were parked outside the Olive press.   As we approached, plastic containers or bags heavy with olives were being carried into the storage shed or laid in the sun.  All very xciting, and the anticipation of liquid gold that would be produced.  However, would say most growers would have a fair knowledge of what amount they would get.  The place we stayed at had already picked their olives, and the beautiful gold-coloured oil was waiting in large glass vessels to be poured into smaller user-friendly bottles once they had had that resting time for the sediment to settle at the bottom of the container.

We were staying just up the road from the Olive Press.

After a good night’s sleep, we relaxed around the Casa as it was all we needed here, such as food, a sample of local wine, gardening to do, scenic views, country walks and of course, WIFI!  Sometimes it is the simple things in life, from watching the sun go down or pottering around a garden to having a walk.  The absorption of a new culture and what we have already explored.  We felt like hibernating for a short while; well, it was wintertime.  It was to charge those travelling batteries, those batteries being our enthusiasm to do more exploring.   Hibernation time here included some planning, as in booking flights to Istanbul for when we leave Spain in late February.  Then, we eturn to the UK from Turkey in April.  We also ve plans to explore places before departing Spain; all this takes time and planning.  Not forg ting to catch up on some blogging!

With all of this mental work, I need physical labour to balance my equilibrium or is that another word for “sanity“.  We had s pped dog-sitting Fudge for a garden in the hills.  It was fun to get my fingers dirty and to use muscles I hadn’t exercised in a while as I chopped a few branches off trees.   Luckily, some still had fruit on, such as pomegranates and oranges.

To have a break from organising and gardening, I acted like a mountain goat and went up and down the hills, stepping on what smelt like wild lavender and other scented wildflowers amongst the arid, dry, ploughed ground. For both of us to tackle a walk, we will have to wait until we get back to civilisation and flat terrain; hills are not suitable for the Squire.

On my walks, the people I meet are more likely than not to be locals, which is a hint that the primary concern around here is not the foreign tourist market. They seem to have left all that to the Costa del Sol, an hour or so west. We love being up in the hills for a change of scenery. We would like it even more if they had better roads!

Not far from our temporary abode, I can wander around the hills within minutes; during a recent stroll, I found plastic crates full of olives open to the elements.

Even worse were the olives in plastic bags left in the sun. As one local said, they have been doing the same practices for many years; oil quality is not questioned. All is well if you do the same methods and taste the same oil. People who treat the olives with more care will have a better chance of having higher-quality olive oil. Many of the oils that are branded as Olive Oil are very questionable. The one oil we have tasted in the area is grown in the backyard where we are staying. It’s by far the best experience of Spanish olive oil we have tasted.

Published by Suzanne

Travel and Life Musings from New Zealand and Beyond. . . . . . .

55 thoughts on “Relaxing in LA GELIBRA”

    1. It was Anabel, though the road we ventured down, to be fair it is used by locals who have 4 wheel drive vehicles, not a car! The road we should have used is tar sealed, a considerable easier drive though still with sheer drops. People who live up and down in the hills think nothing of it even the elderly drive it without batting an eyelid. I just need to toughen up 🙂

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    1. Thanks Miriam, we are now back on the coast, and now appreciate the uniqueness of the hill country even more so now that we have left it. Always the way! Though we are back up in the hills in February just in a different area.

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    1. Oh yes, they certainly do Rosie. On average the roads in Spain are far superior to the ones in NZ. As the case in most countries, get off the beaten track so to speak and the roads are less appealing to drive, though still worth exploring, just don’t take the word of a GPS 🙂

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    1. Very correct April. The Squire in a previous life would have been classed as a rally driver and even he thought the road was horrendous. Most locals never use it, only a few that live on it. All part of the experience and we have had a few laughs about it since being back on the coast 🙂

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  6. Wow, what a hairy, scary road to your new abode. Those darn GPS’s, right? We have to trust them in new locations, and once you set out upon certain roads, there is no other way than forward. Lovely new place, by the sounds of it. You do need a refill for your cuppa, though. 🙂

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  8. This road is going to make sitting up the front in your bus/former home and going over the Takaka hill seem like an absolute doddle now. In fact it will make any road in NZ seem a dream:-) Looks like it was worth it once you were arrived though. What gorgeous country.

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    1. Hahaha that brought back fond memories. You are right Wyn that road is now been allocated to the easy road to travel. Spain countryside is gorgeous. So much to see though very spaced out and very similar to Australia.

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    1. Yes, you are right Wendy they are. It is a magical place, and brilliant to see the olive picking in action. Just love those trees as you know we did plant a few back in NZ 🙂

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  10. It’s all ups and downs, isn’t it? Glad you survived your first Spanish Christmas, and the ‘holiday’. 🙂 🙂 Did you see many nativity scenes? There are lovely ones in most of the Algarve towns and villages. Wishing you good health and more ups than downs in 2018!

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    1. Thanks, Jo and here’s to more up’s than downs and less steep ones 🙂 No didn’t spot any around the towns, though I would imagine more in the homes. Same to you for another amazing year in 2018.

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  11. What a horrifying experience! Our mutual friend, Janis, is convinced that her GPS is trying to kill her. Sounds like your GPS may be related to hers!
    Wishing you smooth roadways ahead!

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    1. Haha hopefully not. We would rather think if was being thoughtful to suggest a shortcut. Unwisely perhaps in this case. Narrow roads in the Spanish hills is quite common. Yes to more smooth roads 😁

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    1. Oh yes it was Fiona 🙂 I could tell you a few hair raising stories of nearly having to drive up a bank in a Devon and Cornwall side road 🙂 All good fun and part of the journey!

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    1. It was really lovely and no TV!! We very rarely watch it, usually only the news!! Both of us enjoy the countryside. Thanks for commenting Deb.

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        1. Isn’t it funny we were just saying it would be fun to have a snowy Christmas. For us it has that novelty appeal which would no doubt wear thin if we had to do it yearly.

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    1. Orla, it is fine for the locals that live on the road, they are used to it, and no one goes fast unless they are a young lad on a motorbike. Most people have a four wheel drive vehicle. Plus I am just a little bit scared of heights, though I am conquering it and feel quite proud of myself for not losing the plot while the Squire was driving 🙂

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    1. We are now down on the coast with Fudge. Though just got back from conquering another hill though this one had room for two lanes and felt much safer 🙂

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    1. Thanks Lisa for commenting. Yes, I am sure you would love it. It brought back many good memories from when we had our small olive grove back in NZ.

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  21. It sounds like the hair raising drive was worth it in the end! We had a similar experience in Croatia where the only people we saw were those coming out of their remote farmhouses to laugh at us! Happy New Year to you and the Squire and may 2018 bring you many more adventures x

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    1. All good fun eh Em, and it certainly makes us all remember the trip even more. Loved it up there though not the roads 🙂 All the best to you and Mr Fleche for more adventures in 2018 x

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  23. Cortijos Haza Tortas sounds horrible, but at least it took you to this lovely spot! My dad bought a cheap sat nav once that would always take us on the craziest routes, so we started to call it the crap-nav. It would often tell us to go in completely the wrong direction!

    Anyway it looks like you have had an idyllic end to 2017. I just with I could try some of that amazing Spanish olive oil!!

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  24. Pingback: A Postcard – Comares – Life at No. 22

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