Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Sierra Nevada Sunday.

The children have had two days off school - Friday and Monday - so an extra-long weekend has been enjoyed. Because the summer holiday is so long, there are no half-terms to break up the school year - it can make each trimester seem quite exhausting, so we were all glad of a few days without the early rise and the demands of school life.

Friday was a wallowy sort of day - I don't think Mateo got up until lunch was ready (and considering we eat around 3pm, that's LATE!) - although I was busy making chocolates for Saturday's stall. Ruy and Romy reverted to children who play together, which always makes me happy, even though it happens a little less as they grow up. Saturday was Christmas Market day and a return home to a delicious lunch made by FR whilst we were away. And then we all sat down in the afternoon to watch a movie together - Ruy's choice - Men in Black 4. Daft, funny and about right for how we all felt.

Sunday, we had decided to go sledging in the Sierra Nevada. About three weeks ago, my beloved mountains had turned white again with the first snowfall of the new season. However, for the subsequent three weeks, we've had nothing but bright sunshine every day and I did think the white of the peaks looked a little less white as we were returning from the market on Saturday - surely there'd be snow still?

Sunny, sunny day
The day dawned very frosty but the sun soon came out - as usual - and it seemed strange to be packing sledges into the back of the car, along with extra clothing, boots and hot chocolate, rather than beach gear!



We had to leave an ever-hopeful Darwin behind this year. We don't yet have a seat belt for him and it's law that dogs are restrained in cars or that they travel in cages....he did so want to come!


Bright, bright blue skies at home - would we find snow?

(We had a Plan B...no snow, we'd head for the coast! Win, win.)
Poor Darwin...bye Darwin....


As we climbed up and up the road to Pradollano, the main ski resort in Granada, there was a distinct lack of the white stuff.....



And then we got a little glimpse ...




Enough to get out and have a mini snowball fight....














Although even at 2500m high there was not that much snow to get very excited about....






But where there's a will, there's a way
And we weren't alone in enjoying the smattering of snow that was on the mountain sides...




Romy and Mateo making a joint descent

Can't decide whether it's an optical illusion, but Mateo looks to have his hands in his pockets...





All three trekking back for yet another run. Yes, I did have a go - no one thought to capture it on camera (thank goodness!)




Romy took this photo of the moon, which had been steadily rising as the afternoon went on....



And she took this great shot of the sun and the snow....

FR and his apres-sledge sandwich - enjoying the spectacular views





After we'd eaten our sandwiches and indulged in some more of my rather good hot chocolate - perfect setting to drink it - we decided to take the scenic route home via Guejar Sierra, which was on the north side of the valley, facing the Sierra Nevada. It was a very narrow road and felt very different to the south side of the mountain - obviously much colder due to the lack of sunshine, but different trees, including lots of apple orchards. The children kept saying it smelt like England - I think it was the dampness....

Reaching Guejar Sierra, we found this lovely family shop, run by a sweet old lady and her very cantankerous husband. I'd asked if it was OK to take some photos and she'd said yes, but the old man was very cross to hear my clicking and shouted at her! Oops....glad I asked her and not him!





We bought some delicious apples, which I guess came from some of the orchards we'd seen.

There were also lots of walnuts that sent FR into ecstasy - so we bought some of those too.


I was delighted to find such a lovely place - they had a bit of all sorts on offer, much of it from their own land. It wasn't cheap but you could taste the goodness.



I had some big onions too - I love onions!!
View of the not very snowy Sierra from where we stopped to take a nice hot coffee before heading off home as the sun set.

It was dark, but not late when we arrived home, still glowing from the sun and the snow. Darwin was delighted to see us again. I had a moment's reflection on how nice it was to be out altogether for the first time in a while - I do hope we do it again sometime soon.  It's a fine balance as to when to go again - if it snows a lot, then we will need chains on the car to be allowed to go up the mountain, which we don't have - and if it doesn't snow again soon, there'll be no snow to sledge on! 

I wonder if we'll have much snow in Villalobos? We have some nice slopes nearby that we could enjoy very easily if we do...



26 comments:

  1. The new header photo is gorgeous....and as for the one of Darwin behind the gates......not sure how you could get into the car after taking that one. However, what a fabulous day. The mountains look so beautiful, and those blue skies are just wonderful. The shopping stop on the way back looks excellent. A perfect combination of activities for the day, and with the Christmas market, a lovely family long weekend. I assume that Darwin forgave you for leaving him... but are you considering the restraint/cage options ? Love to all, Jxxxxx

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    1. I don't feel guilty at all, Janice - he's being a very naughty boy at the moment and keeps disappearing off without proper leave to do so! Actually, he always comes back after about half an hour...but I suspect he'd cause havoc on a sledging hill...when it's necessary, we'll get him a dog seat belt but he always has the barn to go into - and my neighbour has just offered to look after him if we go out again.
      It was a glorious day and I enjoyed the variety of our long weekend. It has brought Christmas suddenly much closer though...am I ready? (Am I ever ready?) Looking forward to it. Axxx

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  2. Yes, I can confirm that England still smells of dampness... but thankfully it's not as smelly as last year.
    I'd love the choice of beach or snow!
    Sx

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    1. Great choice, isn't it! Smell is so evocative - I'm not surprised my children recognised it but was surprised at the passion it aroused. They don't miss England but they still feel it's part of them.
      Axxx

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  3. Poor Darwin...how I recognise that expression!
    I've seen a sort of harness that clips into the seat belt holder on sale here - would that be legal in Spain?

    That was a super day out....and I liked the fine balance involved in deciding whether to go again.

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    1. It's one of his special faces...very Paddington Bear, I always feel. Yes, dogs have to have a harness but with five of us and our stuff in the back, we are a bit stuck for room. He always used to travel at my feet and we were both quite happy with that but I don't think the police would be...
      It certainly was a super-duper day out - I suspect it might be first choice for our next family outing whenever that might be.
      Axxx

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  4. Great post Annie, what a fantastic day. Mateo is the coolest sledger in the world!.. (Sledger? Sledder? Sleigher? Whatever!)

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    1. Thanks Ben! Great to hear from you. He does look cool, doesn't he? I think it's sledger. I keep meaning to post a photo I found when we moved in - I didn't recognise it at first. Three boys lying in the road with their legs in the air....stir any memories? I'll try and find it again and put it on Facebook. Axxx

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  5. Dogs and seat belts? I'm living in a country where children are still regularly carried on a lap in the front seat, despite all the laws that say otherwise.

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    1. I know, B2B, it's an absolute pain but not worth the risk and possible (definite) fine if you're caught without the right restraint. We got fined 100e earlier this year - our moving in day - because Mateo, in the van, had his seatbelt across his chest rather than over his shoulder, The van belt was cutting into him but the police weren't bothered. This, on a single track country lane!!!
      I don't approve of children on laps in the front seat though.
      Axxx

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  6. I think I have vaguely located where you are in Spain now. We travelled up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains after visiting Granada a few years ago.
    It does seem a strange rule to put a dog in a seat belt - I could imagine that he would wriggle out of it. He does look a very cute little dog.

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    1. We are about 40 minutes north east of Granada, Rosemary and we can see the Sierra Nevada from the town, though not from my house (can't have everything!) It's a lovely place - you must let me know if you plan to visit sometime!
      I can understand the need to keep dogs restrained in the car, but when we've had a perfectly adequate system since we got him, it seems a real bind. He hates being in the back - he howls and fusses to be with us....so he stays at home mostly and although he looks sad about it, he's fine really!
      Axxx

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  7. This is my kind of terrain and your day out would have appealed to my family when they were younger. It probably still would except they probably wouldn't want mum and dad tagging along!!!

    These are days to cherish.

    The views are spectacular! X

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    1. I am cherishing every day we spend all together doing something as a family - I know it won't last forever. Mateo enjoyed it too - whereas twelve months ago, he didn't want to go with us anywhere, so that's a good thing!
      And we are so lucky to have these mountains so nearby - just wish we were the skiing types, which we're not. I have no intention of starting now and FR has a really bad knee so had better not even try.
      Axxx

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  8. Now I see why you love Spain so much - what a fantastic day!

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    1. Oh come on, Nilly - we've had beach days, countryside days, garden days, swimming pool days - we LOVE living in Spain!! But Sunday was a very special day, no doubt about it.
      Axxx

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  9. What fun!
    All the photos are wonderful, Annie, but, the one of the sun has such an appeal for me. I do so enjoy hearing about your life and adventures there.

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    1. Thank you Penny. The blue skies make any photo look rather good but I was delighted to see that excellent one that Romy took - it captures the whole day perfectly. I am so pleased you pop over to read - and I apologise for being behind hand with reading yours! I have a lot of catching up to do but I will do it as I love how you write.
      Axxx

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  10. Spectacular. We spent a lot of time in Spain some years back - long story and the Sierra Nevada mountains never failed to take my breath away. Still do judging by these beautiful photos.
    What a perfect day - perfect weather, perfect fun!
    Have a wonderful christmas if we dont speak before
    Sophie
    x

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    1. Glad you're familiar with the Sierra Nevada, Sophie, whatever the story. I love these mountains so much and they still manage to take my breath on a daily basis. It doesn't wear off at all.

      Have a lovely Christmas yourselves - and speak soon.
      Axxx

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  11. What a lovely day out Annie and beautiful photos.

    Oh poor Darwin. I get 5 faces lining up at the gate looking at me like that and it makes me feel so guilty...but that's why they do it of course!

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    1. It was lovely, Ayak...and I can't imagine having Darwin's face multiplied by 5....gosh, that's pressure! He's a pleasure to come home to though, as he's always so very pleased to see us again! Axxx

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  12. I reckon Darwin is just a con artist and in fact enjoyed his day of peace and quiet, Annie. :-) But he couldn't have enjoyed it half as much as you all obviously enjoyed yours. What a spectacular place! the combination of mountains, snow and blue, blue sky is just wonderful. :-)

    As a child i loved sledging and our two did exactly the same on the hill above our Welsh house, so I'm glad to see sledging is still a favourite with today's youngsters. Isn't Mateo growing up and yes, he really does look like he has his hands in his pockets - the epitome of cool. :-)

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    1. At the moment, there is nothing Darwin would like more than to be let out so he can roam around wherever he pleases...he's feeling very confident about his home and often nips out the gate to do the rounds of his friends....that's when they don't pop through the gate to see him! So yes, I think you are right!

      We had such a lovely day and although I always loved sledging in the Yorkshire hills and was a bit of a daredevil, we always ended up so very cold and wet that it took ages to thaw out. Sunday was just perfect and felt incredibly healthy! Isn't Mateo growing up - and changing daily. None of us ever expected him to be cool...and yet there's no denying that's what he looks here!
      Axxx

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  13. I so love the idea of living somewhere where the choice can so easily be beach or snow! And I'd choose the snow as often as not!

    England, or in my case Wales, has been smelling very damp lately, although we have a lovely crisp frost under a bright blue sky this morning. The calm before another storm that's promised for tomorrow.

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    1. We picked the best time before Christmas - it's been so sunny that almost all the snow has disappeared again! Perhaps we'll have to have a beach day next, rather than more sledging...

      When the weather is good, I absolutely adore England (or Wales) but it can so often be rather miserable and at best, very changeable. It doesn't matter that much to me - I mean, it's not the reason I live here - but I do appreciate the sunshine. Hope the storm isn't too bad!
      Axxx

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