Is it an adventure or a holiday?

This week, possibly as a result of the dramatic differences we have experienced on this trip, Melle and I have been discussing the difference between adventure and holiday. We’ve also introduced the terms ‘tour’, ‘experience’ and ‘exploration’.  And we’ve concluded that they’re all part of a big Venn diagram of interconnecting parts.

Homer having a rest after his driving ‘adventures’ of the last 7 weeks

Clearly the climate has changed as we’ve driven south through Spain but it’s not all about the temperature and sunshine although that is a significant impact on local life as well as our day to day existence.

We always meant our visit to Andalusia to be an adventure but it’s clear that it’s a different kind of experience to skiing and alpine life in the mountains. You might have read Melle’s take on the adventure that is skiing in the last blog? And clearly travelling through Spain and Andalusia doesn’t pose the same immediate physical risk and emotional high it does still offer challenge and certainly interest and learning. For one thing our body clocks have changed as we’ve slept later and spent significantly less time in Homer, so much so that we’ve got our awning out and bought some new camp furniture!! 

Melle enjoying the new camp furniture (and a glass of red)

We’ve travelled to the edge of the Grazalima national park an area notorious for its white villages and towns some of which are literally embedded in the hillsides. Setenil de las Bodegas is an ancient settlement literally hewn from the valley walls of the gorge within which it exists. There’s evidence of human cave life from 25,000 years ago, troglodyte homes they are called. I thought that was just a word made up by children to describe monsters! 

As well as being one of the earliest of human settlements in Europe we learnt that later in history these towns and villages often lived on the edge being on the border between catholic christianity in the north and the moors from Africa and the south. Some amazing castilles were built and many many churches and places of worship. 

Setenil - amazing place both as a town and views from the hilltops

Now mainly Catholic Churches and sanctuaries often then were first developed as mosques and much of the artistry and architecture remain. It’s an amazing and very beautiful journey and experience. 

Perhaps not an adventure taking us out of our comfort zone although understanding the different versions of Spanish accent and dialect can certainly be a challenge. And that’s just saying ‘hello’. Fortunately Melle has been practising her Spanish and her very animated approach is also very in keeping with the local culture. 

This year we also brought our bikes and again this week we were rewarded with a fabulous off road route called Via Verde de las Sierra. Again using disused railway we got to cycle through some of the most beautiful countryside with olive groves side by side with horses, cows and bulls and mountainside. One such place we passed is a gorge and cliffs called Zaframagaon which are said to be the largest colony of bearded vultures in Europe and as we passed over a disused railway bridge we spotted something 20 of them circling high in the sky above a crag. Fortunately we’d packed Melle’s binoculars and we spent the next half hour marvelling at the way they floated on the thermals using their wing tip feathers, which looked like fingers, and their tail to direct themselves. Massive things they’re said to be over 8 meters from wing tip to wing tip.

Stunning wild flowers growing along the Via Verde

This week we stayed in a quiet campsite - which offered us a little more ‘luxury’ when compared to the camper van / autocaravanista sites. Here we had space to relax a bit more and we also took advantage of the laundry on site. We’ve noticed our meal times and meals have also begun to change as we’ve started to need a breakfast to get us through to lunchtime - which often isn’t until 3 or 4pmlocally. We’ve also tried the Iberian ham, which is wafer thin but full of flavour. On a piece of bread with a bit of emmental cheese it’s gorgeous for breakfast.

Our campsite, Pueblo Blanco, was close to the town of Olvera, presumably named after the most prominent local produce. This part of Spain produces more than half of all olive oil produced in Europe!! But Olvera is so much more than an oil producing town with a historical and cultural centre all focussing around a hilltop fort and cathedral. The windy streets are fascinating to wander around and often you get chance to glance in at the little houses and stop for refreshment in little plazas. 

It’s all part of the experiencing and refreshing our batteries in preparation for our next stop on the tour - Sevilla. Our daughter Rosie is coming to experience it with us and we are also meeting our American niece Kirby, who is on a semester visit here as part of her university course. And the legendary Sevilla Feria (spring fair) is on - apparently party, drinking and no sleep all week!

If we survive we’ll tell you all about the ‘adventure’ next week..