Jorox

We walked from Alozaina to Jorox today. This little aldea, population 12, has been settled since Paleolithic times, thanks to the spring that gushes out of the ground just above the aldea and flows down with the strength of a river. It has never gone dry, even during the hottest summers. During Arab times (more than 1000 years ago), a network of acequias was established, directing the river water to the various orchards and olive groves scattered around the steep gorge. In addition, the water powered nine flour and olive oil mills. It must have been an idyllic place to live.

We saved our walk here for a day with a good weather forecast, knowing that we would want sunshine for exploring the village. It’s a good thing we did have perfect weather because the ascent of the dirt track we walked to get to Jorox was one of the steepest gradients I’ve ever been on. I kept thinking I needed a parachute for safety’s sake. It was too steep to take a photo of it - getting out a camera would have upset my precarious balance! Once there, we revived ourselves by having the house specialty for lunch at Venta Rivita, complete with tables behind us in the cave part of the building.

On the way back (on a much more reasonable lane), Ned immediately recognized the bird we were hearing as a nightingale. When I asked him how he could possibly know that, he said he’s heard the recorded song of a nightingale hundreds of times in Respighi’s orchestral work, Pines of Rome.

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