Alhama de Granada

Day 9-Canillas de Aceituno

A day of “rest,” we had no official plans. This was fortunate as I learned that Matt and Frank (aka Jack the cat)had stayed up to watch the Bengals play Thursday night football (2-5am our time). Kinda like Christmas morning, I got to wake up to a wonderful surprise. I have to admit it was a lot less painful to watch the game via highlight video the next day!

Considering our options, we unanimously agreed to head into the town for a hike in the hills. Launching ourselves out of our driveway, we headed the few miles up the hill to the town of Canillas de Aceituno one of the many white washed villages of Spain. A gorgeous 5 mile out and back hike along a small aqueduct to a hanging bridge, afterwards we found a bar open during siesta to partake in drinks and nachos. Talking about buying inexpensive property here and getting the 10 euro bill for 4 beers, a coke, a liter of water and nachos, Thom declared he felt like a drug lord. “Wasting” enough time, we were able to wait out siesta and return to the two little markets in town. Buying the finest bottle of wine, fresh shaved prosciutto and about every bakery item in the store, we left to settle down for tapas and dinner in our clever cottage.

When planning our trips, Margaret and I spend a lot of time finding the perfect places. Southern Spain was harder and bigger than expected. Ultimately, we dropped convenience for the “perfect”place. This gorgeous artist villa was all Margaret. I am not sure anyone could really accurately describe this place. Old and eclectic. Form over function. The owner, we learned from Boris the caretaker, built this house and many of the furniture and doors with railroad ties he bought from Africa years ago. The massive door included a one pound “Legend of Zelda” key. His wife, a painter, filled the house with replicas of various portraits, many of them quite creepy and crooked. Cooled by the wind, the skylights remain open along with many of the windows to bring a perpetual breeze. Clever except for that everything upstairs moves-the pans, the doors, the pictures and the light fixtures. Matt described nighttime is “like sleeping in a wind chime store.” The skylights, like a convertible, perfect except for that pop up storm. Last night, we came home to a shower in the living room. Frantically pushing every button we could find, we somehow missed the 20 foot pole sitting in the corner. Pretty sure this wasn’t the first time this houses top was left down. The final warning from Boris was regarding bugs you can’t see that bite, particularly around dawn and dusk. Every table and bedstand had a bottle of bug spray. Despite everything, the stay was just perfect and memorable. The porches, the view, the hot tub, the cat. The house was definitely an adventure.Read more