Alpujarra...

Last week I had a lovely week away, walking in the Alpujarra region of Andalucia, on the southern slopes of the Sierra Navada.

This was a leap of faith for me, joining a group of others travelling alone, but one I would certainly repeat. Whilst spending a week with a group of strangers definitely has its highs and lows - overall they were a nice bunch of people, all wanting to walk in the beautiful scenery and there is a lot to be said for company at mealtimes and days out!

I have taken way too many photos to post on here but for a flavour and a reminder for me...

We stayed at a small family run hotel in the little village of Berchules, with rooms overlooking the valley...

We were a bit unlucky with the weather, with the first few days decidedly cloudy but even so, stunning...

We walked along mule tracks and the ancient acequias (watercourses) which provided irrigation across this usually dry terraced landscape...

...studded with olive trees, wild thyme, lavender and rosemary, amongst a whole lot of other flora...

...through valleys overlooking pretty white villages, with the snow-capped peaks in the distance...

Fresh green leaves are following the last of the almond blossom...

and we did eventually see blue skies...

I slightly fell in love with the hotel's 11 year old dog that accompanied us on our walks...

There is a real mix of Moorish & Catholic history and culture here...

Spring definitely a little further ahead here...

Some of my fellow walkers...

and our fabulous walking guide George...

who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the area, the culture and the history...

We were walking at 1500-2000m but I hadn't expected there to be snow on the ground in places!! (and in spite of the sunshine, it was bitterly cold that day!)

But by the end of the week our longest walk saw us in shorts and T-shirts walking across ridges and through dappled pine forest...

Our final day was spent in Granada, where I wandered up through the old town's narrow streets...

before going to visit the impressive Alhambra with its fortresses and palaces...

and stunning views across Granada and the mountains...

...before ending the holiday with a group meal, a carajillo (coffee & brandy!) and a walk up to the top of the town to look at the Alhambra lit up at night...

I have come home yearning a simpler way of life, some sunshine and a desire to learn Spanish! Perhaps something to aim for!!

Back to work tomorrow...

S x