Spring has sprung...at last!

A lovely morning in Illora, at last, after weeks, the rain has stopped and we have sunshine!

Neighbours gossiping on street corners, ladies cleaning windows and sweeping their terraces, washing blowing on the line...

The Rain in Spain ........

Do not believe anyone who tells you it doesn't rain in Spain!

Friends think the sun shines constantly, we have wall to wall sunshine..

Well Ok, we usually do from June until September, our HOT summer, the remaining time we experience the seasons, Spring, Autumn and Winter.

In January, Spain experienced the heaviest rainfall for years, damaging the precious olive harvest, and causing terrible floods in nearby villages.....thankfully, our house is on top of the hill!

These pictures were taken on the road we take to the airport, between Valderubio and Fuente Vaqueros

Our next week's forecast is for heavy rain... with a chance of snow on Saturday!

Friday 12th Feb...a quick update...SNOW arrived in Illora today....

Gym day....well, maybe Gym hour!!

In an effort to be a bit healthier..I have joined the local gym run by the town hall, the Ayuntamiento...

A bit apprehensive going for first time, didn't want anyone laughing at me gasping for breath trying to run on the treadmill! However, its brilliant, for most of the time I am the only person there; a personal trainer there to give advice if needed, early morning classes too, aerobics, step classes, spinning etc, not that I have tried these (yet)!!

So far so good, 3 times a week, and 3 kms each time.....

Casa Rozinante

We named our house after Don Quixote's faithful horse...

When the construction was complete, our builder Antonio bought a gift for the house...a statue of a horse's head, and placed it in a prominent position on the front gate post ....

Illora

Illora, located at the foot of the Parapanda mountain range, is set within the multicoloured landscape of olive groves and cultivated fields.

It is 33km west from the city of Granada, and 759m above sea level.
Currently with approximately 10,000 inhabitants, the locals are known as Illurquenses!

Called Illurco since ancient times, the village was inhabited by Germanic tribes, Visigoths and Moors. The remains of the once magnificent Moorish castle, that played an important part in the Castilian Conquest, are located on top of the gorge overlooking the village. it was one of the most important defensive enclaves in Granada, together with other nearby fortresses.

It is one of the villages that make up the area El Poniente Granadino, in Andalusia.