Walking holiday in Andalucia - 17th-24th May 2010

Here are more photos of another delightful small group I had the pleasure walking with in May in the Serrania de Ronda: Alan, Louella and Emma.

The weather was fabulous, with perfect deep blue skies, and the countryside was still nice and green with an abundance of wild flowers (orchids, irises, blue hedgehog broom, foxgloves, ...)!

Such a fun and interesting week hearing about Emma's experience as a wwoofer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms voluntary worker) on an organic goat cheese farm in Andalucia while on Sabatical from her GP practice, prior to joining our little walking group.

It was also fascinating hearing about Alan and Louella's art work, being both artists, and about Louella's Dad, who had had a very special bond with Spain all his life having fought with the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War (to find out more about Louella's Dad, click on Sol Frankel). Not to mention gardening and alotments!



















I will keep very fond memories of the wonderful time spent with Alan, Louella and Emma while walking in the Serrania de Ronda and visiting Ronda.

Organic & eco-friendly outdoor clothing - Rapanui

I have just discovered a fabulous range of outdoor clothing : Rapanui Clothing. Not only this range of outdoor clothing is well designed, fashionable, comfortable and fun but it is also organic as well as being made in an environmentally friendly wind powered factory! Each item of clothing is traceable too with maps and information showing its entire life cycle!

Rapanui Clothing, created in 2008 by surfing brothers Mart and Rob Drake-Knight, are ideal for young and young at heart outdoor enthusiasts! With naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, soft, lightweight and breathable bamboo and cotton fabrics, their range of base layers and mid layers (from socks to tops and sweatshirts) are just perfect for any outdoor activities as well as daily wear, while being eco friendly and fairtrade!

Well done Mart and Rob for creating such great outdoor products! You are a great exemple showing that technical outdoor clothing can be made out of natural material as well as being eco friendly and human friendly.

To see their range of organic outdoor clothing for yourself, click on Rapanui outdoor organic clothing.

Teignmouth & Dawlish Ramblers in Andalucia (2)

Here are a few more lovely photos taken by Peter Sillifant, brilliant photographer as well as walking member and treasurer of Teignmouth & Dawlish Ramblers, while walking in Andalucia with us. The following photos are fun photos of the group and one of me (showing the itinerary of the day at the start of the walk in the Sierra de las Nieves National park with a silly hat on!).

Here is a link to more fabulous photos taken by Peter while the group stayed in Ronda and in Granada: Ronda/Granada Spring 2010 photos. If you like beautiful photos of stunning scenery, delicate wild flowers and wonderful life scenes, you will definitely enjoy Peter's photos of Ronda and Granada. Best of all, his amazing shots of Granada's Alhambra, showing beautiful details of the intricate carvings and geometry of this palace, are well worth looking at. Enjoy!

Teignmouth & Dawlish Ramblers in Andalucia

The weather and time of year (end of April/beginning of May)couldn't have been more perfect for the Teignmouth & Dawlish Ramblers group! The wild flowers were at their best and in abundance in the Serrania de Ronda (fields of wild irises and Gladioli, different varieties of orchids, Giant Squills, etc...), the valleys were luxuriantly green, the temperatures were lovely and warm and the sky was deep blue! Perfect for such great company!

Such good fun with this lovely group which was so interested in the flora, history and culture of the Serrania de Ronda. I also learnt more names of flowers I hadn't been able to identify before thanks to Nigel and Claire's fountain of knowledge on flora! Thank you so much!

Here are a few photos I took during the guided walks in Ronda area, the Guadiaro Valley, the Genal Valley and in the National Park of La Sierra de las Nieves: