The Road from Santiago

   Today we are doing old and new Spain, a combination of narrow streets, partly modified and long stretches of the new suburban houses which grace the villages near urban centres.  We are going into Purchil and onto Belicena. They, with nearby Ambroz, were formed into a single municipality called Vegas del Genil.  Purchill is the regal capital.  Like so much of rural Spain, the population rose up till the 1950s [ober 1600 in this case], fell dramatically till the 2000s [about 900] and has since grown to over 2200 as people have moved out of the city. Where we turn west we pass the 16th century church of San Jose. It has some Early Modern sculptures, one of Our Lady of Soorws from the 16th century and two by Pedro de Mena, a Virgin and Child and Our Lady of Bethlehem from the 17th century. The church has 13 reviews and 4.8 stars.  Last September ‘La abuela aventurera’ noted ‘Sunday, September 21, 2025, a significant day to mark in the town of Purchil. The n...

  We are looking for a way out of town and under the GR-30, but first, a park.  We walked passed Parque de las Alquerias yesterday and we are still by it so, why not pop in.  1106 people have given it 4.3 stars. It appears to be at its busiest between 9 and 10pm.  Top words are ‘dogs’, ‘strolling’, ‘lawn’, kitchen garden’ and ‘swings.’  A week ago Pedro said ‘ Beautiful park with views of Sierra Nevada, good location and parking’.   Generally people don’t say why they like it.  Lack of loos seems to have been an issue.  Loli summed it all up ‘A very large park with lots of grass, swings for children, and also for exercise. There's also another dog park inside. It's super cozy on the grass. They also have vegetable gardens inside the park.’ We have never been to a chess club and now is the moment to end that lack. The Club de Ajedrez Puerta Elvira gets a solid 5 from 38 people. Jose said ‘ In addition to an excellent club where you can learn to pla...

  We are doing peak central Spanish city today. Created before the motor car and coming to an uneasy cohabitation with them, we are going to do narrow streets, crammed with shops and occasionally breaking into squares of beauty, like the Plaza de la Trinidad.  We will even get a neat Candlemas Bun when we enter the Plaza de los Lobos, which will go from its green and child friendly June 25 self, back, to a harsher 2016 winter.  We will even rush through the Plaza Albert Einstein. First we plunge into the backstreets, by the Capilla Real.  We will pass another Flamenco Show - https://www.flamencoshowgranada.com/   It has three, unworded reviews. One is five star, one four and one, one.  I like a good reply and Anne, who wrote five months ago, got one. have we not had any reviews with your name in recent months, but we're also closed this month, so you must have made a mistake when leaving your review. I ask that you please correct it, as it negatively affect...

Today is a bit of a vibes day - but we will come to that later. There are so many historic things on the way down from the Alhambra you feel some of them should be lent out to less fortunate towns. Take the Pilar de Carlos V.  A mere 85 people reviewed it. It is a decent enough ornate fountain and I’m sure would be treasured and loved elsewhere. Anna loved it.  Six months ago she wrote ‘ The Pilar de Carlos V is a hidden gem tucked beside the Alhambra’s Gate of Justice—a stunning Renaissance fountain that’s easy to miss but worth a closer look! Its intricate design, with three figureheads symbolizing Granada’s rivers (or perhaps seasons, depending on who you ask), is a beautiful blend of art and history. The carved medallions depicting mythological scenes add a layer of storytelling to this spot.  Visit early to avoid crowds and take a moment to appreciate the details the imperial coat of arms and Hercules’ columns are a real treat! Perfect for a quick stop while explorin...