Doing steep on the horizontal

 

We are heading down about 100m but mainly we are moving along the side of a valley which is doing steep.  To one side are woods or pastures, to the other are houses showing the need to learn how to do a hill start when driving.  Hamlet after hamlet is offering up its scattered dwellings.





Our first stop is a 4.5 star park. El Fondello  Few people say why they gave it 3, 4 or 5 stars.  Claudia feels it is ‘A very well-equipped place for any party or celebration.; Cristina would have gone to six stars of the place had a loo.





We will have to stop at the bee museum.  The Casa de la Apicultura  https://www.boal.es/la-casa-de-la-apicultura is enough to be worth half an hour of anyone’s time. It has an audiovisual and the beekeeping themed library.  We had a picture of a Cortin when in Galicia and talking of bees.  Here is what they have to say:


‘EL CORTÍN is a construction that has traditionally provided shelter for hives. The plant is circular. The wall can reach between 2 or 3 meters in height, and the diameter between 12 and 20. The masonry does not have mortar and the "tondias" are placed on it, slate slabs that cantilever outwards and that also to prevent rainwater from seeping through the wall face, it also prevents the access of bears and other smaller animals, and also protected the apiary from fire. Orientation is essential: sheltered from the north, if possible facing south and located halfway up the mountain, adapting to the topography of the terrain. Of course, the blooms in the environment and the existence of a nearby water source are fundamental factors that guarantee the life of the colonies that populated and still populate this type of settlement.’





Let us end the day at a rurales apartamentos - El Bosque de las Vinas in this case.  It seems to be about £120 a night.  The owner says it has ‘The 5 eclectic apartments come with free Wi-Fi, kitchens, and sitting areas with flat-screen TVs and DVD players. They also offer distinctive touches such as loft bedrooms, exposed stone walls or claw-foot tubs. In that it gets 4.9 stars from nearly 200 reviews it must be good.  Gini Wormwood said, about two months ago, ‘The best place I've ever been. Perfect, beautiful and with the best service. The hostess is wonderful. Quality price of 10’





How can we leave, but leave we must.

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