In the land of the festive asparagus

 We are zig-zagging amid towns.  First to Venta Nueva. Nueva is the right word. It began in the 19th century when the road from Granada to Malaga was built.  885 people live here today - up on the 591 of 2003.  Wiki - which is available in Spanish and Cebuano, because someone thought people in Central Visayas in the Philippines needed to know this, said:


‘Originally, economic activity was linked to the passage of the N-342 national highway , but currently, given its proximity to the town of Huétor Tájar, its economic activity is assimilated to that of the municipal capital, leaving the hamlet very integrated into the main town.’




Up the road to Huétor Tájar, well, the edge of it.  https://huetortajar.org/  It has almost 11000 people here.  We are in the land of asparagus.  So much so that the stuff is protected by a designation of origin but it was not always thus.



People have lived here since people were invented but in 1483 the growth of the hamlets of Huétor  and Tájar was halted when Tájar was destroyed. The Kingdoms of the North turned up and the Luna family with them, establishing a lordship.  There is a Huétor Tower  and the remains of a fortress at Tájar.




Back to asparagus. It was introduced to Iberia by the Moors but it wasn’t till 1930 that it became a big thing here.  By the mid century they were growing enough to be sending it to Granada; by the 60s to Madrid and Barcelona. Cooperatives, established in the 1970s, helped with production and marketing and output went from 50 tons in 1977 to 10,000 today.



We have missed a proper Candlemas Bun.  The most prominent fiesta is, on the night of 2nd February 2nd, the feast of the Purification of the Virgin.  It ]consists of lighting large bonfires in the streets  and eating chocolate doughnuts.  There is also an Asparagus festival - but it’s in April. 



The cause of this herbage is the Rio Genil and we are crossing it near the Riviera Mediterranean Restaurante. 387 people gave it 4.8 stars.  https://rivieramediterranean.es/  Yesterday Nereanc said ‘Everything was perfect! The service was incredibly attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was ideal, and the food was excellent—everything we tried was delicious. I highly recommend it!’   A week ago Robin said ‘Really good food. A pleasant surprise on a cold winter night. Lovely scallops.’



Shall we pop into Mercadona, why not. 4 stars from 805 people.  Tariq gave four stars.  Is this a four star review? ‘Mercadona, what can I keep saying about this store that is bad, nothing is bad. They're a great store as always. There is always something that I enjoy from there which is why I go. Today it was the pineapple and coconut yoghurt drink. Cold as ice at 40 degrees outside and went down a treat. Excellent.’  Likewise, is this three from Lynn? ‘Today my husband went with a list of items to buy, many were not there, including tomatoes the tiny ones, butter, and others, so 3/4 of a shop!  I could not believe the total cost! On a pension! Very expensive!’


So we end the day out of town and near the railway.










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