Tall trees and tales from the olive and saints, greater and little.

 We are approaching Recas and they have a cheerful little sign telling us we are welcome.

Spain hides its multiculturalism in open view. Recas has arrived via the Arabic for caravan.  The town centre is situated where two steams flowed underground.  Generally winters are cold and wet, with lots of frost.  Snowfall, wiki tells me, is low at this low altitude - 571m. This would be roughly equal to Black Hill, the 5th highest point in the Peak District.  Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures in July and August in excess of 37oC.

Our old friend the GSH Dictionary points us to how things were.

 situated on very uneven terrain, it has a temperate climate ; the east and west winds prevail, and gastric and catarrhal illnesses are common: it has 100 houses ; the town hall is a jail; a school endowed with 1,460 reales from public funds, which is attended by 28 children; a parish church (San Pedro) with a second-class curacy and ordinary provision; a hermitage (San Blas) that forms a street with the houses; another (La Soledad) at the western exit, and on the outskirts on a small hill, the hermitage of San Sebastian. It is supplied with drinking water from a spring that rises in the middle of the village and forms a perennial stream. The Guadarrama River crosses from north to south , half a league to the west, on whose banks there are countless vegetable gardens, fig trees, pomegranate trees and olive trees, and it is watered by two other streams that join the former. The land forms many uneven hills and some good quality meadows; the local roads to the nearby villages; the mail is received in Illescas by a mail carrier three times a week. Products : wheat, barley, oats, chickpeas, broad beans, carob beans, oil, wine, vegetables and fruits; sheep, cattle and mules are kept for work, and little small game is raised . and commerce : a snow well, 2 oil mills, trade in its produce. Population : 115 households, 603 inhabitants.  

The population has been on a steady rise since 1842. It hit a peak of 2267 in 1930, eased back slightly to around 2000 in 1960 and then shot up after 2000 to its present 5037. In 2022 about a quarter of the populace ws foreign born. Many migrants moved to work in the lettuce and onion growing farms. English wiki says it is known as ‘Little Mali.’  The Spanish one doesn’t.

As you will have noticed the town does have tentage to host fiestas in even the most inclement of climates. Our photos are from January 2025 and the town square is ready, I suspect, for the festivals of Saint Blaise and Little Saint Blaise.  On Candlemas [2nd February] the saint’s image is carriage from its hermitage to the Parish church and ring-shaped cakes are blessed. That evening a bonfire is lit in the market square and fireworks do their thing. On St Blaise’s day [3rd] a mass is said and a procession processed.  The 4th, Little Saint Blaise’s day, sees the saint riding through the town, with a decorated cart, laden with veg and risible proclamation of events over the last year is made.

We are here during the Festival of the Virgin of the Olive.  There is a big and ancient olive tree.  Apparently before 711AD the place had a hermitage dedicated to the Virgin.  When the wicked old Moors turned up the devotees hid the image in the foliage of the tree. After the reconquest the story hit a sweet spot and King Juan II gave land for the Franciscans to build a convent.  The 15th century structure was badly damaged during the Napoleonic War and subsequent funding issues saw it collapse. The image was brought to the parish church. 

The great fiesta day is the 8th September, however stuff starts from the 1st. Today a parade of floats and a brass band parade through the place. Expect dancing and food. Tomorrow it will be fireworks and on the 9th it is more fireworks and giant paella time.’’

Out of town and past the olive oil cooperative. ‘Magnificent Extra Virgin Olive Oil ‘ and ‘Very friendly staff. They close at midday and very early in the afternoon.’ are among the things said about it.

We end the day edging alongside Lominchar. It is another of those places which discovered commuters and shot up after the year 2000 to the present 2989. The GSH Dictionary reckons the west winds bring malaria.  They raised ‘wheat, barley, carob, wine and a little oil; sheep and draft animals are kept, and small game.’

Back on the road we pass the sort of butchers which isn’t a rosy cheeked plump chap with a stripy apron.  Carnicas Rujovi is reviewed.  Mostly 5 stars and no words.  Two years ago Ricardo reported ‘You guys have a delivery driver who's a real character. Yeah, this morning on the M50, Toledo exit (I think), he pulled a crazy stunt on me. He hit a truck with 40 tons of canned tuna, not wanting to waste a minute, and he really messed me up. He was lucky, though; I managed to stop the truck. Now I'm dealing with the insurance company to see who's going to cover the damaged cans. I want to wish him happy holidays and tell him to be careful with the grapes. ‘’

So to the CM-41, which we will cross with hope in our hearts.  In eight days we will be in the centre of Madrid and decision will be made.