Joke

Sorry about this, but I feel compelled to share a joke.
Q: How many Spaniards does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Juan.

CCTV Nazari

It seems a shame the authorities feel compelled to install hideous CCTV cameras in the Alhambra to "protect (both) the visitor and the monument" (story here, in Spanish), and I hope they manage to make theirs more discreet than the millions that blight the urban landscape of Britain and which do sod-all to reduce drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour. I've never noticed so much as a low-key graffito anywhere in the palace or the Generalife gardens, and it doesn't look like there's much of a problem to me. Of course, it may save money (once the cameras are in they'll cut staff hours). Ideal will no doubt be looking into that. There will certainly be an awful lot of footage of Japanese tour groups, and swallows. Of course had the Alhambra been built in the UK it would have been bristling with cameras years ago. And it would probably be closed for Health and Safety reasons anyway.

Happy campers

Another positive review from one of our guests below. This gentleman spent two and a half weeks in our place during April and May this year and despite being without power for a few days following a thunderstorm he was delighted with the house and the village. (He was a paying guest who found us through Villarenters, by the way, and so he has no particular motive for being nice!)

"This is a really nice house that is excellently equipped. The standard of the kitchen fittings is really good. The main room upstairs (living room, dinning area and kitchen) has wonderful views from the roof terrace. The house is in a good location in the village to get the best views. Juviles is a very good village to stay in. It is small, quiet and peaceful, but there are a few bars and a shop. It is close to the much larger village of Berchules which has a good collection of shops and eating places. Unlike many of the villages Juviles has many parking places on the main street, just a short distance from the house. This house is very warmly recommended!"

The power problem was caused by a blown trip switch. Fortunately our friends managed to get hold of an electrician and sort it out fairly quickly. We do get frequent power cuts in the Alpujarra and keep a supply of candles and torches around the place accordingly. As we cook with bottled gas and keep warm with a wood-burning fire, it's usually more romantic than irritating, and the power normally comes back on within an hour or so.

More lynx

The Iberian lynx is the most endangered feline species in the world and one of Europe's most beautiful predators. Visit soslynx.org for information and some impossibly cute pictures of cubs from the Spanish breeding programmes.

You can donate on the site if you're inclined, or buy a t-shirt or something, but it might be more constructive to bring your pet rabbits on holiday to Spain and leave them here. The dearth of rabbits since the disastrous arrival of myxamatosis in 1953 (then the haemorrhaegic virus in the 80s) seems to be the main threat to the lynxes. Although they will eat the odd bird if they get a chance, they're essentially rabbit-dependent. Spain has been famous for rabbits since Classical times, and the Iberian lynx (as distinct from the closely related and far more widespread Eurasian species) may only have evolved and survived because of them. Of course rabbits breed like rabbits, but they've yet to recover their numbers, despite the efforts of conservationists and hunting clubs. Now Spanish scientists have developed a combined vaccine that could bring rabbit populations back up to historic levels in no time if it works - it's still undergoing tests. (When I read this I wondered how they were going to catch the little fellows to inject them all, but apparently once the vaccine is injected into a few rabbits, they pass it on to their pals. It's that breeding thing again, no doubt....). Anyway, if the rabbits bounce back, it'll solve the lynx's problems, mostly. They'll still need to learn how to cross the road without being run over, though.

Coming to this blog soon and insensitively, at least one traditional Alpujarran recipe for rabbit. Meanwhile, here's another lynx picture.

Granada on-line

This is rather cool. Granada's new website allows citizens to register, apply, pay, complain, query and otherwise generally mither the life out of the town hall at the click of a mouse. If you've ever attempted to set up a direct debit to pay your water and refuse-disposal charges in Spain, only to be sent to several provincial government offices and two banks, you'll know what a step forward this is. The site is largely geared for residents but the "turismo" tab may be interesting to visitors. There are links for Alhambra tickets, the city orchestra, temporary exhibitions etc. Unfortunately the function for searching for tapas bars by area doesn't work very well. Maybe I should post a list of some good bars here sometime... http://www.granada.org/.

You say 'patatas', I say 'papas'

If you think the Irish take their spuds seriously, you should see what a fuss they make of them in the Alpujarra. The United Nations' decision to make 2008 the International Year of the Potato has gone down well in Granada (every year being Year of the Potato round here), and they're supporting the global initiative with a local competition. I love the precision in this article - if you don't read Spanish you can take my word for it.

Las bases del concurso: Pondrán participar todas las personas nacidas o residentes en Granada. Se admitirán una sola receta por participante. Los textos podrán entregarse en la Biblioteca Pública del Salón, o enviar al mail:. eplanells@granada.org, con fecha límite del 18 de abril 2008. Las recetas tiene que enviarse con letra legible u ordenador, con el nombre de la misma, ingredientes y cantidades y elaboración. Con su costo y foto del plato, si lo desea. Entre las recetas seleccionadas por un jurado, valorando 1º Bajo costo económico, 2º Utilización de materias primas del país de origen participante y 3º Originalidad. Para la concesión de los premios se establecerá tres categorías: Infantil: hasta 14 años. Juvenil, desde los 14 a 20 años y adultos, a partir de 20 años. La entrega de los premios se celebrará el día 23 de abril de 2008 alas 11 de la mañana, en la biblioteca municipal del Salón.

Anyway, the gentleman I'm quoting here is the estimable Pablo Amante (below), who writes a food blog in Ideal, the local paper for Granada. Now doesn't he look like a chap who enjoys his potatoes? Excellent recipes, wine articles and bits and pieces about Andalucian and other Spanish food at http://blogs.ideal.es/cocina/posts

This is where the money goes....

There's usually somebody collecting money in Juviles, and it's usually "pa' la igle'ia"; or more precisely the cleaning, restoration, roof or bell for said church. And a sweet wee 16th century building it is too, although there isn't much inside except for old San Sebastian (who's getting his annual stroll around the village in the videos in my last post).

Last summer the clock was finally reinstated, so I think the restoration is more or less complete. The bell rings on the quarter hour and you can hear it throughout the village. It's surprising how quickly you get used to it, although it can't be much fun for the bats roosting in the belfry. Above is a shot of the church taken from the town hall square, while below there's a longer shot from the other side, looking over the village from the mirador by the swimming pool. Our house is visible in this shot - it's the highest building on the right-had side, with three chimneys.