La Alpujarra:

Nestling in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range lie the jumble of valleys known as La Alpujarra, one of the most picturesque of all Andalucía. The area is peppered with traditional oasis- like white villages, orange and lemon groves and remains a world apart from the mayhem of the Costa del Sol.

Tablones (our village)

The small spanish pueblo of Tablones is 390 meters above sea level and surrounded by mountain views.

Idylically situated approx 300 meters above the Rio Guadalfeo (river) which starts it's journey high in the mountain town of Trevélez, gushing into the mediterranean sea at Salobreña.The village has a school, small supermarket, church, local ceramic/ pottery shop, bar and a takeaway bistro. Conveniently 5 mins by car to the bustling capital of Orgiva, La Alpujarra.

The Costa Tropical coastline is approx 30 min drive along the green road A346 of natural beauty. Occasionally wild goats are spotted running across the road and it's likely the local goat man and his herd could delay the journey 5 mins or so.

The great city of Granada is 50 mins and a further half an hour to the Sierra Nevada ski resort. Málaga airport approx 2 hrs.

As you enter the village a park is directly in front of you and Jyoti is immediately on the left hand side. Jyoti is an ideal base for those who want to experience the array of activities the area has on offer or explore the beautiful sites of La Alpujarra which are all easily accessible. Remember this is a unique area you can be sunbathing on the beach in the morning and ski-ing in the afternoon.

Our local village festival is the last weekend in April. The week before the fiesta a flurry of activity manifests as houses are re-painted and pavements swept and for a weekend the normal sleepy pueblo takes on a carnival atmosphere. The local community turn out to celebrate the fiesta in the traditional spanish way. A religious ceremony and fireworks kick off the fiesta and the local brass band parade the streets.

Last year on Friday evening a rock concert was held in the square in front of the church. It was a surreal moment as the youth enjoyed the music whilst the elders played cards amongst them. Local bands played until the early hours and I must say Tablones rocked!!

On Saturday various children's activities take place and the famous Migas competition. The local Spanish women enter and it's taken very seriously in a non-competitive way. Migas is a very typical dish for this area and there is an art to making it, it must be stirred constantly until the right consistency is achieved. A lovely picnic spot area at the top of the village is used for the women to erect there outside cooking stoves and demonstrate there culinary skills for all to see and taste. All swilled down with the local vino.

The Dragon Festival takes place on the nearest weekend to the 21th of March and celebrates the winter/spring solstice. The venue is idyllic, situated alongside the riverbed. For the week leading up and the week after there is a influx of people passing Tablones. Many local people, talented musicians and artists spend a long time and effort constructing the most remarkable areas for music, food and entertainment. As it's a free festival everything is given voluntarily and a lot of love goes into creating this event. There's a great atmosphere and people from all over the world seem to make it. Check it out www.dragon-festival.com.

You may decide to venture left driving out of Tablones instead of the usual right to the coast and Orgiva which is less travelled. Torvizcón is the next big village you come to and is deceivingly bigger than it looks, with the houses sprawling up the mountainside. On the way there are some great picnic spots, enquire with Jyoti bistro and arrange a picnic for collection prior to your journey.

Órgiva

Considered the capital of La Alpujarra and 425 m. above sea level, Orgiva is a bustling cosmopolitan town with all amenities including banks, pharmacy, shops & restaurants. On Thursday mornings there's a colourful market where the Alpujarrian community gather to buy and sell everything from fruit and veg to incense and beaded necklaces. It's situated in the upper part of town and worth a visit. There is a great little patisserie along the steep street opposite the Supermarket Dia. For a treat check out the El Limonero restaurant the steep street up from Dia first left. Providing an excellent menu, good service and reasonable prices.

Orgiva offers plenty to do just sitting outside a bar enjoying Tapas and a drink watching the local activity is very pleasant.

Orgiva´s Fiesta two weeks before Easter en honor al Cristo de la Expiración, su Santo Patrón. 29th- 2nd Oct Celebration de Ferias y Festejos. Both typical spanish fiesta, processions followed by loud fireworks and plenty of eating and drinking. The main street is closed to make room for stalls and to able the restaurants to expand its outside seating areas. There is a temporaly fairground under the bridge for the younger children and all rides are half price on Sunday.

Orgiva is buzzing with celebration so book in advance for this one.

There has been a large influx of multi nationals in La Alpujarra region since the release of Chris Stewart's best selling book Driving over Lemons. It is worth a read to get a feel for the area.

For more information on Orgiva click here.

The Surrounding Area:

Pampaneira,Bubión and Capileira- The Poqueira Gorge

These villages clinging to the side of the deep Barranco del Poqueira ravine 14 km to 20 km northeast of Orgiva, are among the prettiest most dramatic sites of La Alpujarra. Their whitewash stone houses seem to clamber over each other in an effort not to slide down into the gorge!. The vegetation is lush and abundant with different colours and a raging river the Poqueira in the background.

Pampaneira has a picturesque charm, cobbled streets, narrow passageways, numerous fountains, dead ends, propontories and terraces. The pampaneira flower pots or "tinaos" are very impressive in there profusion of flowers. It has an interesting 16th century Baroque parish church and is on the historical villages list. There are many shops selling pottery, clothes and other examples of Alpujarrian craft. It can be very busy in high season as there are many tourist coaches and parking can be a problem.

2 km outside Pampaneira you come to a fork in the road, to the left the road leads to Bubión. The architectural style of the houses is similar to those of the Atlas mountains in Morocco - cubed shaped and close together. You will find a 16th century parish church next to the remains of a Nazri Arab fortified tower together with are numerous bars, restaurants and workshops producing Alpujarrian craftsmanship and metalwork.

Capileira less than 1 km above Bubión is a lovely village at the end of the road that crosses the Sierra Nevada overlooking the whole valley and offering stunning views overlooking the whole valley. This is another popular villages for tourists, provides an ideal walking base and is also on the historical villages list.

The mountain air is the cleanest in Europe and due to the altitude and the heat in midsummer isn't as overbearing as it can be in the rest of Spain, which is good news for walkers. The views don't cost a penny, as a result there are many places to stay and plenty of bars and restaurants.

There are all sorts of walks from here, with something to suit all. Capileira is also the place you get the bus which takes you into the Sierra Nevada National Park.

There are further walks deep into the park where there are crystal clear Lagoons, it's pretty hardcore walking but you could stay in a Hermitage overnight to break up the journey.

For more information on activities in this area follow the links here:

A beautiful Monastery (O-Sel-Ling) can be found and is open to the public at certain times. Apart from the attractions inherent in the region, there are other curious facts. One of these is the birth of a child in the Poqueira Ravine, who is the reincarnation of the O-Sel-Ling Monestry ´s founder, the lama Tenzin Osel Rimpoche is thought to be in India being educated according to his birthright. For more information check out www.oseling.com.

Trevélez

1476 m. above sea level makes this amazing place the highest village in Spain which is inhabited. Local cured hams are world famous and are dried in the wind of the mountain and maybe easily aquired in the locality.

Lanjaron is La Alpujarra´s westernmost town, a spa town visited by many tourists for the medicinal properties of the water. Along the by pass road there is a small moorish castle and the views are pretty impressive. The famous water and jamon festival (not to be missed) takes place here. (Be prepared to get wet because everybody does). This festival is around the 24th June. Lanjarón is approx 20 mins from Tablones passing through Orgiva.

Along this pretty road are a couple of pottery and ceramic shops which is worth a look. As you approach this spa town you can't miss the wind farm. The windmills are huge, you can stop in a layby very close, take some pictures and appreciate there aimensity close up. It's amazing how small you feel underneath. In my opinion they compliment the vast and impressive surroundings and clen power can only be a good thing.

One of the lovely beaches along the costa tropical coast is Salobreña. A white town tumbling down a hill topped by the shell of it's Moorish castle. It's surrounded by a sea of sugar cane fields and fruit trees. Comparatively underdeveloped this makes a great relaxing destination and sat in the shade of the palm trees it's almost like being in the Caribbean. If your lucky you may see Dolphins in the warm waters of the mediterranean sea, especially around the great rock. There's a good internet café along the beachfront and an array of restaurants and ice-cream parlors to quench your thirst on the many glorious sunny days. If you want the company of others a few umbrellas line the beach around the rock where most gather or choose your own stretch of beach from this vast coastline.

If you walk back up the main road that leads onto the beachfront there is a very nice park ideal for small children. The park is lined with flowers and fauna and a beautiful bridge curves over a duck pond. A small seating area and kiosk makes a great stop for ice-cream or refreshments before the return walk to the beach.

Strolling around the old town and visiting one of the great little restaurants tucked away makes a lovely change from the beachfront restaurants and a great way to spend the afternoon.The new town has a good shopping area, great if you need a gift to take home.

As an alternative to the water and jamón festival of Lanjarón on the same weekend the coastal towns celebrate with fires on the beach. Many spanish families enjoy toasting sardines on their make shift barbecues and smoke enriches the beachfront. There is a great firework display and talking and drinking runs late into the night. www.salobrena.com

The port town of Motril is approx 5mins from Salobreña.

If you are going to Salobrena from Tablones once you get on the N-323 you will pass through a wide deep ravine and to the left look out for the couple of acequia overflowing down the cliff face forming natural waterfalls they look stunning.

Granada

Granada is a university city set in an idyllic situation with the often snow clad Sierra Nevada mountain backdrop. It's greenness and climate is very pleasant especially during Spring and Autumn. Granada whilst being a thriving city retains a magical romantic vibe. The Alhambra palace-fortress dominating the Granada skyline from it's hilltop perch and the fascinating old Islamic quarter would highlight any visit to Andalucia (not to be missed). At the foothills of Alhambra, winding cobbled streets filled with traditional tapas bars, trendy student bars and clubs and with great shopping area's and the Ski Resort, there must be something here for everyone.

Getting There and Away: Check out these websites

www.ryanair.com - Fly From Liverpool, London, Eastmidlands

To - Granada, Sevilla, Jerez

www.thompsom.com - Fly From

Belfast, Birmingham, Bournmouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Edingburgh, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Teeside,

To- Malaga

www.mytravelLite.com - Fly from

Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edingburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham,

To- Malaga

www.airtours.com - Fly From

Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edingburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Mewcastle and Nottingham

To- Malaga, Almeria

www.flymonarch.com - Fly From

Aberdeen, Blackpool, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Newquay

To- Malaga, Granada

www.easyjet.com - Fly From

Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Nottingham

To - Malaga, Almeria

www.britishairways.com - Fly From

London, Manchester,

To - Malaga, Sevilla, Almeria

www.iberia.com - Fly From

London,

To - Malaga, Sevilla, Almeria

For more information check out WWW.travelsupermarket.com