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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues. No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

Paradors of Andalucia With Wonderful Views in Classic Buildings

Top Two in my Top Five Paradors of Andalucia

The first Parador I saw spoilt me forever. Dimly-lit corridors, suits of armour lurking in cornices and a ginormous 40 metre high vaulted ceiling with comfy sofas and log fires, I wanted to move in.








No other Parador I´ve seen (so far) comes near and the modern ones don´t even enter the equation.

My first experience? The Parador de Santa Catalina in Jaén, a reconstruction of an Arabic fortress, next to the ruins of a castle. Also the walkway along the narrow hill of Santa Catalina with three-way views and a huge white cross at the end marking the winning of another strategic post, by The Catholic Kings, from the Moors, is magnificent.



I visited some awful low-built modern blocks and then found The Parador de Ronda, another fall-in-love-with setting but less exciting building, which comes second in my Top Five Paradors in Andalucia list.


You can imagine the views from being perched atop the rocky outcrop, another breathtaking moment of sheer sighs.

To be continued.... next three in top five.

Carmona
Granada
Úbeda

But in what order?

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