The drive from Ronda to Jimena de la Frontera was the best so far since being in Spain. Beautiful white washed villages on the tops of mountains or nestled in valleys.
We passed a valley with 4 large birds circling and i am told they are likely to be Peregrines.
We have a "Casita" ( small cottage, I think) booked herein Jimena for 4 weeks. Unfortunately the landlady has been very ill and lost her short term memory. So I have been contacting her regularly to try and ensure she remembers who we are and that we are coming. I have also asked for directions on numerous occasions which her stepdaughter is supposed to be emailing me.
On this day, I call in the morning and she knows who I am and say that we will be arriving between 12.00 and 1.00. Yes, she will be in and if I call when we arrive, she will send someone to show us the way. We arrive at 1.45. No answer from the main home or mobile and after yesterday, we are loath to drive into the heart of the village with its narrow lanes.
The sun is out and we are lounging about by the side of the road practising our spanish on a local resident when we hear. " it looks like you might need some help" spoken in the best queen's English. Her husband joins us and they offer to show us the way. Phew.
Then the fun starts. The landlady Vilja has got my message and is just coming out of her place in a car driven by Maria her maid. She immediately wants to meet the dogs and wants a cuddle with them and is totally unaware that we just want to get parked up and sorted. She explains that the van can go down the lane to the river as her drive is going to be full over Xmas.
Jc walks the route. A narrow lane of rubble mostly that most respectable cars wouldn't dream of attempting. We both agree that it won't work. Vilja is now suggesting the local camp site to store the van, and they will take me in their car to show me. Jc will wait by the van as it is parked on a narrow road.
By the time we get to the camp site, she has completely forgotten why we have come and guides me to the bar where she asks me what I would like to drink and enquiries as to the whereabouts of my husband! I put her back on track but get nowhere as the man in charge is not there. After all sorts of shenanigans including a guided tour around the town to see the market square where the suggestion is that we just leave it there and move it every time there is a market, I give up and ask to be dropped back at the van.
We haven't actually seen our accommodation yet and whilst it is bloody freezing it has a lot of charm and we can see that with some new light bulbs, some cooking stuff from Wishstreams kitchen, our own linen and a ton of logs for the wood burner then it will be fine. We persuade Vilja to let us try and get the van through her new gates that open onto a new sandy drive at the top of the property and with some difficulty on the rubble road, we squeeze through the gates.
Thoughts of getting it out again are quickly put aside as that will be another day and all in REVERSE!!
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Location:Jimena de la Frontera
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