A busy week with super Paco.

Paco is a friend very interested in permaculture and self-sustainability. He came to visit and stayed one week at Quemao Viejo.

Here, reaching the place by bike, with our friend Tom ( maybe suffering a bit ?):

Next morning, as permaculture advices, make yourself an idea of the whole thing:

and before we could realize, there he went, with a pickaxe making some room for backpacks…Shit! this man is going to put us all to work! That night we slept like angels after all the digging!

and as a result, yes! there is some more space in the cave:

He also found the way to put up a temporary shadowing in front of the cave ( with a net used to pick up almonds that we found near by):

Quite a busy week indeed. We got a visit from José Miguel’s family:

Alfonso, a Local from Zarzadilla de Totana, gave us a magisterial lesson on grafting ( and hunting technics!_No photos thought_ Which I doubt we’ll ever use…but if mountain goats and wild boars keep eating the already in bad condition almond trees…:

We had great times at night, with a beer, and enjoying the full moon. Its a pity I don’t have a tripod yet to make good photos at night. As opposite as daytime, which was quite torrid, at night, up there, it was pretty cold. Anyway, it was nice to check out that our little solar installation was working and we could enjoy music and light:

 

Thank you very much Paco & Co. Very inspiring your visit. Hope to see you soon.

Laura and Rakesh’s visit.

Just a few photos of the visit that Laura and Rakesh made to Quemao Viejo. Sometimes it turns impossible to trap magical moments with the camera, but I hope you can make yourself an idea.  

Next two photos were taken in front of the cave, where an off-grid camping is starting to take shape little by little:

Here, people sitting in the new table, about to get finished, and built using locally available materials only:

Next one was taken in “the balcony”.  A vantage point five minutes up the hill from Quemao Viejo, with Peñarrubia at the bottom where we have been climbing in the past:

We did some work as well, and planted a few seeds where I am planning to create a permaculture orchard with edible wild plants:

Rakesh, hard at work:

We even had time to dance in the village’s streets under the full moon:

and time to re-discover the village’s fountain ( Will you ever forget me for this one, Laura?:)))

Thank you girls, It was a pleasure to have you here.

Lucia, Ruben and Jairo’s visit to Quemao Viejo.

My friends from Madrid came to visit…and God! I cannot believe we did so many things in one day!

First, the photo in front of the cave, which is turning a touristic photo spot 🙂

Next one is the wall at the entrance of the cave, which I finished using stones and concrete (ops!), two recycled tyres ( much better) and crystal pots.

The floor of the dorm room, made of stones ( what a hard job!):

And tiles in the living/kitchen room:

After the formal introduction to the cave and Quemao Viejo, we went for a walk to Peñarrubia, where we tried a bit of bouldering. That’s me showing off my climbing skills:

Jairo, very professional:

Lucia, keeping up the speed:

Ruben preferred to find a better spot:

We kept walking under the cliff:

A bit of juggling at the top:

In our way down, I took a photo which I call “ Try to spot the cave”:

After the walk, Ruben offered himself to cook:

Ha,ha, I know you are going to hate me for this one!:

And with the bellies full, well…time out to foul around. Kung-fu:

Yoga?:

And…WTF you call that?

Time to learn juggling:

and even a bit of work!!

Thank you people for visiting and support!

Finally, The Door!!

With the help of my friend Gines, Quemao Viejo’s cave has finally a door. It is not the best door in the world, but it opens and closes…what else do you need from a door!!

This is Gines, cutting the wood boards:

Next, screwing together the door in front of the cave:

We placed a log below the arch, because the gap was too big:

After several trials, we managed to put the door in place, and as I said it opens and closes…great!!

The remaining gap is going to be filled with stones. I’ll post more photos soon.

Many thanks Gines!! I wouldn’t have done it without your help!

Maria’s visit to Quemao Viejo.

The idea was for Maria to come to visit Quemao Viejo in her push bike, but the day started with a bit of rain, and I suggested Maria to come by car. My fault! One hour later it turned up to be an splendid sunny day. A bit windy, maybe.

So here she is, ready to get some wood for the barbecue:

Meanwhile, I was preparing this tapa of goat cheese with local rosemary, black olives and almonds with a tasty red wine:

Maria, taking care of the barbecue, and giving the approval to the wine:

And that’s the problem when you drink too much wine…you cannot walk straight out of a cave…ha,ha…

Many thanks for your visit, Maria. I hope you decide to come back soon, hopefully with your bike this time!