The Belén, nativity scene, is a tradition throughout
Andalucia during the festive season, with villages and local areas in the towns bringing a taste of
Bethlehem to Spain.
The word Belén has become shortened from Bethlehem over the years.
From
the large displays in local churches and the live displays in the
villages to smaller displays in the homes, people all over Spain
celebrate the birth of the Christchild in one way or another.
In
a large display, the whole village of Bethlehem is displayed in
miniature with live plantings and people going about their daily work in
their houses around the Stable scene.
In a small village in the hills not far from the Costa Tropical, Los Tablones
celebrates the Belén with a 'live' display both before and after
Christmas up until the night of the epiphany, the 'Three Kings' night.
All the villagers join in displaying and using the traditional skills and handicrafts handed down from generation to generation.A way of life fast dying out in modern day Spain along with the ancient knowledge.
This is an unmissable experience; a great priviledge to be able to visit.
The next Belén scene will take place in Los Tablones on 30th December from 11.30 am.
Motril is a Port City. It has a bustling marina filled with fishing boats and pleasure crafts.
The city is located in the province of Granada on Spain's famous "Costa Tropical".
With the majestic "Sierra Nevada" mountain range at it's back, Motril looks out over the blue Mediterranean Sea.
The Costa Tropical
lacks the sandy beaches of, say, the Costa de la Luz but it stays warmer for
longer and that itself attracts cruise liner devotees from America.
The
arrival of cruise ships has been good news for the economy of Motril,
Granada and the Costa Tropical.
That, coupled with regular ferry crossings to
Melilla and El Hoceina in Morocco, means the new improved port has been busier than ever before.
Motril to Morocco Ferries
Sea Cloud 11 moored in Motril Harbour
This new, three-mast tall ship is slightly longer than the original Sea
Cloud, and has the look, ambiance and feel of a 1930s sailing vessel but
with all the latest high-tech navigational aids.
Long gone the days when it was possible to simply stroll to the waters edge and watch the
fisherman bring in their catch.
All manner of security
measures now prevent you from getting that close these days.
The important autonomous Port of Motril
includes commercial port, fishing harbour and Yacht Club with a total
of 190 mooring posts.
The Royal Yacht Club is a private club with
the following facilities: restaurant, bar-terrace, social lounge,
library and swimming-pool.
Here also you have the possibility to hire sailing boats, (the company
is “Viento y Mar”) as well as yachts for excursions around our
coastline or fishing trips (the company is “Garra Fishing”).
They organise many
other activities such as championships, fishing competitions, yacht and
sailing competitions, sailing courses, scuba diving, windsurf or water
ski courses, a round the harbour swimming competition in the middle of August as well as having their own swimming club.
Address: Muelle de Poniente, s/n
Port of Motril
Telephone: 958 600037
Latitude 36º 44'N Longitude 3º 33'W
In the Nautical Activities Club of Motril
you can practise any kind of water sport, Sailing, windsurf, water
bike etc. and they also organise sailing championships like the “I Copa de Andalucía”.
Muelle de Poniente, s/n Port of Motril
Telephone: 958 609408
Fiesta in honour of the Virgen del Carmen in El Varadero and Torrenueva
These are the fiestas of
El Varadero, in the port of Motril, and of the nearby village of
Torrenueva, that take place on 16th July. In El Varadero mass takes
place in the Fish Auction buildingat 12.30 pm and the fishermen sing to the Virgin
the “Salve Marinera”. At dusk, after the procession around all the
streets of this neighbourhood, the Virgin is taken out to sea on a boat
followed by many other fishing boats decorated for this occasion.
This sight is seen by hundreds of local people, especially fishermen and
inhabitants of the port area. There are also fireworks that
illuminate the sky over the sea.
In Torrenueva the Virgen
del Carmen is paraded around the whole village and afterwards, taken out on a
fishing boat by fishermen and volunteers.
Inthe province ofGranadathere is onlyone market ofseafoodsales, theMotril, which in 2011saw an increaseinsales and turnover, as compared to 1.6millionkilosof fishin2010 by aamountof just overfivemillion,has sold2.7 millionreaching6 millioneuros.
...................................
Portside Sea Food Restaurants
El Briza del Mar
TheSeaBreezerestaurantinMotrilis locatedon AvenidaJulio Moreno, 18, in the districtof ElVaradero deMotril, just opposite the Port.Brisa del Mar is first and foremost a fish restaurant, owned and run by a family of Motril fishermen.
"Enjoy arefreshingbeerandtapasatthe houseinvitesin this countyis a pleasureparadise. Butif you alsowant to enjoy therich billofestablishment andsitfor lunch or dinner, you'll find exquisiteculinary delightsproposalsasfriedsardinesand otherseafood. Enjoy the best atmosphereinthis place thatremindsthe fishing traditions ofthe area."Translated from Spanish by Google.
Peaceful and serene would be some people''s
description of a holiday and Riofrio is all that and more.
Imagine taking a walk in the Spanish countryside or fishing whilst enjoying the
ambience of the surroundings. Riofrio offers this calmness to its visitors
all through the year.
The clear waters of Riofrio
Riofrio is best known for its sturgeon
fish farm, which is considered to be the only certified organic farm in the
world.
This stunning fish farm brings in the bulk of
the area’s economy.
The Piscifactoría de Sierra Nevada is, in fact,
the world’s first organic fish farm. They utilize a water purification
system that utilizes vegetation to filter the water and they make their own
fish food.
Wine connoisseurs should head to Rio Frío where
trout and caviar are the town’s claim to fame. In fact, the area’s
sturgeon farm produces ample amounts of sturgeon caviar of exceptional
quality. The caviar is actually the greatest caviar in all of Spain and one of the best in the whole world. If you have the chance to sample some of this
delectable treat, don’t miss it!
Caviar from Riofrio
The sturgeon is one of the oldest fish in existence. Fossils of these
fish appear as far back as two hundred million years ago. Sturgeon do not have vertebrae but a cartilage along their
back. Sometimes this is damaged, but they are capable of regenerating
this cartilage themselves.
Visiting Groups must consist of at least 20
people and the cost is 60 euros each.
The visit includes a guided tour and tasting of two
different types of caviar of 10 grams each.
Visits must be booked at least two weeks in
advance.
The village is very small with just about three
hundred occupants but many visitors pass through to take a look at the
fish farm and to taste the ever popular Riofrio trout.
The fishermen or the 'always wanted to be fishermen'
are also welcome to try their hands at catching a trout or two; a fishing
permit is required but this can be easily obtained.
The most popular dish being trout, baked in tomato, garlic, and
onions, the trout can be extremely succulent.
Try some trout pan-fried in a little bit of olive oil
and fresh garlic for a delightful dinner.
The first recorded catch of a trout dates back to the year 1664 and presently
the village is said to be selling an estimated 500, 000 kilograms of trout on a
yearly basis.
Whilst fishing may be the number one tourist attraction, it is certainly not
the only attraction applicable to Riofrio; every Sunday morning the market at
the centre of Riofrio comes alive with crafts and wares and other miscellaneous
items making the morning very interesting and eventful.
Walking around the outdoor market
stalls and taking in the armours from the many restaurants preparing the Sunday
lunches is a delight.
In Rio Frío, tourists will be delighted with a
sixteenth century bridge that remains in remarkable shape.
Pack horse Bridge - Riofrio
A racehorse stable offers tours to interested parties.
For the auto enthusiast, an automobile museum
hosts a number of classic cars.
.......on the southern slopes of Spain's Sierra Nevada in the Alpujarras is
ideal for anyone in search of clean air, mountain views and authentic
culture.
A spa town in a natural environment with
mountain views and pure spring water, which is bottled and sold
throughout Spain and has even had poems dedicated to it by García Lorca.
Located on an old silk route south to Persia, the town is within easy reach
of Granada and the Costa Tropical while remaining sufficiently off the beaten
track to avoid the stresses of city living. Most of its 4,000 residents are
friendly towards foreigners, though the culture remains thoroughly Spanish.
Give methe peace ofthehidden sourceand the blondelookofblondwheatandthe strengthof mature autumn pinesand the Nevada breezeof April breezes
Lanjarón has five natural springs of medicinal waters and is
often referred to as the 'Fountain of Health', the waters originating from
the Sierra Nevada, Snow Mountains. Also 'the Gateway to the Alpujarras'.
The climate is fresh in summer, with
temperatures rarely going above 28ºC and winters are generally mild,
with minimum temperatures of around 12ºC.
The Spa Baths
The Spa is in the centre of the town of Lanjarón, 43 kilometers from Granada and500 meters above sea level. Open from March to December.
The properties of the waters include: sodium/calcium, bicarbonates, diuretic, digestive and iron. Therapies offered for: digestive system, rheumatism, respiratory problems, stress and nervous system. Treatments on offer: Drinking water,
Jacuzzi baths, underwater massage, jet and circular sprays, inhalation,
steam, mud baths, massage, reflexology, electrotherapy and lymphatic
drainage. The Spa has a large ballroom and magnificent chandeliers which testify to the importance of the Spa in a bygone age.
.
The Water Museum
The project began with a search for a site with water flowing through
it, eventually alighting on an area to the north-east of town at the
entrance to the Sierra Nevada National Park.
The site lies in a steeply
sloping gulley next to the Lanjarón river and an irrigation ditch that
used to serve the now disused local abattoir.
A specially devised
pedestrian itinerary connects the new museum with historic examples of
water-related building types, such as old watermills and a public
laundry.
The reciprocity between old and new underscores the entire project. The
plain stone sheds of the former abattoir are refurbished and adapted
for museum use. New corrugated metal roofs and white rendered walls
enhance the dignity and simplicity of the original vernacular
architecture. During the course of remodelling, it was discovered that
the buildings were originally used as watermills, giving the project an
added archaeological dimension.
A new courtyard made from stacked prefabricated concrete blocks and
studded with a grid of orange trees contains a shallow reservoir which
is flooded by water at different times of the day. The pool is lined
with horizontally sliced trunks of eucalyptus.
‘The
shade and scent of the orange blossom, the sound of the water and the
reflections when the courtyard is flooded all create a refreshing
atmosphere,’ says architect Juan Domingo Santos.
The Lanjarón Festival of Water and Ham
Since
1980, Lanjarón has celebrated Midsummer's Eve in honour of San Juan
Bautista, John the Baptist, with its Fiesta del Agua y del Jamon,Water
and Ham Festival, although the ham aspect has been overshadowed over
the years by the liquid element.
At the stroke of midnight on 23 June,
the small mountain village erupts into the greatest water fight in
Spain, and maybe even the world.
Famous for its mineral water, Lanjarón is the perfect destination for
this crazy water war. Locals make sure they park their cars out of town
in anticpation of the liquid onslaught that attracts revellers from all
over the country and further afield.
At midnight, participants take to the streets armed with buckets, water
pistols, and anything else they can get their hands on. Total strangers
soak each other to the skin, while ladies spray the crowd with hose
pipes from the safety of their balconies, filling up their buckets in
the process.
By the time the whistle blows at the end of the fight, there is a river
running through the streets, and all are soaked to the bone. After a
quick change of clothes, the cerveza starts pouring, fireworks fill the
sky and the real party begins.
Over the next few days, revellers
celebrate the calm after the storm with a feast of mouthwatering jamon, ham, another product for which Lanjaron is renowned.
The Moorish Castle of Lanjarón
Only its ruins remain over a rocky promontory near to the town, at around an altitude of 600m.
Its location was superb, because
it dominated on one hand, the access road to the Alpujarra and, on the
other, the road that connected Granada with the Coast.
The castle was
surrounded by a wall, defended by two great towers of rubblework, one to
the north, semi-circular, and the other, to the south.
Fernando the Catholic King conquered the town in 1490. Its Moorish
inhabitants rebelled again in 1500, a revolt that was controlled by the
Christians after an epic defence. The captain who defended the place
preferred to throw himself from a tower before surrender.
It
participated in an active way against the Napoleonic troops in the
Independence War, its inhabitants receiving the qualifying name of
“canoneros” since then.
The castle is currently being renovated.
Now closed for conservation reasons, the road actually goes right across
the top of the Sierra Nevada, through the National Park and the
reason for the closure,straight toGranada, but not in winter…as it is snowbound!
