Balk

Blog: El Paraje de las Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada walks · nature · culture · events · publications · weather
blog by: El Paraje
Berchules, Granada, Spain

24 September 2008

Figs

Figs are a popular product of the Alpujarras. The small white or green figs are dried and sold as such, or used to make Pan de Higos, amongst other things. Our favourite type are the blue figs of which we have a number of trees. The first weekend of September we were able to put the first ones on the fruit-bowl on the breakfast table and use them in different types of desserts. The big tree that on sunny days offers shade on the terrace is our most mature and precious tree and will probably continue to bear fruit for three more weeks.
 Fresh figs - foto: casa rural El Paraje

23 September 2008

Autumn 2008

The third autumn day El Paraje woke up to this magnificent view. It was a prelude to a whole day of rain which is after a number of consecutive dry years a godsend. As the first rainfalls are relatively early this year, we hope that this is a good sign for the coming winter. After the rain had stopped the mist formed a photogenic background and the constantly changing skies offer magic views during this time of the year. View from the terrace on the 23rd of September 2008 - foto: casa rural El Paraje
related keywords: el tiempo, het weer, le temps, das wetter

21 September 2008

Almond harvest 2008

Our almond harvest tradionally starts the end of September, although lower down in the valleys they can start the end of August. This year we are lucky to be able to harvest some at all, because in the whole region a lot has been frozen during a cold spell at Eastern. The way to collect them is to put nets on the ground and hit the branches with a long stick. After gathering the almonds we pass them through a machine to get rid of the soft green shells to leave the nuts as most of us know them. We will have more than enough for our home cooking. We serve them roasted as tapas or use them in traditional Andalucian soups like ´ajo blanco´.
 Almond harvest 2008 - foto: casa rural El Paraje