A Slice of Life: A Trip to the Post Office

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Laws and Customs, Places, Slice of Life

Living in the countryside (el campo), east of Málaga, means that many of the things we might have taken for granted, living back in England, are done a little differently here.

Take the postal system, for example. Our mail isn´t delivered to our home by the postman, so we have to jump in the car and take a trip up to the village to collect any mail from our post office box at the Post Office.

Being an enthusiastic driver, I enjoy the challenge of negotiating the picturesque, curvy mountain roads. The beauty and tranquility of the local landscape is enough to lift the spirits, even on the greyest of days, especially when you come face to face with a herd of ninety goats meandering along the road. I love meeting the goats and always wind down my car window to say “hola” and pass the time of day with the goatherd, as well as telling the goats what good girls they are!

It´s amazing how even though some of the goats climb up the rocks above the road to nibble at whatever plants take their fancy, and some stray perilously close to the edge, they all stay pretty much together. I dread to think how many would be left in the herd if I was in charge of them!

Just before the road drops down into my local village, I often stop at the Gaudi-esque mirador to marvel at the sight of the white village tumbling down the hillside overshadowed by the majestic backdrop of Monte Maroma.

This also gives me chance to drop off our rubbish bags and empty bottles at the rubbish and recycling centre (basura y reciclaje) next door, before making my way into the village.

Once I´ve parked the car, it´s a quick and easy job to walk to the Post Office (correos) and unlock our individual post box (apartado de correos) to see if there´s anything to collect. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the Postmistress, I might wander around a few of the streets photographing the pretty balconies and their flowers, or have a cool drink at one of the many bars or cafés in the village.

Every Saturday morning there is a street-market on the main car park of Cómpeta village, making it convenient to pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, before heading home along the mountain road once more, having spent a most enjoyable couple of hours.

It certainly beats having the post popping through the letter-box or queuing outside an English Post Office on a cold, damp December morning!

Which everyday job do you enjoy doing? Do you sometimes go out of your way to make it last longer?

You might also enjoy:

Churros served with thick hot chocolate

A Slice of Life: The Spanish Postal Delivery System

The heart of Cómpeta: El Paseo de las Tradiciones

CBBH Photo Challenge: Looking Up

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

I was recently looking through photograph albums from various places I have visited. While scrolling through the photos, I noticed a common thread: many of them had been taken from a different perspective, and I had not even realised it as I was snapping away.

The photos that caught my eye were all taken whilst looking up.

Here are the steps of a street leading up to the higher part of the white, mountain village of Frigiliana. This lovely shot not only includes the perspective of the narrowing of the steps as they climb into the distance, and the sunshine and shadows playing on the impossibly white walls, but also, it´s a great record of the clear, blue Spanish skies.

This stunning series of Islamic arches with their intricate designs decorate part of the Alhambra Palace, typifying the remains of Moorish dominion within Spain, which ushered in the last great period of Andalucían art in Granada.

La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Church of Our Lady of the Assumption) in the main square of my home village of Cómpeta was beautifully lit against the clear, night sky, during the Fería last weekend.

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This month´s Featured Blogs:

Islandmomma writes passionately about her adopted homeland on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Linda and I have been online friends for many years, through our shared love of books and travel. One of my favourite posts on Islandmomma´s blog is her huge photo journal of Tenerife page. Be prepared to be fascinated by her many wonderful photographs.

Another Day in Paradise shares her travel stories from around the globe and is always quick to leave appropriate and supportive comments. As well as her stunning travel photography, this orchid-loving Dessert Queen is always ready to tempt you away from your diet with her sweet variations.

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Click here to find out how the CBBH Photo Challenge works.

I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite!

I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations!

New Monthly CBBH Challenge: Starts August 1st

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

There´s a British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word “rabbit” or “rabbits“, or say the phrase “white rabbits“, or some combination of these elements, out loud upon waking on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month. (Source: wikipedia)

Well – how about joining together to make our own luck, by sharing a little blog love, each month?

There are some fantastic weekly photo challenges to get your creative juices flowing – Travel Theme, Sunday Post, Weekly Image of Life and, of course, the Weekly Photo Challenge, to name but a few. My new monthly challenge, the CONEJO BLANCO BLOG HOP (conejo blanco means white rabbit, in Spanish) will also introduce the element of sharing.

Here´s how it will work:

On the first day of each month, starting in August, I will provide a theme to inspire you to post your own interpretation. Create your own blog post before the end of the month and entitle it “CBBH Challenge: (subject of the month)”, providing a link to this page so I´ll know your participating, and others can find it, too.

Grab a BLOG HOPPER button, if you like!

The difference between this and other photo challenges is that at the end of your post, you should introduce at least two links to other blogs you have visited and, most importantly, that you have commented on, during the past month. These links might be to someone who you are in regular contact with via your blog, a new blogger in need of some followers, or maybe a person who inspires or motivates you with their writing or photographs.

By choosing to participate, you also agree to read and comment on at least two other blogs taking part in the Conejo Blanco Blog Hop. That way, when we visit each other, we can HOP OVER to your links, connect with others and share a little blog love around!

Don´t forget to follow East of Málaga, so you never miss out on the monthly CBBH Challenge announcement. You can sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar.

BONUS: If you find your blog featured as a link, you will be entitled to grab the CONEJO BLANCO BLOG HOP Featured Me! BUTTON to display in your sidebar.

What do you think? Want to hop on board?

[Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

Travel Theme: Flowers

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Photo challenges

Despite being known in Spain as Flor de Pascua (Easter flower), thousands of Poinsettia plants adorn roadways and roundabouts here on the southern coast of Andalucía, around Christmas-time each year.

What you actually see are vivid red leaves (known as bracts) surrounding a cluster of greenish flowers, almost too small to be noticeable. The true flowers are like little vases no larger than a pea, and on its side each has a yellow cup, a gland, brimming with glistening sticky nectar that, if you taste it, is as sweet as honey.

The plant is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American diplomat and amateur botanist, who saw it growing in Mexico as a roadside weed and later introduced the first plant into the US in 1825.

This post is my response to the Travel Theme photo challenge – Flowers

Other interpretations:

52 Pick Up – Flowers

Have you ever ….

Flowering snapshot of a January day around the garden

Back to the Future: An Evening at the Medieval Market

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Fiestas and Festivals, Laws and Customs, Places, Slice of Life

During the past weekend, a Medieval-themed market took over the main square of the white village of Torrox in the heart of the Axarquía region. Organized by the Ayuntamiento (town hall), there was lots of medieval bunting to transport you back to the 15th century, with suitably dressed character actors to set the mood.

There were various stalls selling crafts, jewellery, cheeses, traditional craftwork in metal and wood, as well as lots of food.

Huge wooden chess tables had been set up for anyone to enjoy a game of chess in the evening sunshine.

The most popular attraction was in one corner of the square where there was a roped-off area with many different birds of prey on display. Their handler gave a demonstration of the birds´ hunting prowess, which thrilled and delighted the crowd, especially the many children. The birds appeared to be well cared for and made an impressive sight sitting on their perches, patiently waiting their turn to swoop over the gathered crowd.

All of the bars and restaurants in Plaza de la Constitución had their outdoor seating areas overflowing with people all eating, drinking and enjoying this year´s Medieval Fiesta!