Sunday, February 26, 2017

Lanjarón

We came to Lanjaron, a small town south of Granada in the Andalusia region of Spain, to do some hiking. As Lanjaron is perched at 750 meters above sea level on the south side of the Sierra Nevada, one can literally start walking up the mountains from anywhere in town.

The mountains are terraced as far as you can see in any direction: up, down, left, or right. The Rio Lanjaron is diverted into irrigation ditches to water the fields below, and to fill bottles of the famous Lanjaron Mineral Water. The upper terraces are populated with gnarly, ancient chestnut trees, domestic goat and wild goats, with a sprinkling of almond and fruit trees.

One day we walked up to Casa Tello, at about 1500 meters, mainly along the east side of the Rio Lanjaron (following the yellow blazes). The next day we followed the green blazes on the west side of the river up to the Huerta de las Monjas (Nuns's Garden) following a series of irrigation canals.

Just above the town center, the tight pattern of stone farmhouses, terraced fields, well-tended footpaths and irrigation ditches reminded us of villages in rural china. We hope to return to Lanjaron one day.

Inspiration: When walking about town we saw a one-legged cyclist ride by in a group with two other cyclists. Inspired. Motivated.

The Yellow Trail and Green Trail, both start right at City Hall. There are also big maps of each trail posted outside City Hall. Let the hiking begin!
Lanjaron, Spain

Getting going on the Yellow Trail up to Casas Forestales de Tello. Several thousand feet to go.
Lanjaron, Spain

Chestnut husks litter the trail.
Lanjaron, Spain

Old chestnut trees.
Lanjaron, Spain

Sun-Ling sitting on what's left of the flat roof of an old building, halfway up to Tello.
Lanjaron, Spain

Good signage for the trail.
Lanjaron, Spain

Passing by several Artisan Workshops, improbably high up the mountain it seemed. Then we noticed an old road coming from the other direction. ;-)
Lanjaron, Spain

Crossing a small bridge over the nearly dry Rio Lanjaron - almost at the Casa Tello - most of the flow is diverted into irrigation channels. Keep reading.
Lanjaron, Spain

The terracing kept going up and up.
Lanjaron, Spain

Finally, the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mts are spotted.
Lanjaron, Spain

Along the irrigation channel (Acequia Nueva).
Lanjaron, Spain

Descending.
Lanjaron, Spain

Almonds and fruit trees are blooming at lower elevations.
Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

We're down after a long day; so it's happy hour with olives, chips, and vine on the balcony.
Lanjaron, Spain

The next day it's up to the Huerta de las Monjas following the Green Trail. I liked this fence "cutout" - keeps the view from the picnic table.
Lanjaron, Spain

Huerta de las Monjas and chestnut trees.
Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

Headed down following several irrigation channels. Great walking as they are almost level...
Lanjaron, Spain

...and sometimes covered.
Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

Back closer to town, there are many terraced groves of olives and fruit trees along the irrigation channels.
Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

Lanjaron, Spain

3 comments:

Kathy said...

You guys are so energetic! Good to see a post, I was beginning to wonder whether you were OK.

DayleInNC said...

Looks like some great trails for hiking. Sun-Ling, I'm guessing you are having lots of opportunities to speak Spanish. John, it seems this was not the first time I've seen churros and you together in a photo. :)

john said...

Kathy, We are very OK; just busy day and night in Malaga with Carnival, plus I am just getting over a horrendous sinus something-or-the-other that I've had since Lanjaron. Thanks for thinking of us! In real time we are in Ronda, headed to Tangier tomorrow.

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