Getting out of Jumilla
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Mac
Mar 3, 2008, 4:25:50 PM3/3/08
to Travel Spain
I don't want to denigrate Jumilla, which is a perfectly ordinary
Spanish town. There is a Tourist Trail, but it takes too long to see
the few gems that can be discovered (for example the simpering lions
on the floor of the tiny upstairs room of the Puerta de Granada). No,
the best bits are outside the town: the peaceful Monasterio de Santa
Ana, where a resident Franciscan friar was leading the Stations of the
Cross; the extensive view from the castillo (under restoration) high
above the town; and we at last managed to find some more rock
paintings in the country to the northwest.
But to be honest, I have my doubts about these: under a small
overhanging rock next to an ancient cart track (the wheel ruts well
worn into solid rock), these were supposedly only discovered in 1998,
although easily reached with only a little scrambling. They are not
great art, but crude representations of animals and human figures such
as a five year old might draw. The protecting cage wasn't locked; I
was able to get in and examine them very closely, and although they
appeared to be weathered into the rock, there was no indication of how
they had been dated to "entre V y II milenio A.C." as claimed.
Hmmmm........
Not being a tourist town, there is little accommodation in Jumilla.
We were surprised to find our hotel fairly well occupied over the
weekend. Again, the attraction was outside the town - a party of
international hang gliding champions were down from Madrid to fly from
the nearby Sierra de Buey.
We did make a serious attempt to sample the culture of Jumilla: the
Spanish Youth Ballet were performing a Sacred Flamenco (?) as part of
the run-up to Semana Santa. However, this turned out to be an
invitation-only event (although widely advertised). We asked, as
"visitantes de Escocia", for any spare tickets, but were politely but
firmly turned away. My wife, who has a dramatic background (so to
speak) asked to view inside the theatre, and discovered it to be
packed to the rafters with the great and good of Jumilla. In other
words, not just a performance, but one of the social occasions of the
year.
And now we are back down to the coast at last, picnicking in the
scrubby pinewoods backing the coast north of Santa Pola, with only
faint sounds from the waterfront strip below, thronged with people and
cars on this sunny Sunday afternoon, while more hang gliders circle
from the cliffs above, at peace in the sky.
Y la proxima, Alicante, y el último mensaje de este viaje.
Mac
Spanish town. There is a Tourist Trail, but it takes too long to see
the few gems that can be discovered (for example the simpering lions
on the floor of the tiny upstairs room of the Puerta de Granada). No,
the best bits are outside the town: the peaceful Monasterio de Santa
Ana, where a resident Franciscan friar was leading the Stations of the
Cross; the extensive view from the castillo (under restoration) high
above the town; and we at last managed to find some more rock
paintings in the country to the northwest.
But to be honest, I have my doubts about these: under a small
overhanging rock next to an ancient cart track (the wheel ruts well
worn into solid rock), these were supposedly only discovered in 1998,
although easily reached with only a little scrambling. They are not
great art, but crude representations of animals and human figures such
as a five year old might draw. The protecting cage wasn't locked; I
was able to get in and examine them very closely, and although they
appeared to be weathered into the rock, there was no indication of how
they had been dated to "entre V y II milenio A.C." as claimed.
Hmmmm........
Not being a tourist town, there is little accommodation in Jumilla.
We were surprised to find our hotel fairly well occupied over the
weekend. Again, the attraction was outside the town - a party of
international hang gliding champions were down from Madrid to fly from
the nearby Sierra de Buey.
We did make a serious attempt to sample the culture of Jumilla: the
Spanish Youth Ballet were performing a Sacred Flamenco (?) as part of
the run-up to Semana Santa. However, this turned out to be an
invitation-only event (although widely advertised). We asked, as
"visitantes de Escocia", for any spare tickets, but were politely but
firmly turned away. My wife, who has a dramatic background (so to
speak) asked to view inside the theatre, and discovered it to be
packed to the rafters with the great and good of Jumilla. In other
words, not just a performance, but one of the social occasions of the
year.
And now we are back down to the coast at last, picnicking in the
scrubby pinewoods backing the coast north of Santa Pola, with only
faint sounds from the waterfront strip below, thronged with people and
cars on this sunny Sunday afternoon, while more hang gliders circle
from the cliffs above, at peace in the sky.
Y la proxima, Alicante, y el último mensaje de este viaje.
Mac
Roger Warwick
Mar 4, 2008, 4:19:55 AM3/4/08
to trave...@googlegroups.com
Mac - did you try the local Jumilla wine?
It is becoming more and more popular in Spain, and according to the
experts there are one or two from that region that really make the
grade.
It is becoming more and more popular in Spain, and according to the
experts there are one or two from that region that really make the
grade.
Roger.
Mac
Mar 4, 2008, 12:55:17 PM3/4/08
to Travel Spain
On 4 mar, 10:19, "Roger Warwick" <ro...@gomadrid.com> wrote:
> Mac - did you try the local Jumilla wine?
> It is becoming more and more popular in Spain, and according to the
> experts there are one or two from that region that really make the
> grade.
one, but I very rarely drink wine (but am a bit of an expert on beer,
so you may imagine that I have a bit of a thin time in southern
Spain).
But I am at last managing to catch up with some culture that I can
understand - a piano trio in the Bellas Artes of Alicante tonight.
Mac
Alison Hyde
Mar 4, 2008, 12:41:34 PM3/4/08
to trave...@googlegroups.com
Hi Mac,
This mail caught my attention. I am interested to know if you tried any wine
as well.
The wine from Jumilla is gaining popularity in U.S. as well.
The business must be booming there as I am finding some reasonably priced
Jumilla wine popping up in my local wine store that is quite good. I imagine the
higher quality stuff is fantastic!
alison
Mac - did you try the local Jumilla wine?
It is becoming more and more popular in Spain, and according to the
experts there are one or two from that region that really make the
grade.
Roger.
JOHN CHAPMAN
Mar 4, 2008, 3:18:33 PM3/4/08
to trave...@googlegroups.com
Mac, I agree with Roger. One of our perennial favourites is from the bodega Casa de la Ermita. The winery is a pleasant place to visit and the people are welcoming and hospitable. Although we can occaisionally buy their wines in Canada, we elected to purchase some more. We did not stay long though because of a sudden cloud burst which very quickly turned into a torrent and covered several of the roads. I highly recommend the trip.
Also close by is the town of Yecla which we did not have time to visit - maybe next trip
Cheers
Also close by is the town of Yecla which we did not have time to visit - maybe next trip
John
----- Original Message ----
From: Roger Warwick <ro...@gomadrid.com>
To: trave...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 10:19:55 AM
Subject: [travelspain] Re: Getting out of Jumilla
Mac - did you try the local Jumilla wine?
It is becoming more and more popular in Spain, and according to the
experts there are one or two from that region that really make the
grade.
Roger.
From: Roger Warwick <ro...@gomadrid.com>
To: trave...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 10:19:55 AM
Subject: [travelspain] Re: Getting out of Jumilla
Mac - did you try the local Jumilla wine?
It is becoming more and more popular in Spain, and according to the
experts there are one or two from that region that really make the
grade.
Roger.
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