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Finding our food in a small Alpujarran village

In Gentle Food by Susan4 Comments

Friends who know that Jamie and I are plant based eaters asked how we’re managing in Mairena, the tiny Alpujarran village where we’ve spent the last 5 months. Our answer is, “Surprisingly well!” This region of Spain grows about 50 percent of Europe’s produce making it plentiful and inexpensive for the local residents.

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Walking to Ugíjar

In Active Living by Jamie1 Comment

Every morning while Susan and I are sipping coffee and waiting for sunrise, the street lights of the white villages beckon us from the coastal mountain range across the valley.  The largest village, in the …

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Castañas Asadas or Roasted Chestnuts

In Gentle Food by SusanLeave a Comment

We’re all familiar with the December classic that begins, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”  Funny thing, I didn’t know the song is titled “The Christmas Song,” neither did I realize that roasting chestnuts was …

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Granadas (Pomegranates) in Granada Province ES

In Gentle Food by SusanLeave a Comment

Pomegranate season is officially over in the Alpujarra.  When we arrived in late October we had only a couple of weeks to get our fill of these extraordinary fruits.  Most of the beautiful fall foliage …

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Tranquil the Whole Day Through

In Living Gently by JamieLeave a Comment

Our casita here in Mairena has a south facing terrace.  It’s a pleasant place.  I especially enjoy watching as clouds across the valley arise, linger for a while, and then fade. The quiet spectacle always …

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1st Impressions: Mairena, an Alpujarran Pueblo

In Gentle Journeys by Susan6 Comments

We’ve been in Mairena Spain for just over a week having arrived a few hours before the borders closed between the autonomous communities in yet another attempt to control the pandemic.  This tiny village has …