Our Andalucian paradise

There is no better travelling companion than a good book in my opinion. A book will not weigh you down, be it in electronic or paperback version. It fits into most handbags and costs the same as a light lunch in a mediocre restaurant, while offering endless hours of entertainment. It can cheer you up and captivate you with amazing tales of bravery, hardship, love yearnings, hopes and dreams. Besides, a book won’t talk back or complain, like other travelling companions might…

A good read can make a transatlantic flight, an unscheduled delay or a long wait at a station practically enjoyable. I once flew through Malaga’s nastiest storm on record, lighting striking from all sides while gale force winds threw the fuselage around like it was a toy. Usually, I would have been saying my last prayers or hyperventilating into a paper bag under such circumstances, but I was so engrossed in one of my mum’s old, action-packed Neville Shute WW2 novels that I didn’t notice a single bump!

My first book, Casita 26 – Searching for a Slice of Andalusian Paradise, was released in the US last month and I encouraged readers to take it on the road. The response has been beyond my wildest expectations. I started receiving photos of the book from all over the world, both from readers I already knew and from complete strangers.

So, shall we take a look at the C26 journey so far?

Oslo, Norway

Oskar brought Casita 26 to the Gustav Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo during a snowy day.

Whidbey Island, WA, USA

Jane brought her copy of the book to the shores of the lovely Whidbey Island north of Seattle. Many a sailor has passed here, as indicated by the local names such as Mutiny Bay.

Brussels, Belgium

Travelling makes one dehydrated, and there is no place better to quench one’s thirst than in La Mort Subite (Sudden Death) in Brussels, where Sheena brought her C26.

Coxsackie, NY, USA

Ruby took C26 to the edge of the Hudson River in her hometown of Coxsackie, NY. Looks like winter is sill hanging in there…

Málaga, Spain

Meanwhile, Virginia brought C26 for a walk in sunny downtown Málaga, with its almost eternal blue skies.

Dolomites, Italy

Marie-Luise had a nice glass of après ski red wine with C26 in Val di Non, in the Italian Dolomites.

Lleida, Cataluña, Spain

In Lleida in Northern Spain, Ferran took C26 for a romantic late night stroll.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

On the other side of the world, Rod brought his Kindle with C26 to the slopes, while Maija enjoyed her hard copy after cross-country skiing.

Delhi, India

Vijay and Anjana directed their copy to the Nehru Place market in Delhi. Who would have known that C26 would have readers so far afield!

Ronda, Andalucía, Spain

Then, I took my already tattered copy of C26 caving in Tajo del Abanico outside Ronda

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sarabel and Rocío risked frostbitten fingers to get this picture with C26 and Canadians skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.

Palm Desert, California, USA

A bit further south, Nils and Kari were kind enough to give C26 a break from the cold with a round of golf in Palm Desert, California.

Sachs Harbour, North West Territories, Canada

Alida braved the minus 46 degrees weather and brought C26 on her Kindle (which magically didn’t freeze up…) to Sachs Harbour in Canada’s North West Territories, north of 70 degrees latitude. That is as close to the North Pole as it probably will ever get…

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Kel wandered across Cambie Bridge to take this photo of C26 with our beloved former hometown Vancouver in the background.

Budapest, Hungary

Nina took her C26 for a nightly walk through the Hungarian capital and along the River Danube.

New York, NY, USA

At the other end of the world, Ruby brought her C26 to visit her mum in the Big Apple.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Harriet got her copy of C26 delivered in her Toronto office.

Cabo San Vicente, Portugal

From the very southern tip of Portugal, and Europe, came this photo of C26 from Virgínia.

Tromsø, Norway

Annelise put on her Norwegian wool mittens and took this photo of C26 in Tromsø in Northern Norway. I hope she can catch the northern lights next time…

London, UK

While Fiona decided to further C26’s cultural education by bringing it to the British Museum

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

And finally, Sara took a wet chance and brought C26 to the edge of Niagara Falls.

My primary wish as an author is that my curious epistles will entertain, touch, amuse, or inspire my readers. Receiving these images makes me think that I might have done something right. I would like to thank everybody who has sent me pictures. I am forever in your debt.

I hope the C26 journey will continue and encourage anyone to take your Casita 26 book along for the ride.

You can order your copy of Casita 26 on Amazon. Follow me on Facebook for new C26 photos. 

If I were asked to define the mythical Eden, it would be a place of natural beauty with abundant native flora and fauna, where wild and domestic animals roam freely, nature is managed sustainably and people live in harmony with their surroundings. Not many places fit these criteria anymore, though there are still a few Edens on earth. One of these is El Centro Algaba de Ronda.

Algaba is an educational centre, research facility, nature camp and residential retreat located an hour inland from the Costa del Sol. The centre was created for the conservation and diffusion of the historical, cultural and natural heritage of the rural environment of the Serrania de Ronda.

With its entrance just off the Ronda to Algeciras road, the gate is usually tied up with a piece of string, more to keep livestock in than unwanted visitors out. Continuing down the unpaved lane surrounded by crooked oak trees, one might run into horses grazing, seemingly without a worry in the world. Crossing a cattle guard, watching out for free-range hens pecking in the dirt, you find yourself in an enclave of traditional lime-washed buildings where the centre’s activities are based.

The original Andalusian farmhouse has been expanded and converted into an aesthetically pleasing and impeccably executed Centre for Education and Conferences, including a reception area, library, kitchen, conference and lecture hall, and communal areas for dining and leisure activities.

Visiting Algaba gives an impression of arriving at a carefully and lovingly cultured wilderness. The property includes 60 hectares Mediterranean moorland of ancient gall, holm and cork oaks, with undergrowth of hawthorn, broom, wild roses, herbs and mushrooms. Situated on the bird migration paths between Europe and Africa, the zone is of great ornithological interest, homing eagles, buzzards, owls and various woodland birds. Other wildlife includes toads, lizard, snakes, martens, badgers, foxes and deer, as well as jabalíes, the native wild boars, who rototiller the land at night looking for tasty morsels underfoot.

Visitors are invited to meander through nature trails, surrounded by traditional cement-free piedra seca stone fences, while sunrays filter through the canopy of branches above. No wonder that the centre is named Algaba, the Arab word for forest or indeed oasis, either ringing true for this Mediterranean nature-lovers paradise.

However, La Algaba offers much more than nature appreciation. Being at the forefront of sustainable farming research, the cooperative includes a team of professional investigators and educators in areas such as agro-ecology, geology, ornithology and experimental archaeology. The estate has dedicated pockets of land for planting traditional non-GMO cereals, using the methods available to the zone in the Neolthic era. La Algaba also incorporates a Centre for Apiculture with organic production from more than one hundred beehives. Algaba offers workshops based on sustainability, innovation, quality and future longevity, using its natural resources for training, promotion and production of ecological agriculture and breeding.

The organic animal husbandry programmes are dedicated to the protection and recovery of traditional breeds in danger of extinction. Rare varieties of native livestock are raised on the estate, including the endangered Cardena cattle, merino sheep from the Grazalema region, donkeys and various types of Andalusian chickens. However, the rarest breeds are the blond or golden Andalusian pigs. These species are officially considered extinct, though there are still some hundred animals living happily in Algaba, the very last ones in the world!

Perhaps the most unique part of Algaba’s work is its Centre for Experimental Archaeology. This 4,000-square-metre reconstruction of a prehistoric Neolithic village is based on Copper Age settlements from 3,200-2,600 BC in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. El Poblado as it is called, is an on-going, full scale, archaeological experiment, exploring the relationship between prehistoric settlers, technologies and environments. To share this knowledge, visiting groups can participate in hands-on, open-air classroom workshops in experimental archaeology, flint knapping, pottery, esparto grass weaving, work with leather hides and use of medicinal plants.

Located in one of the areas in Europe with the highest incidence of tourism and urban growth, Andalucía is facing progressive abandonment of traditional forms of production and disappearance of popular culture. Therefore, the work of Algaba is vital in conserving the heritage of the region.

The Centre collaborates with the University of Cordoba Department of Veterinary Sciences, the Prehistory Departments of the Autonomous University of Madrid, University of Malaga Environmental Studies and University of Granada Department of Archaeology. Algaba has received several awards, including the Europa Nostra Award in the categories of Education and Heritage and the Junta de Andalucía prize for best tourist initiative in the Malaga province. It is acknowledged by the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism.

While last time we were there, a class of Montessori children had come up from Málaga for a day camp, Algaba is becoming increasingly known as a retreat centre for groups of international yoga, pilates and meditation practitioners, as well as complimentary health practitioners. Algaba offers accommodation in rustic cottages, serving traditional food made with locally grown and organic produce when available. Cultural workshops and tours are presented in Spanish, while English or French tours are available upon request.

To be sure, La Algaba is not a hotel. It does not offer the luxury of king-sized beds, room service and flat screen TVs. What Algaba offers is something much rarer – the exclusivity of sharing a natural sanctuary, whose patrimonial wealth the Algaba custodians aim to defend and protect for all humanity.

For more information go to Algaba de Ronda