The Hottest Day

The weather forecast for today tells me that the maximum temperature will be 37 degrees Celsius.   This will, therefore, be our hottest day this time.   Thankfully, we have a swimming pool in which to cool off!

Yesterday we drove to the Eroski Hypermarket near Velez-Malaga to get a few groceries and the wine to bring home with us.   The good news was that they had a new supply of Faustino V White Rioja.   After shopping there we drove off to explore another part of Axarquia.

A few years ago there was an edition of the Channel 4 programme, Grand Designs Abroad, which featured a house being built in this area by Gil & Hilary Briffa.   Having searched the web we discovered that the house was near a village called Moclinerjo which was a few miles south of where we are staying.   We drove a few miles west along the Autovia Meditarraneo and turned off to climb into the hills above.   There was no guarantee of finding the house because it was built above a valley and might be more or less out of sight from the road.   After a few miles we saw that we were approaching the village and  were amazed to suddenly spot this distinctive piece of modern architecture.   What was more surprising was the fact that the road took us right by the property.

We had always wondered if we might find this property one day and yesterday we did it.   Having driven along the road we thought it would be interesting to see if the Satnav would take us back to Finca Manolo without having to retrace our journey.   All was going well until we were directed to take a very sharp left turn onto a narrow concrete road down a steep hillside.   Next we were directed further down the hill to the left where our next manoeuvre was along a track through some old gates.   I decided on a U turn!   We took the road back whence we had come.

It took quite a long time to return here and lunch was cancelled as we got back at 4.50pm.   The sky had been cloudy all through yesterday, so it had been worthwhile making the journey.   After a glass of Pyms and a few chocolate biscuits we took to the pool.   Later I barbecued some sausages and meat and we enjoyed a lovely meal.

This the house that Gil built.   Sadly he only enjoyed it for two years as he died of an infection.