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Zuheros Town, Cordoba, History, Charm and Stunning Views

It´s not the first time Zuheros has featured here on Andalucia Explorer. This very charming, white-washed hillside town is just 45 minutes from home and a favourite to take visitors too. Recently I had viewings there with some lovely clients looking for another home in this area. Leaving early to grab coffee and explore a little - there´s always a new corner I´ve not seen and the views always change with the different light depending on the time of day and year. Zuheros Approach The day was going to be a scorcher, nearer 40c than 30c so an early start was needed. Being a hill town means steep streets, lack of parking and a bit of hill walking. There are a couple of car parks but, as you can imagine, they are just out of town and, with a bit of a climb to get there. Following an older lady (can I say that at 62?) up hill she turned through an archway, one I hadn´t spotted before- I had to follow. It´s knowledge rather than nosey - surely? Then I saw a sign saying Mercado. I had every ri...
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Barcelona Grew on Me

Being a country girl Barcelona hit me from the start. The airport's huge, the taxi ride almost manic. My hotel in the heart of La Rambla noisy and the writhing mass of people from my hotel balcony almost made me turn tail and head home to my land of olive groves – Jaen in Andalucia.
Olives Groves, Sierra Sur de Jaen
Home Views, Sierra Sur de  Jaen
Wondering how could I retreat and write in this metropolitan jungle and hubbub I made my way to the lounge to begin the course. That first writing course session with a Norwegian living in Paris, two Americans, one Canadian and an English women living Spain (me) began. 

Exploring La Rambla later felt even more uncomfortable than meeting the girl writers. So many people, everywhere. I clung to my handbag and ever watchful dodged and sidestepped the vibrant, international multitude, constantly.


Between writing sessions, city-walks and Guadi visits we wrote and talked and shared lives. In the evenings we explored and dined and wined. By the end of day two I'd mellowed. The busy-ness enveloped me, no longer overwhelming. Our writers group grew in confidence and daring, sharing lives so far apart but the same. Feelings, emotions and experiences don't change with continents. Fear doesn't go in a day. City dwelling is not for me, but Barcelona grew on me. It encouraged and inspired me and my writing. It's creativity and vibrancy touched my soul. After four nights I was in love. It wasn't enough, pounding those pavements, being awed by those architectural monuments or wooed by flamenco it was the whole, the mass, the city on a beach its gastronomy, I'll be back for more.


Go to Barcelona and fall in love with life. Discover the tourist parts and the narrow Jewish quarter, learn about its history, long and bloody. Day and night there's a pulse that never sleeps. I left changed. My last morning I woke up to noise and people, sharing and caring. The morning after I rose to silence and nature, home. Yet with a yearning for the bustle.

 Read other posts about my Barcelona experience

 A Writers' Retreat
Barcelona trip  

 Barcelona Flamenco  Show on my Luxury Spain Travel blog.
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