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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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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues.

Asparagus Plant

No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down.

Asparagus Shoot


My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I´m not even having much success in my garden. A stem or two yes, a bundle, no. Not even a handful. I keep meaning to track the trackers, follow them to a nearby hunting ground but it hasn´t happened yet. 

Maybe I should dedicate space for a larger asparagus bed in my garden, there would be no competition and I´d get more than the odd shoot now and again.

 

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