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Ruta Bancos Gigantes or Huge Bench Route in Andalucia

A new rage is slowly spreading across Andalucia with its beginnings in the province of Malaga and that is huge benches are being installed in beauty spots across the region. The Huge Bench Route or  Ruta Bancos Gigantes #rutabancosgigantes can be found on Instagram  where they are more active with updates on the new installations of these enormous benches and they have a   Facebook  page too. Map of the Ruta Bancos Gigantes The initiative started by Forest Green an agrobroker company that supplies and works with treated wood to large construction and environmental companies in Spain. The huge bench route is steadily growing, with constant new installations spreading across Andalucia. The enormous handmade wooden benches are 4 metre long and 2.3 metre high, with the seat being 1.3 metres above ground and needing steps to get onto them, appearing in natural beauty spots hopes to encourage people out into and  enjoy the views and of course take photos to be ...

Autumn Abundance - Wandering, Wondering and Gathering

It´s that time again, the real heat of summer has gone. Summer nights are cooler now and a new season hangs around. It´s gathering time, heavy red and gold pomegranates decorate the trees. Splitting open, their ruby red jewels burst towards the sun. Autumn´s almost here but summer´s not really left, the reddish-brown earth is still baked hard.




Walnuts and almonds drop from their drying furry coat of green. Apples and pears lie on the dead grass and enormous pale green quinces weigh down the trees. A few late stray figs, aubergine coloured and pear shaped still can be found.

The summer heat converted into natures abundance, there for the taking. It´s a sad time, autumn the end of summer, yet also a glad time of awe and wonder at the bounty of nature that surrounds me.

The never-ending cycle of life from the barrenness of winter to the vibrancy of spring flowers and the suffocating heat of summer to its death, and fruit of its harvest then to begin again.

Each season is unique every year is different. This year, my fifteenth autumn in Andalucia is the hottest and driest. Summer lingers, fading slowly. Autumn is trying to get a hold yet failing. Olives are shriveling on the trees desperate for rain.

I wander the lanes and olive groves and wonder at creation that extends to the horizon and beyond. My pockets bulge with my gatherings of the day and I´m at peace in my adopted home.

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