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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 ...

Moan - Olive Picking Noise

My first morning of being at home and hopeful of peace this week and the olive pickers arrive at the olive grove bordering our house. Voices, trailers and vibrators begin to spoil my day.

When we moved to Jaén fifteen years ago the olive harvesting months were quite soothing. A tap-tapping of sticks in trees followed by a week or two of chain saw noise was quite pleasant.

But now machines have moved in. Before the harvest starts vaccuum blowers start to clear the ground under the trees. Vibrators now shake the branches for harvesting rather than sticks bashing them and then it´s chain saws for pruning time too.

Noise, pollution and repetitive strain injury let alone the stress from constant noise is, I´m sure, set to affect the workers and those living nearby.

I love progress in some ways and hate it in others. Why can´t I choose? Peace is something we all need. Noise is what we seem to get more and more of.

But guess what? It´s started to rain and the noise has stopped. Yeah. Today I don´t mind the wet stuff, a pathetic drizzle and they´re packing up.

Peace again, within and without. I moan no more. Today!

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