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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. 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. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

Walking in the Footsteps of Troops - Ruta 1212 La Senda Ballestera

La Senda Ballestera is a new tourist route following the footsteps of the Christian troops before, during and after the Batalla de los Navas de Tolosa Navas Tolosa battle. At the moment there are two stages open with the intention of the path eventually marked up to Navarra.

The route was named after the Cofradía de los Ballesteros de la Vera Cruz de Vilches who was part of the taking of the castles of Baños de la Encina and Vilches. After the Christians gained control the local churches would walk to Navas de Tolosa and Santa Elena every year to celebrate the victory of the cross.

Baños de la Encina Castle


This year the pilgrimage was reinstated to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the battle. The path will be marked, just as the Camino de Santiago is signed with shells, to guide walkers to their destination.

The path and first sign goes from Viso del Marqués in Ciudad Real to Santa Elena in Jaén via the Despeñaperros Natural Park with many signs along the way depicting the local flora and fauna. The second leads to Vilcheño Castle, both stages can be done on foot or by 4x4 vehicles.

The path will be well walked on 16th July to mark the day in 1212 when Christian troops from Castilla, Aragón and Navarra joined forces to defeat the Caliphate Almohade Al-Nasir in battle.

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