Notes from the host
La Rueda an Oasis of Peace
Heatable Pool !La Rueda, our cortijo and the cottage we rent, is situated 5 km outside Orgiva in a small hamlet called Los Agustines, at the southern foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This is still a 'living' community of mainly vegetable farmers who till their land below us mostly by hand. Sit in your hammock and watch them. Often one of our lovely neighbours knocks on the door to share his produce with us. Every afternoon some goats with bells around their necks make their way down to the fields, or Paco or Jose go by with their mule. This place really is as idyllic as it sounds! Our cottage is set in its own small garden and is surrounded by a sea of colours and smells. If you don’t feel like cooking and want to have a relaxing time, let us know and we serve you breakfast and/or a lovely surprise dinner menu on one of our charming terraces. Come, relax and enjoy!
Activities: This area is ideal for hiking, head off on your own or on a guided tour, also horseriding is a popular activity. The nearest beach is 40 min down the road in Salobreña, a little further on you have the choice of some very unspoilt and private little coves,including some nudist beaches. Go up to the Alpujarras (20mins) and take a dip in one of the pools of the river that comes down from the Sierra Nevada, a real experience! Check out the diving centres of La Herradura. Cordoba, Jaen and Guadix as well as Nijar or the national park of Cabo de Gata can all be visited in a day. After a busy or lazy day sit down by the pool with your favourite drink and watch the moon rise or set or on a moonfree night explore the milky way or count the many shooting stars, always with a secret wish!
Sit yourself into the hammock with your book or just doze and let the day go by.
Alternative activities: Come and relax!! You want to be active? Then join us for coffee and cake in the afternoon! Maybe you'd like to be included in the daily activities? Then help us or our neighbours to pick olives or harvest vegetables or just watch us doing it. You can go for short strolls or longer hikes - down into the country, past all kinds of exotic trees and/or up into the hills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. A short walk into the country is highly recommended during full moon! Go sightseeing in Granada with its famous Alhambra (50 minutes away) or visit the white washed villages of the Alpujarras (20 minutes away). Ask us about local handicrafts (pottery, weaving, leather weaving and woodworks etc..). Maybe you are looking for Spanish lessons? This is your home from home, just lean back and unwind!!We speak English, German and Spanish.
Culture and how to get to us: Mingle with the people and soak up the atmosphere, experience, how the locals can´t sit still once they hear a flamenco, or watch the local men in one of the street cafes of Orgiva play domino and at the same time enjoy a café con leche yourself. Taste the special foods of the area, the different cheeses, migas with sardines, papas a lo pobre and of course the famous air dried hams of the Alpujarras. Samples of these dishes are given as free tapas with an alcoholic drink in the bars. The nearest airport is Granada (1hr) which has opened up to international flights, otherwise it´s Malaga or Almeria (2hrs). A car is recommendable and we can point out a few very reasonable car rentals. If you would like to enjoy a carfree holiday, a pickup service from the airport can be organized.
