I initially intended to pack up my van, throw the dogs in, and head off somewhere tranquil to spend Christmas. However, I ended up staying at home, watching Wallace & Gromit on Christmas Day, and enjoying roasted guinea fowl, marinated overnight in the juice and zest of blood oranges, gin, bashed fennel seeds, black pepper, herbs, and olive oil. It was my take on a Jamie Oliver recipe.
Speaking of Wallace & Gromit, did you know that in "Vengeance Most Fowl," Peter Kay provided the voice of Chief Inspector Mackintosh? I wonder what non-Brits make of the phrase "flippin' Nora!"
After the laziness and indulgence of Christmas, I planned a short excursion for 2025, beginning on New Year's Eve. It was just four nights, and each location was within an hour's drive from home.
I packed a hot water bottle and a couple of extra blankets for my dogs, as the night time temperatures were likely to be very low. The lowest it got was 1.5°C, and I did wake up during the night to put the heating on.
Our first stop was at a frequently visited area de autocaravanas provided by the town hall of Castro del Río in Córdoba. The attraction of this location is that Lidl is on the way, and previously, we have been the only van there. As it is fully fenced, it allows Issy and Poppy to have a few zoomies. Being greyhounds, they have little to no recall. However, when we arrived, there was a solitary Eura Mobil parked next to the services. Hard luck, girls; you’ll have to make do with a walk on your leads. We chose a spot in the corner and, after the walk, settled down. In the early evening, the Eura Mobil left, leaving the entrance gate open, which I closed. One hour later, the Eura Mobil returned, and little did I know he had gone to buy a box of extra loud fireworks.
At 10 pm, much to the delight of his wife and two young children, a firework display lit up this little corner of Castro del Río, shaking the earth too.
There are 23 defined spaces, but shortly after the explosives had been depleted, a couple in a Hymer van arrived and chose to park directly next to us. Needless to say, I didn't turn my music down.
The next day, we moved on. Back in Jaén, we parked up at a picnic area in Torredonjimeno, which has a car park with around 100 spaces. We spent the night alone, but when I woke up, I peered out of the window to see a small van parked next door to us. Later, I met the young occupants, who were from Germany. Needless to say, we conversed in English. They had rented the van and driven to southern Spain in search of some winter sun. When I asked how they discovered my 'secret' park up, they said they had read my review on Google!
We moved on via Mercadona to a splendid rustic campsite, El Cantonet, with fabulous views of the Sierra de Mágina. We had our own plot with privacy hedges, fresh water, and electricity, and no neighbours. The campsite offers all facilities, including a swimming pool and bar. I skipped the pool. We stayed for two nights.
The following day, we embarked on a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Andalucía, soaking in the breathtaking views and enjoying the crisp winter air. Our destination was the charming village of Zuheros, nestled in the heart of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park. Known for its picturesque streets and stunning castle, Zuheros offered a perfect blend of tranquillity and history. We parked the van near the village square and set off on foot to explore. Issy and Poppy were delighted to stretch their legs and investigate the new surroundings. As we wandered through the narrow, cobblestone streets, we stumbled upon a quaint little café where I enjoyed a delicious lunch of traditional Spanish tapas. After a leisurely afternoon of exploring, we returned to our van and headed back home.
Cooking in the van was done using my Ridge Monkey. The recipes are here:
On New Year's Eve I had a previously prepared feta and spinach puff pastry pie with salad and a bottle of Cava.
