Sam and Sarah spent the first weekend with us and with meltingly hot temperatures we all decided a couple of pool days were our best option. It's quite the custom here for hotels to open their pool to the public providing you take lunch there so there's quite a choice. On the second of the two days we ventured to Cerillo, a tiny little hamlet a good 7 kms off the main road down a winding track through the olive groves to La Prensa - an old refurbished country mansion and converted olive mill set amongst beautiful rose and lavender filled gardens with a backdrop of surrounding mountain ranges.
The large Romanesque pool within a walled garden had the most sumptuous sunbeds with brollies - even a jacuzzi set separately within another pretty walled area - and the day was topped off when Sam and Sarah treated us to a bottle of bubbly by the pool before lunch! Oooh, what total luxury and indulgence we all enjoyed that day - and have done since!!
Shortly after Sam and Sarah's departure, we were back at the airport collecting my niece and her partner and we had a very special week with them both including another visit to our favourite city of Cordoba where, yet again, our visitors were quite blown away by the uniqueness of the incredible and amazing Mesquita and fun when Rosanna bought herself a flamenco pinny!!
The day before their departure, our good friends from England, who have a house in this village, arrived for their 2 weeks. Needless to say we introduced them to La Prensa, we've enjoyed their company during the weekend Fiesta in Rute -
Friday night was the crowning of the Queen and her three 'damas' - an extraordinarily grand affair with much pomp and circumstance all accompanied by various bands, then a wonderful firework display followed by a generous hour of enjoying listening to a male quartet singing typically Spanish songs and backed by a very lively group which all took place outside in a purpose made concert area under the night sky full of stars and a canopy of lime trees. The town of Rute was thronging with the buzz of happy people out enjoying the festivities - babes in arms to grannies - all generations throwing themselves into the spirit of the fiesta - a wonderful heartwarming sight and example of the close family units and simple entertaining fun that is so enjoyed by everyone. It was 3 a.m. before we arrived home having thoroughly enjoyed the night - we were back for more the next night for the Virgen del Carmen procession - we managed to find just one table free around the plaza so we could sit and enjoy the atmosphere over a few drinks in the warmest of night air. (How we enjoy these beautifully warm nights when you can go out in a summer dress until the early hours and not worry about feeling chilled - in fact the evenings are a very pleasant relief from the heat of the daylight hours!) Every now and then fireworks would be sent up from the position of the procession at given points as it wound its way through the streets of Rute. 
Then we heard the band proclaiming the imminent arrival of the statue of Carmen being carried on a very elaborate float, as were the images of Christ and the Virgin Mary during the Santa Semana processions. There was much excitement as it reached the plaza and we were entertained yet again by an even more amazing firework display - the best I have ever seen.
A few days later we took the opportunity of a coach trip from the village to the biggest annual feria in Malaga - this fair is held to commemorate the re-conquest of the city by Isabella and Ferdinand in 1487. It's basically a week of partying - drinking and dancing the traditional dance of Andalusia - Sevillanas. The pedestrianised area where the feria takes place during daylight hours in decorated with paper lanterns and flags and colourful stalls and filled with bars and restaurants. By night everyone moves across to the fairground - to the casetas for entertainment and refreshment, lots of dancing, everyone dressed flamenco style and where the partying goes on until dawn. In between visiting the town and evening feria ground, we were treated to a picnic in the pinewoods just outside Torremolinos - where to my surprise 2 huge ice filled dustbins were brought from the luggage store in the coach for chilled beer and soft drinks; 3 large hocks of ham; cheese, bags of rolls t
o feed the 70+ of us! 3 guys set to expertly slicing the ham, the ladies sliced the cheese and in no time we'd all spread around the various stone tables/seats and were tucking into a simple yet delicious picnic. 
We were just in time to see the illuminations at the feria ground before we were due to get the coach back. It was another glimpse into a very Spanish day out - we had no expectations of the day when we set out and returned contented and happy with a wonderful day out which was very obviously enjoyed by one and all - no sleeping on the coach on the return journey - everyone on such a high the volume level was quite unbelievable!!
The challenge of learning the Sevillana dance for the performance in the Iznajar fiesta on 6 September almost proved too much! However, one of the village lasses has offered to give me (and the 2 other English students) some extra coaching which is already paying off and with the added pleasure of another opportunity of getting to know one of our neighbours, most worthwhile! We at least will look the part in our black flamenco skirts, shoes, hair adorned with a white flower all made complete with big white dangly earrings - even if we don't quite match the expertise of the Spanish lasses who appear to be born to this dance! In hindsight I should perhaps have had a keener eye at the Malaga feria - even joined in - might have learnt something from such an experience!
We enjoyed Jane and Paul's celebration to mark the completion of the refurbishment of their house in the village - a mix of English and Spanish where we tucked into supper on their candlelit terrace each trying in their own way to make conversation in the other's language - lots of laughs and giggles and a great night - needless to say, another VERY late one!
Yesterday we set off to Carcabuey (not so very far from here) for the Bull Run - NOT I hasten to add the same style as the Pamplona Bull Run where a full size bull runs free - these are the younger bulls and held by a rope - though a very long one - one sees the bull, the rope - but asks where's the guy at the end of the rope??! There were 4 bulls in all, each on a separate run and fun as no harm is done to the bulls - the young lads (and a few young lasses) hover in the street and as soon as they hear the bull approaching they start running - often to come to an abrupt halt when they realise the bull has changed direction - yet again - and sent another crowd of youngsters into flight!! Just some dare devil fun really but good training for the bigger bulls if they aspire to such a thing!! My reflexes were surely tested too at one point - I was balancing on the safety barrier taking some pics when I suddenly realised the bull was heading straight in my direction - I've never moved so fast which caused lots of laughter from those around me! Even more so when it happened a second time - again balancing on the barrier, camera in hand, leaning over to watch as the youngsters run up the road, I was searching for the bull and completely missed the fact he was coming full pelt up against the barrier, totally unseen by me, and I only just spotted him in time to jump off! It was a very entertaining evening and much enjoyed by the huge crowds of people this event attracts.
We met up with friends there and all ended up in the bar afterwards before heading for home around 10 pm and very much in need of food - so we stopped at the lake restaurant where there was a huge leg of pork on the spit over the BBQ - too good to resist and it was the sweetest, most tender pork I have ever had, or probably will ever have. Back next week perhaps!
Jon and Jen are flying out next Saturday for a week so we'll all have a fantastic time and we're going to - yep, you've guessed it - Cordoba! We're going to stay overnight so Michael and I can enjoy the equestrian show one evening in the gardens of the Alcazar - these are the famous Andalusian horses - the breedstock for the Vienna Lipizaner Stallions - we can't resist going to such a performance as this!
So, as we near the end of August our thoughts are beginning to turn to our return to the UK looming up for early October. We feel the mounting pressure to pack more and more in before we leave this little corner of Spain we knew so little about just 8 months ago but have come to love so much and a place where we have been made more welcome than one could ever be worthy of. It's not helped either by the number of neighbours who have suggested various houses in and around the village we may like to consider buying and expressed their sadness that we will be leaving! Perhaps to return next year? Time will tell . . . . . . .
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