blognov2011



			Blog - written by Oska about life in and around the self catering holiday destination Cortijo Opazo in the Alpujarras, Andalucia, Spain.

Availability calendar

This is my page, and that's me with the messy hair, out walking in the mountains. As pedigree dachshund in chief, and officially awarded a prize as best puppy in my class - see link here - my job is quality control and looking after the welfare of the guests staying at Cortijo Opazo. Big responsibility, don't know how I find time for it all, but I think I'm doing OK. Anyway, on this page I bring you up to date with the various happenings at Cortijo Opazo and the world around us. I welcome comments, just address them to Oska at info@cortijoopazo.com. Thanks for reading!

By the way, I am supposed to mention that it's a pretty fab place for a holiday.

Click here to see past blogs:

Mountains of colour

November 2011

A resume of what has been happening here for the last month or so. It is so easy for a dachshund to loose track of the weeks as they pass, but there is no mistaking the season we are in, AUTUMN. October was a warm and dry month, and as usual people started to talk about the lack of rain and what it might mean for next year. This didn't concern me, dachshunds and wet weather are not natural friends, but it did mean that the conditions were perfect for numerous walks into the valleys and high mountain pastures. It is now mid November and the rain has come, in heavy abundance - in the last 24 hours we have had more than 50 mm. Today we are stuck indoors but it has given me time to reflect - and catch up with my blogging - and I can safely say that never, in all my 14 months in this world, have I seen such colour amongst the trees as can be enjoyed this Autumn, almost as though each leaf has been dabbed by a heavenly paint brush, with no two leaves exactly the same colour. As though a divine paint sampler has been hurled up the valley, with coordinated colours landing as they please in a random kaleidoscope display, a tapestry of tints, a celebration of colouration, with pigments to perfection! It really has been a sight to behold. Many people come to the Alpujarras for their walking holidays in September, and this is fine, September is a lovely month, but for me, November is now my favourite time of year and those lucky enough to have chosen to spend some time here on holiday have been truly rewarded.

Autumn Crocus, flowering all over the mountainside at about 2000 metres.

			If you would like to see more pictures of these fabulous views of Autumn, then why not visit our facebook page - and whilst you are there you could 'like' it. Now, mention of people being here on holiday reminds me that I do have a serious role in this enterprise and that is, as mentioned above, the wellbeing and welfare of our guests. If we are busy here at Cortijo Opazo then we hope this means we are doing something right, and this year, despite what they are referring to in Spain as 'El Crisis' we have had more weeks of business up to this date than any of the previous 7, so this suggests things are going well. For next year we have already secured 20% of our expected business in terms of bookings confirmed (and deposits paid). This being the case we appear to have a minor hiccough, and that is the lack of any bookings over the Christmas or New Year, always a popular holiday time. I mean IS IT SOMETHING I SAID!? Have I put you off? If you fancy a comfortable break over the festive season, with guaranteed warmth - either from the sun or from our much improved under floor heating system - then Ella and I will do anything and everything in our power to ensure you have the best time possible, we'll prepare your apartment with love and kindness to make sure it is spotless, we'll assemble an extra special welcome pack of local goodies, we'll keep you company on your walks if you wish, we'll warm your sun lounger, cook you delicious meals, we'll even test out your bed to make sure it has just the right degree of softness and support and no trace of chill. But please, it's the end of the year and us two dogs need a good Christmas bone-us. If we have nobody to look after then our human companions will blame us and we can say goodbye to extra gravy and a Christmas stocking full of 'Good Boy' chocolate drops. I'm not wanting to sound desperate, but don't let the press convince you that things are as bad as they seem, because there's always an escape route - escape to Cortijo Opazo this Christmas. We'll be waiting for you, licks and damp paws at the ready. 'Sleigh bells ring, are you listening....?'


					Oska and Ella - they'll attend to your every need.


			On to other, less profit orientated matters. In the garden we've all been working in the vegetable bed, planting crops for next year. Garlic, onions, broad beans, and peas are now established, and elsewhere we have recently planted 40 trees - they are certainly enjoying the damp soil today. We have also been broadening our horizons a little in the form of a trip out. William was asked to prepare a talk to give to the Andalucian Garden Group in Malaga about the development of our garden here at Cortijo Opazo. He worked hard on his presentation over several weeks, then on November 8th we all packed ourselves into the car and drove off to the town of Alhauren el Grande, near to Malaga city. Here we were met by members of the group and were made to feel very welcome. Ella and I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely dog by the name of Tika, and her owners, Chris and Anne, were very kind too. The talk, aptly named 'Gardening With Altitude', went well and the group are now in the process of organising a coach outing next summer to come and see the garden for themselves. Ella and I will probably arrange a spot of lunch for them, not sure what yet. Any suggestions?

As the next band of rain washes across the mountainside I must upload my blog and get about my chores. The sun will be back tomorrow and there'll be a wheel barrow load of things to attend to. We're taking advantage of the gap in bookings in order to re-paint the parts of the house that need it, so it will be looking spruced up for your visit. Today there are general elections being held in Spain to see who is going to lead the country during these difficult times. My nationality prevented me from standing, although a dog of German descent would most probably make a good job. I tried to talk Ella into it but she just hid herself behind the sofa. So, whilst we hope for a good outcome I will leave you with pictures of two of the spectacular skies we've been having recently - no use of any 'touch up' computer program, this is how it really looked.

Yours, in overalls,

Oska

					To view the October 2011 blog, click here.