An Excursion Into the Mountains

The day after we got back from Barcelona, our friend arrived for a visit.  He was on a business trip to Europe and took a small side trip to spend a few days with us.

Ohanes from across the valley:  The churches are often left unpainted.

We didn't waste much time: the next day after his arrival we got back in the car and went on an excursion into the mountains.  Our destination was Ohanes and Tices.  You will recall the names from an earlier post about a run that Maggie entered there.  I hadn't seen the little town of Tices since I wasn't running, so I was eager to go.

View from the restaurant

In the tourist guide books you will read about the beautiful "pueblo blancos", or white villages, in these mountains, and some notable ones are mentioned.  However, the books don't mention Ohanes.  This village is tucked up on the side of a precipitous mountain with a view over a majestic valley with small, steep winding streets.  The surrounding mountainside is mostly terraced with olive trees planted almost everywhere.  Some of the farmers that work the land still use mules and have them "parked" in stables under their house.  The setting and lifestyle are idyllic.

In Ohanes we went to the one of the local restaurants for cervesas and tapas: 11 beers with delicious food and 3 cafe con leches for 19 euros, with a magnificent view of the countryside from our seat on the outdoor patio overlooking the town.

Ruins in Tices: view from the church

Tices isn't even a village; it is 4km down the road from Ohanes.  There you find a few farms scattered on the mountainside, ruins of old dwellings, a relatively large church or sanctuary and only about 20 residents living there.  It is very peaceful and beautiful.  The sanctuary stands out because of its size and setting and is a fantastic destination for a day long road trip.

The winding roads along the mountain's sides can be a little unsettling due to the sheer drop-offs and random placement of guard rails, but the scenery is grand.  Maggie and I have been up there several times now and we will never tire of it.

We all agreed that it was a beautiful day that we spent in the mountains.

Branko

Street scene in Ohanes

Guy stopping to smell the roses

View from the community laundry building