Friday -- Christmas Eve -- dawned bright in Rubite (pronounced Roo-BEE-te, as we have constantly, and properly, been reminded by Alice Blachly.) The day and night before had been wild and windy up in the mountains, just shielded from the Sierra Nevada.
Ellie and her new best friend Jen the dog went for a romp down on the beach, but came back in mid-afternoon. We went out for a drive up the ridge, and long walk/runs, to see the mountain light.
Preposterous mountain peaks rim the northern horizon, and almond trees march at improbably angles across impossible slopes all around the village.
Rubite is a small village which runs down a ridge. Our cottage is at the lowest, southern-most point of the village; below us are a couple of barn ruins, paddocks for sheep and goats, and trails down to the arroyos, almonds, and olives. Other ridges have other surprising small villages.
We are so happy to have a few presents sent from home: You Know Who You Are, and THANKS! And a few things for each other, under the "tree" made from pine, olive, and herbs that Ellie brought back from her walk. We had a great dinner -- salad with shrimp fresh from the sea -- and settled down to an evening of BBC telly. Ellie has been relegated to the roles of pillow (for the cat) and oracle (for the dog.)
Tomorrow will be Christmas dawn. Far from friends and family, we wish a Healthy, Hopeful New Year for You, a Happy Holiday Season for Those You Love, and Greater Peace for Humans and the World We All Need. . .
Nice skyping with you. I wish you could bottle up the scents and the quality of light from Spain.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds magical. Great pics. Love, Bot
Thank you once again for connecting me with the world beyond my white, windswept vista. By the way, you might want to update your "About Me" description. It's been way more than a year and doesn't show signs of ending soon. xo Betsy
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