Yoga holiday and 'Finding your Voice'

'Visit Jimena when
the Spring flowers are out'

JIMENA A group of people are due to arrive in Jimena this week to take part in a Spring Yoga Holiday, we're told. According to Fairlie Gibson and Freeing the Body, they will be staying at El Antiguo Juzgado for five days and taking part not only in Yoga sessions but also in Finding Your Voice for Vocalisation and Chanting classes by Monica Becko. And, of course, they will be eating and drinking at various establishments around town. Welcome to them all! (Enterprising people get results.)

Spring is here!

So where did winter go? Officially, Spring starts tonight, but you knew that. You also know that this is the rainy season in these parts (you didn't need us to tell you that, either.) It is also the time of year when a train ride up to Ronda is a magnificent experience - the wildflowers are breathtaking. In fact anywhere you go out into the countryside in the next couple of months will be well worth it - though we suggest you let some sun seep into the ground just to give the flowers a bit of a push. And if you get any good photos, send them in!

The Flowers of Jimena / Las flores de Jimena

The best of Córdoba in May

One of last year's winners

If you've never been to Córdoba, May is the month to be there. And if you've been there at any other time of year, May is the best time to visit this ancient city. Aside from the world famous Mosque -a breathtaking experience- and various other fscinating historical spots, the reason to be there this month is the flowers. Spring bursts into bloom with a parade known as La Batalla de las Flores (Battle of the flowers), which launches the Cruz de Mayo (May Crosses) festivals usually during the first week of the month (watch this space for a forthcoming item on them). And that is followed by the Patio Competition, this year held between May 2 and 13, when every courtyard is alive with colour. And this is a preamble to the annual Feria at the end of May. Let's look at the patio competition (and more photos).>>>

Spring is here, and so is Monday

Today is the first day of Spring, not that Nature can read calendars and almanacs. Officially, Spring arrives at the Spring Equinox, which is round about just now. So let's just celebrate the fact that there should be more sunshine until at least September (have you checked the WeatherWidget lately?), by which time we'll all be panting for Autumn and Winter again. About the photo: who else would have arranged the snails and the slug so carefully on such a lovely Spring photo, and then call it 'That Monday Morning Feeling'? You're right, none other than Phil Heinzl, our regular contributor of all things weird and wonderful (just for a lark, copy his name into the Search thingy at the top of the right sidebar and see what happens...)

Bees are back

(By e-mail, Thank you, Phil) "Attached is something which turned up in our garden for the first time since we have been here.  Blink and you would miss it as it is so small, being only 1cm in diameter. We have identified it as the bumblebee orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora) and it isn´t that common but by no means a rarity. We rescued this one from the lawn mower, but have found a whole colony of them. I suppose they should be known as a "bee´s nest of orchids"....bad eh!" Click on the photo to get the detail. You can see more of Philip Heinzl's work on our partner site JimenArte, a free exhibition space for the arts.