On October 15 we all (Lars Helge & Rasmus & Kari & Barb & I) crowded into Lars Helge\u2019s car and drove up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.\u00a0 Our goal was to visit the three villages of Pampaneira, Bubi\u00f3n and Capilera.\u00a0 We made two additional stops along the way.\u00a0 We noticed an intriguing sign\/display for the village of Soport\u00fajar.\u00a0 A white wall bore a large model of the village and also displayed a black silhouette of a witch.\u00a0 We could not resist diverting to the village to seek an explanation.\u00a0 At the village, we found a handsome patio that featured a stunning view of the valley below.\u00a0 On the patio was a fountain in the form of a statue of a boiling pot being stirred by two witches.\u00a0 Just outside the village was a decorative entrance to a cave that apparently was named \u201cThe Eye of the Witch\u201d.\u00a0 Signs apparently averred that the cave has long been thought to have mysterious powers.\u00a0 A quick poll revealed that none of us felt any magical vibrations, and so we continued on our way.\u00a0 Back on the road to the three villages, we soon passed a small cavern.\u00a0 At the entrance there was a very small hut whose function was unclear. \u00a0The inside was clear but featured walls that appeared to have seams of coal.<\/p>\n
We passed through Pampaneira and then Bubi\u00f3n and stopped at Capilera, where we ordered \u201ccaff\u00e8 Americano\u201d, which comes in small cups and contains about a week\u2019s supply of caffeine.\u00a0 The setting was nostalgic, since we had been there<\/a> with a large number of Norwegian celebrants in the \u201cFirst International Almond Festival\u201d in October, 2006.<\/span><\/p>\n We then reversed our direction and returned to Pampaneira, population 355 and 3480 feet above sea level, where we did some exploring of the village and its many interesting shops, including leather goods and wool rugs and ceramics and fashionable clothing and cheeses and hams.\u00a0 An interesting factoid not immediately apparent is that the chimneys in the three villages are unique.\u00a0 Whereas the chimneys in most villages have horizontal cross-sections that are polygonal, most of those here are circular or elliptical.\u00a0 Fascinating, no?<\/span><\/p>\n After a yummy lunch we retraced our steps back to home territory, dropping off in Itrabo Kari and Rasmus, who had invited us over to their rented villa for dinner, and then continuing on to Casa Emilie.<\/span><\/p>\n When we joined them later for dinner, we found a multi-level restored home that featured thick plastered walls and lots of charming little rooms and a lovely patio on the roof..\u00a0 The dinner of fish and pasta was delicious and was accented by some really good wines.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t