Last night I arrived at the farm of Alberto Hortelano and Raquel Puga, near Órgiva, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. It is set in a beautiful, semi-arid landscape, with mountains as high as 3000 metres on all sides. There is not much rain, not much cold, and lots of wild pigs.
I am living in a caravan, with water and electricity (by which I write this blog), and a cold outdoor shower. I have been given a supply of bread, a huge tub of green olives (v. tasty), some mild white cheese, a local cured sausage, with green and white mould on the outside (I was not sure if it was okay to eat the outside part or not, so, in doubt, I decided it was easier to eat the whole thing), some coffee, five cans of beer, and a large bottle of very fine olive oil, that is grown and pressed on the property. I have been shown where I can pick pomegranates, oranges, mandarins, chestnuts, almonds, aubergines, capsicum, tomatoes, pumpkins and carrots. I have been supplied with a sanitary shovel. I have all that I need to survive.
In return, I am to work five hours every morning, from 8:30 until 1:30 – though Alberto emphasises that I should work at my own pace and in my own manner, and should remain tranquilo at all times.
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