Gandia holiday apartment: Barx

Relaxation or what.: This area is all about rest and relaxation. The mountain area is naturally quiet but being a valley noise does tend to travel but it is always in the distance. Being rural Spain, the Siesta is still respected and between 1400hrs and 1630hrs very little stirs, apart from the odd dog. If you want the 'or what', then the mountains beckon. Walking can mean 15mins down the road to Barx or 4 hrs by ancient goat track. This can extend to 8 hour hikes and even full blown mountain climbing. Next is cycling and the roads here are used for training for Tour de France and Tour d´España, we even have a local lad who competed for España in the last Olympics. Less energetic, but as much fun, is off roading either on two or four wheels. Hire the right equipment and we can send you off on a journey where you can go all day and not see another person. It´s your choice.

Fauna and Flora: The area is an haven for many creature ranging from buzzards, eagles and whoopies to badger hare and wild boar. All are indigenous to the region but are very rarely seen. You have to be a specialist to know what you are doing. The locals seem to know, 90% of Spanish men go hunting at some time or other. Walking in the mountains lets the observer see the variety in plant life. From rare orchids to the two dozen different herbs. It´s not unusual to see an old Spaniard walking along the road in his espadrilles carrying a large bunch of what you and I would take to be weeds, but just like the hunters and the anglers, just about everything given up by nature will go in the pot. Food in the are tends to be basic, but people will come from all over Spain to try a local Valencian Paella cooked over an orange wood stove and not a prawn in sight. The best thing is you are paying local prices. It´s still possible to get a five course lunch (menu del dia) with wine for less than 8 euros.

History: The area is steeped in history if you care to look. Oscillating between Moor and Christian rule the Spaniard kept his head down and took on whatever was of use. This can be seen typically in the agriculture where the land is taken back from the mountain in a series of steps and planted with olive or almond, a Moorish practice that pre dates the Romans. In a cave just outside La Drova, paintings were discovered on tablets of stone, rather than the wall of the cave, suggesting trade or at least portability. Very rare and a cave near Malaga is now a World Heritage Site for having 50 such tablets. La Drova´s site had 5000, but not many people know this. Carry on through Barx and zig zag down the mountain to a village called Simat. Just like any other large village but this one has a 13th century monastary and palace. It is in the process of being renovated from an orange store and well worth a visit. Time it right and you can listen to a recital in the grounds on a sultry evening.

Golf: What´s your handicap? You can do a 6 hole par 3 with the prettiest backdrop you will ever see to a demanding part links course that was once home to the Spanish Open. Within an hour there are numerous courses suited to all standards. My favourite is El Bosque as it is so well manicured itis easy to forget your score and just take in the scenery. Based on a gated community it´s not surprising mosy Valencia footballers live there.

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