Spain #1 : Intro to Pampa (14-17 July 2013)

OK, in the words of a special family friend (aka George Grundy), the Griswald's have well and truly Gel-ed it! Pampaneria (Pampa for short) is perfect for us and the kids... hmmm... how does one describe it, we will limit it to 9 points (was going to be 10 but under time pressure here):
1 - Amazing house built in traditional Alpujurra style (mud, sticks and rocks, pictures to follow of the roof from the inside, simply amazing) in a village of 200 people.
2 - Abel the house owner is very cool, only bummer is that he split to Canada to hang with his Canadian girlfriend after a day. Managed to get all the killer spots in the region from his 16 years of experience prior to his departure though ;}
3 - Amazing hikes from Pampa, Jose and Sammy did a 6 km hike recently one morning followed up by a 3 km hike in the afternoon with the girls.
4 - Having lunch on the roof top with views of the snow from the peaks of Veleta (3300 m) and Mulhacen (3400 m) during July in 30 C weather special...
5 - Rio Porquiria is simply amazing! Waterfall after waterfall of snow melt, heaven!
6 - The local people are friendly, welcoming, and helpful! They have been great and are looking after us. Mind you dropping in Abel's name from time to time has been helpful.
7 - The food is amazing, the produce is amazing (our life will revolve around food clearly, and hopefully lots of hiking to walk it off...)
8 - Our preferential beach (so far) is only 1 hour away... (no pics yet uploaded). Kind of nice to look up at snow from the beach...
9 - Kids sponging up Spanish, and everyone helpful in showing them along the way.

Day 9 (July 14): Arrival to Pampa (Views and drink on balcony of Alpujurran house at top of Pampa)

Day 10 (July 15):  First trip to Capileira for shopping (2nd highest town in Spain ~1500 m, 4 km away from Pampa) as shopping limited in Pampa, eating lunch with chow from Capi on the roof top terrace, and hike up to Bubion with family (300 m vertical, 1.5 km).

Day 11 (July 16):  Sam and Jose morning hike (Sam still gets up at 6 am even though he is going to bed at 10 pm, hmmm....) down to the Rio below Pampa. Drive up to La Cebidilla just at the National Park border at 1700 m, cold snow melt, but the Griswold's still getting wet...

Day 12 (July 17):  Sam and Jose morning hike again (6 km, to Bubion then down river below Capi and then big climb on other side of mountain and then big descent down to Pampa, bring food for Sam next time...). Then 3 km hike from Capi down to Rio, awesome spot... That's not marijuana by the way, its a hemp farm for clothes... Kids also helped with preparation of dinner making a couple fine salads.