Heat haze

The heat haze that's been dominating our weather for the past three or four days, pushing temperatures up to the 40°C mark, has slowly started to lift this morning.

It's still very warm but hopefully the temperatures will drop to a more seasonal low to mid thirties centigrade in the next few days.

 We hadn't been up to Bar Valentinos for a while so this morning we sat with refreshments under the shade, enjoying the fantastic views that were just starting to emerge again after being hidden by the haze for several days.

 A fairly busy Calle Llana...nobody on the sunny side of the street though!

Fields of Gold

A drive out this morning to view the spectacular display of sunflowers that are currently blooming in our area.

I chose a route (see here), previously driven a couple of years ago, to the west of Olvera that gives a more or less continuous sea of yellow, particularly on the A-8128 road from Montellano to where it joins the A-371 heading back towards Villamartin.

 Just beautiful.

Sunday in the square

 It has to be about 35°C or more so to escape the sauna in our house, we walked the short distance this lunchtime to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the shade of Bar Pepe Rayas.

 With Spain doing so well, clearly the best team in the Euro 2012 championships, a lot of bars have set up an area for an outdoor TV. We shall be booking our spot for the final on Sunday, 1st July.

 To be honest, it wasn't much cooler outside of the house.

 Inside view of the bar.

 A nice spanish chap who we didn't know came to the bar and for no reason gave us a bag of delicious Victoria plums from his campo. He wouldn't take any payment, saying it was a present, so we bought him a beer as thanks. In return, he bought me a beer and Anne a coke. You just can't win. Lovely, lovely people.

Sunshine and Sally

Another beautiful day and a very pleasant and unexpected surprise this morning in meeting Sally.

Sally introduced herself as I was strolling along Calle Llana. She has a home here and said she regularly looks in and enjoys our blog. We had a very pleasant chat and, as always, it was lovely to meet up with one of our readers. 

The views here and below from Calle Vereda Ancha.

Looking up the the "Monumento al Sagrado Corazón".

Juicy melons for sale on Calle Calvario.

 Heading home, I diverted off into the park at El Péñon "El Cerretillo", always a pleasant area to sit and admire the views. Here, looking east over Olvera. 

 In the distance the escarpment of Acinipo, the site of an ancient bronze age and Roman settlement. A fantastic location with amazing views from the top.

Since my last visit, this plaque "Welcome to the Mirador El Cerro", has been placed on one of the houses that backs onto the park area.

The flower of a cacti in bloom.

 I sat for a while in the shade of the Plaza de Andalucia just as the timer on the fountain switched on.

Me and my shadow

 

 I couldn't resist indulging in a few pictures of myself and Calcetines as we sat in the cool breeze this evening on a bench at the mirador on Calle Pañolillas. 

 Looking up to the Iglesia Parroquial and below the stunning views from the mirador.