Orange Trees - Naranjos
by Ben Curtis
Whilst Ben is in India, absorbing every bit of the culture to tell us wonderful stories when he comes back, I scaped down to the Mediterranean coast for the weekend with my mother. We had a couple of lovely sunny days (quite windy for a bit) and as always lots of great food. My favourite was Paella eaten in the sunshine in a terrace with a sea view but we also had delicious Monkfish in a near by place. Actually I’ve come back full of ideas for the next cooking cast… but it will have to wait until Ben brings the equipment back.
However, the greatest of all was wandering trough an orange tree field that belongs to a friend of my mother - Mary - and being able to pick the Oranges directly from the tree. The views were very impresive and the oranges that she gave us to take back with us are excepcionally good. The sad part of the story is that she believes that most of the orange fields near the coast line around the area will be destroyed by holiday homes within 10 years… sad, isn’t it?
— Marina
Posted: February 22nd, 2006 under Spain Travel.
Comments: 5
Comments
Comment from Tim
Time: February 22, 2006, 10:03 am
I’m surprised there hasn’t been a backlash among the local population against so many holiday homes being built. I know it brings some money into the area, but I would have thought that the other problems it brings (the possibility of an increase in crime, the increase in house prices to a level where locals cannot afford them, etc) would reach a level that the locals would find unacceptable.
Comment from Marina
Time: February 22, 2006, 10:53 am
So far I don’t think it has brought more crime into this particular area, but that maybe the case in other places such as Marbella.
What is amazing is that the price of the flats in Gandia has gone up a lot for the past few years, reaching nearly the same price that you would pay for a similar flat in Madrid.
It is crazy!!!
Comment from Beth Smaligo
Time: March 2, 2006, 6:57 am
Hola, Marina. I JUST started listening to your podcasts yesterday. Well, except for the Notes in Spanish….sorry, I know next to nothing……It must be hard to be separated from Ben for a while…I mean he is in a totally different country. My dad went to Africa for three weeks last year , and it seemed like the longest time til he came back. Maybe you could start up a conversation cast where you and Ben roleplay real-life situations…..asking for directions, ordering a meal at a restaurant. Adiós. Within this message, you can see my complete knowledge de Español–two or three words. What a dismay! –Beth Smaligo
Comment from Peter Beck
Time: March 18, 2006, 2:29 pm
Hi Marina,
Not only are the Oranges on the Costa Del Sol the best I ever tasted, but the way you can get fresh orange juice (Zumo de Naranja) just about anywhere was so great! The amazing machine called a Zumex seemed to be in every bar and cafe we stopped at. I have never seen such an amazing machine for making orange juice - take a look - they have a web site in english:
http://www.zumexofamerica.com/product_eng.htm
Peter - missing Spain already
Comment from Marina
Time: March 18, 2006, 5:09 pm
It is true they are great. If any of you have the chance to see them work they are very interesting. The waiter insert full oranages in a metal tube and the machine cuts them in half and squezes all the juice out. And the best of all is that the juice fresh and full of vitamin C. Actually, I had one orange juice made in a similar machine this morning in a nearby cafe.
Peter I’ve seen most of your pictures and I think you had a great and long trip, how about putting a couple of your postcards in our new forum?
Here is the link if your are interested:
http://www.notesfromspain.com/forum
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