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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues. No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

Walking & Cycling the Green Ways in Spain - Via Verde del Aceite Jaen - Cordoba

A long winding route through the olive groves of Jaen which crosses thirteen lovely XIX century metal viaducts. This part of the network of vias verdes the Via Verde del Aceite starts in Jaen city and heads south-west towards Cordoba province. Covering 128 km this route as its name suggests was the railway line used to transport olive oil. It's is the longest Via Verde in Andalucia and the one I know best.

Via Verde de Aceite, Jaén and Córdoba

The old train station at Las Casillas, which is where Astro Andalus often takes people for astronomy experiences under the pure unadulterated night sky, is part of the Starlight Reserve known as Sierra Sur de Jaen. There are picnic tables and bike stands which make it a great stopping point in mid walk or cycle.

Via Verde de Aceite, Jaén and Córdoba

Near the old station at Alcaudete there is a serious of wetland lakes which is a great spot for bird watching and is a fairly short stretch from parking so can easily done with pushchairs or wheelchairs too.

Via Verde Bridge

With such an abundance of nature, Natural Parks, olive groves with over 66 million olive trees Jaen is a great slow travel destination for lovers of the great outdoors. Mountains, mountain biking, climbing and horse riding also abound and the gastronomy based on the local extra virgen olive oil with free tapas still given make it a must-stop spot.

Via Verde and Olive Groves

Once into Cordoba province there are two old stations which are now restaurants at Estacion de Luque and Dona Mencia and it's very close to the lovely little white mountain town of Zuheros which is worth a diversion.


See the Via Verde website which covers the whole of Spain. It's in Spanish but there are lots of routes and maps that can be downloaded, or the page for the Via Verde del Aceite.

Read about my star gazing experience - A Night of Stars - Star Gazing in the Sierra Sur de Jaen Starlight Reserve

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