Chumbo jelly.... a.k.a. a right waste of time

The local cactus plants are loaded with exotic looking fruit, vivid against the extraordinary shapes and contortions of the cactus, the giant nopales sprouting more extensions along side the fruit.
The botanical name is Opuntia ficus-indica , a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant.
Originally from Mexico, yet another plant transported back to Europe by the 17th century Spanish conquistadors. 
Some of the common English names for the plant and its fruit are Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus, and prickly pear. In Mexican Spanish, the plant is called nopal, while the fruit is called tuna, which are names also used in English, especially as culinary terms, in Spanish the fruit is known as chumbo.

By previous experience we knew that we needed gloves before approaching the plant to harvest the fruit because the fine hairs on the fruit penetrate skin and cause very uncomfortable irritation. Apparently on windy days these hairs can be blown off the fruit into eyes, must be torture. Picking the fruit was not difficult with aid of gloves and tongs, it broke off easily and we picked a big basket very quickly. The problems started in the kitchen, we became careless in emptying the fruit into a boiling pan of water to remove the hairs, better to keep gloves on until the whole process is complete.

After the fruit was safe to handle we scraped out the pulp and sieved it to remove hundreds of pips which are completely inedible and as hard as shot. 

After this process there was very little pulp. Adding lemon for pectin and a horrendous amount of sugar the whole mess was boiled up to produce this 400g jar

........... yes, from a big basket of fruit, maybe 5 kilos, one small jar of marmelada which was so sweet it almost disguised any natural taste of the fruit.

 Will not be bothering with this again, perhaps for eating fresh and spitting out the seeds as one goes. Apparently full of antioxidants and particularly effective for hangover cure, perhaps that little jar will come in useful during the coming festive season.

Battle of Arroyomolions re-enactment on October 28

A different format this year, somewhat reduced with no horse activity unfortunately but entertaining never the less. A perfect autumn day with blue skies above Arroyomolinos unlike the original battle of 1811 when there was torrential rain and thunder storms.
 See here for the 200 year anniversary in 2011
 http://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2011/10/battle-of-arroyomolinos-200-year.html
And here for some spectacular horse action
 http://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-beautiful-day-for-anniversary-of.html

El Hierro: Adios.....

Last day of El Hierro holiday. A great ride on the old road across the island, winding up from the coast through thick laurel and fern woods, splendid pine forests and down to El Pinhal and La Restinga on the other side of the island on the so call Mar Calma, the calm sea. Before lunch we stopped at Taconal a rocky cove with really safe swimming in calm waters. Water temperature was wonderful, deep clefts in the rocks became delightful whirlpools as the tide came in and out.
Back to Sabinosa for the last time. Back to Extremadura tomorrow with some great memories of this small but diverse volcanic island off the coast of Africa in the deep blue waters of the ocean.

El Hierro: Charco de los Sargos and Punta Grande

A trek to Charco de los Sargos along the coast from Las Puntas, a rocky cove with small pool, a tiny haven along this wild coast. It was so hot today so the dip was great but really lethal slippery seaweed underfoot so had to slither into water over the rocks, was fine as the usually razor sharp volcanic rocks had been worn into beautifully smooth sculptural curves by the waves.
We walked back to Las Puntas and had a really welcome G&T at the wonderful restaurant/hotel La Punta Grande. It used to be a fishing boat storage wharehouse with a very dangerous sea access, there is an old crane  which was used to hoist the boats out of the water as there is no safe harbour or beach. The restaurante has a great collection of ships' identification plaques and a slightly sinister ancient diving suit displayed in the corner.

El Hierro: La virgen de Los Reys fiesta

Only once every 4 years does the Virgen de los Reyes decend from her remote ermita on a long pilgrimage down to the coast at Valverde but every year there are two celebrations where she has a quick whizz around the ermita accompanied by dancers and musicians.
The dancers, men and women, wear a peculiar costume with white lace petticoats, a red apron with pockets and extraordinary headwear. The bonnet is variously decorated with flowers, feathers, sequins and long ribbon streamers. The dance is energetic and rythmic with castanets. 
The carved wooden image of the virgen was brought to El Hierro in 1548 when a ship on its way to the new world was becalmed off shore, the crew ran out of food and water, they were provided with supplies by shepherds, in return they donated the only object of value on board, an image of the virgin, immediately a wind came and they could continue their voyage, it was the day of epiphany or Kings' day in Spanish and so she was named.

It is thought that these costumes must have been introduced to the island by early 16th century settlers from Galicia, Asturias, Portugal and Extremadura as there are very similar costumes in these places. They also reminded me of Morris Men which apparently could orginally have been Moorish Men, an ethnological puzzle.