Improvement Works

EL SALT - general works including the replacement/installation of new wooden handrails improving access to the area has now begun.

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Sella Skies at Sunrise (28/12/09)

(click to enlarge)

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Christmas Eve

Santa and his helpers arrive in the Plaza Mayor

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

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Xmas Wishes

Hi, Eric here from Eric's Blogspot - May Santa Paws bring you all you desire. Eric x

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NEW - Vista on Ceramics

The new ceramic view (and the real one!) can be seen at the the top of the village, at the Ermita.

To see a larger pic on the villagehouseinspain.com slideshow: CLICK HERE

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White Stuff

Last nights storm took away phone lines and electricity

but left us with a white sprinkling this morning.

Peña Roc & El Paso de Los Contadores

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Fiesta de Santa Barbara

Berghaus Caption Contest

Berghaus have used the photo below for their Dec/Jan caption competition. Looks familiar - oh yes it's me ! ! !

This month’s photo of Eric, demonstrating an alternative use for his Berghaus rucsac. To give you a chance to try out your own Berghaus rucsac, the prize this month is a Freeflow 25+5 (man’s or woman’s). The competition will close on 31/01/2010.

To see some of the captions, click on comments below.

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Walking on the Sierra Cortina

Today, went walking on the Sierra Cortina - a relatively

easy walk that offers both mountain and costal views

Click image to see more photos at villagehouseinspain.com
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Bikes & Barks

Had a great weekend, went out with me dad on his bike!

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Concert in the Church

Last night the Sella band and choir performed in the village church to celebrate Saint Cecilia day (patron saint of music). Their talent, combined with the amazing acoustics resulted in a fantastic concert which delighted a full house.

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TODAY - The Asgard Project Film Launch

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Vino Gums

I´m in the doghouse (again) ! It's not my fault, there was a bag of wine gums just sort lying around, I mean whats a dog to do? I just hope I don't wake up with a hangover!

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Video - Sella 1992

Short video filmed in 1992 featuring Romera, one of the last working donkeys in the village.

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01 November - All Saints Day

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Halloween Party

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SELLAWOOD

Sella´s Plaza Mayor (main square) will be closed on Monday (26 Oct) as a film crew are coming to shoot some scenes in the Bar Casino (next to the church). I can´t promise Tom Cruise or Johnny Depp, but I´m sure that it will be interesting.

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GET WELL SOON ERIC

Eric (of Eric´s Blogspot) is feeling a little sorry for himself today, as he has been down to the vets for a small operation. I am however, pleased to be able to tell you that he is making a good recovery and hopes to soon be back to his old self - Barking, Blogging and Full of Bones! MHS

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Via Ferrata - Scrambling - Climbing - Trekking - all in one day!

An absolutely fantastic day out with our superb local instructor/guide, José Miguel García - we did a bit of everything!

For more information about the activities that José organises - CLICK HERE

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Out for a stroll

Took the old man (MHS) out for a bit of a stroll today (it keeps him happy) Puig Campana, we nipped up one side, then back down the other - lovely little walk. Eric x

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FIESTA 2009

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Extreme Sheepherding !

I´d love to have a go at this ! Eric

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Reading Material

Before returning from the U.K. I asked A if there were any books

that she wanted her answer was - A CHEQUE BOOK! MHS

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Sella Fiestas

Sella's main annual fiesta starts this Friday 2nd October

villagehouseinspain.com desitja al poble de Sella

MOLT BONES FESTES!

villagehouseinspain.com wishes everyone in Sella a

VERY HAPPY FIESTA!

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Heavy Rain

Like many parts of Spain, Sella has experienced

heavy rain during the last few days.

But it's looking better for the weekend - and the fiesta!

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Google Translate

villagehouseinspain.com launches 'Google

Translate' on both it's website and it's Blog.

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Walkies

One man and his dog.

One woman and her dog.

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Village to Village Walk

Today we walked from the neighbouring village of Relleu back to Sella following mountain paths and tracks. At the highest point on the walk we celebrated with a glass of Cava and a poem by a local poet about the path that we were walking. A relatively short and easy walk which ended with some of the group taking a swim in the Font Mayor (natural lagoon) before enjoying an 'al fresco' picnic including the ever popular home made tortilla!

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Via Ferrata at Villena

We had a great day out today, doing some via ferrata at Villena (just over an hour from Sella). Two routes, Castillo de Salvatierra and Sierra de la Villa both including Tibetan wire bridges. Fantastic views over the town and of the castle.

Click here to see more via ferrata photos (flickr)

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Summer Stress

I've had a pretty demanding and stressful summer!

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Grape Picking

Just been out this evening to pick a few grapes - lovely.

What did the grape do when it got stepped on?

It let out a little wine!

Probably the worst grape joke in the world - if you know a better one let me know. MHS

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Tour de España - Photos

The Guardia Civil coming back down were almost as impressive as the cyclists going up !

Tour de España - Cycle Race

La Casa Blava is looking forward to this weekend. Stage 8 of the Tour of Spain cycle race is passing though Sella on Sunday afternoon. Followers of participant Jesús Hernandez of the Astaná team are staying at Mes Avall so there will be a great party in the village on Saturday night !

Sella - Newspaper Article

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Sella - Supper in the Square - UPDATE

Good turnout, good food and a great night out!

Sella - Supper in the Square

Just found out that the next supper in the square will be on Saturday 01 August 09 (tickets €20 each)

The Annual Sella Water Fiesta

I may be able to 'wet your appetite' with this one - the annual water fiesta. A mixture of music, colour and water - lots of water! One of the few events where a 'total wash out' signifies a total success!

Fira 2009

Photo - Habitación en la casa rural "La Casa Blava"en Sella.

Kdd Marina Baixa Julio 09 by Merillou.

Last weekend was Fira time in Sella - the Crafts and Local Produce Fair - an event which takes place every year. The Plaza Mayor, decked out with colourful banners and lights, looked very festive. Among the stalls were lovely ceramics, basket ware and local specialities such as honey, chorizo sausages, wine and olive oil. There was a great atmosphere with music and dancing including the popular Jota de Sella and on Saturday, everyone was invited to partake of the huge paella, enough for 300 people, courtesy of the Town Hall and cooked on an open fire in the street. Antique furniture and farming implements were displayed, as usual, down the steps of the Calle Mayor and there was a painting competition, a honey making demonstration and village houses open to the public. On Sunday, a local photographic society KDD, chose Sella for their monthly meet and wandered around the village taking some amazing photos, some of which can be seen on flickr.

The Fiesta of San Juan

As in previous years and along with thousand´s of others, we celebrated the fiesta of San Juan (St. John the Baptist) by heading down to a local beach. Most people arrive fully equipped with friends, family, firewood, swimwear, tables, chairs and picnics that resemble royal banquets. Add to this the combination of live music on a vast stage, a firework display, bonfires on the beach (that for some reason best known to themselves, young men insist on jumping through - OK some not so young i.e. me above!) and at midnight a traditional swim in the sea, then what you've got is a great night out and one that normally carries on into the early hours - thoroughly recommended if ever you get the chance!

My First Abseil !

With houndsight I should have been a bit more wary when they (MHS & TG) were at the getting ready to leave stage - Water ? OK - Boots ? OK - Rope ? OK. "ROPE! what in the name of Crufts do they want a rope for ?" Watch the video to find out more . . . . .

Sella - Sea Mist

Photo Gill Round

It was eery and quite amazing how quickly the sea mist rolled up the valley to the village of Sella.

La Casa Blava

January Challenge 2009

The 3 Peaks Challenge

A walk to the summits of 3 local mountains Puig Campana, Ponoch & Sanchet.

Date 18th Jan 2009

Duration 9 hours 41 minutes 32 Seconds

Length 12.1 miles / 19.5 km

Average Speed 1.3 mph / 2 kmh

Vertical Up 5438 ft / 1657 m

Vertical Down 4477 ft / 1365 m

Three Peaks

There was a glow on the left-hand edge of the Puig which we will never forget, after it became clear that the big cloud behind it had actually been smoke all this time. On the following morning it was still glowing and 2 days later we walked into the heart of the burnt landscape from Finestrat.

The previous weekend had been different. It had been months in the planning. We didn’t know if it could be done. It seemed so obvious on the map but involved 6000 feet of ascent in a single short January day.

Sanchet and Ponoch from Puig Campana

We met in the dark like conspirators in the Sella car park. At 7.30 am we left our car behind at Font del Molí, Finestrat, and began walking rather too quickly in the pre-dawn light. We surprised a peregrine on the west face of the Puig that cried out eerily above us. We paused at El Volador to take off clothing in clear bright light. The skeletons of the previous fire stood sentinel to the gift of a perfect day. Up the lovely rising path to the refugio the Realets came aflame. We were completely alone on what was to become a busy summit day. The ascent of the Puig weaves its way up rock steps and ramps to reach a col from where you contour round the front of the mountain until you are out on the open flank of the summit overlooking Benidorm. We weren’t first on the summit amazingly – a runner flashed past us on his way down – but as we were descending there were many groups of people coming up – a baby in a back-pack, dogs, old men in broad hats and Davíd Soler García from the village.

On the Summit of Puig Campana

Benidorm From Puig Campana

Approaching the Col del Pouet we heard the babble of crowds and then discovered that the col was a huge car park. We walked on towards the Paso de Bandaleros and sat down in what is now a black desert but what was then a shady bower for our almuerzo. On the long easy slope to Ponoch we overtook other walking groups and thought we must be first on the summit except for a cyclist in shorts who greeted us as an old friend. It was José Vicente the chemist. He took off to explore the edges of Ponoch while we opened the sandwiches as groups piled around us.

Realets from Ponoch

Ponoch Summit

When he returned we set off together to return to the Bandaleros, sliding over loose stones at many points. Here we parted and descended to Col de Llam and took the donkey trail on the contouring path below Sanchet to the foot of its ridge. It was on this track that two of us were wondering if we could finish the project (Martin was not entertaining similar thoughts). The rocks of Sanchet, our third summit, were intimidating above us. At the foot of the ridge there came the crucial moment of this story which involves a siesta, an orange and a new attitude. We probably only spent half an hour here but it felt like a good restful hour. At the end of this we somehow felt different. Poc a poc was to be the approach. The big boulders provided firm footing. Soon a breeze wafted up from the left edge. Poc a poc, step by step, we ascended the ridge until forced down right into a gully which led to the summit. At the scramble up to the last summit Martin, who was ahead, called down, ‘We’re not alone!’ Here were a husband and wife team who recognised Terry from the same climbing club in the UK. Much climbing talk ensued.

The Sanchet Ascent

Now all that remained was the exposed scramble down to the long scree into the wood and the always welcomed arrival of La Carrasca. From here we walked down to the entrance of the Buddhist valley where Angela picked us up and drove us back to Font del Molí to pick up the car, as we lay back tired and exhilarated – you might say, a bit burnt out, but recovering already.

By Terry Gifford and Gill Round

Three Peaks - the Poem

Three Peaks
Into the Future:
Water, Fire, Rockfall

Walking too fast
from Finestrat's Font Moli,
tripping over tree roots
in a dark start again
until, in a chill
gunmetal grey light,
we surprise the hunter,
a peregrine echoing
high on Puig Campana.
Rounding its summit track
we look down and back
on Benidorm's towers
sucking the ground water
from under our feet.

Descending to the Col de Pouet
we push on towards Ponoch
but take five in a bower
to be burned in the fire
begun in Polop next weekend
when we watch from Sella
a red horizon leaping.
On the summit, in cycling shorts,
stands our village chemist,
deaf and dumb, an able
reader of lips, who leaves
to look over the rim
at what will become black
tree-bones and ashes.

Sanchet is all rock,
and heavy in our heads
on the horizontal donkey
trail below its looming
spine. A siesta is essential
and an orange, a fresh
stance: poc a poc, boulder
by bolder steps to find
on this summit a Hut
Bookings Sec., playing truant
from the phone, one eyebrow
plastered, I ponder, as we pass
below a scar of recent rockfall,
a stark future seen for miles.

Terry Gifford

Fire On Puig Campana

A mountain fire, started by an electricity pylon being blown over in gale force winds, engulfed the whole eastern side of the Puig Campana on the 24th January 2009.