Casa Rural Cortijo Roman

August in Jimena

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Although August is probably the most arid month in Andalucia, there is a stark beauty to the countryside and the air has that wonderful mediterranean smell of wild herbs (and if you are in the village at lunchtime, the equally wonderful smell of fresh fish, meat and vegetables being grilled or fried in olive oil for tapas in the bars and restaurants)
A favourite Andalucian drink that is sold in all the bars in the summer is "Tinto de Verano", literally "red wine of the summer". This is a mixture of red wine, lemonade and plenty of ice and makes a very refreshing drink without too much alcohol.
While on the subject of food and drink, it is worth mentioning the traditional Andalucian breafast which is toast on which one rubs a garlic clove, drizzles with oil and finally coats with a thin layer of fresh tomato pureé - to be accompanied by the excellent strong andalucian coffee or, if one is really following the tradition, a glass of brandy or aguadiente (the local equivalent of eau de vie or grappa)

August is the month of the main fair (Feria) in Jimena. There are three days of festivities based round dressing-up, socialising, eating, drinking, dancing and generally having a good time at the various events and venues in the village.

What's happening on the Farm?

On the farm we have a number of "Prickly Pear" cacti (Opuntia ficus-indica) that produce ripe fruits in August. The fruits are covered in tiny spines which are extremely irritating if you get one in your finger (and even worse if you get one in your lip!). The method of harvesting is to put splits in the end of a long "cane" from the Giant Spanish Grass (Arundo donax), which also grows on the farm, jam the prickly pear into the splits and twist it from the plant. Having removed the pear, it is rubbed in dry soil or sand to remove the spines and, finally, it is peeled to reveal the interior which is a mass of pips covered in the flesh of the fruit - not unlike a pomegranate. Whether the fruit justifies all the harvesting effort is a matter for debate, although one does see them for sale on the streets in some towns.
Even though the countryside is now mainly brown, the gardens at the farm are still full of flowers and scents. Podranea, Hibiscus, Brugmansia, Bougainvillea, Canna and Plumbago are in full flower in the various gardens with Jasmins providing daytime scent and the insignificant flowers of Dama de Noche (Lady of the Night, Cestrum nocturnum) producing a heady perfume in the evenings.