SUNDAY 14th JUNE

Corpus Christi is a celebration of the Eucharist sacrament in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed as the body of Christ.

Here in the Sierra de Grazalema area the Corpus Christi festivals are very popular with high attendance from locals and visitors coming from further afield. The processional carts (representing chariots) and the surrounding buildings are elaborately adorned with foliage and flowers which is a sight well worth seeing. The date for 2009 at Zahara de la Sierra is Sunday the 14th of June and hotel Al-Lago is offering a 10 percent discount on published room prices for Grazalema Guide readers. Just mention the Grazalema Guide when you enquire at the Al-lago website.

Ladies, fancy a weekend of over indulgence, retail therapy and pampering? If so, read on. Treat yourselves and/or a friend to a weekend of retail therapy, culture, traditional Spanish cuisine, leisurely cycling, and spa therapy. Based deep in the heart of the Andalucian countryside, in a traditional Spanish 'Cortijo' farmhouse, you'll be a world away from the hussle and bussle of daily life. This is your opportunity to relax and unwind whilst enjoying traditional Spanish cuisine and culture, the stunning scenery of the Grazalema Natural Park and the warm hospitality of the local people.

Grazalema's first celebration of the summer was held on the 24th May 2009 with the "Romeria de San Isidro". Hailing the arrival of summer and involving a lively procession of virtually the entire village down to a pasture in the ribera valley  for a big picnic (KM 4 on the Grazalema-Montecorto road). In the usual way of Spanish festivities there are copious amounts of food and drink and lots of loud music. The procession gathers at 8 am for prayers at the church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación and proceeds down and out of the village to La Ribera. The picnic party goes on all day and then for as long as anyone has the energy to keep going. Read more for a bit of background on Saint Isidore the Laborer and some pictures of the 2009 Romeria....

Gaucin is an Andalucian, white village in the Ronda mountains, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Riff mountains of Africa. The spectacular views and breathtaking landscape have attracted a wide variety of artists, with local, national and international reputations. The Art Gaucin 2009 Open Studios are taking place on the 23-24 May and 30-31 May 11 am to 7 pm. 16 Artists-- Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, Photographers and Ceramic Artists-- invite you to visit their studios.

Teresa Farino's latest publication comes as a great surprise.... With many beautiful photographs supplied by Carlos Sanchez this book is a must for any visitor or resident with an interest in the wildlife and geography of Spain....I must admit I was expecting a kind of pocket or travel companion guide but at 24cm X 31cm this is more of a coffee table edition. That said if you are travelling to Spain and have the space... Take it....Well done Teresa, absolutely brilliant! Click the read more for more information and a link to buy the book!

Dragonflies and damselflies are extremely beautiful insects which capture the very essence of summer as they perform their intricate aerobatics around the gleaming backdrop of rivers and pools on hot sunny days. They are reasonably easy to observe and are also important indicators of the health of our wetlands, being top insect predators both as airborne adults & aquatic larvae. For those  with an interest in photographing these insect jewels, August is definately the best month and the Grazalema area itself is stunning at this time of year. Many people avoid the area due to the intense heat of the summer (which may be hovering around the high 30's and low 40's) so  you'll have the countryside pretty much to yourself. The scent of hot pine resin, gum cistus and the baked appearance of the area is quite different from the spring wild flower season just a few months earlier and is an experience in itself.