Autumn scene in January 🍁

It would be very easy to describe this Sunday afternoon just in one word... sublime :D But the truth is that I usually like to talk (write) a bit more than one word.

Two words then? 🤔

Ok, let's become a bit more formal and start this post on more a more serious note.

After reading a comment left by @themagus in my latest post, I have to confess that I do need physical exercise despite the busy schedule I have during the week. Work, home, family, Hive, piano practising (oh, this part suffers sometimes), rehearsals... so I can desperately search for time to squeeze some physical exercise into that schedule but I know the final result. Almost impossible, until someone invents the time machine or a similar tool that could prolong the day for some hours (@littlebee4, when? 😁).

But, no excuses!! There is always a solution so at least I try to do the grocery on foot, or use the bike instead of the car when possible. Also, Saturday and Sunday afternoons we usually take some walks. That compensates a bit for those hours I normally seat while playing the piano or while I am in front of the screen. It doesn't really matter where we walk, but we try to combine different routes, and if we are bored by the seashore we go to a different place. That is how we got today to a town La Nucia, which is maybe 15-20 minutes driving from our little town. The destination there was a little park, La Favara.

Don't imagine Central Park from New York, or any other decent park in big cities. It is a very modest park, with just a few paths. But you walk anyway, so that's what counts hahaha.

The vegetation here is pine trees, bushes, palm trees and a few flowers. Really not much for a park... Also, it has a children's playground which is not in the best shape and a bocce court. There was one older man playing it, I felt weird about the idea of taking a photo of him... so, there is no photo. The playground was occupied by a couple who thought that the swing and other facilities were suitable for their age... once again, no photo of that. But, what about a palm tree? I do have a photo of it 😂

Oh, and I have also a photo of a bird. Paradise bird!!! Yeah, you are right, it is not a bird, but a flower, it's just the common name of Strelitzia reginae. It grows a lot here.

After some time the paths of the park finished but we didn't want to go home immediately. We went to the woods, which promised more adventure. At least one evil witch, or wolves that would deceive us... However, no personalities from the tales appeared. Nada. Just one nest of a type of caterpillar, which is dangerous.

That is the nest of the Pine Processionary Caterpillar, they are coming out from the next in early spring are their hair contains a toxic protein. They are dangerous for children and pets that can sniff them. You can see more about this caterpillar in the linked page. If you come to Spain between January and March and walk in a pine forest, just don't touch these nests and the caterpillars. They look like this:

After the meeting with these creatures in the forest, we again found ourselves on a bigger road, looked once again toward the Sierra Bernia mountain which can be seen from this place and headed back to the car... but not to go home. We went to another place too, to walk a bit more.

It was a road between two towns, already close to our place. Usually, not dense traffic is what you can expect there so the walks are also enjoyable. It is cool also during the summer as you can find some shade between these trees. Now, in winter I don't mind the sunshine :)))

But speaking about winter... It is January, the sun was shining and we had a really nice Sunday afternoon while stretching our legs on these roads... but in one moment I felt that we were in autumn!! Look at this:

The dried leaves are falling from the trees now. It can be confusing, but that is what I have seen today, just a few hours ago. An idyllic autumn scene!