It was raining and cold, just above freezing, as we climbed the winding road from Elche into Andalucia. We could even see snow on some of the higher peaks. Spring in Spain can be like spring in the Rockies.
Nothing but olives as far as the eye can see
Valencia has its oranges. Andalucia has olives; olive groves as far as the eye can see! Spain is the leading prodcuer of olive oil, some 70 million tons annually. And most of them come from here. We were on our way to Ubeda and its sister town across the valley filled with olive groves. They were established at the beginning of the "Reconquista," when the Moors were finally expelled from Iberia. This was also the time of the Renaissance in Italy so it is no coincidence that both towns' architecture has that Italian Renaissance flair. While Ubeda became the center of secular power, Baeza was the spiritual and intellectual hub and its university is still going strong. Today the World Heritage cities are wonderfully preserved and make you feel like you have traveled 500 years back in time. They are definitely off Rick Steves' map but are well worth visiting.
