Been having so much fun writing got a little bypassed.... Bad us. Arrived in valencia on 30th of November, collected an Ed who arrived to join us for a few days and then hotfooted our way to Chulilla to stay at El Altico The Refugio set up by climber Pedro Pons. We found out about this place after it was published in November Climb magazine and it looked so spectacular we changed our plans and headed straight there. The place is incredible. Words can't do it justice! The town is balanced on a blob of rock in the middle of a crater like gorge. My vertigo certainly poked its ugly head out of the woodwork, after hard work to keep the bugger in check.
After arriving, first stop bar... Of course. Ed and I delegated Ranaz as our ambassador as the only one of us to speak the language, and poked him in the direction of the bar which worriedly look like it was closing. He reappeared with a huge grin and beer. Marvellous. The smiles got larger when he informed us that 3 course meal plus salad plus bread plus beer would come to the grand total of 9 euros each. Splendid. A couple of hours later climbing looked out of the question as our bellies gurgled pleasantly and belts were loosened.
Ranaz vaguely tried to persuade us that we could get an hour in before sunset, but it was a very half hearted attempt. Over the next couple of days a few climbs were done despite rain. The locals seemed to find us an oddity..climbing in the rain? Whatever next?! Ahh but we be from England, we are born with gills.
3 days was definitely not enough time to investigate this place, a climber could probably live here for years and not get bored. We will return.
After arriving, first stop bar... Of course. Ed and I delegated Ranaz as our ambassador as the only one of us to speak the language, and poked him in the direction of the bar which worriedly look like it was closing. He reappeared with a huge grin and beer. Marvellous. The smiles got larger when he informed us that 3 course meal plus salad plus bread plus beer would come to the grand total of 9 euros each. Splendid. A couple of hours later climbing looked out of the question as our bellies gurgled pleasantly and belts were loosened.
Ranaz vaguely tried to persuade us that we could get an hour in before sunset, but it was a very half hearted attempt. Over the next couple of days a few climbs were done despite rain. The locals seemed to find us an oddity..climbing in the rain? Whatever next?! Ahh but we be from England, we are born with gills.
3 days was definitely not enough time to investigate this place, a climber could probably live here for years and not get bored. We will return.
I am Mexican and as such I do not have gills! Grrrr.
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