La primera agua
Friday 13 July (no, we are not superstitious) was our first 'water day' at the cortijo, an hour between 1 pm and 2 pm when we could take water from the azeicia. In the winter, water days are once a week. But in the summer, they may only be once every one or two months. So, summer water days are big social occasions. Everyone makes sure they are up at their cortijos ready, at their apointed hour to first, fill their tanks and, then, if there is sufficient water irrigate their land. While they wait, they pick their produce (cherries for the man from Almeria) or check their irrigation channels. We made sure to be there in plenty of time after Miguel alerted us by email and telephone.
We have several neighbours, Miguel and Encarni above us from whom we bought the cortijo. To, the west above and below, a gentleman from Almeria, immediately to the west, a family from Granada, and further to the west a professora and her husband, also from Granada. Most come just for 'al fin de semana' but often for longer in the summer and Christmas holidays but everyone was there on Friday.
It was a fun day. We learned heaps. And all this was first put in place centuries ago by the arabs. Amazing!
Miguel opens the top sluice gate at 1 pm.
First priority is to fill the tank for domestic water. This one serves our cortijo. Drinking water we bring from a spring on our way up.
The water flowed abundantly. Once the domestic tank is full, next, the water flows down to fill . .
. . . the tank for our irrigation water. The water goes into a pipe, under the terrace and into the tank.
Miguel and Rodney examining one of the almond trees. The cold snap at blossom time means that there are very few nuts up here this year. To their right, a walnut tree with lots of walnuts.
Down on one of the terraces clearing out the channels so that water runs to the trees-apples, pears, cherries, almonds, walnuts, blackberries and (loads of) vines.
Miguel and behind him, one of the many chestnut trees, in flower.
Unblocking the pipe the takes the water beneath the track to the terraces below. The neighbour with the wellie boots has the right idea - it's can be a wet and muddy job.
Miguel opens the top sluice gate at 1 pm.
First priority is to fill the tank for domestic water. This one serves our cortijo. Drinking water we bring from a spring on our way up.
The water flowed abundantly. Once the domestic tank is full, next, the water flows down to fill . . 
. . . the tank for our irrigation water. The water goes into a pipe, under the terrace and into the tank.
Miguel and Rodney examining one of the almond trees. The cold snap at blossom time means that there are very few nuts up here this year. To their right, a walnut tree with lots of walnuts.
Down on one of the terraces clearing out the channels so that water runs to the trees-apples, pears, cherries, almonds, walnuts, blackberries and (loads of) vines.
Miguel and behind him, one of the many chestnut trees, in flower.
Unblocking the pipe the takes the water beneath the track to the terraces below. The neighbour with the wellie boots has the right idea - it's can be a wet and muddy job.
