In Madrid on the last Sunday of October
each year since 1994 nomadic 'Trashumancia' shepherds have exercised
their right of passage for their flocks through the streets of the
city. With the 'Trashumancia Fiesta' they are following and
maintaining sections of the 78,000 miles of ancient livestock
migration paths known as the 'Camino Real' that exist throughout
Spain. Ancient migration, droving and grazing rights have existed
since the 13th century.
I mention this tradition because it was
on Sunday 20th January 2013 that we experienced an example
of it – directly outside of our house, here in Orihuela Costa.
Close to lunchtime we noticed a noise
that at first we thought was a baby crying. Gradually the noise level
built to a crescendo, a cacophony of wailing. On opening our front
door to investigate we were greeted by the sight of a flock of sheep
and goats that probably totalled in excess of 750 animals on the land
on the opposite side of our road. There used to be orange groves
there before the developers moved in. Because of the crash in the
property market the site has been abandoned and nature is reclaiming
it.
This video is a précis recording of
the visit: some of the animals crossed the road to attempt to devour
the ivy growing on our front garden wall.
If you would like to know more about trashumancia here is a link to another video to watch: Pastores y Trashumancia
Thoroughly enjoyed video, not many people get their ivy pruned for free!. Reminds me of days sitting on balcony during the evenings and watching them all trek home, (before the development other side of motorway) all you could see was clouds of dust and hear the terrific noise. HAPPY DAYS.
ReplyDeleteA few more than the flocks up here ...hope there are still a few flowers in some gardens.
ReplyDelete[Ros lives on the edge of the 'Parque Natural Calares del Mundo y de la Sima' which is at the northern end of the Sierras de Cazoria mountains in Andalucia, Spain]