Take a moment

The road meanders ahead like a long grey ribbon breaking up the golden countryside that stretches as far as the eye can see. In the distance a hill looms watching and waiting but never seeming to get any nearer.

I could be in the Wild West of America with the sense of timelessness, space and arid landscape I am experiencing. It’s difficult to believe that only a few hours away there are the crowded beaches of the Spanish costas. Not a soul can be seen in the shimmering haze of the afternoon heat.

After what feels like hours I reach the bottom of the hill and start to wind up the narrow snaking road. With each hairpin bend the view gets more spectacular and the valley seems smaller and more distant. A building shrugged into the hillside must be the destination. All that is visible is a whitewashed stony wall that looks like a long cattle shed.

A feeling of unease creeps into my stomach as I wonder what sort of place I am coming to. The light is failing, I am in the middle of nowhere and haven’t seen a soul for hours.

As I round the final corner I am unprepared for the sight before me. A beautiful church with two ancient and majestic olive trees guarding its door is attached to a long rambling building that was one a monastery or religious refuge. This has now been transformed into a hotel and the modern doors and windows are incongruous next to the old bell tower and rough stone walls.

The views are magnificent and in the setting sun the landscape has a golden glow highlighting a vista that is unlike any I have seen before. Hills have been carved into interesting shapes by millennia of wind and plateaus of golden sand lie between the wooded foothills.

People are standing in silence watching the scenery and suddenly I am part of a modern day pilgrimage. One of a group of people who are staying at this hotel and watching the countryside in awe.

The silence is broken by the peal of bells from the bell tower, the door of the church opens and people file silently in for mass. I am alone once more feeling at peace and blessed to be in such a magical setting.