Friday, November 11, 2016

Orchidarium Estepona

Wednesday afternoon, to escape our depression after the US election results (no need to mention them again here), we took a drive to the city of Estepona. It didn't completely work to remove our pessimism, but it was a picturesque drive about 60 km (37 miles) west of here.

The reason we chose Estepona was because we had read about an orchid house (Orchidarium Estepona, also known as Orquidario de Estepona) that looked spectacular. It was. Our only disappointment: It was the wrong time to visit if we wanted to see much in bloom. I guess it's just not the season. Still, the architecture outside and in, and the collections and environment, and the outside gardens made the trip worthwhile. (We're thinking of growing some orchids on our newly warm and protected terrace.)


Our new car's still un-named "navigation voice" could soon be known as "Ditzy Dora." Once we exited the autovia (freeway) at Estepona, she told us to take the second exit at the roundabout. We did so and it was even clear on the map that we had done so correctly.

However, "Dora" immediately said "route recalculation." Thanks to "Dora," we explored a very large area of the city (maybe we should call her "Dora the Explorer") until I pulled out my smart phone and entered the address. We ended up right back at the original roundabout, took the same second exit and reached the orchid house 2 minutes later.

The trip there took us about an hour. Coming home, 42 minutes.

Today's photos are exterior shots of Orchidarium Estepona. More about our day is still to come.

(Click to be wowed.)








24 comments:

  1. Great building. I bought my parents a GPS unit for Christmas one year, my father simply called the voice "that crazy bitch," it didn't get used much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Travel:
      I don't use that phrase, but I got pretty vulgar as we confronted wrong-way one-way streets in Estepona. At the end, she even said, "Turn right" and it was one way the other way.

      Delete
  2. The fantastic place to visit

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    1. Gosia:
      We can't wait to go back to see the orchids in bloom and to also explore the city.

      Delete
  3. Great looking place, Mitchell! It's exciting, this whole new car thing for you two... adventures! (And misadventures LOL).

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    Replies
    1. Judy:
      Fortunately, we love getting lost. Some of our greatest discoveries and adventures have come from wrong turns.

      Delete
  4. The architecture of the orchid house is truly a magnificent sight to behold and I daresay that you will be visiting it again when the orchids are in bloom.

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    1. Heron:
      We'll be smarter next time and do some research on blooming seasons and cycles. But it was well worth the first visit.

      Delete
  5. Orchids are gorgeous--Carlos has a couple in our sunroom--but the architecture whore in me loveslovesloves that building!

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    1. Bob:
      We can buy them inexpensively here (although the ones that do best on our terrace will probably be the rare ones that are impossible to find and then cost a fortune once found). We had lots of orchids in our kitchen in Santa Barbara. I love them! If Carlos has any recommendations or advice, I would welcome it!

      Delete
  6. I love orchids but have never tried growing them. I understand that they die fast if overwatered. I like easy plants that are tough to kill

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    1. Cheapchick:
      We've had them in the past and have found them tough to kill. However, we also found it really tough to get them bloom after the first time.

      Delete
  7. Your post reminded me that there's an "orchid farm" about 10 miles from here. It was closed (nothing blooming) when we were there in March... but like you, we plan to return. But you did see some very interesting architecture!

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    1. Sharon:
      I just saw online that we had just missed the Orchidarium's orchid fair, November 4, 5, & 6!!!

      Delete
  8. Something beautiful to look forward to.

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    1. Wilma:
      And next time I'll ensure that the place is in bloom!

      Delete
  9. LOVE the neon round the building! I don't own a GPS; paper maps work better for me.

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    1. anne marie:
      I LOVE maps and DO sometimes miss them when I'm in the car. GPS is brilliant but not always all it's cracked up to be.

      Delete
  10. I've tried to grow orchids but they don't seem to like me.

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    1. Stephen:
      We had lots of orchids in Santa Barbara. The leaves were lush and green. The plants thrived for years. On one occasion we EVEN saw one of our plants flower a second time. Maybe we'll do better this time!

      Delete
  11. Looks very futuristic, in my case if I want to see orchids I go to the grocery store in the flower counter. LOL!

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    1. Laurent:
      I always loved seeing them there, too Our grocery stores limit themselves to groceries, so now we're 'forced' to go to the orchidarium.

      Delete
  12. Very 'sci-fi' looking!
    This is going to be a successful venture.....I feel it!
    I wouldn't know how to use GPS if I tried. We usually just 'wing it' or stop and ask for directions.......works most of the time but sometimes is a tad frustrating.

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    1. Jim:
      One of my problems with our current GPS is that I don't know how to stop it mid-stream. So, she keeps talking even when we don't want/need her anymore. You should hear what I say to her (well, maybe you shouldn't).

      Delete

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