© 2011 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
I have been going back and forth to the mountains in Castellon for exactly ten years now, trying to get a dream realised – a finca restored, and a simpler more fulfilling way of living started off-grid, up a mountain, and … Continue reading
© 2019 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Here is a surreal story about a friend of mine who bought a casa in the village of Vilafames. She told it to me over a bottle of Rueda white and those scrummy lamb chops you get in Almendros these … Continue reading
© 2018 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Major update! Please read at end of English text! La Estrella is situated 24 kilometres from Mosqueruela and the same again from Vilafranca. From the first town the track is of dirt and unbelievably bumpy, largely impossible without a 4 … Continue reading
© 2018 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
When I bought the masia 12 years ago, I was invited to a Sunday lunch “à la espagnol”. Sunday lunch might be roast beef and Yorkshire pudding in the UK but it is decidedly paella in the Communidad … Continue reading
© 2017 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Just after World War II Spain started to attract increasing numbers of tourists, drawn by its amazing coastline and gorgeous climate. With the exception of El Cabanyal and a few other enclaves, poco a poco the coast was cemented over, … Continue reading
© 2017 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
It was November 15th and we neighbours had just taken the olives to be pressed. The harvest was less than half than the year before due to the lack of rain, hardly any in 18 months, and inevitable the odd … Continue reading
© 2016 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Speaking of THE election, it may come as a surprise to some of you but I am actually technically a citizen of the United States of America. Though of Dutch parentage I happened to be born there. However, I … Continue reading
© 2016 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2016 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without … Continue reading
© 2016 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
It is now exactly a staggering 10 years since I first set foot in beautiful El Maestrat. In some ways it seems that I have been coming here all my life, and in others it seems that I have blinked … Continue reading
© 2016 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
For the last two years I have been observing the slow increase of the white mountain snail on my land. This is an endangered and protected species yet many a restaurant will pay a handsome price for them. I have … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015-2016 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
I can believe, but do not want to believe how quickly time goes by. It is already the beginning of March and the almond blossoms are bursting forth all over the Maestrat, some more advanced than others depending on the … Continue reading
© 2015 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014-2015 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014-2016 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Anna has many talents Traducción español por Anna Belles Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014 stephanie de lengAll Rights ReservedOriginal content here is published under these license terms: X License Type:Read OnlyLicense Summary:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
The castell a fifteen minutes walk from Atzeneta was showing a small exhibition that took me by surprise. I do not want to do injustice to the castell for it has a fond place in the hearts of many, but … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
EL Maestrat where I live is dotted with old fincas, many uninhabited and in need of serious repair. As remote as this region is, I often thank my lucky stars that as yet there have been no inroads of urbanizations … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
A few days ago I drove down to Benicassim to photograph Joan Simo, a local artist with a colourful reputation. His gallery and home is on the main street of the old town centre, a place I had never … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
It was a lovely Spring day and just like summer. Three of us drove down to the coast of Oropesa to take a sick dog to the vet. Afterwards we had a light lunch overlooking the bay and treated the dog … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
I have already written about eating out in El Maestrat, but that was a few years ago and in the time since I have learnt a lot, principally that my early opinions were slightly rubbish. Now I can quite honestly … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Its that time of year again when the mountains become festooned with striking swathes of pink almond blossoms in various hues. The darker more vibrant pinks are of the marcona variety, the most prized of almonds locally, but also the … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
Perhaps strangely, now that my most used airline Ryanair has relaxed its rules and actually acknowledges that a woman is nothing without her handbag, I have finally downsized my camera equipment.Hang on, what am I talking about? What I mean … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
In about 10 days I will return to Spain. How I have missed my beloved masia! I think I have said this before, how many times? Here in Liverpool I am trying to organise the too many photos I have … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
It is the first day of the New Year and I am reminded of Roald Dahl who wrote that January should not exist and why could there not be two Julys or Augusts instead? As usual at this time of … Continue reading
© 2014 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
What better introduction to El Maestrat than Penyagolosa, its emblem and focal point? It commands the eye where ever you are and at 1,813 meters above sea level, it is the second highest mountain peak in the Valencian community – … Continue reading
© 2013 stephanie de leng. All rights reserved.
In the Valencian communidad, every woman worth her salt, and yes modern man too, measure their culinary skills by their ability in producing the perfect paella. I have been invited to many a home, and it always has been delicious … Continue reading