Meditating in Spain...literally

If you want to combine a trip to Spain (or are already in Spain) with a meditation retreat, you can go to a very special place in the province of Granada in the Andalucian region of southern Spain. Here you will find O.Sel.Ling.

O.Sel.Ling, meaning place of the clear light, is a Buddhist monastery in Bubión, in the Alpujarra mountains. The O.Sel.Ling monastery was founded  twenty-five years ago in honor of a local child who was considered the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe. You can visit the monastery if you are in the area or attend one of their educational programs. If you want to go for a private retreat, you can stay in one of their mountain huts - the minimum stay is one week and costs 34 euros/night. You can get their by car or bus, or hike. It is a 3 ½ hour walk/hike from Orgiva – 16km (10 miles). See the website for specific directions. O.Sel.Ling monastery, Apdo. 99, 18400 Órgiva, (Granada); Tel: 958 34 31 34; Email: oficina@oseling.com; Web: www.oseling.com. Visiting hours are every day from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. Office hours are 9:00 am to 1:00 pm/3:00 to 6:00pm.

If you can't get to Orgiva but still want to include meditation in your Spain travels you can explore the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, a worldwide network of centers established by Buddhist Lama Thubten Yeshe to preserve and make available Tibetan Buddhist teachings of compassion and wisdom. You can find all the centers in Spain at their web site.

Namaste.

Green and Delicious in Granada Spain

Granada seems to be always full of good surprises. This trip I found an incredible morisca bakery with other-worldly pistachio mini pastry rolls chock full of ground pistachios. They also sell dried teas, organic olive oil, and local honey. Natura Morisca Bakery -- pastelería árabe, Calderería Vieja, 12; Tel: 657 528 883; between Plaza Nueva and the heart of the Albayzin neighborhood.
 

A few storefronts down is the delightful Teteria Al-Andalus where you can choose from a huge selection of teas- both caffeinated and herbal. My party voted the Chai the best we have tasted. You can also partake of the tobacoo hookahs (we did not), and choose from morisca pastries and sweet crepes. Teteria Al-Andalus is small but has great ambience with indoor and outdoor seating, and cheery proprietor Khalil is most accommodating and friendly. Teteria Al-Andalus,  c/ Caldederia Vieja 4, Granada (2nd location Carrera del Darro 49).

Very sadly my favorite restaurant for dinner from my last visit, Canela y Clavo, is no longer there – such a shame as it had delicious fresh food.

However my other favorite restaurant, Hicuri, on Calle Santa Escolastica in the Realjo neighborhood, is alive and well. They serve natural foods with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options from morning until night so no worries about arriving at siesta time. I had lunch two days in a row there - good prices and good food - yum!