NOW that the trees and tinsel are swept away, and the festive spirit just a memory, it’s easy to fall into “Winter Blues”. Brassic January is likely to be followed by freezing February, making us hide away inside, beside the stove.
Fuelled by cold days and dark nights, and the general lack of heating in traditional Spanish homes, it’s easy to feel slightly depressed.
Furthermore, over-indulgence that happened during the festive season can cause low energy levels and feeling unfit. Spare a thought for the people of Cáñar, who had ‘La Musica de las Mozuelas’ on 28 December, resulting in an additional late night (or two) that most other people avoided directly before New Year’s Eve!
Additionally, for working people and parents of school children, freezing mornings can make 7-8am starts a real drag. If you’re unemployed or retired, winter boredom might have descended and taken hold.
South of Granada has some suggestions for beating the January and February blues – and feeling energised instead of sad.
1. Get enough fresh air – plan outdoor activities
It can be easy to lurk under your duvet or near the wood-burning stove on cold winter days. This is especially true during windy or wet weather, when it’s uninviting to emerge from your home. However, on a bright day, it can be warmer outside than inside. After all, the sun barely penetrates rooms with small, traditional windows designed to keep out sunrays during high summer. The more you sit still in a cold room, the more lethargic you will feel. Expending energy outside will make you feel upbeat, productive, and purposeful. Go for a hike, walk your dog for a few kilometers, or – at very least – sit on a south-facing bar terrace. Even going out in your car, which has heating, is a top plan.
2. Visit almond blossom sites
Who cannot be cheered by the gorgeous sight of beautiful almond blossoms? Starting in early January, these pink treats bloom first on south-facing slopes that receive the most sunlight. They then emerge in locations with less direct sun. The Sierra de Contraviesa is one of the best locations in the Granada region to see vistas full of pretty, pink blossoms. When you’ve viewed the blooms, why not stop off at the Bodego Cuatro Vientos near Murtas or Haz a Lina above Polopos (check opening hours first) for a ‘refresco’?
3. Consider the ‘costa’
In this suggestion, we don’t mean ‘vino costa’ – although that’s a well-known winter warmer! The Costa Tropical, lying at sea level, is generally warmer than the mountains during winter (a no-brainer). While you freeze in your puffa jacket at 1,000m in your village, there are people sunbathing on the beach. And enjoying outdoor pools! Head down to Salobreña or Almuñécar and take advantage of some fantastic low-season hotel deals. South of Granada highly recommends the Helios Costa Tropical, which provides heated rooms, heated swimming pools (yes, more than one!), and half board with unlimited buffet food. it is also spotlessly clean, which is ideal if you’re sick of cleaning the ash from around your wood-burning stove.
4. Indulge in retail therapy
With the January sales still on, now is the time to head to the ‘centro commercial’. Whether it’s the Centro Nevada Shopping at Granada, Al Campo in Motril, or IKEA at Granada or Coín, a day of retail therapy (in a heated environment!) is likely to raise your mood. Don’t forget to support your local stores, such as the Armario de Freya in Órgiva. Remember to take your credit card!
5. Start spring cleaning and some home projects
Not only does housework warm you up (literally) but you will feel SO much better when you’ve removed that winter clutter, cleaned under cupboards, and removed whatever is lurking under the sofa (it’s amazing what you’ll find!). Maybe get creative with spray paint and “shabby chic” some old furniture. If you have a sewing machine, this is the time to make new curtains to exclude draughts and spruce up your home. You can sit under the sunniest window or put a handy ceramic heater near the sewing table.
6. Join the gym
It might be an “old chestnut” but joining the gym in winter can help you quit the weight you gained at Christmas and avoid sitting in the bar wasting money. Let’s face it, a gym membership is cheaper than the local hostelry, when spread over a month. It is also way better for your liver!
7. Go dancing
If the gym isn’t your thing, why not go dancing to raise the spirits? Whether it is an outdoor party (ideally with a fire pit or marquee), an ecstatic dance session, or a trip to a nightclub – such as Industrial Copera or Sala el Tren in Granada – dancing will make you feel warm and happy. Just don’t forget to dress in layers to cater for the temperatures you’ll encounter inside and outside your chosen venue.
8. Attend a fire festival
San Anton, a patron saint celebrated on t17 January, involves many towns and villages mounting their very own fire festival. Órgiva, Bubión, Mecina Alfahar (Válor), Soportújar, Torvizcón, Pitres, Pórtugos and Juviles all celebrate this event. Juviles does it a week later on Saturday 25 January. It might be advisable not to create your own “fire party” after these dates!
9. Invest in an electric blanket or pad
An electric blanket or pad in winter can make the difference between climbing into uninviting, cold and humid bed or a heated paradise. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), heating pads and electric blankets are generally safe. Of the 500 fires they cause annually, most involve products over 10 years old. Admittedly, it can be hard to get out of the bed when it is so warm and inviting..
10. Sample the warming local ‘bebidas’ (but don’t overdo it)
South of Granada does not want to encourage alchoholism – especially when some people are doing “dry January” . That said, a bedtime glass of Rioja, ‘vino costa’, or just ONE shot of something like a ‘sol y sombra’ (brandy with anís) will diminish the cold as you make your way straight to bed afterwards!
