A few days ago we spent the day in nature, in the mountains. To reach it, we have to drive about half an hour inland from the coast. It's really not far away, and whenever I can and feel that call from pure nature I opt to go there. It doesn't matter I already know the terrain very well, it is just that beautiful area where I charge my mood and energy batteries that will never become boring.
The beautiful landscape from the edge of the village Banimantell.
The landscape from the edge of the village Banimantell, looking towards the mountain Aitana.
I do like to live by the sea, of course, and my work, friends and everything we are used to now are here, but sometimes I ask myself if would be good to live in a small inland Spanish village. Exactly here, in the valley, between the mountains. Would I get used to it?
The view towards the other village, Baniardá.
During the summer it's a blessing. Although the temperatures also go high, the woods give a different fresh feeling. And the evenings and early mornings are colder than by the coast. The winter is tricky though, as heating is needed here. And there are years that the peaks of the mountains receive snow, and that is something that I very much like to see and feel.
Also, I like hiking here, so that is actually how it happened that I got up to this village. We were based down, by the lake and I climbed the route that led to Benimantell. The first facility I found at the entrance to it, from the path that came from the forest was a cemetery.
{A small interlude about the name of the village. In this area, there are so many villages whose names start with the prefix Beni. It was so confusing to get used to it, but in the end, we found out why does it happen. That word, beni, has Arabic origins and means son of, or descendants of the father of the person that founded the tribe or the settlement. So, that is why we have those towns and villages around like Benidorm, Benimantell, Beniardá, Benicassim, Benilloba etc...}
A few minutes later the streets also appeared and the school. It is a small one, as the village is also small. I guess there are not many children around.
The same school, captured from another street.
Here you can already see that the streets are narrow. This is a common thing in the majority of small Spanish villages. The tall, stone houses give shadow one to another and there is no need to build here wide streets as in bigger cities.
Isn't it just charming to walk between those houses, where barely one car (a smaller one) can pass?
So, that charm is what attracts me to walk around and get lost. (Take with a reserve the get lost part, as it would be difficult... there are just a few streets in total here, so in a few minutes you can already find the main street or a familiar little square or street.) I am very sure that the same feeling attracts tourists too or those who want to spend here a few days.
Just look at all those plants and flowers that are decorating the entrances of the houses and the street right in front of the houses. It is so nice to see, at least for me. It gives a feeling that the owners of the houses care about the village and how the streets will look.
Plants and flowers, yes. And not just that. On many of the balconies, artworks were hanging. Seems that is a new trend now, as it is not the first time I see this. Last Saturday, when I visited the old part of the town of Calpe, I saw a similar thing, but not as much as here in Benimantell.
So many different paintings, all making this strolling experience more colourful. If I was not enough happy already hahaha, but surely these details made me even more amazed by the whole day and this village. Let's see a few of those paintings. (all the descriptions will be just my perception of the paintings, maybe not the real intention of the artist! :D )
A naked woman in a garden:
City life, looking from some colourful glasses:
Life in the countryside:
A view from your dreamhouse's window:
Happiness while dancing:
Loving the whole world:
Winter vacations in Spain? Forget the snowman 😂
Summer would be nice by the sea:
I do have more photos with the painting but then this post will be totally congested by art. And this is not the only thing that makes the villages cosy and charming.
What else could make you come here? Maybe a super tiny main square with a church?
The narrow but clean streets and nicely decorated houses?
The town hall, which is not much bigger than any other house in the surrounding streets is also nice.
The main street of Benimantell. You can find here one bakery, two bars and two restaurants and a small healthcare centre.
The village itself is tiny, as you can see. I walked through the majority of the streets, and all seemed this cool. The main street is a bit different as it is wider and offers some basic services. But is it enough for someone to decide to live here, to buy a property? The houses are a bit cheaper than in the bigger centres and those that are close to the sea, but I am sure that they can give some benefits. If not to live, then to have a house to rent out to visitors. I saw several houses that were available to rent out for days or a week. Why not chose this place as a vacation destination? Just ring this bell and you already found the accommodation for yourself - if the rooms are available :))
In any case, having a place to come for a few days to unwind the mind or rent it out for the rest of the year is a cool thing. With these thoughts, I finished my walk through Benimantell, but I am more than sure that it was not the last time I visited it. In one or another way, it will count on my presence again.
