Name for the cave will be……..drum roll!

You may think that naming a cave is an easy thing to do. Well, it’s not!

The reasons for naming our cave were discussed in blog 4 but in a nutshell…..because there are no streets, roads or avenues in the campo (countryside) especially in our area which is aptly named ‘Cuevas del Luna’ (Caves of the Moon). This particular area is vast and has many cave dwellings dotted around. Tracks meander around the plateau, some are fairly flat with a good surface but others are very weather beaten and only accessible with a 4 x 4.  We have to cross over a stream/river to get to our cave (no bridge, just wet wheels).

So, what do you need to consider when naming your cave? In my opinion there are three main considerations:-

1. Is the name unique in the area of your cave?  If there are other dwellings with the same name it will make postal deliveries, and the like, very confusing and will certainly cause you unnecessary difficulty.
2. The name may sound great in English but does it sound as good in Spanish? Do the words roll off the tongue and are they easy to pronounce?
3. Does the name suit the cave or the area? Some may think this unnecessary, but I am not one of these people. I believe the name should be a reflection of the area or there should be some connection to you.

I’ve received many great suggestions from friends and family for a name of our cave and each one has had the three points applied to them. One by one, each name failed on at least one of the points except for two names which I loved.

The first name which passed this three point test above was ‘Cueva Blanca’ (White Cave). After trawling the web I could not find any other cave within the area with the same name, the name flows in the English and Spanish language, the cave will be primary white in colour and, it appears to suit the area. Cueva Blanca was looking promising however, another area of Benamaurel/ Baza is Cuevas de la Blanca which may cause confusion in the future.  This is where my wonderful granddaughter Megan came into the discussions and threw a few of her own ideas into the ring.

One of Megan’s ideas stopped me dead. A name that, after a little research, was not found in the area, one that did roll off the tongue in both languages and a name that was one of my loves, both in food and aromas.  Cueva de Limon (Lemon Cave)

I love my lemon tree within my garden in Cyprus. Each fruit is free of pips, juicy and huge. Lemon curd, lemon juice, lemon slices, lemon drizzle cake, lemon for salads, lemon to remove lime scale from kettles – the list goes on and on.  Lemons have so many uses I am still learning of more each year.

When we eventually refurb the cave, and begin life in Spain, I can picture the lemon trees growing within the garden area and the smooth, white and curved interior walls of the cave accented with lemon colours and perhaps kitchen cupboard doors looking refreshing in a pale lemon colour.

The name is just perfect and one that I love so…..’Cueva de Limon’ it is!