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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Padules (Alpujarra Almeriense)



The stone paved streets of Padules are typical of the Alpujarras — the façades of the houses whitewashed and little pots of plants sit on windowsills behind wrought-iron railings.

 Robert Bovington
www.tablondeanuncios.com










more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"

Friday, November 14, 2014

Rodaquilar - old gold mine

Rodaquilar - old gold mine © Robert Bovington

This part of Spain has always had an abundance of raw materials and this area of the Cabo de Gata has been extensively mined for 2000 years. The Romans extracted silver here. Later 'lead fever' took hold in the middle of the 19th century. However, the golden years for Rodalquilar followed the discovery of gold around 1880.

www.tablondeanuncios.com

more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"

Friday, August 22, 2014

Guernica

 In April 1937, at the behest of General Francisco Franco, the German Luftwaffe bombed the Basque city of Guernica with great devastation and loss of life.

So incensed was the artist Pablo Picasso at this episode in the Spanish Civil War, that he painted his famous mural 'Guernica' in protest. The picture hangs in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid.



Guernica is a city in the province of Biscay. It is regarded as the spiritual centre of the traditional Basque Country, which is probably the reason for its 'not-so-special' treatment during the Civil War - Biscay had supported the Republican side against the army of Francisco Franco. The actual capital of the province is Bilbao.


Sunday, July 27, 2014

Los amantes de Teruel

by Robert Bovington



Once upon a time, in the city of Teruel, there lived a young man and a young woman who were very much in love. Diego de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura had been childhood playmates and both had belonged to wealthy and important families. Around the time that Diego and Isabel were eligible to marry, Diego's family had fallen on hard times. Isabel's father, the richest man in all Teruel, prohibited the union until the youth had found fame and fortune - a time limit of five years was agreed upon. Five years passed and not a word was heard of Diego de Marcilla. On the fifth anniversary of the agreement, Isabel's father gave her hand in marriage to an older man and, the very next day, the wedding was celebrated. Diego burst onto the scene.
He triumphantly announced his return only to discover that he was too late - there had been a misunderstanding - according to Isabel's father, the five years included the day of the agreement and not the day of departure! Being of a virtuous nature, Isabel would not betray her husband of a few hours and consequently refused the desperate Diego a last kiss. This was too much for the poor lad - for five long years he had yearned for the day that he would marry his childhood sweetheart. Now his dreams were shattered. Heartbroken, Diego collapsed and died on the spot. At his funeral, Isabel was grief stricken and, bending over to kiss Diego's lips, she dropped dead, falling over the body of the man she had loved.
 
This story is known as "los amantes de Teruel" - the Lovers of Teruel and it has inspired a number of writers. It also inspired the citizens of Teruel who demanded that the two be buried side by side so that "what was denied them in life could be given to them in death". Later, the mummified bodies of Diego and Isabel were exhumed and placed in the tombs where they now rest - in the cloisters of the Gothic church of San Pedro. They can be seen today, along with the exquisitely sculptured lids featuring the couple, both with an arm outstretched and their hands almost touching but not quite. Religious piety precluded them touching since Isabel was married to another! They are the work of sculptor Juan de Ávalos.

 
Mausoleo de los amantes en la iglesia de San Pedro de Teruel.
 
Escalinata - "los amantes de Teruel"



www.tablondeanuncios.com

more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Seville - Romantic Capital of Spain?

by Robert Bovington

Sevilla surely represents the idealised picture of Spain. It is a city of spectacular fiestas like Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril; it is a city of magnificent buildings and tranquil courtyards where the heady scent of orange blossom and jasmine fills the air; it is the home of tapas and flamenco.  No wonder so many cultural works have been located in this historic city - the operas Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, La Forza del Destino, Don Giovanni and Fidelio were all set in Sevilla. It is, perhaps, the romantic capital of Spain. Certainly it was a capital of Muslim Spain and, in the 16th century, it was the richest and most populous city in the country.

Sevilla has experienced a rich history. Iberians, Romans, Vandals and Visigoths had inhabited the town before it fell to the Moors In 711. Ixvillia, as it was called, became a leading cultural and commercial centre under the Muslims but following the recapture of the city in 1248 by the Christian army of Ferdinand III, the fortunes of Sevilla dwindled. However, the Spanish discovery of the Americas brought new prosperity to the city and Sevilla became the centre of the exploration and exploitation of the Americas. The city has experienced varying fortunes since but today it is a thriving city. It is the capital of Andalucía and the fourth largest city in Spain.

With all that history it is no wonder that there is such a wealth of treasures to delight sevillanos and visitors - but where to start? Well, if it were me, I'd start with a tapa, perhaps washed down with a glass of cool fino. It is generally recognised that Sevilla is the home of tapas and what better way is there to start an expedition than with a delicious snack washed down with a fine sherry. The Santa Cruz district is a good place to wine and dine as it has a number of excellent tapas bars and is close to the Giralda and the Cathedral.

La Giralda

La Giralda is one of Sevilla's most famous landmarks. It is part of the cathedral complex but it is a beautiful monument in its own right. It was originally built as a minaret in the 12th century but the Christians turned it into a bell tower. It stands in the Patio de los Naranjos - so named because of the orange trees situated in this delightful courtyard. 

Now here is a piece of useless information - the three largest churches in the Christian World are named after Peter, Paul and Mary! However, I guess that we are talking about biblical characters rather than a pop group! Sevilla's cathedral is actually called the Cathedral of Santa María. It is immense! However, there is some confusion as to whether it is the largest Christian church. Some guidebooks claim that Sevilla Cathedral is the third largest behind St. Peter's Rome and St. Paul's in London. Others claim that it is the largest in area. Well, who cares - it is pretty big! 

Cathedral


It was built over the period 1401-1519 following the Christian Reconquest on the former site of the city's mosque - the Giralda tower being all that is left of the former Moorish temple - well apart from the Patio de los Naranjos - and the Almohad archway and door of the Puerta del Perdón - and a few pillars - well most of it was newly built! The main portion of the Cathedral of Santa María was built in North European style, Gothic in design with high vaulted ceilings and flying buttresses but there are Plateresque, Baroque and Renaissance elements. There is much to see in this vast place of worship including the tomb of Christopher Columbus, the Capilla Mayor chapel and works of art including paintings by Goya, Murillo and Zurbarán. The main altarpiece is absolutely fantastic with every centimetre lavishly decorated.

Another 'must see' site - or should that be sight - is the Alcázar Palace. It is probably the finest surviving monument from the Moorish period in Sevilla. However, the original Arab palace was completely rebuilt in 1364. It is a palace fit for a Moorish king but it was not designed for Muslims. It was built for Pedro the Cruel who had to be quite wicked to have a nickname like that in those times. And cruel he was - he was a rapist and mass murderer who killed his own brother. On one occasion, he murdered a visiting Arab dignitary in order to steal a large ruby, which he later gave to Edward the Black Prince. It is now part of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London! Pedro might have had a penchant for murdering Arab kings but he did like Moorish architecture - so much so that he employed the best Moorish craftsmen to create an architectural jewel. The Alcázar is an extensive complex of palatial rooms, courtyards and gardens.

There is so much to see in Sevilla that it would take a month of Sundays to do it justice - on the map obtainable from the Tourist Office there are thirty-four religious buildings listed! There are countless museums, beautiful palaces, attractive plazas and delightful gardens. In the old Jewish quarter there are the narrow, twisting streets of whitewashed buildings with their wrought iron balconies and flower-filled patios, which evoke an atmosphere that is so quintessentially Andalucian. So, if you are only planning to stay for a week you will only scratch the surface of the attractions available in this great city. Apart from the aforementioned Cathedral, Giralda and Alcázar Palace, other key sights are the Museum of Fine Arts, the Indian Archives, the Tobacco Factory, the Town Hall, the Archaeological Museum, The Plaza de España, the Casa de Pilatos, the Torre del Oro, the Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas and, for children young and old, Isla Mágica.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes) is one of the best art galleries in Spain. It includes works by many great Spanish artists including El Greco, Zurbarán, Valdés and Murillo. Murillo and Zurbarán are particularly well represented with whole rooms dedicated to their paintings.

The Indian Archives are housed in the Casa Lonja, a sort of repository-cum-museum adjacent to the cathedral. It is a wonderful collection of documents relating to history and administration of Spain's empire in the Americas. There are several million items including books, plans and manuscripts.

Fábrica Real de Tabacas

The Fábrica Real de Tabacos was the original tobacco factory - the one immortalised in the opera Carmen. Nowadays, it is part of Sevilla University. When the original factory was built in 1725 it was the second-largest building in Spain after El Escorial! It is an imposing Baroque and Rococo building.

The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) was built in the 16th century. The interior is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles whilst the outside has the original Plateresque façade as well as the 19th century Neoclassical façade facing the Plaza Nueva.

 The Museo Aequeológico is housed in a Renaissance style pavilion. It includes relics from the Roman city of Itálica.

Plaza de España


The Plaza de España is a magnificent square - sorry - a magnificent semicircular piazza that was designed as the centrepiece for the Latin American Exposition of 1929. Two hundred metres wide, it is almost entirely covered with glazed tiles that depict historical scenes and pictures of other Spanish related subjects.

The Casa de Pilatos is a sumptuous mansion that was constructed in the 15th century. Pontius Pilate's home in Jerusalem was allegedly the inspiration for this beautiful building which is a mix of Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance styles. 

Torre del Oro
The Torre del Oro is a 13th-century Moorish watch tower. There are varying opinions as to how it this dodecahedral tower got its name. Some say that the tower was originally adorned with gold leaf; others say that it was used as a warehouse to store gold from the New World expeditions. Perhaps a simpler explanation is that it is golden in colour! Anyway, it was originally built as part of the city's defensive system. It stands on the bank of the Guadalquivir.

The 14th-century Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas is one of many monasteries in the city. What makes it so special is that it houses the museum of Contemporary Art. The monastery has experienced varying fortunes - it enjoyed visits by royalty and important people like Columbus who planned his second voyage to the New World here. Later, it became a military barracks and then a ceramics factory. It is situated on the island of La Cartuja.

Isla Mágica is a theme park with a difference. It does have the usual rides that children find so exhilarating but it also celebrates Andalucian history, particularly the voyages of Columbus. It, too, is on the island of La Cartuja - on the former site of the Expo 92 site.
For those who wish for a bit of relief from all the sightseeing, there are a number of green spaces in the city. There are many parks and gardens, but María Luisa Park is popular with the locals.

I have covered only a fraction of the sights on offer in Sevilla. There are many things to do apart from sightseeing; there are the tapas bars and many fine restaurants; there are the bullfights and flamenco; there is the great River Guadalquivir with its riverside walks and boat trips; there are theatres and, of course, the fiestas - especially the internationally renowned festivals of Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril. These are spectacles in themselves. The Easter Holy Week festival of Semana Santa is renowned for its solemn but beautiful processions whilst the April Fair is both colourful and lively with dancing, drinking and partying but then there is much to celebrate in this glorious city!


Robert Bovington



www.tablondeanuncios.com

more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Cádiz

© Robert Bovington
Cádiz - the city


The city of Cádiz lays claim to being the oldest city in Europe - the Phoenicians allegedly founded the place in 1104BC.

Most of modern day Cádiz is not that old, however, but the architecture is nevertheless splendid and mostly dates from the 18th century. Only the ruin of the Roman theatre provides evidence that the city is much older than it looks.

Falla - portrait in Cádiz Cathedral
There are many baroque buildings including the Hospital de Mujeres whose main attraction is a painting by El Greco - the 'Extasis de San Francisco'. Other places of note are the Museo de Cádiz and the Gran Teatro Falla, named in honour of composer Manuel de Falla, who is buried in the crypt of the Cathedral. There are lovely places to walk in the city like the palm-fringed Plaza San Juan de Dios and the bustling Plaz de las Flores.

The jewel of the city, though, is the cathedral - the Catedral Nueva looks particularly splendid from the waterfront. Its dome glitters like gold in the sunshine but in reality is made of yellow glazed tiles.

 
Cádiz Cathedral - view from seafront


Cádiz - the province 

Cádiz is also the capital of the province of the same name - one of the eight provinces of Andalucía. Other important cities are Jerez, famous for its sherry and Algeciras. Tarifa is an interesting place and is the most southerly town in Europe. It is also a tad windy - handy for those that go there for the windsurfing!

Tarifa
 
But most of all the province of Cádiz has tremendous scenery and dramatic landscapes. It is a nature lover's delight with many protected areas including the Sierra de Grazalema and the Parque Natural de Doñana.


Sierra de Grazalema






www.tablondeanuncios.com









more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Ugíjar

Ugíjar is a village in the Alpujarras situated in the east of the province of Granada. It is one of the largest communities in the region and quite different to the other pueblos blancos that dot the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Like the other white villages of the Alpujarra, Ugíjar does have narrow, winding stone-paved streets lined with houses that resemble those of northern Africa with their whitewashed façades and flat roofs. However, the town is notable for the fact that many of its houses have tiled roofs, which is unusual for the Alpujarras. Some of these houses are quite grand and were built in the 16th & 17th centuries for the many wealthy merchants who lived there.

Ugíjar
 The village may not be as quaint as others in the Alpujarras - probably because it is bigger and has more commercial enterprises such as a petrol station, several banks, shops, an oil mill and a municipal market. However, what the town might lack in visual splendour it more than makes up for with its history.


Local legend has it that Ulysses stayed here after the Trojan War. It is said that Calypso detained him here for seven years. It is also alleged that Ulysses looked for gold in the river Nechite while he was here. I don't know about that. From my memory of Homer's 'Odyssey', Ulysses did travel as far as the 'Pillars of Hercules' which historians place at the straits of Gibraltar, so maybe his journeys included Spain.

What is not in dispute is that Ugíjar was part of the Kingdom of Granada until 1492, the year when King Boabdil handed over the keys of Granada to the 'Catholic Monarchs'. Up until that time, the town produced silk, cotton and linen and this was exported to other Mediterranean countries via the port of Almería. A sign of the town's previous affluence is demonstrated by the fact that many of the buildings have towers and roof tiles.

typical architecture of Ugíjar

Apart from the attractive ancestral homes there are a number of other interesting buildings including the parish church - the Iglesia de la Virgen del Martirio - built in Mudéjar style. Other buildings of religious importance are the Ermita de San Antón, the Ermita de Santa Lucia and the Franciscan Convent of Saint John the Baptist.

Iglesia de la Virgen del Martirio

Robert Bovington




www.tablondeanuncios.com

more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"

Monday, May 19, 2014

The Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar

by Robert Bovington

Cabo de Gata - Las Salinas
In the south of Spain, a few miles east of Almería, there is a delightful area that offers miles of unspoilt beaches with secluded coves, sand dunes and much more within a protected coastal reserve. It is the Cabo de Gata, a natural park that I think is quite splendid. It is one of my favourite areas in the province of Almería.

It is a nature lover's delight. There are thousands of different species there including the pink flamingo and the rare Italian wall lizard. There are eagles, kestrels, puffins, cormorants, oystercatchers and storks. The extraordinary wealth of wildlife is unbelievable. There are some species that are unique to the park. This includes the dragoncillo del Cabo, which flowers all the year round. Europe's only native palm tree - the dwarf fan - is to be found here. In the sea, there are bream, grouper, prawn and squid. There are hundreds of species of seaweed, which are home to the many varieties of crustacean, mollusc and fish.

Perhaps the reason for the great variation in wildlife is due to the diverse habitats in this natural park. The 71,500 acres of the Cabo de Gata is volcanic in origin and comprises coastal dunes, steep cliffs, spectacular beaches, salt marshes, saltpans, arid steppe, dry riverbeds and a substantial marine zone. It is probably this ecological diversity that has led to the park being designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

As well as the spectacularly varied landscape, there are also scattered settlements of whitewashed, flat roofed houses and delightful little fishing villages.

One of the things I like about the natural park is that man's intervention can scarcely be detected in this area. There has been some development but it has mostly been confined to the existing settlements. San José used to be a small fishing village. Nowadays it is a tourist village but it has not been spoiled too much. La Isleta del Moro - only a cluster of fishing huts and houses a few years ago - is undergoing some development. Apartments are being built but they appear to be tasteful and their white façades blend in with their surroundings. Other villages have also been expanded slightly.

San José
La Isleta del Moro
Cortijo del Fraile
Between Los Albaricoques and Rodalquilar is a cluster of ruined buildings. The largest one is known as the 'Cortijo del Fraile'. A notice outside refers to it as a typical example of a farmhouse. However, that is only part of the story.

The famous Spanish author, Federico García Lorca used it as the setting for his chilling play 'Blood Wedding'. It was no coincidence. It is allegedly based on real life events. It is said that in 1928, a tenant farmer lived there. Apparently, he offered a large dowry to the younger of his two daughters. This angered the elder sister. A conspiracy was hatched whereby her brother-in-law would offer marriage and split the dowry with the elder sister and her husband. However, on her wedding day, the bride attempted to run away with her cousin, planning to return after the marriage was consummated to claim the dowry. As the newlyweds set out at night, they met with the elder sister and her husband. The cousin was shot in the head and the bride left half-strangled. The sister and her husband were imprisoned and the bride lived as a spinster. Apparently, she died quite recently.

The building has also been used for a number of spaghetti westerns including 'The Good the Bad and the Ugly'.

Rodalquilar
The road between the 'Cortijo del Fraile' and Rodalquilar is a bit rough but the necessary slow driving enables the traveller to enjoy the scenery. It is quite a pleasant sight, driving along this road with the yellow flowers of the pita plant silhouetted against the blue sky and the low mountains in the distance, especially on my last visit, when I observed lots of hoopoe flitting from plant to plant.

This part of Spain has always had an abundance of raw materials and this area of the Cabo de Gata has been extensively mined for 2000 years. The Romans extracted silver here. Later 'lead fever' took hold in the middle of the 19th century. However, the golden years for Rodalquilar followed the discovery of gold around 1880. At the beginning of the 20th century, a British company acquired the mining rights and, under the name 'Minas de Rodalquilar', started actively mining the precious metal. They built the millstone in which 900 tons of rock was ground day by day. Rodalquilar, with its electricity supply and its tennis courts and other luxuries was the envy of the other Andalucian villages.

Rodalquilar - old mine workings
By the late 1930s, the British company had extracted 2,000 kg of gold and following the end of the Spanish Civil War; the mines were handed over to the Spanish government. In 1956, a second golden age came to Rodalquilar. Around 500 men from faraway countries arrived to seek work in the mines and consequently 4000 kg of gold was extracted, together with 165,000 kg of silver. The village had struck it rich. Among the new buildings erected were schools, a cinema, and a casino. This was not to last. In 1966, Spain's only gold mines were closed down. This could have led to Rodalquilar becoming a ghost town. In fact, it very nearly did so, but probably due to the protected status of the Cabo de Gata, some of the old houses have been restored.

When I visited, I walked along to a viewing platform in order to look down on the old mine workings. It was a pleasant enough view. It was not so much the dilapidated buildings that made the panorama attractive, though they were interesting enough, the Rodalquilar valley beyond the mining area looked splendid - especially with the white houses of the town further on and the range of mountains in the distance.

Driving downhill towards the town, the dusty track becomes a properly made up road with palms and adelfa bushes lining both sides. Near the old disused buildings is an Information Centre where visitors can obtain maps and guides to the area. There is a botanical garden nearby.

Playa de Playazo
The highlight of any trip to the Cabo de Gata is to visit one of the many delightful beaches. One of my favourites is the Playa de Playazo. This long unspoiled beach is only a short distance from Rodalquilar. On the way there, visitors can take a detour to view another ruin, this time a small castle called 'Castillo San Ramón', a defensive fort from the 18th century.

The Playa de Playazo enjoys an exceptional environmental setting. Incidentally, the beach is also known as the Playa de Rodalquilar due to its close proximity to the town. Playa de Playazo roughly translates as big beach. It is utterly stunning. It is long and unspoiled and its sweeping bay enjoys excellent views. It is one of a number of attractive beaches in the Parque Natural. When I visit, I usually walk along the sandy coastline until I reach some cliffs. They are easy to walk on because they are smooth, not the jagged harsh variety found elsewhere in this area. It is enjoyable clambering over the cliffs and, near the next cove, there are fossils embedded in the rocks. One could be tempted to take a hammer and chisel in order to take home some samples but that would probably be illegal - the Cabo de Gata's special status as a protected environment means there are a number of restrictions. For example collecting protected species is not allowed, nor is removing soil, sand or seabed. Fishing is restricted. It is not allowed in some parts of the park with or without a permit. Fishermen still make a living in this area but a maritime mile restriction zone has been declared in order to prevent the larger fishing vessels exhausting the seabed or destroying the natural habitat.

Whenever I visit, I look for a delightful little cove. It is only big enough for three or four people - a tiny private beach. To reach it one has to either jump seven or eight feet from the cliff-side to the beach or swim underwater through the little tunnel in the rock face. It is a perfect little haven for a seaside picnic. At the back of the beach is a shallow cave that provides protection from the fierce Almerian sunlight.

There are a number of delightful coastal villages and many more pristine beaches, some of them only accessible on foot.

Aguamarga, a small coastal town that is quite pretty. There are the traditional single story whitewashed buildings, many festooned with flowers especially bougainvillea.

Agua Amarga

Las Negras gets its name from the shape and colour of the black hill that one can observe from the beach. It was formed by the solidification of volcanic lava. I am not that impressed with Las Negras, though I might have liked it thirty years ago. It does have character but also lots of hippies. When I last visited, a group of them sat on the pavement playing guitars and flutes. A girl in a long floral dress with bare dirty feet was juggling. Others were selling jewellery on the promenade. According to a description of the place that I found in a tourist guide, the beach has a mixture of sand, stones and volcanic rock. We only saw boulders and stones amidst a bed of grit!

Whenever I visit the Cabo de Gata I usually stop at the 'Mirador La Amatista', with its splendid panorama of the coastline. The views are stunning. It lies between Playa de Playazo and La Isleta del Moro.

La Isleta del Moro
La Isleta del Moro
The approach to La Isleta del Moro is quite magnificent. Twin peaked hills drop down to a blue sea. Palm trees and pita frame the view. The village is another of my favourite places. It is made up of a small group of white houses where simple people who have earned their livelihood fishing have lived since time immemorial.

There is a danger of beautiful villages like this being despoiled by development. New buildings have been erected though, at the moment, they do not detract from the overall scene. Some friends of ours stayed here several years ago, in a simple hostel, and they told me that it was not quite as quaint as they remembered. It is still delightful though.

The 'The Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar', to give it its full title, is Andalusia's largest coastal nature park. Whenever I drive around this area, I experience an abundance of different panoramic views. The coastal dunes and salt flats are surrounded by volcanic hills that fall away steeply to the sea forming dramatic cliffs and rocky promontories. The hidden coves and white sandy beaches here form part of probably the only virgin coastline in mainland Spain.

El Cabo de Gata
I sometimes visit the small village actually called El Cabo de Gata. It is a pleasant little seaside resort beside a beach of white sand. The whitewashed buildings, that line its promenade, are mainly holiday apartments, interspersed with the occasional bar. The village still supports a small fishing fleet and the fishermen's boats, nets and lobster pots pepper the beaches at the southeastern end.

The Cape
church at Salinas de Acosta
Southeast of the village of El Cabo de Gata is the tiny hamlet of Salinas de Acosta, where salt from the Salinas is piled in great heaps. Its church, which has a very tall tower, dominates the area for miles around and is almost on the seashore. Further along this lovely coastal road there are a number of little fishermen's houses.

Beyond them the road starts a steep climb. Near the top, the road narrows and there are sheer drops down to the rocks below, so wear your brown trousers! It is well worth the perilous journey. The road eventually descends and after crossing a riverbed, between dark rocks you will emerge at the foot of an outcrop upon which stands the lighthouse. This is the actual Cabo de Gata, the cape!

I do not know why it is called the 'Cape of the Cat'. Maybe one of the rocks jutting out of the sea far below reminded someone of a cat! I don't know but the views here are tremendous. Black and grey jagged rocks emerge from the bright blue sea below. The largest of the peaks is called the 'Arrecife de las Sirenas'. Even though the road plunges quite dramatically, it is still quite high up here. The lighthouse is not open to the public but nearby is a mirador and more tremendous views.

Arrecife de las Sirenas



The western side of the Cabo de Gata is only a very small part of the whole natural park. It is possible to walk to the eastern side of the cape, but to see more of this astonishing area in a short time a car is needed. However, the road stops just below the lighthouse. It is necessary to return to the village of El Cabo de Gata before driving to San José, the next village in the park.

On one occasion, as I drove between the cape and the village of El Cabo de Gata, I viewed the spectacular sight of hundreds of pink flamingos! I also noticed a couple of bird watchers in a hide on the shore of the lakes. Between spring and autumn, thousands of migrating birds stop here on their journeys between Europe and Africa. Apart from flamingos, there are storks, avocets, eagles and many other types. Only a few remain in the winter when the Salinas are drained after the autumn salt harvest.

There are many other delightful places in the natural park and not just the coastal parts. The inland scenery is delightful too, especially the mountains, some of which have a distinct pyramid shape to them. Compared with all the other mountain ranges in the province of Almería, the Sierra del Cabo de Gata is not nearly so high. Yet, some are still over 1000 feet! Most of the mountains here have a distinctly volcanic appearance with sharp peaks and crags. Where they fall sharply into the sea, jagged cliffs are created. These are broken by gullies leading to small, hidden coves with white sandy beaches.

The Cabo de Gata is a truly splendid place and I would recommend you visit it. Go tomorrow. There are cheap flights these days between the UK and Almería. On second thoughts don't! One of the beauties of the natural park is that so often one can find peace and solitude in this enchanting area.

Robert Bovington

www.tablondeanuncios.com

more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"