We have had a fabulous few days lately. I am really impressed with Cabo de Gata, it is an amazing area, with lots to recommend it, not least the lack of mass tourism!
We have been going to the local Saturday market where you can buy 2 kilos of oranges for 1€, and they are the sweetest juiciest oranges that I have ever tasted. We found another market on the way to Almeria and stocked up on more wonderful fresh fruit. Had a bit of a drive through of Almeria in our rented car, no narrow street nonsense in 8.5metres of Behemoth (aka Astrid)! I missed the turn for the castle and we ended up in Agua Dulce. We had an impromptu picnic at the beach and then went for a wander around the harbour. Believe it or not the fish in the harbour actually follow you waiting to be fed! The locals come down and give them stale bread. On our visit an octopus (polpo)came up from the depths and took a piece of bread then glided through the water to a safe overhang to inspect its catch! Amazing. We have some pics which I will post once they are on the computer.
We have been up to Rodalquilar to the gold mine and had a wander around the old plant. The plantlife is lovely, lots of herbs, dwarf palm, prickly pear cactus and good old broom and gorse (not like in Aberdeen). We even found frogs and lizards around the sluices and walls of the plant. Visited the local botanic garden and left some helpful hints on interpretation and interactive material for children...still rangering! I have to say that the quality of the interpretation in the visitor centres is really high quality, but is mostly in Spanish in the more remote centres. Headed down to the beach and found a wild camp full of younger travellers in their campers. Came across a fossilised beach and found a really old copper button. Would like to imagine it is a Roman relic, but don't think the Romans had buttons? Someone please fill in the gaps.
The boys loved playing on the beach. we have found a few. Playa de Genoveses beyond San Jose was deserted apart from the natterjack toads in the slacks behind the dunes. There were even tadpoles in the pools...in January!!
Today we went up to the lighthouse at the end of the Cabo de Gata promentary. Before the lighthouse there is a beach called sirens (mermaids) playa. It refers to the seals that used to haul out to pup. Apparently they disappeared in the 70's and never returned. On the way back we went past the salinas, past the piles of salt glistening in the sunshine. Joshua was amazed that they used JCB's to move the salt in to bags for processing. There were flamingos in the pools feeding. I had hoped to see Avocets, but no joy. Lots of bramblings, pied flycatchers and redstarts...heaven...did I mention all the different larks?
We stopped at the beach and built shelters, searched for shells and I sunbathed. The weather was too glorious for words, so I'll stop there.
Actually, I won't. Visited the Alcazaba (castle in Almeria). Wow. Imagine crenallated walls, gardens, fountains and pools, towers with views to the hills, harbour and city. There are excavations within the walls of the old Arab castle and the christian extension with its cannons. The population of wild cats gave the boys lots of fun, seeing who could get closest to touching one. The slums and tips outside the walls are amazing too. Hard to believe Spain is a first world nation sometimes.
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WOW, the best feedback every, so much information and talk about painting a picture, speaking of that you can see why so many painters favoured, the light etc in ~Europe. Very different to the UK, especially at this time of the year when the general colour is grey with few intermittant periods of sunshine. Finally had a day at home only to find that my bird feeding is not always catering for the species I wish to attract. Could'nt quite figure out how I was having to replenish the peanuts so often, only to find that I am actually feeding a host of pidgeons who have figured out how to reach the peanuts intended for the blue tits etc. Pidgeon pie.... only kidding. Anyway hope you are continuing to love Spain. Very intrugued by the larger vans, I think they were Concordes. Well, how big are they. would love to see inside them, mabye will check on the internet for a peak. Hope everyone is ok especially Euan who was a bit poorly last time I spoke to you. Lots of love and kisses to the wee boys and only one for the big fella, thousands for you. Much love as always, harbour 78.
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