Up in the Mountains by the Sea

Hola, friends. We've been lax about posting, but we've had a couple of really
great long weekend road trips. Here's the itinerary of this trip: Started at Point A in El Puerto
and drove 2.5 hours to the Costa del Sol (Point B) for the night. The next day we
drove to El Torcal (Point C), returning to Almunecar (Point D) that evening. The next day
we ventured  into the Alpujjaras mountains (Point E). Returned to Almunecar for
another night and drove home, stopping in Benhalmadena Pueblo (near Point B) for lunch.
Here's what we saw on our travels....

The wonderful thing about the Costa del Sol is that you can spend the night on
the Mediterranean and an hour later you're up in the Sierra Nevadas. 

High up in the mountains is this fabulous area called El Torcal de
Antequera. The landscape has enormous limestone blocks and ravines
and has eroded into an endless land of
whimsical sculptures.

We hiked around this area for a couple of hours in 107 degree temperatures.
Despite the sun and heat, there was a breeze and even some
shade on our route. The rock formations were crazy. 

Sometimes we felt like we were walking on a
lunar landscape.

Other times, we felt like we were in a petrified city that had once had
sacrificial alters at every street corner!

After a day of hiking in the mountains, we headed "home" to Almunecar on the
Mediterranean. This scene was just across the street from our hotel. It was the nicest
two-star hotel you could ever imagine. And the views weren't too shabby, either.

Next day, we headed to  Las Alpujarras, south of the Sierra Nevada, which has a
totally different look. For those of you who have read Driving Over Lemons, this is
the very area that the author was writing about. It's south of Granada, very scenic,
 and remote.

We kept driving up, up, and up. Unbeknownst to us this area is home to
painters, writers and a considerable foreign population.

It was surprising to see such a touristy pueblo blanco up here. But that's what
we found. Pampaneira was lovely. This area was originally populated by
Moors fleeing the Christian Reconquest and Moorish influence is still
evident today.

In the town, we walked up a maze of little streets and found this
old public laundry area (no longer in use).

Water flows down the center of the town through these
channels.

Pretty views.

There are hiking routes all over this area, leading from one pueblo blanco to
another, but we didn't have the time to do any hiking on this trip. This
is definitely a place we'd like to return to---maybe in the fall or spring
when temperatures are cooler.

Next pueblo up the mountain was Bubion. We met a woman, originally from Amsterdam,
 and gave her lift up the mountain. She and
her family had moved to Bubion 12 years ago, trading in
the fast-paced life in Amsterdam for slow, quiet, rural
life. She loved it here. Deb (pictured above) has settled down
to decide on what Moroccan pottery to buy (again).

Next was Capeliera. Both Bubion and Capeliera had a little artisan trade, but not
nearly as much as the more southernly Pampaneira. All three towns were picturesque in
their own way.

Here we are returning home, with a stop-off in Banalmedena-Pueblo. Such
a cute town. Those of you who've visited Mijas---it's closeby and similar.

Pretty little park in town.

This was a surprise. Heading out of town, we saw this unusual structure and
stopped only long enough to take a photo. Found out later that this is
the Suta of the Illumination---the largest Buddhist Temple in western Europe.
It's relatively new (2005) and wasn't mentioned in our (obvioiusly) old guide book.
Definitely would like to return to snoop around more...

Two hours later. Here we are, home sweet home.
(Deb did not leave Jim behind, by the way; he's
taking the picture!). Hasta luego!