Just a wee heads up for those of you who know I go places a lot. This past few months has been a rather pleasant ride. Went to Rhodes in May. Climbed my first mountain. Yeah, I know I'm an old **** with fucked knees but sometimes you just have to do stuff. Was in Italy in September. This time was staying up a mountain and had to hike down for 4km to the nearest big town, Took the bus back up though. Well, there is a limit Just back from Calpe on the east coast of Spain. Very close to where I lived for a lot of years but never really investigated this particular area until now. If travelling is in your blood you just have to go with it. That's my motto anyway.
Calpe is a wonderful place! We may have discussed in in past, but just wanted to remind you I spent a wonderful winter there - back in 2005-6. Best memories include food, walking the malecon, hiking the rock ( I did not go all the way thru the tunnel to the top, it was too wet and slippery at the time), and exploring the area. There were many fine dining places, including a number of very good Chinese places ( quite the surprise!), and fresh seafood to be found especially in the ports of Calpe and Moraira.
Went up to Moraira in the bus. We did start walking along the coast but after a few km it was impassable. I had gone up to the salt flats to look at the flamingoes quite a lot but as I said did not really familiar myself with the town. Did you go up to the old part of town. A real revelation. It's really weird that I was not too far down the coast when you were in Calpe. We really could have/should have met. That would have been cool.
There's a trail along the coast of Calpe that goes north. Is that what you meant? It's a beautiful walk, excellent views. My rented villa there was right on that trail. I miss Spain. Mexico is so different.
We would walk that path quite regularly! Hardly saw a soul along the way, it was wonderful. That pond with the flamingos was quite the sea of pink! But as to Sevilla, I don't remember much about that city except for crowds of tourists. South of there is a wonderful area. Our first winter in Spain began in Estepona, which we quickly abandoned for a place near Marbella called Guadalmina. Again good food, and memorable trips up into the mountains from there to Ronda, an amazing town perched high atop a steep cliff. One time we pressed on from there to Jerez de la Frontera (great sherry to be found there) and then to Cadiz. We arrived in Cadiz on January 6th and stayed thru an awesome parade with many floats throwing candy out to everyone in the crowds. Lots of traffic, but a beautiful spot to visit And of course, the Gibraltar is down there, gateway to Morocco
We always use Algeciras ferry port to Tangier. Did you ever go into Marbella? We went into it once. Decide never to go back. Pretentious didn't even come close. Been all along the bottom there then went up to Sevilla and then Cordoba which is great by the way. Worked on a volunteer project high up in the mountains near Granada for 3 months or more. Weather was most strange. Snow in May followed by 35°C the same day and sometimes when the clouds drifted into the steep valley we were above the clouds in something like a wee parallel universe.
I was not impressed with Marbella either. Only redeeming feature was once having a bowl of Zarzuella de Pescado, a comedy of fish. There was also a place called Da Pina which had great pizza. Other than that there were too many Rolls, Bentleys, Ferraris, etc. traffic was HORRIBLE. Towns nearby were much nicer. Granada and the Alhambra was a fun stop! Lots of snow up there, I agree.
That's it, Algeciras! Spent months in Morocco, and wrote a travel guide of my experiences there. Fun times! Hip Guide to Morocco
