Almería Cathedral

The cathedral was built in the sixteenth century and was designed as a place of prayer and of refuge. This was because the shores of Almería were continually under attack from Turks and Berbers.

Almería Cathedral

This east facing façade of the 'Cathedral' has a relief of the Portocarro sun, the symbol of the city.

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Spanish Impressions"	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Algeciras

Algeciras is a coastal town in Cádiz province. It is not the sort of place to linger unless you like industrial towns - and Arab things like mosques and mint tea! 

I have been there twice. The first time was to catch a boat to Morocco so all I saw was the quayside. The second occasion I did see more of the town but found it rather drab. It does have an attractive central square - Plaza Alta. Tiles, depicting scenes from Don Quixote, adorn the benches and walls surrounding the central fountain and cafes and bars line the perimeter of this delightful square.

Algeciras - decorative tiles in Plaza Alta

Algeciras is handily placed for visits to Gibraltar and Tarifa. It is also the place to catch the train to the medieval city of Ronda - an extremely scenic journey through natural parks and past beautiful pueblos blancos.

Algeciras - Ronda train

For most people, however, Algeciras is just a stopping off place, en route to Tangier and Morocco.


more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Spanish Impressions"	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man inSpain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

La noche de San Juan 23 Junio 2013, Roquetas de Mar

On the night of San Juan, 23 June, the people of Spain commemorate the Summer Solstice by lighting bonfires and fireworks. The celebrations are of pagan origin. One of the rituals is to leap over the fires, which allegedly brings good luck for the rest of the year.

My wife, friend Jaime and I spent an enjoyable time celebrating on the seafront in Roquetas. When we arrived, at around 8:30pm, there were already thousands of people on the beaches and, being a Sunday, I should imagine many had spent the day there. 

Groups of families and friends were enjoying themselves eating, drinking and talking; children were playing and some were swimming though this occupation was mainly delayed until midnight.

On this particular night, there was a full moon and a particularly larger one than normal.

Many bonfires were lit and these could be seen much further up the coast as well as fireworks in the distance in Almería city.

The Moon over Roquetas

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Spanish Impressions"	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Cómpeta

Cómpeta is an attractive little town set amidst the beautiful Axarquía in the province of Málaga. I visited at the beginning of February 2013 and though it is only 18 kilometres from the coast (Torrox nr Nerjar), it took about half an hour to drive from Torrox to Cómpeta because of the steep twisting road. The town nestles on  the southern slopes of the Sierra de Almijara.

Cómpeta

Iglesia Ntra. Sra. Asunción

view south from nr Cómpeta

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Spanish Impressions"	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/