The Port of Almería

I frequently drive to Almería from my hometown of Roquetas de Mar. Approaching the city from the west, the first glimpse I get is a dramatic view of the town with the magnificent Alcazaba on the mountainside on the left and the port on the right.
Most days, in this part of Spain, the sun shines and so I can appreciate how the city of Almería got its name - it was the Arabs that called it al-Mariyah, meaning 'Mirror of the Sea'.
It is a working port with both fishing vessels and pleasure boats large and small.Tourist cruises stop here and there are ferries to North Africa - to the Spanish enclave of Melilla and to Algeria 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 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/

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar

One of the most attractive places in Roquetas de Mar is the port.

My wife and I frequently visit one of the many cafes there, particularly at breakfast time. 

We went this morning (28 January 2017) and have regularly spent time here for many years.

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Jan 2017 © Robert Bovington

 

Early in the morning, fishermen load their catch.

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Dec 2016 © Robert Bovington

 more photos of the port of Roquetas...

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Jan 2011 © Robert Bovington

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Aug 2007 © Robert Bovington

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - April 2015 © Robert Bovington

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Jan 2011 © Robert Bovington

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Jan 2009 © Robert Bovington

Puerto de Roquetas de Mar - Jan 2009 © Robert Bovington

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/

Parque de María Luisa in Seville

This lovely romantic garden was donated to the city by the Infanta Maria Luisa Fernand at the end of the nineteenth century.  The famous landscape gardener, Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier, added further enhancements. 

 

Parque de María Luisa in Seville -
Monument dedicated to Bécquer
© Robert Bovington

In 1929, the park became the centre of the Ibero American Exhibition. Adjacent to the park is the beautiful Plaza de España which was used to showcase Spain's industry and technology exhibits.

Seville - Plaza de España © Robert Bovington

 
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/

Playa de Aguadulce - a pristine coastline!

Aguadulce is part of the municipality of Roquetas de Mar but is a separate but equally appealing resort with a fine marina. I like driving along the coastal road from Aguadulce to Almería. It is a spectacular drive with the mountainside on one side and sheer drops to the sea on the other. The road hugs the cliff tops and passes through tunnels that have been excavated in the rock face. But back to Aguadulce!
 

 
It has an extremely clean beach and, like all the Roquetas playas, has blue flag status! My wife and I often go for our early morning walk along the Paseo de Maritimo and we observe lots of activity regarding the maintenance of this pristine coastline. Council workers clean the promenade and beach and maintain the numerous flower beds; tractors keep the beaches neat and tidy and a little boat patrols the coastline dredging the sea bottom. At the end of the walk, I usually take a dip in the crystal clear waters. Like all the beaches of Roquetas there are numerous showers to rinse off the salt water. 
 

  

The town of Aguadulce is pleasant enough with a park, shops, open-air cinema and some excellent restaurants and tapas bars. I particularly like El Boliche for tapas.

 

Probably the best part of the town is the harbour with its moored craft and numerous cafes.


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/

Pampaneira

by Robert Bovington 
 
Pampaneira is an extremely photogenic location with narrow streets, a fine Gothic church with a wooden roof in Mudéjar style, and several cafes and shops, which though 'touristy' are nevertheless delightful. The view from the road leading down into the town is breathtaking with the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada forming an attractive backdrop.
 

Pampaneira © Robert Bovington

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.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/

El Nacimiento

About 1 kilometre north of Laujar is 'El Nacimiento' - a delightful area of waterfalls, picnic areas and places to walk. My wife and I usually go there in Spring and Autumn on weekdays and, mostly, we have the place to ourselves. It is a haven of peace and tranquillity. Nacimiento means 'birth' and it is here that the Río Andarax starts its journey to the sea near Almería.

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/

Grazalema Natural Park

There is a very good reason why this area is so green - rain! Grazalema is the wettest place in Spain. Yes, less than two hours drive from the Costa del Sol there is a place that gets more rain than anywhere else on the Iberian Peninsula! Warm clouds full of moisture from the Atlantic are forced upwards by the successive mountain ranges. This cools them resulting in condensation and rainfall.

© Robert Bovington

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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/

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/