Natinal Park & Camera Club

Got up at 7:30 and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. Then the usual 8AM morning jog/walk.  Afterwards we started 2 loads of laundry since the wind was very light this morning with the hope that it is going to stay that way.  The clotheslines are on the roof of the apartment building and are fairly open to the wind.  The owners warned us not to hang the laundry if it blows too hard as we might have to go around town picking our undies.  

Yesterday I had booked a day trip to visit some of the national parks that are near here.  Pickup at 9:20 was at a hotel nearby.  6 other people are on the tour with me.  2 from Wales, 2 from about 1 hour outside London, GB and 2 from Sweden.  The first park is only a few minutes near here.  The drive follows small twisty road along the side of mountains.  The entrance to the park is where the Nerja caves are.  We plan to go there so it is nice to see where they are and how to get there.  The guide/driver is quite the character.  He is Dutch but has lived here for 20 some odd years.  The whole area around here was set on fire by Franco, the dictator, when he could take get the resistance out of the mountains.  So most of the area is new growth and the trees are still not that tall.  He explains a lot about the area and talks about the wild herbs and plants as well.  It is the woman from Wales birthday and we have a glass of champagne to celebrate it.

We now drive along the coast to the next national park with a stop at a lookout where we can see the town of Nerja.  This area was a hot spot for drug traffickers.  The reason is Morocco is not very far across the sea from here but this all stopped when the Spanish government installed a high tech radar system. 

Nerja

 Lots of beaches along the way which you can see from high above as the mountains are very close to the see in this area.  Wendy and I will be coming back this way some day after work. The views are spectacular.  We also see 2 wild goats near the side of the roads.

The 3^rd national park is further inland which has some beautiful views and borders farmland as well.  Lots of up and downs over narrow twisty roads along the side of steep mountains. The driver says they are 2 ways traffic.  I guess if you meet someone, one of the 2 has to back up until a spot is wide enough for 2 cars.   Good thing we are in a Land Rover as I do not think that the little putput with a 1.2 litre engine we rented would not have liked these roads.  I am sure Wendy would not have liked driving them.

Farmer checking his wine fields

Abandon farmhouse

We now proceed to go have lunch at an old farmhouse that the guide bought 3 years ago to make a B&B with it.  He tells us, he has 14 booking already this year, mostly wedding.  This is his first year open. The first is in May.  He still has lots of work to get it ready by then in my opinion.  From what I understand, people get married in town and then they have a 2 day celebration.

He made us a nice BBQ for lunch with 3 pitchers of sangria.  I am happy.  In front of his place is an orchard of avocados with a couple of Orange and lemon trees.  A very beautiful and scenic place as is it surrounded by mountains except for the valley in front of the house.

Wendy wished we had these at home

House guest

View of the mountain from farmhouse

View of valley and avocado orchard in front of farmhouse (B&B)

Soon to be B&B, still needs a bit of TLC in my opinion

Back home, the apartment smell wonderful as Wendy made a delicious spaghetti sauce.  After supper, we went to the Balcon de Europa as the local camera club was meeting there.  About 8 people showed up to take a few nighttime pictures.  Very informal.  They get between 10 and 15 members at their usual meeting.  Very nice people.  Stayed for about 1 hour or so and took a few shots.  We chitchatted with a few people. 

Stray cats, well feed by people as you can tell by the size

Funky pair of shoes

Ice cream anyone?

Balcon de Europa

We then went where I beat Wendy at cribbage 2 game to nothing while enjoying a glass of wine. I do have to admit that she made a great comeback in the first game and almost won that one.