Day Trippin’ from Salobrena

I have so much to show you, I don’t know where to start.. Recently I had family visiting me, and so we did a mini road trip but we covered an awful lot of ground.  First stop Guadix.

This is the home of the cave houses which are still in use today by a large portion of the population in the town.  The people that live there are referred to as troglodytes.  The house although rustic looking on the outside, are for the most part pretty well appointed, with internet, sat tv etc… There is also a large cathedral there and the Calahorra Fortress is only a few miles away and quite spectacular.  The fortress is only open on Wednesday, so if you want to see inside, make sure you are there on a Wednesday.  Enjoy

Guadiesque

Look out point in Guadix

Trog house chimney

Cave houses

More of the same

another home

Hillside view

Fancy chimney

Coming up on Salobrena.WordPress.com

I have lots of great stuff to show you, about a recent 3 day very doable road trip, taking in Gaudix, where the cave people live, cork forests, which are being harvested as I write this, a quick stop in Ronda, a night in Gibralter, 2 nights Tanger in Morocco, site seing in Tarifa, Marbella, and Fuengirola, lots of great photos from the Market in Tanger.. Boy was that busy! Hints on where to stay and where to eat cheaply.. only thing holding me back is the fact that my internet is down.  So stay tuned, I think you are going to really enjoy it.  Book Mark Me.

Get your best poker face on and get on down to Legends Bar on the beach.

Great news! On October 24, Legends Bar on the beach is holding a No limit hold em poker night.  25€ +5€ no limit hold em.  Seats are limited, so if you want to be involved, you must contact Soren at either

+34 664 425 366 or email him at info@notwebdesign.com

It should be a great evening, and who doesn’t love a little poker.

More pics in and around Salobreña

I know I have been remiss in my postings, but I have a good reason, honest, it’s summer, I have been at the beach.

Well that is mostly true. I have been busy with guests visiting and getting ready for the next group arriving in a couple of weeks time.  I drove around the last 2 days taking pictures for the blog.  The weather is still great, and so far, we have seen NO signs of any jelly fish this year..which is great news.. the water is just cool enough to keep them at bay.  This is not to say that the water is cold by any stretch of the imagination.  It’s gorgeous and lovely and clear. So, here we go, pics from in and around Salobreña.

Parking my boat, anywhere I want to.

Speedo Alert.. People..I implore you.

Red Alert, Shields up, Hands Full!

Gifts from a feline admirer

She loves me

Fruit and flowers

No blossom is safe

So famous is Cindy for her nocturnal flower deliveries that a friend actually painted a pic of Cindy in her favourite resting spot.

All of the blossom photos were taken on the walkway that leads to my home.  This is a scene repeated daily by our cat Cindy who loves to show her affection and gratitude for chin scritches and hour long rubdowns and fur combing.  Each morning there is a fresh batch of flowers awaiting us.  When she brings them to us, she isn’t quiet about it either.. with blossom in mouth she makes the journey down the pathway meowing as loud as she can but with her mouth full.  If you don’t believe me, ask my neighbors, they really enjoy the all night flower deliveries I can assure you..LOL.

Then I took a drive just outside Salobrena into the growing area and got the following shots..it was a lovely day for a drive too.

A swirling mango vortex

Roadside Mango tree..ooh the temptation

Boat launching spot in La Caleta

Break wall at the Plaza de Lavadoras in La Caleta

More Mangoes, it won't be long..Gee I hope I can find these trees in the dark

A live wind break made of Pine trees.

Starting young learning from Dad how to keep an eye on the fruit crops.

A lovely rose growing amongst the Avacado and Cherimoya trees

Opuntia also known as Nopales with her prickly pear fruit. Delicious. You must be extra careful when handling these babies believe me.

Bearded palms, bearded only because the owners have not bothered to clear away the dead leaves.

And How I wish they could look.. s*

What’s new? I’ll tell ya what’s new..

It’s mid August, and as per usual the town hall has made sure that there are plenty of interesting and fun things to do this summer.  Here is a quick run down of what is happening by date:

13 August: Salobreña’s Theatrical Group will be putting on a comedy called Lisistrata de Aristófanes.  This will be an all Spanish production so understanding Spanish is a must.  The play will be staged at the Auditorium, which is right next to the Ayuntamiento.  Time is 10Pm and the cost of a ticket is 3€.

14 August: It’s the annual Blues Concert in La Caleta.  This is a great night out, it’s free and the music is usually top notch. The stage has been set up in the little square down by the water. Plaza del Lavadero. Try not to miss this, it’s always a great night plus the two bars in the town will be hopping and I can almost guarantee the party will be going on till the wee hours.. Get there if you can.

17August: For all you movie goers out there.  The town of Lobres is screening  the film Wall-E . Entrance is free and the location of the showing is the Casa de Cultura in Lobres.  Again this will be a film in Spanish.

18 August: On this day you can enjoy a photography exhibition at the Library in Salobrena.  Exhibit will be located on the second floor in the Sala de Exposiciones.  The subject of the pictorial display are the light houses and towers along the coast.   Entrance is free.

19 August: Concert in the park.  the local music school will be presenting their band for an evening of music for everyone to enjoy.  The playing level of this band is extremely high, a very enjoyable evening is to be expected.

20August: More movies.. this time in La Caleta.  Harrison Ford stars in this latest enstallment of Indiana Jones films.  Again this will be in Spanish and entrance is free

22August: Look out Flamenco is back in town.  This will be a fantastic night of flamenco right here in Salobreña.  Festival Flamenco Lucero del Alba 40th edition. Performing at the Casa Roja will be the following performers.  El Polaco singing, Paco Cortés on Guitar, Singer el Niño del Gastor with Jose Fajardo on guitar, Rafael Muñoz singing with Ricardo el de La Juana on the guitar.

From the peña Flamenca la trilla de Salobrena performing are Eliseo and Elo Canario with Jose Fajardo on guitar.  Lucia Guardino to dance

Also performing are Juan Angel Tirado and Emilio Florido with Guitarist  Alfredo Mesa.  The show will be held at the Casa Roja start time is 10:30pm entrance fee is 10 in advance or 12 € at the door.  To purchase tickets prior, go to the tourist office in Salobreña

Enjoy!

The Choza: A long time tradition in Salobreña

For any of you that have ever been to Salobrena, you may have noticed the cane shacks along the beach between Salobrena and La Guardia.  If you are like me, you were probably dying to see what they look like inside.. Well here is your chance.. Each is different of course, some  are as well put together as a cottage, raised floors, beds, cooking facilities, the lot.  Others are rustic little party shacks, at least this one was.. so here is your first look at what the Spanish call a Choza.  Translated it just means hut.

Cath taking care of business

External road side view

front view of the bar

Inside the bar

The path to the beach from inside the choza- the bed frame is the security blockade!

More drunken Canadians

The problem with those that drink too much.. No you can't fly

No helmet no ride

View from the choza it's not as far as it looks

Shrimp Festival & Nerja Photos

This is kind of a mixed post.. first I have  pics from the shrimp festival, unfortunately they don’t show the fun that was actually had. Shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp was the order of the day..Prices were reasonable, and the live entertainment pretty good.  Then after these photos, I have more from the trip to Nerja, just because it is so nice and it’s only 40 minutes down the road.  First sandy beach you will encounter in the area.

Inside the tent, early in the evening

Happy Consumers

Looking toward the bar and food service area

A happy couple enjoying a tapa and a cerveza

Boat fun

View of the beach from the hotel bar

and again

One of the Hackney Cabs

Don't I rock

Only in Spain

It’s Gambaria, the Gran Festival del Mariscos

Or as we like to call it, it’s the Seafood Festival 29jul-2 aug right here in Salobreña at the Parque Municipal La Fuente. ie It’s being held in the kiddy park. There is live music, a huge Tent with Shrimp, Beer, Wine, shows, fun for the kids as well… Music starts around 10 at night, so don’t miss it..I will have pics for you tomorrow hopefully. Entrance is free!

You can call it Nerja if you want to, I prefer Nerjot.

Okay so my friend is here visiting  from Canada, and so we have been doing a fair amount of nothing most of the time, but some days we actually get our act together and do something.  Our latest was a day trip to Nerja.

Nerja is about 40 minutes down the road in the direction of Malaga.  We took the bus from Salobrena, which cost 3.45 pp/each way, which is pretty good I think.  Anyway we got the 10am bus and after a slow drop and pick up in Almuñecar on the way, we were there in about an hour.  We walked the streets, did some shopping, we each got a new straw hat and then we took a stroll around the Balcon de Europe.  It’s a lovely outcrop of rock with a  plaza with seating, there is even a hotel and a couple of bars.  The temperature was something like 600C give or take a degree or two.

The streets were empty of the usual mid summer tourist throngs,  moving thru the streets was without any of the usual hustle and jostle.  All in all a pretty quiet town this summer. Normally it is exactly the opposite.

Anyway, we found a route down to a nice little beach, complete with a tiny shack of a bar, and from there we walked up to the hotel and had ourselves a tall cool tinto de verano.  Luck was on our side when the waiter not only told us of an elevator to take us up the 6 stories  to street level, he actually took us too the elevator door himself.   Just how old do we look? I ask you.  Day saved we had enough energy to go to lunch at a cute Mexican Restaurant that has great food, great atmosphere, and the decor is super festive.  One hint, don’t order the lemon margarita.. order a lime or strawberry.  Trust me.

Enjoy the photos from our day out in Nerja.

Contestant Number 1

Contestant Number 2

View from the Balcon de Europe

View from the Balcony

View on the other side of the Balcon de Europe

Vendors Wagon.

Street scene.

Our Mexican Restaurant

Inside the restaurant

take a close look at the menu

Old Ladies and the Water Park… Good Idea?

Of course it isn’t.  Now when I say old ladies, I of course mean two out of shape 50something women vs a water park. Guess who won.

We went with the best of intentions, sun, fun, water, tanning etc.. what we got was sun, fun, water, tanning, 1 broken hand and a bruised thorax.  Our ride of destruction was the seemingly  innocuous big blue water slide.  Looks easy enough, don’t be fooled.

After a nice easy climb up several flights of stairs and ramps, we arrived at the top only to go “oooooooh… this looks bad”.  And it was.   We stepped over the edge, sat ourselves down and let go.  Everything was fine until the first hump in the slide.. AIRBOURNE!!!!!!!!  Control was forever lost at this point. Landing sideways and continuing on in at break neck speed only to hit the water side ways.  Can you say Tsunami?  My partner in crime on this day did all she could to stay grounded and and on track, only to break her right baby finger in 3 places..lol  Can you say brittle bones…I am still nursing bruised internal organs 3 days later.  Was it fun, Yes it was, would we go again, yes we would, would we ride the slide. No we wouldn’t.  Here are some photos from the day.  The water park is located in Almuñecar on the beach, there are several picnic areas, so feel free to bring your lunch, it is permitted and encouraged.  Entrance for adults is 13 euros and children 4-11 years 9euros  Kids 12-15 10 euros, and kids under 3 free 65 and over 9 euros.  There are all sorts of discount coupons available from the tourist offices, so be sure and get yourselves some before heading off.  You can also rent lockers for 4 euros for the day and you have unlimited access.

You can get more info by going to their website at www.aqua-tropic.com

The big blue Monster itself

The giant wave pool in action- lots of fun

Nice white concrete lane dividers..OW!

Everyone in for the wave experience

Lots of shaded green area to stretch out in

Just in front of the wave pool

The Hippo wading pool for kids

Waterfall wading pool