VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for David against Goliath!

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Marianne under Axarquía, Challenges, Further Afield

OK, OK …. I admit, it’s not really for David – it’s for ME! But we ALL love an underdog, don’t we? 🙂

In my analogy, Goliath is a professional photographer currently leading the vote in a photographic competition I have entered on Facebook. So, even though I AM that underdog, I’m running a close second, only a few “Likes” behind, but with only five more days left to vote.

Faithful followers: I NEED YOUR HELP TO DEFEAT THIS GOLIATH!

If you are logged into your FB account, click on the photo above (it’s of my home village of Cómpeta) and you will be taken through to to my voting page. All you need to do is LIKE and COMMENT on that post.

THE PRIZE is a day trip for 4 people (with lunch), to one of the most picturesque parts of Andalucía along a scenic train line known as Mr Henderson’s Railway – a British-built Victorian train line from Algeciras to Ronda.

If I’m lucky enough to win this competition, there are two further benefits:

1. I will SHARE MY PRIZE by inviting two local bloggers to join me for the day.

2. You will be able to read all about my trip in a blog post, where I will include lots of lovely photos.

Will you help me to share the joy by voting for my photograph?

Thank you.

EDITED TO ADD: So many of you clicked through to my photograph and added your vote that I am delighted (and amazed) to tell you that David did indeed defeat Goliath. I WON! I have invited two local bloggers to join me and sometime over the next three months we will be enjoying the prize of a trip on Mr Henderson’s Railway. I’ll let you know all about it. Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to vote. I am truly grateful for your continuing support. You are AMAZING!

The Windmills of Consuegra

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Marianne under Axarquía, Photo challenges

La Mancha‘s windmills were immortalised in Cervantes‘ novel, Don Quixote. These fine examples of restored Spanish windmills can be found in Consuegra, not far from Toledo in central Spain. Several mills spike the hill just outside of town and I certainly had some tilting to do, to capture not only the wooden sails, but also the magnificent blue of the wide open sky.

This photo is my contribution to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition and Travel Theme: Wood.

NEW CHALLENGE: One trip EVERY month

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Marianne under Challenges

Many people told me they were inspired by My Travel Reflections on 2013, when I described trips I had taken, month by month, during the past year.

It got me thinking that we all have places we’ve been meaning to visit somewhere, often locally, but for some reason or another, that trip has never happened. Maybe it’s slipped our minds, or the next time we’ve been in the area we’ve been too busy to visit or had visitors with us.

I’m not just talking about trips to other continents, countries or even regions. A local trip can be just as exciting. How about the little museum that people keep mentioning? Or the park you keep forgetting to take your picnic to?

Well, no more excuses!

Next time you think of that place you’ve been meaning to go to – get out a pen and paper, make a list and resolve to go and visit them in 2014.

How about we make the effort to take ONE TRIP EVERY MONTH and then tell each other all about it?

If you’d like to join me, here’s how:

Each month, visit somewhere and then write about your trip or describe it using photographs – whichever suits you best.
Don´t forget to title and tag your entry ’One Trip EVERY Month Challenge’, and link back to this page.
Display the Challenge logo on your post or in your sidebar.
HAVE FUN!

Are you ready to join me by taking ONE TRIP EVERY MONTH? What are you waiting for?

GO!

Have you participated in this month’s CBBH Photo Challenge yet? The theme is STREET ART

The Old Railway Line at Zafarraya

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Marianne under Axarquía

You might remember, I’ve told you before about the spectacular U-shaped Zafarraya Pass (El Boquete de Zafarraya) marking the boundary between the provinces of Málaga and Granada, and which can be seen for miles around.

Standing over 900 metres above sea level, the Pass has been used for centuries as a key route through the sierras, linking lands south-west of Granada, with the towns and villages along the coast, east of Málaga.

On the approach to the gap in the mountains, above the road on the left, a small tunnel through the rock can be seen. This once formed part of the Periana to Zafarraya railway line, abandoned fifty years ago. The tunnel is now used by horse-riders and walkers who enjoy strolling along the dirt road where the railway once ran.

Last time I went through the Zafarraya Pass, instead of whizzing by, I decided to stop and have a look. After driving under the the old iron railway bridge, I parked in the small car park on the left side of the road.

It’s only a few steps up the gentle slope to where the narrow gauge railway once ran. The main tracks were removed long ago, but there is still a short length remaining to illustrate what it must have looked like.

The views from the Mirador El Boquete (lookout point) both across the Pass and down towards the coast are stunning. This is a lovely peaceful place to stop for a picnic, and there are a couple of picnic tables for public use.

From here you can see the peaks of Tajo de la Cueva and El Morron de La Cuña, the hamlets of Espino, Los Cortijillos, Los Pavitos and Los Morales as well as numerous white houses, dotted like paint spots on a canvas, as far as the eye can see. The village of Alcaucín and the Parque Natural lie ahead, overseen by La Maroma, the highest mountain in the Axarquía region at 2066 metres.

If you cast your eyes further down the valley, La Viñuela reservoir and the Mediterranean Sea glimmer in the distance.

I wandered along the dirt track, and ahead of me I could see the old narrow railway tunnel.

As I approached, the enormity of the task in building the tunnel was obvious. It had been hewn through the rock by hand. What a job!

Rather than just strolling as I did, and depending on how fit you are, you might enjoy an adventurous walk or a more gentle ramble from Periana, the source of the old railway line, back to the Boquete de Zafarraya.

Whatever you choose, be sure to watch out for the fabulous birds.

How to get there

To get to the Zafarraya Pass, drive north from the A7/E15 Autovía del Mediterraneo, past the town of Vélez-Málaga and briefly alongside Lake Vinuela, before heading up the A402, a winding mountain road.

You will see the gap in the mountains ahead, getting closer and closer the higher you climb.