Tag Archives: Andalucía
CBBH Photo Challenge: FLOWERS
I was surprised to see that I had never used the flower theme for the CBBH Photo Challenge before, because I take so many photos of plants, trees and flowers. So, I thought I would remedy that situation by sharing with you some of the flowers that grow here in my garden in southern Spain, at different times of the year.
The first photo (above) is a waxy-flowered stephanotis, which creeps along my fence and gives off a delicate fragrance.
I sometimes find it difficult to photograph the purple agapanthus, as they flower at the end of long stems, so I got in close for these shots. I like the effect of the first photo, in particular, but what do you think? 
Here is a photo of the first delicate blossom on one of our 47 almond trees, in January this year. 
….and these beautiful wild Butterfly Orchids also make their appearance each year, heralding the arrival of Springtime in Andalucía. 
I’m a huge fan of the colour purple, so this plant is a favourite of mine, and it was only thanks to some of my readers that I finally found out its name. Hardenbergia comptoniana, a native of Australia, is a vigorous climbing plant and the arching flowers look so beautiful after the rain.
So, I’ve shown you mine – now it’s YOUR turn to show me YOURS!
Don’t forget that the CBBH Photo Challenge is a little different from some other challenges, in two ways. First, it’s only once a month – giving you lots of time to consider your entry before the end of the calendar month. Second, and most important, this is a BLOG HOP (after all, it is the CBBH – Conejo Blanco Blog Hop, conejo blanco means white rabbit in Spanish), so DON’T FORGET that in your post you need to add links to two blogs that you have visited and commented on during the past month.
That way, when we visit each other, we can HOP OVER to your links, connect with others and share a little blog love around!
My Featured Blog Links for this month:
*** Travel writer Annie Bennett spends most of her time Mooching around Spain, researching articles for national newspapers and magazines, but often just sitting in cafés, reading the paper and drinking wine. Not only does Annie love writing about her travels, she also loves writing about food. So, if you want to know where in Lanzarote you can buy the best cheese, or exactly where you can find a traditional shop in Menorca that sells everything horse-related, then Annie is your woman!
*** Another blogger I always enjoy visiting is Tamara at A Foot in Two Campos who, two years ago, bought a beautiful old house in the village of Colmenar, in Málaga province. She had me worried for a while when she admitted in one of her blog posts to stalking me – but fortunately, what she meant was that she was inspired to visit three places that I had blogged about! Tamara has thrown herself into village life in Colmenar and also into learning Spanish. Indeed, at the end of each of her blog posts she discusses a particular language point, which always proves helpful.
Please HOP over and say HELLO to both of these ladies, and tell them Marianne sent you!
So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for July, everyone.
Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month, tag your entry ‘CBBH Photo Challenge’, link back to this blog and, most importantly, don´t forget to add links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look.
Make sure you follow this blog so you don´t miss next month’s exciting challenge!
For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.
I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite!
I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations.
[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]
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River Walk up the Rio Chillar, Nerja
One of the best ways to cool down on a hot summer´s day is to take a walk along the Rio Chillar from Nerja. Unusually for Andalucía, this route is most suitable for walking during June, July and August, as there is plenty of shade, plus the river to keep you cool.
The scenery is spectacular and there are birds, butterflies, dragonflies, wild flowers, grasses and even sugar canes to be spotted along the way. If you’re really lucky, you might even catch sight of a mountain goat.
This is a very popular walk for visitors and locals alike, and can get quite busy, especially at weekends.
As you progress, you will criss-cross the river many times until eventually you have no option but to wade through the water. The riverbed is very stony, sometimes with pebbles and often with boulders, which can make your feet sore after a couple of hours walking – so don’t wear flip-flops or they will float away in the water.
As you walk, the current is flowing towards you from the mountains, so at times you will need to take care not to slip on the wet (and sometimes mossy) river boulders. This is where a walking stick might prove handy.
Eventually you will reach a very narrow section of the gorge where you can touch both sides at the same time. Here is where you will encounter the first set of rapids (cahorras), which are easily negotiated with care, and where there are knee-deep pools in places. You will become aware of the roaring sound of the river.
Enjoy a scenic walk along the Rio Chillar in Nerja
A little further on, the gorge widens out again, and there are plenty of places to eat a picnic and take a cool swim in one of the natural pools, filled with crystal clear water.
The river walk up the Rio Chillar is suitable for families as children love splashing in and out of the water. Click here to read the account of a family who negotiated this walk with three young children.
Don’t worry about getting lost on the river walk, as you just follow the river bed and, because you return the way you came, you can make the walk shorter if you want to. We walked up at a strolling pace, past the narrow gorges, had a swim in the pool, stopping a couple of times along the way and returned to the cement factory in under 4 hours.
The river walk continues on past where we stopped, until eventually you reach a dam, where there is a series of refreshing waterfalls for you to bathe beneath.
MY TIP: Go earlier in the morning and take a picnic lunch to enjoy by one of the pools.
Part of the river walk of the Rio Chillar, Nerja
Word of warning
DO NOT attempt this walk if there is a forecast of rain or there have been recent storms. The narrow gorges (barely six feet wide in places) roar with flash floods during bad weather. Take a mobile telephone, though I’m not sure how strong a signal would be, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to get back.
What to wear
It’s best to wear shorts or, at the very least, something you don’t mind getting wet.
You should wear strong, comfortable walking shoes or trainers to protect your feet and ankles as often you will be wading somewhere between ankle and knee-deep in water, particularly when negotiating the gorges.
What to take
Sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. A stout walking stick will prove useful, too. You might also like to take a towel, swimwear, camera and a picnic.
How to get there
On foot: You can walk down to the river bed from just behind the bus station on Avenida de Pescia in Nerja. At the roundabout near the bus station, walk to the end of Calle de Joaquín Herrera and follow the path down to the river. Google map here.
You will then need to walk up towards the cement factory, always keeping the river on your left, past gardens, avocado groves, builder’s yards, caves and fincas. Eventually the valley begins to narrow and you can begin to really enjoy the beauty of the pine trees on the steep slopes of the Sierra Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama National Park.
By car: If you want to save a couple of kilometres by taking your car to the start of the river walk, drive east along Avenida de Pescia from the bus station, towards Maro. At the roundabout go straight ahead – you will see Iranzo supermarket on your right and, a little further on, Nerja Health centre (Centro de Salud) on your left. At the next roundabout (which is signed to Burriana beach to the right), turn left (inland) onto Calle Julio Romero. After two hundred metres or so, bear right onto Avenida la Constitución and follow this road as it climbs uphill. A little further along, where the road forks, stay on Avenida la Constritución which is to the right.
Look out for two large electricity pylons on top of concrete blocks on your left, and you should turn left here, between the pylons onto Calle Mirto.
On your right there is a large, free car park where you can leave your car whilst you do the river walk.
You can drive closer to the start of the river walk (though parking is more restricted and there is a danger of being towed away and fined if you park in the wrong place). If you want to park closer to the river – drive past the row of houses on your left and continue until you see a fork in the road. Take the right fork towards the mountains, and follow the newly concreted road which slopes downwards and underneath the motorway bridge. Google map here
Soon after you drive underneath the motorway bridge, there is a large lay-by on your right with parking for 6-8 cars. After this, the track becomes narrower and more stony, but you can keep driving until you reach the end of this track, just before the old, abandoned cement factory on your right.
Can you see the abandoned trainers hanging from the wire, above the gates?
This is also where the official car park is, with parking for 63 cars (at a cost of €1). As you can see, when we visited yesterday (27th June 2014) the car park was locked, and judging by the weeds around the gate, hasn’t been used for some time. Perhaps this car park is only open in August – I don’t know. There is another large lay-by (with parking for 10 cars) just outside these gates, where we parked our car.
I wouldn’t recommend you abandoning your vehicle just anywhere at the side of the track down here (other than the two lay-bys I have mentioned) as they are likely to be towed away at a cost to you of between €100 and €600 euros. You have been warned!
This is one of my favourite walks in the Axarquía. Where do YOU love to walk?
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Wordless Wednesday: Goodbye Sky Lantern
One Trip Every Month: La Fortaleza, Vélez-Málaga
My trip this month is a local one – to La Fortaleza, the medieval fortress and Alcazaba in Vélez-Málaga, capital of the Axarquía region. Of course, as with many other places, I see the fortress towering above the town every time I pass by, but somehow never got around to visiting before now.
La Fortaleza was in a bad state of repair for many years and, as a result, was not open to the general public – but that has now changed. 
Located on the highest point of the town, about 80 meters above sea level, the Alcazaba or Fortress was built during the 10th century under Moorish rule, but achieved its greatest prominence during the 14th and 15th centuries, as one of the most important strongholds of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. It’s worth remembering that the River Vélez was once much deeper and wider than it is now, and that the valley formed part of a trade route through the Zafarraya Pass from Granada to Málaga, making the town strategically significant.
Vélez-Málaga may not have been a very large town, but it was well fortified and defended by a solid set of walls, some of which can still be seen.
As with many Spanish monuments, the directional signage to La Fortaleza leaves a lot to be desired, but if you head for the Fernando Hierro Sports Stadium in Vélez-Málaga and take the Arenas road, following signs for La Iglesia de Santa Maria/Museo de la Santa Semana, you will find the Alcazaba (La Fortaleza) just before the church.
The restored Tower of the Alcazaba (the fortress La Fortaleza) is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 1pm and offers spectacular views over the town and the surrounding Axarquía countryside. Admission is FREE.
Don’t forget your camera! 
This post is my contribution to the One Trip EVERY Month Challenge. 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!
East of Málaga 
