Pueblos Blancos

Link to more photos!

The White Villages of Andalusia dot the mountainsides and valleys up and down the coastline. You spot them in advance as you travel across the countryside. They are big and small, always very hilly, and there's a great historical story, usually involving the moorish roots of the towns and the takeover by the Spaniards around 1500. It is said that El Cid drank from the fountain in little Sayalonga, near where we're staying. That would have been in the 11th century! So, these villages are old!

They all seem very similar; not "if you've seen one, you've seen them all" similar but they do have many common features.

They tend to be built up hillsides, as fortifications I would guess. They all have small plazas where there are small shops and cafes. While all the walls are painted white, doors and windows are painted every bright color imaginable with blue and green being most popular. Streets are narrow and always constructed of stone, sometimes intricately laid in beautiful patterns. Every thing is clean, clean, clean! Just check out the photos to see what I mean.

I get the impression that this area is mobbed during the tourist season of summer, but it's quiet here now. Delightfully quiet. Ex-pat Germans and Brits are very common and they seem to be residents as much as tourists. We haven't seen any Americans. As with everywhere we travel, English is very common but I'm practicing my Spanish so I can feel more comfortable shopping.

Here are some photos of the villages of Sayalonga, Frigiliana, Comares, and Competa.

The narrowest street in Andalusia

Plaza in Sayalonga

Low road, high road...

Lunch!

Nancy driving hard bargain

Join the band, Ted

The Mediterranean Sea on the horizon

Cutar, from Comares

Run Club!

One of the many joys of my retirement life has been the discovery of Hoptron Brewtique Running Club. It combines my rediscovered love of running with a desire to stay connected with people and to socialize with good friends.

Nearly all of the run club members are new friends, and I look forward to spending Tuesday evenings with them each week. They're great people.

Now, in Spain, I am determined to keep my running up so I can stay up with the group back home. But this is much easier said then done!

For one thing, we are on a mountain top.

And also, we're on top of a mountain! Running here is a sick joke. So far, I've done runs of 1-2.5 miles and they have been brutal! I'm lucky to average 15 minute miles!

I virtually crawl up the long, steep sections of roadway and shuffle my way down the other side. Did I mention that the road is one lane with a constant cliff to one side? It necessitates stopping and squeezing myself to the side whenever a car approaches which is, fortunately, rare).

My latest effort: run hard up hill for 30-45 seconds, go back down and do it again. Interval training!

But hold on, running club buddies. Today I found next winter's Hoptron Brewtique Running Club (Retired Division) Vacation Spot! It's the seaside town of Torre del Mar in the Axarquia region! It's got miles of boardwalk (tile walk is more like it) dedicated to cycling, walking, and beach sports of all kinds, including running! They have a section of beach rolled and pounded to a consistency of an old fashioned cinder track, so we can run for miles alongside the Mediterranean Sea! In perfect 65 degree weather! Check it out:

Our place is up in them mountains!

There are parrots...

...and kids...

...and palm trees!

The End

Casa Palmeras y Mar

Here's a link to more photos from Casa Palmeras y Mar

"You can't get there from here" applies to this mountain top hide-away just as it applies to anywhere one travels in New England. But drive east along the Spanish coastline from Malaga to Algarrobo, turn inland into the mountains and up arrive at the picturesque village of Sayalonga.

But we're up the mountain from Sayalonga. So take the one lane, cliff hugging, 3k, 15 minute drive on the combination dirt and stone road to Casa Palmeras y Mar, (House Palms and Sea) and you'll be here!

The view is outstanding, but we have to be sure to not forget the milk or eggs when shopping because you ain't going back to the market until tomorrow's trip down the mountainside.

We look east toward the majestic 6,000 ft peaks of Sierras de Tejeda Almijarra Parque Natural, and down the coast line west toward Malaga. The Mediterranean Sea adorns or view from eastern to western horizon and on a clear day one can make out the mountains of Morocco in the distance 170 km across the sea. And, as a bonus, Gibraltar stands out on the eastern horizon. It's breathtaking!

Here are some photos of our place, Casa Palmeras y Mar and the beautiful village of Sayalonga:

Den

Dining

East toward the Sierra Tejeda

South toward the Mediterranian 

Across the Sea to Africa!

A distant Gibraltar on the horizon

The neighborhood:

Our "compound" from a distance

Olives!

Next up: some of the beautiful towns we've seen!

36 Horas en Madrid

Here's a link to more Madrid photos!

Madrid is magnificent! Why didn't I know this? Either I'm uneducated (very possible) or Madrid is severely underrated. We don't hear enough about Madrid back home but it is a beautiful city. And reasonably priced too!

First, I noticed that the buildings are old, beautiful and, all the same height, like Paris. And the main avenues are wide and grand with lots of public space. Plazas abound along with car free roads dedicated to pedestrian traffic and leisurely strolling:

And Shopping:

And restaurants:

It really is fantastic!

While there we visited with my cousin, Roy Lotz. Roy is the grandson of first cousin, Vera Ann Farrell. He is a young man (and Stony Brook alum!) living and teaching English in Madrid. It was great catching up!

Oh, and the weather...mid to high 60's while we were there. The temps were very comfortable, especially at night. I believe it was unusually warm while we were there, but it was delightful for us! Flowers are beginning to bloom, too.

36 hours isn't enough time to get to know a city, but we are certainly tempted to return again. Here are some photos and a link to more:

See you again, Madrid!