If you find Malaga on the map on the south coast of Spain and travel east for around 25 kms then there is Benagalbon. Why are we here? We're visiting our friend Inger's sister, Gudrun. Gudrun has lived in Spain for 18 years and it is wonderful to be here with a local who has generously shown us the 'real' Spain. The beautiful countryside with the hillsides scattered with almond, citrus, olive trees. Also mangoes, avocados, vineyards, valleys full of market gardens, and drying beds for some grapes to become raisins. From the mountain top we saw small villages with their whitewashed houses and farmhouses dotted around the mountainside.
A stop off in a village led us through the narrow streets, some tapas and coffee and a local spanish lady beckoning us into her house to see what she has for sale. We walk out with fresh almonds, raisins, mangoes, dried figs and quince jelly. We then wound our way back down a very windy road to the coast.
The next day Gudun accompanied us into Malaga. The main pedestrian street was flanked by Rodin sculptures (a special exhibition), we ordered café con leche and sat outdoors to watch the passing parade. The highlight of the day was a visit to Museum Picasso. Picasso was born in Malaga and his grandson and daughter in law donated an exceptional display of his work to the gallery. We also paid a visit to his house of birth where there were a number of photographs of childhood plus many small sketches and artworks of his as a child.
A drive along the coast gave us a glimpse of the vastness of the Mediterranean and the black sands.
Paul and Robby were so taken by the countryside we decided to take the hire car into the countryside of Andalusia for a couple of days. We weaved our way through cork forests, mountain ranges and by lakes to the district of Ronda (the home of the first modern bull fight for which they are very proud!) and then down to the Costa de Sol. Our introduction to the coast was on dark, there was much traffic on the fourlane highways as well as hundreds of kilometres of townhouses. This is the area, we are told, that many English have bought villas etc for the summer with many migrating here. We managed to get ourselves completely lost after a couple of hours of driving and anxiety levels heightened we decided to bed down at the first available hotel - next to a casino in Marbella. The accommodation was above our normal standard but hey, when one is lost you don't have much choice. And, it is the first time on this trip we have been offered champagne for breakfast.
The next day we woke to the sun rising over the ocean and the mountain range covered in rain clouds. Our trip took us along the Costa del Sol. Back at Benagalbon, Gudrun had organised the 'best' home cookked paella at the local restaurant in the village.
The following morning Gudrun accompanied us to the bus station and bid us a fond farewell and safe travel as we departed for Madrid.
A stop off in a village led us through the narrow streets, some tapas and coffee and a local spanish lady beckoning us into her house to see what she has for sale. We walk out with fresh almonds, raisins, mangoes, dried figs and quince jelly. We then wound our way back down a very windy road to the coast.
The next day Gudun accompanied us into Malaga. The main pedestrian street was flanked by Rodin sculptures (a special exhibition), we ordered café con leche and sat outdoors to watch the passing parade. The highlight of the day was a visit to Museum Picasso. Picasso was born in Malaga and his grandson and daughter in law donated an exceptional display of his work to the gallery. We also paid a visit to his house of birth where there were a number of photographs of childhood plus many small sketches and artworks of his as a child.
A drive along the coast gave us a glimpse of the vastness of the Mediterranean and the black sands.
Paul and Robby were so taken by the countryside we decided to take the hire car into the countryside of Andalusia for a couple of days. We weaved our way through cork forests, mountain ranges and by lakes to the district of Ronda (the home of the first modern bull fight for which they are very proud!) and then down to the Costa de Sol. Our introduction to the coast was on dark, there was much traffic on the fourlane highways as well as hundreds of kilometres of townhouses. This is the area, we are told, that many English have bought villas etc for the summer with many migrating here. We managed to get ourselves completely lost after a couple of hours of driving and anxiety levels heightened we decided to bed down at the first available hotel - next to a casino in Marbella. The accommodation was above our normal standard but hey, when one is lost you don't have much choice. And, it is the first time on this trip we have been offered champagne for breakfast.
The next day we woke to the sun rising over the ocean and the mountain range covered in rain clouds. Our trip took us along the Costa del Sol. Back at Benagalbon, Gudrun had organised the 'best' home cookked paella at the local restaurant in the village.
The following morning Gudrun accompanied us to the bus station and bid us a fond farewell and safe travel as we departed for Madrid.
1 comment:
Well that was certainly worth staying in tune for and by jove what a large bull. I think Murr could be very jealous of that :-) Art and food what a wonderful combo, not sure about the homelessness tho'. Am left wondering what you are doing with all that baggage you have procured on your adventures? xxx
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