Rotten Weather

I know, I know, I shouldn’t complain, but last Thursday the weather finally broke here, and it either rained or looked like it was going to, dark overcast skies, and very cool temperatures. Until Sunday. The sun came out again, and temps rose to about a max of 21c. Very nice. We paid a final visit to Villaricos street market, and then drove to Mojacar Player, and the Irish Rover Pub/Restaurant for a huge Sunday lunch. There was so much food we had to take a walk along the sea front before we got back in the car for the 30 minuet or so drive home.

Then we woke up this morning. Pouring rain, and the forecast for the coming week is more of the same. Top temp today? …….13c. I hope we don’t have too much bad weather on our drive to the ferry port of Santander on Thursday. I have given us 12 hours, (if we leave on time) to do the 600 miles, which should be ample, but with this bad weather, it might be close…..wish us luck.

Of course we have the English speaking radio on here, Spectrum Radio, and they keep telling us its minus 8 and snowing in Birmingham, and minus 17 further north, with airports in Scotland closed because of snow. So plus 13c doesn’t sound bad, despite the rain.

I must add, I am writing this on “Windows Live Writer”, as we don’t have internet access here in the apartment. We have to go into town and use one of the many internet café’s. Our usual place tends to be the Carlos 111 Hotel, in the centre of town. 1 Euro for an hour, and we get freshly made coffee, on demand for 1.50 a cup. Not bad.

But the reason for this little add on, it is 11am, Monday November 29th, I am sitting in the lounge looking out over the balcony at the rain with the lap top, and where is my darling wife???? all wrapped up, and sleeping soundly in bed.

Well is is cold and miserable looking outside……….

Right place for a “car wash”

We had just left the “Irish Rover” after a great lunch on Friday when we came upon the burst water pipe and a lot of workmen scratching there heads.

On our first drive through, we both said that got some of the dust off the car. On our second drive through (yes I know, we need to get out more) we hoped to get some of the bugs off the car. And on our third and last drive through, Jim stopped the car for a short time, the sound was deafening.

This poor man got his fridge and wooden draws very wet.

But the car certainly looked a little cleaner, lol.

The Dam & the Caves

 

Today we decided to visit a town we have driven through, but never properly visited, even though it is famous for its cave houses, Almanzora. The whole area is surrounded by cliffs, made of very soft sandstone, which makes it relatively simple to carve out rooms in the cliff. We are not fully up on the total history of the place, and everything we have found so far is written in Spanish,  but if we find anything interesting we will post it later. Jane found what appear to be oyster shells in the disturbed earth. Don’t know how they would have got there. Again, if we find out, will post it later.

Not the “Hoover Dam” but very impressive. The symbol that is painted on the Dam, can be found all over Almeria. It was found painted on the walls in one of the very old caves here.   Thought to be 1000 plus years old.

Today was a very over cast day, we cannot complain., as it is the first  one we have had.  Coolish too, at just 17c.

As you can see some of the caves have been built out.

Many of these caves are still lived in full time, and are often listed in the local real estate windows, both for sale and to let.

The front door.

This is one we got to have a look in, there was around 8 rooms in it.

The back of the house. Note the chimney.

This picture was taken without the flash.

Sunday lunch at “The Irish Rover”

Not long after we arrived in Aguilas, we met an English couple, Roy and Ursula Partington. Roy retired from West Midlands Police in the early 80’s. He worked at the driving school at Halesowen. Ursula was a nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. They are a great couple, and on Sunday Jane and I were going to have a Sunday carvery lunch at the Irish Rover,  in Mojacar Player, and asked them if they would care to join us.  We had a great day. We stopped at Villaricos, for the Sunday market on the way, and arrived at the “Rover” well in time for a huge lunch.

The four of us followed that up with a long walk along the “Prom”, before returning to the car for the 45 minuet or so drive back to Aguilas.  We stayed at their place for a cuppa or two, and after putting the world to rights. we left for home. A great day out with two very nice people. 

A great drive with great view’s

One of the great things we both love about this area of Spain is the amazing scenery. Mountain views, sea views from varying angles, the Mediterranean sea has a blue colour all its own, no other sea or ocean can compare. Then of course, there are dozens of small towns and villages that you come across.  The village below is named Lubrin. It is built into the side of a mountain,   typical of the way the Spanish built their small villages. This of course means narrow and very steep streets, not meant for todays modern vehicles.

Right at the top of Lubrin is the village church. What a shame,   that in this day and age, they have to lock the church doors when no officials are present. Having walked up the steep hill only to find  the doors locked was a huge disappointment.

However, that was soon turned to delight when we found the most wonderful restaurant, that from the outside was tiny, but once through the door, became a series of tiny rooms and alcoves, some of which had a log fire burning. What a delight. Unfortunately we had already eaten, so it was just coffee for us. But maybe if we go back !!!!!!

 

 

Can you believe the colour?

 

 

There are dozens of abandoned buildings like this

one all over the desert area.

 

These streets all have vehicles  driving

through them, and are not “one way” streets.

Fortunately,  when we drove through, it was

siesta time, so not much traffic about.

 

Some of these country roads are incredible.

Switch backs, 180 degree bends, and the

steepest grades you can imagine. Not one for

our American RV I can tell you.  But the views make

it all worth while. The photographs really do not

tell the whole story in this instance.

 

 

Saw this little fellow sunning himself,

and almost trod on him………

Museum de Bordados del Paso Azul

Today we went to Lorca, this is our 3rd visit to the city. We took George, Dan and the children there, and did a tour of the castle. There is a great shoe shop there ……….but it all went so wrong …… Jim came out with a pair NOT ME…

I just had to put all these photos on this page, as the needle work, (which is all done by hand) was awesome.

We got to see the ladies embroidering new robes. They work so fast and with such skill.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE & SEE THE NEEDLE WORK

The gold thread is real GOLD. One of the ladies gave me a a small length of the 3 types they use.

Moses in the bulrushes

A day at the races.

• 

  • Yesterday we went to Villaricos, for the home made cart racing. (Wacky Races). It was to raise money for a local charity. It was a shame not many people turned up. There were a few street stalls set up, and a hotdogs/hamburgers stand.

Ask yourself, “would you let your grandchildren push you at 10mph around a race track”.?

We stopped a few places on the way back. I love this house below.

Update on Lee

Just to let you all know Lee had quadruple heart surgery on Monday and may be home by Thursday. Jerry is doing OK, now he is out of danger. She had some great support hanging in there with her. We were both very worried here, and are so pleased that he seems to be making such a speedy recovery. Long may it continue.

The beautiful town of Nijar.

 

Yesterday we set off not sure where we were going (not like us at all !!) then looking at the map, always a good thing, I saw a town called Nijar in BIG letters (so must be a big town LOL) The sun was shining and hot and when we got to the town, which was on a hillside, the market was on ….my radar was working fine , as Jim calls it for markets. After a walk round the market we returned to the car, and drove to the main town, the High street of which is on a steep hillside. We drove to the top of the hill  parked and headed  back down on foot to the town.

You may remember from an earlier post my new  red rug, well Nijar must be one of the main makers of these rugs. I was fascinated by the weaving machine.    We got a small door rug in the same colors for      3.95 Euros.  We sat and had a coffee, and by the time we got up to go  around 2pm  siesta  time was here, and all the shops close till 5pm, so will have to go back again.

I think this is the nicest town we have found.

A great week, with the “Wild” Bunch

 

 

Emma & Georgina in Mojacar.

 

Vera beach

We were told to visit Vera We beach, as it has a long sandy beach and big waves.

Emma had so much fun this day in the water. After we all set up camp on the beach for the day, we very soon realised it was a nudist beach. Only a few walked passed, most stayed away when they saw we had “clothes” on………

Lorca Castle

We were met by a “Knight” as soon as we walked in, he wanted to know if we were from Granada. When we said “no” he let us pass.

 

The “wild” bunch

Me & Jim

Joe loved listening to his info phone, as we walked around the Castle.

 

Aguilas steps

 

Emma took this photo.

 

Last day on the beach.

Last game of football.

A great time was had by all.

A whole week without rain, sun every day 25c+,

Saturday cloudy all day, but still temps

in the low 20’s c.

Much to Dans delight, it was raining as we drove to

Alicante airport, to see them off. He said it made it easier to go home if it was raining.

Much to our delight, when we left the airport

the sun reappeared, and temps soared back up

to the high 20’s c.