lundi 11 novembre 2013

Malaga

Last stop of the holidays, before heading back home, with the house where Picasso was born


the cathedral




the Alcazaba fortress and the Roman theater 



Local aperitive in a typical bar



and the best meal of the holidays, to celebrate the end of the week.
If you ever go to Malaga, rush to the Tapeo de Cervantes, their food is properly amazing (and, yes, I ate all of this, I wished I could have tried a few more)






On the following day, I climb up the hill to the fortress and to the castle ruins, in order to eliminate some of the calories from yesterday's evening, and have a view on the city.



 



A last fruit juice, and it is time to head to the airport, forget about the sunny terraces, and come back to reality...


El Torcal

For today, there were different options:
- going to the Tabernas desert in order to visit Far West movie locations
- horse riding in the Sierra Nevada
- hiking in the Torcal, near Antequera
My choice was eventually for the Torcal, and for sure I didn't regret it!


The limestone blocks have been subject to both dissolution by water  and freeze-thaw splitting action which, working on the horizontal beds, resulted in the various shapes visible today.

Enjoy!
















Granada

It is late when I get to Granada, but impossible not to go and have a quick look at the Alhambra, waiting for the visit tomorrow



And here it is, at last, the fortress converted into a royal palace for the Nasrid dynasty.
Moorish poets described it as "a pearl set in emeralds," in allusion to the colour of its buildings and the woods around them.























 



 





 After the Alhambra, I wandered during a few hours, walking along the river, around the cathedral and in ths old Muslim quarter, the Albaicin.

 



In the Albaicin, it is not a good idea to drive your car if you are not used to the narrow and steep streets. A driver lost this, right in front of me:


From there you can an amazing view on the Alhambra:






Last walk on the banks of the river...