Autumn 2024

Almería & Adra - 24 & 25 September 2024

24.09 - Almería, Andalucia

Again, pleasantly surprised at how peaceful a large parking space with quite a few mohos can be! Slept well.

After a cuppa this morning, went straight for a sunrise swim - well it was gone 8am! Temperature good - but didn’t swim far - lots of rocks under the surface. The bread van man came around tooting his horn. Seemed delighted that Tintin didn’t want his 10c change for his €1 baguette!

Me driving today - about 90 minutes. The outside temperature has allegedly been 27°. However - it’s been overcast and windy all day - looks autumnal.

After lunch, needed to get going - we keep forgetting that places close for a long lunch and don’t re-open until 5 or later.

Bonus - there are 3 cats in the carpark. The Burmese looking one with the most incredible eyes was so friendly - and I’ve finally used some of the cat biscuits! Although actually, I did give some to a black cat hiding near the amphitheater in Cartagena yesterday. Mad old cat woman - carrying cat biscuits at all times!

Bikes out. There’s a cycle path virtually the whole way into Almería. This port city has a population of about 165,000. My guidebook says they’re trying to spruce up the area - um - not there yet in our humble opinion!

The book sold us the idea of visiting the Alcazaba (fortress) which was founded in the mid 10th century and went on to become one of the most powerful Moorish fortresses in Spain.

Even better, the lady asked where we’re from, then said our visit was free! I’d read something about if you were from the EU it was free - oh well! You even get a good detailed information booklet in English. Plus - she had two friendly cats in her kiosk.

Again, two more friendly cats inside by the gardens - it’s a 👍 from me!

Here’s a quick video to show the views from the top - and you get an idea of how windy it was!

We did smile at seeing the workmen lying down for their rest time!

From there we rode to the cathedral. Closed! Heyho - did we want to spend €7 each to see inside another one?!

Came back to Dave and spent time researching various areas to visit whilst we’re here. 8 miles cycling and nearly 8,000 steps.

Can hear the waves crashing on the shore - doesn’t look appealing for a swim - will see what tomorrow brings…

25.09 - Adra, Andalusia

We heard so many dogs barking last night and again this morning - but hadn’t really heard them yesterday?

Anyway, put our bathers on to go for a swim first thing this morning - decided against it - just didn’t look that safe to get in and out past the swell - picture doesn’t really show it - plus - no one else was swimming…

You can see from the photo we were parked next to a classy Hymer!

Tintin drove today - about an hour in total. Not sure I was sorry to leaving Almería!

By some estimates, Almería's greenhouses now produce between 2.5 million and 3.5 million tons of fruits and vegetables per year, enough to make them a major source of off-season tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons for people all over Europe.

The region is visible from space - it’s white from all the plastic! It has a landscape similar to deserts in the USA. It has always been an arid area, receiving only 200mm of rainfall on average each year. Over the last 35 years, the area has developed the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world.

But what happens to all the old plastic when it degrades?!

Couldn’t really get good photos whilst driving to show the sheer scale of the plastic…

We stopped off to service Dave at some random place. It was €1 for 50 liters of water. The first tap didn’t work, but thankfully the other one did.

We’re parked up in Adra. What to say - we’re certainly by ourselves, have the sound of crashing waves next to us. It’s a haven for all sorts of gulls. Even saw and fed a random catling.

We went for a swim, but quite a quick one - again, a bit concerned about being able to get out - but was fine. Saw a man strip off to go skinny dipping - maybe on the list for tomorrow! Solves the job of drying bathers!

Had a bit of a nothing afternoon - just reading books!

Went for a short walk around the end of where we’re parked. So sad to see so much rubbish on the beaches. So glad we either pick up after ourselves in Guernsey, or there’s a good community spirit whereby beach cleans are a regular thing.