 |
| The view from our terrace. |
As we sit on the terrace watching the morning sun set the Mediterranean sparkling like a million sequins, we reflect how lucky we are to be back in sunny Spain. The little beach town of Mojacar (Mo-hawk-ar) may be one of our favourite places to visit and will be difficult to leave. It is not unusual to pass the entire morning on the wide sunny terrace enjoying our coffee and the ambience before suddenly realizing that as the lunch hour approaches we need to get moving and run our errands before the shops close for siesta. After a quick burst of energy to replenish our supplies, we take our lazy bums to lunch in one of the many excellent restaurants and cafes along the beachfront road running through Mojacar Playa. There we can spend a couple of hours relaxing over a delicious three course meal (8-11 euro including wine, beer or soda) while visiting with friends or people watching along the promenade. Then home for a short siesta before sharing tapas and a pint on the terrace or back down along the promenade. It's easy to socialize here as everyone is relaxed and just strikes up a conversation with the next table at the little cafes and pubs.
 |
| The beautiful Mojacar Playa as seen from one of the Moorish Watchtowers along the coastline. Yes that is a two-way road the car is navigating. |
Dinner in Europe is usually enjoyed anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 p.m. when everyone has finished their evening stroll or sunbathing on the beach, and can last several hours. It is again a three course event with wine or Sangria, or a pint for the many Brits who live here. We mostly skip the dinner hour as we usually have leftovers from lunch or are still full from the late afternoon tapas. It's a wonder Europeans remain so thin.
 |
| One of the Moorish Watchtowers not far from town. These were built along the Almeria coastline in the 12th and 13th Century and could communicate signs of invasion from the sea. Yes we made the climb. |
With all the relaxing and eating and socializing, you would think we wouldn't have time to do any sightseeing. Surprisingly we've managed to do a lot. There are countless towns and sights all within a hour's drive from our sleepy little corner, each with their own personality and charm. Our friends Dick and Anita visited last week from Portugal and we managed to explore the cliff top Mojacar Pueblo;
 |
| Mojacar Pueblo |
 |
| Navigating the streets in Mojacar Pueblo. This is how they stay so slim. |
and marvel at the old stone houses hanging over the straight, rocky cliffs of Sorbas.
 |
| Sorbas - notice the house hanging right off the cliff on the right. This is a zoom lens - the village is up a mountainside |
We shopped the enormous Sunday market at Villaricos (where I think Anita replaced her entire wardrobe for around 50E);
 |
| Waiting for Churros at the market. |
 |
| The market drugstore. A cure for whatever ails you. |
and we rediscovered the seaside village of Carboneras where Omar Sharif filmed parts of Laurence of Arabia.
 |
| Statue of Laurence of Arabia in Carboneras. Omar Sharif visited in 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film. |
We navigated the rugged cliffs of the 'Siren's lighthouse' in Cabo de Gato near Almeria and tried not to get blown off into the sea.
 |
| The "Siren" lighthouse at Cabo de Gato. As this is the southern tip of the Almeria district of Spain, many shipwrecks would occur along the rocky coastline while sailing out of the Mediterranean towards the Atlantic. |
 |
| A seaside villa at Cabo. |
A fun afternoon was spent at Fort Bravo, otherwise known as Texas Hollywood, where the spaghetti westerns were made. That experience is a post in itself. Needless to say our evenings have been spent watching old westerns with a more discerning eye.
Hasta Luego Amigos!
