Andalucia
A road-trip across souhtern Spain
July 2011
The conference business usually runs at a slower pace in the summer time, companies wind down and do not hold many meetings.
This year we had several events to run. This one took place in Madrid in the middle of July and I had nothing planned for at least a week after, A unique chance to get that trip to Andalucia that has been sitting on my bucket-list.
After our event, I caught the 9pm AVE high-speed train at Madrid-Atocha station. The Spanish high-speed train network is densely laid-out and has been developing pretty fast.
This year we had several events to run. This one took place in Madrid in the middle of July and I had nothing planned for at least a week after, A unique chance to get that trip to Andalucia that has been sitting on my bucket-list.
After our event, I caught the 9pm AVE high-speed train at Madrid-Atocha station. The Spanish high-speed train network is densely laid-out and has been developing pretty fast.
11pm, Sevilla Santa-Justa station, walked to the Santa-Cruz, old town area, to find the hotel I had booked. A nicely refurbished venue, central to the neighbourhood, with small but clean rooms. After walking around a bit, I went to bed in order to be fit for an early sun-rise wake.
Next morning, Sunday, I headed off around 7am to grab colourful and contrasting pictures of the Santa-Cruz neighbourhood still asleep, a free territory for picture hunting.
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As I got my car at the station, the rental company had kindly upgraded me but I noticed there was no AUX input on the stereo. I couldn’t imagine having my long-awaited road-trip without my favourite music and asked to be downgraded...! I then drove southward through the town to catch the highway leading to Antequera, some 160 kilometres away.
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I got there slightly before lunch and while walking around ended right at the top of the town, with the main church at the top, overlooking the valley. I found there, on a small plaza, a local restaurant, El Escribano, no one around, very hot and very silent, a perfect place to doze off, which eventually happened once I ended eating.
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After that power nap, I walked back to the car through another part of the town and then headed off to Granada.
Another of those Andalusian towns you could walk through for ages between heat and shade. As the sun was heading down, it gave nice perspectives to those ancient narrow streets with a mix of old stone, white walls and colors.
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Despite the great atmosphere of Granada I moved on after catching some views of the Alhambra.
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Next stop, Sierra Nevada, as the sun was setting. I found up there a camp site a few kilometres off a back-country road. While having a bite, after the tent was set, I had that hungry fox trying to approach to grab some food. |
After watching the moon rise over the mountains, I get a short night’s sleep; awaking just before the sun, to see it rise.
Later in the morning I drove back down and caught that highway heading south, got caught speeding, then joined the Autovia del Mediterraneo, cruising between sea and mountains along the south of Andalucia. After a stop in Mijas and a quick stroll through the village, I walked up the mountain to grab a 360° view of the Costa Del Sol.
I then drove back to the motorway that brought me far from the resort-packed coast-line, back into the mountains, then onto smaller roads up to Ronda.
Avoiding the tourist-packed centre, I crossed the bridge over the gorge that divides the city to find myself in a quiet, nearly empty old town area, enjoying a very quiet walk round the small streets.
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After eating and napping, time to hit the road again, for a run through the mountain roads back down to the most southern point of Spain, Tarifa. The ride was wonderful, enjoying some sports driving, grabbing some magnificent views of the mountains and quietly passing through those calm villages that were enjoying, I guess, a long siesta.
On my way down, I spotted that large mountain range that fueled the idea to hike it the next day. As I was driving in that direction, I had to admit that it was not an option this time. What I thought was sitting at the other side of the small bay opposite Gibraltar was actually on the other side of the straight… in Morocco.
This part of the coast and that camping place I stayed at, are renowned for wind-surfing. Tarifa is actually the merging point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
At this point, Atlantic side of south Spain, is where it’s worth getting back to the coast-line, as it becomes wilder again: long sandy beaches, winding hills, hardly any constructions.
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The route I followed reminded me a bit of Australia’s Ocean Drive, heading between sea and country-side, ending in Cadiz, a harbour city where I grabbed some local food on the market, then walked through the narrow old streets where effects of the very windy and salty climate nible the bricks a little more every year.
As the day end approached, I headed to the small city opposite Cadiz, El Puerto Del Santa Maria, literally the harbour where Columbus’ ship was moored. A place also totally worn by the salty winds of the Atlantic.
The next morning despite the speeding to get back to Sevilla on time, I missed my train, I kind of got my internal timetable mixed up! So after handing the car in I re-booked to a later train that got me to Madrid by 11am, still having enough time to catch my plane.
This region definitely needs much more time spent at discovering every remote and wild places it has on offer. A camper van would be the best option…
The next morning despite the speeding to get back to Sevilla on time, I missed my train, I kind of got my internal timetable mixed up! So after handing the car in I re-booked to a later train that got me to Madrid by 11am, still having enough time to catch my plane.
This region definitely needs much more time spent at discovering every remote and wild places it has on offer. A camper van would be the best option…