Day 34 and our penultimate Saturday in Spain on Eurotrip 5. We made our way via bus, which runs every half an hour on a Saturday from just outside the campsite into Granada around lunchtime. The fare is Euros 1.5 each and during the week, the buses depart every 15 minutes on the quarter of the hour.

Granada fiesta…

There was some kind of fiesta and procession occurring in Granada that day and many of the city centre roads were closed to traffic. A pair of large bulls was pulling the centre peace of the procession.

Later we visited the cathedral of Granada. Unlike most cathedrals in Spain, construction of this cathedral had to await the acquisition of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada from its Muslim rulers in 1492; while its very early plans had Gothic designs, the construction of the church in the main occurred at a time when Spanish Renaissance designs were supplanting the Gothic regnant in Spanish architecture of prior centuries.

Weather was mixed again – blighty is enjoying warmer and drier weather than Spain at the moment. Apparently that happens for a day or two every few years… Dinner was a nice steak cooked on the BBQ.

The reason we are here in Granada is the same reason most people visit Granada – to see the Alhambra.

Generallife gardens…

Ornate Plaster ceilings…

Alcazaba…

Nasrid Palace…

Nothing much to report today.  The day was spent working on a variety of issues and taking care of some laundry.

The evening however was spent at the campsite restaurant where the food was of a high standard. One of their specialities was “meat and stone” – I had the steak and cooked it on the supplied granite block.

Steak and stone…

Our first full day in Granada and the morning was spent chilling at the campsite. It was quite cold last night with a low of 7 degrees celsius but the day soon warmed up a high of around 31 degrees in the centre of town.

We took the bus, which stops just outside,  from the campsite into Granada in the afternoon. The price is 1.5 Euros for a single ticket and the journey to the Palace of Congress takes just 20 minutes.

Carerra del Darro…

We visited Carrera del Darro which is one of the oldest streets in Granada and its name is given to the entire left bank of the River Darro.

Carrera del Darro is one of the most scenic walks in Granada. To the right of the River Darro, it is crossed by two brick and stone bridges (Cabrera and Espinosa), which link Carrera del Darro with the neighborhood of the Churra. It runs between the river, the forest of the Alhambra and the Almanzora, which extends up the slope of Gomerez. The street dates from the seventeenth century.

Dobla de Oro…

We are still trying to find out what the Dobla de Oro is.

Evening was another BBQ and despite retiring indoors due to rain, the shower lasted only a few minutes.

I didn’t receive any comments suggesting who the famous person was filming during our visit to Fort Bravo.

Have found out his name is Jesus Calleja and he’s a mountaineer, having previously climbed Everest and now a popular film / documentary producer.

Just google “Jesus Calleja”.

We arrived in Granada around 12:15 after just over two and a half hours on the road. Not bad for a 130 mile trip but as always, the roads are excellent and no traffic delays.

We joined the A7, direction Almeria and then picked up the A92 all the way to Granada. The landscape was mountainous and not the easiest of tows on a very windy day and ascending to more than 1000 meters on a number of occasions.

The Sierra Nevada are still snow covered and on arriving in Granada, the snow covered mountains are still visible in the near distance. It is a most bizarre experience because the daytime temperature in Granada is 30 degrees celsius plus!

Reina Isabel pitch…

The campsite is Reina Isabel, located on the northern edge of La Zubia and just 20 minutes by frequent bus service to the centre of Granada. The site has around 40 – 50 pitches and they are small… We have one of the largest pitches on the site (courtesy of our lunchtime arrival) and there is no possibility of erecting the awning.

BBQ Shelter…

We did however manage to hang up a tarpaulin from the rear of the caravan under which we can keep the BBQ and chairs – some rain is forecast during our one week stay here.

I’ll discuss more about the site later save to say that the reviews highlighting the “grumpy” owners are all true. They are efficient and will help out just so long as you ask the right questions. We have tickets booked to the Alhambra for Friday (and no, I don’t mean the theatre at Bradistan).

We are moving on from Los Escullos tomorrow after a lovely stay for the past couple of weeks. The place has grown on us significantly over the two weeks and it will definitely be on our list to return again.

It is a very peaceful part of the world. Well, maybe not so peaceful over this bank holiday weekend as the Spanish descended in large numbers and the site was practically full for the Saturday and Sunday evenings.

It took much of the morning to dismantle the awning and another hour to take a shower.

Cycle ride 5…

Then it was time for our final cycle ride here in the natural park. This time we took the bikes to San Miguel de Cabo de Gata and cycled around a circular route (number 5 in the guide book) and past a series of salt marshes and lakes.

Proper sized Brandy…

Evening was dinner at the site restaurant and how about this for a decent sized brandy to end the evening…

Our daughter is presently camping in the New Forest with her friend Em, basking in the glorious bank holiday weather. We did offer them the chance to stay with us at the National Park, Cabo de Gato but flights were expensive so it didn’t really work out.

They had challenged us to a weekend steps competition via our fitbits and whilst Mo and I are trailing heavily after day 1, we felt we ought to make more of an effort on day 2 of the weekend.

We decided to hike from Las Negras to Cala San Pedro and whilst we hiked some 6 – 7 miles in the afternoon, this doesn’t begin to tell the story.

San Pedro

Not only was the hike tough, but the scenery along the high coastal path was stunning and breath taking. As always, the pictures don’t recall the true beauty of the landscape nor just how close to the cliff edge much of the walk meanders.

Cala San Pedro itself is an isolated village – so far as we can tell there is no road access to it – around a 1.5 hour hike around the mountains being the only land access. Perhaps it would be better described as a commune as the place had a distinctly “hippy” feel to it and the village was dotted with various tents, ramshackle buildings and shelters constructed on the side of the mountain and lower down near to the beach.

View from coastal path…

It is worth noting that there is a boat service (via rubber dinghy) from Las Negras to San Pedro – not for us because we need the steps!

At one point, the coastal path crosses a natural spring and a group of locals were busy taking it in turns to bath in it. Completely naked. Mo says its the most naked men she’s seen in a day during the entire trip!

Following our return to Las Negras, we sat outside one of the beach bars and enjoyed a beer or two. Another glorious day and a late evening BBQ to round things off. Despite our exertions, we came a poor third and fourth in the steps challenge.

Day 26, Friday and Mo has a migraine so a lazy day at the campsite. Another hot and sunny day.

River from Las Negras…

Day 27, Mo is feeling a little better and despite waking up to rain, the clouds slowly cleared and so later in the day we decided on a short hike from Las Negras, following a river bed into the mountains.

Although the route claimed to be signposted, we saw no evidence of this.

Local Flora…

The terrain was rugged and progress was slow but the peace and quiet of the region was once again most evident. We only saw one other group of ramblers on the trip.

There isn’t a great deal to tempt the traveler to El Argamason, near Carboneras – there are no shops, bars or cafes – just a random selection of traditional white Spanish dwellings.

El Argamason ramble…

There is however a signposted and little frequented, circular walk starting and ending in the village.

Rio Alias…

Heading out of the village and downhill to the bridge, there is a left turn some 200m further ahead and here one can pick up the trail along the semi-dried river bed. The vegetation, typical of humid areas, acts as a shelter for various species of animals – apparently, according to the guide book – we just saw lots of frogs!

Rio Alias basin…

During the earlier sections, the river is wide but the final stretch of the river is slotted between two large masses of rocks, revealing a part underground basin at the source.

Rio Alis flora…

There were many different species of wild flowers on both the route out and the track back high above the river bed.

The weather again was hot and sunny with highs in the early 20s. Dinner was another BBQ back at the campsite.