Hola to one and All,
Still in Spain of course and heading west. I forgot to mention we had a really nice Australia Day. It was celebrated with a group of U.K people over quite a few drinks and good laughs and talking about laughs, (groan!!) Terry decided to ring around and try to get some quotes for H.H’s insurance what do you think of these original names... Down Under Insurance, Walkabout Insurance, Go Skippy Insurance, how corny are all these, but unfortunately that’s all we’ve got. It doesn’t instil a lot of confidence, our premiums are really high because we are aliens (non residence). I must also mention with great pride (ha ha). Terry and I were asked to join in on a game of “Boules/Patonque” with 2 other British couples, we had only played once before and WE WON!! Go the Aussies!!! Yeah…. A bit of luck always helps.
"While in Aguilas it was decided we all should do some sightseeing, Pete & Marcia had hired a car, and along with others we headed off to see the guns of Mazarron, affectionately named the Guns of Navarone". This was a series of shore guns set up to protect the port of Cartagena. These guys were big boomers - massive with a range of 24 miles. Sitting atop a cliff side overlooking the ocean just awaiting there next target. There is a rail line underneath which delivered 12 inch shells to each cannon that sat on a huge swivel base. There were 44 of these Vickers guns in total, protecting Cartagena. I think only one got to fire a shot in anger in the Spanish Civil War in 1937/39.
“Cher”…eat ya heart out!"
As a lead up to the Carnivale at Aguilas, the campsite threw a fancy dress competition along with a few drinks and loud Spanish music.
“Carnivale” has finally started - how exotic the costumes, feathers, feathers everywhere. Flamboyancy abound, the floats creative, the people & music loud and full of fun.
The extravaganza is over a 2 week period, alternating some days and nights. The theatrical makeup was simply stunning, boys and girls as young as 3-5 and upwards with eyes glittering, hair, makeup, costumes impeccable.
The Women & Men, breathtaking. We were standing on the footpath and you could see every minute detail. I was pulled into the crowd to have a dance with one of the Aliens (how appropriate) that in itself was scary but good, we were also given samples of the festive drink Cuerva to try.
Unfortunately not being able to speak or read Spanish we had no idea what each float represented and each float had there own booming music (massive speakers towed by cars), sometimes it was deafening.
They danced & walked the length of the parade in some very high heeled shoes (just watching was making my legs ache). Most of the men’s costumes were hilarious and outrageous, no inhibitions there.
There were thousands of people in the parade and watching.
Colourful costumes everywhere.
The logistics of it all was mind boggling, but it is held every year. The celebration goes back as far as Roman times in honour of the God MoMo, also Saturn, Jano and the rites of Pan.This celebrates the New Year & Spring. People collect egg shells and fill them with confetti, seal them with silk paper & flour/water paste.These are thrown at everyone, covering the fiesta with colour. The weather was great, their average air temp is 25 degs with winter 15-17 degs, so all was good.
We said our good byes to all the people and animals we had met at the campsite and trundled off down the road.
After 24 days in the one spot (unheard of for us), we arrive at our next destination. We finally arrive to see a guy locking the door to the reception/check in area, its 1pm. He comes to his car via us and says “We fit you in at 5’oclock” and drove off. We make the executive decision that we are NOT going to sit in a carpark for 4 hrs until he has his lunch break - this can be a problem in Spain. It is how some business’s are run and it adds to why Spain is struggling. The tourist’s go to where the shops are open (you cannot change old die hard habits). So we leave, re programme Nigel and off we go. This next campsite is run by a German fellow (say no more!!) In we go and stay 2 days at a place called VERA. We have had high winds lately so the beach was thundering with surf, we had a great bike ride around the township. The coastal strips are full of thousands of unoccupied units and failed real estate developments. Amazing.
While driving through the countryside in Spain you can understand why Clint Eastwood shot a lot of his “Spaghetti Westerns” here. The landscape is vast with rolling plains, lots of rocks/boulders, cacti . and very dry looking soils, the colour of dust. Perfect location you might say.
We are now in Roquetas De Mar in the Andalucia playa region.
On yer bike I told/persuaded T.Lee and off we peddled down to the Marina and what do we spy but a “Moody Eclipse 43”, the same as “Spirit Chaser”, looking good!!!! - We reminisce, feel slightly homesick for a minute or two, and while doing so two couples walked by and commented on the same boat.
So with our story told and theirs in return, they invited us to stay at their property in France when we are next that way. A delightful English couple with a house on 10 acres.They said we must do it! Some people are just so incredibly generous with their time, information and obviously their property. The other couple with them have sailed to Australia, then Indonesia, Thailand, Yemen, Suez Canal e then back to the U.K. all in a 34ft yacht! I was having nightmares just listening to their travels, lovely brave people. They both own motorhomes and are travelling accordingly. Next day we ride 25 kms in the other direction along the boardwalk.
Palm trees growing tall in the middle of the beaches looking like an Oasis and lots of what I call “Norfolk Island Pines” which remind me of home and the East Coast. There are families everywhere, the warmer weather bringing people out & about and it was a Sunday, just gorgeous. Prior to getting to this campsite “Nigel” the G.P.S. voice took us down an incredibly narrow road and therefore we ended up with trailing bits of greenery hanging off our awning enclosure and a few more scratches, needless to say we exited via another road.
Moving 30 kms down the road (another big day out) past all the agricultural plastic scenery (white hot houses everywhere) to of course, the ocean. Down to the Almerimar Marina we go and for 9 euros a night without power (as there was none available to us) we park happily.
We have 360 degs views encompassing the Marina, boats, shops, restaurants and bars. There was lots of Kite & Wind surfers (it was actually blowing dogs off chains), also snow capped mountains which is an extraordinary sight in itself and it’s 19 degs today. We manage 3 days without power, could have done 4 at a pinch, solar panels would be an advantage, one day!!!!!.
Off again and we have just seen a farmer with his horse pulling a plough through his fields, this would of been a great Kodak moment but we couldn’t stop this was real back to basic farming. The Almond trees are in full blossoms looking very much like Spring.
Next we pass through MARBELLA.This is a tourists playground, very much alive and just waiting for the summer onslaught, actually everywhere is slowly coming back to life, people will be returning soon to opening of shutters, painting and repairing and cleaning up gardens that have been put to sleep for winter.
It can get a little cramped at times. But we wedge in between a couple of “big boys”!
It’s March and there a lot of UK, German, Dutch and French people on the roads again returning home from their winter sojourn in Spain. We have just passed the “Rock Of Gibraltar” on our left and Algeciras where you catch the “wave piercer" to Morocco.
Today we are settled in ZAHORA and we stay 4 nights. I set off for my walk ( I’m the forward scout ), down to the beach and on my return I meet a cross eyed cat. I said hello to her, she had this beautiful big boofy head. She looked at me with most amazing blue eyes, but they where going in the wrong direction, or maybe she just couldn’t understand the Aussie accent. Head held high she strolled off and that was that. And that’s it from us also, can’t bore you forever, we will stay in touch…... but wait ….. also on our bike ride the next day, we end up at Cape Trafalgar which, just a few miles off the coast, is where Nelson handed out a thrashing to the French and Spanish fleets. I think the score was 23 to Nil!
So it’s adios from us all for now. Next report will be from sunny Portugal (we hope).
XXXX S and T and HH.
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