Andalusia Northward toward Barcelona

 

Leaving Mojac and keeping along the coast, we entered Murcia Provence.  The scenery changed from agriculture to tourista.  The tarp covered fields gave way to progressively well developed residential buildings. We overnighted in Cartagena which is a major cruise line stop but I found it disappointing. Next stop was Alicante.  We had a great dinner of paella at a cafe next to a park. Cartagena and Alicante both were historically old cities with Moorish influence.  They eventually became part of the Spanish culture. Up the coast through Benidorm, and Benissa.  This area looks as if the area was developed in the last 40-50 years to support the tourist trade from the north; England, Sweden, and Norway apparently are the main points of origins for these new inhabitants.  We talked to many cafe owners who were English speaking and had moved to the area years ago.  The architecture was very modern and stylish.

As we progress toward Barcelona we stopped in Valencia where I visited in July 2017.  I don't remember it being this hot!!  Onward to Pensicola and and Calafell.  These are all small beach communities with a beach road and an inland super highway connecting. One could compare this area to the SE coast of Florida or the area south of LA county.  The area has changed from agriculture in the original part to turista.  We drove in the morning stopping for a lunch around 1 and arriving at our next stop about 4 PM.  A quick trip to the beach and then clean up for dinner.  It was very repetitive for  7-10 days.  I loved it.

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Andulusian Coast

 We left Granada and starting driving back to and along the coast northward.   Barcelona, our destination is  a total of  850 km.  That means at 100 km/hr; it's only a 8 1/2 hour drive.  Doable in 1 day or 2 if leisurely.  We are doing in 11 days.  We like to stop and "smell the roses".  There really are roses in this area but we are most interested in the roadside views.  Spain has a well maintained highway system.  The controlled access roads similar to our Interstate System are somewhat removed from the coast.  Speed limit is 120 km/hr.  We like the coastal roads.  They wind around the mountains and follow the coast.  Wonderful turnouts with view and several small coastal villages.  We stopped at them all.  For a Fanta or small snack and or just a quick dip in the Mediterranean.  Very reminiscent of the summer I spend with 3 of my friends in 1970 touring thru Europe in a rented Renault.  We also have a Renault.  How about that for a coincidence 52 yrs later. 

As far as one can see in this area are tarped covered greenhouses.  Agriculture is the main commerce in this area.  Apparently the technology is advanced and they are able to grow and export multiple crops with a minimal amount of fresh water.  This area is very arid and hot, so I imagine the only fresh water is the runoff of the coastal mountains.

About mid afternoon we stopped for lunch in a coastal development called Roquetas de Mar.  A 26 km stretch of beach which was developed in the 1960's...  Many Miami Beach looking hotels and beach promenade.  After a great afternoon and early evening we got up the next moring and drove until we happened upon another coastal overlook called Mojacar.  Its not well known in the States but very popular with the Brits.  We found a neat hotel across from the beach with a great deck and pool and ended up staying 2 nights

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GRANADA

Our second stop was inland; Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's known for grand examples of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation, especially the Alhambra.  The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was the palace of the Islamic Rulers of Spain from 711 until they were expelled by the Christian monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella of Christopher Columbus fame.  Following the expulsion of Jews; the Inquisition of 1492,  the people of Spain decided that the Moors as they were known also had to go.

During the 800 years of Moorish occupation, the Palace of Alhambra was built at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and enlarged through multiple generations of the Nasrid family.  The Alhambra occupies 26 acres and is the #3 most visited site in Spain.  We took a 3 hours guided tour.  The tour guide spoke for the whole 3 hours.  The gardens and finishes inside were like nothing I have ever seen.  There were people who traveled from far away to Spain just for this visit.

When were were finished, we returned to our hotel and did laundry.

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SPAIN

 I'LL NEVER FLY COACH AGAIN.... Ok you ask what's with Orkin and his testimonials about personal expenses.  Well after not traveling for a couple of years I had accumulated miles in most of my airline programs which I watching as they are being depreciated... So I wanted to use them up.  Now it was easy to get a coach ticket to Spain.  I assumed I could then upgrade with cash to a better position on the plane.  It has always worked for me in past years.  NOT any more.  I tried online and at the check in counter but could not secure a better seat on the flight to Malaga.  So I was on a aisle in a 747 with 3-4-3 and probably had the most fidgety person on the plane to my left.  I was actually drugged and comfortable but couldn't fall asleep because of the arm movements and kicking of my new neighbor.  Add a multi hour delay in Frankfurt and I arrived in Malaga 20 hours after I left home with probably only a hour or two of rest.  I was met at the airport by my good friends and traveling buddies, Sandra and John Lopez.  I asked them to make a vow that if I ever stated that I was flying internationally in Coach again, to just slap me to my senses

Malaga is a major metropolitan area on the Coastal del Sol. It's a major tourist destination in the summer.  An area just above the Strait of Gibraltar.  Lots of Brits, Canadians and others enjoying beaches and the night life.  We had a great 2 days indoctrinating back into the Spanish way of life; walking, sangria and red wine and lots of tapas. After a recharging ME, we piled into our rented Renault and set out for Granada.

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Summer 2022-ASHEVILLE

 Well it was supposed to be the trip to see one of the wonders of America--Yellowstone.  As luck would have it for this Noah and his crew....It rained and rained and washed out the roads in Yellowstone Park.  So our tour was cancelled 9 days before we were to leave and that started a scramble to find a place to go for 5 energetic people.   After 3 way conference calls between Houston and Baltimore, we settled on the Biltmore and Asheville, NC.

A brief history is in order at this point; the area south of Ashville, NC was settled by George Vanderbilt(grandson of Cornelius) in the late 19th century.  He bought a large estate which was to become the Biltmore Estate as a single man in his mid 20's and built this magnificent home.  He actually was married here and together built  a family and a major gathering spot for the wealthy of the era.  His descendants live. manage and work the property.

The city of Asheville has become somewhat of a mecca for the arts and foodies.  The most recent James Beard awards choose a Ashville Indian restaurant as its number 1 for the year.   I would describe Asheville as the Santa Fe of the east coast for my Texas friends.  

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