Monday 5th November 2018 (Guy Fawkes Day!!)

It was a grey and dreary morning but the ace weather prognosticator, Paivi had told us it would be brighter by midday and, sure enough, she was right. Nevertheless we spent the morning usefully packing in preparation for our departure for Granada in the morning. As we would then be leaving for home from Granada, logistics came to the forefront in arranging clothes for Granada as well as the trip home.

So, in response to the brighter weather, we decided to take off for the mountains and the Genalguacil National Park. We drove along the coast nearly to Malaga before heading northerly towards the mountains. and the small town of Ubrique. The road started to climb quite soon and it was almost immediately a series of tight turns as we climbed higher and higher. Every now and then we stopped at 'miradores' which are designated viewing places along the road. The views became ever more spectacular with Gibraltar and the hills of Tarifa view-able to the west. As we reached one peak we then started to drop down, temporarily and it was here that we caught a glimpse of the wild goats which are in the park. Two, including a ram with an impressive set of horns were up on a hill and not too easy to see. Another, mother with a young were more open and the young one just wandered into the road affording good views and camera shots. Mother stayed behind the roadside barrier but the kid/fawn was much braver.

Views on the road to Ubrique

The two goats on the ridge above the road

The young goat (or deer) which wandered onto the road in front of the car.

We arrived at Ubrique and looked for the restaurant which the guide had said was rather good but discovered it was closed so took an alternative in the main street. We had lunch which included 'chicharones', patatas bravas, bean soup and lamb chops. At this place at ths same time having lunch was a group of 4 Polish tourists on motorcycles. This part of the country must be great fun on a motorcycle. It was very pleasant to sit on the main street of the village and watch the locals come and go. The local bus arrived at the end of its route and the driver than had to maneuver it around to face back the way he came which was much admired. Locals swept the streets, seemingly just for civic pride and a local 'oldster' sat near us and spent  quite a lot of time loudly on his cell phone to his family and also, it seemed, doing business deals! At the end of the street, there was a most beautiful tree exhibiting fall foliage and also a rather cute 'giraffe' flowerpot.

Fall in Spain

We pressed onward around the winding roads to Algatocin another small town where we got a bit lost in the very, very narrow streets and all MAC's driving skills were called on when in a very narrow alley, she met a tow truck backing down in the opposite direction!! This required some 'nice' execution to extricate us and resume our route by the right road.

More 'miradores' occurred along the road back through Gaucin to Manilva. These afforded other great views as the sun lowered in the sky. This is just the most remarkably beautiful area  where there seems to be a new vista to admire at every turn.

We returned home and after a light dinner, were soon in bed.