Andalucía was never somewhere on my list to visit, probably as I hadn’t really heard of this region of Spain until Mr P came home one day and said that he was working with them as a sponsor in a sailing series he managed and he’d need to be there in October! Now October in the UK can be nice, but it can also be miserable as we wave goodbye to summer… The EasyJet flights were cheap, the hotel room was paid for… I went for the week too!
First bit of information – the south coast of Spain is by no means autumnal in October – it was in the mid thirties and that wasn’t really what I had packed for… Some of our group did a re-shop at the airport once they had got wind of the forecast!
Almeria – October 2009
Almeria is an interesting place. I had a lovely few days exploring by myself. Being so close to Morocco, as well as being very Spanish, it also has a clear Moorish influence (given the proximity to North Africa) which makes the architecture stunning and varied. On 2 occasions I dragged myself up to the top of the hill to the castle which commands stunning views (and had a cool breeze and little streams to cool feet down in). The architecture here is a real mixture of the two regions and the result is stunning, if not quirky. Look one way and you are in Spain, and another and it feels much more like North Africa!
On other days I helped with the race committee of the sailing event, responsible for noting the time of all finishers – a very important job! It was lots of fun being part of this race committee as they were strong supporters of apres-sail! Like skiing, but probably more out of hand!
Despite spending so much time near the water, you’ll be interested to know that I don’t like the water one bit! Imagine my delight when I was nonchalantly watching many of the crew and organising team jump into the marina at the end of the prize-giving party (the water was about a 15 metres fall below the sea wall) when the event director grabs me and jumps in with me!!! I’m still alive to tell the tale, so water clearly isn’t that bad – but Mr P certainly moved fast to catch up with me as I won’t even jump into a swimming pool when I can see the bottom!
Often a very forgotten corner of Spain that is well worth visiting
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It was a complete surprise and a good one, I really do need to go back to the area again