October 20, 2015
Cómpeta, looked like the loveliest white village as we approached after 2 hours in the local bus from Málaga. With narrow streets winding uphill and flat roofed houses that date to Moorish times it is seven hundred metres above sea level. There are impressive views of the surrounding mountains, pueblos, farms and the Mediterranean but we were disappointed to discover this pueblo is dominated by foreigners.
Approaching Cómpeta
Bell tower of the Church, 1505
A street in Cómpeta
The thick, strong semi-sweet Moscatel of Cómpeta is delicious
But the fine dry white wines from here are even better
An old mule trail leads down to ...
... the pueblos of Archez & Canillas de Albaida
C14th Moorish Minaret of Archez's Church retains Arabic decorations
Farmer near Canillas ploughing a small farm with a horse
La Taberna de Oscar - Lunch of roast lamb, a lot of food, but we ate it all ...
... with a young Ribera del Duero to go along
25 kilometers from Cómpeta, Frigiliana at 300 meters above sea level consists of two adjoining centres – one of Moorish origin and the other constructed more recently with the architectural style of the old village – a nice walk from Acebuchal.
Deep in the mountains C17th pueblo of Acebuchal, abandoned in the Civil War ...
... restored by the son of a former inhabitant 50 years later
Walking into Frigiliana - with its narrow streets and steep slopes
Callejon del Señor (God's Alleyway) - a tiny street in the Moorish Quarter
Frigiliana men waiting
We arrived in Nerja, a costal town on the Costa del Sol east of Málaga, by walking from Frigiliana down the dry bed of the Higueron River. A great walk between tall red rocky cliffs.
Walking down the Higueron River to Nerja
House built into the cliffs under the motorway near Nerja
Paella at Merendero Ayo on beach near Nerja - all you can eat, about $12 ...
... is so popular he has 3 going at once & no we didn't eat all that
One of Nerja's beaches
19th century mudejar style aqueduct is still used for irrigation water
Inside the Nerja Caves - impressive but too many people & too much money