Arcos……Grazalema & a day trip to Zahara de la Sierra
Categories Spain 2017.....walking, driving, training, buses, Spain 2024, 2017October 21, 2017
Another gorgeous morning which some balloonists are also enjoying………the blue skies here are incredibly clear, which many artists have exploited…
In any event, a very light breakfast at the hotel….could not resist one more pic for all you x-altar boys:
… and we depart Arcos quite smoothly. Light traffic, good roads soon bring us to a rather twisty section of narrower road through mountainous terrain…
….until we descend into Grazelama, another dramatically positioned “pueblo blanco”…
Many of these towns were established on the front line of the Christians’ centuries-long fight to recapture Spain from the Moors, who were slowly pushed back into Africa. Today, these hill towns are no longer strategic but do offer a peaceful environment and some have become tourist magnets. Our hotel (Hotel Villa de Grazelama) is just outside the town, but only about a 15 minute walk.
Check-in is simple, as is the parking, which is on site, and, in short order we are off to explore….although the Catholic troops eventually triumphed, it is often the Moorish influence that makes these towns architecturally interesting, with their labyrinths of narrow, cobblestone streets, their fortress-like walls, and their little whitewashed houses with the characteristic wrought-iron grilles. No dramatic historic museums and the like, just a very pleasant little town which gives rise to a relaxed sightseeing approach….
The day is not complete without food, you may have guessed by now that we do enjoy this part of the day!! Another TripAdvisor recommendation as we stop at the El Torreon for an al fresco meal in a lovely little mini square….we opt or the menu de dia and add a bottle of rose to ensure we will while away the balance of the day…
…2 hours later we are done ….pick up some cheese/bread/sweeties on the way back, as we doubt dinner out will be happening as we slowly make our way back to our hotel…
Our unit is ground floor and faces the pool….so Annie hits the lounger to read and catch some rays…
…yours truly is back to the Chromebook to scribe away. Another chill day !!!
October 22, 2017
While the morning is again blue, bright and sunny, yours truly is feeling only so so > fighting some kind of coughing issue as well as having a rather poor night’s sleep. In any event, we gradually get going >>> the plan for today is a day trip to Zahara de la Sierra reputed to be the most perfect of the province’s fortified hilltop pueblos. It is about 20 kms away through the heart of the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema, an important reserve for griffon vultures as well as other animals. The narrow road twists and turns ascending a pass to then drop precipitously to our destination. A lovely drive through pine studded, boulder strewn meadows and intermittent oak forests as well as the occasional mirador to take in the views…
Zahara, a tiny town with a stunning setting under a Moorish castle, has a spectacular view. During Moorish times, Zahara was contained within the fortified castle walls above today’s town. The Spanish Christian forces of the Reconquista considered it is the gateway to Granada, as such it was a strategic stronghold for the Moors. After parking our car and a quick coffee, we walked to the upper town ….
…and then climbed a series of stairs to the Torre which offered views over the town and countryside…
As luck would have it, there was a festival taking place, a reenactment from the years of yore….people are dressed in period dress and the upper town is festooned with decorations, with vendors selling all manner of goods…we couldn’t resist a cone of potato chips for 1.50 Eurosthe super fresh and YUMMY…
…music playing, straw strewn streets it is a fun atmosphere with people of all ages enjoying themselves…
…time is running and we have yet to reverse our tracks to get back to Grazelama…no I did not succumb to the temptresses offering wine, beer and sweet spirits!! ….so reluctantly we head down to where the car is parked and start back on our scenic drive…
All that touristing did work up an appetite and thirst so we walked to town…
… and “waited” in the plaza > some beers and a G+T (btw they make homegrown gin etc. which is cheap and quite good) for a dinner place to open …small town/Sunday by 20:00 we are allowed in and enjoy a decent meal and a fun animated conversation with a couple from London at the next table (they were in favour of Brexit and felt Donald Dicktator was not so bad) eventually the waiter brought us a freebie bottle of local liqueur…..somehow we made it back to our hotel (and to boot I have developed a sore leg > new ailment) but a top day + evening !!! No pics to preserve our dignity. Good night!