Day 30. Sunday 6 April.

Yesterday we’d observed a very smart, colourful looking bird foraging on the ground, and initially thought it was carrying a twig in its beak- then realized it was actually a long beak. Couldn’t track it down then, but today discovered it is the Eurasian Hoopoe.

Today was to be a quiet day, to regroup before our next stop in Granada. But there was the Mercadillo de Nerja y Rastrillo to visit: sort of Camberwell Market (Victoria) but perhaps more car boot. Found parking and wandered. D came away with one shirt at 2 Euro – as we left and an industrious woman showed her skills with colourful wristbands.

Stopped at the Lidl and Aldi competitive arena, to find neither competing: both shut on Sundays! We weren’t the only ones who drove in and drove out disappointed. T had announced that Lidl seafood would make tonight’s paella meal (so maybe we’ll starve!)

A few slow hours at Casa Torres (house of bull – is that really appropriate?) then a drive down to the waterfront via the Avenida Alcado de Antonio Villas Laras Rosas – as Doris delights to tell us in full before reaching every one of the many roundabouts in close proximity to each other that we crossed. We planned to walk around the coastline, and check out the Balcon de Europa. Found a car park on the river – two miracles in one day! Inevitably joined the crowds of tourists, and were caught up in tour groups on several occasions. Beaches quiet but some hardy swimmers and sun bakers. Couldn’t walk all the way around, due to footpath renovations and gaps in the walking trail, but ended up at a small beach: Playa Carabeo. It was then time to return home for a glass of wine on the patio. For a ‘quiet day’, we still managed over 11k steps.

Dinner. As mentioned, a paella had been planned, but due to Lidl and Aldi letting us down, it was a T special using up half a zucchini, a handful of mushrooms, a tomato purchased on the way home, (as we parked in a bus zone with hazard lights on – very Spanish) & sundry herbs topped with grated pecorino.