Day 37. Monday 14 April.

In 2010, three members of our family had a big day. One of them had two birthdays in April due to the time difference. So, 15 years on, the same one again has two birthday celebrations, having turned 75 at 1600 on 14 April in Spain, which was midnight in Australia, and will turn 75 again tomorrow in Spain at 0800 in Australia. Has he lost (the plot) or gained 8 hours? Sliding doors?

The day was cloudy & cool.T needed to get the washing on & deal with the collection of vegies in fridge ahead of departure on Tuesday. Can’t bear to waste a leek or half packet of mixed veg & 3 tomatoes…so the large saucepan came out. While the pot simmered, T googled where the cave village was…only 24 mins away! ‘Let’s go for coffee’ at Setenil de las Bodegas (a white village) famous for its dwellings/caves built into rocks that hang above the Río Guadalporcún. The weather was not promising and it deteriorated as we got closer. On arrival, and finding a car park spot, (up a hill and a bit out of town, but these are gold) we vacillated about just taking some photos and leaving, but decided to keep going (down, down, down). Good decision, as the weather behaved & views were magic.

The town was full of tourists, for obvious reasons. The initial functional/utilitarian creation of buildings had morphed into a tourist attraction, but the history still shone through. 

Of course by then it was ‘bar time’ but we got a coffee (& pistachio sweet treat) in a cafe with a ‘dripping wall’. The incense burners were fired up, there was María Tormentino, and spiders’ webs in the limestone overhangs

Again, narrow streets not constructed for modern vehicles: one nice little cameo occurred just as we were photographing the spot : a local, pooch in arms,  guiding quite a big car around a very tight corner.

‘What’s for dinner?’was the question on the way home, so via Aldi for chorizo to accompany the already cooked veg. 

After lunch the brighter afternoon beckoned.  We’d bought a bulk monument visit pass, but our priority was a view of the Puerto Nouveau, walkable from our apartment. Dropped in to Palacio de Mondragon. Is there a theme emerging?

Through Plaza Maria Auxiliadora to descend many, many steps, stopping at several viewing platforms, again a chance to marvel at nature and man’s skills.

What goes down, must come up and for some reason the mountain got steeper and longer. Aimed for the museum (closing at 6) to find that because we are now into Semana Santa, timings have changed & close was actually 1500. Oh, well! The walk had been perfect.

Dinner. Chorizo and vegie stew, with birthday potato.