Almeria Cathedral
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“Photographs of Spain”
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Cabo de Gata Natural Park – flora & fauna
by Robert Bovington
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| Las Salinas (Cabo de Gata) © Robert Bovington |
The Cabo de Gata natural park is really rather splendid. It is one of my favourite areas in the province of Almería. High temperatures and the lowest rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula have created a large semi-desert area but, despite its aridity, it is a nature lover’s delight. There are thousands of different species there including the pink flamingo and the rare Italian wall lizard. There are storks, cormorants and kestrels, puffins, oystercatchers and eagles. The extraordinary wealth of wildlife is unbelievable. There are many native species that are unique to the park including the pink snapdragon (antirrhinum charidemi), known locally as the dragoncillo del Cabo, which flowers all year round. Dwarf fan palms are to be found here. They are Europe’s only native palms. In the sea, there are grouper, bream, squid and prawn. There are also 260 species of seaweed, which are home to many varieties of crustacean, mollusc and fish.
Other blogs by Robert Bovington:
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“Photographs of Spain”
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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|
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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|
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“bits and bobs”
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|
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Cabo de Gata Natural Park – 3
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This photograph was taken near the tiny hamlet of Salinas de Acosta, where salt from the Salinas is piled in great heaps. Its church, which has a very tall tower, dominates the area for miles around and is almost on the seashore.
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.Other blogs by Robert Bovington:
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“Photographs of Spain”
|
|
|
“Spanish Impressions”
|
|
|
“you couldn’t make it up!”
|
|
|
“a grumpy old man in Spain”
|
|
|
“bits and bobs”
|
|
|
“Spanish Expressions”
|
|
|
“Spanish Art”
|
|
|
“Books About Spain”
|
Sorbas – Plaza de la Constitución
Sorbas – Plaza de la Constitución
The Town Square or ‘Plaza de la Constitución’ is really rather splendid. On one side is the former residence of the Duke of Alba. There are many mansions in this ancient town. In bygone days, a number of Castilian noblemen lived here. They not only owned these large houses but between them most of the surrounding land as well. Today, these houses are still privately owned. Many of them have attractive red façades.
Gérgal (Almería)
Gérgal is a pleasant little town that stands on the banks of the river of the same name. Visitors can spend an enjoyable hour strolling the streets lined with the whitewashed buildings typical of Andalucía. Bougainvillea cascades lovingly down the sides of some of the buildings which are a mixture of early traditional and houses built in the 19th century, during the prosperous mining days. A castle stands prominent at the top of a hill. It was built on the ruins of a medieval fortress in the 17th century but it is now a private dwelling.
Cortijo del Fraile near Rodalquilar
The famous Spanish author, Federico García Lorca used this building as the setting for his chilling play ‘Blood Wedding’. It was no coincidence. It is allegedly based on real life events that happened here.
Rodaquilar – old gold mine
This part of Spain has always had an abundance of raw materials and this area of the Cabo de Gata has been extensively mined for 2000 years. The Romans extracted silver here. Later ‘lead fever’ took hold in the middle of the 19th century. However, the golden years for Rodalquilar followed the discovery of gold around 1880.
Rodaquilar (Cabo de Gata) - old gold mine workings
Enix (pueblo blanco in Almería province)
Enix is a typical pueblo blanco. Often, old men with flat caps and walking sticks sit on the benches in the town square busily chatting and watching the world go by. Dogs laze in the doorways of the white houses. Just beyond the town centre, pine and eucalyptus trees border the road.
Enix - Plaza de la Constitución
Alboloduy (a village in the Alpujarras)
Alboloduy nestles at the foot of a mountain with orchards of citrus, grape and olive spread out across the valley below. A lovely looking church stands prominent amidst the little white houses of Arabic origin that tumble down the hillside. The town is situated in the Sierra Nevada Natural Park.
Alboloduy - photo by Robert Bovington
Postcards from Spain 