Blogs from Antequera, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, Europe

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Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Málaga » Antequera May 14th 2017

Geo: 37.0194, -4.56288Today we are off to El Torcal de Antequera, a nature reserve in the Sierra del Torcal Mountain range. The area is known for its dramatic limestone formations and karst landscape. Along our way we stopped in the historical town of Antequera which dates back almost 5,000 years. Our coffee spot was in a pretty plaza with a view of a bullring built in 1848 and still in use today. We then headed up the windy mountain road to El Torcal de Antequera to start our three kilometre hike through the amazing rock formations. Climbing to heights of around 1,300 metres the views were spectacular. It was a lovely experience to hike at El Torcal. As we headed back towards Estepona we saw many shepherds herding their goats and sheep towards home. In the ... read more
Coffee time
View from El Torcal
El Tocal

Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Málaga » Antequera May 5th 2017

Geo: 37.0194, -4.56288Unfortunately weather conditions prevented us riding yesterday. The wind was so strong and gusty that it was too dangerous to attempt the climb up to El Torcal so we had to go with Plan B.We shuttled up to El Torcal, a high rock formation, passing a couple of cyclists on the way.... our decision not to ride was justified as they were basically going backwards, with the wind pushing them dangerously towards the traffic. We hiked for a couple of hours through the rock formations of El Torcal, with the highlight being a point where we could see the coastline of Morocco on the horizon.Then we went off to explore the Alcazaba fortress in Antequera which was constructed by the Moors in the 14th century to counter the Christian advance from the north.Then yet ... read more
El Torcal
Alcazaba
My kind of wine glass!

Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Málaga » Antequera May 3rd 2017

Geo: 37.0194, -4.56288Hmmm.... the ride profile today didn't look too intimidating... but there was a surprising amount of climbing... around 1,200m in 70km and the really strong headwind made it a real challenge. In one particular part of the climb we had about 500m of a tailwind so we could get our speed back up to normal and then the switchback turned and literally we all came to a grinding halt it was so strong!Nevertheless the route was mostly very scenic...although we did have our heads down a fair bit whilst battling the headwind.... I guess seeing a wind farm in one of the valleys should have given us a bit of a clue!Lunch break was in the very attractive Parque de Ardales by the embalses (reservoirs). The water was an amazing blue and it is ... read more
First climb of the day
Downhill to El Burgo
Embalse in Parque de Ardales

Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Málaga » Antequera November 18th 2015

El Torcal, dojazd niby prosty. Wg nawigacji wiodly tam dwie drogi. Jedna wieksza, ale tak jakby na okolo, a druga tak jakby na wprost przez wioske Villanueva de la Concepcion. Oszczednosc czasu to ponad godzina wiec wybralysmy te szybsza, jednym slowem na skroty. Droga tak oznaczona w Anglii czy Polsce bylaby zwykla asfaltowa, jednopasmowa droga. Tutaj okazalo sie ze to jest zwykla polna droga, ubita przez traktory i auta, ktore jakims cudem tutaj jezdza. Jechalysmy jakis czas ta droga do momentu gdzie wyladowalysmy w szczerym polu i nie bylo widac dalszej drogi. Postanowilam zawrocic czym predzej, bo auto ktore mialysmy wynajete nie byloby w stanie jezdzic po takich gorskich sciezkach. Moze z napedem 4x4 byloby dobre. Ciezko było wyjechac z wioski. Droga byla chyba pod katem 90 stopni. Renata musiala wysiasc z auta a ja po ... read more
El Torcal de Antequera Natural Park
El Torcal de Antequera Natural Park
El Torcal de Antequera Natural Park

Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Málaga » Antequera August 6th 2015

Left the lovely mountain area and went down down, down back along narrow winding roads through Lanjaron (known for its spa waters) and on to the small city of Antequera. This was a lovely place to spend a couple of days, very few tourists, quiet with plenty to see and pretty too. More narrow windy streets with an Alcazabar at the top of the hill. We were glad that our hire car was very small as it was super tight maneuvering in and out of the parking at the hotel around the streets of downtown. Antequera was one of the first places to be re-conquered by the Christians in the 15th Century, maybe because of that there are a huge number of old and huge churches and convents in the down town area. The history stretches ... read more
Church of Carmen
Dolmen
El Torcal views




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