Day 7 - Departure

Sunday 19th May

The coach was booked for 7.30 am, so breakfast was taken at 7 am. Jessica, who was not leaving on the coach, very nobly got up early to see us off - perhaps she just wanted to make sure we really left.

The coach trip to Malaga airport was passed mainly in silence - people were admiring the scenery for the last time, thinking back over the holiday, pondering deeply over the meaning of life and why we spend so much of it working when we could be walking along Alpujarran footpaths - or perhaps it was just too early in the morning.

Postscript 1

After the holiday ended on the Sunday and the majority had departed, Jessica walked to the Poqueira refuge on her own, stayed overnight and then climbed Mulhacén on the Monday(!).

This is her account:

"The climb from the Refugio to the top of Mulhacén took a good 3 hours (including breaks). Having walked up to the refugio on my own (via a beautiful valley that continued on from the hydro electric power station that we occasionally looked down to) I was not alone on the climb to the summit as I had met a friendly Israeli at the refugio and being able to share the walk and food that we were carrying was nice. He had decided that the steep ascent was the best option for climbing Mulhacén and although proving to be steep and quite hard going it was a steep sharp shock to the top rather than a long drawn out ascent. It was very spectacular at the top as it was so clear and looking down on the birds and snow and the rest of the mountain with its lagoons was great - we thought we could even see Granada although I'm not sure. We walked back down the big track and then a steep mule track on to Trevélez and took the bus back to Capileira.. I knew that the last bus from Trevélez was at 5.30 ish so I had that in mind most of the time - but still managed to fit in some good rest stops."

Postscript 2

Bob Murray stayed on for a week after the holiday, and spent time on the coast, Granada and Cordoba. Here is his account:

Now I was on my own for another week. I picked up a car and headed for Almuñecar, just east of Nerja, and the opposite direction from Torremelinos! Two days on the coast, and I did sit still and soak up some sun for about 4 hours. Almuñecar was interesting, Nerja was too English - time to move on when cottage pie is on the menu! Frigiliana is just inland from Nerja and definitely worth seeing - a white village set typically on the side of a mountain. I got my Hostal in Almuñecar (20 euros a night) to book me a hotel in Granada (50 euros a night including parking). Granada is an exciting city with plenty to wander around and see - and it also has the Alhambra. The Alhambra, viewed from the Albaicin district, with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background is one of the truly great romantic settings. I had to return in the evening, as the sun set, and the snow on the mountains turned pink, to watch the buildings illuminated. This was all enhanced by the knowledge that I had been walking the other side of those peaks. The Alhambra itself is quite wonderful and there is no way I can adequately describe the decoration of the Royal Palace - just go there your self!

On to Cordoba, which as a city I enjoyed more than Granada - perhaps because there were some quite beautiful gardens which I saw before the crowds arrived - or was it the serenity on the Mezquita - or the Flamenco dancing (such precision) - or maybe eating bull's tail?

So, just one final night to go before the flight from Malaga. I thought I would treat myself to a Parador (the luxury state run hotels) but the one on my route was full. In disgust, I drove on the motorway and turned off at the first Hotel sign. I had a room with a bath, an excellent 3-course dinner with a glass of wine, water and a cointreau, and breakfast, all for 43 euros! Even better than the price was the fact that it was totally Spanish and there was a party that had begun when I arrived about 1pm and was just ending when my dinner was over at 10.30.

The weather was glorious for the entire 2 weeks, and I never needed to wear anything over a T-shirt at any time. Back at East Midlands Airport, it was pouring with rain!

Postscript 3

Valerie stayed on for a week's painting with another Andalucian Adventures group (see picture of Zuherof below)

Photos

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Text Copyright © 2002 John Braga
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