April 20, 2010 -- Goats, Rocks & Flamingoes

We did a local trip today in the country back of Malaga.

We travelled up a very winding road, initially through an intensively planted area and to a more pastoral area as we gained elevation. We seldom see people working in their fields or orchards so we were intrigued by the number of cars parked on the roadside. Finally we saw a man returning to his car with a large bundle of asparagus that he had foraged along the roadside. That reminded Duane of his childhood in Oyama where asparagus grew abundantly along the road.

After about one half hour of cranking the wheel back and forth we arrived at Almogia and we descended into the little village until the road became too narrow even for Duane. A policeman on a motorcycle stopped us and asked us if he could help (at least we think that is what he said) and after Duane explained that his Spanish was not too advanced (as if he couldn't tell) he replied in tolerable English, asking where we were headed. He then suggested (with much arm waving and finger pointing) that he escort us out of town to the road to Antequera, which he kindly did. Thankfully, this first contact with the police was very positive.

Back on the road we observed a goat herder bringing quite a large herd to a pasture across the road that we were on so we waited and watched. The last goat across the road was a crippled, old nanny with a milk bag nearly dragging on the ground -- she was in desperate need of a breast reduction.

We continued climbing into beautiful rolling fields set among the mountain tops and on up to a totally different world -- a world of incredible rock formations at El Torcal, a nature preserve. As well as the rocks one could also enjoy beautiful views over the mountains towards the blue-hazed coast.


Then on to Antequera where we ordered the menu of the day at a roadside establishment and were once again surprised at what we ordered.

Finally we reached our destina- tion, which was the Laguna (sometimes the Fuente) de Piedra where flamingoes come to feed. Apparently it is a saline lake that supports aquatic wildlife that the flamingoes enjoy.

On our return we shopped at the Super Mercado (supermarket) in Nerja, Spanish cookbooks in hand. After making some unknown purchases we returned home and set about making dinner. We weren't exactly sure what we had ordered at the seafood counter -- it was called Dorado in Spanish, Gilt in our dictionary, and it looked and tasted like fish. Duane also made a superb Spanish eggplant dish that he promises to replicate when he returns to Canada.