We flew back to Málaga, Andalusia on March 20th 2023 to explore the famous and marvelous beaches of western Costa del Sol including its coastal mountain ranges and the street of Gibraltar.

Fingers on the beach Playa de Santa Amalia of Fuengirola at full moon
Fingers on the beach Playa de Santa Amalia of Fuengirola at full moon

 

Unfortunately we brought a serious flu from Germany to Spain. Thus we could not do a lot of activities in the first week. End of March we traveled to the coastal mountain ranges Sierra de los Nieves (Snowy Mountains up to 1919 meters sea-level) and Sierra Blanca de Ojén. Our first destination was the nice little town Coin where to took our bicycles to the 331 meters high hill Sierra Gorda - Fat Mountain. We continued to Tolox which is a marvelous mountain village on foot of mighty Sierra Blanca de Nieves. The 4 hours hike Sendero de las Cascadas leads to some wonderful waterfalls.

Very cold bath in the Cascada de la Rejia
Very cold bath in the Cascada de la Rejia

 

We stayed three days close to the Refugio de Juanar in the awesome Sierra Blanca de Ojén. Our first hike was the little mountain Mirador del Cerro Nicolá (1027 meters sea-level), a shorter trip of approximately 1 hours. On the next day we did a marvelous four peaks trip - Mirador del Corzo (881 meters), Pico del Tajo Negro (1085 meters), Mirador del Tajo Negro (1074 meters) and Cruz de Juanar (1178 meters) which is fall day trip. The views were stunning, especially to the Mediterranean Sea including the cities of Fuengirola and Marbella. Our last hike was 1231 meters high Picacho de Castillejos, where we met nobody.

Orchid on the western slope of Mirador del Cerro Nicolá
Orchid on the western slope of Mirador del Cerro Nicolá

 

Marion with the iron Capricorn on the saddle between Mirador Tajo Negro and Cruz de Juanar
Marion with the iron Capricorn on the saddle between Mirador Tajo Negro and Cruz de Juanar

 

Living Capricorns are close
Living Capricorns are close

 

Alfred on the summit of Cruz de Juanar with Costa del Sol in the back
Alfred on the summit of Cruz de Juanar with Costa del Sol in the back

 

Butterfly on top of Cruz de Juanar
Butterfly on top of Cruz de Juanar

 

We were more than happy that our 13 years old niece Sarah and our 16 years old nephew Jay joined us in the Eastern holiday. We picked them up on Málaga's airport in the late afternoon on April 3rd 2023. Immediately we drove to the next beach Playa de los Álamos of Torremolinos where Sarah and Jay enjoyed their first bath in the Mediterranean Sea.

Jay and Sarah in our camper
Jay and Sarah in our camper

 

On the next day we continued to the reasonable mobile home parking in Benalmadena which is close to the wonderful park Parque de la Paloma. Sarah was excited that we found a McDonalds restaurant close to the beach. Marion was excited that a flea market was just in front of our car.

Jay and Sarah in the cactus garden of Parque de la Paloma
Jay and Sarah in the cactus garden of Parque de la Paloma

 

Cactus in full blossom
Cactus in full blossom

 

Happy Sarah
Happy Sarah

 

Playing on beach Playa de Bil Bil of Benalmadena
Playing on beach Playa de Bil Bil of Benalmadena

 

Holy Thursday and Good Friday we were in Fuengirola where we found a nice parking place directly under its fortress. Marion and Alfred went into the center in the evening of Holy Thursday which was very crowded.

Huge waves on Playa Mati of Fuengirola
Huge waves on Playa Mati of Fuengirola

 

Procession on Holy Thursday in Fuengirola
Procession on Holy Thursday in Fuengirola

 

Suffering Jesus - suffering men
Suffering Jesus - suffering men

 

Full moon on Holy Thursday
Full moon on Holy Thursday

 

We spent Good Friday in the interesting zoo Bioparc Fuengirola where the animals live in a recreation of their natural habitat. Holy Saturday we were in La Cala de Mijas

Jumping on the beach of La Cala de Mijas
Jumping on the beach of La Cala de Mijas

 

On Easter Sunday Sarah and Jay found many chocolate eggs on the pristine beach of Gualdalmansa. Monday we drove to La Linea to a nice but expensive (12€ per day) mobile home parking in its marina which is very close to Gibraltar.

Houseboats in La Linea with the northern peak of Gibraltar's rock
Houseboats in La Linea with the northern peak of Gibraltar's rock

 

Politically Gibraltar is not part of Spain - it belongs to the United Kingdom. However you can walk from La Linea into the city Gibraltar but you have to cross the runaway of its international airport. It is so tiny that you can hike easily to its southern end - The Europe Point (approximately 6 kilometers).

Before we came to the Europe Point we climbed up the famous rock. Unfortunately the highest point is not accessible due to military usage. Highlights are the awesome views, also to Morocco and a colony of approximately 250 Barbary Apes which are the only wild living monkeys in Europe (besides humans). Some of Apes are very cool - they sit and sleep on the trail, they drive on top of tourist cars, and they want food. One tried to steal Sarah's ice-cream - fortunately the monkey was not successful.

John Lennon in Gibraltar
John Lennon in Gibraltar

 

Typical British phone box
Typical British phone box

 

Monkey with the bay and city of Algeciras
Monkey with the bay and city of Algeciras

 

Jay and Sarah close to the top
Jay and Sarah close to the top

 

Our third highlight in Gibraltar was the stunning St. Michael Cave. A legend says that this cave is linked to the African continent by a subterranean passage over 24 kilometers (not true) and the Barbary Apes came to Europe via this underwater passage. The cave is illuminated colorfully even kitschy. Impressive is the show in the huge dome at the exit.

Stalactites in the cave
Stalactites in the cave

 

Gnome in the cave
Gnome in the cave

 

Holy figure in St Michael's cave - thanks to the professional illumination
Holy figure in St Michael's cave - thanks to the professional illumination

 

Marvelous Tarifa is the southernmost town of continental Europe located on the western end of the street of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is famous for its constant wind and consequently ideal for surfing and kitesurfing. Sarah, Jay and Alfred swam within 15 minutes in both Seas. Astonishing the Atlantic Ocean was much warmer then the Mediterranean Sea.

Sarah on the eastern side of the dam to the island Isla de las Palomas with the Mediterranean Sea
Sarah on the eastern side of the dam to the island Isla de las Palomas with the Mediterranean Sea

 

 

Jay on the west side of the dam with the Atlantic Ocean
Jay on the west side of the dam with the Atlantic Ocean

 

Sarah on the Atlantic Ocean - Playa de los Lances of Tarifa
Sarah on the Atlantic Ocean - Playa de los Lances of Tarifa

Mural in Tarifa
Mural in Tarifa

 

Few kilometers northwest of Tarifa are the dunes Dunas de Valdevaqueros - an extraordinary experience for Sarah and Jay because they played, strolled and jumped in the up to 40 meters high dunes.

Wow what a wonderful dune!
Wow what a wonderful dune!

 

Sarah with Tarifa and Jebel Musa which is the African landmark of the street of Gibraltar
Sarah with Tarifa and Jebel Musa which is the African landmark of the street of Gibraltar

 

Sarah with her new friend
Sarah with her new friend

 

The dunes were our turning point back to Málaga because Sarah and Jay had to catch their flight in two day home. We headed in a rush back to the airport with a stop again in La Cala de Mijas where we celebrated our last night with a typical Spanish dinner.

Sarah with French Fries and typical Spanish meat - Jay with Octopus and Sangria
Sarah with French Fries and typical Spanish meat - Jay with Octopus and Sangria

 

We said sadly bye bye to Sarah and Jay at the afternoon of April 16th, and continued to fancy Marbella, where we found the amazing museum Museo Ralli. It shows many touching paintings of artists from Latin America and it is free of charge.

In the old town of Marbella
In the old town of Marbella

 

Painting Tenniel's Duchess from Alicia Carletti (1996, Argentina) in the Museo Ralli
Painting Tenniel's Duchess from Alicia Carletti (1996, Argentina) in the Museo Ralli

 

Painting
Painting "Fresh News" from Jorge Ortigueira (1984, Argentina)

 

From Marbella we continued to Ronda and its mountains - this is another story.

 

 

For more pictures, please click here

For a map of our itineraries, click here

To download our GPS coordinates file of Spain, click here 

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