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  We are off on the RM-D5 today.  We will see polytunnels, bins, rugged landscapes and, at the end, letter boxes.  Better do to some fillers. Before that, we will pass one bar. It is the Bar Pastrana.  They do 6.30am to 8pm, but not Mondays.  I mean, Mondays. Its key words are tapas, sunset, price, flat roof and very good.  Fernando was much taken last Spring.   ‘A fantastic place, awarded the "The Sun from Rise to Set" award, with a spacious terrace, spectacular private rooms, home-cooked meals, affordable menus, grilled meats, paellas, and top-notch service. Young, friendly, dynamic, professional, and above all, family-oriented people. Just like your home. Don't worry, just make your own arrangements, and enjoy a spectacular day with us. OH! AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE PARKING, 300 SPACES, AND IT'S FREE.’ Rene have four stars.  ‘Nice, authentic Spanish tapas bar, very friendly people and delicious tomato/pepper salad with plenty of garlic.’ S...
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To Germany, with love

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  Murcia is known, these days, for the sort of agriculture which provides British supermarkets with tomatoes at times which nature never intended. We are wandering through a landscape such as will be populated by enclosed horticulture, warehouses and waste water treatment plants. First to a waste water plant. EDAR Canada de Gallego has one review. JI gave it three stars four years ago.  So it is and so it remains. Spain exported 674.43 million kilo of tomatoes last year.  This was an increase of 18%, despite Morocco breaking records for its own exports.  Germany remains the chief place for exports, soaking up 32% of the crop. This comes after a decade in which the trade had decreased.  In 2022 Germany was still top destination, with 28%, France was second [14%], Netherlands third [12%] and the UK 8% Horticola de Mazarron is a fruit and veg wholesaler. http://www.hortisa.com/ It gets 4.4 stars but only a scattering of recent reviews. Pedro felt, a year ago, ‘ On...
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Naked Wolves and protected habitats

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  It is going to a day full of beach reviews today so if sand and rock are not your things then maybe go for an improving walk; edit the things you have ‘saved’ to look at later, even if you know you never will or just listen to some light jazz classics.  The Isla de Cueva de Lobos is not really going to offer and light relief. I went looking for the isla and the nearest I got was this ‘ https://www.turismoregiondemurcia.es/es/playa/playa-cueva-de-lobos-643/ It says Informacion  ‘ Playa virgen con excelentes vistas.’  Mindtrip ai does its best to make something out of very little. ‘Isla Cueva de Lobos is a captivating natural island located off the coast of Bolnuevo. Renowned for its stunning landscapes, it offers visitors breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The island's rugged cliffs and crystal-clear waters make it a popular spot for kayaking and snorkeling. Its unique geological formations create an inviting environment for exploration. Although it is no...
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Textiles and other sorts of coves

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  It is a day where we will hug the coast and end on the road less traveled, well, less tarmaced. I can’t say if it is like it today but it was in 2016,when the Boys and Girls of Streetview headed down this way. Is it time to camp it up. Camping Playa de Mazarron gets heading towards 5000 reviews.  https://www.playamazarron.com/   The website has a video and a visita virtual.  For those of you keen on these sorts of things the keywords on the reviews are ‘sea’, ‘facilities’, ‘dogs’, ‘natural stone’ and ‘shortcut.’  12 hours ago - and bear in mind I’m writing this in December, Katarina wrote ‘ Great campsite. I can only recommend it.’  Kat is German, as have many of our recent reviewers.  Gilbert [French] is very fulsome ‘A large, well-laid-out and landscaped campsite with numerous clean sanitary facilities (except after some inconsiderate use). Note: the main men's toilets are currently being renovated. Pitches have water, electricity, and drainage. Co...
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A mystery of alum

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We are in Puerto de Mazarron. It is one of those places which had a town, Mazarron, which is safely tucked away, 5km in land and the port.  About 12,500 people live in Mazarron and 10,000 in the Puerto.  You get the usual crowd of people of the various ages, Phoenicians, Romans and Moors here.  Philip II granted the place town status and fishing and mining helped things along.  Mining peaks in the early twentieth century, whereafter the place shrunk from 23,000, down to 10000 till the recovery began in the 1980s. Today tomatoes and cucumbers are the top agricultural products grown here, sardines and prawns are the sea harvest of choice and 15% work as waiters. Now for personal rabbit hole.  Alum.  Used in dying. Apparently England got most of its from Italy in the Sixteenth Century.  But what is this.  Alum in Mazarron.  It ends in 1572 https://visitamazarron.com/en/monument/old-alum-factory/   We are near the sea front and what Google M...
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