Not star crossed lovers

 We are heading towards Antequera. To be honest the reason we are going there is all at the end of the day. We will have to do some padding first so here goes.


We went not knowing what we would discover. It was a day out from Malaga.  It meant crossing the somewhat austere peaks which lie to the north of Spain’s 6th largest metropolitan area.  We arrived in a small but functional bus station, wandered around the market and a bit of the town.  We then discovered the Neolithic burial site.



To get there we need to pass the Pena de los Enamorados.   You know when local legend says ‘you can see a face in the cliff and you squint and gurn and really see nothing.  That is not a thing here.  From Antequera this lump of geography looks like a head.  I mean, it really looks like a head.  And a couple of Stone Age tombs face towards it.




Of course there is a romantic legend. Boy falls for girl. They are from rival towns. The girl’s father and his henchmen chase them and leapt from the rocks to their deaths.  Robert Southey  decided in his version that the lass was a Muslim and the lad a Christian slave.



Antequera has spread to meet the motorway. The road is a stretch of modern tarmac with garnished roundabouts and new industry.  Alright, we need a break, lets go into the Meson La Via.  https://grupocasadiego.es/pdfviewer/carta-meson-la-via/?auto_viewer=true#page=&zoom=auto&pagemode=none   A week ago Crismer was precise ‘Food: Very good, I recommend it. Service: Waiters Rafa and Pepe were 10 out of 10. Atmosphere: Excellent’.   Four weeks ago Rocio said ‘Honestly, I loved it! For breakfast, I ordered a peach juice and a serranito (a small sandwich) on a mollete (a type of Spanish roll). They served it with a little aioli. It was delicious! But what I liked most was the miniature train they have running around the entire room. They were incredibly kind, and when they saw I was filming it, they turned it on so I could record it properly! If I'm ever back in the area, I won't hesitate to return. Both for the mollete, the decor, and the service!’



Off to the dolmens.  Here are two bloody great big tombs with huge slabs of stone.  What’s more, the English wiki page is one of the most jargon filled and unhelpful I have ever read.  The Menga Dolmen dates back to 3750-3650 BC. The Viera Dolmen dates to 3510-3020BC.  Archaeoastronomer Michael Hoskin has studied such sites. Most are directed towards something celestial. These point towards the Pena de los Enamorados. 



Five hours ago Morgana said ‘Despite the less-than-ideal weather, it's a beautiful and well-maintained area. Entry is free. I imagine it gets much busier and the queues are longer in the summer.’   Three days ago Anuska said ‘Amazing place, unique in the world, don't miss it! Special mention to Miguel Ángel, whose passion is evident and whose extensive knowledge of the place is a delight. It's all very thought-provoking. Wonderful!’



We will end with a one star - because some people are just like that.  Letty said ‘This was a big disappointment. No English information and the site was without any historical atmosphere. Very cold and modern.’



I think they are awesome and worth a marvel at.











Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In which a Roman Bridge and a Funeral Parlour are reviewed.

Image
  We are rising again. We are rising 20 of your earth metres today. We will be 818m above the level sea. We are about at the highest point in the Cheviot Hills. We cross the Rio Porma and into Villarente and Puente Villarente. Both these twin settlements, lurking along the roadside, have generally grown in size since 2000.   https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/art-culture-heritage/great-routes/way-saint-james/puente-villarente First we must cross the Roman Bridge. Coyotuco is back with a five star review: A beautiful BRIDGE with a lot of history but it is not PEDESTRIAN. For pedestrians they have made a PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY right next to it. We are passing by the Artesanias Luyma so let us gaze at their ceramic goodness. Let us wonder  https://www.artesaniasluyma.com/categorias/pereruela/ While we are here and we are passing the Tanatorio Camino de Santiago let us visit this 39 reviewed funeral home. It gets an average of 4.9 stars.  https://www.antamontalvo.es/esq...
Read more

Mini Pieces of Supposed tuna

Image
  Pina de Ebro has something for everyone who enjoys the architecture of Spanish pueblos.  It has the tiny lanes, on which houses have been rebuilt for generations without a care for the needs of the modern motorist.  We have the pathways which have been tiled over but once were dirt tracks.  We have the modern suburban developments of low rise houses and 80s hopefully aspiring shacks.  First all, however, we have a park. One thing we noticed, especially with a small boy in tow, was the number of parks with interesting play equipment.  This is because, in Spain, people seem to like children.  This does make them a semi-public property and people feel free to indulge them with sweetmeats and pass comments. ‘I think sucking thumbs makes children look ugly’ said one elderly woman.’ My Spanish for ‘well desiccated prune face, no one asked you’ deserted me.  The play equipment is in the Plaza Pilarin Artigas.  Honestly I’ve looked and was giving u...
Read more

Much a do about something

Image
  In North Lincolnshire there is an OS square which is all but empty,  In a single corner stretches a few metres of power cables to spoil the virgin whiteness.  Today’s walk is not so blessed with flat calm.  We will see trees.  We will see ups.  Views are compulsory.  Houses aren’t.  Let's talk about Asturias in the years from 718 to 757. In 711 the full force of the Islamic tide swept from North Africa into Visigothic Spain. At the Battle of Guadalete King Roderic and much of the nobility were killed and the Iberian Peninsula collapsed before the all conquering crescent.  The thing is, Asturias is a long way from the main body of Spain. It is a bit wet and more to the point lacking the plunder which was the way of paying the Army of the Conquest.  The Caliphate’s hold on Asturias was tenuous to say the least.  Enter  Pelagius. Pelagius has many myths swirling around him and a very butch Victorian statue in Gijon.  Accord...
Read more