With over 13kms of glorious beaches and just 90kms from the city of Almería, and enjoying one of warmest climates in Spain, consider a Spring holiday in the pretty white village of Mojácar, nestling on the hill just over 2kms from the glistening blue Mediterranean below. Sounds like a fairytale? Well, kind ofthere´s a tale about a certain film-maker.and it´s not a Mickey Mouse story!
Most holiday makers that visit the South of Spain annually head either for the hills of Andalucía or spend a couple of weeks stretched out on the sands of the Costa del Sol. But a little further along lies the Costa Almería, past the Costa Tropical of Granada and towards the driest and sun drenched part of Spain. In fact, more than 3,000 hours of blissful warm sunshine falls upon this location every year, and the average temperature is a steady 20ºprobably the same temperature as your central heating dial right now!
The call of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park with it´s stunning beaches, the desert of Tabernas (the only real desert in the whole of Europe) and the less touristy coastline are all benefits to visiting this area. Resorts such as Roquetas de Mar, and Almerimar make for a pleasant days, or you may prefer to discover the inland towns such as Berja or the elegance of the Arab feeling Almeria, the Mirror of the Sea.
But Mojácar combines traditional Spanish village life with coastal beauty, and the sight of all those whitewashed cube like houses clambering up the mountain with the sea at it´s feet is just too good to bypass.
Tourism has been alive and well catered for here since the 1960´s , with over 330 days of sunshine the main attraction, but the place has been populated since the Bronze age, and the Moors made it theirs before being evicted by the Catholics. For three days in June, book some time here and join the locals as they re-enact the Moors and Christians battle with a big part afterwards - fiesta! There´s still a Moorish influence, from the square Berber style houses to the many Arabic arches these days covered with brightly flowered Bougainvillea and climbing plants.
You might be lucky enough to spot some famous faces in Mojácar today, you certainly would have done in the 1960´s and 70´s as the surrounding area was the backdrop for many a spaghetti western. But there is a more famous story, urban legend and perhaps myth there are conflicting reports!
The tale? That the local esteemed Doctor and washerwoman had a hot affair and produced a son out of wedlock in the 1940´s. Emigrating to the United States of America with their son, José Guirao Zamora, they later had him adopted by one Mr and Mrs Disney. You know the ending to that story! Fact or fiction? Hmmm!
Youll spot the sign of luck everywhere here in the form of theIndalo Man. Traditionally painted on a newly whitewashed house to keep away the evil eye and protect those within from harm you can spot this little guy in the form of key-rings, jewelery and painted ceramic tiles a souvenir for you to take home with you from your trip. Its in the shape of a man, from the original caveman drawing his arms outstretched holding a rainbow shape over his head.
Buy one and take home some luck as well as a suntan from your trip to Mojácar!
Mojácar is generally known as two places, the town, with its hilly climbs and winding streets, whitewashed houses and little shops and restaurants jumbled together and Mojácar Playa, the stretch of sand 2 kms downhill, with the sea at its feet and the place to try some of the freshly caught fish landed here each morning.
Why not take some back to your Mojácar holiday rental and try it simply grilled on the Plancha? Spanish style is a sprinkle of sea salt straight onto the grill, and a simple squeeze of freshly picked lemon afterward mmm. Or, if that feels like too much work you are on holiday! then make yourself comfortable at one of the many beach-side restaurants and let someone else do the hard work for you!
Expect to try plump prawns with some garlic mayonnaise, floured and fried sardines, and all manner of shellfish steamed open with a plate of rice a fresh crunchy salad, local bread to mop up the juices and a cold glass of wine or beer - the only dilemma is choosing a place to eat!
Reading the menu is not a problem either, the flourishing tourist industry and large numbers of Expats to this area ensure that all languages are also well catered for
Youll need to work off all those calories! Serious lounging on over 13km of stunning beaches can be interspersed with something more active, like scuba diving or surfing there are plenty of local schools in the area where you can hire equipment or get a few lessons in the art of staying upright!
You may also like to try your hand at:
- Water skiing
- Sailing
- Scuba diving including both shore and boat dives, training also available
- Wind surfing
- Canoe-ing
The year round mild temperatures and warm winds make diving a pleasure, and windsurfing, well,a breeze!
For more energetic fun with the family, choose to visit the Waterpark just 7km away at Vera Playa, Parque Aquatico.
Of course, this coast is golf heaven, choose from 4 courses to practice your swing and improve your handicap:
- Marina de la Torre
- Valle del Este
- Desert Springs
- Cortijo Grande
Back around town, there are many gift shops, no less than 3 bookstores for that holiday read, local ceramic outlets where you can pick up that lucky keyring, as well as a plethora of restaurants and cafés, whether you want a quick pizza or a full meal using the best of local ingredients. An ideal location for a couple of weeks of simply recharging those batteries, and a n all round great family holiday with weather to match!
Discover Mojácar and the Costa Almería youll be charmed!
ebbandflo_pomomama /Indalo Art/shehani
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