0 km today.
65.2 km this trip.
909.5 km from start.
0 metres minimum height.
0 metres maximum height.
0 metres ascent.
0 metres descent.
Track Log: .
Travel: Bus and train.
Download ...
2006-12-26-Picnic-Place.kml
Day trip to Alora
We took the bus to Málaga. The railway station is right next to the bus station. After a small panic because the ticket computers had crashed, we managed to get tickets from a machine. We caught the train to Álora. The train was quite new but not clean. In particular the windows were grimed. This seems to be a universal problem.
At Álora station, we found a picturesque river valley with a small park where we had lunch. There was a fine view of a castle on a hill top.
On our return trip, Mini fell over outside Málaga railway station. Luckily she was only bruised. A few years ago in Portugal she tripped whilst taking photographs and "did her back in". She spent half the holiday lying flat whilst recovering. Still this is not so bad as the poor woman who fell into the Niagra Falls whilst taking photographs. You can't be too careful!
Today we are going on the vlak (train) to Alora. We are taking an emergency lunch which we shall probably eat as we have so many left-overs which need eating, but if we see a heart's desire lunch there, we shall have it. We are hoping that the kalis (nice views) on the way will be worth seeing. It is a luxury having two rest days in a row. Today I did a boggen blocken (bowel movement which fails to disappear after several flushes). The economical flush toilet just couldn't cope even on full flush mode. A bucket of water at the same time clinched it. At home, I almost always have to do that. Now I must go and set up my mustang (backpack) for the day out.
We have just got back from Alora. Mini is checking that I am making the packet of cappucino correctly. I can't imagine why she doesn't know why I like the kitchen to myself. The previous time we coincided I was told the cauliflower cheese was on too low a shelf. I am walloped every bloody time she sees me in there.
We got our bus to Málaga and our connection to Alora. The computers were down in the ticket office. We had a ticket for the ticket cossack (kiosk) but Neil went and got one for the information cossack as well. This one not being reliant on computers was operational. I got a timetable for Alora and asked where we could get tickets if the computers remained down. He sent us to the cercanios where there are machines for local trains.
Large Spanish stations have security systems because they have had a bomb on their trains. These were on the Fuengirola line so we had to go out through security and come back in again. Neil went through security three times and the rest of us twice. When we were buying our tickets, Neil showed me which buttons to press on the scheem (machine) and I pressed them. You had to put money in the scheem to get the tickets out.
The tickets were 10.67 for three returns which is very cheap. For elevenses we had 2/3 of a rocky bar. It was 4 degrees cooler up the pummock than on the coast. Guadalhorce is the name of the river. The route to Alora was built up at first, but got nicer as we went along. There were white daffodils out in the meadows which was nice to see. There is a lovely chattock (castle) on the top of a pummock (hill).
In Alora we saw aristolochia in flower. We had lunch on the far side of the river Guadalhorce where there were some seats, unfortunately in the shade, as it was fresquito inland and high up -14 degrees and windy with it. We had lunch and then made our way back to the station.
We got the 14.45 back. In Málaga station we bought some piles (batteries) for Mini's torch. Then we went back to the coach station. Mini tripped up on the way there but seems OK. Neil will have to teach her to lift up her toes. Today Differo has not turned himself off. I now know how to check if he has fully charged. The music in the train was remarkably good - classic FM style.
There is a flock of sheep,many wearing bells, grazing near our apartment when we return. I forgot to say previously, that on one stretch of beach, we had seen a man making bells for his billies (goats), using a hammer to tune them and the little bollard on the marine parade as an anvil.
Las Gaviotas was shut so we shall have to top up our shopping tomorrow. We also got postcards in the pile (battery) shop - quite expensive – but, as there are none here in Rincón, it's useful to get them bought. Now we must find some stimps (stamps). I'll try and do that mañana. I still don't know how to say Torrox and mañana I shall have to, as that is the start of our leg.
Website problems: Please mail Neil.
© C N Bauers: 2003 to 2024