Spain: Cartama - Coi^n - Monda - Ojen

Thursday: We drive Talal to the airport. He is off to Dubai to officially hand over his job and retire.... it has taken these two lovely people years to finally really retire rather than just talk about it....hi hi hi....

After we put Talal on the plane (not quite literally), we decide to make use of the beautiful day and go for a drive through the mountains.

Early morning drive to the airport:

Bullring

Cartama - Coi^n - Monda - Ojen

Off to Cartama

Cártama is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, southern Spain. The municipality is situated approximately 17 km from Málaga. Cártama has a population of approximately 15,000 residents.
Situated in the heart of the Guadalhorce valley, at the foot of two small sierras, and surrounded by thousands of orange and lemon trees, its territory forms part of the Hoya de Málaga. It stretches across both banks of the river.

We decide to stop here and have our lunch break.  Jenni was kind enough to prepare some sandwiches for us.  We wonder into town....

... and find village life.... slow pace, lots of old people....

We sit in the park and enjoy our lunch, before exploring the village further....

We find this amazing Spanish garden - and of course I want to move in....

A lovely place... and great views..... I love it....

Then we drive off to Coi^n....

Coín is a town and municipality in the Province of Málaga, Spain, c. 33 km west of the provincial capital, Málaga, and c. 30 km north of Marbella. The town has an official population of 22,000 inhabitants.
Foreigners now make up a substantial proportion of the towns inhabitants and are attracted to Coín due to the fact it is only 25 minutes from the beaches of Málaga.

We were told by the tourist information, that Coín was a nice town to stop and have a look at.... how dissappointed were we when we reached it and found a modern place, with no charm, but a shopping mall... We were thankful we stopped in Cartama - we drove through Coín....

Monda is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. The municipality is situated approximately 44 kilometres from the provincial capital and 10 from Coín.
It has a population of approximately 2,000 residents. The natives are called Mondeños. It is a tiny town beyond Ojén along the C-337 road, crouching in a mountain valley at a height of 1200ft.
Its dominant feature, which the approaching visitor can hardly miss, is the castle which stands above it.

Lots of lemon groves - wonderful!

We stay for coffee and icecream in this lovely cafe - enjoying the sun and warmth. Coffees in Spain are delicious!  They bring the coffee in a glass and poor the hot milk at the table. It is nice strong fresh coffee....

We drive down this mountainous road - amazing...

And then there are all these people, mainly old people walking up the hill.... where are they going? Why are they walking??

Ojén (pop approx 2,000) is a town which sits in the mountains behind Marbella in Andalusia, Southern Spain. Its name is oddly derived from an Arabic word, hoxán, meaning "rough" or "bitter" place.

It is situated beside the Almadán stream above the valley of the rio Real at an altitude of approx 200 metres, hemmed in by the Sierra Blanca and Sierra Alpujata. These may provide a clue for the Moors' determination to stay in spite of their apparent antipathy, for both ranges of mountains have long been known as rich sources of talc, nickel, iron and lead. This mineral wealth put the area in the forefront of the Spanish industrial revolution of the 19th Century.
Ojén used to be famous for the production of aguardiente, an anise liqueur that once played a major part in the town's economy. This liqueur gained widespread fame abroad and was especially popular in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

The old part of town spreads down the mountainside. Here the cobbled streets are narrow and well served by welcome drinking fountains.

This village is amazing... it's built on this mountain, has little alleys and steps... very mediteranian!  And everyone is walking....

It's a cats life....

This is the village cemetry...

More lemons....

Isnt' this amazing.....

And back to the sea.... with a quick stop at Marbella...

Today was amazing, we saw the most beautiful countryside and exquisite villages.... I want to move here!!! I am at awe at the beauty of the landscape and the quaintness of the villages, and loving it.

Poor Jenni had to do all the driving, while I enjoyed the drive and took lots of photos....

In the evening we are nicely exhausted and have dinner at home and relax in front of the tele.... life is good.

S & D & L