 |
Our Lady The Virgin of the Rock
|
A 20 minute drive from Torremolinos, nestled into the mountainside, is Mijas. Protected by its patron saint, the Virgen de la Peña, Mijas is a sleepy, little village that houses a thriving cultural and craft industry. A day trip out of town was the perfect distraction from the wind, rain and grey skies hovering over the beach.
 |
| foreshadowing? |
 |
| horse-drawn carriages waiting for fares in the main square |
Arriving into the main square, one’s senses are immediately assaulted by the sight, sound and smell of...donkeys?!! Wow, are they ever loud and stinky. Who knew? This, of course, didn’t stop one of us from taking a donkey ride around town for 10€. Neither Mr. U nor I were the riders, TYVM. My intrepid mother-in-law was the brave soul who couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go for a ride. I love that she is fearless in the face of new experiences. I’m not nearly as brave as she is.
A bit of shopping for leather goods (m-i-l bought a purse) and a
hearty lunch of paella later, we climbed the steps just off the main
square and found ourselves in a bustling main plaza with narrow,
cobblestone-lined streets and shops aplenty.
 |
| lunchtime paella for three |
 |
| Mijas is known for its ceramics. |
Further up the hill we explored the town’s bullring which was built
in 1900 and is still used today. Tickets to the bullfights range from
80€ to 300€ depending on where your seats are located (sun vs shade).
 |
| "cheap" seats on the sunny side of the ring |
From the hilltop vantage point one can see the red clay rooftops and whitewashed walls of the village homes sprawling along the mountainside.
 |
| photo: Mr. U |
 |
| photo: Mr. U |
It was a great day spent in a village that was consistent with the image of "Spain-in-my-head".
No comments:
Post a Comment