Motril

Our campsite’s address is Salobrena, although it’s much nearer to Motril. Motril is a working city that gets short shrift in the guidebooks, but it’s not without its charms. Here’s part of the city centre with an apartment block as well designed as in any posh city.

On the edge of the centre is a church and public park. The church is set in landscape gardens and very pleasant, but unlikely to rival the Alhambra Palace.

The church interior doesn’t disappoint. It’s very ornate and beautifully maintained. The chapel behind the altar is the centrepiece, an area of total magnificence. I’m not sure of the significance of the pair of horns that could have come off either a Viking helmet or Desperate Dan’s cow pie.

The park is below the church, which we can frame between the two sculpted figures that represent the discovery of the New World. The Europeans (nude man on right) are meeting the Native Americans (nude man on left). You may note that the tableau has been ‘enhanced’ by graffiti and also purple paint on the European’s private parts, fortunately not luminous.

Back at the campsite, we set off for a walk along the side roads behind the site. These are always interesting; usually we spot many birds and creatures.

This time it’s the humans’ turn. Around the corner of the narrow, pot-holed road there comes a lightweight motorbike bearing two men and a dog. Sequence of events: bike stops at a field gate, man gets off and hastily picks up large armful of wood; bike makes off, now with wood, two men and a dog, weaving between deep ruts. ‘Good luck’, is all you can say!

Our time in Salobrena is coming to a close. The question is, ‘where to next?’ We considered the Cabo de Gata National Park, but decide to take the easy option and return to a site we have enjoyed staying at many time before: Los Madriles.