Costa Tropical in November - Almunecar 2

We are awake early most mornings for the view of the sunrise over the Penones and the sea, spectacular......

The main church in Almuñécar is the Iglesia parroquial de la Encarnación which dates back to the 17th century but is perhaps more interesting outside than in. 

The 9 o'clock mass is conducted by an enthusiastic priest who as far as I can make out gives a good sermon. Everything is remarkably rapid and by just past 9.30 we are already out. We go towards Paseo Blas Infante where there's a flea market. There are lots of stalls or rather things set out on the ground, everything from  rather interesting antique type stuff to total rubbish, although to be fair the price for a lot of things seems to be between 1 and 3 euros. I buy a key ring, not two because we have no coins and the stallholder sighs when I offer a ten euro note. After, we wander through the historical centre and up to the castle. The sun hasn't yet managed to defeat the clouds and there's a gusty wind which is really quite cold in some moments.

Back at the apartment I put the oven on for some secreto ibérico, a special Spanish cut of pork meat, the sun finally comes out and we manage to eat outside with a superb view.

After a short rest we walk, the ankle as long as it's on a flat surface seems fine, all along Playa Cristóbal, Playa Costa Tropical, and then Paseo Reina Sofia, past the Aquatropic water park and along Playa Velilla, about 7 kilometres return. Occasionally the wind gusts a little coldly, but equally occasionally it drops and the sun is really hot. We take off and put on our fleeces every few minutes. Other people's attire varies from vest and shorts, brr, to winter coats and woolly scarves, difficult to know who is right!

It's a fine walk with the sea on one side a brilliant blue with the permanent sound of the waves accompanying us and then the eleven story high-rise blocks on the other side once we round the corner to Velilla. But the promenade itself is very pleasant, lots of different types of palm trees and other plants and flowers, fitness areas and on Paseo Reina Sofía some pretty mosaic benches, each different with themes related to the sea and Almuñécar. 

Lots of bars and restaurants are still open and there are lots of people, mostly Spanish, about too, it's a pleasant Sunday afternoon atmosphere. We go down onto the stony beach 

at Velilla from where we can see Salobreña in the distance and nearer the Parque Mediterráneo and Torre del Tesorillo. It was supposed to be one of our hiking destinations before I twisted my ankle, but I'm not complaining, I'm lucky to have come this far along the sea front to get a glimpse considering..... We walk back a little more slowly, another relaxing day.