Day 26 Almeria to the Tabernas Desert

Early up and the sun is shining ( though it still really windy). Decide to make the most of the sunshine by moving to a more picturesque location for breakfast. Headed west and with a bit of a puzzle to get down to it we discover a tiny bay at ?? It’s apparent that the other cars here have overnighted but there’s space and we are able to park in front of the sea and get the coffee on. 


The sea is really rough and even some way back you can taste the salt spray, but sheltering from the wind a little it is stunning, 


We are heading inland today which always makes me a little sad bit so much to try and see before we return. On the way we stop for a ‘big shop’ as the upcoming bank holiday weekend may leave us short, with many shops closing for three or four days. 

Then to Los Millares, a vast copper age settlement, the largest in Europe once home to over 1000 people ( free to enter but restored hours). We only have an hour or so until it closes, so drop the visitor centre and reconstructed village and chose to spend it wandering around the excavated site. It’s quite impressive in itself but it also has great views from its high position. Still have the wind against us but the sun is shining. 


We make it back to gate for the 2pm closing time and head onwards to the desert. I think we both had high expectations of the Tabernas desert, so we are a bit disappointed by scrubby dry hills and Wild West theme parks rather than sand and cacti. We bypass all of the ‘fun’ opportunities and head into the town and up to the castle. It’s a steep climb up from the carpark at the sports ground and we are still fighting wind all the way Part way there’s a viewpoint describing movie locations in the distance. Hard to stand still as the wind here is ridiculous but iPhones are great at stabilising pictures. The movie thing is definitely a hard sell. Even in the town there are metal directors chairs rather than benches on the pavement. The castle itself is interesting but once again we have an incredible viewpoint, just about worth the climb! 

Making a bit of time to relax today…  yesterday was hard and not much sleep, so pitch up at our site for the night at around 5pm, it’s a plot at the back of the Route 66 roadhouse, an American themed diner with a stack of knackered American cars outside and a half built Wild West village of accommodation that’s hard to tell if it’s going up or coming down. It’s very basic but has toilets and showers and is only €10. No doubt if it ever gets sorted the prices will rocket. 


We go into the bar for a drink, it’s a bit odd but has a good go at being authentic. Not sure what we drank it was red and in a beer glass … told it was an authentic Spanish drink but it wasn’t sangria or beer!


Then back to the van to eat and finish a bottle of wine. 
Nice to have a break looking at the fields of olives in front of the dry mountains… tried to sit out for a bit but everything was blowing over. At least the sun is shining!


Miles so far: 1323

Steps today: 8,976

Overnight: Route 66 Roadhouse, Tabernas €10

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