Pueblos Blancos

Mijas, Spain

Having survived the journey back to WJ3, we set sail in a fine breeze and headed back towards the Spanish Costa del Sol.  We hoped for a little more warmth in the sun as we headed east and found it in Fuengirola (Fwen grrr oh la).  This friendly marina and beach-side tourist resort (full of poms) would be our visit base for bus trips off into the hills to visit a couple of famous "white villages", mostly of Islamic origin, dating back as far as 711.

Narrow & very white streets of Mijas

First, and easiest to reach, was Mijas, a neat, tiny oasis that somehow managed to cling to a steep and rocky hillside.  We were easily able to negotiate our way around narrow, white streets, succeeded in escaping most of the numerous craft sellers unscathed, before finishing up at the old church, locate just beyond the Bullring.  I imagine one needs to pray rather seriously before stepping in front of a prancing, angry bull.

Belltower.  (Makes one think of Don Quixote, written in 1605...wow!)

The bullring wasn’t open but a tiny, badly lit museum was, so we paid our dues and ventured in.  Once through the curtain, our gaze was met by vacant glassy eyes of famous conquests who had been preserved for their show of valour in the ring. (Bulls not matadors that is!)  By comparison, costumes worn by handsome matadors were tiny (only in size) but beautifully decorated.  Bull fighting must be quite the spectacle and an art form in one.  We will never see a performance though. 

The first fight is to get through the souvenir sellers...

I'm sure I've seen that man before...

From:  Restingar Smir, Morocco  Lat/Long:  35:45.25N 5:20.518W Date/Time: 11/06/13: 0730

To: Fuengirola, Spain Lat/Long: 36:32.45N 4:37.02W Date/Time: 11/06/13: 1645
Time Taken: 60nm (9.5hrs) Distance (this year): 267.5nm (42.5hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 11092.5nm   Weather: SW10-15kts; 0.5m swell; warming up
Fastest Speed: Motor & sail doing 7.4kts at best