An Advertorial Feature
With its dependable climate, just about anywhere in the Costa de Almeria is an ideal place to just flop down, kick back, and let the days float by. But if you hire a car, you’ll find there’s plenty in the region just waiting to be explored.
A quick word of warning, however. When it comes to car hire, insist on an air conditioned model. When we say the climate is dependable, we mean it’s dependably baking. In fact, the Costa de Almeria is officially classified as having a desert climate, so aircon is a must.
Where to go? Kids and film buffs should head for Tabernas. It was here, in an area now called Mini-Hollywood, that many famous cowboy movies were shot, including Sergio Leone’s ‘dollars’ trilogy. You can mosey around the set pretending to be The Man With No Name, or say ‘hit me again, barman!’ to the uncomprehending staff in the genuine fake saloon.
Further afield is Granada, home of the world-famous Alhambra palace. This is probably the finest example of Moorish architecture in Europe. The shaded courtyards, gardens and ornamental ponds make the Alhambra feel cool even in the relentless heat. As ever with popular attractions it’s worth getting there early before the crowds gather, so you may want to consider booking a nearby hotel before you visit.
Lying southeast of Granada is the pretty hilltop town of Mojácar and its beach, Mojácar Playa. Narrow streets and, ahem, self-assured local drivers make Mojácar quite challenging to drive in, so it pays to be careful. Park as soon as you can and explore the myriad bars and restaurants by foot.
Legend has it that Walt Disney was born here, although we have slightly more faith in the truthfulness of another local story. It’s said that a rich Englishman had bought an enormous hacienda in the shadow of Mojácar, and commissioned a British architect to design a stunning, Olympic-sized swimming pool for its grounds. He then got some local builders to realize his plans while he spent the summer back in London.
Some months later he received an urgent phone call from an official in the Mojácar Town Hall. He was saying that the pool’s construction had to cease. If completed, it would use up a significant amount of the town’s fresh water. The businessman argued to no avail, and ended up having to fly back to Spain to sort things out.
It turned out the British architect’s blueprints had been drawn up in feet, whereas the Spanish pool builders read them as metres.
So a pool that was already designed to be large would have ended up being absolutely immense. A length would have measured 150m, or 490 feet. The deep end would have been an eardrum bursting 16.5m (54 feet) beneath the surface. And, had one been constructed, the diving board would have been three stories high. At great expense, the owner had to have the pool rebuilt to a more manageable size.
That’s the story anyway. Well, it’s more believable than the Walt Disney one.