Andalusia - from Arabic Al-Andalus, originally from the Vandal
tribe, is the region of Spain where the mountains meet the sea, Great
Britain meets the European Union, and Africa almost meets Europe.
In the last case it is only a distance of 20 km. But one step at a time.
Andalusia captivated me with its diverse landscape.
Even the mountains are patchy. Some peaks are green and teeming
with vegetation, and right next to them are rocky or almost desert-
like ones. It was a fascinating sight. Especially thanks to a drive
along the A-369 scenic route, which stretches endless serpentines
across peaks and mountain slopes. This allows you to admire the
amazing open space and almost otherworldly landscapes.
At such altitudes you can already feel the pressure differences.
This doesn't bother the goats that live there wild at all. Fortunately,
I didn't meet any other wild inhabitants there, either crawling or with claws.
I wouldn't be myself if I hadn't found the Gothic cathedral.
Unfortunately, it was converted into a Renaissance style but had its
origins in a mosque. A very interesting cultural mix, like all
of Andalusia. La Manquita or Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica
de la Encarnación is a fascinating example of mixing styles in
architecture.
Malaga delights with its marble sidewalks, polished by the feet of
many tourists. Picasso's city showed me its diversity and revealed
the secret of his style. Constant changes in the cultural fabric are
still visible in the city's architecture.
Gibraltar welcomed me with a familiar scent if you know what I mean.
Street cleanliness varies significantly between Spain and the UK.
A red telephone booth immediately caught my attention, almost like
a monument to another time. Who else calls like that? Probably only
those trying to escape from the Matrix.
The Rock of Gibraltar has a tangle of natural and artificial tunnels
inside. Remains of Neanderthals were found in these natural ones,
suggesting that the rock was their last foothold in the war with
Homo sapiens.
Subsequent wars brought them new inhabitants and new tunnels.
A huge rock towers over the city. It's very nice in the summer heat
because it provides a lot of shade. Of course, you can see windows
cut at different heights, which stimulates the imagination. I didn't
meet the famous monkeys, but I already plan to visit again, so I'm
counting on the chance for this exciting experience. Apparently they
are little thieves.
Tarifa is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea and
you can really see the difference. On one side of the pier, total chill
and a view of Morocco, and on the other side, kitesurfers are going
crazy.
I was fascinated by this view. This is flying, not swimming.
Of course, it was terribly windy and I almost lost my scarf. Only
because it stopped with a very nice lady, I still have it.
I definitely do not recommend wearing dresses to visit this place.
Everyone was waiting with curiosity for a moment a la Marlin Monroe performed by me. Eh...
Ronda is a mysterious city located between the mountains, almost
cut off from the world. Partially carved into the rock and connecting
two sides of a deep canyon. The current residential part is located at
the top, but below you can still see the remains of the old stone
buildings.
Caves hidden in the rocks, surrounded by open space and breathtaking 
views. There is, of course, a bullring and the Palace of the Giants. I was struck by the height at which the knockers to the huge entrance doors were placed. They are higher than in Malbork. Stories about giants make sense in such places. And cicadas. I came across a concert of early music in the palace's gazebo, and they provided an amazing background to it, almost arousing anxiety.
Small towns are wonderfully chaotic architecturally. The foundations 
are made of stones placed there hundreds of years ago, and each generation builds something on them. Architects probably don't even look there out of concern for their health. These houses, in various geometric forms, are glued to the rocks.
The only consistent element is white, apart from the Smurf Village, 
which is dominated by blue. During the day, in full sun, the city seems deserted or even ghostly. Silence and cicadas. So you can imagine what great pleasure I had sneaking through the narrow streets and wondering how this place was built over the centuries. A true detective and logical puzzle.
