Costa del Sol
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Docked in Sotogrande and a sea of resort developments on the Costa del Sol in
southern Spain. |
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A
break for tapas and sangria in Malaga. |
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View
to the southwest of the Pillars of Hercules from Sotogrande -- quite
a sight to see Europe and Africa on a clear day. |
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We
visited Almunecar, known in Phoenician and Roman times as "Ex"
or "Sexi" from the Marina del Este. |
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View
toward the beach and small town of Torreguardiara from Sotogrande, a
resort development where the marina is located. |
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The
small, rocky promontory in the foreground provided enough protection for
this to serve as a trading port thousands of years ago. |
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A
parade of boats in Sotogrande during the July festival in honor of Carmen,
the patron saint of sailors. |
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Fish
salting tanks from the 4th and 5th Centuries A.D. used to make garum, a
Roman delicacy, in Almunecar. We later found the recipe for garum in
Cartagena. |
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A
few days later, we dressed Gyatso with Tibetan prayer flags to
celebrate being re-launched and to honor an auspicious day in the Tibetan
calendar while docked in Estepona. |
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David
at the entrance to the small, but informative archeological museum in
Almunecar. |
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David
studies the cruising guide while we motor in calm weather along the Costa
del Sol in Spain. |
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View
from the Castillo Arabe de San Miguel in Almunecar. |
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Gyatso
tied to the canal wall into the inner harbor in Benalmadena. In
Spain, we quickly realized that visiting yachts are part of the tourist
attactions at the resorts... |
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Part
of the collection of Pheonician and Roman objects at the archeological
museum in Almunecar. A beautiful Egyptian vase from the 15th Century
BC was also on display here. |
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Even
the local tourist train made regular passes by us. In this photo,
Lisa turned the camera on them and received many waves. |
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We
stopped at the small fishing port of Adra and stayed at the Real Club
Nautico which made room for us. |
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We
could see this Buddhist stupa while sailing into Benalmadena. The
tourist office directed us toward the appropriate bus route to visit it
and the nice little town of Benalmadena Pueblo - a glimpse at the
pre-resort character of this coastline. |
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A
Phoenician amphora on display at the archeological museum in Benalmadena. |
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View
of the latest development projects on the Spanish coast from the
Enlightenment Stupa. |
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David
samples a vino tinto (red wine) from the Iberian ham and wine shop in
town. Local wines are dispensed into "recycled" water
bottles. |
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The
huge marina at Benalmadena looking north at the canal to the inner harbor. |
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A
selection of wines that we purchased in plastic jugs and two bottles that
were a gift from local yachtsman at the Real Club Nautico in Adra. |
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The
crowded beach next the marina at Benalmadena. We read in the paper
that this beach was evacuated a few days later due to terrorist threats. |
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A
Phoenician archeological site in Adra is currently being studied, but at
the moment, sits with little protection underneath a greenhouse operation. |
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A
Roman mosaic on display at the museum in Malaga. |
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Adra
is a busy fishing harbor. |
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A
visit to the Alcazaba in Malaga. |
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Tourism
is an afterthought in Adra, as can be seen by the trash floating among the
boats at the Club Nautico. |
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View
from the Alcazaba of the port in Malaga which has been in use since
Phoenician times. |
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View
of the Costa del Sol in Spain on a hazy day. Brown Saharan dust is
the likely cause. |
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A
Roman theatre was uncovered at the base of Alcazaba castle. Current
archeological excavations are ongoing... |
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Almerimar
is a huge, purpose-built marina that is popular among cruisers. We
were the only American boat among 1,000 at the marina -- not sure what
message they were trying to send when they put us next to this abandoned
wreck! |
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Remains
of Roman and Phoenician settlements were found under the road and the
Picasso Museum in Malaga. |
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Lisa
produced this meal of Moroccan-style chicken from the remains of fresh
food in the fridge. Even she admitted that it was delicious! |
Costa Blanca
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We
admired this fishing boat which was in use as a family pick-nick boat for
a national holiday while we were at anchor in Aguilas, Spain. |
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View
from Gyatso at anchor in Aguilas. |
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Like
many other tourists, we posed for a photo in front of the submarine
designed by Isaac Peral in 1884 which is now on display as a sculpture in
Cartagena. |
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Lisa,
and her ever-present back pack, falls into step in Cartagena. |
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The
large, natural harbor in Cartagena has been used since Phoenician times. |
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The
canoe stern of Gyatso (at left) berthed on the outer pontoon in
Cartagena. |
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A
Roman theatre was found in 1990 near the Castillo de la Concepción and is
now open to the public along with a great museum and park. |
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We
took a break from archeological sites to devour this wonderful pizza at La
Tagliatella, an Italian restaurant in Cartagena. |
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A
monument in honor of Hasdrubal, the Carthaginian general who founded
Cartagena as "Qart Hadast" in 227 BC. |
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A
stone archway into the Roman theatre in Cartagena. |
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The
dome of Palacio de Aguirre, part of the interesting architectural mix of
Cartagena. |
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One
of the narrow streets opened-up with the discovery of a Roman theatre
which is still being excavated on the left side of this photo. |
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Part
of one of the old Roman roads uncovered in Cartagena. |
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David
studies the remains of a ancient Punic Wall on display in a well-done
museum about it in Cartagena. |
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Sailing
along the Costa Blanca in Spain. |
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Lisa
removes a bottle of acetone cup holder on the binacle before mistaking it
for drinking water while underway on the Costa Blanca. |
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We
had a great view of Peñan de Ifach from the cockpit of Gyatso. |
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The
sunrise reflecting on Cabo Moraira as we depart for the crossing to the
Balearics. |
Balearic Islands
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Calm
crossing to Ibiza. |
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Islas
Bledas and the larger Isla Conejera as seen on the approach to Ibiza. |
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Islas
Vedra and Vedraneli on the southwest coast of Ibiza. |
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Cala
Horts, one of the many beautiful calas on Ibiza. |
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An
old fishing port near the Phoenician archelogical site near Sa Caletta. |
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Remains
of a Phoenician settlement on Ibiza. |
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Sa
Caleta on the southern coast of Ibiza where we had lunch at a beachfront
restaurant. |
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For
starters at the beachfront restaurant, we had baby hears of romaine from
Tudela, Spain, the place where the "Borre" family name
originates. |
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The
main course was the restaurants special paella (seafood rice). |
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Even
the Ibizan wine served in Sa Caleta depicts a Phoenician ship on its
label. |
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Statue
images of Tanit, a god worshipped by the Phoenicians, from the necropolis
in Ibiza city. |
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View
of the harbor in Ibiza. |
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A
portion of the large necropolis found in Ibiza. |
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David
ventures below ground at the Phoenician necropolis and museum in Ibiza. |
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Gyatso
at anchor in Puerto de San Miguel on Ibiza. This was the last time
we used the sun awning this season, as the weather was noticeably cooler
by the time we reached Menorca. |
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We
went for dinner aboard the blue yacht anchored behind us -- can you guess
which one? |
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Puerto
de Andraitx, Mallorca. |
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Local
sailing boats, Andraitx, Mallorca. |
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Local
boats in Andraitx. |
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Local
boats tied up along a small river in Andraitx. |
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We
took the tourist train to Soller, Mallorca. |
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Train
station in Soller, one of the oldest in the world according to their
tourist brochures. |
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A
dog watches us walk by from this second story window in Soller. |
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Typical
stone building in Soller. |
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View
of Soller on a hazy day from an overlook along the tourist train route. |
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Lighthouse
at the entrance of Puerto Colom. |
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Rafted
up in Puerto de Cala Ratjada (Gyatso is second from right). |
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Looking
back toward Cabo de Pera, Mallorca, during the crossing to Menorca. |
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View
from the visitor's quay which is no longer in use in Puerto de Ciutadella,
Menorca. |
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Local
fishing boats in Ciutadella. |
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The
historic harbor area in Ciutadella. |
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Fishing
nets piled on the commercial quay in Ciutadella. |
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Looking
southwest down the long, narrow cala at Puerto de Ciutadella. |
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A
small, busy square in Ciutadella. |
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Olive
trees in Ciutadella. |
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Stone
walls on Menorca. |
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The
protected "lagoon" at Fornells, Menorca. |
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View
of the north coast of Menorca. |
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Lighthouse
on Cap de Cavalleria, Menorca. |
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Tiny
cala near Cap de Cavalleria. |
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View
to the north from Monte de Toro. |
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Limestone
quarries near Ciutadella. |
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Typical
wooden gate on Menorca. |
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Bronze
Age monument at Naveta des Tudons. |
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The
monument is shaped like the over-turned hull of a ship. |
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A
shrine for religious ceremonies in Talayotic town at Trepucó. |
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A
cruise ship passes behind us while moored in Mahon. |
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