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A windy day today so instead of going to the beach we chose for our outing a walk through the Parque Natural de la Breña y Marismas del Barbate to the Torre del Tajo, a 16th-century tower on the cliffs high above the Atlantic between Barbate and Los Caños de Meca.       
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It is for good reason that this part of the coast is called Costa de la Luz. We drove a few kilometers from Conil, past the lighthouse to a little cove that can be reached by climbing down the cliff on a wooden staircase. There were just a few people there still, enjoying the last rays of sun. With our tripods in tow, we too wanted to catch the last light of the day - with our cameras.     Conil, where we are staying, is also a pueblo blanco, but on the coast. Vejer, which is located on a plateau and is nine kilometers inland, isn't far, just 15 minutes by car. It makes a nice afternoon destination for us with our cameras. Here is a short description of Vejer from the Internet and then some photos from our walk. This classic white village on the hilltop is perched high above the steep gorge of the River Barbate. The more interesting arrival is from the outpost at the bottom of the ravine called La Barca de Vejer. From here a steep road takes you up the escarpment and straight into the beautiful Plaza de Espana. This stunning castellated town is a magical place to explore, its quiet cobbled streets meandering through a charming jumble of secret corners, hidden patios and delightful houses. One is relieved to find barely a hint of plastic or a trace of the 20th Century. Even the rubbish bins appear to have been carefully designed to please the eye!The village has been officially declared an Historical Artistic Monument of National importance.          It's just a little bit Christmassy here in Conil. There are lots of street decorations and lights, but I don't see anything like the shopping frenzy that pervades Munich at this time of year. But then again, I don't go shopping here. Except at the supermarket, Mercadona. Mercadona reminds you that it is Christmas by playing all the popular Christmas hits from the past 20 - 30, 40, 50? - years. After shopping I came home with an ear worm - Frosty the Snowman, and that in sunny Spain! Our day consisted of a lovely sun rise, some indoor photography, a walk through Conil for some last minute shopping and Christmas Eve dinner with our friends from Kassel, who are spending the holidays here, too.  Dawn as we see it from our living room window  I don't know what we are going to do with all these lemons - but good for a little still life.  My morning tea - but I don't even drink tea with lemon, just added it for the color.  We took a liesurely walk through town.  Saw Santa Claus looking for a chimney  With Janos of course  Yikes! The only people we've seen going for a swim, not counting the surfers in wet suits.  We made a traditional German Weihnachtsteller - Christmas plate - to take to our hosts for the Christmas Eve celebration..  Christmas Eve  Christmas in Conil with Bruni, Heinz, Janos and Margaret - and where is Roland?  Roland is a cook, and our personal cook. The meal was terrific. At El Palmar Not much more to say than is in the title - just another beach walk, this time at El Palmar instead of here in Conil. We drove over with our friends Heinz and Bruni, who are also spending the Christmas holidays here. When you know a beach well, then you see the differences. Beach is not beach. The surf is different, the contours of the shore are different, we even saw a giant jelly fish washed up on the beach. Never saw one on Conil's beach. El Palmar is where the surfers come. There is hardly a town here, it looks like the village is populated excusively by beach people. In December only a few bars and bistros are open for a cold beer and a meal. Lots of surfing schools are boarded up for the winter. The outig made a nice change of scenery for us.   Janos, Heinz und Bruni  Saw very few surfers  Heinz und Janos  Bruni   The surfing life |