Page 34 - Spanish Insight - November 2019

By Naomi Diestro

Day Trips on

a Motorbike

It’s a warm and sunny Sunday morning, and
we fancy a dip. ‘Let’s see what Baño de
Vilo’s like’ I say, and so here we are on the
main Nerja-to-Málaga road, turning inland at country. This is a pretty slopey village – you … a statue of Jesus carrying the cross on a
the Vélez-Malaga exit. We hang a left via the seem to always be walking either upwards ‘trono’ tucked away in one corner (no doubt
A-7204 through Periana, whizz along the MA- or downwards – and after a couple of wrong waiting to be hoisted up onto shoulders and
156 and arrive at our destination 50 minutes turns we find the Taberna at the bottom of paraded around the village at the next feria)
later. a hill beyond the main square. It’s a cosy, … and tiny candles in another. We light one
hippy-but-chic Aladdin’s cave filled with eye- of them and pray for a dearly departed loved
catching Moroccan artefacts, a price tag one before heading back to the bike.
dangling from all of them. Thank goodness
we made it just in time before they stop
serving breakfast. Birthday Boy’s having his
favourite - Eggs Benedict - and I plump for a
toasted French stick with homemade jam. We
both savour every mouthful, it’s scrumptious.

This Arabian medicinal spa (not much bigger
than a jacuzzi) is located off a very steep hill
and is cocooned within leafy surroundings.
As we find our spot and change into our We’re riding around the outskirts of Cómpeta
swimming gear, several Spaniards march past towards Canillas de Albaida looking for the
us with their folded-up chairs and packed Puente Romano, a short and ancient Roman
lunches, all holding their noses and exclaiming bridge (second century!) once used by Roman
‘qué peste!’, thanks to the sulphur dioxide soldiers. We find it, trundle across it (over the
permeating from the mud from where the bath River Turvilla) and go for a steep hike up a
is filled. Keen to benefit from its proclaimed zig-zagged stony path, which thankfully has
healing and therapeutic properties, we go in wooden rails to hold on to. After enjoying the
undeterred and find the temperature to be nice view at the top, we re-trace our steps
quite chilly (though it’s a steady 21 degrees) and get back on the bike. Next and final stop:
and ooh yuck, the bottom’s really slimy! It’s the coast.
refreshing though, so we stay a while before
moving on for a late breakfast. The journey along the A-7206 is mountainous
and the views are marvellous. We pass the
It’s Oscar’s birthday weekend, and our next villages of Sayalonga and Algarrobo, where a
stop is his restaurant of choice: the Taberna Vino de Terrano sign makes us stop the bike
Hierbabuena in Plaza de la Constitución, and buy a bottle – we love that stuff! The
Cómpeta. We take a ride there along the fresh seaweedy smell of the seaside tells us
A-7204 and park in an area beside a tiled we’re now on the coast. We make our way
mural of workers with grape-filled baskets - a to El Morche promenade where we tuck into
reminder we’re in the heart of Muscatel wine Mini Deluxe ice creams at Helados Alacant
whilst having ringside seats of the sand, palm
We leave the restaurant (brushing past a trees and blue sky. Heavenly. All in all, another
couple of Insight mags in the Taberna’s great day out in a beautiful part of the world.
magazine rack) and can’t help noticing the We are so very fortunate to be here, aren’t
place is deserted as we walk back up the we?
hill to the main square. Its outdoor restaurant © Naomi Diestro 2019
is choc-a-block, stuffed with families all
chattering away – no wonder the rest of the
village is deserted, all the locals are here!
We wander over to the 16th century church
(Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) and take a
peek inside. Your eye is instantly drawn to the
gigantic mural of Christ with five maidens?
Angels?? Painted by Vélez artist Francisco
Hernández, which is rather beautiful. It has all
you’d expect from a Spanish Catholic church:
dark wooden-beamed ceiling … images of
various saints and virgins … confession box
34 Spanish Insight November 2019
34 Spanish Insight November 2019