6th October- Almeria

Today we all caught the bus into Almeria along the cliff top road beside the beautiful coast line. We walked around the streets, partially retracing my steps from yesterday, headed for the Alcazaba which is a Moorish fortress. It really was a lovely place, with cool gardens (not many flowers, more water, steps and greenery) and old ruins (an earthquake devastated the place in the 1700s). The highlight for hilary was that the place was infested for want of a better word with cats. They were all healthy and all had ear marks which indicated they belonged, but there were quite a few. Though they appeared well fed, not skinny and with healthy coats they were more than happy to share peanut butter rolls with Hilary and dryish pieces of bread, which is not particularly cat-like.

Can't remember this guys name but he hangs out in this area of spain, on cars, in the street and on house front walls/doors. He wards off evil from the home/car or whatever.

The Alcazaba front door

Water feature and topiaried buxus

Looking over the walls to the city. A fairly untidy city really with definite patches of very poor and desparate looking people

Another view of the city from inside the walls.

Looking towards the port from the Alcazaba. Our camp-ground was around the point further.

The walls stretching off for many metres into the distance.

Hilary with a few of the residents

Trying to look cool, when really we were hot.

Looking at La Chanca, the area where gypsies lives in caves/ghettos. very poor area and not safe to go there at night apparently. We stayed clear altogether though many tourists head straight there.

We didn't have a long day in town, once we had seen the Alcazaba we had a quick look at some of the buildings and plazas before catching our bus back to the campsite and settling in for the evening. We packed up the truck ready for take off the next day.