Cortijo de la Monjes – arrived and immediately headed for the pool and the sun, it was heaven. After an hour or so, including a dip, we went back to the apartment and got ready for dinner which arrived at 8 as announced: chicken with green pepper on a tortilla with a bottle of red. Very nice (price ended up being a bit high: 30E which is restaurant prices, but it was lovely sitting out on the terrace. Bed, deep sleep, and next morning breakfast also on the terrace: jamon, cheese, bread, pears, joghurt, orange juice and coffee: lovely. Christian checked the planned route with the owners who gave a lot of info which led to a complete change of route. Ride began beautifully with up and downhill through the countryside down to Colmejar where we had a coffee and an iced tea outside under the trees. Then on down to Concepcion de la virgin, a pretty depressing town, but with great tapas at a bar. Late lunch, but still a long way to go. Even after having climbed a lot of hills already, we still had the worst to come. It was quite overcast and cold, fortunately, since getting up that hill in the heat would have been difficult. During that day we covered 61km and an elevation of 1500 metres. Stunning rocky cliff scenery and very high up. Couldn’t manage to set El Tocar, which is a unique rock formation, but quite a long way up into the mountain. When the descent to Antequera came, it was really something. Speeds reached 55-60kph going into the city. We arrived late and exhausted. Showered and went out for a drink. Too tired to really look around the town, which was a pity, since I think we missed a bit, but couldn’t help it. We found a great tapas bar, however, where we had a lovely dinner and a bottle of ‘Tetas de la Sacristana’, ordered by me in a fit of the giggles. It was nice. Then back to the Hotel Numero 1 where we had a nightcap – before heading to bed. Not a bad little hotel in the bar, but the room was awful. Window looking out onto the ventilation shaft. Brekkie was ok the next morning, tostada with salmorejo and jamon, interestingly and unusually. Then off on the day’s adventure, more of which follows in the next installment …
