Spain spring 2022..

the wind is gone and it is cloudy and cool just like vancouver's maritime climate. There are even a few drops of rain! There are some fisherman out on the beach close to the lighthouse fishing with very long poles, 3 or 4 poles per fisherman stuck in the sand.....just like we saw in Portugal on a similar sand duney beach south of Nazare. Yesterday when we were driving down from here to Zahara de los Atunes, we saw lots of fishing boats in the bay with their nets set out. The way they use to catch tuna with these nets is called "Almadraba" and dates from moorish times. They create a fence with the nets and as the blue fin Tuna are entering the Mediterranean during migration (now May) They then club the fish to death. Apparently the wafers turn red from all the blood. Today when they bring the catch in there are Japanese processing ships at port ready to buy the catch, flash freeze it and send it to Japan for sashimi! There are concerns about overfishing locally.
this is the name of the beach we look out on. Playa de Atlanterra. suppose to be a blue flag beach, crystal clear waters. The light house called Camarinal lighthouse was built in the 16th century under Philip II as part of the coastal defence system to keep the berber pirates out. it was restored and made operational in the 1990,s its pattern seems to be one very long illumination followed by a short one. this area is great for migratory birds. they wait on the African side for the winds to die down and cross early in the morning. I expected there were some crossings this morning since it is no longer windy and we are certainly hearing more bird song but not seeing large flocks....granted it is cloudy. we did see a lot of swifts in Madrid and seville and they would have made the crossing this month.En savoir plus

we went to see this old Roman ruin on the next beach from where we are staying. you could walk it approx 6.5 km or so to get there or if you drive 33 km....there is no road over the headland! we drove being lazy. it was an interesting site. the phoenicians probably started the settlement prior to the Roman's taking over. the Romans arrived on the Iberia
peninsula approx 300BC. because we are so close to Africa it was an important port city. the tuna also migrate by here twice a year on their way to spawn in the Mediterranean. the Roman's loved this sauce made from the entrails of both tuna and mackral. salt was also used in the preparation of this "garum" sauce. it was made at this site and transported by ship throughout the Roman world. The main east west road-Decumanus Maximus- has huge flagstones and sewage pipes under it but is a bit jumbled and uneven because of numerous earthquakes that have occurred here. a big one in 200 ad. after the big earthquake the walls were rebuilt with the smaller grey stones. another large quake in 600 ad led to the abandonment of the area. there is a large forum with numerous columns and a statue of Trajan - Roman emperor born in spain. (italica just outside of Sevilla.). the salt/fish procesing area. There are some Roman baths showing the underground heating system. a theater including the vomitorium where everyone exits the theater. a space for 3 statues the Capitoline triad of the gods Juno, Jupiter and Minerva. also later a temple to Egyptian goddess Isis. all roman towns were laid out similar, grid pattern, city walls with gate towers, forum, market , temple to the gods, public baths. there is also some of the old aqueduct still In place.En savoir plus