Castillo Marquez de los Velez

You can see from a glance at the photos that today’s walk was like stepping into a painting! The cliffs just north of town were bathed in an early morning light that perfectly silhouetted the more than 300 cave homes that dot its face. Some are from prehistoric times, and others are in use right now. A friendly lady who was outside in her bathrobe beating a carpet explained that the high-up caves that look inaccessible now actually had pathways running to them when they were in use. Erosion has changed the geography of the cliff to what we see today.

Next comes a dam with a huge Indalo symbol painted on it. It holds back a reservoir that was established by a farmers’ cooperative in the 1980s in order to provide year-round access to water for agricultural purposes.

This short mountain interlude is a big change from the vast agricultural territory both behind it and ahead of it.Read more