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Andalusia
Andalusia is often called „Europe’s California“, here you have the most sunny days, it is said 300 - 330 days a year,
very mild winters, a most beautiful spring already from Christmas, the clearest water and the cleanest air of whole Europe.
Massive earth movement, volcanism and the power of wind and water has formed in the south of Spain a incomparable landscape of wild beauty.
Over the centuries the original inhabitants of this region have been influenced by many different tribes and nations,
Phoenicians, Carthagians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and finally the Moors.
This varying history left a unique heritage which is more and more discovered and cultivated in the andalusian provinces.
Nature Park Cabo de Gata-Nijar
The Nature Park Cabo de Gata - Nijar is located in the province of Almeria at the Costa del Sol and the Costa de Almeria. It is Nature Park ashore and offshore with sheer rock cliffs, dreamlike beaches and secluded bays which form this coast. In 1987 this area became a Nature Park and was declared by the UNESCO as a biosphere reserve.
The flora is formed by desert and semi-desert plants like the only palm habitant in Europe – el palmito – the mediterranean fan palm. Rare animals most of them birds and reptiles are native in this park.
This bizarre landscaped scenery and the wonderful light is used by motion picture companies for many movies like “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" or “Münchhausen”. Sometimes it may happen to meet a film shoot when walking through the country.
The white villages don’t have any tower blocks. Private houses, small hostels and hotels offer excellent accommodation mostly close to the pleasant beaches.
During the summer this Nature Park is a beach and bathing paradise.
The beautiful beaches and secluded bays guarantee perfect seaside holidays.
Offshore you may see great water turtles and dolphins while snorkelling or diving in the several bays.
After a day on the beach many restaurants and bars provide a large variety of local food, especially seafood and paella.
In many shops and a tourist office you get information about the region and the points of interest nearby.
Finally you may have a „copa de vino“ at the beach and enjoy the fantastic sky with all its sparkling stars. The clean and clear sky is the reason for building close to the Park the observatory “Calo Alto” in the Sierra de los Filabres.
Beach life is possible at least until October, than you may have a whole beach just for yourself to enjoy the warming October sun.
During winter and spring the Cabo de Gata Nature Park is ideal for walking.
In December the flowering time of the almond tree indicates the beginning of spring. In January everything starts to green and blossom:
clover, chrysanthemum, camomile, lavender, red poppy, lilac, varies kinds of orchid, lilies, mimosa and many more change the park to green oasis.
With acceptable temperatures this is the time to explore the nature park by bike or feet.
A chain of mountains "the Sierras" , enclose the only real desert of Europe , the "Desierto de Tabernas", nowadays a place for motion picture companies and advertising industry.
Those mountains raise from the sea up to the highest peak of the spanish mainland the Pico La Valetta in the Sierra Nevada with its 3482m.
Only 150km from Cabo de Gata this is the best skiing resort of Spain.
Las Negras
The small and romantic village of Las Negras is located on the shore of Nature Park Cabo de Gata at a beautiful beach only 45 km from Almeria and the airport. The village has 2 landing stages for boats, a plaza, a playground, Tapas-bars, restaurants, boutiques, a campground and some hotels and hosteles.
Las Negras offers a sandy beach for swimming and a stony beach for fishing and snorkelling.
By boat you reach other beautiful beaches like playa San Pedro where a Hippie Community is living since the 70ties.
From Las Negras you reach many points of interest like the desert of Tabernas, Mini Hollywood, they still do movies there, Granada with its Alhambra or the Sierra Nevada and the ski resorts.
(H.D.)
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