El Chorro-Abdalajis

I forgot to put the distance for yesterday.
Ardales-El Chorro 19km.
I meant to start out early but didn't quite make it.
The road to Abdalajis (which must be a moorish name) starts just outside the hotel, so after breakfast I set off straight away. Today was hotter than it has been, and I soon had to stop for a breather on the steep climb out of the gorge. The cliff face here is nearly completely pink, and vertical for at least 200 metres. Onthe other side, pine trees complete with pine scent. Then at the top of the path, a different sierra appears, like a great grey whale rising from a sea of gorse (not sure about that analogy). Coming down the otherside, I could see the layers in the limestone, rising almost vertically. Picture to follow.
The vegetation was now lower to the ground, with palm fronds everywhere. I was soon in Abdalajis looking for somewhere to eat. From hat I could see, there were five bars and a bread shop. I more or less decided to press on to Antequera even though I was feeling a bit crummy, but on the way out of the village spotted a new hostal which looked ok. 20€ for an en-suite room with every modern convenience. It seems to be the stanard price. With this sort of quality, there seems to be no reason to pay 45€ for a hotel.
I walked up to the village mirador in the evening for a look at the surounding hills, then back to the hostal restaurant for a fine meal, green bean salad, sausages in wine, pan, vino y postre for €7.50. The bar was about cming to life at 10.30 when I left.
Day 15:El Chorro-Abdalajis 11 km.
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A wayfarer in Spain