Settling in

For the last week, aside from a tour of the Cuevas de Nerja, we have settled into living in Almuñécar. We drove to the caves on Sat. March 3 and this time got tickets for a tour. It was spectacular. Nerja Caves – Cuevas de Nerja – are a series of huge caverns stretching for almost five kilometres and home to the world’s largest stalagmite, about 32 metres tall. They were lived in for thousands of years, millennia before Christ. There are ancient wall paintings but the parts of the caves where they are aren't open to the public because they are too delicate and are still being studied. You're not allowed to take flash photography. I didn't know my iPhone camera was on flash but found out it was when it went off and the guide saw it. I got a stern warning. Albert showed me how to turn it off, which I hadn't known before. The temperature in the caves is almost always around 19c., perfect to live in. The formations are breathtaking.






We have had a lot of rain, some strong winds and a few clear nights with bright full moons.
Caroline and Albert left on Tuesday to celebrate their 50th anniversary in Madrid. The rest of us had been to Madrid before and thought they would appreciate a few days on their own. They took the train from Malaga, so Albert was relieved of driving duties for a while. Mela and I are planning a welcome home dinner for them tomorrow.
I've enjoyed settling into days walking around the house and town. From our house you walk down a road to the shore of the Mediterranean and then turn either right to walk about 3km into town or left and walk about 2km to a rocky point that has one of many old defence towers along the shore on top of it.
Yesterday Mela and I walked into Almuñécar to try the spa at the Almuñécar Playa Spa Hotel. My high hopes for it were not exactly realized, except for the sauna that was good and hot. It was also the first one I'd been in since we sold ours that you could take first dry and then wet. Usually they don't let you put water on public saunas. But I overdid it and almost fainted. Mela told me to sit with my head between my knees for a while, which did help, but the change room was small and damp so I didn't feel really normal until I left the spa. Mela and I had thought of going a few times but as most of the hot tubs, etc. were disappointing, I think we won't.
Today was beautiful. I had a good walk to the tower.