Salobreña Travel Guide

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We were lucky enough to be in Salobrena for the Festival Flamenco ‘Lucero del Alba’ in August. The Gyspy Dancer, myself and the Small People made enquiries at the Casa de Culture in town and came out smiling with our tickets (8 euros for the two adults, small people free of charge).

Slightly out of town in the grounds of Casa Roja - We experienced some fine flamenco singing from 'Louis de Cordoba' with guitarist “Manuel Silveria” (Louis de Cordoba was amazing and totally enchanted me) and 'El Chocolate' (I think that was his name !) among others; the latter standing up and bellowing out an acapella heartfelt song across the hills and planes was something to experience.

The concert also featured a couple of dancers that were refreshingly nothing like the cabaret style flamenco featured in the uk - this dancer in particular was rather more Arabic in style. This is not cabaret flamenco, rather more serious (and yet relaxed at the same time ). If you're looking for something lighter and more jovial, I would suggest an evening out at one of the barbecue/show type venues- (I will write a further tip about the one just outside Almunecar soon) - They are great fun.

Very enjoyable.

Later on in the week, still part of the summer festival, there was also a free outdoor concert. Staged on a jutting out piece of rock right on the coast, in the nearby village of La Caleta. The sound of those vocal calls echoing across the hills with a backdrop of the illuminated castle at night, was magical.

Dress Code: As you like.

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Pick up the E902 (also called N323) highway to Motril to get to Salobrena from Granada and back. This takes you through the Lecrin valley (meaning the ‘Vale of Happiness’ in Arabic).

The route is rather scenic (for those not keeping both eyes on the road!) and you pass some rather surreal wind turbines and the (rather contravercial ) Rules dam ( pictured here). Apparently, the dam is filling up with much needed water, but they haven't organised a way of getting the water to the coastal towns yet !

You will pass many typical villages such as such as Padul, Durcal and Niguelas and a turning for the neo-hippy town of Orgiva. The journey to Niguelas takes 45 - 55 mins 'mas or menos'.

Quite by surprise we stumbled upon a church run charity shop half way up the hill towards the castle. This large building is interesting in its own right, painted ceilings, carved door-ways, an elegant staircase. I'm no expert and I didn't get to ask about the house so If any VT member has any information I'd be glad to know. It stocks all kinds of Brick a Brack, furniture, clothes, music & books, Plus are large selection of "antiques". I think it is open from 10am to 2 pm daily.

As some of you who spent some time on the Med last year may know, there was an invasion of jelly fish all over - Spain, France and Italy too from what we heard. Thousands of the horrible little things drifted to shallow water making it impossible to swim. Apparently, this happens around every 7 years (although I have heard that there has been an invasion in Mazzarron this year already). Cries of 'Medusa' could be heard from children from all directions and Spanish ladies were splodging large amounts of some sort of cream on any passing children who had been stung. (Not a serious sting, but I didn't fancy one!)

Being Spain, the whole thing became a spot of theatre, with high drama and much amusement as people were catching them in buckets, empty bottles and even on their flip-flops then burying them in the sand until the beach became like a jelly-fish graveyard.

Rather graceful in the water, they were absolutely disgusting looking out - Euwww !

After a couple of days, the local council got a trawler and 95% or so dissappeared -
Hooray!

**Aug 2006/7 - Alas, they were back this year. Click the link below to hear why *

Have sinse discovered, vinega is the thing for a sting. Many people spotted along the Med clutching bottles of cider vinega - strange, but true!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Sun cream (lots of), swim suit, a long gypsy skirt or two (essential) with a couple of small tops that'll do for day or dress up with some jewlery for evening, comfortable walking shoes for those cobbled streets (i find espedrills give me blisters on those cobbles), a shawl which will protect from the sun, take off the chill of air-conditioning and will also act as a sun shield when draped over a sun umbrella - and most important - a very large sunhat.

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we rented a fantastic villa from Margaret Lingwood (Lingwood Immobelia in Salobrena). The road rises sharply and winds up the cliff on the road just outside the town. There are fantastic views of the town and the sea.