Nerja - day two

We take it easy this morning knowing that later we are heading by bus into Nerja.

First up Bob helps the staff harvest avocados from the trees on our site and the one beside us - which consists of Bob staring up into the trees and pointing and saying ‘’Grande”, “Medio”, “Pequeno”, “Uno, Dos, Tres” etc. the guy with the gadget pulls them down - we get Dos Grande for our help!

Guy harvesting avocados spotted by Bob

We head to bus around 11.30. One bus sails by the stop and shows no intention of stopping - we have been told this happens sometimes (and it may be because they are full and no one is allowed to stand?) A more local couple than us suggests we catch the Local Urbano bus which leaves from 30 metres away at the road entry to the hotel and it’s only €1 each - it duly arrives, on time’ish, and for a buck we get taken into town right to where the ‘train’ to Nerja Caves leaves from, so that’s a bonus.

We have a 25 minute wait, so wander around a little and soak up the views, take some photos, before boarding the motorised tractor and cart, that’s apparently road registered. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the caves.

Our little train to Caves

Around Nerja plaza

Plaza Nerja

View of sea from Plaza Nerja

The St Michael caves at Gibraltar were spectacular due to lighting effects, but these are a lot more natural - and quite simply astonishing. The caves were re-discovered in modern times on 12 January 1959 by five friends, who entered through a narrow sinkhole known as "La Mina". The cave is divided into two main parts - Nerja I , which we got to go into. Nerja II is not open to the public unfortunately as this is where they discovered Neanderthal cave paintings dated to 42,000 years ago (how on earth did they figure that out!). Skeletal remains found in the caverns indicate that they were inhabited from about 25,000 BC being used seasonally by a small group of humans, and were occupied by cave hyena during the periods that the humans were absent.

Lovely park outside caves

Kerrie with Cueva De Nerja (Caves of Nerja)

Bob with Cueva De Nerja (Caves of Nerja) sign

Back into town, where it is 3.30pm and therefore lunch time. We managed to find a small cafe in a quiet neighborhood that sold wraps and baguettes (joy oh joy!). Wandered back through a couple of lanes and Bob finally bought a hat (to wear instead of his cap) that’s crushable, packable and only €10 so he’s happy.

The wedding that we met some guests yesterday was on in the church this time (every time we went past the church there was a wedding on).
Unfortunately the Caves Museum closes at 4.00pm so we miss that, but that’s okay. After soaking up the views at the the Balcon de Europa again we decide we would need to stay too late to have dinner in town so head off to find the bus stop to get the bus back to campground. Fortunately we have 10mins spare and can fit in a Gelato which we finish just as we get on the bus! We decide to stay another day here tomorrow so we can explore more of the local area, and it is a nice campsite.

See ya tomorrow.