Sandy toes

Mar 3

Very close to us is a natural dunes reserve.  The dominant winds from the Northwest and coastal currents have always provided a continuous flow of sands to its beaches, creating a labyrinth of dunes.  The whole dune complex extends for about 20 kilometers, but unfortunately, much of it has been overtaken by building, developments and damaged by unknowing individuals.

The Dunes at Artola are now a reserve with restricted access, but you are able to walk the reserve on a series of elevated walkways, that allow you to explore without damaging.  There are three different types of dunes visible.  Right on the seafront there are dunes which are quite mobile, easy to distinguish because of their ripples.  Further inland,, acting as a barrier parallel to the coast, are the inactive mobile dunes, now covered in vegetation.  Then further inland, are immobile fossil dunes, covered in dense pine forest.

At one end of the dunes reserve is a defensive tower called Torre de los Ladrones.  This is one of many towers spread all along the whole coast line of Andalusia.  Thought to have been of Roman origin, it has been rebuilt and transformed by the Moors, as indicated by its square base (Christian based towers tend to have rounded bases).  The name comes from the protective corbels and machicolations (the decorative frame around the structure, that has openings behind, through which hot water, oil or objects were dropped on people trying to breach the walls) known as ladrones in Spanish. Ladrones is Spanish for thieves.

It was a lovely hot day, about 23 degrees and everyone seemed to have the same idea, of going to the beach.  It was a very popular spot, the parking lot was packed, people were having picnics, people wer fishing, etc.  It looked like a lot of fun.

The pine forest at the top of the dunes

some type of daisy and the spiky looking leaves belong to a Sea Daffodil - below is an internet gleaned picture of what they look like when in bloom.

  

Fisherman out on the breakwater casting for dinner

Our apartment is very near the tower in the distance.  Thankfully, in this area of the coast, this tall tower is the exception rather than the rule.  Most structures are between 1 and 4 stories, unlike nearby Marbella whose coastline is covered by very tall apartment buildings, packed side by side and several streets deep.

Four legged creatures were also enjoying the sun and beach

Torre de le Ladrones (Tower of Thieves)

Looking across the inactive mobile dunes to the fossil dunes

Map of the dunes with the various walkways - blue lines are wheelchair friendly routes about 8% grade, the red routes are up to 14% grade

wild flowering shrub along the walkway

wild morning glories

This is Lantan, we buy it as a cutting for our hanging baskets, here is grows wild as a bush - I have never had much luck with it blooming in my baskets