Beautiful day – where shall we go?  We decided to take a trip towards Ubrique calling in at some of the villages en route.

We opened the roof of our little convertible and headed off towards Grazalema, before turning left towards Villaluenga del Rosario and leaving the spectacular Grazalema behind us, shimmering white in its hollow beneath the mountains. We passed a delightfully located picnic area, full of Spanish families barbecuing or eating their picnics in the shade of the olive and almond trees.

A quick stop in pretty little Villaluenga, famous for its cheeses,  to look at the bull ring and then it was down through the wide valley towards our main destination, Benaocaz.  Here above the modern-day town lies the ruined original Nazarí village.  A quick stroll through this weed-ridden old stone-built settlement in the early afternoon heat set us up for a drink and some tapas.  We sat in the pretty little square in front of the ayuntamiento at the only free table and enjoyed a refreshing coke and a couple of medias raciones, gallo empanado and chocos together with a plate of patatas fritas.  Scrumptious, especially the john dory in breadcrumbs, which was freshly prepared and succulent.

Back to the car for the open-top descent down to Ubrique – a grubby, ugly town -  before taking the back road from there to Cortes de la Frontera.  What a revelation!  The scenery on that road is to die for.  Absolutely stunning!  No settlements, just the occasional white-painted farmhouse.  And scarcely any other Sunday drivers, too.

The pleasant drive back from Cortes via Jimera de Líbar and Benaoján brought us back home in time for a relaxing sit on the terrace in the evening sun and a chance to reminisce about a lovely Sunday afternoon drive.

©  Paul Whitelock