Battuta, the Beach with some Immigrants and Gypsys Thrown In

Sometime ago they built a tramline up here, hoping that it would bring tourists up from the beach... it didn't work. The imposing castle tower, once clustered around for protection, long ago lost its luster to the inviting sea that shines in the distance. Back in 1350, Ibn Battutah spoke of a mighty mosque  (whose minaret now forms part of the Santa Maria la Mayor church) and thriving neighborhood, each long since emptied out. But as locals and tourists flock to the shore, the sound of flamenco meshing with riffing ouds echoes off the whitewashed walls of Velez. These ancient Arabic lanes are filling up once again with North African immigrants, who pick the fruit that grows so easily in this valley and also the Roma who sell it. The uneasy-feeling truce makes for interesting strolling and if you're on your way to Granada, forget the four lane highway and enjoy the song.

#architecture #history #smalltown #coast #castle #getaway #church #medieval #muslim #flamenco #mediterranean #islam #mosque #immigrants #offthebeatenpath #tower #culturalcrossroads #islamicarchitecture #gypsies #gitano #minaret #roma #fortification #arabic #spanishhistory #northafrican #ibnbattutah #atalaya #islamicspain

Originally published on Trazzler

Profile as Director of Studies of the Instituto de Lenguas Modernas, Extremadura

In between travels, I spend my time looking at English through another lens, that of the learner. I'm currently the Director of Studies at the Instituto de Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Extremadura. Onestopenglish decided to do a profile on the centre and the Continuous Professional Development program that we run. Click over here for a look.

Ibn Marwan on the Lamb in Alange, Spain

Imagine the Caliph's entire army hot on your tail and you with around a hundred guys on your side. Where would you want to hole up? The answer is here. High atop a mountain smack in the middle of one of Spain's most productive wine regions lies the ruins of a castle where, back in the 9th century, a Christian convert to Islam, Ibn Marwan, held off all the Caliph's men for three months only to be forced to surrender due to lack of water. History has its irony as today the castle ruins overlook one of Spain's largest reservoirs. Climb to the top to enjoy the spectacular views and then come down and pamper yourself in another unexpected quirk, the luxurious spa, Balneario de Alange at the bottom of the hill, which has been soaking tired bones since togas were the local fashion.

#spa #history #religion #reservoir #lake #hiking #view #mountain #castle #getaway #ruins #medieval #muslim #muslimarchitecture #rural #islam #winecountry #soaking #roman #irony #9thcentury #siege #balneario #ancientrome #medievalcastle #spanishhistory #caliph

Originally published on Trazzler