Visit to the Castle in Aguilas

September 29, 2010
Yesterday after I found the ATM(!), I visited another small and quite deserted beach nearby. Called the Cope de Torre, it is more like a lot of pumice type rock with a little sand, and the water is quite clear. While there, I finished Michael Connolly’s The Last Coyote! But in the on-going quest for hot water, when I went to take a shower, once again, there was no hot water. Well, I am delighted to report than I figured out the tank was empty. But, since I am not keen on how the flame flares up when it first ignites, I prevailed upon Derek to see if he could help me out, which he did. However, that remedied one problem, but there is not still hot water everywhere in the house. So Roger was called back in! (He must be the engineer!) He said that one of the fixtures must need a new washer, as there is not enough pressure to force hot water through that faucet. But there IS hot water in the kitchen sink and the shower on the first floor, so we should be good until we leave!
Today I took a walk around the neighborhood, up the hill near the house, which goes over to the little Torre beach, should I wish to walk that far, but I won’t with a beach chair! I also found Kati’s bakery and coffee shop, where I stopped for a coffee and chocolate covered donut. After lunch I went back to the Torre beach, and there was another couple there with two umbrellas. It was 2 o’clock, earlier than I have been to the beach here, so I wondered if I should have brought an umbrella. But I wasn’t facing the sun, so it turned out to be okay! This couple, Anne and Daniel, is from Bordeaux, so I got to practice my French a bit. Another day I’ll take the French –English dictionary here in the house. They’ve been coming here for five years and apparently know Joan and David. They may have even stayed here once. I couldn’t figure everything out!

September 30, 2010
This morning I visited the Tourist Information center (TI) in the center of Aguilas, so I was able to get a lot of information about the area and Lorca. Then I climbed up to the Castle of San Juan de las Aguilas, built in 1756 to repel Turkish and Barbarian pirates. Recently restored in 2007, the impressive castle can be seen all over the area. The entrance fee was a mere €.60, so they must not make much money here even in the summer! Unfortunately everything was in Spanish, so I could only “look at the pictures”. Now, though I will be able to learn what I can visit nearby before Karen arrives!
This afternoon I returned to the beach for a quick swim, but the French couple did not reappear. Now I am at the Hotel Mayari again, which is near the house. It is a very quiet little place which has a great view!
I’ll have to come back in the morning to have some of the wonderful coffee he just brewed!