1st May

We took the road less travelled into Andalucia via Jaen province.  This region’s claim to fame is that it produces 10% of the the world’s olive oil  but it’s much more than olive trees, the landscape is stunning with distant views of snow capped mountains.  Rivers and lakes lead the way to Cazorla Park Natural a region of rugged mountains and deep forested valleys.

The road less travelled

Cazorla Town, gateway to the park

Downtown Cazorla

A mountain stream runs under the cathedral

Bad idea building a cathedral over a mountain stream

2nd May

Time for a walk on the wildside, today's excursion is just a little taster, but first a few factoids. To put things in perspective; this park is a massive area of 2143 sq kms and includes six mountain ranges and supports some 2300 plant species and too many wild animals to list here.  Our chances of spotting some of them are higher than elsewhere in Spain, this is also home to the critically endangered Iberian Lynx.

The only way is up

The Moors liked hanging around here

Mountain goats

Spot the goat

Highlights of the walk were sightings of black squirrels with pointy ears and eagles soaring high in the sky but they could have been buzzards or vultures, it was hard to tell.