La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
HERE ARE MORE SCENES AROUND Mijas Pueblo. The first photo is of the Chapel of the Virgen de la Peña (Virgin of the Rock), built from the rock in the 16th or 17th century. When we arrived, there was some music and flamenco dancing on Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña (which is not where the chapel is located). The music was pre-recorded, as was much of the tapping and clapping (shoes tapped away even when feet weren’t moving), but it was still nice to see although there were less than 10 spectators.
We both love the town, although San Geraldo rarely goes because he doesn’t enjoy the crowds (often busloads) of people. The burros give rides to individuals and there are burro-pulled carts to haul around entire families. Yesterday, the burros were simply standing around.
Shopping can be fun in Mijas Pueblo. Shops are filled with leather goods, handmade clothing, and artesan art and jewelry. But the streets are filled with cheesy tourist shops, as well. Since Covid, it seems many shops (especially the souvenir shops) and restaurants have closed permanently while others look like they may have plans to reopen soon. So, although the quiet town was more pleasant to wander, it was a sad sight to see and will take a long time to recover. We wanted to buy something in the few shops we passed just to cheer people up.
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AQUÍ HAY MÁS ESCENAS ALREDEDOR de Mijas Pueblo. La primera foto es de la Capilla de la Virgen de la Peña, construido a partir de la roca en el siglo XVI o XVII. Cuando llegamos, había algo de música y baile flamenco en la Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña (que no es donde se encuentra la capilla). La música estaba pregrabada, al igual que gran parte de los golpes y las palmas (los zapatos se alejaban incluso cuando los pies no se movían), pero aún así fue agradable de ver aunque había menos de 10 espectadores.
A los dos nos encanta el pueblo, aunque San Geraldo rara vez va porque no disfruta de las multitudes (a menudo autobuses llenos) de gente. Los burros llevan a los individuos y hay carros tirados por burros para transportar a familias enteras. Ayer, los burros simplemente estaban parados.
Ir de compras puede ser divertido en Mijas Pueblo. Las tiendas están llenas de artículos de cuero, ropa hecha a mano, y arte y joyería artesanales. Pero las calles también están llenas de cursis tiendas para turistas. Desde Covid, parece que muchas tiendas (especialmente las tiendas de souvenirs) y restaurantes han cerrado permanentemente, mientras que otros parecen tener planes de reabrir pronto. Entonces, aunque la ciudad tranquila era más agradable para pasear, era un espectáculo triste de ver y tomará mucho tiempo recuperarse. Queríamos comprar algo en las pocas tiendas por las que pasamos solo para animar a la gente.
• Demasiadas tiendas cerradas. Esta calle, Avenida del Compás, suele estar llena de gente.
• Un rebaño de burros aburridos.
• La gran plaza central, Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña, lamentablemente vacía.
• El antiguo molino de harina.
• El Ayuntamiento.
• Solo un pensamiento: Las mujeres (que terminaron de actuar) deberían haber abandonado el escenario cuando él estaba bailando.
• Una vista de la parte trasera del Ayuntamiento y más allá desde la parte superior del estacionamiento, que tiene acceso peatonal a nivel de calle, en el nivel 1, y acceso peatonal a nivel de calle, en el nivel 10. Una forma creativa de construir un pueblo en una montaña.
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Wonderful photos! I love the one of the bored burros! Their colorful gear is so pretty.
Jennifer,
We’re soon to head back up to revisit an artisan shop we really like… and we plan to spend money. Things will pick up next month when we open up to more tourism. We’ll take advantage of the quiet. I’ll make SG sit somewhere so I can take photos of the ancient walls and more.
I know it’s sad that some places closed, but it probably made it nicer with less people around … more time to enjoy that dancer, if only the ladies would get out of the shot.
Bob,
Absolutely much more pleasant and I was at least pleased to say that the artisan shops were still there. Yeah, I didn’t get too excited about the dancer.
Your photos really capture that certain light–bright, clear, sharp. I’m kind of with SG on not going places that are usually crowded–one of my least favorite things (having once been very scarily lifted off my feet in a crush of people). But tough that so many people/businesses are enduring economic hardship. A conundrum.
Mary,
I never went to Mijas Pueblo during season. SG took a friend up once and regretted it. So, although I can tolerate more activity than he can, I do have my limits. I can’t imagine being lifted off my feet in a crush of people. That would be horrifying.
Burros are enjoying their break I am sure.
I was almost expecting you to say there was an empty ‘outdoor bingo area’ as well!
I can see why SG would visit now and not during regular times.
It is a beautiful town indeed sitting on the side of that mountain.
Jim,
We’re hoping to head back up today to take advantage of the peace.
That’s a cool old chapel. Too bad the shops are still slow, but I think they’ll be gearing up here soon. I think I could do without the flamenco show. When I was in Sevilla many years ago there were flamenco shows around every corner, and I avoided them all like the plague.
Steve,
I don’t know if it’s obvious, but the chapel is built right into the rock, more like a cave. There’s some miracle associated with it that I didn’t bother talking about. I’m not a fan of flamenco dancing but I love the music and rhythmic clapping. We’ve seen some incredible stuff. One was a singer and a guitarist in a candlelit room in Sevilla. Stunning. But you have to know where to go. There’s a lot of tourist trap flamenco… and we’ve seen that, too!
Those burros are certainly decked out in beautiful regalia!
Debra,
They’re beautiful.
the burros are real! and colorful too. interesting town architecture built into the mountainside. hopefully shops/restaurants will begin to open again.
Anne Marie,
We’re going back soon and I plan to get photos of more of the historic area… ancient wall, and more. Tourism will reopen here quite a bit in June. Things will pick up. Just a shame about the people that couldn’t make it through.
Well, he was on the stage while the women were dancing, so I suppose that is just how they do it. A few more people around would be nice, but keep me far away from the busloads! You picked a good time to go.
Wilma,
But he stood off to the side and clapped. They were directly behind him and talked, and drank, and walked back and forth. I suppose though when there are more people on stage than might be watching, it doesn’t matter. We’re headed back maybe today to enjoy the space and return to the artisan ceramics shop!
I think this might be my favorite new town!!!!!! I love the looks of the architecture and it being up in the mountains like that. The views!!!!!!! This place is so me. And New Hope still looks much like your pictures. Empty. I’m still even wearing my mask outside if there are people around. I love to ride a burro. I could add it to my list of odd rides on animals.
Mistress Borghese,
And I have so much more to show you. We might go back up today. There’s a Roman wall surrounding the town and so much more old architecture and picturesque streets. You really have never been on an ass?
Being a semi-hermit myself, I rather like the peacefulness of a non-crowd of people. I was, however, distracted (who, me?) by that chapel. I’ve been watching too many cake baking shows lately and that thing looks like it is a cake made out of rice treats. They never say Rice Krispy treats. Boy, I think I blew a few brain cells with my last coughing fit! So looking forward to the retirement manse this weekend.
Deedles,
I loved not having to share the town with many others, but was sorry to see all the businesses that couldn’t survive this year. The chapel is built right into the stone hillside. Closed right now but there’s a beautiful space inside with a relic supposedly found there in the 1500s. Enjoy the manse!
Very pretty place, and someplace to park my ass
David,
And a beautiful ass it is!
A picturesque area–even the burros are dressed up. Hope you had fun.
Love,
Janie
Janie,
Great time. Hoping to convince SG to go back up today… and buy some things at the artisan ceramics shop.
the dancers are the sort people think of when they think “Spain”
Urspo:
I’m not a big fan of the dancing, but I love good singers, musicians, and clappers (known as palmeros/palmeras).