Benalauría

Wednesday May 1, was a national holiday in Spain, their equivalent of our Labor Day.  All stores and businesses were closed.  For that reason we set out in the car to take a drive where the scenery is spectacular and, of course, to eat in a restaurant we had loved last year.  The trip took us by Ronda and into the mountains south of there.  This area is very mountainous and isolated so it is a unique journey through some very rough, spectacular mountain terrain.  The weather was clear, traffic light, and the lunch at La Molienda in Benalauría was exceptional.

Gorgeous vistas in the mountainous area called
Serranía de Ronda (Highlands of Ronda)

Tiny villages are scattered like pearls
over the countryside

Village of Atajate

Closer look of Atajate, population 158

Wildflowers are spectacular

Bienvenidos means "welcome"

Benalauría literally hangs off the side of the mountain.  It is
a 2 km drive straight down a very narrow road to reach it.

Entrance to village, population 500.  Parking is always an
issue in these small towns - the municipal parking lot accommodates 20 vehicles.

Entrance to restaurant "El Molienda" which once was an
olive processing site

Rustic patio

Bar

Dining room, formerly a warehouse for storing olives
to be pressed.  

Following are additional scenes from the charming village of Benalauría

Town square

Redbud trees in front of the Ayuntamiento (city hall)

John and Marcy
 enjoying the serenity of the village

the village news media is alive and well

how about that steep street??