Spain > Getting to know Antequera

Just after half past three in the night, the barrier of the Middenweg parking area in Aalsmeer opens. In the dark, I look for a parking spot. At the shuttle stop, I meet several travellers heading to their holiday destination. I am going on a 12-day tour of Andalusia, Spain. Within a few minutes, the shuttle bus arrives. The bus is already full with travellers from another parking area. With a bit of squeezing and shuffling, everyone just fits in. At the airport, I check in my luggage and order coffee with a sandwich for breakfast. Meanwhile, I watch the Formula 1 Sprint Race from China. Around five o’clock, I walk to gate D83 and wait there for the flight to depart. At around half past six, the Transavia plane takes off towards Málaga in Spain. I close my eyes for a while. After just under three hours, we approach Málaga Airport.

Spain - It is still dark when I arrive at Schiphol

At the baggage carousel, I meet my fellow travellers and our tour leader Jasper. The group was originally supposed to consist of eighteen participants, but four cancellations came in at the last minute. Travelling with a small group is much more pleasant. Although Málaga is described in today’s itinerary, we will actually visit it on the final day, Jasper explains as the bus leaves the airport. This gives us extra time today to visit Antequera. Near Antequera are three Bronze Age burial mounds. Like the Dutch dolmens, these tombs are built from impressive stone blocks. In the museum, a video shows how these blocks were transported with great human effort. The “Dolmen of Menga” is one of the best-preserved Bronze Age burial mounds in Europe. I walk through the narrow entrance into the tomb. Above me lie stone blocks weighing up to 180 tons. When we arrive at the hotel, the rooms are already available. I put my luggage in my room and quickly go to the bar. I last ate around four o’clock this morning, and I am hungry. I order a ham and cheese sandwich. To my surprise, it comes with a full plate of fried potatoes and salad. I would have expected this more with a club sandwich. After lunch, I follow Jasper into Antequera.

Spain - The unique prehistoric burial mound

The first stop is the Plaza de Toros de Antequera. The historic bullring from 1848 looks closed, but at the back we are able to enter the arena. The building has a classic, sober appearance with whitewashed walls and a circular shape typical of Spanish bullrings. It has a capacity of around 6,000 spectators. The arena is no longer used very often. On the sand of the arena there are now tables and chairs from a restaurant. Only during the annual festivities in August are bullfights still held here. As we walk further into the centre, we notice how many churches Antequera has. It seems as if there is one on every street corner. Unfortunately, most are closed at this time of day. Antequera is a pleasant, typical Spanish town. It is not very busy on the streets, probably due to the siesta. Near the Alcazaba fortress, we decide to split up. With a few fellow travellers, I walk to the El Carmen church. This richly decorated Catholic church is said to be one of the most beautiful in the city. Although one door is open, the church is not accessible for visitors. The Santa María la Mayor church is open, however. This church was built in the 16th century but no longer serves as a place of worship.

Spain - The view over the city center of Antequera

At the entrance, seniors pay only two euros. When it is my turn, the cashier kindly gives me the same discount as my fellow travellers. Inside, the church looks rather sober; many ornaments have been removed. We decide not to visit the Alcazaba fortress anymore, as we will see enough in the coming days. In a restaurant, I order a beer, and afterwards we walk back to the hotel. I still have some time before dinner, so I set my alarm just in case. After such a long day, it would not be surprising if I fell asleep. Dinner is at eight o’clock. Spaniards eat late. A large buffet is ready in the restaurant. During dinner, I get to know my fellow travellers better. It is a nice and friendly group. Coincidentally, Coby is also from Sassenheim. We both turned out to have been in Café De Voogd yesterday afternoon. It really is a small world.