WillTravel

I saw a documentary featuring Paco de Lucia, who came from Almería (and I was fortunate enough to see him in concert a few years ago). It looks like Almería would be a relatively warmer destination in Andalucia.

Anyone have any thoughts on visiting there in early January? I am thinking of shuffling my trip (16 nights from Madrid to Malaga) a bit to go to Almería.

Robert2533

Interesting destination. It's where a number of movies have been filmed since the 60s, including many spaghetti westerns, as well as a few scenes from 'Game of Thrones' a few days ago. It's also considered Spain's best kept secret.

Alec

While generally Almeria is the mildest and driest part of mainland Spain in winter, good weather isn't guaranteed. You may get 3 days of rain or 3 days of bright sunshine (it's far more variable in winter). If there is flexibility in your itinerary, I would make a last minute change to take in Almeria if the forecast looks promising. There isn't a great deal to see or visit there except Almeria City which is interesting - most people go for desert-like landscape, used as location for Spaghetti Westerns in 1960s and 70s, and there are a few former film sets open to the public.

Bedar

Yes, Almeria has the warmest climate in Andalucia, but the weather is the weather - unpredictable like everywhere else ! While there you might want to go to Cabo de Gata and to Mojacar which is a great place for fun. Beyond the Westerns filmed around Tabernas, parts of Lawrence of Arabia were filmed around Carboneras. We lived in the area for many years so can answer any question you might have.
Viva Almeria !!

IMDonehere

Our cousin is teaching at the university there and loves the beach.

alvamo

I think Almeria is a really good place to spend 3 days. From Malaga to Almeria you can go for the brand new motorway so in just 1 hour 40 minutes you can be there.

The best place in Andalucía for good and cheap tapas don´t miss Casa Puga
http://www.barcasapuga.es/

Also el Jurelico, amazing fish and seafood tapas
https://www.facebook.com/eljurelico

You can also go to Alcazaba where few scenes of Games of Thrones are to be recorded.

Then for relax and nice walk go to Cabo de Gata and the beaches of El Playazo, Los Escullos o Las Negras and of course the pueblos San Jose or Mojacar.

If you want some nice pueblos inland Velez-Blanco or Tabernas and the dessert.

Amazing place Almería, I love it.

Bedar

BTW, Paco de Lucia was from Algeciras, not Almeria. If you want to visit his grave, you'll have to go there. Better to go to Almeria !

WillTravel

Bedar, how silly of me! Thanks for the correction, which makes much more sense geographically, given that smuggling from Gibraltar was part of Algeciras culture.

But in the meantime, I am still undecided. I guess so long as I have cancellable reservations, I can change on the fly. But train tickets are cheaper booked in advance.

Bedar

Were his people smugglers ? Algeciras is now quite industrialized, but if you're on a pilgrimage ... go for it.
Yes, don't like the trains because of having to plan so far ahead to get cheap tickets. May be better to take the bus.

WillTravel

A lot of people in Algeciras, including in Paco de Lucia's family, were involved in smuggling. http://tinyurl.com/onzb8z3

I think maybe I got confused about Almeria because of the poet Lorca, who is not exactly from Almeria but did write about a location there. I can't untangle what I was thinking, but I did find this:
http://www.unique-almeria.com/federi...cia-lorca.html

alvamo

Well, Lorca is from Granada, Tomatito is another famous guitarrist flamenco and yes, he is from Almería

José Fernández Torres "Tomatito" was born in Almería 20th Auguost 1958, in the barrio de Pescadería

This 1980, Tomatito was way ahead of his time with modern synchopation. Despite his modern style, he keeps an earthy "gipsy" sound in his playing. This clip is from "Rito y Geografia del Toque" DVD set, which is a must for any guitar aficionado.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BCoZiSbGtY


Rumba de la Lira
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja1dNqNAIsc