Читать книгу Coastal Walks in Andalucia. The best hiking trails close to Andalucía's Mediterranean and Atlantic Coastlines онлайн

16 страница из 59

Close encounter of the bovine kind in the Breña forest (Costa de la Luz, Walk 4)

Andalucía has a long roll call of reptiles. Of its many species of snakes just one is poisonous, the Lataste’s viper, which is rarely seen in the coastal areas. Iberian and wall lizards are common, as are chameleons, while the much larger ocellated lizard can often be seen near the coast and especially along the ramblas (dry river beds) of Cabo de Gata.

Appendix E (Further reading) includes details of guidebooks that will help you to identify the plants and wildlife of Andalucía.

Andalucía over the years

Anyone who’s travelled to other parts of the Iberian Peninsula will be aware of the marked differences between the regions of Spain and its peoples. If Franco sought to impose a centralist and authoritarian system of government on his people, the New Spain, ushered in with his departure and the advent of liberal democracy, actively celebrates the country’s diverse, multilingual and multi-faceted culture.

But if Spain is diferente, as the marketing campaigns of the 90s and noughties would have us believe, then Andalucía is even more so. It is, of course, about much more than the stereotypical images of flamenco, fiestas, castanets, flounced dresses, sherry and bullfighting: any attempt to define what constitutes the Andaluz character must probe far deeper. But what very quickly becomes apparent on any visit to the region is that this is a place of ebullience, joie de vivre, easy conversation and generous gestures. The typical Andalusian’s first loves are family, friends and his or her patria chica (homeland), and it’s rare to meet one that isn’t happy to share it all with outsiders.