Andalucia in bloom

After dropping friends off at a misty Malaga airport this morning, I drove back along the A-357 towards Campillos, stopping just the other side of Ardales close to the Río Turón that feeds into the nearby embalse Conde de Guadalhorce.

Looking back on the pueblo of Ardales, dominated by the towering wind turbines on the hill above.

I turned off onto the MA-5404 road towards Teba, passing the impressive natural gorge of Tajo del Molino, hoping to see lots of poppies and wild flowers that make the countryside so beautiful at this time of year.

The embalse (reservoir) Conde de Guadalhorce.

Viewers of our blog will know that poppies are my absolute favourite flower and not far along I came upon stunning displays on either side of the road.

So my apologies for the number of pics but it was difficult to leave any out. What a fabulous colour they are.

The view from the road of Teba castle or as it is known locally "El Castillo de la Estrella " (The Castle of the Star).

The castle has historical links to the crusades and to a fearsome Scottish warrior and nobleman known as "Black Douglas" who died relieving a siege of the castle in 1330AD.

A nearby field of poppies.

A hazy Olvera, seen from about six kilometres distance.