MOLINO de INCA, Torremolinos

View from a pavilion inside Molino de Inca Botanical Gardens

While complentating over the news for the new year delivered to me (read the previous post) I noticed a small article in a newspaper about a Botanical Garden in Torremolinos that was opened in 2003. It is called MOLINO DE INCA and can be found behind the water park. The entrance is next to an old flour mill that has been completely restored. The mill has traditions going back to the 18th century and is powered with energy from a five meter high water fall. But already in 1501 AD the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella granted jurisdictional rights to Málaga over the natural spring waters in this region. The entrance fee to the park is only "UN EURO" which reminds me of the Saturday Flee Market in Fuengirola where most items seem to cost "UN EURO". I like this attitude! I also like the fact that once you pay a minimum parking fee before two o'clock you de facto park your car until the siesta is over for this nominal fee. I strongly recommend siesta to be introduced in Finland, too :)

Entrance to the Botanical Garden Molino de Inca.

The gardens are beautifully designed like so many things in Andalucia. About 50 different species of palms and hundreds of other trees provide for a greenery only disrupted by fountains, statues made of Italian marble and aviaries with different kind of birds. You can relax in one of the miradores or observation posts letting your feet and soul rest. If you prefer to "get lost", there is a large labyrinth designed for that purpose, too. The Four Seasons is an area popular for wedding photography. Here classical sculptures symbolize the circular movement of the passage of time. 

Marble statue in the park.

  

Shapes and colors often stun me.

The fresh, lush greenery is overwhelming.

Well designed paths guide you through the gardens.

Some palms grow a white "beard".

The visit to these lovely gardens was disrupted by the siesta break, but this gives all the reason for another visit. There are plenty of photographic angles to be discovered. Some of the above pictures are captured with an in-built HDR camera technique which allows for some of the sharp light to be compensated for by underexposed pictures. I like this technique because it provides for sharp and exciting photos as an alternative to traditional ones. Tell me what you like. Also, tell my if you have ideas for new places to visit and report back on. Next week we are in for Jerez and Formula 1 testing. As I mentioned in my previous blog post there has been "rumors" about us moving. These "rumors" have now materialized and a house is waiting for us in Skåne, Southern Sweden. The departure will take place before summer and the Andalucian blog posts will appear more seldom, but will not entirely disappear. Parallel to the Andalucian stories you can then read about Skåne, its historical places with castles and a countryside contrasting to Andalucia. Summer time in Skåne is full of activities. But before that I am looking forward to the Andalucian spring and to making more discoveries there.

BEAUTIFUL!

MORE GOOD NEWS: The book about our Andalucian Adventure is now ready and can be viewed at www.ifolor.fi   (ask us about details).

Andalucia Our Way

HAPPY READINGS AND ALL THE BEST