Author Archives: Donncha
El Caminito del Rey Zip Line
The remains of a zip line that 3 young Spanish men, Antonio (Picholo), Andres (Moro), and Martin (Loco) used on August 11th, 2000. The wire was embedded in the rock wall opposite near the railway track. The three men jumped on the cable for greater speed but the wire detached from the rock wall and the men fell to their deaths. The Caminito del Rey was closed after this. You can find out more about the walk here.
A rather sombre reminder of the dangers here.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Abandoned Family Home in El Chorro National Park
As seen from El Caminito del Ray Our guide explained that a family lived here for many generations until after work stopped on a nearby power plants. The property was occupied long before power plant workers were seen in the valley and while they were there they made life easier for the people living here. The house is very far from the nearest village and the occupants subsisted on farming until they started trading with workers.
Apparently workers stopped walking El Caminito del Ray in the 1970s(?) and life became more difficult for the people living there. Within a generation or two the building was abandoned.
Some of the final moments of the 1965 movie, Von Ryan’s Express, were shot near here on the railway behind this house.
| Aperture | ƒ/7.1 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 22mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
El Chorro National Park, near Malaga, Spain. April 2019.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
Visiting El Chorro National Park
If you visit Malaga during Easter Week you’ll soon become aware of the many processions that happen in the city. Young and old alike throng the city waiting patiently for processions to pass. They happen in the middle of the day, they happen at night. You can be walking down a road after dinner when you’ll hear drumming or a brass band in the distance and suddenly your way is blocked for the next ten minutes.
It’s amazing to see. Be prepared to take your time and take detours if you visit around Easter. 🙂
| Aperture | ƒ/4.5 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 18mm |
| ISO | 250 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
