Sounds of breeze and bright sunshine – Monte Coronado Trail 📷 Malaga – Spain

There are places where the sound is the breeze that passes by unintentionally, where every step must be careful and where going a little further is a great achievement, places that move away from the world the higher you are and from where you can appreciate different landscapes and colours, where the earth and rocks are the protagonists and the trees are the jewels to be found.

Without practically leaving the city, you can find trails that lead to hills and mountains. The city of Malaga is surrounded in a semicircle by a chain of low mountains or hills that make the climate different before and after it, forming a microclimate within the city with the help of the sea.

Everything that happens behind the mountains will always reach the city in a milder form, such as the heatwave that Spain has been experiencing in recent days. It is also present here right now, but milder than in other parts of the country.

Within this mountain range, there are many trails to hike, many places to investigate and explore. Of course, it is advisable not to do so in summer, due to the intense temperatures, or during the rainy season, as the ground is very slippery and, together with the small stones, it can be very dangerous to climb. I have slipped and fallen, fortunately without suffering any serious injuries.

On this occasion, I bring you an exploration and hike that I did before the summer began, along the route that leads to Mount Coronado. You will see it as a large rock that rises majestically above a mountain, towering over the land.

My idea was to get to know the place and walk the dirt paths, even if I didn't exactly reach the mountain, and in fact I didn't. I think I prefer to do that adventure during the winter and let this weather pass for now.

Exploring the place and walking along the trail gave me different views than I am used to lately. Although the terrain is more arid, I was able to find plants that are perfectly adapted to this rocky area with little water. Malaga is not a city where it rains a lot. In fact, in the seven years I have lived here, it has never rained in summer.

The landscapes offer calm, with every step I took I felt solitude and peace, only the gentle breeze was present from time to time and on that afternoon the sun was not so strong but still embraced me with its warmth.

In the distance, which seems close but is not, you can see some trees, no longer pines as I usually see, but rather trees such as olive trees, which are more common in this area. The colours varied between different shades of brown and green, and in many cases the earth was reddish.

The ground was often difficult for me, as there were many small loose stones that could cause a person to slip, and in fact did so. To avoid this, I made sure to place each step on a larger, firm rock or on ground that was not only earth but also grass, where my shoes would grip better. Footwear is important here, as choosing the wrong type can lead to accidents.

The main path divided into multiple winding and much narrower paths, some going up and others going down, but as I was exploring the terrain and getting to know it, I preferred to take the widest path, and my intention was to reach a place where there were trees and see what view it offered me.

As I walked, I always had a view of Mount Coronado, which was impressive, but that was not my goal that day. The climb is very steep, and I preferred to do that route later.

I followed one of the paths, one that I thought led to trees and rocks, always paying attention and memorising the way for the return trip.

Finally, after a few turns, I was able to reach and explore a beautiful area, with rocks where I could sit and rest for a while, drink some water, and eat some biscuits. Once I had done that, I explored the area.

All of nature is amazing, whether it is at the sea, in the woods, in parks, in gardens, or here in the mountains. There were no birds, or very few, but the silence was beautiful, and one becomes aware of the beauty in these places.

Then I started walking not too far from the rocks so as not to get lost, but looking for views of more mountains and rock formations. It was incredible. I can tell you that it is absolute peace, fresh air and a feeling of grandeur.

I stayed there for a long time until the sun began to set and created a range of beautiful colours on the ground, like orange mixed with browns. It seemed as if the landscape was changing and moving as I walked through it. I always kept an eye on the path, so as not to get lost.

The lower the sun sank, the more beautiful it became, and the plants seemed to be peeking out as if they didn't want the sun to go away.

At the end of my journey, I saw beautiful flowering bushes, an incredible farewell to this wonderful exploration, so pleasant and full of fresh air and nature.

Thank you very much for accompanying me on today's adventure. Best regards. See you soon.
Amonet.